It should be?
Water pressure standards in the water supply system
All services provided for residential buildings and apartments must meet certain standards.
The official establishment of standards provides everyone with normal living conditions.
Certain standards are also provided for the pressure of water supplied to consumers. They can be seen in SNiP 2.04.01-85 and the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings” dated 05/06/2011 No. 354. The provisions of these acts establish the following standards for water pressure:
- for cold - 0.03 MPa (0.3 at.) - 0.6 MPa (6.0 at.);
- for hot - 0.03 MPa (0.3 at.) - 0.45 MPa (4.5 at.).
At the same time, for a normal supply of water from the tap in the apartment, it is important that the plumbing equipment meet these requirements.
The consumer assesses the water pressure visually, but to solve the problem it is necessary to make official measurements. The pressure of the incoming water is measured using special devices - pressure gauges.
Weak water pressure: what to do, sample complaint
Reasons for the formation of low pressure
When the problem affected only one apartment, this indicates a breakdown in the water supply system of a particular room.
Causes of problems:
- pipes are clogged. This reason most often affects the formation of low water pressure. This especially applies to pipes whose walls have a rough surface;
- insufficient pressure level from the boiler in the central system;
- filter contamination. This element is placed in front of the metering devices. It should be cleaned periodically, as sand and debris accumulate in it;
- faucets malfunction;
- accidents on heating mains;
- production of planned activities on networks;
- contamination of the aerator in the mixer. The reason for its clogging is the poor quality of the water passing through the tap.
The pressure may become weaker due to the fact that the problem is in the pumping station. It is expressed in a reduction in the power level of this unit. When the pressure has decreased in more than one apartment, utility services or management company employees need to be involved to resolve the issue.
What affects water pressure in an apartment?
To date, no uniform standards have been established that provide for the level of pressure in a private house or apartment building. Often, each locality develops its own indicators.
When developing standards, the following aspects should be taken into account:
- number of floors of the house;
- number of apartments;
- Times of Day.
When measuring pressure in pipelines, the calculation is made for each individual apartment. Residents can rate the pressure, it depends on the needs of the family. Often it is not possible to resolve the issue on your own, since measurements are taken using special equipment.
Please note: if the test result indicates that the pressure is within normal limits, the complaint will not be justified.
Legal regulation of water supply parameters
Water supply parameters in apartments and private houses are determined by legislative acts and SNiPs. Such documents must be taken into account during installation work and connecting devices. SNiP reflects the normal level of pressure in pipes.
In this direction, SNiP 2.04.02-84 is used. This act specifies that at 10 meters of water supply height, the pressure required is 1 bar.
The minimum pressure is determined in the specified act:
- faucet in the bathroom - 0.3 atmospheres;
- toilet - 0.2 atmospheres;
- sink with faucet in the kitchen - 0.2 atmospheres.
In addition, SNiP also prescribes pressure limits. The specified value should not be more than 6 atmospheres. The exception is the time when repair work is being carried out. Then the maximum pressure is 10 atmospheres.
Government Decree No. 354 of 2011 “On the provision of public services...” sets standards for cold and hot water. The pressure should be in the range of 0.3 - 0.6 MPa.
Important! The pressure in the tap may vary depending on the time of day. However, these boundaries must not be violated.
Self-increasing pressure
If the water does not flow well in the bathroom or kitchen, you can deal with this phenomenon yourself. Behavior options depend on the reason for the reduction in the level of resource supply.
Including:
- when the problem is related to the mixer, you can buy a new one or repair the old one;
- if the aerator is clogged, blow it out or clean it with a needle;
- If it is necessary to change the pipes, this should be entrusted to the employees of the management company. The risers of the house are replaced entirely, because the presence of a large number of joints affects the level of water supply;
- when a citizen lives on the top floor, special pumps are used to solve the problem.
If the reasons lie in the incorrect connection of the water supply system, the issue is resolved by involving a specialist.
Where to turn if the tap has low pressure
When talking about what to do if there is low pressure in the apartment, you need to take into account that you can first wait a few days. If the situation has not changed, you should go to the management company. The appeal is drawn up by the management company that serves the specific house.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- an application is generated to measure the water supply level;
- An employee of the management company comes and carries out the necessary manipulations, for which special devices are used. Deadline – 10 days from the date of sending the application;
- identifying and solving the problem if measurements show low pressure.
The problem is resolved within a month. If the Criminal Code does not take proper measures, you can file a complaint against it.
Where to file a complaint
Where to go if there is low pressure in the pipes depends on whether the complaint is being filed for the first time or not. Initially, you can send the act to the Criminal Code, if there is no response, to higher authorities.
It is imperative to formulate a complaint in writing and first send it to the management company. The claim is drawn up in 2 copies, one of which is transferred to the employees of the Criminal Code, the second remains with the citizen. The document is marked with acceptance, otherwise it will not be possible to prove the fact of application.
Federal Law No. 59 of 2006 “On the procedure for considering appeals from citizens of the Russian Federation” indicates that a complaint must be answered within 30 days. The countdown starts from the moment the act is submitted.
If the problem is not resolved within the specified time, you can contact:
- court;
- state housing inspection.
When filing a complaint about low hot water pressure, you must follow the algorithm below.
Making a complaint about low water pressure
Before writing a statement, a citizen needs to go around the neighbors and find out if they have problems with the water supply. Practice shows that collective requests are considered faster.
Next, the following actions are performed:
- an application is generated to measure the pressure level in pipelines. Measurements are taken within 10 days;
- receive results and wait for the actions of the management company aimed at eliminating the problem;
- a complaint is filed. The document is generated if, after a month, problems in the water supply system have not been corrected by the management company.
The document is initially submitted to the head of the management company; if the problem is not resolved within a month or the complaint is ignored, the act is submitted to the court or housing inspection.
Thus, there are several reasons for the reduction in water pressure in the apartment; they influence which method is used to correct the situation. If a column or other component of the system is damaged, you need to contact the management company. When the problem is not resolved, the organization's actions can be appealed.
Poor water pressure in the apartment - what to do?
Where can I go to get the problem resolved?
The solution to the problem of poor water pressure depends entirely on the causes of its occurrence.
First, you can try to install them yourself. First of all, you should check with neighbors from nearby houses to see how things are going with their pressure.
This information will help determine whether the problem is in the main or public pipes. If residents of all nearby houses complain about water pressure, then there is probably a problem in the water pipe system on the main line.
If the Criminal Code does not solve the problem?
Low water pressure in the apartment - where to complain?
Everyone knows that management companies do not always work well. Many complaints from residents of the buildings they manage remain unanswered or unsatisfied. What to do in such cases?
If there is no reaction to the application or the solution to the problem is delayed, then you can write a competent, substantiated claim.
Even if there is no response to it, it can become additional evidence when resolving the dispute in court.
Going to court is a last resort and can take a lot of time and effort, but sometimes there is no other option.
Through the court, you can demand that the management company fulfill its obligations or reduce payment for a poorly provided service. Another way to influence the management company may be to contact the housing inspectorate.
conclusions
If you discover a problem with water pressure, you should first determine the reasons for its occurrence. If problems are detected in pipes or taps inside the apartment, then the owner himself must solve it.
When the problem is in common building equipment or street pipes, then you will have to act through management companies.
You can find out what to do if there is low pressure in the apartment by watching the video:
See also Telephone numbers for consultation May 13, 2021 kasjanenko 732
Share this post
Discussion: 5 comments
- Olga says:
05/16/2017 at 00:54Having encountered this problem and having suffered for two months due to low water pressure, I was ready to install a pump. I called a plumber and it turned out there was a problem with the divider (it was clogged). In general, do not rush to blame anyone, call the plumbers first, perhaps the cause will be found and eliminated in 10 minutes.
Answer
- Anna says:
06/16/2017 at 03:25
I live on the first floor and have never had problems with water pressure. One fine day, water flowed in a thin stream in the bathroom. The neighbors had no problems with the pressure; obviously, something was wrong only in my apartment. The plumber who works in our housing and communal services did not identify any causes in the apartment. Only a paid specialist found them - it was time to change the pipes.
Answer
- Anna says:
06/16/2017 at 23:34
We bought an apartment on the first floor and during the entire time we have been living there we have never had any problems with water pressure. One fine day, water flowed in a thin stream in the bathroom. The neighbors had no problems with the pressure; obviously, something was wrong only in my apartment. The plumber who works in our housing and communal services did not identify any causes in the apartment. Only a paid specialist found them - it was time to change the pipes.
Answer
- Sonya says:
07/10/2017 at 01:06
My family and I just moved to a new apartment and immediately started having problems with water pressure. At first they tried not to pay attention to it, but soon their patience ran out. They called a paid specialist. It turned out that the problem was not with us, but with our neighbors
Answer
- Daria says:
10/21/2017 at 1:37 pm
There was a problem with pressure throughout the entire apartment, that is, in the kitchen and bathroom. At first I also asked my neighbors, to which they replied that everything was more or less normal with them. We had to change the faucets first. Then this did not help, in the end they called a repairman, he cleaned the pipes and installed a pump, the pressure became better, but still nothing for the neighbors. I’m thinking about contacting the management company, but I’m afraid that by the time our turn comes to our application, we’ll already sell the apartment.
Answer
We determine the cause and take action
If warm, cold or hot water flows poorly in one place in the apartment, but no such problem occurs in other plumbing fixtures, the reason is a blockage or breakdown of a specific device. A blockage most often occurs if the device is located far from the riser.
Check the water pressure in other sinks and the bathtub. If the water pressure is sufficient, then the problem is in a specific plumbing fixture that needs to be thoroughly cleaned of blockages or replaced with new equipment.
If there is low pressure in several or all plumbing fixtures, but only in one apartment of an apartment building, check the permeability of the pipeline and the operation of the taps between the risers. Most likely, the equipment will have to be repaired or replaced.
By the way, you can increase the pressure in a separate living space by installing an electric pump. But keep in mind that then the pressure in the pipes of neighboring apartments will drop sharply.
Weak water pressure in several or all apartments located on the same riser (in the same entrance) indicates a clogged riser or unsatisfactory condition of the main water supply pipes. If a low pressure level is observed in all risers and entrances of the house, then this also indicates a malfunction in the operation of the main water supply.
If you have this problem, contact the Housing Office or the management company. They should work on replacing the pipes or riser.
