Maintaining a comfortable +20 - +28 degrees in the house sometimes becomes challenging task, despite the measures taken to increase fuel consumption and the power of heat-generating equipment. In addition, certain rooms may be the coldest or separate areas within them. For example, floors in houses are often icy; in any case, residents would prefer a warmer atmosphere.

But you can often make a house warm quickly and inexpensively, since there are obvious and removable reasons for this state of affairs. Typical situations with cold houses and ways to solve the problem...

Is it profitable to insulate in monetary terms?

When building new houses, energy saving measures should pay for themselves in several years or a maximum of 12 years, due to fuel savings, at current energy prices. Those. subject to the thickness of insulation recommended by standards (heat transfer resistance is normalized...), and their types (inexpensive), the costs of creating thermal insulation shells pay off quite quickly.

IN existing buildings rebuilding can sometimes be too expensive or not feasible without radically redesigning the structures. But these are still exceptions to the rule. And eliminating the most significant heat leaks with insulation and other measures is often very inexpensive and it pays off within 1 to 3 heating seasons.

Installing new window systems is expensive, but the most effective measure to increase comfort in the home...

Dead end path - increasing heating

But when the house is cold, residents tend to think less about economic benefits and agree to expensive measures just to create an acceptable atmosphere. And they often try to solve the problem in the opposite direction - by installing additional heating, which does not give much effect, since with an increase in heat generation power and temperature inside the house, heat losses also increase, and at times. Therefore, before you start turning the “battery boilers” or, even worse, install electric heaters with extremely expensive energy, you need to take care of heat conservation. How to insulate a house cheaper and easier?

Common heat leaks in the home

Each house always has its own characteristic heat leaks in in certain places, but all of them can be generalized and combined into large groups.

• Drafts through closing sashes, through seams around glass and frames, through the attic floor and roof, through walls.

• Low resistance to heat transfer of windows - old frames were installed, which, even without drafts, perfectly heat the street air with the owner's warmth.
• The same goes for the rest of the enclosing structures. More often than not, attic floors are cold, which determines the overall cold in the house. Also, often in old houses the floors can bring in a lot of cold; they are made of single boards 30 - 40 mm thick...
• The insulation of the foundation and soil near the house has not been done, and this is not only part of the heat loss, but also, as a rule, increased risk frosty movements of the foundations of the house.
• Glass without metallized coating results in increased energy losses due to infrared radiation.

Priority actions for insulating an old house

The very first question is to eliminate the cracks and prevent uncontrolled air movement. Heat leaks with air can be simply enormous. Typical steps are as follows.

• Change the seals, create a tight closure of all sashes, frames, doors.
• Eliminate cracks near windows and doors along the contour, in places where glass fits in old frames.
• Lay a continuous vapor barrier in the attic (the ceiling is usually plank...) - a polyethylene film glued with overlapping tape.

The second question is to increase the heat transfer resistance of those structures where this is easiest and cheapest to do. As a rule, it is easiest to insulate the attic floor, and this gives the greatest effect compared to other structures.

• Lay a layer of heat insulation on the attic floor - insulate the attic if it did not exist before or if the roof has not been insulated. You can also put a layer of straw-leaves-chips soaked in cement-lime mortar and cover it with paper on top - the most economical solution. But you can also put a layer mineral wool from 15 cm thick...

Additional measures to insulate your home

• Provide adequate ventilation in each room. Make it adjustable exhaust ventilation Houses. Control air humidity in winter and prevent it from decreasing...
• Install modern double-glazed windows with metal-coated glass instead of old frames, double entrance doors. This is the most expensive part and does not fall under the “budget solution”. But as a rule, new windows already provide half the comfort...
• Insulate floors. It might be easier to rip it off wood flooring and lay insulation between the joists. If the height of the room allows and there is normal ventilation of the subfloor, lay the insulation on top of the existing covering... Extruded polystyrene foam 10 cm thick is placed under the screed on a solid base, soil...

• High ceilings. Houses with high ceilings pose a significant problem; their heat loss is much higher, especially if they are not insulated. attic floors. Warm air from radiators is concentrated under the ceiling. One of possible solutions– make a lower insulated false ceiling with a height from the floor of no more than 2.4 meters. But it’s better to make a Warm Floor system, which creates the most comfortable environment and better distributes heat in the house, eliminating the problem high ceilings. For example -

Perhaps you are a poor student or just on a budget. What to do if your house is still not fixed heating system? Maybe you live in an old, drafty house? Perhaps you want to reduce your CO2 emissions. Regardless of the reason, you need to stay warm when it's cold. Here are some useful tips.

Steps

How to make your home warmer without a heater

Close all windows carefully. Make sure winter frames, if you have them, are installed and closed tightly. Windows must be closed. Open them during the day when the sun is shining if the temperature outside is higher than the temperature inside.

• Windows must be sealed. You can purchase special window caulk to help seal them better. At a minimum, place a shirt or towels in areas where air leaks noticeably, or plug cracks with newspaper.

1. Hang cheap shower curtains on your windows that let in sunlight. This will help not to let you in cold air from the street, and the sun's heat will heat your home. You can also cover your windows tightly with plastic.

   Hang the curtains. Heavy curtains block air flow. Open them when the sun is shining and close them at other times.

   Seal the doors. Check the door frame as well as the area under the door. You can buy and stick a seal. Again, at a minimum, place a towel or something else under the door.

   Let as much sunlight into your home as possible. Make sure there is nothing obstructing sunlight (eg plants, awnings). Remove anything that is leaning against sunny side your home (it's best to put these items back at night to create extra insulation).

   Close unused rooms. This will create another barrier between you and the cold air from the street. This will also reduce circulation and therefore heat loss.

   • You can purchase a magnetic register at a hardware store that turns off forced air electric heaters in unused rooms. This way, only the rooms you use will be heated and the heating will be used much more efficiently.
   • Make sure that all heaters are mounted openly, especially where water pipes may freeze. Unblock the circulation of cold air in the heated room (this may be blocked by furniture or carpet) so that heated air can circulate effectively.

2. Lay down the carpet. Carpets and carpets help prevent heat loss through the floor. They tend to be warmer to the touch than wood or stone and are a warmer surface to walk on.

   Add insulation to the attic. A large number of heat escapes through the attic, as warm air rises and the cold one falls. Make sure the attic is thoroughly insulated.

   Light a fire in the fireplace . If you have a fireplace, light it to make your home warmer. If you don't have a fireplace, consider installing one. Never leave a fireplace with a fire burning unattended.

   Get ready. You will warm up while cooking, the kitchen will become warmer with the stove on, and you will treat yourself to something tasty and hot.

   Light a candle. Candles can produce a lot of heat. Place them carefully and do not leave them unattended. You can find cheap candles at any grocery store.

   • Use a candle heater. It won't produce as much heat as a fireplace or real heater, but it will be very cheap heat.

3. Turn on the incandescent lamps. The average incandescent light bulb releases up to 95% of its energy as heat rather than light, making it an extremely efficient source of heat.

   • Compact fluorescent and LED bulbs won't help warm the room, so save them for warm days and use the money you save to pay your heating bill.

   How to keep yourself warm in a cold house

   1. Drink warm drinks. Warm drinks will raise your body temperature. This process is very relaxing and even stimulating. Make a cup of tea or coffee. Drink some warm broth.

      Dress warmly. Many people believe that the largest percentage of heat loss occurs through the head, but in fact, heat loss throughout the body is the same. However, if you are cold, a hat or scarf definitely won't hurt. A sweater can also work wonders. Dress in layers, especially if we're talking about about wool or cotton clothes. Wear slippers or warm socks. If you are sitting, wrap yourself in a blanket.

      • If you still have cold feet, buy black tights. They should be opaque. Wear one or even two pairs under your clothes. This will create another layer of clothing to retain heat. Men can wear long underwear.

   2. Use small spaces. For example, if your bedroom is much smaller than your living room, spend more time there.

      Play sports. 20 minutes of vigorous exercise can not only warm you up, but also keep you warm after your workout. Additionally, a healthy body tends to be more tolerant of cold.

      • Be active. Movement produces heat! The more active you move, the better your blood circulation. This means warm blood flows into the fingers and toes, keeping them warm.

   3. Hug a friend or pet. The body of any warm-blooded animal warms. Snuggle up with your dog or cat and keep each other warm.

      Use a hair dryer. You can quickly warm up yourself or cold shoes and clothes before putting them on. You can also warm up your bed before you go to bed. Never cover the hairdryer! It may overheat and catch fire.

      Buy a heating pad. Instead of heating the entire house or rooms, use a heating pad on low wattage. You can also make your own heating pad:

      • Use a bottle with hot water. Thus, it is very convenient to warm your hands and feet while sitting; you can also put her in bed, at your feet.
      • Heat socks or small pads filled with rice, dried corn, or beans for one minute at microwave oven and use as a heating pad or put it in bed.

   4. Buy a thick robe. Think of it as a big fluffy blanket with sleeves. It's very warm and comfortable, and you can even sleep in it!

      Go on a visit or on vacation. Consciously spend time in a well-heated place that won't cost you anything, such as a library, church, a friend's house, etc.

      Try an electric blanket. An electric blanket can keep you warm and cozy all night, and it's cheaper than inefficient and expensive old heaters.

If the house is well insulated, then it is comfortable. The cold outside has little effect on the microclimate of the living space. The temperature in cold weather is maintained at the request of the users, for example, +25 degrees, without significant stress on the part of the users and the heating system they control.

The less resistance the structures provide to the movement of thermal energy, the more of it goes outside, the more power is required from the heating system itself, the more heat-generating material is destroyed.

As the temperature difference increases, the amount of energy lost increases significantly. It’s not the same thing at all to maintain +18 degrees C and +25 degrees C in the bedroom or kitchen.

Why pay more? Both for heating power and for burned fuel?
It is enough to insulate it once, and the savings will be significant. Taking into account current prices for cheap heat insulators and energy, insulation should pay for itself in several years.

Insulating a home is a key issue in creating comfort

If the house is cold, then keep it at +20 degrees in winter. – the task is more complex, and it is feasible, if at all the heating power allows, which should be 2 - 3 times greater than usual, for a building with minimal heat loss.

There are also such buildings with an area of ​​about 100 square meters. as well as +18 degrees. It’s difficult to catch up with 20-kilowatt heating—the residents are freezing. In such a house you need to wait out the winter, you need to survive the summer.

Life makes you think about insulating your home. Two questions are resolved:

• saving several hundred USD behind heating season(heat loss in the house can be reduced by 2-3 times).
• creation comfortable conditions accommodation for a family.

How to make thermal insulation measures more profitable

• You can insulate your house to the maximum - make comprehensive thermal insulation measures, with a thermal break layer thickness no less than recommended for economic feasibility in the standards for this climate zone, and then receive 100% of possible savings on heating.
• But you can, of course, spend 80% of the required amount, saving on the thickness of the insulation by making it 2 times thinner than required, but then the savings on heating will decrease by 2 times, as the insulation was not supplied.
• But you can spend 30 - 40% by using cheap insulation materials thin layer, some natural materials, and then redo the insulation of the house after 1 - 5 years...

Now regulations require insulating a house in such a way that its structures achieve a certain resistance to heat transfer. An economically viable set of measures within a maximum of 12 years is feasible.

A certain thickness of insulation must be adopted, and other measures must be taken - for ventilation, for placing windows on the right side, for using energy-reflecting materials...

Proper home insulation will pay off. Where insulation was not provided, it will not pay off, because the cost of the work is approximately the same, but powerful heating is still needed.

You can save on insulating a house only by doing it yourself, and not on the quality and quantity of insulating materials.

Simple steps for thermal insulation of structures

You can only know how to insulate a house by inspecting it...
Windows and doors are replaced first of all, as structural elements, which then need to be finished. And also as creating additional air exchange (drafts), and as the “coldest” enclosing structures.

If the windows and doors are replaced with new insulated ones, double or triple, without drafts, with seams sealed around their perimeter, etc. then that's half the battle.

But if you don’t have the means, you can also insulate old windows and doors. Read how this is done.

In the attic

We pull all the junk out of the attic and clean the base. We install a solid, high-quality vapor barrier, which will prevent the insulation from being replenished with vaporous moisture.

We fill in 30 cm of hay treated with carbide and lime. We cover the top with burlap, put boards, plywood, boards so that you can walk, to service the attic.
This is an easy option for small homes.

More durable, more thorough - put a 20 cm layer of mineral wool between the logs with a counter-lattice, with ventilation gap over the insulation and ensuring its ventilation.

Under the floor

We tear down the wooden floor. From below wooden logs under the floor we fasten the boards and panels staggered so that there are gaps for ventilation.

We pour insulation onto this flooring - the same lime-straw with a thickness of at least 20 cm. But it is better, of course, to put durable mineral wool again. Rodents will not live in it, and it will be ventilated by underground ventilation.

An important condition is that there is no dampness under the floor, otherwise the insulation will acquire more moisture and lose its properties. Therefore, it may be necessary to first lay a layer of roofing material on the ground.

We put continuous waterproofing on top of the mineral wool and the logs - we separate the houses from the harmful effects of this insulation.. We hammer the floor into place.

We take care of the foundation

We are thinking about the question of whether the walls are damp due to the flow of water from the foundation. If they are damp, then we do drilling, impregnation, and waterproofing with penetrating compounds above the base. This is a serious issue for older buildings.

We tear off the foundation to a depth of at least 50 cm. We cover it with a layer of waterproofing - coating bitumen, on which we glue 5 cm extruded polystyrene foam.

We install expanded polystyrene at a height of at least 50 cm from the ground to ensure protection of the walls and base from splashes and snow. Backfill we make it with sand. We build a blind area with a width no less than the freezing depth in the given area, and lay a horizontal thermal break at the bottom of the trench - the same extruded polystyrene foam 5 cm thick. We get both insulation of the foundation and protection from frost heaving.

This action, associated with a very large amount of work and costs, will not pay off in terms of energy savings. But its main purpose is different - to increase the stability of the foundation, protect it from harmful factors, increase the service life, and therefore the entire house. And in this sense, the indicated measures for thermal insulation on heaving soils are appropriate.

On the walls

We cover the cold walls of the house from heavy materials- brick, concrete, cinder block with polystyrene foam using the technology " wet facade", we plaster the top according to our taste, but with materials suitable for use as insulation - resistant to heat and vapor transparent.

Significant insulation measures on the walls in terms of volume of work not only significantly reduce heat loss (walls have the largest area), but are also decorative - they form the appearance of the facade and the entire house.

How to make your home warmer?

Insulating your home can be quite an expensive task, but there are ways you can insulate your home at a reasonable price. Let's figure out how to make the house warmer.

We insulate the foundation

More often bad foundation buildings leads to huge heat losses, however, home owners do not properly insulate the foundation, despite the relevance of this method. It is necessary to insulate the foundation not only from the inside, as many people think, but also from the outside - this will prevent the walls from freezing in the winter, which will make the house warmer.

The foundation is insulated using various materials: sheets insulation material, gravel, polyurethane foam (spraying polyurethane foam). The most profitable method of insulation is the use of polystyrene sheets - this allows you to increase moisture resistance and get rid of problems with foundation insulation for a long time. Such sheets are easy to process and bring, in a decorative sense, to the desired appearance. This material is also durable. In order to insulate the foundation, it is necessary:

1. Dig a ditch around the foundation to its full depth.
2. Level and clean the outside of the foundation.
3. Waterproof the foundation using roofing felt and bitumen mastic.
4. Treat the insulation joints with foam for increased protection from moisture.
5. Fill the dug ditch with sand, and then put insulation on it.

We insulate the walls

Walls can be insulated in various ways:

• Attach a special heat insulator to the wall using an adhesive solution, and then finish with plaster.
• Attach the insulation with a solution, and then mount external wall in one brick.
• Protect the wall with waterproofing, on which wind barriers are subsequently mounted, as well as outer skin, which, in this case, can be lining or siding.

We insulate the ceiling

Before you start insulating the ceiling, you need to study general rules insulation.

• Choose environmentally friendly materials for insulation.
• Choose fire-resistant materials.
• Insulate the ceiling in such a way that it does not subsequently affect the air circulation in the house.
• Carefully protect the ceiling insulation from moisture.

For ceiling insulation, materials such as expanded clay, mineral wool, eco-wool, polystyrene foam and penoizol are widely used. Each of these materials is good in its own way and has advantages and disadvantages. You should also understand that the ceiling can be insulated both from the attic side and from the room side. You need to choose a method that is suitable for a specific ceiling and will be easy to install. If you are insulating the ceiling from the inside, the insulation must have vapor-permeable properties.

We insulate the roof

Roof insulation can usually reduce heat loss in a private home by 15%, making the house more comfortable and warmer. You can do this yourself. It should be understood that insulating the roof only makes sense if you plan to actively use the attic. Otherwise, you can only insulate the ceiling of the house, and the effect will be exactly the same. The roof can be pitched or flat, and the methods of insulating it depend on this.

Pitched roof

The pitched roof is insulated with inside, that is, in the attic. First, they check the condition of the rafters, treat the entire tree with an antiseptic and a special composition that prevents fire. The ideal materials for insulating such a roof are mineral wool, glass wool, roofing felt, waterproof film, foil and much more. Perhaps, the best material here we can call it a vapor barrier membrane.

Flat roof

A flat roof is insulated both inside and outside. First of all, they take on external insulation, and then determine whether internal insulation will be necessary. On the outside, basalt mineral wool is usually used for insulation, which conducts heat poorly, but conducts steam well. The use of polystyrene foam is also common, but this material is too poor in terms of fire safety.

Warmth in a home is one of the main components of the comfort and well-being of its inhabitants. Modern conditions life, rise in price building materials and energy resources are dictated to the owners country houses and cottages the need to save heat and eliminate its leakage. IN last years this topic has become very relevant, therefore foreign and domestic producers Many complex home insulation systems have been developed. Today there are technologies for insulating brick, frame, wooden and concrete buildings, and also use ready-made design solutions when building a house with increased heat-saving properties, for example, a “thermohouse”, frame-panel houses with high thermal insulation, etc.

Traditionally, the largest losses, more than 50%, occur through the walls of the building. Therefore, any owner, thinking about the question of how to make a house warm, first of all starts with façade walls. Insulation is carried out along the facade of the building and sometimes, if this is not possible, then from the inside of the room.

Polyurethane foam and mineral wool are mainly used for external insulation. They are universal materials, which have many advantages. Mineral wool is an environmentally friendly and absolutely safe material that has good strength and excellent thermal insulation characteristics, and most importantly, it is a non-flammable product. As a rule, mineral wool is applied to the facade when arranging the frame. However, there are rigid slabs that are directly attached to external walls using special anchor dowels.

Polyurethane foam is modern material, characterized by strength and low weight, high manufacturability and a wide range of applications. Polyurethane foam has low thermal conductivity. The material is applied to the facade using glue and additional fixation with anchor dowels. An important condition is that due to the fact that polyurethane foam is a flammable material, the outside must be plastered over a mesh or covered with other façade systems.

Stages of work

The main heat loss in wooden houses occurs through walls, windows, floors, roofing and basements due to thermal radiation. The reason for this is temperature changes indoors and especially in winter. It should be noted that more than 50% of heat loss usually occurs through buildings, and 20% each through the ceiling and windows. Therefore, as a rule, priority is given to wall insulation.

If in wooden house Heat losses are associated with problems in the log seams. For insulation, a special sealant is used, which is applied using a specially developed technology. Application of sealant for wooden house increases it thermal characteristics, allowing you to save significantly on heating.

When insulating a wooden house, it is not recommended to place a layer of insulation inside the house, since such an insulation system can lead to undesirable consequences - moisture will begin to accumulate on the surface of the walls at the point of contact with the insulation, destroying them gradually and worsening the microclimate in the house. Therefore, the method of insulation from the outside of the facade is preferable.

When complex measures are taken to reduce heat loss from walls, it is necessary to remember that a wooden house is a special building, with an internal microclimate characteristic only of this structure. That is why it is advisable to use an environmentally friendly material as an insulation material, which will not affect the natural air exchange in the house. Such materials include ISOVER, ROCKWOOL, ISOROK, URSA (based on high-quality mineral wool), penoplex, technoplex - extrusion polymers, as well as other certified thermal insulation materials.

Insulation of a wooden house from the facade is best done in summer period, and always with dry walls, stable humidity and air temperature. The facade of the house is pre-treated with antiseptics and fire retardants. Then they make additional caulk on the walls and carry out insulation work. It is very important that the material chosen for insulation is heat-resistant and has high anti-corrosion properties. To avoid the formation of condensation due to changes in temperature and humidity, a ventilation ducts(special products).

If the option of insulating a wooden house involves the formation of gaps between the insulation and the surface of the facade, then you can get rid of the formed cavities using bulk insulation or modern technology spraying polyurethane foam thermal insulation.

Carrying out high-quality thermal insulation of the house will allow you to forget for a long time about problems with heat losses, damp walls and other problems.