How to insulate an apartment?

Seal the cracks in the windows

First you need to stop all heat loss. Wooden frames made of timber dry out and deform over time, forming cracks. If it is not possible to change the windows, it is worth insulating the old frames before the onset of cold weather.

Large gaps can be neutralized with foam rubber by laying strips between the sashes, window sills, walls and gluing them with masking tape. A self-adhesive window seal is also suitable: it must be fixed to a clean and dry frame.

Heat can also escape through the micro-gaps in the places where the glass adjoins the frame. To get rid of them, wash the window and degrease the corners, then apply the window sealant by squeezing it out with equal pressure.

Repair plastic windows

If relatively new windows are blown out, there may be several problems:

• Deformation of the seal, which can only be solved by replacing it.
• Incorrect installation of windows... You can check it yourself using a level and tape measure. If the geometry is broken, you should invite specialists to fix the problem.
• Broken, substandard, or out of alignment hardware... Perhaps the window is in summer mode - tightening the locking pins in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions will help.
• Wear of polyurethane foam between the window sill and the frame. Can be removed with silicone sealant.
• Uninsulated slopes.

The cause of the blowing can be established and eliminated on your own, but if in doubt, invite specialists.

rearrange the furniture

This method of fighting the cold does not require money, but it will definitely add warmth. Even if the temperature is the same throughout the room, you can feel it differently as you move around the room. Outside walls carry the most cold, and this information can be used wisely.

Place a large closet or rack next to a cold wall to act as "insulation". Open the radiators as much as possible, removing soft or massive furniture from them, as it prevents the spread of heat.

Insulate the door

If the canvas is iron or there are cracks in the door frame, the cold in the hallway cannot be avoided. If the door is relatively new, the cause of the draft is usually a worn seal: it is easy to replace it yourself.

Seals are sold in hardware stores, and to glue it, you only need to degrease the surface by removing the old material. As a drastic measure, use a thick blanket to block out the cold air at least at night. The best option would be to replace the door leaf with a more modern one, which will serve not only heat, but also sound insulation.

If the door is upholstered with dermantine, the insulation inside it could simply crumble, so the best solution would be to replace the upholstery. Do not forget to make small "rolls" around the edges of the door leaf to neutralize possible gaps.

Put the rug

Textiles do not warm the apartment in a global sense, but add coziness and comfort. Carpets on the floor reduce heat loss - this is especially relevant for residents of the first floors or owners of apartments above an unheated room. The thicker the pile, the warmer it is in the house, but even the usual paths laid in the kitchen can help.

A carpet is a great way to insulate not only the floor, but also the wall, especially if it fences off the room from the cold entrance.

Improve batteries

If the temperature of the riser and the surface of the heating radiator is different, it is most likely defective or in need of repair. Do not forget to check the batteries before the heating season: a specialist will determine how worn out they are, whether service or replacement is required. Removing old paint will also help, each new layer of which reduces heat transfer.

To avoid unnecessarily heating the wall behind the battery, place an aluminum foil shield behind it - a so-called "heat trap". The owners of such screens note that the effect is felt immediately after installation - the foil reflects heat and directs it inside the room.

Hang blackout curtains

Thick fabric will help partially block the drafts from the cracks in the room and the cold from the walls. The best option is thick curtains, which must be curtained after sunset. In order not to block the heat from the radiators, wind the curtains behind them.

If the windows face the sunny side, free the windows from tulle and curtains as much as possible to warm up the apartment during the day.

Combine several ways to insulate an apartment at once to make the microclimate more comfortable.