One Open Window Left an Entire Building Without Heat: What Dangers Await Kyiv Residents During Blackouts

One mistake can cost you a frozen battery or a frozen riser.

Trust the reliable — subscribe to Telegraf in Google News.

An open window in an apartment without heating can lead to a frozen battery or a frozen riser, and after heat supply is restored — to an emergency.

This is what Telegraf told by a resident of a high-rise building where such trouble happened.

According to the man, last winter in one Kyiv's high-rise buildings heating disappeared twice in a row for 4–5 days. During one of these outages, an open window remained in an empty apartment on one of the floors.

The frosty air cooled the room, which likely caused the battery or a section of the riser to freeze. When the heat carrier supply was restored and pressure appeared again in the system, the frozen section burst.

“Water with steam was flowing directly from the window to the street, onto the building’s tiles,” said a Kyiv resident.

The riser had to be shut off urgently, so residents connected to it were left without heating for several more days. Quickly finding a plumber was also a problem — there were not enough specialists due to a large number of emergency calls.

According to the man, this situation showed how important it is to prepare the building for a prolonged loss of heat.

“When there is no heating, and an empty apartment has an open window, anything can happen,” he noted.

In an exclusive comment to Telegraf, head of the HOA and director of the public organization 'Leader of Housing Management' Yulia Borodina explained what exactly should be checked to avoid finding yourself in such a situation. Read more about it in the material: Without light, heat, and connectivity: how to prepare a high-rise for the worst winter scenario.