December 25, 2022, 4:16 am | Read time: 4 minutes
In many places, craftsmen are scarce and replacement parts are stuck in the supply chain. And that’s exactly when the heating breaks down. How do you get through it well?
If the heating in the apartment is defective, it’s often an emergency–help from a professional is urgently needed. However, it may happen that the craftsman can’t come within a few hours, but only after a few days. But that’s no reason to panic: With these tips, you can bridge the time well.
1. Seal Windows and Doors
If the apartment still has a comfortable temperature at the time of the breakdown, you should try to maintain it as long as possible. Tip number one is to delay cooling by sealing windows and doors to prevent drafts. But be careful: “For gas appliances that depend on room air, ventilation openings must not be closed,” warns Andreas Braun from the Central Association for Sanitation, Heating, and Climate. “Operating without sufficient combustion air poses a life-threatening risk.”
2. Adjust to Lower Temperatures
“How quickly the temperature drops without heating is highly dependent on the condition of the building,” says Mark Steiger from GIH Baden-Württemberg, a professional association for energy consultants. “In a well-insulated new building, higher room temperatures can be maintained for one to two days. But in an unrenovated old building, where a lot of heat escapes through poorly insulated walls, they drop drastically within a few hours.”
Outside temperatures, sunlight, and especially wind also greatly influence how quickly the apartment cools down. The temperature drop is particularly rapid when the initial room temperature is relatively high, around 72 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Andreas Braun. “You’re down to 64 degrees Fahrenheit within a few hours. After that, it slows down because the room temperature approaches the outside temperature.”
If moderate positive temperatures prevail outside, it usually stays around 59 degrees Fahrenheit in the apartment for several days. However, with sub-zero temperatures outside, room temperatures drop faster and more significantly.
Also interesting: How to heat economically without freezing
3. Don’t Skip Ventilation
Despite sealing the apartment, you shouldn’t skip ventilation for extended periods. On the contrary. “Otherwise, you’re constantly breathing air that becomes increasingly humid,” says Andreas Braun. Ventilation removes both moisture and CO2 from the air you breathe. “Five minutes of shock ventilation doesn’t hurt. The fresh cold air quickly warms up again to the temperature the masonry still has.”
Regularly Ventilate the Basement Even in Winter
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4. Use Fewer Rooms in the Apartment
The more people in a room, the warmer it gets. Humans emit body heat to their surroundings. So, residents should ideally stay in just one or two rooms, rather than each retreating to their own space.
And if it gets particularly cold, Robert Schmitt from the Medical Disaster Relief Organization Germany has a tip: Set up a tent in the shared room, lay out sleeping bags and blankets. “If the whole family snuggles in there, it quickly gets warm.”
5. Stay Warm Yourself and Use Emergency Heating
To increase room temperature, an electric heater is suitable as emergency heating. But: “It needs to run for a long time to be effective,” says Mark Steiger.
Candles also have a certain warming effect, but they produce soot, which is not good for the room air. Additionally, they pose a fire hazard. Andreas Braun is clear on this: “Candles actually help more with morale.” He explicitly warns against using charcoal or gas grills and camping stoves indoors. “That’s life-threatening.”
To stay as warm as possible yourself, sweaters, thick blankets, warm socks, and even a hat help. “Even grandma’s trick of going to bed with a hot water bottle works wonderfully,” says Andreas Braun.
with material from dpa