During the cold season, everyone wants to return to a cozy warm apartment. But in old buildings it happens that the heat-insulating mechanisms were either not used initially, or have already worn out. As a result, a lot of heat escapes through different places in the house. The main sources of heat loss are windows, doors and walls. And if it is more difficult to do something cardinal with the last two (do not hang carpets on the wall :)), then it will not be difficult to insulate windows through which 10 to 25% of heat escapes. If payment for heat supply is not made at a fixed rate, or if you have an individual heating system, this will significantly reduce financial costs. Such actions are not only economically beneficial, but also environmentally expedient, as it allows to reduce the harm to the environment during the extraction of energy sources and the generation of thermal energy.
So what steps can you take:
- replace wooden windows with plastic double-glazed windows (special energy-saving windows have now appeared), which will last much longer - suitable if it is not critical for you to have wooden windows that look more natural;
- close the cracks in the windows with a removable sealant (silicone or acrylic). It must be applied to the gaps between the movable (sash) and fixed (jamb) parts of the window and between two sashes. In the spring, the sealant must be removed, and the residues removed with a mixture of white spirit;
- stick double-sided tape on the window frame around the perimeter or use mounting foam, self-expanding sealing tape, self-adhesive gaskets and other seals. This will raise the temperature of the house by 1-2 degrees;
- stick energy-saving lavsan films on the glass, the principle of which is to reflect light in the IR and UV ranges. They are invisible to the eye, and the film itself seems slightly tinted. This will increase the air temperature at home by 2-5 degrees;
- hang warm curtains for the winter, which retain more heat, and if they are opened during daylight hours and curtained again at night, then the heat from the sun will enter the room and remain;
- briefly open the windows completely for ventilation, since when the window is open, the room is almost not ventilated, while the heat intensively leaves.
To keep your home warm, also insulate walls, doors, minimize drafts, glue heat reflectors in front of radiators, and appreciate the warmth you get. If your room temperature is higher than comfortable, then you need to install a heat intensity regulator on the batteries so that unnecessary energy losses do not occur.