We run our furnace for approximately eight months of the year.
The temperature is below freezing the majority of the time and often sub zero. The cost of heating has a tremendous impact on our household budget. It’s necessary to seal the house tightly to minimize energy waste. Because of this, there is very little natural ventilation. The indoor living space becomes overly dry, stuffy and stale. The outdoor conditions keep us inside. The winter creates a great deal of work and expense. We’ve needed to invest into an especially powerful furnace, four-wheel-drive vehicle and a plow for the truck. We devote time nearly every day to shoveling snow away from the front step, the mailbox and our vehicles. I even need to clear a path for the dog, because the snow accumulates in feet. We wait a long time for the weather to warm up enough for the snow to melt. I am always anxious for the day when we can finally open the windows. The fresh air feels fantastic. With such short summers, my family spends as much time as possible outside. We swim in the pool, lie in the sun, play in the yard, work in the gardens and barbecue. We like to ride bikes, play tennis and take our kayaks to the lake. I have never felt the need to install central air conditioning. It seems like a big expense for little reward. I went to the local home improvement store and bought window air conditioners for each of the bedrooms. This solution was way cheaper and easier. The units are especially compact and lightweight. Installing them into the windows took me just a few minutes. When the air conditioners aren’t in use, we store them in the attic. They are powerful enough to keep the bedrooms nice and cool on hot and muggy nights, and they allow each family member to tailor the temperature to their personal preference.