What is better to do when electricity goes out?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for managing indoor air quality and temperature during power outages. Participants explore whether to open or close windows to maintain comfort and mitigate unpleasant odors, considering various environmental factors.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants argue for keeping windows closed to retain cold air during a power outage, suggesting that this helps maintain a comfortable indoor temperature for as long as possible.
  • Others propose that windows should be opened to refresh the air, especially when bad smells are present, although they acknowledge that this may allow more heat in.
  • A participant mentions a specific situation involving bad smells from phenomena like Red tide, suggesting that it is important to keep windows closed until the odors dissipate outside.
  • Another viewpoint emphasizes the need to assess comfort levels, advocating for keeping windows closed when indoors is more comfortable than outdoors, and vice versa.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing opinions on whether to open or close windows during power outages, with no consensus reached on the best approach to managing indoor air quality and temperature.

Contextual Notes

Participants reference specific environmental conditions and personal experiences, which may influence their recommendations. The discussion does not resolve the effectiveness of either approach in various scenarios.

blossom
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hello,

I always argue with people when electricity goes out. They want to open the windows to refreash the air in the house and I want to keep them cloased to keep the cold air for as long as possible. I know that after sometime the air will warm up .. but I at least I can keep the room cold for some time!
The same thing happen when bad smells enter the house.. is it good to open the windows to refreash the air or to close them to stop more smells to come in?


thanks
 
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Bad smells... ? Where do you live?
 
It really should be obvious that keeping the cold air in as long as possible is what you want to do: keep the windows closed until the inside temp is greater than outside.

With bad smells, keep them out as long as possible by keeping the windows closed, but when it starts to dissipate outside, open the windows to flush out the house.
 
what I mean by smells is like Red tide ( a common name for a phenomenon in which estuarine, marine, or fresh water algae accumulate rapidly in the water column and produce bad smells)
 
I don't know where you live, but I'd definitely keep the windows closed to keep the heat in. It's either that or crank the furnace up enough for the gas bill to put me in debt.
 
In my house we open the windows to let the bad smells out.
:biggrin:
 
Whatever the case, it should be obvious that if it's more comfortable indoors, you leave the windows closed; if it's ore comfortable outdoors, you leave them open.
 

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