Glucophone, "den" and a brick on the stove: which heating methods work and which are complete nonsense

When it's cold in the apartment, the first thought is to turn on the gas stove or put bricks on it, "because that's what the neighbor does." But not all such life hacks really work, and some can be extremely dangerous.LIGA.net I spoke with traveler, inventor, and extreme environment adaptation instructor Hlib Skorobogatov and prepared some proven tips for you to help keep your home warm without heating, and also debunked popular online methods that you should forget like a bad dream.Where to start when there is no heating in the apartmentFirst of all, it is important to keep the apartment warm, explains Hlib Skorobogatov:– Windows and doors should be covered with blankets so that the fabric hangs down and partially lies on the floor. If there are sheets of styrofoam, they can be used to cover the windows along with the frames. The room will become a little darker, but significantly warmer.You can use carpets or any old items to cover cold areas of the floor. If heating radiators are cold, it is advisable to cover them, as they become sources of cold in this state. Walls near which a bed or sofa stands also need additional insulation.Thermal reflective mats, which are sold in DIY superstores, are suitable for this purpose.How to set up a sleeping areaGlib Skorobogatov advises raising the bed as high as possible, as warm air rises. It is also important to avoid drafts and choose a corner of the room where there are definitely no drafts.A sleeping mat can be used to create thermal insulation layers. Before going to sleep, it is advisable to place raincoats, jackets, or any thick clothing under the mattress to prevent cold from coming from below. If the bed is high enough, you can place a pot of water, previously heated on the stove, or a pan with sand or salt under it. The water should not be brought to a boil to avoid steam formation. In its salted form, it retains heat longer and releases it more slowly, gradually warming the space under the sleeping area.If possible, use thermal reflective materials on top. This doesn't mean foil, but rather foam mats with a reflective surface, which are sold in hardware and construction stores. They can be placed directly on the mattress with the reflective side up, or on the sides for additional heat retention.How to properly ventilate an apartmentEven in a cold apartment, ventilation remains necessary. Carbon dioxide accumulates in the room, as well as combustion products if gas appliances or candles are used. In such cases, ventilation is mandatory, the expert emphasizes:– The best way to do this is with a short burst of ventilation: for example, open a door and a window on opposite sides of the apartment and quickly air out the room, monitoring the temperature inside.Hypothermia can occur at temperatures as low as +8 °C if a person is wet and there is wind. In an apartment, people usually do not freeze even at +3…+5 °C, provided they are not heavily intoxicated, seriously ill, or exhausted.If there is an extractor fan or a ventilation duct in the apartment, they should be used. For a comfortable stay, the room should be dry. You should not constantly heat water or tea in every room, as this increases humidity. Dry air heats up more easily and is subjectively perceived as warmer, although excessive dryness is also undesirable for the respiratory system.Life hacks that work.A "den" or a tent in the roomHeating a room of even 10 m² in the absence of electricity, gas, or when the thermal power plant is not working is quite difficult. But setting up a tent inside the room is a serious solution. A small volume is much easier to heat than a large one. You can bring a heater inside, pour hot water into bottles, pull blankets and throws, and create a warm, comfortable "den." The temperature difference inside will be noticeable: if it's +2 °C in the apartment, it can be at least +15 °C inside.If you don't have a tent, you can make a "den" yourself from improvised materials: use chairs, stools, ironing boards, tables – the rest depends on your imagination. You can also use thermal reflective insulation (shiny, sold in hardware stores) – attach it to the wall near the bed so that you don't get cold from the wall, but reflect your own heat back. Don't forget to ventilate!Heat accumulators with glycerinFor localized heating, metal flasks filled with glycerin can be used.Glycerin has a higher heat capacity than water and boils at approximately 290 °C, so it can accumulate heat for a long time and release it just as slowly.To prepare such a heating pad, simply place a flask of glycerin in boiling water and heat it thoroughly. After that, it must be wrapped in a sock or, for example, a fabric pouch, because the metal is very hot. Then the flask can be used as a local heat source: keep it in your pocket under your jacket, put it in your sleeping bag, in bed before sleep, or next to your body.Important: Flasks should not be heated over an open flame, as many of them are soldered with tin and may simply fall apart. An additional plus is that the glycerin can then be used for skin, shoe, or belt care.Sand warmerHeat dry sand in a metal container over a gas flame, then pour it into a fabric cover without synthetics – for example, a warm cotton sock or a pouch made of natural fabric – and tie it up. This type of heating pad retains heat for a long time because the sand heats evenly and releases heat slowly.Before use, check the temperature with your hand and do not apply very hot directly to the skin. To dry shoes, simply leave the bag inside for a while – the heat gradually warms and dries the shoes from the inside without damaging the material.Sand is safer than stones in this case, as stones often contain moisture and can crack or burst suddenly when heated.Electric hand warmers with power bank functionHlib Skorobogatov advises using modern electric hand warmers that also function as a power bank. He explains that convenient models can be separated into two parts, each with its own battery of approximately 5000 mAh and several heating modes. In maximum mode, these warmers heat up to 60-65 °C and can operate for a long time.They are convenient for warming hands, drying shoes (one in each shoe), pre-warming a sleeping bag, or for feet – simply by placing them in socks while sleeping.Devices should not be left to charge unattended or used with damaged cables.The gluco-phone as an individual "stove"A tongue drum (a metal musical instrument made of thick steel with an internal cavity) can serve as a source of local heat for the hands. Thanks to its massive body, it accumulates heat well and releases it slowly.To use this, you need to remove the rubber stopper at the bottom of the instrument and place the glukofon over a lit tea light. The candle gradually heats the air inside the cavity, and in just 10-15 minutes, the metal body becomes evenly warm. The streamlined shape allows you to comfortably hold the glukofon in your palms or on your lap. Lightly tapping the petals while it heats up creates a soft vibrating effect, which, along with the warmth, helps you relax.Flower pot constructionFor temporary local heating, a simple construction of two clay flower pots, a bolt, and a candle can be used. The pots are connected by a metal bolt through the bottom holes, with a small gap left between them using washers. A candle is placed under the construction. The flame heats the bolt, and the heat transfers from it to the clay, which slowly releases the heat into the air.This method does not replace heating and provides only a small amount of heat, but it can help warm your hands or the space nearby. It is important to use the design only on a non-combustible surface, not to leave it unattended, and to remember that it is a source of open flame.What doesn't work?Heating with gas burnersThis is a leader in harmful advice. People try to warm themselves by turning on all the burners and the oven. A gas burner heats the air directly above it: the heat instantly rises to the ceiling, and your feet remain cold. During combustion, gas "consumes" oxygen and releases carbon monoxide (CO), which has no color or smell. A person feels tired, wants to lie down – and may not wake up again.Paraffin trench candleThe romanticized "field" method of heating is poorly suited for home use. In freezing temperatures, paraffin is difficult to ignite, so people often add alcohol, gasoline, or dry fuel, sharply increasing the risk of fire. Paraffin in a can burns unstably and requires constant "feeding," turning the candle into an uncontrolled source of open flame.The most dangerous aspect is contact with water: a drop can cause an eruption of molten, burning paraffin. During prolonged burning, toxic products are released, which you have to breathe in, and to ventilate the room, you have to open the windows again and lose heat. For enclosed spaces, this is one of the worst heating options.Brick on a slabThe old Soviet myth of the "heat accumulator." Bricks have low heat capacity and will cool down faster than you can carry them to bed. In addition, when heating bricks over a gas flame, people breathe in combustion products again. To release carbon monoxide, you have to open a window – and all the "accumulated" heat flies out in a minute. Silicate or red brick is not designed for direct fire and can crack or "shoot" a hot fragment.Foil behind a cold radiatorThe method only works when the radiator is hot. The foil acts as a mirror for infrared radiation, but a cold radiator emits nothing. In this case, the foil simply decorates the wall. Due to the lack of normal air circulation between the foil and the cold wall, condensation appears, and by spring, a separate civilization of black mold can grow behind the radiator.Homemade alcohol stoves from cansHere's a life hack for those who miss chemistry lessons but skipped safety training. Alcohol burns out almost instantly, produces minimal heat, and maximum hassle. An alcohol flame is almost invisible during the day, and such a "candle" can easily be knocked over or have fuel added to a still-burning can. One careless spill, and a fire erupts that cannot be extinguished with water: the alcohol will simply float to the top and continue to burn.Read also"This causes the body to lose 30% of its heat": how to stay warm in an apartment without heating – advice from a female mountaineer