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#1
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Calculating window heat loss
So I just put all new Harvey windows in my house, thinking that it
would cause a noticeable improvement in my heating. I'm disappointed. Specifically I have this one small room with three windows (corner room) and despite the fact that the thermostat is 6ft outside this room reading 71, the room itself reads about 67-68. Worse, I walked my thermometer over to a window and it dropped to 62. So my natural question is, is there a way that I can tell my windows have been installed properly and working as efficiently as they're supposed to? Is that much of a degree change expected? We've had some cold weather up here (Massachusetts) lately, but I wouldn't call it extreme -- 20's to 30's mostly. I think it's gotta be a heat loss thing (as opposed to not heating the room enough, for instance) beacuse on a warmer day the thermostat read 72 and the room also read 72. So the differential seems to go up on cold days. I do get condensation on the windows sometimes, but it's a baby's nursery and we often have a humidifier running so I'm assuming that's normal. There is no condensation between the panes in the window. |
#2
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Calculating window heat loss
Duane Morin wrote:
So I just put all new Harvey windows in my house, thinking that it would cause a noticeable improvement in my heating. I'm disappointed. Specifically I have this one small room with three windows (corner room) and despite the fact that the thermostat is 6ft outside this room reading 71, the room itself reads about 67-68. Worse, I walked my thermometer over to a window and it dropped to 62. I am not sure what you were expecting. First, what were those number before the new windows? Second I would not really expect much if any difference. If the windows are working, they will let less heat escape. With less heat escaping from your home, the thermostat will call for less heat, and your home will stay at the SAME temperature as before, but you will use less energy keeping it that way. -- Joseph E. Meehan 26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math |
#3
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Calculating window heat loss
"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message ... Duane Morin wrote: So I just put all new Harvey windows in my house, thinking that it would cause a noticeable improvement in my heating. I'm disappointed. Specifically I have this one small room with three windows (corner room) and despite the fact that the thermostat is 6ft outside this room reading 71, the room itself reads about 67-68. Worse, I walked my thermometer over to a window and it dropped to 62. I am not sure what you were expecting. First, what were those number before the new windows? Second I would not really expect much if any difference. If the windows are working, they will let less heat escape. With less heat escaping from your home, the thermostat will call for less heat, and your home will stay at the SAME temperature as before, but you will use less energy keeping it that way. -- Joseph E. Meehan That's a good thought. The new windows could reduce drafts as well, but he made no mention of drafts. |
#4
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Calculating window heat loss
"Duane Morin" wrote in message om... So I just put all new Harvey windows in my house, thinking that it would cause a noticeable improvement in my heating. I'm disappointed. Specifically I have this one small room with three windows (corner room) and despite the fact that the thermostat is 6ft outside this room reading 71, the room itself reads about 67-68. Worse, I walked my thermometer over to a window and it dropped to 62. So my natural question is, is there a way that I can tell my windows have been installed properly and working as efficiently as they're supposed to? Is that much of a degree change expected? We've had some cold weather up here (Massachusetts) lately, but I wouldn't call it extreme -- 20's to 30's mostly. I think it's gotta be a heat loss thing (as opposed to not heating the room enough, for instance) beacuse on a warmer day the thermostat read 72 and the room also read 72. So the differential seems to go up on cold days. I do get condensation on the windows sometimes, but it's a baby's nursery and we often have a humidifier running so I'm assuming that's normal. There is no condensation between the panes in the window. What type of window did you have before (single or double pane)? What is the U value of the new windows (should be a label on it somewhere)? Are they low-E? -- Mark Kent, WA |
#5
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Calculating window heat loss
"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message .. .
Duane Morin wrote: So I just put all new Harvey windows in my house, thinking that it would cause a noticeable improvement in my heating. I'm disappointed. Specifically I have this one small room with three windows (corner room) and despite the fact that the thermostat is 6ft outside this room reading 71, the room itself reads about 67-68. Worse, I walked my thermometer over to a window and it dropped to 62. I am not sure what you were expecting. My daughter's room is the coldest room in the house. At the other end of the upstairs is the master bedroom, also a corner room with three windows, but it has much more baseboard for heat and pretty much bakes us. So I am unable to heat the upstairs adequately -- in order to keep her room at around 68 I would need to set the thermostat to about 72 which would in turn make our bedroom around 73+. Yuck. We moved the thermostat from the master bedroom out into a more central location at the top of the stairs, reasoning that formerly it was in the room that heated fastest, therefore not leaving any time for the other rooms to heat. But it has not helped - if anything it has made the problem worse by causing the master bedroom to heat longer and hotter. I recognize that her room is probably getting the least heat, being way at the end of the pipes and not having a huge amount of baseboard. So I am overly paranoid about keeping as much of that heat in there as possible. I am concerned that her room is losing heat more rapidly than some of the others and not able to get it back. Hope that clarifies my goals. I realize that by replacing all the windows in the house I (at least theoretically) improved the heating efficiency of the house across the board, and thus would not actually solve the problem . My question came from the surprising discovery that the temperature dropped so significantly over by the windows, and I guess I just wasn't sure what to expect, so I asked. I will look up the constants people are asking me for when I get home, and post again with that info. Thanks! Duane |
#6
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Calculating window heat loss
"New & Improved - N/F John" wrote in message ...
That's a good thought. The new windows could reduce drafts as well, but he made no mention of drafts. I"m happy to say I'm not feeling any drafts. It's just colder than I expected. I will track down some U and R values (what's the difference?) and report back. DUane |
#7
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Calculating window heat loss
Duane Morin wrote:
"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message .. . I am not sure what you were expecting. My daughter's room is the coldest room in the house. At the other end of the upstairs is the master bedroom, also a corner room with three windows, but it has much more baseboard for heat and pretty much bakes us. So I am unable to heat the upstairs adequately -- in order to keep her room at around 68 I would need to set the thermostat to about 72 which would in turn make our bedroom around 73+. Yuck. We moved the thermostat from the master bedroom out into a more central location at the top of the stairs, reasoning that formerly it was in the room that heated fastest, therefore not leaving any time for the other rooms to heat. But it has not helped - if anything it has made the problem worse by causing the master bedroom to heat longer and hotter. I recognize that her room is probably getting the least heat, being way at the end of the pipes and not having a huge amount of baseboard. So I am overly paranoid about keeping as much of that heat in there as possible. I am concerned that her room is losing heat more rapidly than some of the others and not able to get it back. Hope that clarifies my goals. I realize that by replacing all the windows in the house I (at least theoretically) improved the heating efficiency of the house across the board, and thus would not actually solve the problem . My question came from the surprising discovery that the temperature dropped so significantly over by the windows, and I guess I just wasn't sure what to expect, so I asked. I will look up the constants people are asking me for when I get home, and post again with that info. You did a good think, but it was the wrong thing. Improved windows will save you energy and are likely to make you home more comfortable, but they will not help make the temperature more even. Designing a system to efficiently, effectively and evenly is not rocket science, it's harder. It's heating science and is as much an art as a science. (Believe me, my son is a rocket scientist and could not design a good heating system if his life depended on it. He does a great job on satellites however.) I suggest you find a professional familiar with the type of heat you are using and have them take a look. This can't be done on-line it takes a on site inspection. In the long run it will not only make you more comfortable, but save you the cost of the work as well in energy savings. Good Luck -- Joseph E. Meehan 26 + 6 = 1 It's Irish Math |
#8
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Calculating window heat loss
"Duane Morin" wrote in message m... "New & Improved - N/F John" wrote in message ... That's a good thought. The new windows could reduce drafts as well, but he made no mention of drafts. I"m happy to say I'm not feeling any drafts. It's just colder than I expected. I will track down some U and R values (what's the difference?) and report back. DUane R- insulation value of the ONE item U-Insulation value of more than one item, like a wall...the combination of R values....IE: air space, drywall, insulation, outer wall insulation, wall material like brick, or other, and outdoor air envelope. |
#9
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Calculating window heat loss
"Joseph Meehan" wrote in message ... Duane Morin wrote: "Joseph Meehan" wrote in message .. . I am not sure what you were expecting. My daughter's room is the coldest room in the house. At the other end of the upstairs is the master bedroom, also a corner room with three windows, but it has much more baseboard for heat and pretty much bakes us. So I am unable to heat the upstairs adequately -- in order to keep her room at around 68 I would need to set the thermostat to about 72 which would in turn make our bedroom around 73+. Yuck. We moved the thermostat from the master bedroom out into a more central location at the top of the stairs, reasoning that formerly it was in the room that heated fastest, therefore not leaving any time for the other rooms to heat. But it has not helped - if anything it has made the problem worse by causing the master bedroom to heat longer and hotter. I recognize that her room is probably getting the least heat, being way at the end of the pipes and not having a huge amount of baseboard. So I am overly paranoid about keeping as much of that heat in there as possible. I am concerned that her room is losing heat more rapidly than some of the others and not able to get it back. Hope that clarifies my goals. I realize that by replacing all the windows in the house I (at least theoretically) improved the heating efficiency of the house across the board, and thus would not actually solve the problem . My question came from the surprising discovery that the temperature dropped so significantly over by the windows, and I guess I just wasn't sure what to expect, so I asked. I will look up the constants people are asking me for when I get home, and post again with that info. You did a good think, but it was the wrong thing. Improved windows will save you energy and are likely to make you home more comfortable, but they will not help make the temperature more even. Designing a system to efficiently, effectively and evenly is not rocket science, it's harder. It's heating science and is as much an art as a science. (Believe me, my son is a rocket scientist and could not design a good heating system if his life depended on it. He does a great job on satellites however.) I suggest you find a professional familiar with the type of heat you are using and have them take a look. This can't be done on-line it takes a on site inspection. In the long run it will not only make you more comfortable, but save you the cost of the work as well in energy savings. If the OP has baseboard radiators, he may be able to shut the flaps on them in the room that is too hot and open them in the room that is too cool. |
#10
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Calculating window heat loss
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