Staying comfortable through a Colorado winter

What a winter here is actually like

Newcomers often expect months of gray. What they find along the Front Range is something stranger: a storm drops snow, the sky clears to deep blue, the sun melts the south side of the street by afternoon, and the temperature falls hard after dark. Chinook winds can blow warm, dry air down off the mountains and raise temperatures quickly. In the mountains, cold settles in for longer stretches and snow stays put.

That pattern shapes indoor comfort. Big swings between day and night mean the house is constantly gaining and losing heat. Clear skies give you free warmth through the windows by day and pull heat out through the same glass at night. And the air, dry outside, becomes drier still once the furnace warms it.

Let the sun do some of the work

Low winter sun shines deep into south-facing rooms. On a clear day, that light warms floors, furniture and the air in a way you can feel. Treat your window coverings like a valve:

1. In the morning, open shades on east and south windows once direct sun reaches them.
2. In the afternoon, open west-facing shades if those rooms are cool.
3. Around sunset, close everything. Glass is the weakest part of most walls, and a covered window loses heat more slowly.

Cellular or honeycomb shades trap a layer of air and are among the better insulating window treatments. Heavy lined curtains that reach the floor do a similar job. Even closing ordinary blinds after dark makes a room feel less chilly near the glass.

Find and calm drafts

Drafts make a warm room feel cold because moving air strips heat from skin. On a windy evening, walk slowly around exterior walls with the back of your hand near window edges, door frames, outlets on outside walls and the attic hatch. A thin ribbon of tissue held near a gap will flutter if air is moving.

For comfort, quick fixes go a long way: a draft stopper along the bottom of an exterior door, removable weatherstrip tape on a leaky window sash for the season, and closing the fireplace damper whenever there is no fire. Larger problems like failing window seals or poorly insulated walls are worth discussing with a qualified contractor once the weather turns.

Also notice cold surfaces. A room can have warm air and still feel uncomfortable if you sit next to a cold window or walk on a cold slab floor. Moving a reading chair a few feet from the glass or adding a thick rug changes how a room feels without touching the thermostat.

Heat that feels better, not just hotter

Humidity changes how warm a room feels. Very dry air lets moisture evaporate from your skin quickly, which cools you. Bringing indoor humidity into a comfortable range often makes the same thermostat setting feel warmer. The indoor humidity guide shows how far to go before windows fog on cold nights.

A few more ways to make heat feel better:

• Run ceiling fans clockwise at low speed to push warm air down from the ceiling.
• Keep furniture and long curtains off heating registers and baseboard heaters.
• Lower the thermostat at night and when you are out, and use a programmable or smart thermostat so you wake up to a warm house.
• Close doors to rooms you rarely use, if your heating system allows it, and keep the living spaces cozy.
• Use a space heater only with plenty of clearance, plugged directly into the wall, and never while sleeping.

Skin, sleep and everyday comfort

Dry winter air is hard on people as well as houses. Moisturizing right after a shower, while skin is still damp, holds in more water than lotion applied later. Lip balm on the nightstand, a water glass by the bed and a small humidifier in the bedroom help many people sleep better through January.

For sleep, layers beat a hotter thermostat. Flannel or wool bedding, a duvet you can fold back, and warm socks let you adjust through the night without overheating the house. A cooler bedroom with warm bedding is a comfortable combination for most people.

In a dry winter climate, comfort is often less about the number on the thermostat and more about moisture, drafts and cold surfaces.

The snowy entryway

Snow, ice-melt grit and mud arrive on every pair of boots. A good entry setup keeps floors dry and the rest of the house warmer because the door is not left open while someone hunts for gloves. A sturdy outdoor mat, a boot tray inside, a bench for sitting, and hooks for wet coats cover most of it. Wipe up meltwater quickly on wood floors, which do not appreciate standing water any more than they like dry air.

Room-by-room winter comfort checklist

Tick items off as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser so you can come back on the next cold weekend.

• Living room: shades open on sunny days, closed at sunsetStart with the south-facing windows.
• Living room: reading chair moved away from cold glassEven a few feet makes a difference.
• Ceiling fans switched to winter directionClockwise, low speed, on most models.
• Registers and baseboard heaters cleared of furniture and curtains
• Bedroom: hygrometer and humidifier set upAim for a level your windows can handle.
• Bedroom: winter bedding in placeFlannel sheets, a heavier blanket, extra pillows for guests.
• Exterior doors: draft stoppers on any door with a visible gap
• Fireplace damper closed when no fire is burning
• Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms tested
• Entryway: mat, boot tray, bench and hooks ready
• Thermostat schedule set for nights and workdays
• Lip balm, lotion and a water glass on every nightstand

Clear the checklist

Expecting family for the holidays? Winter is also the season when visitors from lower elevations arrive. The hosting guide covers the guest room and their first two days, and if baking is part of the plan, the baking guide will save a batch of cookies or two.

Questions about winter comfort