Reconstruction of water supply systems for hot water in mkd. Norms and schemes of hot water supply in apartment buildings. Autonomous heating of a residential building
In the modern world, people are used to living in comfortable conditions. And the higher the standard of living, the more benefits surround people. One of such indispensable conditions for a comfortable life of the population today is the availability of hot water in apartments and private houses. Today's consumption hot water equates to the use of cold and even sometimes exceeds it.
What it is?
Hot water supply is the provision of the population, including its domestic needs, as well as production needs, with water high temperature(up to +75 degrees Celsius). It is an important indicator of the level and quality of life, as well as a condition for compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards. The hot water supply system consists of special equipment operating in combination, which serves to heat water to the desired temperature, as well as to supply it to water intake points.
Most often, this system consists of the following elements:
- water heater;
- pump;
- pipes;
- fittings for water supply.
In regulatory documents, the abbreviation for the phrase hot water supply - DHW is often used.
Device types
The hot water system can be of two types.
- An open system has a coolant. Water is supplied from the central heating system. It is so named because the supply comes from the heating system. Such a system is usually used in apartment buildings. As for private houses, the open system will be too expensive there.
- A closed system functions differently and has its own differences. First, cold drinking water is taken from the central water supply or external network, then it is heated in a heat exchanger and only after that it is supplied to the water intake points. Such water can be used for cooking, as it does not contain elements harmful to health.
There is also an independent hot water system. Water is heated in a boiler room or a heating point, then it is supplied to the house. It is called independent because it functions separately and is not connected with the heat supply system. It is used in private houses or cottages.
As for water heaters, they are divided into two types.
Their choice depends only on the desire of the owner, as well as on the living conditions of the premises.
- Flowing. They do not accumulate water, but heat it up as needed. Such a heater is activated instantly, as soon as the water is turned on. They can be electric or gas.
- Cumulative. Such hot water boilers collect water in a special tank and heat it. Hot water can be used at any time. Electric boilers are large.
Principle of operation
The hot water supply system can be dead-end or circulating. The dead-end circuit is used for the constant use of hot water. With intermittent water intake, the water in the pipes cools down and comes in not too hot. In order to get water of the required hot temperature, it will take quite a long time to drain it, which is not very convenient. With a circulation scheme, water is always supplied hot, but such a system is more expensive. This scheme is well suited in cases of periodic water intake. The water temperature is constantly maintained, and users receive hot water.
The circulation system in such systems can be of two types.
- Forced. This type uses pumps as in a building heating system. Forced systems are used in multi-storey buildings with a height of two floors.
- Natural. In one- and two-story houses, the arrangement of natural circulation is used, since the length of the pipelines is small. It operates on a system of circulation pipes, based on the difference in the mass of water at different temperatures. This method is the same as the water heating method using natural circulation.
Hot water supply consists of the following elements:
- water heater or generator;
- pipeline;
- water points.
Several types of water heaters can be generators.
- High-speed water-to-water heaters work on the basis that hot water, which comes either from a boiler room or from a district heating system, passes through brass pipes. They are inside steel pipes, and the space between them is filled with heated water. Thus, heating occurs.
- The steam water heater operates due to the steam entering the heater. Water is heated by passing through brass pipes located inside. Such systems are used in dwellings with a constant flow of water and its high consumption.
- In houses with intermittent and low water consumption, storage water heaters. They not only heat, but also accumulate hot water.
Pipelines for both hot and cold water supply are unified system, they are stacked in parallel. Mixers are installed at the water intake points, which allow you to get different temperatures (from +20 to +70 degrees Celsius) due to the mixing of hot and cold water. In a hot water system, it is better to use galvanized or plastic pipes in order to avoid corrosion. Pipelines and risers are best insulated to avoid unnecessary heat loss. In modern homes, hot and cold water meters are installed to account for water consumption, which allows you not to overpay for consumption, but pay only for the consumed water.
Pros and cons
If we talk about the advantages and disadvantages of hot water supply, it is better to consider separately open and closed systems.
- it is easy to fill and bleed air, which happens automatically through the expansion tank;
- quite easy to recharge. Since the pressure in the system does not require special attention, you can draw water without fear;
- the system functions well even in the presence of leaks, which is associated with a high working pressure in it.
The disadvantages include the following:
- constant monitoring of the water level in the tank;
- the need to replenish it.
The advantages of a closed hot water supply system include the following:
- savings associated with a constant temperature;
- it is possible to install a heated towel rail.
The disadvantage is the mandatory presence of water heaters. They can be flowing or accumulative, allowing you to always have backup water supply.
A very important point in the hot water supply system is the presence of a hydraulic accumulator. It helps to prevent some of the problems associated with pressure drops in the system. The hydraulic accumulator is a sealed tank in which there is a membrane partially filled with water. It separates the tank into water and air parts. If the volume of water in the tank increases, then, accordingly, the volume of air decreases.
In the event of increased pressure parameters in the system, a signal is given and the pump is turned off. There is a pneumatic valve for pressure regulation. Air is pumped through the nipple. Its quantity can be added or reduced.
The hydraulic accumulator has such advantages as:
- prevent rapid wear of the pump. Since there is a supply of water in the tank, the pump will turn on less often, which contributes to its more long term services;
- stable air pressure in the system. The device helps to avoid sudden changes in pressure and temperature in the hot water supply system;
- water hammer resistance. They practically do not occur and cannot harm the pump and the entire system;
- increased supply of hot water. There is always a reserve in the accumulator tank, and besides, it is constantly updated.
Thus, the presence this device only positively affects the functioning of the entire system as a whole.
Norms
According to the "Rules for the provision of public services", the temperature of hot water must correspond to a value from +60 to +75 degrees Celsius. This value fully complies with sanitary norms and rules under the Legislation of the Russian Federation.
It is worth considering that there are some allowable deviations, namely:
- at night (from 00:00 to 05:00 hours) a deviation of up to 5 degrees Celsius is allowed;
- during the daytime (from 05:00 to 00:00 hours) the deviation should not be more than 3 degrees Celsius.
According to the rules, if the supplied hot water is colder than the value of the standards, the user can recalculate and pay for it at the cost of cold water supply. But for this you will have to perform temperature measurements. You cannot do this on your own. The first step is to call the housing and communal services or the management company and leave a request for measurement. If this drop in temperature is due to malfunctions, repairs or other reasons, the dispatcher must report this.
If everything is in order, you need to fix the application. After the visit of the master, you need to draw up an act of measuring the temperature in two copies. It is on the basis of this act that the cost will be recalculated.
During the measurement, you need to pay attention to the following factors:
- be sure to drain the water within a few minutes;
- note where the measurement is taken from - from the pipe of the heated towel rail or from an independent pipe.
According to the SanPiN article, this violation involves the payment of a fine.
The established temperature regime standards are associated with the following factors:
- this temperature does not allow bacteria to multiply;
- at this temperature, the possibility of getting burns is excluded.
The temperature of the water in the storage facilities must be very high, but its use at home must be combined with cold water.
Schemes and calculations
In order to calculate the consumption of hot water, it is necessary to take into account the number of people living in a house or apartment, as well as lifestyle. The main requirement is the minimum period for the flow of hot water from the tap. In addition, according to current regulations (10 minutes), it is supposed to be used at several points in any quantity.
- number of users;
- frequency of use in the bathroom;
- the number of bathrooms and toilets;
- volume of plumbing fixtures;
- required water temperature.
The best today is the design with the help of special measuring instruments. Although this option is not possible for everyone. Only when taking into account the needs of the whole family is it possible to choose the best option for hot water supply for a house, apartment or cottage.
As for the operation of the hot water supply system, its good result is achieved only with the well-coordinated uninterrupted operation of all its components. The main factor is to obtain a quality resource that meets all requirements. In this regard, preventive maintenance should be carried out periodically. Pipelines must be flushed. This is done after installation, then after repairs and disinfection.
Washing can last from several minutes to several hours. The time depends on the length of the pipeline. In order to avoid corrosion in the process, a complete absence of air is necessary. For its output, special exhaust valves are used. Before commissioning the hot water system for the first time, a tightness and strength test must be carried out. The pressure must be half a bar higher than that intended, but at the same time it must not exceed ten bar. The ambient temperature during such events should be at least five degrees Celsius above zero.
To extend the service life of hot water supply, it is better to check fittings, filters, heaters from time to time. There are ways to combine the supply of hot water. In the presence of both autonomous heating and centralized water supply, the water heater must be connected to separate outlets with shut-off fittings. During the circulation of water, there should be no air in the coolant, as this may lead to the formation of an air lock, which will not allow hot water to flow, and a rupture of the pipeline may also occur. If there are any malfunctions in the system, it is better to contact specialists for timely identification and solution of the problem. Under the condition of careful and careful use of the hot water supply system, the likelihood of emergencies, breakdowns and failures is minimized.
Thus, when connecting a hot water supply system, you need to familiarize yourself with its varieties and understand which model is suitable for a particular apartment or house. In addition, proper installation, compliance with all operating rules and regulations, the use of high-quality materials and timely preventive maintenance will help you use the selected system for many years without unpleasant and unexpected problems.
For information on the types and features of hot water systems, see the following video.
The constant supply of hot water to an apartment building can be carried out by two methods using different principles of operation:
- In the first case, hot water supply apartment building takes water from the cold water pipeline (cold water supply), then the water is heated by an autonomous heat generator: an apartment boiler, a gas water heater or a boiler, a heat exchanger using the heat of a local boiler room or a thermal power plant;
- In the second case, the hot water supply scheme of an apartment building takes hot water directly from the heating main, and this principle is used in the residential sector much more often - in 90% of cases of organizing hot water supply in the housing stock.
Important: the advantage of the second version of the water supply system for a residential building is the best water quality, which is regulated by GOST R 51232-98. Also, when hot water is taken from a centralized heating main, the temperature and pressure of the liquid are quite stable and do not deviate from the specified parameters: pressure in the pipeline hot system water supply is maintained at the level of cold water supply, and the temperature is stabilized in a common heat generator.
Let us consider the water supply of an apartment building according to the second option in more detail, since it is this scheme that is most often used both in the city and in country houses, including country houses or garden houses.
What elements does the water supply scheme of an apartment building include?
The water meter unit, which organizes the supply of water to the house, is responsible for the operation of several functions:
- Takes into account the consumption of cold water supply, that is, it performs the function of a water meter;
- It can shut off the supply of cold water to the house in case of emergency or if it is necessary to repair components and parts, as well as to eliminate leaks;
- It serves as a coarse water filter: any hot water supply scheme of an apartment building should contain such a mud filter.
The device itself consists of the following nodes:
- A set of shut-off valves (faucets, gate valves and gates) at the inlet and outlet of the device. Standardly these are gate valves, ball valves, valves;
- Mechanical water meter, which is installed on one of the risers;
- Mud filter (coarse water filter from large solid particles). This may be a metal mesh in the body, or a container in which solid debris settles to the bottom;
- Pressure gauge or adapter for inserting a pressure gauge into the water supply circuit;
- Bypass (bypass from a pipe section), which serves to turn off the water meter during repairs or reconciliation of data. The bypass is supplied with shut-off valves in the form of a ball valve or valve.
It is also an elevator unit that performs the following functions:
- Ensures the full and continuous operation of the heating system in an apartment building, and also regulates its parameters;
- Delivers hot water to the house, that is, provides hot water supply (hot water supply). The coolant itself in the heating system enters the hot water supply system of an apartment building straight from the centralized heating main;
- The substation can switch the hot water supply between return and supply. This is sometimes necessary during severe frosts, since at this time the temperature of the coolant in the supply pipe can rise to 130-150 0 С, and this despite the fact that the standard supply temperature should not exceed 750С.
The main element of the heating point is a water-jet elevator, where hot water from the pipeline scheme for supplying the working fluid in the house is mixed in the mixing chamber with the return coolant by injection through a special nozzle. Thus, the elevator allows a larger volume of coolant with a low temperature to pass through the heating circuit, and, since the injection is made through a nozzle, the supply volume is small.
It is possible to insert adapters for connecting hot water supply between the valves at the entrance of the route and the heat point - this is the most common connection scheme. The number of tie-ins - two or four (one or two on the supply and return). Two tie-ins are typical for old houses, four adapters are practiced in new buildings.
On the cold water route, a dead-end tie-in scheme with two connections is usually used: the water metering unit is connected to the bottling, and the bottling itself is connected to the risers through which the pipes are routed to the apartments. Water will move in such a cold water circuit only when disassembled, that is, when any mixers, taps, valves or gates are opened.
Disadvantages of this connection:
- With a long absence of water intake for a specific riser, the water will be cold for a long time when draining;
- Heated towel rails embedded on the hot water supply from the boiler rooms, which simultaneously heat the bathroom or bathroom, will be hot only when the hot water supply is drawn from a specific riser of the apartment. That is, they will almost always be cold, which will cause moisture to appear on the walls, mold or fungal diseases of the building materials of the room.
The heating station with four hot water connections in the house makes the circulation of hot water continuous, and this happens through two fillings and risers connected to each other by jumpers.
Important: if mechanical water meters are installed on the DHW tie-ins, then the water supply consumption will be taken into account without taking into account the water temperature, which is wrong, since you will have to overpay for hot water that was not in use.
Hot water supply can function in three ways:
- From the supply pipe to the return pipe to the boiler room. Such a DHW system is effective only in the warm season when the heating system is turned off;
- From supply pipe to supply pipe. Such a connection will bring maximum return in the demi-season - in autumn and spring, when the coolant temperature is low and far from the maximum;
- From return pipe to return pipe. This DHW scheme is most efficient in extreme cold, when the temperature on the supply pipe rises ≥ 75 0 С.
The continuous movement of water requires a pressure drop between the start and end points of the tie-in into one circuit, and this drop is provided by flow restriction. Such a limiter is a special retaining washer - a steel pancake with a hole in the middle. Thus, the water that is transported from the inlet tie-in to the elevator encounters an obstacle in the form of a washer body, and this obstacle is adjusted by turning, which opens or closes the retaining hole.
But too much restriction of water movement in the pipeline route will disrupt the operation of the heat point, so the retaining washer should have a diameter 1 mm larger than the diameter of the heat point nozzle. This size is calculated by the representatives of the heat supplier so that the temperature on the heating return pipe of the elevator unit lies within the normative limits of the temperature chart.
What is pipe filling and riser
These are pipes laid horizontally and carried through the basement of a residential building, which connect the risers with a heat point and a water meter. The bottling of cold water supply is done single, bottling hot water - in two copies.
The diameter of the DHW or cold water filling pipes can be 32-100 mm, and depends on the number of connected consumers. For any water supply scheme, ø 100 mm is too large, but this size is taken taking into account not only the actual condition of the route, but also taking into account the size of salt deposits and rust on the inner walls of metal pipes.
The pipe vertical riser distributes water to the apartments that are located above it. The standard scheme for such wiring includes several risers - for cold and hot water supply, sometimes - separately for heated towel rails. More wiring options:
- Several groups of risers passing through one apartment and providing water to draw-off points located at a great distance from each other;
- A group of risers in one apartment, which provides water to a neighboring apartment or several apartments;
- When organizing hot water supply with pipe jumpers, you can combine up to seven groups of risers by apartments. Jumpers are equipped with Mayevsky cranes. This is called a circulating pipeline, or CHP.
The standard diameter of pipes for cold and hot water supply for risers is 25-40 mm. Risers for heated towel rails and idle risers are mounted from pipes ø 20 mm. Such risers provide both single-pipe and two-pipe heating systems at home.
Closed hot water system
The constant circulation of water in a closed hot water supply system is based on the principle of taking cold water from the pipeline and supplying it to the heat exchanger. After heating, the water is supplied to the distribution system around the apartment. The working fluid in the heating system and hot water for the technical needs of consumers are separated, since the coolant may have toxic inclusions to improve its heat transfer qualities. In addition, hot water pipes rust faster. Such a scheme is called closed due to the fact that the consumer uses heat, and not the coolant itself.
Pipe connection
The main function of the piping is to distribute water to the points of water intake in the apartment. The standard diameter of the supply pipes is 15 mm, the pipe grade is DN15, the material is steel. For PVC or metal-plastic pipes, the diameter must be the same. When repairing or replacing the piping, it is not recommended to use a smaller diameter so as not to change the design pressure parameters that the hot or cold water circulation system must comply with.
To organize the correct eyeliner, tees are most often used, with a more complex wiring diagram - collectors. Collector piping requires concealed installation, so the collector should be installed when servicing a large number of rooms in the house. After 10-15 years, metal pipes are overgrown from the inside with salt mineral deposits and rust, therefore, preventive work to restore the system's performance consists in cleaning the pipes with steel wire, or replacing old pipes with new ones.
With the seeming functionality and durability of PVC or metal-plastic pipes, it is recommended to use steel products for eyeliner - they hold water hammer and temperature changes well. Such deviations in the DHW operating mode can often be observed when the heating system is turned on or turned off in an emergency. The pipe material should be laid in the plan for the water supply scheme of a residential building at the stage of drafting the project and the estimate.
- Galvanized metal pipes - they have been used for many decades, and they have proven themselves from the very best side. The layer of zinc on the metal does not allow corrosion to develop, salt deposits do not hold on it. When purchasing galvanized products, it should be remembered that welding work on such a surface is not carried out, since the weld will remain unprotected by zinc - all connections must be made on the thread;
- Pipe connections on fittings for soldering copper joints last much longer than steel and even galvanized pipes. Such connections with a solder connection do not need to be serviced, and they can be laid in both open and hidden ways;
- Corrugated pipe eyeliner for cold or hot water supply made of stainless steel. Such products are simply and quickly mounted on threaded connections or compression fittings. No special equipment other than two adjustable wrenches is required for this. The guaranteed service life of stainless steel is not limited by the manufacturer. The only thing that will have to be changed over time is silicone seals.
Features of hot water supply and calculation of the volume of hot water
The calculation of the amount of hot water in the system depends on technical and operational factors:
- Estimated hot water temperature;
- The number of residents in an apartment building;
- Parameters that plumbing fixtures can withstand, and the frequency of their work in the general water supply scheme;
- the number of plumbing fixtures that are connected to the hot water supply.
Calculation example:
- A family of four uses a 140 l bath. The bath is filled in 10 minutes, the bathroom has a shower with a water consumption of 30 liters.
- Within 10 minutes, the device for heating water should heat it up to the design temperature in the amount of 170 liters.
These theoretical calculations work assuming average water consumption by residents.
Breakdowns in the hot or cold water distribution system
With your own hands, you can fix the following emergencies:
Leaking valve or faucet. This happens most often due to wear of the oil seal or seal. To eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to open the valve completely and with force so that the raised stuffing box closes the leak. This technique will help for a while, in the future the valve must be sorted out and worn parts replaced.
Noise and vibration of a valve or tap when opening in a hot water supply system (less often - cold). The cause of noise is most often wear, deformation or crushing of the gasket in the crane box of the mechanism. Noises appear if the valve does not open completely. This malfunction can cause a series of water hammers in the pipes, so its elimination is of paramount importance. In a few milliseconds, the crane box valve is able to close the valve seat in the valve or valve body, if it is not a ball valve, but a screw one. Why is the risk of water hammer higher in DHW? Because in pipes with hot water more working pressure.
How to troubleshoot:
- Shut off the water at the inlet;
- Unscrew the crane box of the noisy crane;
- Replace the gasket, but bevel the new gasket before installing to prevent the valve from vibrating when opening at high pressure.
The towel warmer does not heat up. The cause of the breakdown may be the presence of air in the water supply system with constant circulation of the coolant. Usually, air accumulates in a pipe jumper, which is mounted between adjacent risers, after an emergency or planned drain of water. The problem is eliminated by bleeding air jams. For this you need:
- Bleed air at the highest point of the system - on the top floor;
- Shut off the hot water riser, which is located in the apartment (the riser is blocked in the basement of the house);
- Open all hot water taps in the apartment;
- After bleeding through the taps and mixers, you need to close them. And on the riser, open the shut-off valve.
Hidden faults
At the end of the heating season, the pressure difference between the pipes of the heating main may not be observed, and because of this, heated towel rails connected directly to the DHW will be cold. This is not a cause for concern - you need to bleed the air, which equalizes the pressure, and the heating will be restored.
Currently, hot water supply is an integral part of the life of most people on the planet. Without it, they can not do in any apartment and residential building. The arrangement of hot water supply is a difficult process, moreover, there are several types of system connection. In this article we will consider all hot water supply systems, calculation and types of water heaters.
Regardless of the type of hot water supply, a set of equipment is connected, which are designed to heat water and distribute it to various water intake points. In this equipment, water is heated to the required temperature, after which, using a pump, it is supplied to the house and through the pipeline. Distinguish between open and closed hot water systems.
open system
An open DHW system is characterized by the presence of a coolant circulating in the system. Hot water comes directly from the centralized heating system. The quality of tap water and heating equipment is no different. As a result, it turns out that people use a coolant.
The open system is so named because hot water is supplied from open taps of the heating system. The hot water supply scheme of a multi-storey building provides for the use of an open type. For private houses, this type is too costly.
You should be aware that the cost savings of an open system occur due to the fact that water heating devices are not needed to heat the liquid.
Features of open hot water supply
When installing an open hot water supply, it is necessary to take into account the principle of operation. Open DHW is of two types, depending on the type of circulation and transportation of the coolant to the radiators. There are open systems with natural circulation and with the use of pumping equipment for this purpose.
Natural circulation is carried out in this way: an open system eliminates the presence of excess pressure, therefore at the highest point it corresponds to atmospheric pressure, and at the lowest point it is slightly higher due to the hydrostatic action of the liquid column. Due to the low pressure, natural circulation of the coolant occurs.
The principle of natural circulation is quite simple, due to the different temperature of the coolant and, accordingly, different density and mass, cooled water with a low temperature and a larger mass displaces hot water with a smaller mass. This simply explains the existence of a gravity-flowing system, which is also called gravitational. The main advantage of such a system is absolute energy independence, if parallel heating boilers do not use electricity.
It's important to know! Gravity pipelines are made with a large slope and diameter.
If natural circulation is not possible, pumping equipment is used, which increases the flow rate of the coolant through the pipeline and reduces the heating time of the room. The circulation pump produces the movement of the coolant at a speed of 0.3 - 0.7 m / s.
Advantages and disadvantages of an open system
Open DHW is still relevant, primarily due to energy independence and other advantages:
- Ease of filling open DHW and venting. There is no need to control the high pressure and bleed additional air, as the bleed is carried out automatically when filling through an open expansion tank.
- Easy to recharge. Since you do not need to monitor the maximum pressure. It is also possible to add water to the tank even with a bucket.
- The system, regardless of leaks, functions properly, since the working pressure is not large and the presence of such malfunctions does not affect it.
Among the shortcomings, they note the need to control the water level in the tank and its constant replenishment.
Closed DHW system
The closed system is based on the following principle: cold drinking water is taken from the central water supply and heated in an additional heat exchanger. After heating, it is supplied to the water intake points.
The closed system means separate work coolant and hot water, it is also distinguished by the presence of a return and supply pipeline, which are used for the annular circulation of water. Such a system will provide normal pressure even when using the shower and sink at the same time. Among the advantages of the system, the simplicity of regulating the temperature of the hot liquid is also noted.
DHW can be circulating and dead-end. The dead-end system consists only of pipes supplying water, the method of connection of which is the same as in the first case.
The advantage of closed DHW is cost savings due to stable temperatures. It is possible to install a heated towel rail. In a closed hot water supply, water heaters are needed, the types of which we will consider later.
Types of water heaters
All water heaters are classified as follows:
- flow devices. Such heaters heat water in a constant mode, leaving no reserve. Since water has a high heat capacity, it requires an increased energy consumption to constantly heat it. In addition to this factor, the flow heater must be immediately put into working condition: when turned on, supply hot water, when turned off, stop heating. Traditional flow heaters include a gas column.
- storage devices. They are characterized by slow heating of a certain volume of water, which often consumes 1 kW / h. Hot liquid is used as needed. Storage heaters work instantly after opening the tap, but the power is much less. Among the disadvantages of such devices, large sizes are also noted, the larger the volume, the larger the device.
Calculation and recycling of hot water
The calculation of hot water systems depends on such factors: the number of consumers, the approximate frequency of using a shower, the number of bathrooms with hot water supply, some technical characteristics of plumbing equipment, the required water temperature. Having considered all these indicators, it is possible to determine the required daily volume of hot water.
Recirculation of water in the hot water supply system provides a return flow of liquid from a distant point of water intake. It is necessary when the distance from the heater to the far water intake point is more than 3 meters. Recirculation is used with the help of a boiler, and if it is impossible to use it, it is started directly through the boiler.
The hot water supply system can be of two types, which are used depending on the specified parameters. In an open system, a heating boiler is used, and in a closed system, a water heater is used. In some cases, it is necessary to additionally organize water recycling. Before installing and purchasing equipment, it is important to calculate hot water supply.
Our topic today is the hot water supply system of an apartment building: schemes, basic elements and typical problems that a homeowner may face. So let's get started.
DHW and heat supply scheme
The hot water supply scheme in an apartment building can be implemented in two fundamentally different ways:
- It uses water from the cold water supply and heats it with heat from an autonomous source. This can be a boiler installed in the apartment, a gas water heater or a heat exchanger that uses a heat carrier from a local boiler house or a thermal power plant for heating;
Please note: the advantage of such a scheme is higher water quality. It must comply with the requirements of GOST R 51232-98 (“Drinking Water”). In addition, the parameters of hot water supply (temperature and pressure) rarely deviate from the nominal values; in particular, the DHW pressure is always equal to the cold water pressure, taking into account the head loss during draw-off.
- It supplies the consumer with water directly from the heating main. This is exactly what has been implemented in the vast majority of residential and administrative buildings of Soviet construction, which make up 90% of the housing stock in the vastness of our great and immense. In what follows, we will focus our attention on it.
Dear reader can find additional information in the video in this article.
Elements
So, what elements does the water supply scheme of an apartment building include?
Water meter assembly
He is responsible for supplying cold water to the house.
The water meter performs several functions:
- Provides accounting for water consumption (as its name unambiguously reminds);
- Allows you to turn off cold water for the whole house to repair shut-off valves or eliminate spill leaks;
- Provides coarse filtration of water at the entrance to the house. To do this, the water meter is equipped with a sump.
The composition of the water meter includes:
- Inlet and house shut-off valves (valves or ball valves located on the side of cold water inlet and house water supply system);
- Water meter (usually mechanical);
- Mud tank (a tank with a drain cock, in which, due to the slow movement of water through its volume, sand, large particles of rust and other debris settle). Often, instead of a sump, the water meter unit is equipped with a coarse filter, in which a stainless mesh is responsible for cleaning the water from debris;
- Pressure gauge or control valve for its installation;
- Optionally, the water meter can be equipped with a bypass line with its own valve or a ball valve on it. The bypass opens when the water meter is dismantled for the period of repair or verification. At other times, it is closed and sealed by a representative of the organization - the water supplier.
It is curious: "Vodoset", or the organization replacing it, is responsible for the state of input of cold water up to the first flange of the inlet valve. The water meter is the responsibility of the organization serving the house.
Elevator node
The elevator unit, or heating point, also combines a number of functions:
- Responsible for the operation and regulation of the heating system;
- Provides the house with hot water. Water (it is also the heat carrier of the heating system) is supplied to the domestic hot water system directly from the heating main;
- Allows, if necessary, to switch the hot water supply between the supply and return threads of the heating main. The changeover is necessary because in winter the flow temperature can reach an impressive 150°C, while the permissible maximum hot water temperature is only 75°C.
A short lecture on physics: water is heated above the boiling point without evaporating due to excess pressure in the heating main. The higher the pressure, the higher the boiling point of liquids.
The heart of the elevator unit is the water-jet elevator, through the nozzle of which hot and higher-pressure water from the supply is injected into the mixing chamber filled with water from the return. Thanks to the operation of the elevator, a large volume of water with a relatively low temperature passes through the heating system of the house; at the same time, the consumption of water from the supply is relatively small.
DHW tie-ins are located between the inlet valves and the elevator. There can be two of these tie-ins (one for supply and return) and four (two for each thread). The first scheme is typical for houses built in the 70s of the last century and older buildings, the second - for more or less modern buildings.
Why are additional inserts needed?
To answer this question, we need to jump ahead and study the water supply schemes in apartment buildings.
On cold water, a dead-end scheme is always used: the water meter goes into a single filling, that one - into risers that end with intra-apartment connections. Water moves in such a water supply circuit only during drawdown.
What's going on in the GVS?
In houses with two DHW tie-ins to the elevator unit, the same scheme is used.
However, it has two rather annoying drawbacks:
- If there was no water intake for your riser for a long time, the water has to be drained for a long time before it heats up;
Note: if you have mechanical meters on your pipes, they will register the flow of water, ignoring its temperature. As a result, you will overpay a hundred or two rubles a month for a service that you actually did not use.
- Towel dryers installed on the hot water supply lines, which are also responsible for heating the bathroom, will only heat up when hot water is drawn in your apartment. And, accordingly, most of the time will remain cold. Hence - the cold and dampness in the bathrooms, often becoming the cause of the appearance of the fungus.
Elevator unit with four DHW tie-ins provides continuous circulation of hot water through two bottlings and risers connected by jumpers.
DHW operation is possible according to one of three schemes:
- From the supply to the return pipeline. Such a hot water supply scheme for a multi-storey building is used only in summer, when the heating is turned off: a bypass between the heating mains would reduce the pressure drop across the elevator;
- From feed to feed. This scheme is for autumn and spring with their relatively low supply temperature;
- From back to back. So DHW is turned on for the period of cold weather, when the supply temperature exceeds the threshold 75 degrees.
Readers who have not forgotten the basics of physics will have a reasonable question: how is the pressure difference necessary for continuous circulation between two tie-ins in one thread provided?
Remember: water is constantly moving through the pipes between the inlet valves and the elevator. To create a pressure difference, it is only necessary to restrict the flow by an obstacle installed between the tie-ins. This role is performed by a retaining washer - a metal pancake with a hole in it.
Captain Evidence suggests: a significant restriction of the patency of any pipeline would interfere with the operation of the elevator unit, so the diameter of the retaining washers is a millimeter larger than the diameter of the elevator nozzle. That, in turn, is calculated by the organization (heat supplier) in such a way that the return temperature at the outlet of the heating point corresponds to the temperature schedule.
Bottling
Water supply spills are called horizontal pipes passing through the basement or subfloor of the house, and connecting the risers with the elevator and water metering units. There is always one bottling of cold water, there are two bottlings of hot water in the circulating hot water supply system.
The filling diameter, depending on its material and the number of water consumers, varies from 32 to 100 millimeters. Last value clearly redundant; however, the project for the water supply of an apartment building had to take into account not only the current condition of the pipelines, but also their inevitable overgrowth with deposits and rust. After 20-25 years of operation, the clearance of the pipe in cold water decreases by 2-3 times.
Risers
Each riser is responsible for the vertical distribution of water in the apartments located one above the other.
The most typical scheme is one group of risers (cold water and hot water, optionally heated towel rails) per apartment; however, other options are also possible:
- Two groups of risers can pass through the apartment, supplying water to a bathroom and kitchen spaced over a long distance;
- Risers in one apartment can supply water not only to its residents, but also to neighbors behind the wall;
- On DHW, circulation jumpers can combine up to 7 risers from several apartments.
The typical diameter of cold water and hot water risers is 25-40 mm. The diameter of risers for heated towel rails and idle (without plumbing fixtures) circulation risers is usually smaller: they are mounted with a DN20 pipe.
In the circulation scheme of hot water supply, the jumpers between the risers can be located in the apartment on the top floor or taken out to the attic. Jumpers are equipped with air vents (Maevsky taps or ordinary taps), which allow bleed air that prevents circulation.
Eyeliners
Their function is to distribute water to plumbing fixtures inside the apartment. What is useful to know about water supply lines?
- Their typical size (for steel water and gas pipes) is DN15 (which approximately corresponds to an inner diameter of 15 mm). When replacing eyeliners with your own hands, it is advisable not to reduce their inner diameter - this will lead to a drop in pressure on all plumbing fixtures when parsing water on one of them;
- Since Soviet times, simple and cheap serial (tee) wiring has traditionally been used in apartments. A more material-intensive collector requires, among other things, hidden installation of connections, which greatly complicates their further maintenance;
- With time throughput steel eyeliners drops noticeably, due to the notorious overgrowing with deposits. In such cases, the pipes are cleaned with a thin steel string or, quite simply, they are changed to new ones.
If you decide to replace the eyeliners, we strongly advise you to opt for metal pipes. The instruction is associated with a fairly high probability of water hammer and deviations from the standard temperature in the DHW system: for example, if a forgetful locksmith does not switch the water supply from supply to return at the first frost, the water temperature can significantly exceed the maximum for any polymer pipes 90-95 degrees.
Which pipes can be used for water supply:
Image | Description |
have been used for water distribution since the time of stalinok. Unlike black steel, galvanizing is not afraid of deposits and rust. An important point: galvanizing is mounted only on threaded connections, since zinc in the weld area completely evaporates during welding. | |
have long proved their reliability and durability: the oldest operating copper water pipes are over a century old, and they are in excellent condition. Soldered connections of copper pipes are maintenance-free, and can be mounted hidden, in a screed or strobes. | |
Corrugated stainless steel pipes compare favorably with competitors due to their extremely simple installation. For their connection, compression fittings are used, for the assembly of which only two adjustable wrenches are needed. The service life of the pipes themselves is characterized by manufacturers as unlimited; however, after 30 years, you, or more likely your children, will have to change the silicone o-rings in the fittings. |
Faults
What violations in the operation of the water supply system can the owner of the apartment eliminate on his own? Here are some of the most typical situations.
Leaking valves
Description: leak on the stem of screw valves.
- Reason: partial wear of the oil seal or wear of the rubber sealing ring.
- Solution: open the valve knob as far as it will go. In this case, the thread on the rod will press the stuffing box from below, and the flow will stop.
Noise of cranes
Description: when opening a hot or (more rarely) cold water tap, a loud noise is heard and the mixer is vibrating. Alternatively, your neighbor's faucet may be the source of the noise.
Cause: a deformed and crushed gasket on a screw valve box in a half-open position causes a continuous series of water hammers. Its valve closes the seat in the mixer body with a frequency of fractions of a second. On hot water, the pressure, as a rule, is noticeably greater, so the effect is more pronounced on it.
Solution:
- Turn off the water to the apartment;
- Unscrew the problematic crankbox;
- Replace the gasket with a new one;
- Remove the chamfer from the new gasket with scissors. The chamfered design will prevent the valve from beating in the turbulent water jet in the future.
By the way: ceramic crankboxes are fully compatible with screw threads, and are devoid of the described problem.
Cold towel warmer
- Description: The heated towel rail in your bathroom is cold and does not heat up.
- Cause: if the water supply scheme of a residential apartment building uses continuous circulation of hot water, the air remaining in the jumper between the risers after the water is discharged is to blame (for example, for revision and repair of valves).
- Solution: go up to the top floor and ask your neighbors to bleed air from the jumper between the hot water risers and heated towel rails.
If for some reason this is not possible, the problem can be solved from the basement:
- Shut off the DHW riser passing through your apartment, to which your connections are connected;
- Climb into the apartment and open the hot water taps to failure;
- After all the air comes out of the riser through them, close the taps and open the tap on the riser.
Nuance: immediately after the end of the heating season, there may be no pressure difference between the heating mains. In this case, the heated towel rails will be cold even if there are no air pockets in the risers.
Conclusion
We hope that our material has helped you to study the water supply of an apartment building: the water supply scheme described by us is the most common. Good luck!
In a modern metropolis, it is difficult to find a high-rise building in which there would be no running water. O water supply systems of an apartment building, their features and principles of operation, we will talk today.
Although systems cold and hot water supply of multi-apartment houses may have differences, in any of their versions you can find three universal elements. They will be present in any design. These main elements include:
Failure of one of the universal elements leads to the fact that the water supply is interrupted. Therefore, it is important to understand who is responsible for the normal functioning of each of the structures. If a breakdown occurs on the highway, then city services, and not management companies, are involved in its elimination. City services also carry out scheduled replacement and monitoring of the functioning of highways.
The management company is responsible for the common house risers, its representatives must be contacted if there is a failure in the operation of this system. Many water supply risers apartment buildings are in a deplorable state, and there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this.
Firstly, the riser is located in each individual apartment, which means that not only employees of the management company, but also the residents of the house should evaluate its integrity. And how many of us regularly inspect the riser? This is hardly the case.
Employees of the management company must periodically go around the apartments and ask residents to show the riser, but, firstly, some unscrupulous organizations may simply not do this, and secondly, sometimes apartment owners simply prevent the system from being inspected.
Remember that it is extremely important not only to inspect the condition of the riser, but also to promptly report its improper functioning or the need for replacement. Otherwise, it may simply break through, and then you will have to deal with the flooding of the apartment, and, most likely, not only your own, but also located below.
Homeowners should assess the condition of wiring and branches. They also carry out the replacement of these elements of the system on their own or by invited specialists, who can be found in specialized commercial organizations or in the same management company.
Top and bottom system wiring
In most cases, modern houses have a lower wiring of the water supply system. This means that the main pipes bring water to the basement, from where it enters the common house riser. This is the most reasonable and economical design, so almost all modern houses use it.
Top wiring today can also be found in megacities. A feature of this design is that a special water storage tank is installed at the top of the building. Water enters it through pipes that are laid inside the house. Further, the water is distributed to the apartments through a common house riser. The use of this wiring is often unjustified, since in addition to the riser it is necessary to install additional pipes, the very ones that carry water from the main to the storage tank. This increases the cost of water supply services, therefore it is unprofitable for either the residents or the management company.
It is worth noting that any element of the water supply system can fail, but the part of the structure that is responsible for supplying hot water still breaks much more often. That is why in megacities there are still periods of preventive shutdown of hot water, usually in the summer.
During this time, the services not only check the integrity of the structure, but also eliminate all breakdowns. Inside the hot water pipes, rust deposits are more likely to form, which makes it difficult for the flow of water to pass, and also increases the likelihood of their breakthrough.
Water supply design for an apartment building
In order for an apartment building to function normally, it is very important to properly design and equip the water supply system in it.
As a rule, water supply in an apartment building is:
For each specific building, depending on its parameters:
water system may vary. In particular, there are such networks as:
- with upper wiring, which is carried out under the ceiling of the upper floor or in the attic;
- with lower wiring, located in the basement of the building or under the floor of the 1st floor.
During the design process, the specialist necessarily makes a hydraulic calculation of the amount of water that is necessary so that all residents of the house can uninterruptedly use the resource for various needs.
Hot water supply of an apartment building
Hot and cold water supply systems in an apartment building are designed according to fundamentally different schemes.
A well-organized hot water supply is a centralized circulation system with one or two pipe risers.
In the first case, all risers of a certain section of the building are combined into one, which is called "idle", since it does not have consumers. The risers are looped along the height of the house in order to maintain the same pipe diameters throughout the building and provide better water distribution for each apartment.
At the same time, for buildings with a different number of floors, risers of a certain diameter are designed:
The heated towel rail in the bathroom is installed on the supply riser, which has its drawbacks: if the water in the boiler room is heated weakly, it will reach the farthest residents already cooled down. In order to avoid such situations, experts recommend inserting a special jumper pipe between the direct and reverse wiring (bypass).
In the case of a 2-pipe wiring, the system has 2 risers - for supplying and discharging water. The outlet circulation riser is nothing more than a heating elbow used as a heated towel rail.
Cold water supply of an apartment building
Pipelines for cold water supply to consumers of apartment buildings are made according to a dead-end scheme, that is, one branch running from the water supply source to the very last consumer, where it ends.
At the inlet of the cold water supply to the building, a water meter assembly is installed, consisting of steel pipes, fittings and a water meter. Initially, the meter is mounted in such a way that the direction of movement of cold water coincides with the arrow on the device case.
The node is rigidly attached to the surface (on the floor or on the wall), while paying attention to the fact that the meter axis is at a height of 30–100 cm from the floor.
Where the pipeline turns, metal supports are installed.
Water supply of an apartment building: snip
It should be remembered that the design of the internal water supply of an apartment building is carried out taking into account the relevant building codes and regulations, namely SNiP "Internal water supply and sewerage of buildings" (No. 2.04.01-85).
This document normalizes important parameters that affect the quality of the water supply system. This SNiP contains sections that describe in detail information regarding:
- The management company is obliged to ensure the serviceability of communications of a residential apartment building. Therefore, the organization must replace the risers at its own expense (if we are talking about pipes that have become unusable after their useful operating life has expired);
- The city or district administration is obliged to replace the risers in the municipal building;
- In the event that communication systems are privatized, the residents pay for the repair work.
- local;
- Centralized;
- Open thermal;
- closed thermal.
- water intake facilities;
- cleaning stations;
- distribution network.
- significant pipe savings;
- simplicity and ease of the project;
- reducing plumbing costs.
- Pressure drop at the end points of the water supply if several open appliances are used at the same time.
- The lack of the possibility of selective shutdown (in the event of a breakdown of one of the pipes, it will be necessary to completely turn off the apartment).
- Difficulty in locating a leak.
- Lack of free access to all distribution tees of the system.
- In the event of an accident, it will be necessary to break the finishing layer on the surface of the floor or wall.
- due to the small number of connections - the reliability of the system;
- adjustment of the operation of a separate plumbing fixture;
- ease of maintenance and repair of the entire system;
- hidden installation of pipes that will not spoil the interior.
- pipes;
- accessories;
- compositions for fixing and sealing;
- tools;
- fitting;
- appliances.
- local hot water systems;
- centralized systems;
- open heating networks;
- closed heating networks.
- offline work;
- ease of repair;
- small heat losses.
- Heating water in the boiler room with subsequent supply to the consumer.
- Water heating is carried out in special points located in neighborhoods or districts.
- Water heating is carried out using special equipment, which is installed in the basement of a multi-storey building.
- Water is heated in the consumer's apartment.
In some cases, responsible persons try to evade their duties or demand cash for the work done.
In this case, it is necessary to achieve the fulfillment of their direct duties by responsible persons. An official application must be completed and submitted. If there is no reaction, a complaint is written to the housing department. As a rule, such actions are quite enough to restore justice.
Features of supplying hot water to a residential building
The hot water supply system in the house includes two types of wiring - lower and upper.
To maintain the optimal temperature regime in the pipeline, looped wiring is often used. With the help of gravity pressure, water circulation in the ring is ensured, even in the absence of water intake.
In the riser, water is cooled and directly enters the heating unit. With an even higher temperature, water is supplied through pipes. Thus, a continuous process of circulation of the coolant is carried out.
In addition, the hot water supply system is divided according to some features:
Important! In accordance with SNiP, it is strictly forbidden to supply non-potable hot water to pipes that contain technical fluid.
Description of the closed heating system
In recent years, the use of a closed water supply scheme has become increasingly popular. The closed system is based on the use of a heating main with a completely separate, autonomous circuit, into which cold water is pumped for subsequent passage through heat exchangers.
The latter, however, take heat from the main water, which is heated in a CHPP. In addition, other heat sources are available, but the most common among them is the direct transfer of heat from an open hot water supply.
In this case, the quality of the hot water supplied to the house does not depend on the condition of the pipes that the central heating system has in itself. The closed scheme implies the use of heat exchangers and additional pumping units.
Hot water system closed type has undeniable advantages, in comparison with open: quality indicators and bacteriological properties.
The closed hot water supply circuit ensures a stable temperature regime, regardless of the air temperature in the winter.
Modern engineers are increasingly resorting to the use of a closed-type system, since this scheme is characterized by the highest reliability for consumers.
Water supply of an apartment building
Water supply is very important for the normal functioning of many construction projects. The water supply system of an apartment building is represented by a central water supply line, intra-house piping and piping for water supply to an apartment.
Features of water supply to multi-apartment buildings
It is very difficult to establish water supply for a multi-storey building with numerous consumers. Each apartment in the house should be considered as a separate object for providing water: pipes of different diameters represent a single structure with rather complex wiring. It is for this reason that it is considered very difficult to supply water to a multi-storey building.
The system is a whole complex of pumping equipment with installed filters and metering devices, as well as shut-off and control valves and apartment-by-apartment piping.
Mandatory in this scheme will be pressure regulators. The water that enters the apartments first goes through several stages of purification from mechanical impurities. Also very often carry out disinfection of water by means of chlorination.
Central water supply and plumbing
The most convenient for people who live in apartment buildings is the water supply from the central water supply. Such a system involves the supply of high-quality water under good pressure. Central water supply is carried out by means of a water supply system, which is available in all cities and villages. As a rule, water enters pumping stations from surface reservoirs, which are located far from sources of pollution.
The central water supply system has three components:
Water flows from the pumping station to a certain reservoir. There it goes through numerous stages of purification and only then enters the distribution network to supply water to the necessary facilities.
The water supply system functions normally if high-quality and correct piping is done. System pressure also plays a big role.
For a large number of users, the central water supply system may have a well, which is arranged using a special water intake tower. It is best to use an artesian well: water is drawn from a great depth, the water quality is at a high level.
But this method of water intake is considered quite expensive. It is usually used to provide water to an apartment cottage.
Scheme and arrangement of the water supply system of an apartment building
Water supply system with water tower
Such a system has several main elements: a caisson, a main water intake tank and a pumping station.
The principle of operation of the water tower
The caisson is a metal container, which is located at a depth of 2-2.5 m above the well itself. A pipe is mounted in it to bring water out of the well. A concrete ring caisson is considered less sealed, since it is often flooded by rising groundwater.
Through the pumping station and the caisson, water enters the storage tank. It has an automatic float valve. It turns on the pump when the water in such a container falls and does not reach a certain level.
The total pressure in the system directly depends on the volume of the storage tank or tank. Even in the event of a power outage, water will flow steadily into the apartments. But until the moment when the water level in the tank drops and, accordingly, the pressure decreases.
Scheme of the device of the water tower
Types of pipes that are used for water supply
Steel pipes
To date, steel pipes have practically ceased to be used. Over a fairly long period of time, such materials for plumbing have used up their resource. In addition, the price of steel pipes is quite high.
Installation of steel pipes is also expensive and takes a lot of effort and time. The disadvantage of such a system is that condensate is strongly collected on it, which can destroy the pipe material. Rust and scale will gradually form inside the steel pipe, which reduces the volume of the pipe. Thus, the throughput is also reduced.
Copper pipes
The most important advantage of using copper pipes is their service life, which reaches 50 years. Steel pipes are quite expensive, and not everyone can afford to buy them. The advantage of steel pipes is that they do not form rust. In addition, copper has antibacterial properties.
Copper pipe wiring
Metal-plastic pipes
Metal-plastic pipes are very popular today. They are quite practical and are considered reliable. Installation of a metal-plastic water supply system is very simple. All you need is a special tool. Pipes are joined with fittings. The pipe can withstand significant mechanical and physical stress.
Metal-plastic pipes Back to index
Apartment water supply schemes
The stability of the operation of all household equipment that is connected to the water supply directly depends on how competently the installation of the water supply system is performed.
The water supply scheme should provide the apartment with water from the central water supply to all necessary supply points. For some equipment, it will be necessary to ensure a constant pressure of water in the pipes. At the moment, plumbing for an apartment can be done in several ways: a serial connection scheme, a collector and a mixed system.
The scheme of the consistent water supply of the apartment
The simplest and most practical way to supply water to an apartment is considered to be a serial connection scheme. This is an affordable option for the price and for engineering communications. Such a scheme, as a rule, is found in the buildings of residential buildings.
According to this scheme, the installation of main pipelines with the supply of hot and cold water is carried out in parallel. Each equipment in such a system is connected using tees. It is for this reason that very often the series connection scheme is also called a tee.
The serial scheme implies the presence of a common highway for a large number of users. From such a central pipe, wiring is also done using tees. The main pipe has a fairly large diameter and plays the role of an elongated collector.
Consistent piping in the apartment
Such a water supply system is currently considered not only common, but also the most ideal for use in an ordinary apartment, which has one bathroom and no a large number of household appliances that work on the basis of water supply.
The sequential scheme has its advantages and disadvantages.
The distribution of pipes in the apartment should be carried out only by highly qualified specialists. Only then the probability that the pipe will start to leak will be small, and the pressure in the system will be normal.
Collector scheme
Due to the fact that at the moment the apartment uses a large number of devices that operate from water supply, their work may be disturbed, since the pressure in common system is greatly reduced. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to choose a collector connection scheme.
Installation of such a water supply system is considered expensive and rather complicated. Initially, the pressure drop in the system is already excluded, and it is for this reason that all points of the plumbing equipment can be used at the same time.
This is due to the fact that a separate pipe is laid to each such point of water supply. It can be simply closed if necessary. The main pipe with this type of connection has no branches, which ensures the safety of using the water supply system. Also, the possibility of leaks will be greatly reduced, since the collector pipe runs parallel to the main water supply pipe and has only one connection with it.
Collector scheme of water supply of the apartment
The advantages of such a system:
Sewerage in the apartment
Water supply and sewerage systems at home play an important role in ensuring the normal functioning of a person. Only specialists will be able to correctly calculate and carry out the installation of engineering structures of this type. The entire installation process must be carried out according to a previously developed scheme. Proper installation of sewer pipes will eliminate all possibilities of leakage and deformation of the outlet Wastewater. Often, the installation of sewer waste in an apartment is associated with turning off the water supply through the riser. Works are carried out quite quickly and very high quality.
Advice. If the sewer pipes in the apartment are laid for the first time, then it would be better not to change the usual location of all plumbing fixtures.
It would be better to use the old scheme. At the same time, it is recommended to sketch out an approximate work plan on paper and clearly measure the distance between the sink, toilet bowl, bathtub and other equipment that runs on water supply. It will also be necessary to determine the location of the clamps and the central sewer pipe. A slope is considered mandatory when laying sewers. Do not forget about the quality material in this process.
Before you lay or change the sewer in the apartment, it is necessary to assess the condition of the common sewer riser.
Sewerage and water supply risers in the apartment
If the common sewer pipe does not have external signs of corrosion, then you can not change it. If replacement is necessary, then this must be done very carefully due to the fact that a damaged pipe can be very easily deformed, and then the entire riser will have to be completely changed.
It happens that sewer pipes in an apartment are laid with the aim that more equipment has appeared that runs on water supply. For example, dishwasher or washing machine. Another option for laying sewers as an additional structure may be when it is necessary to connect additional plumbing equipment.
Scheme of the sewerage device in the apartment
Necessary equipment for the installation of high-quality sewage:
When installing a new sewer riser, it will be necessary to take into account the fact that plastic pipes for draining water will not be able to withstand the compressive loads of a piece of cast-iron pipe that may be on top of the riser. It will be necessary to attach a special replaced fragment to such a pipe in order to ensure a tight and durable fixation of the junction of pipes made of different material. For the tightness of such connections, adapters-cuffs are used, which are made for such combinations (“cast iron-plastic”, “plastic-cast iron”).
Dismantling the sewer in the apartment
Replacing an old sewer pipe with a new one has many nuances that must be taken into account in this process. Initially, it is necessary to determine the most vulnerable places in the pipe to deformation. It is also required to disconnect all existing connections from the pipe and remove all debris. All this is necessary to ensure more convenient work.
Then, near the riser, the tap is turned off, which supplies water to the apartment. If the replacement is long, then it is best to completely disconnect the entire riser from the water supply. At the very last moment, it is necessary to carefully dismantle the cast-iron sewer pipes. All this can be done with adjustable wrenches or other tools.
It is necessary to mount a new pipe in a complete set with a variety of adapters and couplings, since then it will not be possible to do it qualitatively. All connections must be coated with sealant to protect the riser from leakage.
Advice. All fittings or cuffs must be clean. Silicone grease should be designed specifically for connecting sewer pipes.
Hot water supply
Hot water supply in an apartment is a whole system of pipelines and various devices that are used to heat cold water and distribute hot water to consumers. In some cases, special pipes are used in bathrooms or toilets to heat such rooms in the apartment. They have the additional function of dryers.
Standard diagram of a hot and cold water supply system at home
All hot water supply systems can be divided according to several criteria:
According to the radius of action, hot water supply systems are divided into local and central.
Local hot water systems
Local hot water supply systems are equipped for a group of small objects or one building. Water in this case is heated directly by the consumer. Water heating is carried out using gas or electric flow-type boilers.
Such systems require regular maintenance and are used only if it is not possible to use a centralized hot water supply.
Local hot water system
The advantage of local hot water supply systems:
Central hot water systems
Appearance central systems supply of hot water to the apartment is due to the elimination of district and local boiler houses, as well as heat supply systems. As for convenience, central hot water systems will be much more practical.
Scheme of the device for centralized hot water supply of an apartment building
All this depends on the fact that there is no need to install appropriate equipment for heating cold water and additional wiring. Also, the system of such hot water supply has its drawbacks. Pipes need to be constantly maintained and repaired, but local utilities can rarely fulfill customer requests. There are also large drops in water pressure in the system and insufficient temperature, which cannot be said about local water supply systems.
To heat water and supply it to the consumer, centralized systems can use open or closed heating networks. Open heating networks provide for the mixing of network water with that already heated in special equipment. After that, the water is supplied to consumers. Closed heating networks provide for heating water through the surface. The heat carrier (superheated water or steam) and the heated water do not come into contact in any way.
Open heating networks are considered more rational, but the quality of the supplied water can significantly deteriorate in terms of the temperature regime. Such systems are currently very rare to find.
Closed scheme of heating and water supply at home
Hot water supply in the apartment can be carried out in several ways:
Hot water supply can be circulating. In this case, the water is constantly moving through the pipes and provides not only the supply of hot water, but also heating. The water is constantly heated. There is also a dead-end hot water supply. In this case, the water is not used immediately and may simply cool down over time. It is for this reason that special containers are installed in the apartment to heat and maintain the temperature of the water.
With regard to savings, it would be rational to use individual systems for providing hot water to the apartment. For the centralized supply of hot water, the user must pay a monthly fee.
Diagram of a boiler device for heating water
If it is possible to use a boiler to supply hot water to the apartment, then this will be the most economical option, since water is paid for by a cold water meter. The consumer provides himself with hot water.
Heating in the apartment
Today, there are a large number of systems for water supply and heating at home. All of them depend on each other in some cases. This applies to heating in an apartment building. If in a private house the heating system can be made one that will not depend on the supply of water, then in an apartment everything is completely different. In the apartment, many engineering systems are closely interconnected.
Heating in the apartment can be done with your own hands, only for this the entire work plan will need to be agreed with the utilities.
Very often there is a need to replace old pipes for heating with new ones. Previously, cast iron was used for heating pipes. The metal tends to rust, and plaque constantly forms inside the pipe. This greatly reduces the permeability of pipes, which, accordingly, reduces the temperature in the apartment. It is possible to carry out preventive work every year and blow out such pipes. And you can just replace them with modern counterparts.
To make the replacement of heating pipes, you need to carefully dismantle the old ones. It is necessary to start such a process from the central riser. Such pipes have never been hidden in the wall and even today you can see them in the corner of the room. At the moment, when replacing such pipes, it is possible to completely mask them. You can hide the pipe in the wall, or you can use it to make any decorative elements.
Advice. Replacement of heating pipes should be carried out only after the end of the heating season, when there is no hot water in the system.
Modern water heating system of the apartment
The water supply system of an apartment building can be made in different ways. They all differ in the methods of cold water intake, its purification and supply to the end consumer. Due attention should be paid to the distribution of pipes for supplying water in the apartment. It is first necessary to estimate the amount of equipment that runs on water supply.
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