What to do if there is low pressure of cold or hot water in the apartment

Home/Water supply and sanitation/Weak water pressure

Every resident of multi-storey buildings has probably encountered the problem of insufficient pressure in pipes. In a situation where water flows from the faucet in a thin stream, it is impossible not only to take a shower, but also to start washing machines and dishwashers. How to deal with the problem of low water pressure in an apartment and not overpay public utilities for dishonestly provided water supply services?

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:

• number of floors in the building;
• height of the house;
• number of apartments;
• total number of registered residents;
• residence floor;
• time of day, etc.

Attention
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.

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.

Famous models

Some units are used more often than others, due to their low energy consumption and sufficient performance. These include:

• Grundfos UPA 15-90 (N) – booster pump, available in a stainless steel housing. The advantage is the low noise level, it is possible to change modes: manual, automatic. The unit is recommended for installation at the inlet of household appliances: water heater, washing machine, etc. The power is small - 0.11 kW. The pump can operate with liquids whose temperature does not exceed +60°C. Positive qualities include the ability to provide strong pressure with minimal pressure.
• Wilo PB-201EA. This is a surface centrifugal pump. Designed for pumping clean water. The power of the device is 0.34 kW. In this case, the unit can raise water 15 m in height. The productivity is significant - 3300 l/h. The disadvantage is the fragile body - made of plastic. In terms of noise level, this model is somewhat inferior to the analogue discussed above.
• Jeelex Jambo 70/50 N-50 N. This is a pumping station. Equipped with a 24 liter hydraulic accumulator. It operates in automatic mode: it is activated when the pressure in the system decreases and turns off when the indicator has returned to normal. Productivity – 70 l per minute. The advantage is the ability to lift water from a height of up to 50 m. The pump body is made of stainless steel, the storage tank is made of carbon steel.

Thus, when comparing different models of booster units, it is recommended to pay attention to the main parameters: performance, power. However, it is necessary to find out whether dry-running protection is provided

It is better to purchase models with a flow sensor. This will allow the unit to operate in automatic mode and also prevent it from going dry.

Source

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:

1. Insufficient pressure in the central main system.
2. Formation of blockage in the common house pipeline or in the pipes of the apartment.
3. Mixer malfunctions.

Attention
The reasons for low pressure of hot and cold water in an apartment may be different.

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.

Preventive measures

To prevent the problem of insufficient water pressure from arising, it is necessary to apply preventive measures.

A good practice would be to install pressure gauges along the entire length of the pipeline - near the pipeline entrance to the house, near branches and near consumer appliances.

This will allow you to promptly detect a decrease in pressure and quickly find out the cause of the problem. Also, filters should be regularly checked for contamination and, if necessary, cleaned.

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.

A private house

Before proceeding, check to see if there are any problems on the outside of the structure. The check is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Sequentially turn off water consumers. At the same time, observe the feeding characteristics. If suspicions arise, appropriate work is carried out.
2. If the problem lies in a specific area or consumer, then the faulty elements of the system are cleaned or replaced.
3. When no problems are found in the internal system, the status of external settings is checked. There may be a problem with the system elements - the pump or filter.

If the check does not yield any results, the experts recommend considering the option of replacing the pumping station with units of greater power and productivity. This will significantly increase the water pressure. Of course, in any case, during the operation of the water supply system it is necessary to periodically check the system and carry out routine maintenance.

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:

1. An application is sent to the management company to measure low water pressure in the apartment.
2. Within 10 days, a specialist with special measuring instruments must come from the management company to measure the pressure in the pipeline.
3. 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.

For your information

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:

1. Submitting a written application to measure pressure in the pipeline. Within ten days from the date of filing the application, a specialist must come to the address specified in the application and measure the low water pressure in the system.
2. After receiving the measurement results, the management company must investigate the cause of the problem and eliminate it within 30 days.
3. If all the deadlines have passed, and the water pressure is still depressing and significantly reduces the quality of life in your own apartment, you should act more decisively and proceed to writing a complaint.
4. The complaint is submitted to the head of the management company, who must, within 30 days, satisfy it or refuse to satisfy it.

Sample complaint about low water pressure in the apartment.

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 does not have the 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.

Options for controlling the operation of pressure-increasing equipment

Pressure increasing water pumps come in the following types:

• manual;
• auto;
• combined.

The hand pump is the cheapest unit. Once plugged into the outlet, it starts working until it is unplugged. It is better not to buy such a pump, because if you forget to turn it off, the winding of its motor will burn out. It is inconvenient to use such a pump. It needs to be turned on and off periodically, often reaching for an unsuccessfully located outlet or switch. For example, if a washing machine is running, the pump will have to work for several hours, since at any moment it may require additional water intake for rinsing. If the system has a hydraulic accumulator, then using a manual pump becomes more convenient.

Pump without automation

An automatic system is the best option because it eliminates the need for any manual operation. This equipment has a flow sensor. When the mixer is opened, the pump reacts, turning on pumping. Choosing such a device, although it will require you to spend more at the initial stage, reduces energy costs. The fact is that the equipment is turned on only when the faucet is opened, the toilet tank is filled or the washing machine is running; the rest of the time it is de-energized.

Pump with water flow sensor

Combined pumps operate in manual and automatic mode. Often there is no need to overpay for such a device, since there is no need for forced pumping. The pump is equipped with a flow sensor, so it will automatically determine when to start. Externally, such pumps can be identified by the presence on their body of a special switch with the inscriptions “automatic mode” and “manual mode”.

Video - Installing a pump in an apartment on the 5th floor

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.

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.

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Is it possible to do everything yourself?

In some cases, you can deal with the problem yourself. First of all, this concerns problems that are hidden in the system inside an apartment or house, especially a clogged or faulty faucet. You can easily eliminate such defects with your own hands. At the same time, it is worth considering options for possible modernization of the water supply system. Thus, some faucets, due to their design, automatically increase the water pressure.

If you have not encountered such problems before, it is better to seek help from a specialist. This will prevent new problems from occurring. This is especially true for servicing complex equipment. Modern companies offer an extensive list of services and solve any problem.