Igloos – Are they heated, do they have windows and how long does it take to build one?

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Published: March 4, 2016 Last Updated: March 28, 2023

Igloos Facts 

There are actually a number of cool things about igloos, other than the temperature.

Igloos, are also called “Snow Houses”

They were often built by hunting parties to survive the extreme cold as well as for shelter in the winter months in small villages. A small igloo can be built by a couple of hunters in 30 minutes to an hour under most circumstances.

In areas where temperatures can drop to  -50 degrees, you may find the inside temperature of an igloo to be 20 to 70 degrees warmer than the outside temperatures. Occasionally they may reach as high as 50 to 60 degrees inside temperature.

Note that these high temperatures cannot be sustained for long periods of time, because the snow will melt. Temperatures inside of  20  to 30 degrees can be held for longer periods. When you consider the outside temperatures and the warm dress of fur and skins, the occupants are reasonably comfortable.

 

Igloo landscape

 Insulation – Snow Acts As An Insulator

The reason that an igloos inside temperatures are warmer, is that snow acts as an insulator because of the tiny air pockets in the snow. If built of solid ice, igloos would be much colder.

Are Igloos Heated ?

Igloos are not heated in the general sense. They do have various types of heat sources that will furnish heat to a small extent on the interior.

Heat sources for igloos

  • Human body heat. This is the primary heat source in most igloos
  • Oil lamps ( fueled by seal, walrus and whale blubber)
  • Small cooking fires, however much of the meat, etc. is eaten raw.

A lamp, which is usually a stone or clay bowl with seal blubber and a lump of moss for a wick, is used for cooking as well as for light and limited heat. A good cooking knife is a half-moon shape piece of slate that had a sharp edge.

Do Igloos Have Beds ?

Caribou fur or pelts made of many furs often sewn together are used for a bed. At times willow branches were laid down first, then the fur pelts were laid on top, a little like a mattress; at other times the fur pelts were just laid on raised blocks of ice.

Hunting shelters and villages

Igloos may be just a small temporary shelter for hunting parties to serve as a shelter from the extreme cold. Built by themselves, far away from any other group.

They may also be built in a group like a small village. These villages are usually seasonal, because of the nomadic way of life and the need to move on in hunting season to other areas in search of food.

What Would An Ideal “MODEL HOME” Igloo Look Like ?

Neighborhood

Naturally a good neighborhood is important. This would be one that has nice snow drifts needed for building the igloo, the snow should not be too wet or heavy and not too powdery.  Another key location requirement is that there be good hunting close by; that one does not have to travel too far for game or fishing.

Front door

Having an entry to crawl through on your knees that is comfortable in size. One that may be six to ten feet long and with a right angle in it that will reduce drafts is preferable. Having a nice seal skin flap to hang over the opening is desirable and will help reduce drafts.

This entry tunnel is best if it is built deeper that the igloos’ floor level which helps acts as a cold sink for cold air inside to drop down into, for cold air is heavier than warm air.

Split level

Having a split level floor plan is very desirable. This way the sleeping area, will be on the upper level, even if only a couple of feet higher than the lower area. Again, cold air drops down, warm air rises. Therefore the sleeping level will have air that is a little warmer.

  1. Living area   2. Entry area    3. Window    4. Vent

Window

Having a window is nice on sunny days. Not all Igloos have windows, but some did. A good window may have a seal skin or Caribou pelt flap on it or others may have a special translucent seal gut to provide light but that will shield the wind. Occasionally a clear block of ice is used as a window.

Igloo dogs

 

No Door Bell

 

It was not a feature on Igloos; however, the sound of barking dogs will generally announce the arrival of visitors.

Construction

Large blocks of dry, compressed hard snow sawn into blocks

2 feet x 4 feet blocks about 8 inches thick. The size of the blocks may vary.

Laid in a circular pattern with the top of each blocked shaved at a slight angle to provide the curved / rounded look of the igloo.

After the blocks are positioned, the interior floor area is dug out, so basically the blocks end up haven been laid around a hole that has been dug several feet deep. This gives more height to the interior.

Once constructed, and before occupancy a few igloo builders will light a small candle or oil lamp on the interior and let the heat melt a thin layer of the interior snow. Then the candle is put out and a thin layer of ice forms on the snow blocks inside of the igloo. This provides structural strength to the blocks and is usually strong enough, that a man can stand on top of the igloo without it crushing in.

The floor inside is often terraced, with the upper terrace being for sleeping. The reason for this is that cold air is heavier than warm air, so by having the bed elevated, it would be warmer.

Joints and crevices are filled with loose snow. Basically for sealing purposes.

The top of the igloo has a small hole for ventilation and for smoke from cooking fires to exit

Carbon monoxide issues.

No carbon monoxide detectors were required, but some igloos have a small hole cut into the side of the blocks of snow, so as to allow a little air to enter through the hole in the side of the igloo and escape through the top hole. This helps to reduce the carbon monoxide concentration.

Tools

Tools were often made of various whale bones or from the bones of what they hunted, such as Caribou. In some areas, if they had access to a few trees, then some tools were made of tree branches, etc. One the more prized possessions one could own were a good set of wooden poles that could be used for supporting summer tents. Also, wood was used to build the dog sleds, another prize possession.

Igloo tent

Summers

During the summers, the igloos would melt or be abandoned. Then crude tents were often used for shelters. They would have wooden poles and be covered by animal skins.

The Bottom Line

Bottom Line

Igloos helped the Intuits’ and other people to live and survive in very cold climates. Many of our present day construction and energy principles were employed in the building of igloos

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Anonymous

I have a basement garden window in which the frame has separated from the drywall about a half inch. There is no visible sign of distress outside. I don’t know who to call for an inspection, an Arborist (I have trees but no sign of roots ), a window guy or a foundation guy. Can you help.


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