Problem: Central heating in the apartment does not work

Look for the answer in the HOA

The first question that arises is: when the batteries are cold, where to complain? First, you should talk to your neighbors and find out how things are with heating in their apartments. If you have a common problem, and the radiators are cold throughout the house, then you need to contact the management company. The responsibilities of the management company include control over the provision of residential buildings with all utilities, including heating. The company has an agreement on your behalf with contractors providing these services. The essence of the document lies not only in the payment of debt on receipts, but also in the quality of the services received and paid for. The HOA’s task is to find out why the contractor did not provide the building with heating within the prescribed period.

Where to complain?

Today, almost every region has hotlines that accept complaints from citizens about heating problems. For example, in St. Petersburg there are 19 hotline telephone numbers - one in each district and another one in the Housing Committee. The lines were created to quickly respond to citizens’ requests for heating problems.

The hotline is not the only way to complain about the lack of heat in the apartment. Residents have the right to file a complaint with the State Housing Inspectorate with a request to conduct an inspection and resolve the issue of bringing the service provider to justice under Article 7.23 of the Code of Administrative Offenses for “violation of standards for providing the population with utility services.”

How will housing and communal services debtors be fined starting in 2020?

A valid reason for a general shutdown of heating

The cause of cold batteries in an apartment may be a major accident on a highway or a thermal power plant. In this case, utility organizations are forced to turn off the hot water supply to the area in which your house is located in order to carry out repair work.

What should residents do if there are cold radiators in the house? Where to complain if no one warned or informed about the shutoff of the coolant? In connection with a major accident that disrupted the supply of heat to the entire residential building, in addition to the management company, you should file a collective complaint with the GZHI (State Housing Inspectorate). This organization accepts calls 24 hours a day.

Causes of emergencies

Before filing a complaint with the authorized authorities, you need to understand the causes of the accident:

The apartment of the interested owner is the only one with a connection to a faulty riser	In the vast majority of cases, this is directly related to local problems or the expiration of the period for providing hot water to the residential premises after the end of the heating season. In the autumn months, the appropriate tap may simply not be open. The easiest way to solve the problem is to contact your neighbors to familiarize yourself with the operation of the heating system. If they have hot pipes at home, then they need to follow the generally accepted algorithm of actions: Checking the heat supply tap to the apartment. Call the service company if the supply is uninterrupted. Calling a repair team.
Organization of repair activities by neighbors	In practice, repairs are carried out after the end of the heating season, but in a number of situations, work is carried out in the autumn-winter period. In this case, you need to find out the approximate time of the supply shutdown. If the temperature regime in the apartment of the injured owner does not coincide with the stated standards, then you can begin preparing a claim.
Accident on the central highway	The entire apartment building or an entire part of the microdistrict is switched off from heating.
Delay	It is possible if the responsible institutions cannot start the system on time due to the breakdown of certain structural elements responsible for the supply of hot water. If there is a long delay, you can write and file a class action lawsuit against the management company.

Collective complaint

Any complaint must be submitted in writing. When drawing up a statement from a group of residents of the house, you must collect their signatures - the more, the better. The complaint is written simultaneously to the chairman of the management company and to the housing inspectorate in two copies. The paper describes a problem with a requirement to resolve the issue of why heating was provided but the radiators were cold. One copy remains with the company as an incoming letter, and the other with a stamp and date of acceptance is returned to you. It will serve as confirmation of the application in case of failure to take timely measures. It is acceptable to send a complaint by mail with notification of delivery to the recipient. Authorities are required to consider a written collective complaint within the time period required by law.

Temperature according to sanitary standards

With the beginning of the heating season, residents are often faced with the fact that the battery is half cold or lukewarm. This indicates that the water supplied for heating the premises is not fully hot. To verify this, it is enough to determine the temperature in the rooms with an ordinary thermometer. Sanitary standards allow that a comfortable daytime temperature in an apartment should be at least 18 ° C above zero with a slight excess of 4 degrees.

After accepting the complaint, a company engineer is sent to you, whose task is to identify the causes of cold batteries. To do this, he measures the temperature in each room, fills out a report form and gives a copy to the owners. If the readings are below the required standards, then utility companies must take appropriate measures.

Temperature standards according to law

There is a certain Russian standard for housing and communal services: GOST R 51617-2000 .

In accordance with it, the temperature inside the living space should be kept between 18 and 25 degrees .

At the same time, there are standards for attics , basements , and staircases .

The temperature in the space near the apartments also affects how many degrees there will be inside the room.

Standard indicators for air temperature in a residential area are set out in section 6, paragraph 15 of Appendix 1 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 of 05/06/2011 .

In accordance with it, residential premises must be heated to a temperature of at least 18 degrees (corner rooms up to 20 degrees).

In those areas where the lowest temperatures reach -31 degrees , the norm for living quarters is 20 degrees , and for corner rooms 22 degrees .

In other words, the minimum temperature regime is set at 18 degrees , and for corner rooms at 20. In areas with severe winters, the indicator is increased by two degrees.

In accordance with the same paragraph 15, the permissible temperature increase can only be 4 degrees .

At night , that is, from 00.00 to 5.00 in the morning, the temperature decrease should not exceed 3 degrees .

A decrease in air temperature during the day is unacceptable.

If you refer to SanPiN 2.1.2 2645-10, you can find out about the following standard indicators:

the normal temperature regime for the room should be from 20 to 22 degrees ,
for a bathroom , as well as a sanitary unit, the temperature can be 16-26 degrees ,
19-21 degrees is considered optimal for the toilet and kitchen ,
if the bathroom and toilet are combined , then 24-26 degrees .

If the actual temperature differs from the established norm, this is a violation that requires an immediate solution.

You can cope with this situation by contacting the relevant department.

Where else can you complain?

One can hope that after the accident is eliminated, heating will be supplied to the house. But often utility companies, when supplying coolant to the house, ignore complaints about the temperature being insufficient to heat the entire apartment. In this situation, when the radiators in the house are lukewarm or cold, where can one complain about the non-executive management company?

Do not forget that you have in your hands a report on insufficient heat supply drawn up by an engineer who came from the management organization. And you also have neighbors as witnesses who have the same problem. It is necessary to contact all authorities competent for utility issues. You should contact an official from the local government, to whom all housing and communal services are subordinate. You can make an appointment in person or send a complaint by email. Today such a possibility exists. You can also write a complaint to Rospotrebnadzor. In the application you must indicate that you have cold radiators in the apartment, note the address and name of your management office. After this, Rospotrebnadzor experts send an order to the Criminal Code with a requirement to correct violations in the temperature regime. The request will indicate the period within which the problem must be corrected. If the requirements are not met, the management company will be subject to penalties.

The last authority that can bring the director of the management company to justice and thereby restore order is the prosecutor's office. The management company will be afraid to violate the requirements of law enforcement agencies.

Who is responsible for cold batteries?

If you find cold batteries in an apartment, you need to contact the organizations that are responsible for such violations and accept complaints and appeals from citizens.

This could be a homeowners association , housing and communal services , or a management company .

Insufficient heat from batteries occurs as a result of improper design or due to old and faulty communications in the house. Less often, the reason lies in a house that has a low ability to retain heat.

If the cause is a malfunction or incorrect design, then the management company should deal with the problem . She bears all costs of correcting the fault.

The problem should be resolved within a week . However, the period may increase if we are talking about a number of malfunctions and the unsuitability of the central branch of communications.

Read about the responsibilities of management companies for the maintenance and repair of apartment buildings here.

If the problem is a faulty battery , then it can only be resolved by the owner of the apartment . Replacement is carried out with the permission of the management service.

In winter, this procedure is rarely . Exceptions may include a paralyzed family member or small children in the apartment. The difficulty is due to the fact that turning off the riser will be a problem for other residents, and is therefore prohibited by the state.

The resident is required to independently measure their temperature and determine whether there is a violation of the established norm or not.

Then you need to follow a certain algorithm of actions:

The first thing you need to do is write a written appeal addressed to the management company. The appeal indicates the resident’s dissatisfaction the exact details of the person applying. In a situation with heating, you need to describe the problem with violation of the norms of the heated room,

Sample application to the Criminal Code requesting temperature measurements in the apartment.

Next, you should save a copy of the request . It must be signed and dated. Then take it to the service for inspection,
Once the application has been reviewed, the management company will send a technician or engineer to check the temperature. The specialist will also check the condition of the water supply. If a problem is detected, the technician will draw up a report , which will reflect the details of the inspection. It is important to remember that residents should also receive a copy of the report on the work carried out to inspect the premises. This paper will serve as a guarantee for filing claims against the management company if it fails to act,

Sample temperature measurement report.

If 7 to 10 days and the problem is not resolved , then you should call the company representatives by phone or contact directly,
If the management company does not want to take responsibility for solving the problem, then the only way out is to contact higher authorities .

Sample complaint to the Criminal Code about poor heating in the apartment.

To learn about the procedure and where to complain about poor-quality or unprovided housing and communal services, watch the video:

Don't pay for what you don't get

Tenants who are dissatisfied and freezing in their apartments have every right to demand a recalculation of the cost of heating services. Confirmation will be a report drawn up by an engineer of the management company, which indicates the date of the call when the violation was recorded. Applications are accepted at the Unified Information and Settlement Center. The recalculation must be done next month. You can also demand payment of a penalty for insufficient heat. For each day that the temperature does not meet the standards, 3% of the total heating payment per month is deducted.

Often, a complaint from the entire team of an unheated house is responded to in a timely manner and the problem is corrected on time. Things are more complicated for those who find that the heat is on and the radiators are cold only in their apartment.

When is the heating fee due to be recalculated?

Many homeowners are concerned about the question: will there be a recalculation of heating fees?

Of course, solving the issue with cold batteries is a clear plus, but many require financial compensation.

If the temperature was below 10 degrees than required according to established standards, then there is a possibility of recalculation .

If the temperature decreases by 5 degrees, making such a request will not bring results .

Each situation has its own individual characteristics. Consult a lawyer to resolve the issue. Sometimes a recalculation is possible if a family with a child has had problems with changing the temperature in the room for a long time

You can prove your case in court, then there is a chance to get a recalculation if the court sides with the plaintiff.

The heating payment is reduced by 0.15% for each missing degree.

For clarity, consider the following example:

At the time the measurement was taken, the temperature in the room was 16 degrees , that is, a deviation of two degrees. This temperature was maintained for 10 days or 240 hours.

The formula looks like this:

2 degrees × 240 hours ×0.15% = 72%

This means that heating costs are reduced by 72% . If the average monthly payment is 3,000 rubles , then for the past month the consumer will be credited 840 rubles .

Call to the dispatcher

If you are too busy or do not want to find out the cause yourself for fear of disrupting the operation of the heating system, then first of all call the emergency dispatch service of the service company. The dispatcher must introduce himself, write down your details, note the date of application and register the received application. Then a plumber will be sent to you, who will determine the cause of the lack of heat, and if this can be done quickly, he will fix the breakdown.

If you have a serious problem, then employees of the management company should call you and draw up a report in two copies and measure the temperature in all rooms. If there are no management employees, call your neighbors who will testify and confirm that it is cold in your apartment. Together with them, draw up a random act and record the current temperature.

Note the date of the first application and indicate that no one came to you. Sign with your neighbors and send the paper to the Criminal Code. There must be at least three signatures on the act. After correcting the violations, a report on temperature compliance with standards is drawn up again. At this point the procedure is considered complete.

Let's clarify the situation

At the beginning of the article, we found out where to complain when there are cold radiators in an apartment. But you don’t have to panic, but try to figure out the reason for the lack of heating yourself. If you find that the riser is hot and the battery is cold, this indicates that hot water is not flowing into it. Check the position of the tap providing coolant access to the apartment to see if it is locked. Maybe you just forgot to open it. Make sure that the riser is not blocked due to work in the basement.

Where to go if the problem is not solved?

Where can you complain about cold radiators if your complaint has never been answered, and your requests to increase the temperature in the apartment are ignored by the management company. It is not necessary to put up with cold or barely warm batteries.

Two weeks later, after filing a complaint, if the problem has not been solved, and the cold radiators in the apartment have not become warmer, and the GZHI did not tell you where to complain, you need to move on to more serious actions. Appealing to higher authorities will help influence the inaction of utility companies.

Contact Rospotrebnadzor

You can complain to this organization about cold batteries. It acts within the interests of consumers and takes the necessary measures to resolve problematic issues, such as, for example, the provision of poor-quality services to the population. Already on the basis of their written request there will be pressure on the management company. More often this works, and the management company begins to provide its services as expected.

Application to the prosecutor's office

A written statement to the prosecutor's office will help to identify the reasons for the improper provision of services by the Criminal Code, as well as why the Criminal Code did not solve the problem within the period established by law.

Statement of claim to court

The final authority will be the court. You need to prepare to provide all the required documents proving that it is really cold in the apartment. Of course, it will not be easy to prepare a package of documents on your own, so it is better to contact a lawyer in this area.

He will prepare a statement of claim, where he will describe in detail where you have already complained about cold batteries in Moscow, collect the necessary documents and pay the state fee. And then all that remains is to wait for the court hearing, where your problem will be resolved. You may be interested in why corner apartments have cold radiators.

Airlock threat

There are several reasons why there are cold radiators in an apartment with the onset of the heating season. And this problem occurs for many residents every year. Moreover, in one apartment building, some have good heating, while others are still cold. One of the most common situations is the accumulation of air in the system. If gurgling is heard in the battery, then it is coming from an air lock that needs to be released.

The air accumulated in the pipes prevents the free movement of water, which should continuously circulate to heat the room. In addition, air is not able to conduct heat. This results in the riser being hot and the battery being cold. The presence of air accumulations reduces the wear life of heating devices and causes rust.

Possible causes of cold batteries

The most common causes of cold batteries during the heating season are technical malfunctions or temperature problems in the functioning of the entire supply mode. When it comes to a standard urban residential premises in a multi-storey building, the issues of heat provision should be dealt with by the housing and maintenance service (housing and maintenance service) or another authorized body. Before the onset of the heating season, representatives of the relevant services check the degree of preparedness of the entire building system for frost. In situations where a private house is being considered, responsibilities of this kind fall on the shoulders of the owner. If desired and if funds are available, he can contact specialized companies that carry out all work of this kind.

Possible causes of cold batteries and their characteristic symptoms:

The presence of air pockets in the heating system - in such a situation the upper part of the battery will be cold;
Technical faults outside the living area - a cold riser is considered a clear sign of such problems;
The valves are closed and, as a result, the heating system is clogged - the riser is hot and the radiators are cold;
Valves are not open enough, radiators are clogged, low coolant pressure in the pipes - the lower part of the radiator is very cold;
Insufficient pressure, operating mode and system are not fully adjusted - only the last radiator in the system is cold;
Technical clogging of a single battery, air lock, insufficient pressure - the part of the radiator farthest from the connection pipes is cold.

There may also be an incorrect connection of each of the elements and the entire operating mode as a whole. The above reasons can affect the operation of both a single battery and the functioning of the overall heating system of the building. Only after eliminating the identified temperature problems does it make sense to talk about complete and stable heating of each room.

If you sign direct contracts with private organizations that supply heating services, you will have to resolve the conflict yourself. Before signing, be sure to carefully review the terms of the contract. They may indicate actions that are recommended to be taken in the event of a complaint. This could be a special registered letter or contacting the main office directly.

Let's deflate

Usually, in a situation where there are cold radiators in the apartment, the residents vent the air themselves. For this purpose, a Mayevsky tap is located on the battery.

Before opening the valves, you must first turn off the heating and place rags under the radiator, as dirty water will flow out with the air. The tap is opened using a screwdriver, which is inserted into a special hole and turned slowly. The air released from the special hole will come out with a hissing sound. When the air plug comes out, liquid should flow. The tap can be closed. Thanks to this method, the disrupted coolant circulation is restored. The valve is installed on all radiators in the apartment, but it would be logical to carry out the procedure only with cold heating appliances. The tap may have to be opened more than once.

It is more difficult when air has accumulated not in the room radiator, but in pipes located in the basement. You turn on the tap, but there are still cold radiators in the room? What to do? In this case, a plumber from the housing and communal services is called, who will open a special valve and bleed off the air that is plugging the riser.

The neighbors are to blame

It may also be that neighbors, caring about comfort in their apartment, illegally make changes to the design of the intra-house system - increasing the battery by several sections or installing another radiator. The incoming coolant fills the entire area of the heated device, while losing heat to the next apartment. As the water moves further through the system, it cools. As a result, it turns out that there are cold radiators in your apartment.

What to do with dishonest neighbors, and how to correct the situation? Taking an example, you can do the same. But this will lead to the fact that the coolant will cool faster, and the increased number of batteries will not bring the desired heat to the apartment. To establish justice, contact the housing and communal services department.

Why is the battery cold at the bottom?

The reason for partial heating of the heating device may be its incorrect connection, which causes uneven distribution of hot water. If connected incorrectly, some of the sections heat up, but the remaining area of the battery does not. The best option is considered to be a diagonal pattern. With a side connection, the coolant does not flow throughout the entire battery, but takes a short path, so the lower part of the radiator will be cold. It will be necessary to correct the situation and simulate a diagonal pattern using an injection tube. It lengthens the flow, due to which the battery heats up evenly. This can only be done by a qualified plumber.

Another reason why the battery is cold at the bottom may be that it is dirty. Scale and rust settle on the bottom and walls of the radiator, thereby narrowing the passages for coolant. In this case, the circulation of hot water is disrupted and the battery does not warm up completely. To clean the battery, you need to rinse it with water under pressure several times.

In any case, if there is no heating in your apartment, contact all authorities. By law, utility workers must correct simple violations in the heating system within 24 hours. Utility organizations must complete complex repairs within a week.