I carefully read the OP's post again. Electric heat=gas heat=hydronic heat. Our own bodies are comfortable at around 97 degrees Fahrenheit. Then mastic seal all your ductwork - starting in the attic. A: First, let’s talk about the various areas of your home that are responsible for heat loss. The fact is that air flow can cause drying and does in most houses. I am 73 and always HOT. I had insulation blown in the attic during the summer and yes the foundation is on a slab. While most people think hypothermia occurs only in frigid conditions, seniors with slower metabolism can experience hypothermia in temperatures in the mid‑70s! Just the opposite of standing in front of a fire outside. Generally speaking, a heat pump will produce air that is about 55 degrees warmer than the outside air. This could be due to aging or medication side effects. My gas furnace is at 70, but I feel cold air from floors and I feel a slight breeze circulating inside house. If the air is too dry, 72 will feel cooler as your sweat evaporates off you more readily and carries your heat away more easily. For an older person, a body temperature of 95°F or lower can cause many health problems, such as a heart attack, kidney problems, liver damage, or worse.". can you help? Q: Now that the weather is turning cold, I feel like my house won’t stay warm no matter what I do. [bctt tweet=”The thermostat tells us the air temperature is 72° F but it says nothing about your body temperature, walls, windows or floors. My downstairs wall thermostat reads 79 degrees the outside temp is 38 degrees the thermometer i have sitting on the table in the same room with the thermostat reads 75 degrees and the humidity reads 33%. What is your outside temp.? I have added insulation in the attic and new windows. Drafty windows and doors can make it feel colder if you are sitting in the cross breeze. To say "electric heat is dry" is wrong. That might be 68 degrees or it might be 73. Cold intolerance is when you’re extremely sensitive to cold temperatures. When you warm the air, it dries it out the air mass in your house. If the seniors in your life mention that they are feeling cold, take it seriously. If there are leaky ducts in unconditioned space there will be more drying. You say the thermostat is set to 77 degrees but the master bedroom is at 74 degrees. Strategy - seal air leaks. But once the hot air cools, it becomes even more humid. I'm not sure if there's a window at both ends of your room, if there is and it's light enough you might want to consider adding a room divider, screen or bookshelf to define the spaces and de-longify the room. Take a look at our reasons why your house may be cold and what you can do to warm things up. My mom came to spend the night with me tonight. Windows. Your thyroid hormone levels may be low. The master bedroom temp reads 74 degrees (wife really hates this). www.resnet.us is a source for energyraters who test both house & ducts forleakage. This is plenty warm to heat your home to your desired 72°F. The fuel or equipment used to heat a house has no effect on relative humidity. Whatever the cause of sensitivity to the cold in older adults, hypothermia is a very real threat for seniors. Inside air comes from outside air, and you need a steady inflow for it to be healthy and not stale. My current outside temp is 43 degrees though. Get one of those cheap infrared thermometers and take surface temp readings of everything. Happy New Year. Aging. Here are some causes why people would feel cold all the time, along with some treatment options: Anemia; When you are suffering from anemia, the levels of oxygen carrying component in the blood, hemoglobin, goes down. So when it is less humid, you will feel more cold as moisture will easily evaporate from your skin. You're wondering what is happening and how can you fix the issue? In the summer, I'm perfectly comfortable sitting around in shorts, a t-shirt, and sandals. I rotate it in the Family room to keep it cooler. Heat pumps usually produce air that is 85-92°F. David - Sorry, it was too abstract a comment, just trying to point out the result of picking the wrong thing for cause and effect. I agree, more flow through leaky ducts would cause more infiltration. Why does the air feel more humid in the summer than in winter? As Science explains, a cat will automatically become slightly cooler while sleeping. Why am I so cold? In that week, that house felt really cold, although the temperature sensor was set to 21 or 22 degC (70 to 71.5 degF) which normally should feel comfortable. I agree, at 79 degrees in anyone elses home I would be running around with skivvies on and holding a sweat rag as well. Buy a cheap thermometer and check whether your thermostat's setting is accurate. It's wintertime and even though the furnace is running your house still feels cold! If you're anything at all like me, it doesn't actually matter what the … Think of someone who drives in heavy urban traffic during the work day, and then on open highway at moderate speed at night. Feel cold at 72 degrees. Does anyone really leave their fan ON in the winter? Mon 9 Jul 2018 06.30 EDT. Buy a humidistat but either way you need to seal the house. What is your relative humidity ? If you feel a chill even when you use your heating system, it’s time to figure out the source of your problem and find a solution. That’s something Marion, Mass. When I have the thermostat set at 74 degrees and I am watching TV, my nose is cold so it’s obviously not 74 degrees. But, the air coming out of the vents can feel cold for a couple reasons: Gas furnaces produce air that is 130-140°F range. You'll probably get a grant for it - contact the Energy Saving Trust for impartial advice. Or, for that matter, a single stage furnace of any kind when the homeowner sets the fan to "On" for air flow/air filtering. 15 Smart Design Choices for Cold Climates, Advice needed - Looking to buy a 1970s one story home with no basement, Advice Needed on Replacement AC Package Unit for Condo, Need A/C advice please. And, because the body knows to perspire less during chilly months to shield against the elements, the first sign of spring can feel balmy — or at least more pleasant — compared with the same mild temperature at the start of autumn, when a person has developed a tolerance for (and greater perspiration response to) heat. Last modified on Mon 9 Jul 2018 06.31 EDT. Even though the air between you and the fire is quite cold, the fire's radiant heat warms your body. Email; Facebook Tweet Listen 4:28. Why a slowing metabolism can make you feel cold. Increased susceptibility to the cold is not always age‑related. This isn’t a problem when it’s 55 degrees outside—your system will expel air that’s a toasty warm 110 degrees or so. OP is this your first winter in the house? Now I've one black widow who's made a home in my paver seating wall, and I leave her alone as she never bothers me. Why Are You Feeling Cold at Night? W hy is it … Aging causes a natural decrease in metabolic rate, which means seniors' bodies might be unable to generate enough heat to maintain a "normal" temperature of 98.6 degrees. Had a heavy black widow infestation in the garage some years ago and worked very hard to rid them. Let's take a closer look at the issue, along with ways you can keep aging loved ones warm, comfortable, and safe. Thanks Sophie, but as I stated, there's no huge temp/humidity fluctuations, so there shouldn't be major expansion/contraction issues. You seem to have a lot of air infiltration causing a wind chill effect. The home is all electric. I placed a thermometer in the same room with both thermostats (upstairs/downstairs) and the thermometer reads the same temp. Kalining thanks for responding. Causes of Always Feeling Cold and Treatment Options. Why does 74 degrees in a house in the winter feel much cooler than in the summer? While feeling cold may be a simple case of turning up the heat or throwing on an extra blanket, a few medical conditions may also cause this to happen. Once the thermostat reaches 1 degree above its set temp it goes off and comes back on 1 degree below the set temp. #3 House Insulation When Peter Martin abandoned his sweaters and called in professionals, his diagnose was lousy insulation. So yes, the fuel used can make a difference in drying.... "The upstairs thermostat reads 79 the master bed (2 vents plus 1 in the bath) themometer reads 74 along with 2 other bedrooms (1 vent) but the back bedroom (1 vent) reads 70 degrees.". Heat pumps usually produce air that is 85-92°F. The title of the post is misleading. Why Some People Always Feel Cold While Others Are Always Hot. I have a 2 story 4 bedroom home built in '72 (VA), vinyl siding. Slower circulation can make it difficult to retain heat throughout the body. Aging adults feel sensitive to cold temperatures for a variety of reasons, from thinning skin to heart issues. Cold intolerance is more severe than the normal feeling of chilliness on a cool day. We’ve all heard the phrase, “Everything is relative.” But is that true when it comes to temperature? Is your furnace located in the attic? Caregivers play a critical role in hypothermia awareness and prevention. Here are some reasons why your house may be cold even when the heating is on and what you can do to warm things up: Heat Doesn’t Deliver. If the walls, windows and floor are several degrees below that of the air temperature, you will still lose your body heat due to radiant heat loss. Although the room themometers read 74/76 there is still a chill. You have a 5 degree temperature variation between the bedrooms. There are numerous 'draft detectors' on the market you can use to search for air leaks. Why a Heat Pump Will Blow Cold Air. I don't necessarily disagree with Mike about wind chill but from the attic furnace vents? without these tests you only sealwhat you feel & often miss large leaks.an example of large leaks would befireplace open to atticand gap between wall & ceilling hiddenby ceiling moldings. Act quickly. Likewise, Ladma, mud was done with the house at 70 degrees with moderate humidity, and cured/painted under the same conditions. The thermostat downstairs reads 79 and the room themometer in that room (family) reads 76 the living room themometer reads 78. You could be suffering from cold walls, windows and that cold floor. mmLearn.org on Mon, Sep 14, 2020 @ 09:00 AM, Is Grandma Always Cold? This is my first winter in the home however not my families first. Internal insulation is cheap to do and can be very thin these days so you don't lose much space, and of course the outside of your home is unaffected so doesn't upset the planners. March 27, 2015. As to rooms getting too hot/cold, you may look into installing it in zones so you can regulate areas of your home on separate thermostats. You may also just feel cold because you are in a cooler environment, though some people have a cold intolerance, making them uncomfortably chilly in ordinary environments. The family is still wearing sweats suits to bed. Do you feel a chill even with the heating on full blast? hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(114266, 'a9e3c8e4-5329-4a34-a9e9-48a338165cac', {}); By The increased sensitivity to cold or feeling cold more than usual can mean that your loved one is suffering from mild hypothermia. If you are underweight, you may not have enough body fat to hold heat in your body. However, this doesn’t always mean that they should feel cold round the year. Hypothyroidism. Hence - hydronic does not dry because there is no airflow, gas furnace dries a little because there is a little airflow and heatpumps dry the most because there is the most airflow. Why does 20C feel different at different times of the year? I don't sleep with an electric blanket and usually at night I get very hot but during the day I am cold. Chills can occur … According to MedlinePlus, "As you get older, it becomes harder for your body to control its temperature." Everyone complained about how much the radiator heat dried up indoor air. I agree that a proper fireplace would be a good addition. Curiosity Desk | August 22, 2018. You can feel cold even when your temperature is normal or high, such as when you experience fever and chills. But there can be other potential causes, including an underactive thyroid or hypothyroidism, and stress at … Why does my apartment feel colder in the winter than in the summer, when the thermostat reads the same? Snidely - it took me a little while on the traffic reference and I get your point. August 22, 2018. ELI5: Why are there “hot people” and “cold people”? Cold air can seep in through gaps in your windows, doors, floorboards or lofts. Family members and caregivers should stay alert for signs of hypothermia in seniors and encourage clothing layers and warm drinks whenever an aging adult feels chilled. Your cold house may be due to major leaks from old duct work and/or loose joints or maybe the AC started showing its age. Even if you put your heaters on and your home doesn’t have adequate protection the warm air can escape as quickly as the cold air enters. But if you're feeling cold this winter even though your thermostat is set to a relatively toasty temperature, you may need to modify your home - … So 85-92°F feels cold to … Yes, I have forced hot air. Like the people who are perpetually too hot or too cold. Radiant heat is different, it feels different. Not only is this a miserable way to live, it’s also likely costing you a fair whack in wasted fuel. Is My House Too Cold for a Cat? You do realize that in VA with pretty high rates and an all electric older house, that you might be near $1000 a month if you keep it at 79 degrees? I don't sleep with an electric blanket and usually at night I get very hot but during the day I am cold. When the temperature of the body falls below 95 degree, your body can suffer from hypothermia. I would say if you did that in subzero temps, and the result was just a few cracks, that's a pretty good testament that my problems, by comparison, should be minimal. This post was edited by brickeyee on Wed, Jan 2, 13 at 14:54. There has not been either a major or sudden swing in temp/humidity. Most homes use air-source heat pumps, which run outside air through a series of coils that extract heat energy. This is responsible for fat conservation. The OP is pushing the thermostat higher in order to make everyone in the family comfortable. Feeling cold at night and at other times is one of the early symptoms.Other symptoms includefeeling weak, loss of appetite, pale skin, shortness of breath, chest pain, irregular heartbeat and headaches. I will look into the blower door test. If I get a humidifier would that help the chill? I can't find the reference now, but as an example, if you take 40 deg F air at 100% humidity (heavy fog) and warm it to 70 deg F, its relative humidity is under 50%. A very common question we get in the air conditioning business, especially here in Florida is: “Why does my house feel so muggy? By Chris Riotta. This can happen for several reasons. You can also feel cold when you your body temperature is below normal (hypothermia). ( 20 seer vs 16 seer). Currently I have the heat set to 79 degrees because the family was a little chilly with it set to 77, the current outside temp is 42 degrees. Windows. Even incense sticks can to a pretty decent job.Just watch the smoke. We live on the Coast so it can get humid. I am in sweats freezing my butt off, my nose is like ice and she is in shorts and a tee shirt as comfortable as can be. So while it isn't technically the fuel that is causing the drying, it still appears that way to the average person. A lot of air movement will make 72 degrees feel cold. En savoir plus. In a leaky Southern older home, this is significant. A cold nose can be uncomfortable when the weather is chilly. I'm not sure what the relative humidity is. Why is my house always so cold? Even a low stage gas furnace runs less than a heat pump (in most situtations). Thanks Energy Rater. I've gone through the house and sealed air leaks. In the winter, there is a good chance that it is 72 degrees in you house because of the heater. There are also community resources available to help expand your knowledge and support your role as a caregiver. It is a more comfortable and even heat, you don't get cold spots where the air isn't circulating and hot spots where it is blowing. 6 years ago. The cold rooms have either a duct problem, a high amount of air leakage from windows or a combination of both. This diagram from Energy Star represents some of the most common air leakage points in the home—in other words, where heat is lost during the wintertime. Facts about hypothermia Hypothermia is a condition characterized by extreme low body temperatures. Science Photo Library/Getty Images. Does it feel like the seniors in your life are always feel cold? So 85-92°F feels cold to … Why does 68 degrees feel colder in winter? I have added insulation in the attic and new windows. Why do some of the walls in my house feel colder than others? Sealing leaks will increase your indoor humidity and reduce any wind chill effect. Why Seniors Feel Cold, and How You Can Help. As mentioned, a cat’s body temperature should typically run between 101-102.5 degrees Fahrenheit. March 27, 2015. You probably have air leaks from floors, fireplace, or doors. I know this is an old post but I'm still having the same problem. If you feel cold frequently even when you're in a warm place, or long after you've come in from cold temperatures, check with your doctor to find out what might be going on. Does not run constantly my highest bill so far has been $ 197 indoor humidity the master bedroom temp 74. Body falls below 95 degree, your body to control its temperature. no ” ] Each of interact! Apartment is roughly 72 degrees ( Fahrenheit ) year round given amount of air, it even! 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