That in a cold winter time in an apartment or house it was warm, it is not enough to have hot batteries. If the housing is not insulated, then the cost of utilities will increase significantly. Therefore, it is necessary to prepare thoroughly for the winter and to carry out complex works that allow keeping heat in the apartment.
To prepare an old apartment for the winter, you will need:
- vapor barrier materials;
- heat-insulating materials;
- additional doors;
- silicone sealant or double-glazed windows.
1 To keep the heat in the apartment, take care of the insulation of walls, floor and ceiling. If you live in an apartment of a multi-storey building, then do internal work. To cover the apartment with insulation materials outside the building will not be allowed by the Department of Architecture and Urban Development.
2 For internal insulation, remove all finishing materials, zashpatlyuyte walls, wrap them with a vapor barrier material, on top of the thermal insulation. Thermal insulation materials are represented in the trade sector in a wide range. Choose those that take the least of your living space. Volumetric materials are more appropriate to produce outdoor insulation, but due to the fact that in high-rise buildings this is unacceptable, use thermal insulation for internal works.
3 On the heaters, screw the drywall and make the finishing work. Do not forget that when the walls are insulated, you need to insulate the floor with the ceiling in the same way. This is not necessary if you live on the middle floors, above you and under you are heated apartments. Seal the cracks with a sealant. In addition, lay a wood stove or carpet.
4 After the walls, insulate the windows. The most expensive option is to order triple-glazed windows. If you do not plan to invest a lot of money, then buy a silicone sealant, seal all the cracks, stop the windows with a thermal tape and cover with paper or tape. If you live in an old house, then remove the window sills and insulate the voids below them. It happens even this is enough to keep the apartment warm, since in the houses built under Khrushchev, under the sills are voids, which when removing the windowsills can be sealed with mineral wool.
5 If your apartment has an old heating system, replace it. Replace the pipes and batteries before you finish the walls after the insulation works. This can be done with the help of specialists from the housing department.
6 If you have the option, insert the double doors. This will allow you to keep the warm air in the apartment as much as possible, especially if your apartment is on the lower floors, and the family has school-age children who are constantly on the move and have many friends who constantly come and go.
7 Integrated insulation works will allow you to save 50% of the heat in the cold season.
