Everyone wants their home to be warm and cozy. But if the creation of a pleasant psychological atmosphere is entirely in the hands of the residents themselves, then the microclimate of apartment buildings with centralized heating is controlled and provided by third-party organizations.
Heat is far from the cheapest expense item among other elements of the rent. It is all the more annoying when you have to allocate funds from the family budget for services that are not provided in the proper volume. What level of heat supply are utilities required to provide? How to achieve the required temperature in the apartment? Where should I go if the batteries are a little warm, and how can I do this to resolve the issue as quickly as possible?
What temperature in a living space are utilities required to provide?
The legislation has approved sanitary rules and regulations for almost all occasions. According to the developed documents, the following indicators have been established that service organizations are obliged to provide for residential premises:
- for rooms with external walls on both sides - corner ones - the temperature maintained by central heating should not fall below +20 °C;
- the same indicator has been approved for new buildings, no more than a year has passed since their commissioning;
- in all other cases, the room temperature should not fall below +18 °C, both in living areas and in the kitchen;
- for a bathroom, the lower limit of the norm will be higher - at +25 °C;
- on stairs and in lobbies - minimum +16 °C.
If the above standards are observed, any claims will be illegal, and even cold radiators at high heating rates will not be considered a reason for any action on the part of the organizations serving the building.
What happens when hot water is turned on simultaneously at two points of intake
The scheme becomes more complicated if, while using hot water at one point of intake, it becomes necessary to turn it on at another point, for example: when the shower is turned on in the bathroom, it becomes necessary to wash your hands in the toilet washbasin. In this case:
- the rate of hot water use increases sharply, its consumption increases,
- weak pressure of hot water appears;
- the flow of cold water into the boiler increases,
- a drop in the temperature of the boiler heat exchanger leads to the fact that the water temperature at the first intake point ceases to be comfortable,
- a few seconds are required to turn on the boiler automation for heating,
- a few more seconds for both users at two points of collection to be able to use water at a comfortable temperature.
All this time, both users cannot fully use hot water. It arrives intermittently. The unproductive consumption of water, which goes uselessly into the sewer system, increases sharply.
What if one of the users turned off the water? In this case, the consumption of hot water drops sharply. A temperature jump occurs on the heater of a double-circuit gas boiler. As a result, the temperature of hot water increases sharply at the point of intake that continues to operate. The user cannot fully use the water; it goes down the drain until the automation on the boiler is activated and water at the required temperature begins to flow to the user in a stable manner.
What to do if the temperature in the apartment is below normal
Before making a claim to the management company, you need to make sure that the cause of insufficient heat in the house is a violation on the part of the utility service. It may not be the temperature of the water supplied to the radiators.
The result of such a check will determine where to apply. If the radiators in the apartment are cold through no fault of the utility services, you will have to call a specialist to carry out the work yourself, and most likely pay for his services out of your own pocket.
Basic information about the design of the heating system
The heating system comes in two types: one-pipe, the so-called Leningradka, and two-pipe. In apartment buildings, single-pipe is predominantly used. The vast majority of individual properties and recent new buildings use a two-pipe system.
In a single-pipe system, the coolant enters a single riser, from where it is distributed to the radiators. Supply is carried out from the first or last floor, which is not of fundamental importance. Bypasses are used to ensure uniform water supply to all batteries. Thanks to them, the required amount of water enters the radiator, the rest moves to the next sections. The disadvantage of a one-pipe system is that batteries that are located closer to the inlet or boiler warm up better. The furthest ones in the system may not warm up enough.
Two-pipe heating system
In a two-pipe system, each radiator is independently connected to two risers. Hot water is supplied from one, cooled water goes to the other. Ignorance of the features of heating systems of various types sometimes leads to dire consequences, especially when unskilled workers are involved in repairs.
Infrequently, but there are cases when old batteries in a single-pipe system are replaced with modern aluminum ones. The expected effect does not occur, because aluminum appliances are designed for a two-pipe system, the coolant current weakens. Moreover, due to poor water circulation, they become clogged. There is only one way out - to repair old batteries or install new ones suitable for a single-pipe system.
General or specific problem?
The easiest way to evaluate the performance of a heating system is to touch not only the battery itself, but the pipes and the common riser. If it is hot, it may be a blockage inside the radiator or pipes connected to it that belong to only one apartment.
You can also ask your neighbors about the microclimate situation, and not just one - you should find out this point both from those with whom you have a common pipe (for example, living above or below you), and from those whose apartments are not connected to yours way. This will help determine the scale of the problem and, in certain cases, find helpers interested in solving it, as well as understand where to complain about cold batteries.
In the apartment, there may be no heating of all elements of the system or part of the pipes due to the accumulation of air in them, then they will be stably cold immediately from the beginning of the heating season. This issue does not require the involvement of third-party organizations, a large number of people and a long process of proving one’s rightness - only the intervention of the foreman of the housing and communal services branch servicing the house.
The main reasons for poor battery warm-up and how to eliminate them
There are two main reasons why batteries do not heat up - air lock and clogged radiators. The air lock interferes with the circulation of the coolant, the radiator does not warm up well or remains cold. The way out of the situation is simple - remove the air.
Modern systems have a special tap at the top of each battery for bleeding air. It is turned with a screwdriver or adapter. If there is air in the system, you will hear a hissing sound. The tap is kept open for some time until coolant flows out of it. If the air lock is very large, it may not be possible to completely bleed the air at one time. Wait ten minutes and try again until you feel the battery warming up completely.
On cast iron radiators that have been installed for a long time, there is most likely no air bleed valve. The simple job of bleeding the air turns into a complex and dirty one. There are two approaches to removing air from a cast iron battery. The first is through the coupling on the coolant supply to the radiator, the second is by loosening the plug in the battery. In each case, it is not necessary to completely unscrew the coupling or plug; they are turned a little until a hiss appears.
It is important to determine in which direction the coupling or plug should be unscrewed, because radiators use both right-hand and left-hand threads. Where the coupling turns is determined by the protruding part of the thread
The letter “L” is stamped on the plug with a left-hand thread; turn it to the right. It is important not to overdo it, especially when unscrewing the coupling, because the pipes can be rusty and can collapse from excessive force. Just in case, before screwing, wrap a little tow with paint or fumlenta onto the threads so that water does not seep through the broken connection.
Clogged radiators are the second common cause of poor heat supply. The system becomes clogged for two reasons: physical wear due to long-term use or the supply of dirty water to the system without filtration. More often than not, salts have been deposited on the inner walls for many years and the system becomes clogged. Sometimes the deposits are so thick that the coolant is completely unable to get through the narrow cracks. There is only one way out - replacing the radiators, and sometimes also the pipes.
If the clogging is minor, the batteries are washed. It is better to carry out work when the heating is not working. If you have to resort to such an operation during the heating season. Then disconnect the batteries by turning the taps and remove. Not all systems have valves to turn off radiators. Before cleaning the system, water is drained in individual properties; in a multi-story building, the supply is shut off
During the heating season, be careful - the water is very hot
Clean the battery under high pressure. To do this, take the batteries outside, tightly connect the battery with a water source with a hose and blow it out. Rinsing with water from the tap will not work; some of the debris will still remain in the radiator. If a blockage is found in one battery, flush the others as well; they are almost certainly clogged too.
Probable causes of violation of heat supply standards
There are various possible reasons for the lack of heat in an apartment. Among them the most common:
- excessive wear and tear of the communication system;
- errors made at the design stage or during the installation of the system;
- incorrect adjustment of heat supply by an incompetent or negligent employee;
- unauthorized connection of neighbors to the centralized system (for example, incorrect installation of heated floors).
To identify the person responsible, you may have to use the help of lawyers, who you can contact for advice not only in person, but also on the Internet. In order to avoid unnecessary costs, it is better to do this in the event of any refusal, since reviews of those who have already encountered the problem indicate incompetence in this matter even among some representatives of the Supreme Court.
Why does the circulation pump heat up: the main reasons and methods for eliminating them
There are several possible situations that indicate problems with such a device.
Incorrect installation
If the location of the rotor is incorrectly determined and its axis is displaced from the horizontal, there is a possibility of an airing effect. As a rule, it will be possible to find out about such an erroneous installation of the device immediately after the start of operation of the heating system.
To solve this problem, you will need to correct the rotor position.
Photo 1. Installation diagram of the circulation pump in the heating system. To install it you will need many components.
The device heats up due to a clogged system
The process of circulating coolant through pipes is fraught with the formation of rust and the accumulation of deposits. As a result, the pipes narrow, and the pumping equipment has to increase its own load to push the liquid. This is how it overheats. Cleaning the heating structure will resolve this situation.
Reference. A solution of caustic soda helps, filling the heating system for 1 hour.
Foreign body
Corrosive particles from old pipes or batteries break off over time and enter the circulator's motor, blocking its operation or causing the windings to burn out.
Unscheduled maintenance of the heating system will help, allowing you to get rid of foreign elements, and repair (or replacement) of the pump.
Lack of bearing lubrication
When it is deficient, bearings wear out at an accelerated rate. Due to their unsuitability for further operation of the device, its main element, the engine, jams.
Photo 2. Diagram of a circulation pump with a wet rotor. The arrows indicate the location of all parts, including bearings.
The heating system device will have to be dismantled and taken for professional diagnostics.
Low voltage in the network
An indicator of this parameter below 220V provokes rapid airing of the pumping equipment and its failure. Determining the voltage in the network by using a voltmeter will help prevent the problem.
Insufficient pressure
Overheating causes incorrect phase connection when a three-phase wheel with blades is included in the heating circuit. In this case, the direction of its rotation will be disrupted. Insufficient pressure also occurs when the viscosity of the circulating fluid is increased. In this situation, the impeller encounters quite a lot of resistance.
To solve the problem, at the first sign of its manifestation, it is necessary to check the cross-section of the incoming pipe, set the required pump adjustment data and eliminate possible deposits on the inlet pipe filter.
Stopping after start
This problem occurs when the phase wires in the terminal box are incorrectly connected. And the fuse of the device is equipped with a loose contact.
To fix the problem, you need to remove it and thoroughly clean the clamps.
Organizations responsible for the microclimate in residential premises
In the case where the temperature measurement showed a violation of the norms approved by law and there is reason to believe that the cause of this inconvenience is not of a private nature, it will be useful to know the organizations with which the issue of heat supply can be resolved.
Where to turn if the radiators in the apartment are cold? The first instance is the housing and communal services office that services the building. You can contact the management company or directly the organization that provides this service. Their representatives are obliged to respond to the complaint and analyze the situation.
To be completely sure that the problem will not be left unattended, it is better to make a written statement.
How to correctly file a claim for lack of heat in an apartment
To correctly indicate the recipient in the header of the application, you should find out the full name of the organization, its exact address, and the names of responsible managers. The name, address and contact details of the applicant are also indicated there.
It is necessary to make sure that the complaint will be considered and that they will not be able to remain silent - to do this, you need to ensure that the written statement is accepted and a note is made about this on the copy that remains with the tenant - they put down the so-called incoming number and the date of receipt of the complaint.
Directly in the text of the statement it follows:
- confirm your right to the service - refer to the concluded agreement with the organization, noting the conscientious fulfillment of the obligations assigned to it on your part (lack of debt);
- provide information about the fact of failure to provide the service in the proper amount and the period during which this violation was observed;
- indicate probable causes of system malfunction;
- provide temperature measurement data in the apartment;
- talk about the consequences of this incident, assess the moral and material damage caused by it.
In addition, it makes sense to determine the response time to the application (for housing and communal services representatives, a reasonable period is three days) and require notification of the actions taken in writing.
The application must be certified by the personal signature of the person making the claim.
If acceptance of the application was refused, it is necessary to send it by mail addressed to the responsible manager and always in a method of transmission that guarantees documentary information to the sender about the delivery of the document and its delivery to the addressee.
Confirmation receipts must be retained.
Where to go if the radiators are a little warm, but there is no trust in local housing and communal services representatives
After submitting a claim, you can wait a week, unless cold weather and life circumstances (for example, the presence of small children or weak health members in the family) force you to act earlier.
If there is no proper response, such a complaint should be sent to a higher authority - the district housing inspection or Rospotrebnadzor. To the document it is necessary to add information about the actions taken previously, a copy of the first statement, reporting the lack of an appropriate response from the FSW.
In case of repeated silence, the next authority will be the prosecutor's office. The submitted complaint must be accompanied by documentary evidence of the futility of previous attempts to resolve the issue and provide information about the harm caused by the inaction of officials to residents of the apartment.
You can also go to court, but cases are not considered quickly and it is better to go there after resolving the main part of the issue, presenting a claim for compensation for material and moral damage.
Citizens faced with such difficulties often express the opinion that it is useless to contact the local housing and communal services, advising them to act immediately through higher-level authorities or send the original complaint to the management company, and at the same time copies to all other regulatory organizations.
Each case is individual, and it is impossible to make unambiguous prejudicial judgments about all organizations of this kind. The scale and intensity of action taken depends on many factors. How persistently and where to complain about cold batteries, what to do in a particular case - everyone decides for themselves.
Why is half the battery cold?
Part of the battery may remain cold.
In this case, the following situations are considered:
- incorrect connection of the radiator;
- coolant temperature is not high enough;
- presence of air pockets and contaminants inside the heating element;
- The cross-section of the supply pipe is narrowed.
When the radiator is not connected correctly. The main reason why the battery is half cold may be that it is connected incorrectly. According to the rules for installing heating equipment in a heating circuit, the pipe supplying hot coolant must be connected to the top of the battery. The cold pipe or return, on the contrary, is to its lower part. Also read: “Radiator brackets.”
How can we explain this? You need to take into account the laws of physics and remember that hot water is much lighter than cold water, and therefore is located in the upper part of the heating device. Gradually releasing its thermal energy to the surrounding air, the coolant cools down. Its density, and hence its weight, increases. He goes down. That is why often half of the battery is cold and half is hot.
Consequences of incorrectly connecting the battery to the circuit.
Low coolant temperature. The heating device was installed correctly, but still half of the battery is cold. What to do in this case? Very often, especially in frosty weather outside, the coolant enters the heating circuit at an insufficiently high temperature. Giving up heat to the heating element, it cools down completely. This is why the effect of a cold radiator from below is created.
Contamination inside the heating device. Debris, rust, as a result of corrosion of the inside of the heating circuit, can lead to the fact that the batteries are half cold. What to do in such a situation? Before the start of the heating season, especially if the thermal distribution was organized several decades ago, it is necessary to clean the radiators. To do this, a locksmith from the relevant service is called and he performs all the work.
Things are worse if the radiators do not heat up after the start of the heating season. In this case, the riser of an apartment building or the heating circuit of a private building is completely taken out of service. After all, it is possible to remove contaminants from the radiator only when there is no coolant in it.
To bleed air from the battery, open the Mayevsky tap and substitute some kind of vessel.
Air jams. They may be the reason why half of the battery is cold. It is easy to check their presence if the supply pipe and return pipe of the heating element are equipped with ball valves or thermostats. They are simply blocked. Then the upper tap is opened while the lower one remains closed for only 10-15 seconds. If extraneous sounds and gurgling are heard when the coolant enters, there is air inside the heating element. It prevents the free circulation of hot water, so half of the battery does not heat.
The problem can be solved by simply bleeding the air. For this purpose, heating devices are equipped with a Mayevsky tap or an ordinary tap in the upper part. A container for collecting hot water is first installed under the locking mechanism. The Mayevsky tap opens and remains in this position until all the air leaves the heating device. The process is accompanied by spraying hot water under pressure. That is why it is recommended to cover the tap with a cloth.
The cross-section of the supply pipe is narrowed. The heating element is installed correctly, it is new and there is no air inside, and the battery is half cold. Reason: a thermostat or tap with a narrowed flow area is installed. What does it mean? Through a pipe with a narrowed cross-section, half the coolant enters the radiator. As a result, the speed of water movement in the radiator decreases, and therefore the temperature of its surface decreases.
What needs to be done? Dismantle the taps in front of the heating element. Before choosing a new device, be sure to consult a specialist. He must calculate the required cross-section of the valve, which will not affect the movement of coolant in the circuit.
How else can you fight for heat in a living space?
What to do if the radiators in the apartment are barely warm, and the responsible organizations are in no hurry to help solve the problem? You can begin to act more actively on your own, not limiting yourself to letters and waiting for a response to them.
- To begin activities to solve a problem, official confirmation that it exists is necessary. For this purpose, an act is drawn up. The commission, whose presence is required to create such a document, must include representatives of the local government, civilians from other apartments, and a competent craftsman - a housing and communal services mechanic. It is better to take charge of organizing this event by sending written requests to the necessary authorities containing a request for an examination and proposing a possible date for the inspection.
- If the request is ignored, the act can be drawn up without the participation of official government representatives. In this case, it is signed by residents and neighbors, and also, preferably, by a suitably qualified professional. Copies of previous unanswered requests are attached to the document, or a note about them is made in the act itself.
- All requests and documents sent must be sent by mail with notification of receipt by the addressee and must be drawn up in two copies. Responsible organizations are required to respond no later than within three days. If claims are confirmed, representatives of housing and communal services must bring the indicators in the apartment to the standards established by law within a week.
- Correct measurement results must be ensured. According to the rules for determining the temperature in a living room, measurements are made separately in each separate part of it at a distance of 1 meter from the internal walls and 1.5 meters above the floor.
- In order to avoid claims from housing and communal services, it is necessary to take care of maximum heat preservation, which depends on the residents - make sure there are no cracks in windows and doors.
Application for recalculation
Before drawing up an application for recalculation for heat, it is necessary to record the fact of inappropriate thermal conditions in the residential premises. The fact can be certified by an act that is drawn up when measuring the thermal conditions by employees of the housing office or management company.
Another option would be to involve two neighbors, the one who lives in the building or the one who lives in the house, when taking measurements. If these persons are present, you can draw up a report on measuring the temperature, which can subsequently be an appendix to the application for recalculation of payment for heat.
The act indicates the exact address, characteristics of the living space and current thermal conditions. The main problem is the quality of the equipment used, which must be verified. And the date of verification is indicated in the act, which will be recognized as the basis for recalculating payment for utility services.
Attention! A standard sample application for recalculation of payment for utility services should contain the following list:
- name of the addressee and sender of the application;
- basis for recalculating payment for the service. Usually this is a mismatch in thermal conditions. It is imperative to record the date and time at which temperature deviations were recorded. Otherwise, no recalculation will be made;
- a requirement to carry out a recalculation indicating the period for which it must be carried out;
- consequences in case of refusal. Indicate the consequences that may arise if the management company refuses to satisfy the applicant’s demands with reference to the law (forfeits and penalties);
- a list of attachments that confirm all the circumstances specified in the application. In this case - a report on measuring the thermal regime.
Please note that the act must be drawn up correctly and without corrections or clerical errors. After all, it is the main basis for recalculation for utility services
Before drawing up an act or application for recalculation, consult with representatives of the housing office or management company, otherwise problems may arise.
A decision on such an application is made within two weeks from the date of its submission. You can attach to the application the calculations that you made, which will serve as a kind of reconciliation.
At the time of submitting the application, you must provide 2 copies so that your copy is stamped by the employee confirming the acceptance of the document by the organization with the number of incoming correspondence and the date of registration.
ATTENTION! Look at the completed sample application for recalculation of utilities:
Hotlines for heat issues in citizens' homes
In large cities it is easier to find where to go if the batteries are a little warm. This issue can be resolved through unified dispatch services that have regional offices (telephone numbers can be found through local authorities or help desks). The call must be responded to on the day it is received.
If they didn’t respond to the complaint or couldn’t help for some reason, and the radiators in the apartment are cold, where should I go and what should I do?
Residents of the capital, for example, should contact the Moscow Housing Inspectorate. The service line numbers are listed on the official website. You can call to solve urgent problems related to heating in Moscow at any time of the day.
In 2022, the Moscow United Energy Company launched its rapid response telephone line. The phone number is published on the official website of the organization. In this case we are talking about Moscow.
Where to go if the radiators are a little warm, and the housing is in another city? It makes sense to call the thematic hotline in your region, stating over the phone your complaints about the condition of your housing.
Boiler malfunctions
Typical problems with the operation of heating equipment:
- malfunction of the built-in pump;
- the heat exchanger is clogged;
- The three-way valve does not work.
If the boiler is working and the radiators are cold, experts recommend, first of all, assessing the technical condition of the main heating element. More specifically, determine whether the built-in device works. This part is an invariable attribute of modern equipment and is designed to increase the efficiency of its operation. Very often, after a long period of inactivity in the summer, the pump can become clogged or become covered with a layer of limescale. As a result, it does not remove the heated coolant from the heat exchanger in a timely manner. The boiler is boiling, but the radiators are cold.
Experts do not recommend using ordinary tap water as a coolant, as it is hard. When the coolant temperature increases, dissolved salts settle on the heat exchanger. As a result, the following problem arises: the boiler is working, but the radiators are barely warm. Scale reduces the thermal conductivity of the heat exchanger, so the water in the circuit does not heat up, although the heating element constantly works with excessive energy consumption. You can fix the problem by changing the coolant and cleaning the heat exchanger. This video will help you understand how to clean the heat exchanger correctly:
A double-circuit boiler heats water, but does not heat the radiators
Here you need to pay attention to the serviceability of the three-way electric valve. It is responsible for switching the bypass from heating circuit maintenance mode to DHW and CO mode
How should a recorded violation affect payment for the service?
If the radiators are barely warm, where should you go to avoid paying for almost no heating?
If there is a confirmed violation of the heat supply norm, the companies providing this service are obliged to recalculate the fee for it downwards.
To do this, you should send an application to the organization, attaching a copy of the report with the results of temperature measurements taken in the room.
It is lawful to refuse compensation for costs for unprovided services only in the event of force majeure reasons for violation of the terms of the contract (natural disasters).
Pressure regulator
Many homes have water pressure regulators. Usually they are in the basement. Some models maintain constant pressure, others are adjustable. Sometimes the regulator may be part of the heat meter.
If it is incorrectly configured or broken, the pressure in the riser may change. At the same time, the temperature of the radiators in all apartments will also change. If the regulator is adjustable, you can try increasing the pressure. After this, the temperature of the radiators should increase.
If the water regulator is not adjustable, you will not be able to test it yourself. It's better to contact specialists. You will not be able to check and repair it yourself.
In this publication, we looked at the main reasons why the heating pipe is hot and the radiator is barely warm. In 95% of cases, the article will help identify and solve the problem. If nothing suits you, call a specialist. We hope the publication was useful. Don't forget to share it with your friends!
more
