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It has become easier for apartment owners who decide to make their home energy efficient through major renovations to obtain government support for these purposes. The director of the Department for Monitoring Regional Capital Repair Systems and Expert Methodological Support spoke about the work of the program in an interview with RG.
The annual increase in utility bills is approved by the government based on the forecast of the country's socio-economic development for the coming years. The increase in tariffs is influenced by rising prices for gas and electricity and inflation.
First of all, the changes affected the time of dialing the emergency dispatch service. The specialist must answer a phone call from a resident of an apartment building within 5 minutes. If all specialists are busy and the call remains unanswered, then service specialists should call back within 10 minutes. For.
Popular answers to questions about housing and communal services
In accordance with paragraph 1 of Articles 44 and 46 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the general meeting of owners of premises in an apartment building is the management body of the apartment building. Decisions of the general meeting of owners of premises in an apartment building are made by a majority vote of the total number of votes taking part in this meeting and are documented in minutes. The initiator of the meeting can be any owner of the premises.
In accordance with clause 3.7.6. Rules and regulations for the technical operation of the housing stock, approved by Decree of the State Construction Committee dated September 27, 2003 No. 170, waste bins must be placed at a distance from the windows to the doors of residential buildings of at least 20 m, but not more than 100 m from the entrance entrances.
Replace water supply risers in the house
The answer to this question is found in Government Decree No. 491, and in the articles of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation (Article 36 and Clause 5 of Article 155). In them we find areas of responsibility between the owner and the company managing the house.
The hot water and hot water risers of an apartment building are common property.
The building management company must repair common property. The management companies of an apartment building can be: a housing office, a housing department, or a private company chosen by the residents.
Conclusion: the management company should check and replace the water supply risers in the house.
Books on housing and communal services
The legislation is as of January 1, 2020. This manual will be of interest to citizens using the services of management organizations.
Still asking yourself questions: “Should I pay or not pay for major repairs?”, “What does the manager spend money on? Should I install meters or not?”, “How to correctly calculate the consumption of light and water?”. Now.
Who is responsible for the condition of the first hot and cold water tap from the riser? The owner of the apartment or the management company (HOA)? One way or another, every apartment owner has encountered these questions. The faucet is leaking, at whose expense is the replacement? The tap broke - who will pay for the damage? So, the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation in its decision states: the management company is responsible for the condition of the first crane riser.
Who is responsible for the first water tap in the apartment from the riser?
Hot and cold water in apartments of apartment buildings is supplied through the so-called “risers”. From them, through “branches”, intra-apartment wiring is carried out to points of consumption (sinks, bathtubs, toilets, etc.)
In this case, the risers are part of the common property and the management organization (HOA, management company, etc.) is responsible for them. And the owner of the apartment is responsible for “diversions”. The line of responsibility runs along the first tap after the riser. But who is responsible for the tap itself?
Current legislation interprets this point as follows:
In particular, clause 5 of the Rules for the maintenance of common property in an apartment building says:
... The common property includes in-house engineering cold and hot water supply systems, consisting of risers, branches from the risers to the first shut-off device located on the branches from the risers, the specified shut-off devices, collective (common house) cold and hot water metering devices, first shut-off devices control taps on the taps of the intra-apartment wiring from the risers , as well as mechanical, electrical, sanitary and other equipment located on these networks...
It seems that everything is clear - the first taps from the riser are part of the common property of the house. However, in real life, utility workers act according to their own logic. Here is one of the stories.
An accident occurred in the apartment of a resident of Magadan - the tap on the cold water “comb” located at the outlet from the riser broke. Water flooded the apartment and spilled into the apartment on the floor below. The total amount of damage was more than 10,000 rubles.
The management company refused to voluntarily compensate for the damage. The owner of the apartment had to sue. The Magadan City Court satisfied the plaintiff's demands. However, utility companies challenged the decision in the regional court. They motivated their position by the fact that the owners of the apartment installed the ill-fated “comb” themselves, without complying with the technical requirements for this type of work. Accordingly, they are not responsible for the condition of the independently installed crane and are not required to compensate for the damage.
Ways to increase pressure
Before starting work, it is necessary to determine the possible reasons for the decrease in water supply to the apartment.
Reasons for lack of water
These include the following malfunctions:
- There is no water in the tap due to a break in the city main. This is one of the most common breakdowns in modern conditions. You won't be able to deal with this problem on your own.
- A large layer of build-up has formed on the inner walls of the pipes due to poor water quality. This problem is especially acute in old buildings with steel pipelines. Plastic pipes are not in danger of such damage. It’s easy to fix this problem on your own. It is necessary to dismantle the steel pipeline and replace it with plastic pipes.
A malfunction and lack of water in the tap may be caused by the inability of the supply system to supply the expanded neighborhood with sufficient water. The way out of this situation is quite simple.
It is necessary to draw up design documentation, approve it with regulatory authorities and install a reliable pumping station with booster pumps.
In this case, the power of the equipment should be taken into account. A simple pump, which is enough to supply a private household, will not work. It will be necessary to equip a whole cycle of equipment of sufficient power with additional devices to ensure normal operation of the pumps.
You should not install an individual pump in the water supply riser of your home. In this case, you will not only be subject to penalties from Vodokanal, but also ruin your relationship with your neighbors. In this case, the water will only be in your apartment and the large size of the pumping equipment will not be able to decorate your interior. But the industry has launched the production of special individual (apartment) pumps.
Types of pumps for water supply systems
A pump designed to increase pressure in an apartment in a multi-story building is produced in the form of a small device that is installed at the outlet from the riser and at the entrance of the pipe to the apartment. Models are available with the possibility of manual and automatic operation of the equipment.
With automatic control, the pump turns on when any tap in the apartment is opened. For this purpose they are equipped with a water flow sensor. This scheme protects pumping equipment from damage when operating without water.
According to the operation scheme of the booster system, the pumps are divided into:
- The pump rotor is equipped with an impeller. It supplies air to the pump housing, which ensures operation. This equipment is called a dry rotor pump. The efficiency level is quite high. But its disadvantage is that it is noisy during operation.
- Wet rotor. This is a less noisy pumping unit. During operation, water passing through the inside of the pump cools it. Equipment for pumping cold and hot water is produced.
In terms of sales, the most popular is Comfort brand pumping equipment. These are the most efficient and high-quality units. They are universal. Can be installed on all types of water supply.
The unit is made of high-quality materials that are resistant to corrosion and alkalis. There are 7 modifications of equipment on the market with different levels of pressure and throughput.
Another leader is VILO brand equipment. The flow sensor makes operation safe, and the “wet rotor” circuit protects the housing from overheating. Maximum pressure up to 20 atm. Pump capacity up to 35 l/min.
What should be the water pressure in the apartment?
Currently, federal legislation does not establish uniform standards for water pressure in apartments and private houses. Each specific region, and sometimes locality, has its own indicators. When calculating the standard for water supply to an apartment, the following parameters must be taken into account:
Attention! If you have any questions, you can chat for free with a lawyer at the bottom of the screen or call Moscow; Saint Petersburg; ext.480 Free call for all of Russia.
The pressure in the pipelines is calculated individually for each specific apartment. Residents themselves are accustomed to assessing this indicator as “bad” or “good”, depending on whether the water pressure satisfies their needs or not. On average, the pressure in the pipes should be about two atmospheres. However, apartment owners often fail to defend their rights even with frankly weak water pressure, since pressure measurements are carried out using a special measuring device.
Water supply for private houses. What is important to know? on the Nedvio website
In our time, running water has long ceased to be a luxury and is an important source of life support. More and more people are trying to provide them with their own homes.
As a rule, water supply to a private home is organized according to the classical scheme:
- First you need to decide on a water source;
- Then the water supply system is installed and the hydraulic accumulator is installed;
- At the next stage, external and internal pipes are laid, all necessary plumbing fixtures are installed and connected;
- To organize hot water supply, a separate hot water boiler is installed. Boilers are single-circuit and double-circuit. In most cases, consumers prefer dual-circuit models. They are able to provide living space with both heat and hot water.
In city apartments, we rarely think about how this system is organized. However, in a private house, whether living or just purchasing it, it is important to understand this issue. Next, we will look in more detail at the main nuances of organizing water supply in cottages.
So, at the very beginning, even during the construction of a house, the developer must decide on the source from which the water will come. This can be a well, a sand well and an artesian well.
Water supply to a house from a well
Using a well is the easiest option. True, such a source is not the best in terms of quality, since wastewater and various debris can get into well water.
Another disadvantage of water supply from a well is its shallow depth. In case of prolonged drought, lack of rain, damage to the soil, the water in it may not be enough to meet all the needs of the owners of a private house.
In some cases, owners of their own houses resort to creating an Abyssinian well . It does not require significant financial expenditure, and all installation work is completed in just a few hours. Moreover, the Abyssinian well can be installed even in the basement.
Water supply from a well
This type is the most popular source of water in residential homes. To do this, using special equipment and machinery, a narrow well is drilled near the house to a much greater depth than wells.
A sand well is the most cost-effective solution for a country house; with its help you can extract water from a depth of thirty meters.
In this case, a submersible pump is installed. Such a source allows you to obtain water of decent quality, but still installing an additional filter will not hurt. Also, a sand well will require regular maintenance to prevent silting.
An artesian well , even deeper, allows you to obtain the highest quality water for water supply to a private home. However, its development is quite expensive, since artesian aquifers lie very deep. As a rule, prices for drilling wells amount to hundreds of thousands of rubles!
But a pump is not needed for such a well. Moreover, such a source may well provide clean water to several private houses at once.
It is worth noting that artesian water is a strategic reserve of the state, so the well must be officially registered.
Installation of water supply inside the house
When the water supply source is equipped, a pumping station is installed inside the house. It consists of such elements as:
- Centrifugal pump;
- Hydraulic accumulator;
- Electric motor;
- Relay that detects pressure.
- Water filter(s).
The pumping station is responsible for turning the pump on and off in autonomous mode, preventing overflow or emptying of the hydraulic tank. If the water supply station is set up with high quality, then you will not even feel the difference with the apartment, and water will be supplied to the house with a stable pressure.
Normative base
The parameters for water supply to apartments and private houses are determined by the relevant legislative standards and SNiPs. Knowledge of the regulatory framework is necessary for proper installation of internal wiring and connection of plumbing and various household appliances. If the owner of a living space has serious complaints regarding the pressure in the pipeline, he should definitely familiarize himself with the requirements of SNiP.
According to SNiP 2.04.02-84, for every ten meters of water delivery height, a pressure of 1 bar must be provided in the pipe. The same document states that the height of one floor of an apartment building in calculations should be taken as 4 meters. Thus, knowing the initial data, you can calculate the required water pressure for any floor in just a few minutes.
In addition, SNiP provides a minimum pressure standard for each type of plumbing:
- For a bath with mixers - 0.3 atmospheres;
- Toilet with flush cistern - 0.2 atmospheres;
- Shower cabins - 0.3 atmospheres;
- Sink with mixer – 0.2 atmospheres.
IMPORTANT
The maximum water pressure in the apartment should not exceed 6 atmospheres, however, during repair and construction work this figure can reach 10 atmospheres.
The provisions of Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354 establish pressure parameters separately for hot and cold water:
- for cold water – from 0.03 to 0.6 MPa;
- for hot water – from 0.03 to 0.45 MPa.
In addition, according to this document, water pressure measurements should be carried out at the water collection point in the morning from 7.00 to 9.00 or in the evening from 19.00 to 22.00.
Knowledge of these fundamental documents will allow apartment owners to conduct more specific and subject-specific negotiations with the management company in the event of low pressure in apartment buildings.
Residents' needs for cold water supply
The basic rules of SNiP provide for the highest permitted pressure of the water column in the house - no more than 6 atm, at the point where the apartment wiring branches off from the riser. Based on these figures, the nominal operating pressure of the system is calculated. But the rules take into account the normal water pressure at each section of the water supply network in the apartment.
Bathtub and shower stall - the water pressure on the supply line should not be more than 0.3 atm. For the operation of the toilet and washbasin, this figure is 1 tenth less. But here you should take into account the number of floors in the house. When supplying water to the 22nd floor, the pressure at the entrance to the building must be at least 9 atm. Also, in hot water supply pipes the temperature should not exceed 4.5 atm.
These figures apply to buildings with a centralized water supply system and for individual construction. The calculation takes into account the use of plumbing fixtures and equipment by residents. Frequency of showering and washing in an automatic washing machine. For normal operation of the system, a pressure of at least 2 atm will be sufficient.
When installing additional equipment in the shower stall and equipping the bathtub with a Jacuzzi system, the pressure must be higher, at least 4 atm.
Important. Excess pressure in the pipeline not only leads to increased water consumption, but also reduces the service life of water fittings and equipment.
Possible reasons for low water pressure in the apartment
Before filing a claim with the utility service, you should understand the reasons for the low water pressure in the apartments. Sometimes the problem lies not in the actions of utility workers, but in the shortcomings of the living space.
As practice shows, the following reasons can cause serious problems with the supply of hot and cold water:
- Insufficient pressure in the central main system.
- Formation of blockage in the common house pipeline or in the pipes of the apartment.
- Mixer malfunctions.
Attention
The reasons for low pressure of hot and cold water in an apartment can be different.
Reasons for low hot water pressure | Causes of low cold water pressure | Reasons for complete lack of water |
Low water heating; |
Accident on the heating main;
Accident in the broiler room.;
Problems with the hot water heating system.
Shutting off the cold water supply.
Planned work carried out by utilities.
In each specific case, you should first find out the circumstances surrounding the occurrence of low water pressure in the apartment. This can be done by contacting the utility service or management company at your place of residence. As a rule, when carrying out urgent or planned repairs, utility workers warn residents, notifying them of possible problems and the timing of their elimination.
What kind of water flows from the tap cause effect
As mentioned above, ignoring such a breakdown as hot water in a cold tap does not bode well - moreover, the consequences of such ignoring can be very unpleasant. The thing is that in most cases, equipment designed for cold water cannot withstand prolonged exposure to high temperatures. As a result, you may experience the following troubles.
In addition, if the presence of hot water in a cold tap is due to the absence of a check valve on the water heating tank in your apartment, this is fraught with huge energy consumption. Judge for yourself - instead of providing hot water only for your apartment, you will supply it and all your neighbors in the riser. In general, the consequences are not at all rosy - as you understand, it is better to deal with such a problem right away. An excellent solution in this situation would be to install check valves directly in front of the meter, at the entrance of the water supply to your apartment.
How to independently increase water pressure in an apartment?
There are several ways to independently eliminate the problem of low water pressure in an apartment. The choice of one method or another depends solely on the reason for the poor delivery:
- If the problem lies in the mixer, you can try to repair it or replace it with a new one.
- If the water pressure has decreased due to a clogged aerator, you should clean it with a needle and blow it out.
- The replacement of pipes should be entrusted to specialists; the apartment owner is only required to purchase all the necessary materials. It is recommended to replace the risers entirely, since due to the large number of joints the pressure may also drop.
- Problems with low pressure on the upper floors of an apartment building can be solved using a special pump.
- If the pressure in the pipeline is insufficient due to errors in the connection diagram of plumbing and appliances, then only a specialist can find the problem and fix it.
Where to go if there is low water pressure in the apartment?
If the pressure in the tap is weak, you should wait a few days. If the situation does not improve, then you should file a complaint with the management company responsible for supplying water to the apartment. When contacting the Criminal Code, the sequence of actions will be as follows:
- An application is sent to the management company to measure low water pressure in the apartment.
- Within 10 days, a specialist with special measuring instruments must come from the management company to measure the pressure in the pipeline.
- If a deviation from the standards is detected, the management company must identify the cause of the problem and eliminate it within a month from the date of filing the application.
Attention
If the management company is in no hurry to fulfill its obligations and delays in resolving the issue, residents should not give up and look for effective ways to influence the management company.
When and where can I file a complaint?
Experienced lawyers recommend submitting all complaints to the Management Company exclusively in writing. The claim for low water pressure in the apartment should be made in two copies, one should be submitted to the management company, and the second with the incoming mark should be kept. According to Federal Law No. 59, written applications from citizens are considered by officials within thirty days from the date of their submission to the organization.
If after a month the problem with low water pressure has not been solved and a response to the application has not been provided, the apartment owner has several options on how to proceed. First, you can go to court. In most cases, this step is a last resort. Litigation can cost the plaintiff a pretty penny and take a lot of time and effort. However, sometimes there is no other way out, since only through the court can you demand that the management company fulfill its obligations or get a refund for poor-quality services provided. Secondly, you can write a complaint to the state housing inspection, which supervises the activities of public utilities.
Step-by-step instructions for filing a complaint about low water pressure in an apartment
If you are faced with the problem of low pressure of hot or cold water in your apartment, you should not let the situation take its course and wait for it to resolve itself. First of all, you should go around to your neighbors and find out how they are dealing with the pressure issue. As practice shows, collective complaints have a much greater effect than individual complaints.
The procedure for writing a complaint to the Management Company is as follows:
If there are still controversial issues, you can also consult a free chat with a lawyer at the bottom of the screen or call Moscow; Saint Petersburg; ext.480 Free call for all of Russia.
A sample complaint about low water pressure in an apartment can be downloaded here.
In both cases, the response to the complaint must be provided to the apartment owner in writing. If this does not happen or the complainant does not agree with the content of the response, he has the right to contact the prosecutor's office with a complaint about the actions or inactions of officials of the management company.
When filing a complaint about low water pressure in an apartment to the management company, you must also provide:
- a copy of the claimant's passport;
- a copy of ownership documents;
- documents on pressure measurements in the pipeline.
Attention
The housing department has no right to demand the provision of additional documents from the citizen filing the complaint. If public utilities refuse to accept a complaint about low water pressure in an apartment, citing various reasons, you should request a written refusal from the head of the management company. This refusal can be addressed to the prosecutor's office, court or state housing inspection.
Possible consequences of the complaint
The consequences of a complaint may vary depending on where it is filed.
Based on the results of the consideration of the complaint, the management company must eliminate the problem of low water pressure as soon as possible and recalculate utility bills at the request of the apartment owner.
If a complaint about the actions or inactions of utility workers was filed with the prosecutor’s office, then you can count on the management of the management company being fined. In addition, the prosecutor will issue an order to the housing department to eliminate the problem within a specific time frame.
When filing a complaint with the state housing inspectorate, you will also have to wait for a response within thirty days. As practice shows, in most cases, inspection specialists side with apartment owners. The supervisory authority can also punish utility workers with a ruble, issue an order, or apply more stringent measures, after which the housing department will no longer be able to provide services to the population.
If there is no hot water or heating in the apartment
The lack of hot water and heating in the apartment is a common phenomenon that residents of apartment buildings have to face with the onset of cold weather. Alas, lowering the temperature outside does not mean that hot water and heating will appear in residential premises. Where to file complaints if there is no hot water or heating in the apartment?
In accordance with the Rules for the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 05/06/2011 N 354, the quality of the provided utility services must meet the established requirements (deviation from which is not permitted).
In particular, an uninterrupted round-the-clock hot water supply must be provided, that is, without interruptions. The permissible duration of a break in the supply of hot water to consumers, which is established by the Rules for the provision of public utilities, cannot exceed 8 hours (in total) for 1 month, 4 hours at a time, and in case of an accident on a dead-end main - 24 hours in a row.
The duration of a break in the supply of hot water to residential premises in connection with annual repair and maintenance work in centralized networks of engineering and technical support for hot water supply is established by the legislation of the Russian Federation on technical regulation SanPiN 2.1.4.2496-09, according to which such a break cannot exceed 14 days.
The rules for the provision of utility services also establish requirements for the quality of heating services, according to which uninterrupted round-the-clock heating must be provided during the heating period. The heating period must begin no later than the day following the end of the 5-day period, during which the average daily outdoor temperature drops below +8 °C.
The standard air temperature in residential premises during the heating period should not be lower than +18 °C. For corner rooms this figure should be 2 °C higher. In this case, it is allowed to reduce the standard temperature by no more than 3 °C at night (from 0.00 to 5.00 hours). Reducing the air temperature in a living room during the daytime (from 5.00 to 0.00 hours) is not allowed.
The permissible duration of a heating break cannot be more than 24 hours (in total) for 1 month, 16 hours at a time - at an air temperature in residential premises from +12 °C to standard temperature, 8 hours at a time - at an air temperature in residential premises from +10 °C to +12 °C; 4 hours at a time – at an air temperature in residential premises from +8 °C to +10 °C.
In the event of a prolonged absence of hot water and heating, it is necessary to file a complaint with the State Housing Inspectorate to conduct an inspection and bring the perpetrators to justice. Violation of the normative level or regime for providing the population with utility services entails a fine on officials in the amount of 500 to 1,000 rubles; for legal entities – from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles.
A complaint about the lack of hot water and heating in the apartment can also be sent to the prosecutor's office. If the interruption in the supply of hot water and heating is in the nature of an administrative offense, the prosecutor initiates proceedings for an administrative offense or transmits a report of the offense and inspection materials to the body or official authorized to consider such cases.
In cases where the rights of a significant number of citizens are violated, the prosecutor files and supports a claim in court in the interests of the victims. Of course, the lack of hot water and heating in an apartment building violates the rights of a significant number of citizens, but the prosecutor's office is often limited to formal replies. If they disagree with this answer, citizens have the right to appeal it to a higher prosecutor or to court.
Provision of public services for hot water supply and heating of inadequate quality or intermittently is the basis for recalculation of utility bills. In addition to recalculating the payment for hot water and heating, the consumer has the right to recover penalties, damages and compensation for moral damage. If the consumer's demands are not voluntarily satisfied, the consumer has the right to file a claim in court.
To protect your rights and legitimate interests in housing disputes, you should seek legal assistance from the Kirpikov Center and Partners.
Nuances
Low water pressure in an apartment is always unpleasant. However, you should not rush to conclusions and blame utility companies for all your troubles. First of all, you should identify the cause of the problem and try to fix it yourself. The water pressure in the system may weaken for objective reasons. In particular, in the evening, a decrease in pressure is very often observed on the top floors of apartment buildings. Unfortunately, you can only protect yourself from such a situation with the help of special pumping equipment.
Repair work on the pipeline; | Major accidents on the central highway; |
Ways to reduce pressure in a water supply
It is quite rare that high pressure water supply occurs. To protect the water supply system in the apartment, a water pressure reducer is installed.
It will protect the water supply of an apartment in an apartment building from increased water supply. It is especially important to mitigate the load on equipment at the time of water entry into the system.
When the valve is opened quickly, a water hammer may occur, which will cause emergency situations. The smallest breakdown will require replacing the faucet axle box of the mixers. Appliances for domestic needs in apartments are manufactured taking into account pressure cutoff during water hammer.
It can be adjusted to the pressure at the entrance to the apartment, no more than 6 atm. At the outlet of the reducer, the nominal water pressure for the system is set. As a rule, they are installed at the entrance to the apartment’s water supply system or in front of various plumbing equipment.