Coldest day of the year
Today will probably be the coldest day of the year in Buffalo, with a low of -7°F. I took the opportunity to time my furnace for one cycle. I found approximately 32% duty cycle, with 19 minutes on followed by 41 minutes off. My thermostat is set for 1.5°F swing.
It's also the day of the year with the coldest infiltrating air, the greatest variation in temperature from one part of the house to the next, and the lowest indoor humidity.
I figure I spent about a therm of gas due to air infiltration alone, in addition to heat conducted through the walls. I really want a tightly sealed house that uses a ventilation fan (with heat exchanger) instead of infiltration to provide fresh air to the occupants. Additionally, it might be nice to have a fan that filters and circulates air within the house.
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