Help me feel my toes this winter
November 13, 2019 12:57 PM Subscribe
My sun room is very poorly insulated, which means that my apartment gets very cold in the winter. What steps can I take to remedy this? Difficulty level: I rent.
The sun room spans the entire back portion of my apartment. It used to be a large balcony, with one window in the bedroom wall, and another window in the living room wall. This balcony was later walled in to become the sun room. The window openings are still there – one contains shelves for knickknacks, and the other contains openable shutters. It's a weird setup.
Anyway, this is always the coldest room in the apartment, and it seems to be the main avenue of heat loss. There are (at least) three problems:
One: The sun room connects to the living room via a doorway, which has no door. Therefore, I can't just keep the room closed. Even if I could, there are still the two big openings-that-used-to-be-windows.
I've thought about putting winterproofing plastic over the openings, and hanging a heavy blanket over the doorway. But, I'm not sure how much this would help – there are HVAC vents in the sun room, so air would still circulate to the rest of the apartment. (My HVAC vents can't be closed, either.)
Two: The floor of the room gets very cold. I suspect that it's over an uninsulated area (I'm on the second floor), which allows heat to leak through.
I'm thinking about buying some inexpensive area rugs, and some heavy, dense rug pads to put beneath them. Can I expect this to make much of a difference?)
Three: The new walls (the ones that were added to create the sun room) contain four large windows. Because they are crank-style casement windows, none of them have storm windows.
I'll probably buy some winterproofing plastic for these.
Any thoughts on these ideas? Any other ideas to look into? It's only November, and the HVAC is already struggling to keep up.
The sun room spans the entire back portion of my apartment. It used to be a large balcony, with one window in the bedroom wall, and another window in the living room wall. This balcony was later walled in to become the sun room. The window openings are still there – one contains shelves for knickknacks, and the other contains openable shutters. It's a weird setup.
Anyway, this is always the coldest room in the apartment, and it seems to be the main avenue of heat loss. There are (at least) three problems:
One: The sun room connects to the living room via a doorway, which has no door. Therefore, I can't just keep the room closed. Even if I could, there are still the two big openings-that-used-to-be-windows.
I've thought about putting winterproofing plastic over the openings, and hanging a heavy blanket over the doorway. But, I'm not sure how much this would help – there are HVAC vents in the sun room, so air would still circulate to the rest of the apartment. (My HVAC vents can't be closed, either.)
Two: The floor of the room gets very cold. I suspect that it's over an uninsulated area (I'm on the second floor), which allows heat to leak through.
I'm thinking about buying some inexpensive area rugs, and some heavy, dense rug pads to put beneath them. Can I expect this to make much of a difference?)
Three: The new walls (the ones that were added to create the sun room) contain four large windows. Because they are crank-style casement windows, none of them have storm windows.
I'll probably buy some winterproofing plastic for these.
Any thoughts on these ideas? Any other ideas to look into? It's only November, and the HVAC is already struggling to keep up.
Response by poster: They don't have louvers – they aren't conventional rectangular vents. They're weird, circular openings (about 3–4" across) that I've never seen anywhere else. In most rooms (including the sun room), there are two of them – less than a foot apart. Any idea what those are called?
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:03 PM on November 13, 2019
posted by escape from the potato planet at 1:03 PM on November 13, 2019
we have a very drafty laundry room at back of our house. we hung a double layer of thick curtains in the doorway and it helps dramatically (like probably 10 degree of difference)
posted by supermedusa at 1:10 PM on November 13, 2019 [7 favorites]
posted by supermedusa at 1:10 PM on November 13, 2019 [7 favorites]
Assuming the thermostat isn't in the sun room, you should be fine blocking off those openings. The hot air will continue to pour into the sun room, but it should stop when the thermostat sensor reaches the desired temperature. So if the living room (or wherever the sensor is) hits the right temperature, heat should stop flowing, even if the sun room is still cold. Blocking off the sun room should be a huge help.
If there is a thermostat sensor out there, that's a different problem.
posted by gideonfrog at 1:13 PM on November 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
If there is a thermostat sensor out there, that's a different problem.
posted by gideonfrog at 1:13 PM on November 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
Yes, plastic over the used-to-be windows will make a big difference. Make sure to get the kind (if it still exists) with removable adhesive and that shrinks when you run a hair dryer over the plastic. I fourth the suggestion for a heavy blanket or curtain. How long do you foresee living here? Because if it were me, I'd probably bite the bullet and screw brackets for a curtain rod on either side of the door and have something reliable and proper rather than something half-assed. If you have a good relationship with your landlord, maybe some strategically placed commiserating about the winter followed by a "You know....I've always thought the apartment would be more pleasant with a nice curtain across that doorway. Would you mind if I installed a simple curtain rod there?"
posted by cocoagirl at 1:30 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by cocoagirl at 1:30 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Agreeing on the heavy curtain. We have one that divides the house because Reasons and it makes a solid 10 degree difference in the two halves.
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 1:31 PM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
posted by KleenexMakesaVeryGoodHat at 1:31 PM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
I would push on the landlord to do more insulating and provide you with more heat. That's the first thing. But assuming they aren't doing anything, I'd go crazy with the plastic sheeting. It's very effective as long as you use the double-sided tape to seal up all the air openings. Do that across the casement window openings in the sun room, do that over the HVAC vent openings in the sun room, do that across the openings between the sunroom and the rest of your apartment (make this the last thing you do since then the sun room will be sealed up for the winter.) If you can do two layers of it with an air gap in between, that will be more effective than one layer. Heavy rugs with pads underneath will help. So will hanging heavy blankets or drapes over cold areas. Get some good heavy slippers and a heated mattress pad.
If you block off the HVAC openings thoroughly, then the warm air that would have gone through them will redistribute itself to other areas of your apartment. Just cover the whole dang thing with plastic and tape - if the kind of tape that comes with the plastic weatherproofing kit isn't getting the job done, I'd brute-force it with copious amounts of duct tape.
posted by beandip at 1:35 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
If you block off the HVAC openings thoroughly, then the warm air that would have gone through them will redistribute itself to other areas of your apartment. Just cover the whole dang thing with plastic and tape - if the kind of tape that comes with the plastic weatherproofing kit isn't getting the job done, I'd brute-force it with copious amounts of duct tape.
posted by beandip at 1:35 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
That window-insulating plastic makes an enormous difference. Hefty curtains also good.
Do you know for sure that the landlord would object to putting an actual door in the doorway? Because anybody he rents to is going to notice that the apartment is freezing in the winter because there's no door on the sunroom. Why not actually solve what is in the long term his problem?
posted by Don Pepino at 1:37 PM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
Do you know for sure that the landlord would object to putting an actual door in the doorway? Because anybody he rents to is going to notice that the apartment is freezing in the winter because there's no door on the sunroom. Why not actually solve what is in the long term his problem?
posted by Don Pepino at 1:37 PM on November 13, 2019 [3 favorites]
If you don't want to permanently install curtain rods in the doorways, you can buy heavy duty tension rods that will hold a fairly heavy curtain. We use one in our bedroom to keep the AC in in the summer, yet the curtain lets the dogs pass through the doorway at will.
Also, if it really is just your toes, you can wear wool slippers or even UGG boots in the house for toasty warm feet.
Source: I live in a drafty, 100 year old house.
posted by sarajane at 2:52 PM on November 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
Also, if it really is just your toes, you can wear wool slippers or even UGG boots in the house for toasty warm feet.
Source: I live in a drafty, 100 year old house.
posted by sarajane at 2:52 PM on November 13, 2019 [5 favorites]
Window plastic is surprising effective. I've also seen someone use those foam insulating boards cut to shape & taped over their windows, that could well work in the hole behind the shutter & behind the bookcase. Or buy a bunch of cheap blankets & quilts from a thrift store & hang them over the window holes & doors, heck if you're not using the room cover the floor in them too to keep the cold out. My old house has no insulation under the living room floor & having a rug over my carpet makes a huge difference at keeping the chill out.
posted by wwax at 2:58 PM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by wwax at 2:58 PM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Bubble wrap insulates but lets in light. Some people mist water on a window, and the bubble wrap will stick pretty well, or tack it down on the corners. You could tape it to the window frame to make it weathertight. I got the bubble wrap free from a construction project in the lobby of my office. Check Freecycle, craigslist/free, buy nothing groups. On the openings - layer of bubble wrap plus curtain, depending on how much light you want. On the open door way, tension rod & heavy curtain.
I live in Maine, I pay for my heat, so I keep most of the house fairly chilly. The kitchen has vinyl flooring, and without a rug & pad, it would be so much colder, esp. in the morning before the place is warmed up. I got some interlocking foam tiles cheap, put a cute 4 x 6 rug on top.
Who pays for heat? if it's the landlord, it's in his/her interest to make it better insulated. You could make some frames for the window openings, put in bubblewrap, clear plastic, whatever, hang from hooks.
posted by theora55 at 3:02 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
I live in Maine, I pay for my heat, so I keep most of the house fairly chilly. The kitchen has vinyl flooring, and without a rug & pad, it would be so much colder, esp. in the morning before the place is warmed up. I got some interlocking foam tiles cheap, put a cute 4 x 6 rug on top.
Who pays for heat? if it's the landlord, it's in his/her interest to make it better insulated. You could make some frames for the window openings, put in bubblewrap, clear plastic, whatever, hang from hooks.
posted by theora55 at 3:02 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
As far as the floor issue, I just put down a large exercise mat on our patio under the table where we sit, and there is a rug over part of it. I used to have the interlocking foam tiles but they were a trip hazard and prone to coming apart, and it was worth the $60 to have a single piece of something with lay-flat edges.
I would use that weather plastic over the windows, and then hang cheap blackout/thermal curtains on the inside.
I'm not sure if covering the vents will make much difference, but they make magnetic covers in all sizes and cut-to-fit.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:27 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
I would use that weather plastic over the windows, and then hang cheap blackout/thermal curtains on the inside.
I'm not sure if covering the vents will make much difference, but they make magnetic covers in all sizes and cut-to-fit.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:27 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
My kitchen/sunroom is a former exterior porch on the back of my house that is almost entirely wrap-around windows, and a part of it sits on an uninsulated slab over and unheated space to boot. Here are the things that have helped me:
1. window coverings that I open during the day to capture any passive solar radiation and close at night to help radiate heat back into the room. Heavy window coverings provide a bit of actual insulation but anything will help reflect heat back into the room rather than out the windows. I've just got miniblinds.
2. Heavy curtain between the kitchen and the dining room.
3. Space heater than I run on days when I just can't abide the kitchen being 60 degrees. If you don't actively use your sunroom that much during the winter that may not be worth it to you, although running the space heater at 1500 watts during the daytime makes a good 5-degree difference in the kitchen temp, and that's for about 300 sq ft of space and costs about a dollar a day.
I put up window film two years ago, but when I used an infrared thermometer to spot-check the windows that had film vs. those without it, I discovered it wasn't making a significant difference on my fairly new, non-drafty double-pane windows. I skipped the film last year and just got very diligent about closing and opening blinds, just as I am in the summer (the kitchen/sunroom turns into an inferno with all that glass in the summer if I don't).
Film will make a bigger difference if your windows are single-pane or drafty.
posted by drlith at 4:47 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
1. window coverings that I open during the day to capture any passive solar radiation and close at night to help radiate heat back into the room. Heavy window coverings provide a bit of actual insulation but anything will help reflect heat back into the room rather than out the windows. I've just got miniblinds.
2. Heavy curtain between the kitchen and the dining room.
3. Space heater than I run on days when I just can't abide the kitchen being 60 degrees. If you don't actively use your sunroom that much during the winter that may not be worth it to you, although running the space heater at 1500 watts during the daytime makes a good 5-degree difference in the kitchen temp, and that's for about 300 sq ft of space and costs about a dollar a day.
I put up window film two years ago, but when I used an infrared thermometer to spot-check the windows that had film vs. those without it, I discovered it wasn't making a significant difference on my fairly new, non-drafty double-pane windows. I skipped the film last year and just got very diligent about closing and opening blinds, just as I am in the summer (the kitchen/sunroom turns into an inferno with all that glass in the summer if I don't).
Film will make a bigger difference if your windows are single-pane or drafty.
posted by drlith at 4:47 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
As an adjunct to all of the good ideas above, I've found that (a) thick wool socks over silk thermal socks in warm slippers and (b) fingerless wool gloves are very effective. Keeping my hands and feet warm makes a big difference in how warm I feel generally.
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:55 PM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by Greg_Ace at 4:55 PM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]
Hi! My apartment living room has no built-in heater and it's second floor over an open space, so when I get home from work it's already 50 degrees and falling. Here's how I deal with winter:
1. Block off the room (I agree on at least a curtain for the doorway; I suggest a thermal-insulated one)
2. Put down an area rug with an aluminum carpet mat underneath (if you can find one; it's basically an emergency blanket)
2a. Otherwise, electric rug (example): it's a mat that goes under the actual area rug and heats up when turned on (so good for feet and butt warming)
3. Use a kerosene heater for when I'm in the room (kerosene is cheap for me, and energy use is pennies compared to a space heater)
4. Use plastic curtains behind my regular ones (or the cling film mentioned above should do similar)
5. Wear fuzzy socks and/or slippers constantly
6. Hug a hot water bottle for extra cold days
My apartment doesn't have the best insulation, so adhering to the adage of "heat the person, not the space" is how I feel like a regular person instead of an ice cube. The kerosene heater does most of the work in my place, though.
posted by lesser weasel at 5:49 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
1. Block off the room (I agree on at least a curtain for the doorway; I suggest a thermal-insulated one)
2. Put down an area rug with an aluminum carpet mat underneath (if you can find one; it's basically an emergency blanket)
2a. Otherwise, electric rug (example): it's a mat that goes under the actual area rug and heats up when turned on (so good for feet and butt warming)
3. Use a kerosene heater for when I'm in the room (kerosene is cheap for me, and energy use is pennies compared to a space heater)
4. Use plastic curtains behind my regular ones (or the cling film mentioned above should do similar)
5. Wear fuzzy socks and/or slippers constantly
6. Hug a hot water bottle for extra cold days
My apartment doesn't have the best insulation, so adhering to the adage of "heat the person, not the space" is how I feel like a regular person instead of an ice cube. The kerosene heater does most of the work in my place, though.
posted by lesser weasel at 5:49 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Chiming in to say that a tension rod across a doorless doorway works great as a curtain rod. I put up blackout curtains to cordon off the section of the apartment in which I run a space heater from the unheated parts of the apartment.
posted by spamandkimchi at 6:17 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by spamandkimchi at 6:17 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Additional "heat the person" advice: Target carries really good (and attractive) heated throws, but we've actually switched to using full-on electric blankets on the couch (plus heated mattress pad on the bed) to get the extra length. A dual-control King blanket will cover two people on a couch with their feet up on an ottoman, feet to chest, with room for One Standard Dog in between.
A couple of years ago I bought my dogs an outdoor heated crate pad, but it was a weird knockoff brand and I was alarmed at how hot it got and didn't feel it was safe for my dogs to sleep on at length, unmoving. It is, however, fantastic under my desk to put my feet on. There are also heating pads you stick your feet into.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:02 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
A couple of years ago I bought my dogs an outdoor heated crate pad, but it was a weird knockoff brand and I was alarmed at how hot it got and didn't feel it was safe for my dogs to sleep on at length, unmoving. It is, however, fantastic under my desk to put my feet on. There are also heating pads you stick your feet into.
posted by Lyn Never at 7:02 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
I find my angora socks very warm and I also have a pair of sheepskin-lined suede slippers for cold days. I'm a handspinner and lots of us keep angora bunnies and knit socks with their fur. Try googling or Etsy.
A lot of small local alpaca farms also sell socks and other garments made from the alpaca wool they produce. Alpaca is very warm.
posted by whitelotus at 7:28 PM on November 13, 2019
A lot of small local alpaca farms also sell socks and other garments made from the alpaca wool they produce. Alpaca is very warm.
posted by whitelotus at 7:28 PM on November 13, 2019
Nthing the support for curtains and rugs -- they work. In the past, I've used safety pins and cheap felt-by-the-yard from the fabric store to make curtains, and they made a huge difference. If it were up to me, I'd probably make a felt curtain to go across that entire wall on the porch side (especially if you find that the wall itself gets cold to the touch), plus extra curtains or quilts in front of the holes on your side, just to make sure there's an insulating air layer in the spots that need it most.
Before you cover vents, make sure there's no plumbing running through (or under, or in the walls of) the sunroom -- you don't want to run the risk of pipes freezing.
For your point 3 -- the crank windows with no storms -- the weatherproofing plastic will work great. Not so sure about the holes in the walls; I think that plastic works by trapping an insulating later of air between it and the glass, so without glass, it won't work well. If all else fails, a heavy curtain or piece of felt will definitely do the job (though it will block the light.)
posted by ourobouros at 7:43 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Before you cover vents, make sure there's no plumbing running through (or under, or in the walls of) the sunroom -- you don't want to run the risk of pipes freezing.
For your point 3 -- the crank windows with no storms -- the weatherproofing plastic will work great. Not so sure about the holes in the walls; I think that plastic works by trapping an insulating later of air between it and the glass, so without glass, it won't work well. If all else fails, a heavy curtain or piece of felt will definitely do the job (though it will block the light.)
posted by ourobouros at 7:43 PM on November 13, 2019 [1 favorite]
Cold air sinks. Make sure the curtains are to the floor. Tension rods in the door frame and windows are fine. Two sets of curtains in the doorway will trap air efficiently.
There are construction site zippered tarp doors that allow entry while trapping debris.
Plastic film can cling to damp windows, which also lets light through.
The sides of the window, including the frame, can allow cold air in. I'd apply some clear caulking from a squeezable tube (a caulking gun is cheaper, but overkill and bulky in tight spaces) and smooth the excess neatly with a caulking tool.
Are the sun room walls insulated? Maybe tarps across the entire walls would help.
I would put the thick puzzle floor mats in the sun room with a few rugs over them. I would make long draft guard tubes, stuff them with plastic grocery bags, and line the walls.
Ceramic heaters work (set on a piece of tile), but I've had problems with throwing breakers because two are on the same electric circuit. Know where your breaker box is and keep tabs on what items are plugged in at the same time.
I am not as confident about heaters that contain a flame, but if you do that make sure you have a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and a good fire extinguisher.
If I had a chronically chilly house, I might seriously consider a kotatsu or some other type of heated personal area. Another vote for "heat the person, not the entire room."
'Tis the season for Buffs, fingerless gloves (dollar store gloves with the fingertips cut off), and wool socks or lined moccasins. I prefer long shawls to cardigans since I can adjust them. Fleece is in. So is Cuddl Duds microfiber long underwear (I get mine from Wal-Mart, but other stores have them).
Layers, layers, layers.
posted by TrishaU at 1:15 AM on November 14, 2019
There are construction site zippered tarp doors that allow entry while trapping debris.
Plastic film can cling to damp windows, which also lets light through.
The sides of the window, including the frame, can allow cold air in. I'd apply some clear caulking from a squeezable tube (a caulking gun is cheaper, but overkill and bulky in tight spaces) and smooth the excess neatly with a caulking tool.
Are the sun room walls insulated? Maybe tarps across the entire walls would help.
I would put the thick puzzle floor mats in the sun room with a few rugs over them. I would make long draft guard tubes, stuff them with plastic grocery bags, and line the walls.
Ceramic heaters work (set on a piece of tile), but I've had problems with throwing breakers because two are on the same electric circuit. Know where your breaker box is and keep tabs on what items are plugged in at the same time.
I am not as confident about heaters that contain a flame, but if you do that make sure you have a smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector, and a good fire extinguisher.
If I had a chronically chilly house, I might seriously consider a kotatsu or some other type of heated personal area. Another vote for "heat the person, not the entire room."
'Tis the season for Buffs, fingerless gloves (dollar store gloves with the fingertips cut off), and wool socks or lined moccasins. I prefer long shawls to cardigans since I can adjust them. Fleece is in. So is Cuddl Duds microfiber long underwear (I get mine from Wal-Mart, but other stores have them).
Layers, layers, layers.
posted by TrishaU at 1:15 AM on November 14, 2019
I really like slipper boots, they stay on better and provide more warmth than regular slippers.
posted by radioamy at 8:15 PM on November 14, 2019
posted by radioamy at 8:15 PM on November 14, 2019
I don't use my heat - it's expensive and I'm unemployed. It's always really cold in my apartment. I layer up while I'm awake and have the cold-weather duvet on the bed.
My lifesavers are my fippers - LLBean Wicked Good Slippers. I also have a small heater that sits under my desk to warm my feet. It uses a lot of electricity but I think it's less than turning up the thermostat.
I've heard good things about the plastic window stuff - I would definitely try that first.
posted by bendy at 5:57 AM on November 17, 2019
My lifesavers are my fippers - LLBean Wicked Good Slippers. I also have a small heater that sits under my desk to warm my feet. It uses a lot of electricity but I think it's less than turning up the thermostat.
I've heard good things about the plastic window stuff - I would definitely try that first.
posted by bendy at 5:57 AM on November 17, 2019
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In my experience the winter-proofing plastic works quite well. Ditto a heavy curtain over the door.
posted by sciencegeek at 1:00 PM on November 13, 2019 [2 favorites]