This post was automatically translated into English
Searching for an apartment for a long time, buying it, and then furnishing it are just the first challenges that new homeowners have to face. According to real estate experts, the biggest challenges and problems await new residents later. Some of them can be solved by following the real estate developer’s (RE) maintenance rules, which are provided in the apartment’s passport, and some of them can be solved by using the guarantees provided for the apartment. Unfortunately, not everyone knows about these guarantees.
Searching for an apartment for a long time, buying it, and then furnishing it are just the first challenges that new homeowners face. According to real estate experts, the biggest challenges and problems await new residents later. Some of them can be solved by following the real estate developer’s (RE) supervision rules, which are provided in the apartment’s passport, and others by using the guarantees provided for the apartment. Unfortunately, not everyone knows about these guarantees.
What are the main problems faced by residents of new apartments and how to solve them and prevent them in the future, says Martynas Žibūda, Development Director of the real estate company “Eika”.
Leaky windows and doors
Two decades ago, Lithuanians began to rapidly replace wooden windows with plastic ones, and wooden doors with armored ones. The fashion that came from the West brought not only practicality, convenience, and safety, but also additional problems that arise from poor adjustment of windows and doors.
“A significant number of residents of new homes sooner or later turn to specialists for windows that are difficult to open or doors that are difficult to lock. This is a minor problem, but it can make life difficult, especially if it is repeated. True, problems with windows and doors are not necessarily a defect in the work of the craftsmen who installed them, but also a consequence of improper use of them by the residents themselves,” says M. Žibūda.
For example, in order for plastic windows to last longer, they must be properly maintained. According to a real estate specialist, at least twice a year – before and after winter – you need to thoroughly clean and lubricate the window seals, which ensure the tightness of the window. In addition, it is necessary to properly adjust the hardware of plastic windows in winter and summer. In warmer weather, the window hardware should be loosened a little, and when winter begins, tightened.
Using a hexagonal screw, apartment owners can do this themselves, but the Eika representative advises contacting specialists whose contacts are indicated in the apartment passport, or, if the passport has not been issued, asking for recommendations from the real estate developer. During the warranty period for windows, which is two years according to the law, window adjustment in newly built apartments is carried out free of charge.
Misty windows and moldy walls
Most modern apartment buildings are built to be extremely airtight and warm, meaning the higher the energy class, the more airtight the building.
“If we were to compare buildings with objects, a class B dwelling would have the same thermal resistance as a kettle, and a class A dwelling would have the same thermal resistance as a thermos. And a thermos perfectly retains not only heat, but also moisture. The devices used by residents and the exhaled air create condensation, which accumulates in the form of moisture on windows and walls, the windows begin to fog up, and over time mold may also appear. To prevent this from happening, the premises should be ventilated, but residents often avoid doing so in order to save heat,” says M. Žibūda.
According to him, rooms need to be ventilated at a certain frequency – 5 times a day for 5 minutes. Those who want to save heat should know that before ventilating a room, it is recommended to turn on the heat so that heat is not lost while the air masses in the room are changing.
Additionally, it is not recommended to dry clothes in rooms, as moisture from them settles on windows and walls. They should be dried on the balcony, and if you do dry them in the room, remember to open the window or balcony door more often.
Malfunctions in the recuperation (heat exchanger) system
According to the development director of Eika, problems with the recuperation system usually arise not due to any warranty defect, but often due to apartment owners’ ignorance of what a recuperation system is and how to use it.
“An apartment with a heat recovery system, i.e. ventilation using a heat exchanger, not only ensures fresh air, but also prevents heat from escaping, mold from forming, or windows from fogging up. There are not many apartments in Lithuania with this system yet. Starting in November 2016, only energy class A apartment buildings will be designed and built, so a heat recovery system will have to be installed in all apartments,” says the development director of Eika.
According to M. Žibūda, although some of the settlers have a recuperation system, they do not use it or use it rarely, thus trying to save money. This means that the risk of moisture accumulating in their apartment increases. “The recuperation system is installed so that there is no need to open the windows and heat is not lost. However, residents, even though they have this system, still prefer to open the windows than turn it on. Therefore, by saving electricity for the operation of the recuperator, they waste heat, and later use more costs for heating, which means they save in the wrong place,” says M. Žibūda.
Cold air through the vents
There are also complaints about cold air coming in through vents. In the warm season, residents usually don’t notice vents in external walls or windows, but they cause problems for most people in the cold season.
“As winter approaches, residents may feel that the air vent is blowing cold air. They try to close it, but the air vent grilles are already frozen. When trying to close the frozen air vent grilles, they break and then the entire glass unit or air vent needs to be replaced. To prevent this from happening, they should be taken care of in mid-autumn, thawed with a hairdryer or waited for a wave of warmer air to close the grilles,” advises an Eika representative.
In addition, there are cases when residents complain that they feel cold air blowing through the grilles in the shower. This is due to the air ducts operating in the common ventilation ducts of the house. The problem of cold air can be solved by check valves, which are installed during the installation of the finish. These valves allow air to escape, but do not allow it to enter – this way the room does not cool down.
About the Eika group of companies
Founded in 1992, the company “EIKA” is one of the largest real estate development and construction groups in Lithuania, successfully developing residential, commercial, public and other purpose building projects, creating a new quality of life and work. The company has already built more than 3,000 apartments and 270 thousand square meters of buildings. “Eika” has been awarded many times as the best real estate developer in Lithuania, the company’s projects “Santariškių namai” and “EIKA namai Pilaitė” have become the best in Lithuania.
More information:
Martynas Zibuda
Development Director
Phone: +370 5 2496619
Email: [email protected]
old.eika.lt
Martynas Zibuda
Development Director
Phone: +370 5 2496619
Email: [email protected]
old.eika.lt