My parents currently own a 3,204 square foot house with 6 bedrooms and 3 baths. The house was built in 1978 and its a rambler type house. I am staying with them right now until I get my own place with a roommate again. I recently got laid off from a company that laid off 400 of us.
My sister has been living with my parents basement with her husband and their 18 month old daughter. They have lived in my parents basement for about a year and a half. They plan on saving money to put a good down payment on their new house. They moved from L.A. to Utah. Because they want a better place to raise a family and they picked Utah in case you are wondering. My parents recently put their old cabinets and converted a wet bar in the basement into a full-blown kitchen for my sister's family.
Here lies the problem. The basement is always a few degrees cooler than the upstairs. I would say give or take 5-10 degrees cooler. In the winter my parents have it set at 70 degrees Fahrenheit all around the house. My sister and her family are not yet used to the cold weather so they bought portable electric heaters. I think they have about 4 of them. I think one is run constantly in the bathroom. I think they turn it off during the day. The others are in the family room when they watch tv and the rest in the bedrooms. I know one is run constantly but not 24/7 in my niece's bedroom. They don't want her to get cold is their reasoning.
My parents have a central air conditioning system. I am not sure how cold they set it in the house. My brother-in-law went around his part of the basement and put some strong clear tape on some of the vents. He told me the air coming through the vents is too cold. That's why he puts the tape. I asked him why don't you close the vents then? He says they are already closed but still cold air comes in. That's why the need for clear masking tape. So for a happy medium they also open the windows. One in the family room, kitchen and bathroom. I know this because the washer/dryer is in the basement and when they are not there I look around and see all these open windows.
This bothers me because my father is a retired engineer and my mom has one more year until she retires from being a First Grade teacher. I would like to see them with lower heating and cooling bills. I remember my father showing a $500 dollar electricity bill. No joke. I haven't stayed their long enough to see how it is in the summer and the cost of the bills. I know they want to go on more trips to visit family and friends but utilities bills like these. They can't do it.
In regards to the air conditioning system I think having the windows open in the basement and the air conditioning coming on. Will only make the air conditioner work harder than it should be. Is their anything my parents can do to lower their heating and cooling bills without kicking my sister and her family out of the home?
I know they want to get new windows they have 10 windows. Should I purchase them a higher end electronic thermostat that can heat or cool two different temperatures for either the downstairs or upstairs? I am not sure if one exists for that. Never looked into it.
Any good ideas on how my parents and my sister's family can all live comfortably in the home? I hope someone can help out. I would be grateful and I know my parents will too.
JC0481
My sister has been living with my parents basement with her husband and their 18 month old daughter. They have lived in my parents basement for about a year and a half. They plan on saving money to put a good down payment on their new house. They moved from L.A. to Utah. Because they want a better place to raise a family and they picked Utah in case you are wondering. My parents recently put their old cabinets and converted a wet bar in the basement into a full-blown kitchen for my sister's family.
Here lies the problem. The basement is always a few degrees cooler than the upstairs. I would say give or take 5-10 degrees cooler. In the winter my parents have it set at 70 degrees Fahrenheit all around the house. My sister and her family are not yet used to the cold weather so they bought portable electric heaters. I think they have about 4 of them. I think one is run constantly in the bathroom. I think they turn it off during the day. The others are in the family room when they watch tv and the rest in the bedrooms. I know one is run constantly but not 24/7 in my niece's bedroom. They don't want her to get cold is their reasoning.
My parents have a central air conditioning system. I am not sure how cold they set it in the house. My brother-in-law went around his part of the basement and put some strong clear tape on some of the vents. He told me the air coming through the vents is too cold. That's why he puts the tape. I asked him why don't you close the vents then? He says they are already closed but still cold air comes in. That's why the need for clear masking tape. So for a happy medium they also open the windows. One in the family room, kitchen and bathroom. I know this because the washer/dryer is in the basement and when they are not there I look around and see all these open windows.
This bothers me because my father is a retired engineer and my mom has one more year until she retires from being a First Grade teacher. I would like to see them with lower heating and cooling bills. I remember my father showing a $500 dollar electricity bill. No joke. I haven't stayed their long enough to see how it is in the summer and the cost of the bills. I know they want to go on more trips to visit family and friends but utilities bills like these. They can't do it.
In regards to the air conditioning system I think having the windows open in the basement and the air conditioning coming on. Will only make the air conditioner work harder than it should be. Is their anything my parents can do to lower their heating and cooling bills without kicking my sister and her family out of the home?
I know they want to get new windows they have 10 windows. Should I purchase them a higher end electronic thermostat that can heat or cool two different temperatures for either the downstairs or upstairs? I am not sure if one exists for that. Never looked into it.
Any good ideas on how my parents and my sister's family can all live comfortably in the home? I hope someone can help out. I would be grateful and I know my parents will too.
JC0481
