Why does hot water flow from a cold tap, what should I do about it?

Now almost every apartment building has a hot water supply system. However, the temperature of the liquid supplied to homes often does not meet established regulatory requirements. Not only does this cause residents a lot of everyday inconvenience, but they also have to pay in full for poorly provided services. Let's figure out why cold water flows from a hot tap for a long time, what are the reasons for this phenomenon.

What explains this non-compliance with standards?

There are a number of explanations for a problem so familiar to all Russians. Among the main ones:

• increased concentration of polluting particles in the heat exchanger (a device in which heat is exchanged between two environments that differ in temperature);
• direct failure of this technical unit;
• rust that has clogged the internal cavity of the pipeline;
• corrosion that occurs inside risers.

In addition, the possible shutdown of the heat exchange device in the house cannot be ruled out. As a rule, the need for deactivation arises during repair work or emergency situations at external points of the pipeline.

Open and closed water supply networks

Both schemes differ significantly from each other. In the first case, in order to be heated, the liquid must interact directly with the coolant. In the second, heating is carried out due to heat exchange. Accordingly, the reasons why cold water flows from a hot tap are also different.

WWTPs are more susceptible to emergency situations, which is explained by the nature of their location. At the moment of a serious breakdown, H2O stops being supplied to the network completely. With ZSV everything is different. The aqueous solution continues to flow into residents' apartments, bypassing damaged areas of the pipeline.

In open systems, the liquid medium cools much faster due to the instability of analysis. In closed ones, the temperature is maintained at a certain level, and therefore communications do not fail so often.

In addition, WWS are characterized by the presence of a rather low pressure. Therefore, residents of the upper floors are often left without liquid heated to the established values. The solution to the problem in this case is special (boost) pumps. WSW, in turn, also has a noticeable drawback - large water losses. Therefore, it is necessary to install pumping stations for pumping.

Incorrect use of the bidet

A bidet is a hygienic shower. For water to flow, you need to open the faucet and press the button. After finishing the water procedures, you need to press the button and close the tap. But many simply turn off the button, leaving the mixer open. In this case, hot water is mixed with cold water and flows out of the taps in this form. Neighbors can turn on cold water, then the pressure in the system drops. Consequently, hot water will displace cold water.

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Due to pressure differences, hot water flows through cold pipes. To avoid this, you must remember to close the bidet faucet.

How to find out the reason why cold water comes instead of hot water, what to do in such a situation

To understand why this phenomenon occurred, it is necessary to check the pipes in the basement. And the first step is to determine the condition of the pipeline area connected to the riser. To check, you will have to call a specialist from the management company.

An invited employee of the management company will check the riser pipes and find out if they are rusty. Also, he will certainly inspect the heat exchange device. Due to unstable operation of the heat exchanger, problems often arise with the temperature of the supplied liquid. During the verification activities, it will be possible to find out what caused the discrepancy in temperature conditions: a blockage or a breakdown.

If all of the above actions do not give the desired result, it is necessary to send the appeal directly to the water utility and generating organizations that serve the residential building. They are responsible for the proper condition of the external water supply.

After completing and submitting the application, a specialist will be sent to you to inspect and determine the serviceability of pipeline sections in the entire area of ​​the probable accident.

Consequences

If the cause of this phenomenon is incorrect installation of plumbing, then the residents are to blame. Consequently, the management company is not responsible for breakdowns caused by this problem.

Boiling water from a cold tap is unpleasant, but there are other consequences. For example, some appliances are not designed to handle hot water. These include:

• Cold water meter.
• Toilet cistern.
• Cold water pipes.
• Toilet flush mechanism.

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If these items become unusable due to your fault, then the responsibility lies only with you.

Legislative aspects

Before deciding where to turn if cold water comes from a hot tap, you should understand the standards established for the temperature of the liquid supplied to your home. Standards for hot water supply are presented in the “Rules for the provision of utility services to owners and users in apartments and private houses.” They are confirmed by government decree No. 354. And also, in the sanitary and epidemiological requirements of SanPiN 2.1.4.2496-09, approved by the leading sanitary doctor of the Russian Federation.

The listed legislative documents read:

• The temperature regime of the aqueous solution in water intake areas must be at least 60°C and no more than 75. In this case, the type of heat supply does not matter.
• Before measuring the temperature of the heated liquid medium, it must be drained within 3 minutes.

The following is stated regarding the maximum deviations:

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AMETHYST - 02 M up to 2 cubic meters/day.

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• at night temperature fluctuations of 5°C are allowed;
• during the day - maximum 3.

In accordance with established regulatory requirements, conditions for payment for water resource consumption are formed if actual values ​​differ from those approved by law.

In a situation where H2O is supplied to a residential building below 40°C, it is paid at the cold price. If it fluctuates in the range from 40 to 60, funds are deposited at a reduced rate.

Legal requirements

Requirements and standards that relate to water supply in residential buildings are outlined in the following legislative acts:

• Government Decree No. 354 of May 2011, which contains all the criteria and requirements for the quality of public services.
• Sanitary standards for hot water supply in residential buildings dated April 2009 No. 20.

Based on these official legislative acts, we can conclude that:

1. the temperature range of hot water supply should be in the range from 60 to 75 degrees, regardless of the type of heating system;
2. Before measuring the water temperature, you must drain it for three minutes.

According to the law, a slight discrepancy between the indicated values ​​is allowed. At night, in particular from 0.00 to 5.00 by no more than 5 degrees, in the daytime, from 5.00 to 0.00 by no more than three degrees.

The legislation also states that the supply of cold water instead of hot water, or a temperature discrepancy greater than the number of degrees allowed by law must be reflected in the fat.

ATTENTION! Accordingly, the management organization is obliged to recalculate in this situation. When recalculating, it is necessary to take into account that all hours during which water below forty degrees enters the home instead of hot water are added up.

The resulting time is charged as for cold water. If the water temperature is below 60 degrees, but above 40, then the payment for hot water supply is simply reduced. If the deviation from the norm is more than three degrees, the fee is reduced by 0.1% for each hour of discrepancy.

Why is there lukewarm water instead of hot?

Next, it is necessary to consider the reasons why existing standards are not respected.

First of all, problems with hot water supply may be in the house itself. Design defects, as an option, contribute to poor circulation (in the morning, apartment owners on the upper levels have to drain the liquid that has cooled overnight in the pipes for a long time).

Making mistakes in the process of regulating the heated supply. When the management organization provides insufficient heating of the water resource supplied to consumers.

A clogged or deformed pipeline in the apartment on the floor below. This, for example, happens due to the insertion of a “gander” in order to recess the pipe into the wall and free up additional space in the bathroom.

The cause may also be violations committed during the installation of an electric boiler (mixer, shower stall, etc.) along the riser.

Successful resolution of the above problems is quite possible by contacting the management company to which the residential building is attached.

It is much worse when the discrepancy between the temperature conditions of the supplied liquid medium does not directly affect the house. For example, the building is located at the very end of a water supply branch. The heated H2O first enters other high-rise buildings and only then reaches the end point. If the line is not looped, the last house on it becomes a dead end. The tap liquid cools completely overnight, and often does not heat up at all to the required temperature.

In this situation, the management organization is powerless. Activities for transferring hot water supply are very expensive. In addition, they affect not only the area accountable to a specific management company.

It will not be possible to solve the problem at this level even in the event of emergency situations outside the home system. The UO, again, will not be able to do anything. City authorities are already dealing with similar issues. And to demand that they fulfill their obligations is, to put it mildly, difficult.

Comprehensive solution to the problem

Since the faucet can break down in any apartment at the most inopportune moment, you need to find out what should be done to prevent malfunctions in the water supply system. There is a simple solution - install a check valve at the outlet of the cold riser.

It is enough to install such devices in every apartment so that you no longer encounter the phenomenon when hot water comes out of the tap rather than cold. Moreover, modern meters are already equipped with such valves, so if they are installed in the house, there is no need to worry.

Alternatively, you need to install a check valve at the inlet of each pipe. This will prevent the possibility of backflow even when system pressure drops.

Algorithm of actions

In order to eliminate the discrepancy between the temperature conditions of the heated liquid supplied to a residential building, it is necessary to act systematically.

Where to go if lukewarm water flows from a hot tap

Of course, the first step is to send a request to the management organization responsible for the condition of the internal pipeline. If a breakdown is detected in a non-domestic area, it is necessary to request a solution to the problem from the city water utility.

If emergency situations occur at pumping systems, you should seek a solution to the issue in the generating company servicing the residential building.

Drawing up an application

There is no standard format for it. The main thing is that all the main points are reflected:

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Main table dispenser AquaPro 929CH/RO (cooling/heating)

Floor dispenser AquaPro 311 (empty, without cooling)

• name of the MA or other institution to which the application will be sent;
• their address details, representatives of the management team;
• personal information about the person filing the complaint, address, contact information;
• a full description of the problem that arose, the moment the violation was recorded;
• requirement to eliminate the non-conformity;
• date of formation of the application-complaint;
• applicant's signature.

In some cases, it is necessary to accompany the paper with additional documentation confirming the presence of unacceptable deviations in the temperature regime of the hot water supply.

Filing a complaint

The letter of claim must be strictly in writing. The management organization has the right not to respond in any way to oral statements from residents. The document, drawn up in accordance with all the rules, must be sent to the Criminal Code in two copies.

One of them will receive a mark of acceptance for consideration in the process. In the same way, a complaint-application is formed to the water utility or generating company.

What awaits as a result

Having figured out what to do and where to complain if warm water flows instead of hot water (cold water flows), you should understand what to expect after the treatment.

The management company will send a specialist to the house within 2 days from the date of submission of the application to carry out measuring measures in the water collection area. He will take two measurements in total. One in the morning, the second in the evening. Afterwards, he will draw up a corresponding document (act of completion of work and recording of testimony). In it, an employee of the management organization will confirm the presence of a violation.

Based on written confirmation of non-compliance of temperature conditions with standards, the MA will recalculate. For the next user period, the applicant will have a reduced tariff rate for the supplied DHW services. When supplying liquid colder than 40°C, the consumer will pay for it as if it were not heated.

If problems arise due to the accumulation of dirt in the heat exchange device, a specialist will clean it. In the event of a breakdown, the heat exchanger will be repaired or replaced.

If a blockage is detected in the pipeline, it is cleaned or new pipes are installed in the damaged areas.

How to make a claim

In order for a statement, complaint, or claim to work, they must be drawn up correctly, taking into account the requirements. It must be remembered that this is an official document in which the facts are presented accurately, truthfully, without emotion. How is a complaint made?

1. First, the organization to which the paper is sent is indicated. After the name you need to write the information of the manager.
2. The next point is the applicant’s details and contacts for feedback.
3. You should describe the situation and indicate on what basis the complaint was filed.
4. The main part is complaints and requirements to eliminate the problem with hot water supply. The circumstances of the case should be described in detail.
5. Various documentary evidence must be attached to the complaint; they must be mentioned in the text of the main document.

How can a water heater help?

It is possible that the answer to the question: why cold water runs instead of hot water and what to do in such a situation will be the transition to an autonomous water supply. That is, installing an electric boiler.

The heating device consumes a moderate amount of energy. With low consumption of heated liquid, its maintenance will cost the same as a centralized hot water supply. The volume of the tank is limited to a certain displacement, so when the heated H2O is completely drained from the tank, you have to wait until the next batch of water resource is heated.

One caveat. If there is no hot water metering device, you must install a plug on the riser, officially sealing it. Otherwise, bills for use will continue to arrive. Having a meter is another matter. There is no need to plug the pipe or put a seal. It is enough to close the valve at the inlet and make sure that the liquid medium from the electric boiler does not enter the system.

Search for those responsible for the emergency

[flat_ab id=”4"] Having dealt with the question of why hot water flows from the tap instead of cold, you need to understand what to do in this situation. The easiest way to deal with the problem is to call specialists for help. They will be able to quickly resolve the situation and fix the problem. But you can cooperate with your neighbors and try to figure out the culprit yourself. After all, sometimes the problem lies in the banal wear and tear of an old gasket. The check is carried out simply: you need to close the cold water supply taps entering the apartments. After this, you need to open all the mixers in the house. If any of them water flows - this is the source of all troubles. You need to check whether the gasket is leaky or the device is completely out of order. Sometimes the phenomenon occurs due to the fact that the plumber installed the mixer incorrectly. [f[flat_ab id=”5"]if anyone - one of the neighbors just installed a hygienic shower, one might suspect that it was he who was to blame for the problem. Because this device has its own specifics. For it to work, you must first open the faucet and then press the start button. But upon completion of the procedures, it is extremely important to close the valve. Otherwise, an unpleasant phenomenon will occur: the neighbors will discover that hot water flows from the tap instead of cold.

This is explained by the fact that with the mixer open, boiling water constantly enters the cold water supply system. Since hot water flows with high pressure, it easily displaces cold water from the pipes. So there is nothing left to do except use the hygienic shower correctly.

The water heater can also cause the problem. Neighbors will begin to puzzle over the question of why boiling water comes from the cold water supply pipes if a check valve is not installed on the equipment. Moreover, if the phenomenon is not noticed in time and the cause is not eliminated, then the device may completely fail. This will happen due to pressure changes.

Finally, some homeowners manage to misuse their boilers. Before turning it on, you need to turn off the hot water supply and open the input and output taps. When the shut-off valve is not closed, then heated water flows through the cold water pipes.

Thermal sensor in a measuring device

A good device that allows you to reduce the cost of heated liquid. It actually records H2O corresponding to certain indicators. The unit separately takes into account the amount of actually hot water resource and what is supplied from the hot water tap, but does not correspond to the temperature required by the standards.

Floor-standing dispenser AquaPro 6207CH (cooling/heating/room temp.)

Wall-mounted dispenser AquaPro 3207CH (cooling/heating)

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The volume that was not heated to the required t will be added to the cold water supply and paid at the established cost for this category of services.

Of course, using a temperature meter offers tangible benefits, but also causes some inconvenience. Thus, according to the law, automatic recalculation is prohibited. That is, the owner will have to invite a representative of the management company, who will carry out control measurements and draw up the necessary document confirming the fact of the violation. It won't be faster.

In addition, the purchased and installed device must be pre-sealed and put into operation. Again, this cannot be done without the assistance of a management company employee.

And one more unpleasant moment (from an ethical point of view). By counting the heated liquid at the price of hot water, the apartment owner shifts the responsibility to pay for this “discounted” volume of hot water to other residents. Since the expense goes to general house needs.

Gasket wear

This problem occurs in most situations when hot water flows instead of cold water. Rubber gaskets in faucets can last 10 years, but according to the rules, they should be changed every 2-3 years.

An indicator that it is time to change the gasket is the hum of an open tap. Over time, the rubber wrinkles and the water begins to vibrate due to strong pressure. This is what causes the unpleasant sound.

You can change the gasket yourself.

1. Turn off the water.
2. Remove the faucet, disassemble it and remove the gasket.
3. Place the new rubber band in place.
4. Assemble the faucet, install it and turn on the water.

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If the unpleasant sounds have disappeared and cold water comes out of the cold tap, then you have done everything right.

What to do if cold or barely warm water still flows from the hot tap

If, after sending a complaint statement to the management organization or water utility, the problem has not been resolved, you will have to contact the housing inspectorate. This is a regulatory body that monitors the activities of the management company. Failure to comply with obligations on the part of the municipal water supply should also be complained to the housing inspectorate.

As an alternative solution, it is worth keeping in mind the possibility of contacting the local administration. The complaint letter can be sent by mail or delivered in person through the reception desk.

Also an application for inactive companies to Rospotrebnadzor and the prosecutor's office. As a last resort, you will have to resort to the help of a judicial authority.

Preventive measures

The most effective prevention in this situation is to systematically monitor the condition of the heat exchange device. It is necessary to carry out inspections once a month, identify the presence of rust and blockages, and evaluate the characteristics of the pipeline in the basement. Particular attention should be paid to areas near risers.

All detected violations must be corrected immediately. Inspection and elimination are required to be carried out by employees of management organizations. They are responsible for cleaning communications, repairing failed elements or replacing them with new ones.

The quality of the supplied liquid also directly affects the condition of the pipes. And if in your apartment you can solve this issue with the help of cleaning equipment. It is best to purchase it from a proven, reliable manufacturer. In the online catalog “Water of the Fatherland” you will find all the necessary equipment.

To cope with a common house problem on your own, you will need to install a water heater (electric boiler).

Installing the device is especially important for old residential buildings, where pipeline breakdowns often occur. The boiler will be able to provide a certain amount of heated water resource. However, when using large volumes of liquid, electricity bills will invariably increase.

You can also install a meter with a temperature sensor, which will make it possible to reduce the cost of H2O heated to the required temperature. It is important to understand that a metering device of this type is not able to eliminate difficulties with the supply of hot water.

Prevention

One of the options to prevent such a situation is to regularly monitor the condition of the heat exchanger in the house. It is recommended to check the condition of the device monthly for blockages and corrosion.

For prevention, the condition of the pipeline in the basements of houses should be checked monthly. Particular attention should be paid to those areas that are connected to risers.

At the first signs of corrosion, the pipes must be cleaned immediately . The same goes for the risers themselves. Their condition must be monitored by designated employees of the management company. At the first sign of clogging, the riser needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

A way to solve the problem could be to install a separate water heater in the apartment.

This is especially true for old houses, in which the pipeline system often fails.

If there are frequent interruptions in the supply of hot water, a water heater will be able to smooth out the problem .

The resident will always have a certain supply of hot water if necessary. But this will inevitably lead to an increase in utility bills for electricity.

One option is also to install water meters with a temperature sensor in the apartment. This device will not solve the problem with the supply of hot water, but will help reduce payments for water if it is supplied to the apartment at insufficient temperature.

A water meter with a temperature sensor will help the consumer monitor the quality of hot water in his apartment.