Cold weather can cause irreparable damage to a home during the seasonal absence of its owners. To avoid irreparable consequences for communications, walls and equipment, it is necessary to take a number of measures. The more attentive you are to preparing your home for winter, the easier and more enjoyable it will be to open the next season.
Buildings made of stone and aerated concrete blocks may develop mold. An insulated house will retain heat even in the absence of heating. The temperature difference between inside and outside can reach fifteen degrees in severe frosts. High-quality insulation will help keep communications in working order.
It’s cold in the apartment, looking for a solution to the problem
The natural reaction of a normal person to cold is to find a way to warm up.
Even if we live in apartment buildings and sometimes we do not have the technical capabilities to fully express our imagination in this matter, we have plenty of strength and means at our disposal. Don't panic. The accumulated practical experience will tell you ways to solve the problem. In addition, today there is a fairly wide selection of technical means for heating residential premises. The most acceptable options for heating an apartment are as follows:
Of the listed options, the first two are the simplest and quickly produce results. It is enough to show a little ingenuity, skill and invest a certain amount of money. The last third option, which involves installing a gas boiler for autonomous heating, is associated with formal difficulties. It is quite difficult to obtain permission to install a gas boiler in an apartment when the house is connected to a centralized heating system. It will take a long time to solve the problem, so with the onset of winter, such an undertaking will have to be postponed until later.
When the situation with rapid cooling of an apartment due to a decrease in ambient air temperature repeats from year to year, prudent owners should think about how to increase the thermal efficiency of their home. To ensure that the apartment does not cool down so quickly and retains the heat accumulated over the summer longer, it is necessary to take care of insulating the apartment.
Having enough funds, you can think about radical insulation of the apartment. Sealing and insulating interpanel seams, creating a fur coat made of foam plastic or mineral wool on the outside of the panels of your apartment will provide a noticeable effect.
Measures to insulate your apartment will provide you with reliable protection during the cold season from hypothermia in your living space. The money invested will pay off, from a moral and psychological point of view, already at the first frost on the street.
There is electricity in the house - this is a real way to salvation. Many of us, if not the majority, resort to the help of electric household heaters precisely in the off-season, when the radiators are still cold and we have to wait a long time for the official onset of the heating season.
Warm the bed with a hairdryer
To quickly warm up your bed linen before going to bed, use a household hair dryer. It can also be used to make items of clothing warm.
Important: do not cover the hairdryer with a blanket or put it in a sleeve of clothing - this may cause a fire.
In addition to the listed ways to warm up, there is another effective one - hug with loved ones. Spend the evening under the same blanket with your loved one. Not only will your body warm up, but your relationships will also warm up. This is especially true in the modern world, when everyone is busy with their own business and loved ones often miss this important moment in relationships.
How to warm up at home without heating
The cold weather is approaching, but you don’t have heating at home yet? Maybe the heat supply has already been provided, but it does not make it possible to fully heat the ventilated living space. In this publication, we will give you a couple of tips that can help you feel comfortable during winter, even in severe frosts. Read what to do if it’s cold at home or how to warm up without a heating device.
It's cool at home. What to do?
First of all, close the windows and balcony tightly. If you have old window frames, the air can blow quite strongly from the cracks. To make it warmer, you will need to insert foam rubber into all the cracks, and glue construction adhesive tape on top. Scotch tape works quite well, but it is better to use it, for example, if you don’t mind damaging the window frame.
If you hang shower curtains or ethylene polymer on the windows, cool air will be less able to penetrate into the room. Plus, such curtains perfectly attract the light of the sun, thanks to which the room will become noticeably warmer. Heavy textile curtains also block cold air from entering the living area. When the sun is shining outside, don't forget to open the curtains.
Watch the video: If it’s cool at home: how to warm up without heating
It is necessary to check whether there is any draft from the entry doors. If the cold enters the living area not from the windows, but from the doors, do not forget to seal the doors. This can be created using a specialized seal. You can also place towels or blankets under the door.
Close off rooms you are not using. In this case, you will be able to reduce circulation and heat loss. Don't forget about carpet coverings; they also reduce heat loss and at the same time make walking very comfortable.
If it's cold at home: how to warm up without heating
4 ways to warm up when the apartment is cool
Cook and bake! The more often you turn on the oven, the warmer your apartment will be. At the same time, try to prepare dishes that produce a lot of steam during cooking or frying. It is best to reduce indoor humidity during winter, rather than increase it.
It turns out that an ordinary wax candle can create too much heat. If you place several candles in a room, do not forget about them and do not leave them unattended.
Turn on traditional filament bulbs because they emit more than half of their energy as heat rather than light. Fluorescent lamps and light-emitting diodes do not have this property.
Dress warmly and drink warm drinks. If you're completely cold, try using a hairdryer to burn your feet. To keep your bed warmer, fill bottles with hot water and put them in your bed before getting into bed. You can also use a heating pad.
Recommendations. How to warm up when it's cold
- If you go to bed and the air is excessively cold, then cover your head at the same time so that your breath warms up.
- After taking a hot shower or bath, apply a layer of cosmetic oil to your body to help retain body heat.
- Sleep in socks and a hat.
- Try heating the air with heating devices. If you ever decide to use a stove, be careful as carbon monoxide may build up in the room, which could cost you your life if inhaled.
We hope that our good tips can help you survive the winter and warm up quickly in a cold apartment.
Electric blanket
The most unpleasant thing in a cold room is to lie down in an unheated bed when all the bedding feels icy and damp. The body will need to use all its resources to heat the surfaces and allow its owner to fall asleep.
We recommend purchasing an electric blanket or sheet. They can be placed in your bed 20 minutes before going to bed. Typically, such electrical appliances have several modes that allow the surface to be heated with different intensities.
Don't worry - sheets and blankets with heating elements come with automatic shut-off systems. In addition, a removable heating element can be provided, which will allow you to wash the sheet or blanket in the machine.
Electric sheet ECOSAPIENS
We insulate windows and doors
20-30% of heat is lost through cracks in doors and windows; up to 15% of heat is lost directly through glass and the entrance opening. Therefore, first of all, insulate window and door openings. They must be airtight and close tightly. If necessary, use special putty, insulation and various products. You can use cotton wool or even ordinary newspapers. Read more about how and what to seal windows to prevent wind from blowing here.
You can additionally hang polyethylene sheets or bath curtains on the windows. Such materials allow sunlight to pass through, but do not allow cold air from the street to pass through. And the sun's rays will fill the apartment with warmth and heat the room.
Sunlight and natural heat are a suitable solution for heating a cold room. Open curtains during the day and in the morning when the sun is actively shining. As soon as it starts to get dark, close the curtains tightly. It's good if they are heavy and dark. They block air flow and keep the room warm.
Seal cracks in doorways, and don’t forget about the front door. You can lay thermal insulation around the perimeter of the door frame and in the door leaf itself. Installing a second door will be less expensive and more accessible. It will reduce heat loss in the apartment, significantly reduce the noise volume and, among other things, increase the safety of the apartment.
Another option is to insulate the balcony. This will provide double protection from draft and cold. For arrangement, choose double frames. It is advisable to cover the floor, ceiling and walls with wooden panels. Wood retains heat perfectly and is pleasant to the touch, has an aesthetic appearance and is easy to install. You can install special panels on the balcony based on frames, where insulation is laid inside.
Install an additional screen behind the battery
A screen made of foamed polyethylene with a foil surface, placed behind the heating radiator (slightly larger in size than the radiator), will create an additional layer of insulation and direct the heated air back to the center of the room.
If there is no special coating, you can make a screen from ordinary kitchen foil.
There are many other ways to increase the heat dissipation of a battery. We discussed in more detail what effective ways to increase the heat transfer of a battery are in the article: effective ways to increase the heat transfer of a battery during the heating season.
Physical exercise
We act on the principle: movement is life. If you sit constantly, you will start to tremble. Thus, the body tries to generate additional heat through movements. A few minutes of exercise will help improve blood circulation. This is especially true if your limbs are cold. Remember that everything is good in moderation: excessive activity will lead to loss of glucose.
When there is no heating in the apartment yet or no longer, and it’s cold outside, residents come up with various ways to heat their homes. Sometimes the heat is not enough even when the heating is on, especially when it is very cold outside. The easiest way to solve this problem is with the help of mobile heaters. But this method is not affordable for everyone. In this article we will look at how to warm a room without a heater or heating.
Insulate windows and doors
It is important that they are sealed and without cracks; If the heat is turned on, but the room is still cold, install sheets or panels of foil between the wall and the radiator. The foil will reflect the heat back into the room, preventing it from escaping through the wall; If the radiators are cold, try to stay in the smallest room most of the time, and close unused rooms; Place thick and soft carpets on the floor, hang on the walls
They prevent heat loss. And it’s much more pleasant to stand on a warm fluffy carpet than on a cold floor. In addition, it absorbs sound and reduces the noise level in the apartment by 20-30%; Get ready. When the stove or oven is turned on, the air becomes dry and warm. If you are baking something, leave the oven open when finished. But it is not advisable to make dishes that create a large volume of steam. The steam will greatly humidify the air. And in winter, moist air feels colder than dry air; In some cases, residents leave the burners on the stove on. This will also warm the room, but it is important to constantly ensure that they do not go out. Otherwise, you can get carbon monoxide poisoning or even cause an explosion;
Use candles. Place the products in small groups throughout the apartment. Grouped lit candles provide a lot of warmth and light and look sophisticated and elegant. They will make your home more comfortable. Classic tall white candles are suitable for grouping. They fit into every interior and look impressive; Close the hoods as cold air may enter through these openings. However, when the hoods are closed and not working, air exchange is disrupted. An unpleasant odor, mold or mildew may appear in the apartment. Therefore, use this method only for a short time; Turn on incandescent lamps. However, only classic light bulbs will help here, which release up to 95% of the energy in the form of heat. LED and fluorescent light bulbs will not be able to warm the room; Fill the bathtub with hot water and leave the door to the room open. Change the water as it cools. In addition, the pipes in the bathroom are always hot, even when there is no heating, except when the hot water is turned off. Therefore, always keep the bathroom door open. This method will increase the temperature in a cold apartment by one or two degrees; Since warm air accumulates near the ceiling, install a ceiling fan. It will disperse the air, as a result, warm currents will descend and mix with cold ones; Air conditioners are a modern solution to warm a room quickly and easily. Today, many models include not only cooling, but also heating functions. They are safe, practical, rational and economical. Use fan heaters. They consume minimal electricity, take up little space and are functional. But at the same time, the amount of oxygen is reduced, which worsens air quality.
Therefore, it is important to maintain a comfortable level of humidity in the apartment.
Water supply, sewerage
Keeping the water supply system in good condition in cold weather is much more difficult. The first step is to turn off the water, but it will still remain in the connections, taps and equipment, which will inevitably lead to damage to the system. Repairs will be very expensive, it is better to protect yourself in advance. It is necessary to call professionals who will blow out the water supply and remove any remaining liquid. You can add anti-freeze liquid to the sink and toilet, but you cannot be one hundred percent sure of the result.
The correct approach to keeping the system in order is to insulate the pipes. First, take care of those that are buried in the ground on your site. They can be heated using an electric wire. The pipes are wrapped with wire or laid together in a single box. For greater reliability, lay two heating wires to one pipe.
How to stay warm in a cold apartment
Warm drinks and food, especially soups and broths, increase body temperature; To stay warm and not freeze in a cold apartment without heating, it is important to dress properly. Experts advise using several layers of clothing
It is optimal to wear cotton items downwards, and fleece or wool or artificial materials on top. Loose pants and a sweatshirt or a thick, long robe work well; Be sure to wear warm socks and slippers. If your feet are constantly cold, use warm black tights, tights, leggings or gaiters. Wear items under your main clothing. They are able to retain heat; Play sports. Twenty minutes of vigorous exercise will improve your circulation, help you stay warm, and keep you warm after exercise. In addition, sports activities will strengthen the immune system and make the body more adapted to the cold; You can warm up cold shoes, bed and even your body using a hairdryer. But do not cover the device, otherwise it may overheat and catch fire! While sitting in a chair, use warm blankets or a shawl. You can use a special electric blanket for sleeping. It is more effective and cheaper than old classic heaters. This blanket maintains the desired temperature for the required time;
- A heating pad has been helping to keep warm in cold weather for many years. If you don't have one, use a plastic bottle filled with hot water. However, it will cool quickly and the contents will have to be changed;
- Alternatively, take a sleeping bag. It warms perfectly, especially products designed for zero temperatures. You can wrap yourself in a bag like a blanket, or sleep like under a blanket;
- Take a second blanket, a warm blanket or blanket for sleep and sleep in socks. Wear thin cotton socks to help your skin breathe and prevent your feet from getting sweaty and getting colder;
- Take a hot bath or shower, or periodically use hot foot and hand soaks. After water procedures, apply lotion or oil to the skin. Such compositions act like another layer of thin clothing.
If you have periodic heating outages or have small children who cannot be cold, it is better to buy at least one heater. Choose oil radiators, wall-mounted or floor-mounted heating convectors. If you are purchasing only one product, it is better to choose a portable or mobile model so that you can easily move it from room to room.
The off-season is the most inconvenient and uncomfortable period for us. Just recently, the sun was warming outside, and with great pleasure we hurried to hide in the coolness of our apartments. With the onset of autumn, the situation changes radically. I don't want to rush home anymore. Despite the fact that it is chilly and slushy outside, there is no particular desire to return to a cold, uncomfortable apartment. Until the heating is turned on, we, residents of city apartments, can only dream of comfort. How to heat your own apartment without heating becomes a “fixed” idea, with which we rush around until hot water begins to gurgle in the home radiators.
With the heating season approaching, most of us can endure the current situation while trying to find different ways to stay warm in our own home. It’s another matter when there is a small child in the house and it is critically impossible to allow a sharp drop in the temperature in the apartment in the off-season. The saddest situation is for those apartment owners who do not have heating in their house for technical reasons, and the imminent onset of winter does not bode well. But there is no need to despair. We live in an age of modern technology and great opportunities. Today, there are many options to heat your cold home in the absence of heating. Anyone can solve this problem if they show ingenuity and determination.
Make warming teas
Any hot drink has a warming property. But not everyone has a “warming” effect. In the autumn-winter period, we recommend switching from regular teas to ones that contain useful additives. These include: cinnamon, ginger root, honey, spices, etc.
An example of a warming tea recipe:
- 1 liter of water;
- 1 teaspoon black tea;
- half a lemon;
- 3 cm ginger root (cut thinly);
- a pinch of cinnamon;
- small apple, cut into slices.
Brew tea and add all ingredients. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes (after boiling). It is recommended to add honey to the drink. 4 teaspoons will be enough. It is better to use buckwheat.
But it is better to add honey to a warm rather than a hot drink. This will help preserve the maximum of useful substances contained in it.
Insulation of the apartment
It is a well-known fact that a person gives off heat by himself. After all, it’s hard not to notice that with our presence in the house it becomes warmer. People are wonderful warmers! But to preserve this warmth, you need to take care of insulation in advance. First of all, you should take care of the windows - seal all the cracks, adjust the sashes, set them to winter mode. If the wall freezes, it is better to treat it with heat-insulating liquid paste or heat-insulating boards. Such a mini-repair will take one day, but will provide heat for many years. If it is not possible to carry out repair work, then you can use carpets in places where the walls or floors especially freeze. This is the simplest and least expensive way.
It is also important to insulate the door that opens onto the landing. Don't leave doors open in rooms you rarely use.
If possible, then for this period it is better to move to the smallest room, because... it is easier and faster to heat.
Place blankets in the rooms
A blanket is not only a warm blanket, but also a stylish piece of furniture. Several of these textiles should be laid out on sofas and armchairs so that you can throw them over your shoulders at any time. It is recommended to choose a product made from natural materials. For example, wool. It will warm you up faster during cold periods and retain body heat for a long time.
On the Internet you can find interesting options for blankets - with sleeves, with a mermaid tail and others.
Appliances in the house
Very often, an air conditioner is used for heating, because it works for both cooling and heating. The only negative is that they are not recommended for use at temperatures below +5°C.
A stove in the kitchen is a viable option, but you should remember that using such a heat source is fraught with unpleasant consequences. And in this case, only the kitchen can be heated. You can heat several large pots of water and place them in the room. As it cools, the walls of the containers will give off heat, like a battery. For local use, for example, to warm the bed, you can use a hairdryer or iron.
Foot bath
Before settling down comfortably in a chair or on the sofa, it is recommended to prepare a warm bath. The water should not be scalding, but hot enough. It is worth adding sea salt to the water to provide an additional anti-cold effect. Hot water vapor will heat the air around it.
Be sure to have a dry towel ready to dry your feet and warm socks. They need to be put on immediately after the water in the bath has cooled.
Gas heating
Gas heating of a dacha is a complex engineering system. Before installing expensive equipment, you need to ensure good thermal insulation. An ideal system should operate silently, economically, warmly, and unnoticeably. Gas equipment requires constant maintenance and preparation for the winter season. Maintenance must be carried out by certified specialists.
A water system is best suited for gas heating. If the system will not be filled in winter, the pipes must be filled with antifreeze. This nuance will protect the system from defrosting. Installation of gas equipment includes the installation of radiators that will give off their heat to the room. Installation of a heating system has its own characteristics, which a specialist must warn about.
Emergency heating methods
If you are planning to heat the living space in an apartment using electricity, you should carefully select heating devices.
We have already dealt with electric heated floors, and this method is more suitable for a complete solution to the problem. On the other hand, it is necessary to use household electric heating devices as a temporary source of heat during the cold period. Each electrical appliance has its own optimal power, designed to effectively heat a certain space. Today, the following types of heaters using electricity are used in the domestic sphere.
- convectors;
- infrared thermal panels;
- oil radiators;
- heat fans.
In each individual case, the scope of use of the device is determined. Each room has its own specific type of electric heating. True, any home can be equipped with convectors. The only condition is to correctly and competently install the devices in the premises.
Convectors are highly efficient and are also quite economical to operate. Due to the circulation of air flows, the air in the room warms up faster. Most devices are equipped with an automatic system that regulates the mode of switching on and off the devices depending on the set temperature conditions inside the room.
Infrared heaters are available in models with an average of 1.5-2 kW of power. Carbon heaters, as one of the types of infrared heat sources, have two or three times less power, creating a similar thermal effect. It is best to equip such heaters with thermostatic sensors.
Heat fans, which are widely available for sale today, are designed for the fastest possible effect. Small size and affordable cost are the main reasons for their popularity. At the same time, all the advantages are offset by high electricity consumption and fairly high noise levels.
As a successful alternative to stationary sources of electric heating, oil radiators can be used. The simplicity of the design and their durability are attractive in terms of choosing such heat sources for heating residential premises. The only drawback that is typical for such heating devices is long heating time and heavy weight.
By using electrical appliances and equipment to heat a residential apartment due to the lack of centralized heating, you can quickly and effectively solve your problems. In any situation there is always a way out.
Types of heating systems for country houses
The types of heating systems may depend on the available energy resource, design features, climatic conditions, and the budget of the dacha owner.
The main types of space heating are:
- gas heaters;
- electric heaters;
- furnace equipment;
- equipment operating on liquid fuel resources;
- equipment operating on solid fuel resources;
- universal heating systems.
Choosing each type of heating requires drawing up a cost budget, taking into account the area of the building that needs heating. The choice of heat supply method will determine how to maintain a positive temperature when you are away from your summer cottage.
