What to do when the batteries in the apartment are hot, but still cold

Even with the radiators blazing, are you feeling a chill creep into your home? For many of us, it’s a frustrating situation that occurs in the winter. When you enter a room, you anticipate the heating system providing warmth, but it is still uncomfortable cold. Why is that? Don’t worry just yet, though. Your radiators may be hot but not heating the room sufficiently for a number of reasons.

Let’s start by dispelling the myth that a room with hot radiators is inherently warm. Radiators provide heat, which is important, but it’s not the only thing that keeps your house warm. Your heating system’s efficiency is dependent on a number of interdependent parts, and if one of them fails, it may affect how warm your house is overall.

Inadequate insulation is one potential reason for rooms that are cold but feel hot. Think of the heat in your house as the water passing through a massive sieve. Your home will not be very toasty if your walls, windows, or doors have gaps, cracks, or inadequate insulation allowing valuable heat to escape. In these situations, the heat produced by your radiators finds it difficult to offset the ongoing loss of heat, which leaves your rooms never quite at the right temperature.

The way the heat is distributed in your house is another thing to think about. Your radiators may be producing a lot of heat, but the distribution may be uneven, making some areas feel colder than others. Numerous factors, including air trapped in the system, obstructions in the pipes, or just bad radiator placement, may be to blame for this. Even with the radiators working nonstop, you still have areas of cold air in your home when the heat isn’t distributed evenly.

In addition, how well your heating system warms your house depends largely on how old and efficient it is. In particular, if they haven’t been properly maintained or updated, older systems may find it difficult to reach and maintain ideal temperatures. Antiquated controls, inefficient boilers, and deteriorating radiators can all lead to inadequate heating efficiency, trapping you in a never-ending state of cold discomfort.

What then should you do if your home is consistently cold but your radiators are hot? Fortunately, you can solve the problem and get your living area warm again in a few simple steps. There are solutions for every situation, from bleeding your radiators to upgrading your insulation and even thinking about replacing your heating system. Through comprehension of the underlying causes and preemptive action, you can eliminate the cold and relish a warm, inviting house throughout the winter season.

When your apartment"s radiators feel hot to the touch but your home is still chilly, it"s frustrating and uncomfortable. But fear not, there are several steps you can take to tackle this common issue. Firstly, check if the radiators are properly bled of any trapped air, as air bubbles can hinder heat circulation. Next, ensure that the radiator valves are fully open to allow maximum heat flow. If the problem persists, consider balancing the radiators by adjusting the valves to distribute heat evenly throughout your home. Additionally, evaluate the insulation in your house, as poor insulation can lead to heat loss and inefficiency. Finally, if none of these solutions work, it might be time to call in a professional to inspect your heating system for any underlying issues. By taking these steps, you can make your home warmer and more comfortable during those chilly days.

Incorrect selection of the radiator

Only by carefully selecting the mounted radiator’s size and number of sections can the apartment be fully heated. The room’s overall size and the material the battery is made of decide how many sections there should be. Each radiator section heats a specific area in compliance with current SNiP standards:

• bimetallic radiator – 1,8 m 2 ;
• Aluminum radiator – 1.9-2.0 m 2 ;
• cast iron radiator – 1,4-1,5 m 2 .

It is crucial to realize that the high coolant temperature of 85 to 90 degrees Celsius is taken into consideration when defining the characteristics. Estimate one section for every 1.5 square meters on average.

Adhering to installation guidelines is crucial, as they stipulate that the battery must be at least 10 cm from the floor, window sill, and wall surface, and 30 mm from the wall. It is strictly prohibited to use furniture or interior décor to block the heater. The radiator’s heat output is greatly decreased when this rule is broken. This could be the cause of your feeling cold when your apartment’s radiators are hot.

High heat loss

It is simple to check heat losses in the heating system using a thermal imager, a specialized high-precision measuring tool. This device assists in non-contact temperature measurement with an accuracy of at least 0.1°C and makes visible the infrared radiation emitted by nearby objects. The data from the measurements is shown on the device’s display as a color picture, with each shade denoting a specific temperature range.

One of the time-tested and effective options for increasing the heat output of the battery and reducing heat loss is the installation of a special reflector or screen behind the radiator, made on the basis of aluminum foil. Such a very simple and cheap device will ensure the direction of heat energy from the wall of the house directly into the room. As practice shows, the use of such a reflective screen can increase the thermal efficiency of the heating system by 12-15%. Among other things, it is strongly not recommended to cover the radiator with several layers of paint. In this case, heat loss often reaches the same 10-12% and with hot radiators you are cold in the apartment.

"Fondue" windows

The incorrect glazing of even the most expensive and contemporary plastic windows can result in heat loss. Particular attention needs to be paid to joints that are improperly sealed between the window sill or wall and the window frame. Special assembly foam or silicone sealants must be applied to all trouble spots.

New window issues are more of the exception than the rule. Old windows with wooden frames are the main source of drafts. Additionally, the apartment will remain cold regardless of how hot you turn the radiators. Installing brand-new, multi-chamber plastic windows from reputable manufacturers will be the only practical solution in this situation to permanently stop heat loss through window openings.

Uninsulated walls, floors and ceilings

Large heating issues are typically encountered by occupants of corner apartments and owners of homes with inadequately insulated walls, floors, and ceilings. Typically, a basic inspection reveals the existence of fissures and openings in the walls, ceiling, and flooring of these apartments, which allow warm air to escape and cold air to enter the space.

Cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings are sealed with specialized primers and fillers. Reinforcement is applied if needed. Utilizing specific insulating materials produces positive outcomes. When selecting heat-insulating materials, consider the following factors:

• thermal conductivity values;
• level of vapor permeability;
• ease of installation work;
• the total amount of shrinkage;
• weight and density
• hygroscopicity;
• durability;
• combustibility;
• thickness.

The best products have been shown to be ROCKWOOL, HOTROCK SMART, TECHNICOL XPS TECHNOPLEX, PENOPLEX COMFORT, KNAUF THERM HOUSE, ISOVER Warm House, and URSA GEO.

Insufficient temperature

"Hot radiators" are a relative concept. In certain situations, it’s essential to turn up the radiator’s temperature in order to quickly heat the space and drive out cold air. Generally speaking, the first step to remedy an apartment situation with a centralized heating system is to submit a standard application-claim to the management company’s dispatch service (MC). It’s crucial to keep in mind that certain standards do not always align with tenants’ individual preferences:

• kitchen – 18 o C;
• bathroom – 25 o C;
• living rooms – 18 o C;
• corner rooms – 20 o C.

Upon arrival, the public utility representatives are required to take formal measurements of the temperature regime. The management company takes action to bring the apartment’s heating back to normal once it has been determined that the tenants’ claims are reasonable. It will be required to raise the temperature using alternate methods, such as buying specialized heating equipment, if the complaint is not upheld.

Battery clogging

The primary causes of clogs of various degrees of complexity are deposits that actively settle on the interior walls of radiators and naturally occurring corrosive changes that arise during the long-term operation of the heating system. Typically, when the battery becomes clogged, ordinary tap water—which isn’t pre-treated and doesn’t have a high enough purity level—is used as a heat carrier.

Some parts of the heating system are not heated sufficiently as a result of the heat carrier movement being disrupted by clogging in the internal part of the battery. Contemporary radiator models exhibit heightened corrosion resistance. Among these are bimetallic radiators, which offer complete passability and continuous heating operation—even in unclean residential heating systems.

There are various actions you can take to solve the problem and raise the comfort level in your living area if the radiators in your apartment are hot to the touch but it feels cold inside.

First, see if any furniture or curtains are blocking your radiators. Heat may not be able to enter a room efficiently if radiators are blocked. Rearranging furniture can help ensure that the warm air coming from the radiators is not obstructed.

Next, if you haven’t done so recently, bleed your radiators. Uneven heating may result from air trapped in the system, which stops the hot water from circulating correctly. To let the radiator heat up completely, use a radiator key to release any trapped air.

Think about how insulated your house is. It can be challenging to keep a room at a comfortable temperature even when the radiators are operating at maximum efficiency due to poor insulation. In order to retain heat, look for gaps around windows and doors and think about insulating walls and attics.

Even with hot radiators, if you’ve tried these solutions and your house is still feeling chilly, it could be worthwhile to have a professional heating technician inspect your system. Your heating system or boiler may have hidden problems that need to be fixed by a professional.

Lastly, don’t forget to properly adjust your thermostat. In certain cases, it might be necessary to adjust the temperature settings in order to guarantee that your house is heated effectively and efficiently. Try a variety of settings to determine what temperature is most comfortable for you.

Even when faced with hot radiators that don’t seem to be doing the job, you can create a cozier and more comfortable living environment by using these steps and being proactive about addressing heating issues in your home.

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