Does Windchill Affect Your Home?

1/4/2023 (Permalink)

Windchill Affect on Homes

In North Dakota, we are used to the phrase “It wouldn’t be so cold if it wasn’t for the wind.” Windchill is calculated through a formula that describes how much colder the air temperature is due to heat loss caused by winds. While windchill is usually used to describe how the temperature affects humans, it is important to remember how it can damage your home.

The same way humans give off heat through their skin, homes give off heat through low insulated spots such as windows, open doors, or leaks. The more insulated a home is, the better it will be at retaining heat. Wind chill affects every and all objects, until it doesn’t. It stops having an effect when the object is the same temperature as the actual air temperature. Any warm heat sources like your body or your home, that are trying to maintain a warm temperature in a cold environment, will all be affected by windchill.

When a wind chill advisory is in effect, if you have a drafty home or if you accidentally leave the fireplace flue open or a window is not fully closed, the cold wind is going to have a noticeable effect on your home heating and home comfort. Make sure to insulate and seal up your house as much as possible. A poorly insulated home is susceptible to water damage caused from leaks or frozen pipes.

When dealing with cold temperatures, wind can have an additional impact on your home and heating bill. Properly insulating your home and sealing up cracks or other drafts can make a huge difference in the lifespan and value of your home. When the windchill temperature gets lower, be sure to keep your home protected and prevent disaster.