Hi all, looking for thoughts/advice on how best to prepare for an upcoming daylong planned shutdown of our HVAC system. Our 2150 sqft building is well-insulated, and was constructed in 2008.
There will be a period (about one working day - the exact day is TBD) when the forced air heat in our house gallery will be turned off, because contractors will be jackhammering concrete in the downstairs bathroom and creating very fine dust that could circulate through the heat system if it were on. Heat will be shut off in January in NY state (outside temperatures expected to be anywhere between 20-50 degrees F).
All artworks on the lower level have been removed. Upstairs, spread across 3 rooms there are 2 large color photos mounted to dibond, one framed and glazed (plexi) inkjet print, glazed stoneware, unframed wool felt quilted textile, and aluminum sculptures. This small house museum is usually temperature controlled, but not climate controlled. My biggest concern is for the photographs -- though of course those do well in low temperatures, I can't anticipate how gradual the temperature drop will be.
The question is whether we request contractors install one or more space heaters on the main floor (1300 sqft), or whether this might create dangerous pockets of dry, hot air. I am conflicted: would be better to leave the upstairs completely closed to the contractors, anticipating a slow drop in temperature over a day without heat? The risk of course is that this work might take more than one day.
Thank you all so much for your help making this decision--I am a bit stumped!
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Cara Kuball
Contract Registrar
Forge Project
Stone Ridge
United States
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