Heating was given, but is it still cold at home? Urgent measures must be taken to raise the temperature in the apartment. Our consultant Andrey Dikiy, a master in the installation of heating systems and window structures, gives relevant advice.
Most of the time, the rooms are cool because the batteries are not working at full capacity. And communal services are not to blame for this. It is possible that a rust plug has formed in one of the radiator sections. Air does not come out of the battery and does not let hot water into the heater. In such cases, part of the radiator is cold and part is hot. Where sections are cold and rust has accumulated. Heat this area with a hair dryer. Most likely, the air will begin to circulate. But that is not all. It is necessary to increase the efficiency of heating. To do this, a metal foil shield must be installed between the wall and the battery. It will not allow the radiator to heat the street, but will retain hot air inside the apartment. Please note that the damper must be larger than the radiator. In addition, a gap of 3-4 mm must be left between it and the battery. If the heater is covered with a decorative screen, remove it for the winter. It also retains heat.
If, despite all efforts, the battery remains cold, call specialists from the housing office, do not try to disassemble the radiator yourself. Perhaps there is a leak in the device, and if it is not detected in time, an accident may occur.
It happens that the batteries are hot to the limit, but it is still cool in the apartment. In such cases, the problem is heat leakage. Most often, this situation develops in corner apartments. The walls are freezing and this needs to be fixed. Take a close look at the corners in the rooms. Did you notice mold in them, the wallpaper is wet? Swipe your hand under the windowsill. Feel the cold air flow? Most likely, cracks appeared there. Liquid insulation is the best solution to the problem. It is a mixture that is a cross between paint and primer. Its consistency is reminiscent of sour cream. You can buy the composition at any hardware store. The names can be different: liquid insulation, heat-insulating, energy-saving, heat-reflecting paint. Each manufacturer chooses its own name. The composition is applied easily with a roller, brush, spatula. Due to the thick consistency of the paint, the holes are clogged.
If the windows in the apartment are old, wooden, do not forget to insulate them too. The shops have a ready-made seal. Don’t want to spend money on buying it? It is not difficult to plug the cracks in the frames with paper and paste. Laundry soap can also be used as an adhesive (in the spring it will be easier to remove the protective tape). If the holes in the frames are very large, fix them with putty. You can buy a ready-made mixture, but it is not difficult to prepare the composition for insulation yourself. It is enough to mix two parts of alabaster with one part of chalk, add a little water to make a thick slurry.
It is useless to insulate an apartment if the radiators are slightly warm. In this case, you will have to communicate with utilities. Check the temperature in the rooms. Is it below + 18˚С (for corner apartments this indicator is + 20˚С)? Write an application to the management company. In response to the complaint, the representatives of the communal service must take a control measurement of the air temperature. If it turns out that the batteries are cold, they will recalculate for heating and take measures. No reactions to the claim? Complain to the Housing Inspectorate.