Methods for reducing heat in winter and heating in summer. Reducing heat loss - saving money

Energy saving is currently relevant for every person. Owners of private houses and cottages, who have to independently solve the problem of heating houses during the cold season, are especially interested in saving energy. And in order for the savings to be maximized, it is necessary to minimize heat loss.

It is very useful to think about heat loss for those who are just going to build their own house, since heat conservation can be ensured in two ways: by increasing the thickness of the walls (pay attention to the old castles - their walls were made thick not only for security reasons in case of war, but mainly for the sake of heat preservation) or apply modern thermal insulation methods. It should be noted that increasing the thickness of the walls is the construction of a massive foundation, which leads to significant costs (the foundation is the most expensive part of the house).

In addition to increasing the thickness of the walls, there is another known way to reduce heat loss and the cost of heating a house, which has been used in Russia for a long time: reducing the volume of premises. No wonder our ancestors cost houses with low doorways and small rooms with low ceilings - such a room requires less heating costs, and it is easier to keep heat in it. But modern methods of thermal insulation allow you to minimize heat loss in large rooms, you just need to use these methods.

What is thermal insulation for?

The first and most obvious answer to this question is that insulation is necessary to reduce heat loss in the home. However, thermal insulation functions do not end with minimizing heat loss.

Those who believe that thermal insulation is necessary only for the cold season are mistaken, and in regions with a warm climate and mild winters, thermal insulation can be neglected. On the one hand, such an opinion is quite logical: if the ambient temperature does not drop below zero during the cold season, then heating costs are much lower than in regions with more severe winters, and such thermal insulation as in cold regions is not required. However, thermal insulation not only prevents heat loss from the house to the environment, but also preserves the microclimate of the premises. In addition, in the hot season, thermal insulation prevents overheating of the premises, that is, it works not only in cold weather, but also in warm weather.

Also, thermal insulation contributes to the uniformity of the temperature regime in all rooms of the house. In addition, heating equipment operating at full capacity contributes to overdrying the air in the house, which is harmful to human health. Reducing the power of the equipment due to the presence of thermal insulation improves the humidity characteristics of the home atmosphere. That is, in fact, thermal insulation serves not only to prevent heat loss, but precisely to create and maintain certain temperature and humidity conditions inside the house, which are most comfortable for a person.

Another function of thermal insulation is sound insulation. The presence of thermal insulation protects the interior of the house from external sounds, which is especially important if the house is located in a busy place (for example, near a motorway). But even in a quiet village corner, singing roosters can cause a lot of discomfort - in the absence of proper soundproofing of the premises.

In addition to the comfort of living, one should take into account the effect of thermal insulation on the durability of the structure. The fact is that in the absence of thermal insulation, cold bridges form in various places of building structures, condensation appears, and this reduces the service life of the house, destroys it. Also, sudden temperature changes have a destructive effect (for example, high temperatures in the daytime and low temperatures at night - such drops are typical for regions with hot climates). Thermal insulation of structures protects them from such temperature effects, eliminates cold bridges, prevents the formation of condensation, which leads to a significant increase in the service life of the building.

How heat loss occurs in the house

In order to figure out which parts of the house need thermal insulation, you need to find out - how does heat loss occur?

The first thing to be excluded is heat loss through the building envelope. That is, it is necessary to insulate the walls of the building. It is in the enclosing structures that bridges of cold are formed, places of freezing, the formation of condensation, leading to decay and destruction of walls. The lack of wall insulation, in addition to heat loss, also means a significant reduction in the service life of the building, the need for frequent repairs.

It is optimal if the thermal protection is installed outside the enclosing structures, since the installation inside leads to a deterioration of the microclimate inside the building (thermal insulation, located in this way, prevents the natural circulation of air through the walls), as well as to the loss of the useful area of ​​the premises. It is also necessary to have a vapor barrier device, since the heat escapes through the enclosing structures with steam, that is, the moisture content of the insulating material gradually increases and its protective functions can not only be reduced, but also completely lost.

In addition to supporting structures, special attention should be paid to windows - heat loss through windows is one of the most significant: it has been established that wooden window frames of the old structure lose up to 70% of the heat from the house. Replacing such windows with modern double-glazed windows can significantly reduce heat loss. In this case, double-glazed windows can be both wooden and metal or made of PVC. For the climate of central Russia, double-glazed windows are considered optimal.

Also, heat losses occur through the heating system itself: with flue gases, in pipelines, and so on. This problem is especially acute for private houses of old construction, where heating systems are of the old type. To reduce such heat loss, it is necessary to replace the heating system. Modern heating systems are designed in such a way that heat losses during their use are minimal; there are also options that are used to heat rooms and heat from flue gases, thus reducing heating costs.

How much does heat loss cost?

The more various "holes" in the house, through which heat loss occurs, the more expensive you have to pay for heating during the heating season. But before starting construction or repair work, it is useful to compare the cost of overpayment with the cost of a reliable thermal insulation device, to determine the payback period of the work. This does not mean that there is no need to do thermal insulation, but if there are financial problems, then the calculation of heat losses will help determine the sequence of work: the largest "holes" need to be closed first.

From this point of view, windows pose the greatest problem - old or low-quality frames provide large heat losses, and as a result, the cost of heating rises by 25-30%. Replacing old windows with double-glazed windows is not very cheap, but it pays off completely in two years, and then pure savings begin.

The next problematic place is the enclosing structures. Heat loss through the walls leads not only to an increase in the cost of heating, but also to a decrease in the maintenance-free life of the house. If you do not take care of high-quality insulation of the enclosing structures, then you will constantly have to deal with repairs, and this is much more expensive than good thermal insulation.

The rest of the "gaps" in the thermal insulation can be closed later - depending on the financial situation. But those who want to live in comfortable conditions and save on heating should protect themselves and their home as much as possible from heat loss of any kind.

Heat loss of modern houses. A plot from the Discovery channel:

It is well known that the world's natural resources of oil, gas, coal are gradually drying up. This leads to higher energy costs.

The direct relationship between the amount of heat and the amount of heating bills makes many people think about reducing heat losses.

The question of how to reduce heat loss is especially relevant during the period of preparation for winter. Moreover, he worries both the owners of private houses and residents of high-rise buildings.

In practice, there are two ways to reduce heat loss in a house or apartment.

Simple ways - minimum costs

1. installation of a heat-reflecting (foil) screen near the radiator. The screen will reflect heat and direct it into the house, rather than heating the outer wall.

2. closing windows and doors. The easiest way to keep your home warm is to tightly close windows and doors.

3. insulation of windows and doors. Sealing in the places where glass adjoins a wooden frame, installing seals or simply pasting gaps in windows will significantly reduce heat loss.

4. elimination of shading of windows. The window lets in up to 95% of the sun's rays and allows you to accumulate heat inside the house. It is not for nothing that most greenhouses are made of glass.

5. proper ventilation. Ventilation is necessary to maintain a normal microclimate. But in order to save money, you need to air it not once a day for an hour, but several times for 15 minutes.

6.Replacing incandescent bulbs with energy-saving or LED... Thermal radiation of 85 BTU / hour does not compensate for their high operating costs.

7. insulation of pipes if the heater is outside the house. Relevant for private houses.

8.sealing cracks in the wall with polyurethane sealants... They are flexible, "play" depending on temperature, frost-resistant, penetrate deep into cracks and do not flake off over time.

Radical or capital intensive ways

This type combines all the ways to save money that require significant upfront costs.

1. total insulation. Relevant for operated buildings. Since, according to the first law of thermodynamics, heat from a heated house always goes into a colder environment, it is imperative to create an additional barrier for heat loss in the form of a heat-insulating material. At the same time, walls, roofs, foundations and openings need insulation.

As you can see, the greatest amount of heat escapes through the walls. This is understandable, because the walls occupy a large area in relation to other surfaces. You also need to insulate the walls wisely. Therefore, it is better to give preference to outdoor insulation. This will protect the walls from freezing. The second most important direction is to highlight the warming of the basement and attic or floor / ceiling.

It is expensive and difficult to insulate all this at once, and it may turn out that insulation will be unnecessary. To understand what to do first, you need to identify those parts of the house through which heat leaves. A thermal imager is used for diagnostics. This tool will allow you to identify those areas in the house through which heat loss is most significant. It is with them that it is worth starting work on the insulation of the house.

In a multi-storey building, the wall is, in fact, the only source of loss, if it is not the first and not the last floors.

2.replacement of double-glazed windows... significantly reduce heat loss. Especially if they are multi-layered, i.e. have several chambers inside the profile and double-glazed windows.

3.replacement of radiators or heating systems... For example, among others, cast iron radiators have the greatest heat transfer. Installation of more advanced devices will reduce heat loss.

Nowadays, the insulation of houses is increasingly becoming a necessity. Insufficient thermal insulation causes heat loss, even if you use the most economical electric convector, as a result, heating costs increase, and there is a risk of damage to the walls due to frequent freezing.

However, the topic of insulation is very complex. One of the possible common solutions is to insulate the exterior walls of the house using external heat-insulating contact systems. External thermal insulation systems currently occupy one of the main places in insulation. Their advantage is a large functional variety, which makes it possible to manufacture a system for a specific construction site in accordance with the customer's requirements and local conditions.

Almost everyone is asking themselves more and more often: How to reduce heating costs at home? Can you save something? Then it is for you that we offer a solution. It is believed that, predominantly in a large number of buildings (private or multi-apartment), significant heat losses occur due to their insufficient thermal insulation. The lack of thermal insulation (insulation) entails not only large heat losses and constantly growing heating costs, but also causes a greater likelihood of wall destruction from freezing.

Should you insulate your home?

One of the great benefits is the significant reduction in heat loss through walls. By reducing heat loss, you will reduce the costs of your family budget ..
External insulation of the house will prevent the walls from freezing, and the influence of temperature fluctuations will be limited. Home insulation will extend the life of your home. In the cold season, the surfaces of the insulated walls will have a higher internal temperature and will cool much more slowly. Conversely, in summer the walls will not get very hot, which will provide you with coolness and comfort in hot weather. The temperature regime of the room will improve. By insulating your house, you prevent overcooling of the walls and the appearance of condensation on them.

In a house that is not very insulated, there is an expressive loss of heat. The walls are freezing - the freezing point is located approximately in the middle of the wall thickness.

Internal insulation of the house will limit heat loss, but such insulation will not prevent the walls from freezing. Such a system, without accumulating properties, with such insulation of the room heats up quickly, but also cools down quickly. In addition, condensation can form between the wall and the insulation, which can lead to mold.

With external insulation, the freezing point is in isolation, so the walls do not freeze. With external insulation, the walls are heated and have the ability to accumulate heat, while heat losses are minimal.

Keywords: How to reduce heat loss, winter time, Insufficient thermal insulation, functional diversity, destruction of walls from freezing, the appearance of mold, accumulate heat, hypothermia of the walls, condensation

The house should be warm in winter. This is a simple truth. But sometimes even the best heating system is not enough if there are “heat leaks”. Is it possible to reduce heat loss by simple and affordable methods?

How does the heat go away?

All heat loss can be roughly divided into two groups:

• Losses through walls, windows, and if the house is private, then the roof and floor. It is impossible to eliminate them completely; it is possible to significantly reduce them during repair;
• Heat leaks through cracks, installation flaws, hidden defects, as well as some of the habits of the inhabitants of the apartment. You can fix them yourself.

Thin walls, gaps between concrete slabs of apartment buildings, damp basements and leaky roofs - these problems are familiar to most city dwellers. If the apartment is in such a house, then in frosty winters it will be cold, even if you hang all the rooms with heating radiators up to the ceiling. Do not try, do not warm the skies in winter!

Saving resources is also a relevant topic, high heating costs make you wonder if everything was done correctly? In European countries, ordinary people have long been taught to count heat calories using counters. Specialists with thermal imagers inspect buildings, draw up heat maps of residential buildings, and give recommendations on eliminating leaks.

How to reduce heat loss

You can improve the situation in your apartment with the help of a good repair: put high-quality windows and doors, insulate the walls from the outside with foam, replace the cast-iron radiators with modern ones, and, finally, glaze the loggia.

But if the house is in good condition, repairs have been made, but the temperature in the room is low, then you should look for hidden heat loss. A home survey with a thermal imager can show all the places where heat is escaping. But on your own it is worth carefully examining and exploring all the places where heat most often leaves.

• Windows and window sills... Often there are gaps in the windows that appear due to: wear of the sealing rubber bands, poor-quality installation of the window. Often, the cracks under the windowsills, left by unscrupulous builders, are a source of drafts. If the window sills are constantly cold, condensation appears on the windows - the heat escapes through such windows.
• Entrance doors. Doors are often the source of problems. Their seal wears out, cracks appear through which cold air constantly enters the room. Installation of a double door will help. Ordinary interior doors, even the cheapest ones, significantly reduce heat loss. This is especially noticeable in private homes.
• Balconies and loggias. Cracks appear in balcony doors. They must be checked before the start of the heating season. The glazing of the loggia will make the apartment several degrees warmer.
• Radiators heat the outer wall. Usually radiators are installed under the window, close to the outer wall. It heats up the wall a lot. As a result, some of the heat generated by it goes to the street. In fact, the heat is used to heat the street. It is recommended to glue the wall behind the battery with foil, then not the wall will heat up, but the apartment where the heat will go.
• Cold bridges. Cold bridges are areas of a building with a lower thermal resistance in relation to other areas. That is, they let in more heat. For example, these are corners, concrete lintels over windows, joints of building structures, steel reinforcement in the walls, and so on. It is difficult to find them without a thermal imager. If dampness is found in any corner, condensation appears - this is a dangerous area.
• Ventilation holes... They must be in the kitchen to remove combustion gases. But ventilation often works "the other way around". Instead of removing air from the room to the outside, cold street air is drawn from the street into the room. Installation of a hood above a plate with a corrugated pipe for air will help.

Tips for keeping warm

Local heating systems

The most common solution is to use electric heaters. These are devices such as oil heaters, electric fireplaces or electric convectors. This solution is the simplest, most affordable and economical.

Special infrared emitters heat only a certain area; the temperature around it is much lower. If lamps, infrared floor mats, heated rugs. Infrared ceiling heaters can be suspended from horizontal cables or pendulum suspension. This allows not only to keep the walls and floor free, but also to significantly expand the heating area due to exposure to horizontal surfaces.

Interestingly, if the temperature of the infrared heater is reduced by a few degrees, the human perceived temperature will remain the same, since this decrease will be compensated for by the "radiation" additive. In this way, energy consumption and heating costs can be reduced compared to traditional heating methods.

Thermal radiation, like ordinary light, is not absorbed by the air, so all the energy from the infrared heater reaches the heated surfaces and people without loss. At the same time, the average temperature in the room can be 2-3 degrees lower than the optimal one, but due to the direct absorption of energy from the infrared heater, a person in the area of ​​its action will feel comfortable.