House feels colder when weather outside gets warmer, how come?

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thealfa

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When the weather is below 30 degrees, the house is warm. I've noticed, like today, the house feels colder when the temperature outside is in the 50s. Is this an issue with the house's insulation?

I don't think the house is insulated or it's just not updated to modern insulation. I'd have to inspect.
 
What Snooyb said is very true. After the house dries a bit, you'll feel more comfortable. Warm and humidity can make one feel cold until the warmth rises above a certain level.

There's a "sweet spot" as the temp rises. Graphs exist in Human Factors Engineering text books illustrating the tip-over point for heat/humidity comfort. Then, at a certain temperature, it all reverses.


At the other end of the scale-
The temperature-humidity relationship is why with over sized air conditioners people feel uncomfortable. It the house cools, but the humidity is high, we feel clammy.

Crazy, huh?
 
I see. The heating in the house was set to 68 degrees, regardless if it's single digits outside or 50 degrees. The house just felt colder when it was 50 degrees outside than it was in the 20s or 30s.

Should I turn on the humidifier when it gets warmer outside or it has nothing to do with it?
 
I see. The heating in the house was set to 68 degrees, regardless if it's single digits outside or 50 degrees. The house just felt colder when it was 50 degrees outside than it was in the 20s or 30s.

Should I turn on the humidifier when it gets warmer outside or it has nothing to do with it?
In real life, at the same temperature and the same humidity indoors we should feel no change.
Should...

It is all a matter of Perceived Comfort. The mind's eye and psychology come into play. There are all kinds of studies about comfort versus temperature and versus humidity and even versus garment's fabric. Check university Human Factors Engineering and Research Psychology departments' on line libraries. Don't to forget to search the graduate thesis list.

Some studies show people reporting discomfort as the outdoor temp rose- when they were told it was rising, whether or not it rose.
Then, at a given outdoor temperature, they felt more comfortable again- whether or not anything changed.

There are very few constants. Things like high humidity in a very warm room is one.

Keep in mind also that hygrometers take a long time to register changes.

On line, there are many charts showing optimal indoor humidity levels versus outdoor temperature. Attached below has figures matching most dependable sources.

Also attached is a chart showing some pathogens and how they thrive at different humidity levels.
 

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    Humidity vs Temperature Chart.png
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