What can we say, it is now November and it has already been cold; cold like late December when the chill in the air sends us under the covers at night. Yes we sometimes wonder why the house is so cold and how can I keep the house warmer.
One common issue here in Mexico is that generally the homes are very “leaky”. Our windows and doors are typically not sealed like windows up north and hence small drafts can sneak through the doors and windows. Another source of air drafts is the ventilated skylights we enjoy during the hotter months. Even fireplaces when not in use, become an entry point for cool air since typically fireplaces do not have a damper control.
Skylights are difficult however; they can be filled from the interior or covered from above with a tarpaulin. Some solutions I have seen vary from simply taping over the mosquito screen (which is not recommended) to providing a small insert made of plastic or wood to fill in the space and eliminate the draft. In fireplaces, some people have placed aluminum foil, bricks or tiles in the throat above the firebox where the damper would normally be located. Of course, one should always remember to remove these items prior to starting a fire.
However, sometimes we miss the opportunity to warm our house a natural way. Most homes have the passive capability to act as large solar sinks which can absorb a large amount of solar energy by heating up the house. The massive masonry construction slowly absorbs infrared energy and heats up the bricks, steel and cement during the day, however, during the night, the reverse happens where the heat energy that was absorbed during the day by the building, is slowly released during the evening this sometimes can keep a home warm for several hours during the evening. During the winter months, it is advantageous to open up the curtains pull away the potted plants and let the sun shine in. The sun is lower on the horizon and there is the opportunity for more the sun to shine into the house and heat up the floors in the interior of the house. Similarly, the floors will slowly release the heat and keep your toes toasty warm through the evening. This method of passive solar heating is an easy way to help warm your home however, if the sun is not shining there are of course, many ways to help heat up the home using alternative heat sources like your fireplace or space heaters during these cooler and cloudy days.
Some homeowners have decided to use a “non-vented” or “no-vent” gas fireplace insert which does not require a chimney or ventilation system and can produce large amounts of heat energy (Btu’s or kilowatts). These types of heaters are illegal in Canada and many of the states in America, however the leaky conditions of our houses help since if there is excessive carbon monoxide or water vapor produced by these type of heaters (water vapor, carbon dioxide and potentially carbon monoxide are byproducts of gas combustion) can generally be diluted or allowed to escape the leaky home. If you decide to use a “no-vent” gas insert in your fireplace consider a carbon monoxide detection unit or only used the system for short durations of time to help heat up the house prior to going to bed.
First, a quick safety note about electrical space heaters; let’s remember that electrical heaters should be connected to a grounded circuit for safety reasons. Unfortunately, this past year someone accidentally died here at Lake Chapala as the result of a faulty space heater used on a non-grounded circuit in a bathroom.
Also if you are using the space heater whether gas or electric, please be sure that the heater is placed in a safe location that is not on or pointing directly at combustible materials.
