Photo: Getty Images
First step
Most often the rooms are cool becauseThe radiators are not working at full capacity. And it is not the utility workers who are to blame. It is quite possible that a rust plug has formed in one of the radiator sections. Air does not come out of the radiator and does not let hot water into the heating device. In such cases, part of the radiator is cold, and part is hot. Rust has accumulated where the sections are cold. Heat this area with a hair dryer. Most likely, the air will start to circulate. But that is not all. It is necessary to increase the efficiency of heating. To do this, it is necessary to install a screen made of metal foil between the wall and the radiator. It will not allow the radiator to heat the street, but will trap hot air inside the apartment. Please note that the damper should be larger than the radiator. In addition, a gap of 3-4 mm should be left between it and the radiator. If the heating device 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.
Additional barrier
It happens that the batteries are heated to the limit, and inthe apartment is still cold. In such cases, the problem is heat leakage. Most often, this situation occurs in corner apartments. The walls freeze, and this needs to be fixed. Carefully inspect the corners of the rooms. Have you noticed mold, damp wallpaper? Run your hand under the windowsill. Have you felt a stream of cold air? Most likely, cracks have appeared there. Liquid thermal insulation will cope with the problem best. This is a mixture that is something between paint and primer. Its consistency resembles sour cream. You can buy the composition in any hardware store. The names may be different: liquid insulation, heat-insulating, energy-saving, heat-reflecting paint. Each manufacturer chooses its own name. The composition is easy to apply with a roller, brush, spatula. Due to the thick consistency of the paint, the holes are sealed. If the windows in the apartment are old, wooden, do not forget to insulate them too. Ready-made sealants are available in stores. Don't want to spend money on buying them? It is easy to seal the cracks in the frames with paper and paste. You can also use laundry soap as glue (it will be easier to remove the protective tape in the spring). If the holes in the frames are very large, eliminate them with putty. You can buy a ready-made mixture, but it is easy to prepare the insulation composition yourself. It is enough to mix two parts of alabaster with one part of chalk, add a little water to get a thick gruel.
Search guilty
It's useless if the radiators are barely warm.In this case, you will have to talk to the utility workers. Check the temperature in the rooms. Is it below +18˚C (for corner apartments this figure is +20˚C)? Write a statement to the management company. In response to the complaint, the utility service representatives must take a control measurement of the air temperature. If it turns out that the radiators are cold, they will recalculate the heating and take measures. No reaction to the claim? Complain to the housing inspectorate.