Lumpyyyyy t1_j76odkk wrote on February 4, 2023 at 2:20 PM

Systems aren’t designed with this temperature in mind. The heating load is typically designed around 0 degrees. Any colder and your system will struggle to keep up. As long as the pipes are still hot, it’s still functioning.

SquashDue502 OP t1_j76ov3b wrote on February 4, 2023 at 2:24 PM

Yeah I mean I went to the basement and the heating unit is definitely giving off heat. I think it’s just that the slow heat coming out of the baseboards isn’t replenishing heat fast enough because we have bad windows that emit a lot of cold air lol

john_le_carre t1_j77aj3k wrote on February 4, 2023 at 4:58 PM

Definitely recommend sealing your windows with plastic film. It doesn’t seem like it should make a big difference but it’s huge.

You can get kits from hardware stores or, of course, Bezos.

Lumpyyyyy t1_j76p1l7 wrote on February 4, 2023 at 2:25 PM

Make sure your baseboard units are open if it is forced hot water. The metal angled piece can be rotated.

thread100 t1_j77kivr wrote on February 4, 2023 at 6:04 PM

Do what you can to help. Keep the curtains closed on non sunshine windows. Minimize running exhaust fans in kitchen and bathroom. Make sure you keep a door open on any exterior wall sinks. Block any drafts you can with blankets or towels. Bake that extra turkey you have in the freezer.

If you have a heat pump, there is not a lot you can do this low. It’s a trade off worth taking for the savings 99% of the time.

SquashDue502 OP t1_j79c7mo wrote on February 5, 2023 at 1:55 AM

The sun actually helped a lot in rooms that get good light through the windows!

SocksAndCrocz t1_j77b3mv wrote on February 4, 2023 at 5:02 PM

I’m not sure about what is normal- but should be expected. Your furnace running the hot water through your baseboards has a max capacity that generates a maximum amount of heat in the house that you cannot change. You’re probably maxing it out this weekend like most folks

Think of that that heat coming in to your house as water flowing into a dam. The temperature in your house is like the level in the dam, equal flow in and out means the water height stays constant, and the same is true for the temps in your house.

Your house loses heat through leaks. if the leaks amount to more than the amount of heat coming in, temperature begins to fall, same as the dam analogy

For any given wind speed, the amount of heat that you leak out is proportional to the difference in temperature (outside - inside).

Bottom line- when it gets really really cold, your temperature inside will drop until the heat coming in matches the heat leaking out. You get two primary options to fix it- buy more heat capacity, or reduce heat leaks.