This is my first winter as a homeowner. I grew up in a house where my parents saved money on heating by shutting off the heat to unused rooms in the winter. I’ve been doing this in my house, but a friend told me that it can damage a house somehow. Is this a good idea or not?
Well, it depends on the house and how cold it’s allowed to get. Some houses are fine, while others will develop problems like frozen pipes, cracked plaster or drywall, and wetness on the inside of the home and the outside. As notable is the potential problem of condensation forming on cool surfaces. Without enough heat to dry them out, these surfaces can become ideal spots for mold and wood rot. This may happen where you can see it or where you can’t -- within the walls, floors, or attic.
The colder a house becomes, the more risk. The temperature at which problems happen depends on a number of factors, including the home’s insulation, air leakage, and humidity levels. If you decide to turn heat down or off in a room, be sure there are no pipes running through it (or in its walls, ceiling, or floor). Then, monitor how your house responds. This will alert you to problems you can see and to cold spots where condensation may form. Thanks for a question about something that lots of Vermonters wonder about.
Li Ling for The Home Team