by Joilene Rasmussen

Created on: September 11, 2008

Making Do In An Old House
After a chilly, outdoors work day doing construction on the Colorado plains, my husband and I often come home to a house that is between 35* and 40* F. The first thing we do is light the wood and/or coal stoves. These are our main sources of heat, and we have one for each half of our bi-level, 1,100-square-foot house. Usually within an hour or two (depending on the severity of the winds), the temperature has risen 40*. Meanwhile, we cook supper on the wood cookstove, wearing our insulated work coveralls, which we often do not bother removing until bedtime. Our children help what they can with the supper preparations, and otherwise play in the kitchen, as we shut the uninsulated front rooms off when possible.

I realize we do not live a normal, modern lifestyle, and, due to the poor condition of our home, we expect to spend an average local amount on heating. This winter (2008), we expect our monthly heating bill to come to $200. This is what it will probably cost us to prepare enough wood (or barter for coal) for each month of truly cold winter.

We are improving our situation one window at a time, and hope to have the resources to blow in cellulose insulation in the living room, by next winter (cold weather has already hit here, in mid-September). We also need to fix a multitude of cracks in the walls (an ongoing process, as the ground shifts frequently, due to sink-holes and a high water table). After all repairs, we anticipate our heating bills dropping by 50%. In the meanwhile, we'll live somewhat like our settler ancestors. We still feel fortunate as compared to six years ago, before we installed wood stoves, and could not afford to turn the thermostat up above 55* F. Luckily, I had a baby due in November that year, and didn't notice the cold so much.

So, what can an average family do to reduce heating bills, short of living like pioneers or depression-era dreamers? Supposing you have already done your homework on local utility companies, and are getting the best deal you can there, take stock of the condition of your home. Could your windows stand to be replaced, or, at the least, be covered with heavy plastic sheeting, on the outside, to reduce drafts? What kind of insulation do you have in your walls, floors, and ceilings? Improperly laid carpets and floors can wick heat out and cold in. Are there places around doors and windows, or in your walls (check inside and out), that need caulked or otherwise sealed? Drafts can really take

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