What to check at home before the heating season begins to keep your home warmer in winter?
2026.10.06
Preparing a flat for the heating season does not necessarily require major repairs or significant expense. “A lot can be done in a single evening: check the windows, clean the radiators, inspect the pipe connections and make sure nothing is preventing warm air from circulating around the room,” says Edgars Jelagins, Operations Director at “Civinity Mājas”.
Residents of apartment buildings should not, however, bleed their radiators themselves. A cold upper section of a radiator or bubbling noises may indicate air in the system, but the cause could also be insufficient water circulation, a faulty thermostatic valve or the settings of the building’s central heating system.
Check the window seals. If they have hardened, cracked or come loose in places, they should be replaced. If a window closes unevenly or the handle is difficult to turn, the window fittings may need to be adjusted.
Do not block or seal any air inlets built into the windows. In a completely airtight flat, humidity rises quickly, condensation forms on the windows and mould may develop.
Before the heating season begins, remove dust from the radiators. Most dust tends to accumulate between the radiator sections and underneath them. Once the radiator heats up, the flow of warm air can carry this dust around the room.
Check that the radiator is not blocked by a sofa, chair, decorative cover or long curtains. If warm air cannot circulate freely, the room will heat up more slowly even though the radiator itself is working properly.
Pay particular attention to the thermostatic head. If it is covered by a curtain or blocked by furniture, it may measure the temperature only in the small, warm area immediately around the radiator and reduce the heat supply too soon.
Before the season starts, turn the control several times from its lowest to its highest setting to make sure it moves freely. Do not dismantle the valve itself.
Check the points where the radiator is connected to the pipes. Look for moisture, rust, dried water marks or damaged paint around the connections.
If a connection is damp or there are signs of a previous leak beneath the radiator, it is better to notify the property manager before the heating is switched on. Once the system is fully operational, even a minor problem may become more serious.
If water is already leaking, do not wait – contact the property manager or emergency service immediately by phone +371 2500 1599.
During the first week of the heating season, residents most often report three situations: a radiator does not heat up at all, heats only partially, or makes bubbling and hissing noises.
If the lower part of the radiator is warm but the upper part remains cold or noticeably cooler, air may have accumulated in the system. Bubbling, hissing or sounds resembling running water may also indicate trapped air, particularly if they continue after 24 hours, once the system has filled and stabilised.
However, uneven temperatures do not necessarily mean that the radiator simply needs to be bled.
“The cause may also be insufficient water circulation, the system settings or the operation of the thermostatic valve. Residents of apartment buildings should therefore not rush to bleed radiators themselves. If done incorrectly, it can cause a water leak, alter the system pressure and affect heating in other flats as well,” explains Edgars Jelagins.
It is safer to submit a request to the property manager by calling +371 2500 1599 or emailing [email protected] so that a specialist can inspect the situation.
When the heating has just been switched on, hot water needs time to circulate throughout the building’s system. During the first few hours, one radiator may therefore be warmer while another remains cool.
“It is usually reasonable to wait approximately 24 hours. During this period, the system stabilises and circulation becomes more even throughout the building. If a radiator is still completely cold after a full day or the rooms are not warm enough, the property manager should be informed. If there is a visible water leak or another sign of an emergency, residents should not wait and must report it immediately,” says Jelagins.
On the first day of heating, check every radiator in the flat. If only one radiator remains cold, the problem may be related to that particular radiator, its connection or the relevant riser. If all radiators are cold, the cause may lie in the flat’s heating circuit, the riser or the building’s central system.
A message stating only, “There is no heating in the flat,” does not provide the property manager with enough information. The request should include the address, flat number and the room in which the affected radiator is located.
Explain whether the radiator is completely cold or only partially warm, whether it is making any noises and when the problem was first noticed. It is also useful to say whether the issue affects one radiator or several. If moisture, rust or a leak is visible around a connection, attach a photograph.
Requests can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by telephone on +371 2500 1599.
When preparing for winter, do not make the flat completely airtight. Remove dust from the ventilation grilles in the kitchen, bathroom and toilet, and make sure they are not blocked by furniture or cupboards.
During the heating season, it is better to ventilate rooms briefly and thoroughly by opening the window fully. Leaving a window slightly open for a long time cools the window recesses and nearby walls, while the air in the room is replaced more slowly.
Fresh air is still necessary even when it is cold outside. Otherwise, condensation may form on the windows and humidity levels inside the home may rise.
One careful check before the heating season is usually enough: inspect the windows, clean and clear the radiators, examine the connections and clean the ventilation grilles. Once the heating has been switched on, check whether all radiators begin to warm up. If any radiator is still cold after approximately 24 hours, send the property manager a detailed description of the problem. Any water leak should be reported immediately.