Windows
Wipe condensation off the sill and the frame, clean the rebates and drainage holes, and inspect the seals before the cold season. A sash that is hard to close or wobbles needs adjusting.
Care
Care and upkeep
Comfort at home rests on small things that gradually wear out and get dirty: draught strips harden, grilles clog with dust, radiators get hidden behind furniture, and a humidifier that is never cleaned becomes a source of problems itself. Regular care costs almost nothing and lets you avoid urgent and expensive fixes.
A home sends its signals quietly: wet glass, a dusty grille, a cold corner. Those who notice them in time rarely have to deal with big problems.
How this section works: we give general advice on caring for the things that affect the microclimate. How to clean and service a particular appliance is set out in its instructions. Repairs to heating, ventilation shafts, gas appliances and electrical wiring are carried out by specialists.
Care, item by item
Six things in your home whose condition decides how warm, humid and fresh the air is.
Ventilation grilles
Grilles in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen collect dust and grease, and the draw gradually weakens. Take them off and wash them when they get dirty. If there is no draw at all, tell your building manager or landlord and do not touch the shaft yourself.
Radiators
Do not block radiators with solid covers, curtains or furniture, and dust them before the heating season. If a radiator heats unevenly or leaks, call a specialist through your building manager or landlord.
Humidifier
The tank and filters need regular cleaning according to the manufacturer's instructions, otherwise microorganisms multiply in the water. Watch the hygrometer and do not let the air get too humid: droplets on the windows tell you it is time to stop.
Air conditioner
The filters of the indoor unit can usually be washed yourself, if the instructions allow it. Leave cleaning the heat exchanger, checking the drain and refilling refrigerant to service specialists.
Curtains and textiles
Curtains, rugs and upholstered furniture collect dust, so they are regularly vacuumed and washed according to the label. Clean textiles deal better with echo and do not add extra dust to the air.
Seasonal microclimate check-up
- Before the heating season, inspect windows, draught strips and reveals, and adjust the sash pressure
- Clear furniture and solid covers away from radiators, dust them and check the thermostats
- Check the draw at every ventilation grille by holding a sheet of paper up to it
- Clean the humidifier and filters before first use and regularly during the season
- In spring, wash the windows, launder the curtains and check corners and reveals for dark patches
- Before summer, have a specialist service the air conditioner, if you have one
Related sections
- How-to
How to get a window ready for the cold and air a room in winter without draughts, and which jobs at home you should not do yourself.
- Tools
Thermometer, hygrometer, phone sound meter, thermal camera, tape measure and sealant, with no brands or rankings.
- Materials
Draught strips, insulation, soundproofing, curtains and rugs, trickle vents, humidifying and dehumidifying in general terms, plus our article catalogue.
Sources
- GOST 30494-2011 (Russian standard)
Specific temperature, humidity and noise values are taken from the Russian standards GOST 30494-2011 and SanPiN 1.2.3685-21, and buyers' rights are described in general terms under the Russian Consumer Protection Law. Other countries use their own building, noise and consumer rules. The condition of your home's ventilation, heating and structure is assessed on site by specialists and your building manager or landlord, and health questions are a matter for a doctor.