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[Georgiagrama]

We have central electric heat and air in our home. The house stays nice and cool in the summer, but, in the winter (the few cold days that we actually have where I live) I never feel like my house is warm and I am always cold. I'd love to move to North Georgia but I don't think I could function in extended cold weather.

If you live in a really cold climate, how do you keep your houses warm? Do you have to dress with extra warmth? Does you house stay warm enough for short sleeves?

I guess I am just curious. My nephew lives in Canada, just above Minot N.D. and they have had a severe winter -50 degrees one day. They have steam heat and extra heaters but I think that they also have to bundle up.

[Mary Bailey]

Speaking of cold and snow, we are having another blast. I still have the window open on my side of the bedroom.

We have forced air heat. Sometimes it still feels chilly when the temperature reads 70. A humidifier helps.

I almost always wear short sleeves. DH wears a fleece jacket. I prefer a nice fleece throw while sitting on the sofa.

[Georgiagrama]

On 1/18/2014 Mary Bailey said:

Speaking of cold and snow, we are having another blast. I still have the window open on my side of the bedroom.

We have forced air heat. Sometimes it still feels chilly when the temperature reads 70. A humidifier helps.

I almost always wear short sleeves. DH wears a fleece jacket. I prefer a nice fleece throw while sitting on the sofa.

Wow. I guess you are well adjusted to cold weather. We have our heat set on 74

[Mary Bailey]

We used to have it set at 68, but this winter has been so cold for so long.

[Jaspersmom]

A lot of depends on what type of heat you have. I have forced hot air heat and when the heat is on, it's toasty. As soon as it goes off, it's cold. I have supplemented my heating system with a few small "fireplace" heaters, especially the rooms that always seem cold.

The best heat I ever had was when I lived in a house with old cast iron radiators. They heated up easily and stayed hot forever. I was never cold. What I would give to have those again. Some people move into old homes and rip out the cast iron radiators. They don't know what a mistake that is.

I've also lived in places that had baseboard heating and it was better than forced hot air but not by much.

I've also found that windows have a lot to do with how warm a house will stay in the winter time. I have all new windows and that's a big plus. When I did recent renovations, I made sure to add insulation in the walls and ceiling.

A good sealed front door can make all the difference in the world. I have a drafty door and no matter what I do, I can't seem to eliminate the draft. That will be a project for next year.

[just4me]

we have to dress in layers. lots of them, if necessary. my feet especially get cold, so i double up on socks. as far as heating the house, we keep it as comfy as possible without overheating. personally we don't go over 70 but i know many who do. it is hard to breathe comfortably in a dry heat, indoors.

[pinkskates4]

We replaced our windows a couple of years ago and now we don't have any drafts - which really helps keep the heat in.

[kaydee50]

We live near Las Vegas, NV and it does get cold here at night--sub freezing temps are not that unusual. We have forced air heat and I keep the thermostat on 69 during the day, 63 at night. We always have a sweater and socks on in the winter and are comfortable. It's nice to be able to wear those items for a few months of the year.

At night we have a down comforter and are nice and warm.

When we lived in NJ we had hot water baseboard heat which was great but there too we always had a sweater and socks on.

[feef]

I'm a California girl born and raised. We moved to Vermont in 2005. We were so sick of the smog, freeway congestion, etc. The first winter in Vermont was really tough on us California wimps. But, after 9 years we love the four seasons. And yes, it gets bitterly cold here. We live up high and get lot's of snow and ice. Our 3800 square foot home is heated with propane in the floors. We close off all of the rooms in the winter that we don't use. That seems to help. Three fireplaces, down blankets, etc. keep us cozy all winter long.

[Snowpuppy]

Gas forced air heat, insulated drapes on the windows that get closed at night. Humidifier and a real, genuine fireplace. That burns real wood. I crack up when I see those Duraflame threads.

Inside temps of 68 feel comfy.