As the temperature outside gets lower, I’m seeing an increased number of asking on forums why their prints aren’t sticking to the bed properly. In addition to all the normal reasons why your print might not stick to the bed, cold weather presents a few additional challenges.

For starters, most homes aren’t airtight and many have drafts. A sudden burst of unexpected cold air on your print can cause it to shrink away from the bed and lift off. 

Be careful of where you have placed your printer. Is it in front of a HVAC vent?

Your heater has to work harder to get up to temperature and maintain temperature. Make sure you have done your PID tuning and I usually increase my temperatures by a couple of degrees.

As a more generic principle, consider how you might be able to keep more heat in. I usually put my enclosure around my printer this time of year. It’s not terribly complicated and doesn’t need to be watertight. I found some brackets on Thingiverse and printed them, then connected them to make a frame with 2×2’s. I bought some acrylic and hinges to make a door and I have an enclosure. It’s not the most beautiful enclosure on the planet, but it works well enough.