An apartment in a new building is an excellent purchase in many respects. New houses have more spacious rooms, an interesting layout, a well-appointed entrance...the benefits can be listed endlessly. Unfortunately, there is one circumstance that can seriously spoil the impression of an apartment in a new building - cold. Residents of the northern regions most often complain that many new houses are really very cold. The temperature in beautiful and comfortable apartments can stay around 14-15 degrees, which does not allow us to talk about even basic comfort. In addition, this creates a lot of inconvenience in the autumn-spring period, when the heating does not work, but the weather is not especially warm.
Why is it so cold in new buildings, and how to deal with it? Let's sort things out in order.
Why is it cold in new buildings?
According to government standards, the temperature in the house should be kept around 18-20 degrees in winter and around 20-22 degrees during the summer heat. Anything that greatly exceeds the limits of this norm is a violation of the rules for the operation of residential premises.
There are several main reasons for cold in new buildings:
- Delivery of the project in the winter-spring period. New buildings put into operation after the cold weather have simply not yet had time to survive a full heating season and warm up. As a rule, by autumn the temperature in such houses becomes normal.
- No heating in all apartments. The more habitable apartments in a house with installed and working batteries, the higher the overall temperature of the house. If you don't have neighbors on your floor, your apartment will probably be quite cold at first.
- Unstable operation of heating networks. Before a heating network is put into operation, it must undergo a lot of tests, which take a lot of time. Until the operation of all systems is established, low temperatures may remain in the apartments.
- Thin walls. New houses are different, in some cases the house has quite thin walls, which causes a drop in temperature in the autumn-winter period. Such walls do not necessarily mean that the house was built poorly, but they also bring quite a lot of problems.
- Construction defects, insulation defects, poor quality materials. This rarely happens, but violations during the construction and insulation of the house can lead to cold weather. This problem is especially acute in interpanel joints and seams.
Apart from cases where insulation technologies were violated or the house was delivered frozen, the most common cause of cold is, oddly enough, location of the apartment. It is known that the coldest rooms await residents of apartments on the north side or at the end of the house. The close proximity of seams and joints of concrete slabs can also affect the temperature. In this case, the only solution is proper insulation of the apartment in a new building.
How to insulate an apartment in a new building?
In order to insulate the apartment and avoid drafts, it is necessary to get rid of the main sources of cold. You can insulate your apartment using any available method and material, from installing radiators to pouring heated floors.
In order to increase the temperature in a cold apartment in a new building, you need to insulate:
- Windows and loggia. Full glazing using double-glazed windows is best; this will help avoid drafts.
- Floors. This is especially true for residents of the first floors. A warm floor will immediately increase the temperature in the apartment by 2-4 degrees.
- Doors. Few people think about the need to insulate doors, but, according to construction tests, it is in the gap next to the door jamb that cold air from the entrance enters in sufficient quantities to lower the temperature by several degrees. Choose tight doors and make sure they are completely sealed.
Contrary to the opinion of many apartment owners in new buildings, insulation of walls or ceilings is not necessary at all. This will be expensive, but it will only have a significant effect if most of the apartment faces the end wall. In order to raise the temperature in the house to a normal level, it is enough to get rid of drafts entering through doors, windows and floors. If you still feel discomfort, experts recommend installing batteries with the ability to regulate the heating temperature.
New homes can be really cold, especially for those living in northern regions. However, before installing expensive heating systems on top of what you already have, wait one or two seasons; most likely, over time the house will warm up completely and there will be no more inconveniences.
When it's freezing outside, the temperature in apartments in multi-storey buildings often leaves much to be desired. Residents are forced to constantly wear warm clothes, turn on electric heaters, and sleep under layers of warm blankets, which causes significant discomfort. What to do if it is very cold in your apartment? Where to turn in such situations?
The problem of insufficient heat in the room can be solved in two ways: on your own or with the help of utility services. Don't know how to deal with the current situation and what to do?
If your apartment is cold in winter, first try to solve this issue on your own. Perhaps heat leakage is due to old windows or defects in the design of entrance doors.
What temperature is considered normal for a home?
Payment for heating in full can be made if a stable temperature is maintained in the apartment throughout the entire month. There are standards that indicate how warm your home should be in winter.
In accordance with the law of the Russian Federation, the temperature in the apartment must be maintained from 18 to 20 degrees, if the temperature outside is -30. When the thermometer readings are within -31 and below, heating of apartments should increase to 20-22 degrees Celsius.
It is also worth considering that during emergency work, your home cannot be left without heating for more than a day. One-time shutdowns of radiators are allowed for no more than 16 hours, and the average temperature in the apartment should not fall below 12 degrees.
The law provides for minor deviations from the standards. Exceeding the temperature is allowed within 4 degrees. It can be 3 degrees colder in the apartment only at night, strictly until 5 o’clock in the morning.
Cold in the apartment: reasons
What to do if the temperature in your home is lower than specified in the regulations? First you need to find the causes and eliminate them.
Heat leakage is facilitated by:
- old windows, the cracks of which let the cold through;
- insufficiently insulated balcony;
- thin walls prone to freezing at low temperatures outside;
- worn-out batteries of the old type;
- very cold floor or ceiling;
- poorly installed front door;
- drafts;
- insufficient heat supply of the boiler room.
We replace old windows
Wooden structures of the old type have already become obsolete. Such windows have impressive gaps, and even closed windows fit so loosely that in a strong wind you can see the curtains fluttering. Here we have found one of the reasons why it is cold in the apartment. What to do? Of course, it is worth replacing the old window frames.
Modern double-glazed windows can protect your home from drafts, low temperatures and retain heat. You should not install them yourself - in this case, there is a high probability of incorrect installation, which will lead to their depressurization and the formation of cracks - trust the professionals.
If you already have plastic windows, but there are clear signs of drafts, you should call a professional. Perhaps there is some kind of defect, or the reason lies in the destruction of the mounting foam from the outside under the influence of precipitation. The rubber seal or any structural element may also be deformed. All these problems are easily eliminated and can be corrected.
Wooden window
If it is not possible to install high-quality double-glazed windows, you can try to insulate the old window. The simplest, but short-lived method is to use cotton wool and regular tape. Very easy and economical. Cotton wool is carefully pushed into all the cracks, and tape is placed on top of the cleaned and dry window.
Also, adhesive foam insulation will help in the fight against heat leakage from windows. It is also easy to use. All problematic window joints must be sealed with insulation, pressing it well. This ordinary material is capable of retaining heat efficiently, but has a significant drawback - its strength is destroyed under the influence of moisture.
You can also try using silicone caulk, window putty, or rubber sealant. These are more reliable ways to retain heat.
Is the apartment still cold? What to do? The best thing to do would be to install new plastic windows or look for another cause of the leak.
Wall insulation
A cold apartment can cause a lot of trouble. What should residents do? Think about high-quality wall insulation. They can be finished both inside and outside. And it is best to carry out this work during repairs.
Insulation is glued to clean, dried surfaces at the junctions of ceilings and walls. This procedure should be done in all corners. If there are visible gaps between the panels, they should be sealed with cement, foam or gypsum mortar. Tow is packed tightly into very large recesses, and a layer of plaster or foam is applied on top.
External insulation is carried out only by specialists - industrial climbers. The procedure is carried out using polystyrene foam and mesh, which are attached to the wall with special glue. A layer of high-quality façade paint is applied on top.
Problem - cold balcony?
Do you feel constant drafts and don’t know what to do? If the apartment is cold, pay attention to the balcony - most likely the problem is there.
Contact a reliable company that will take care of the heat in your home. The balcony is covered with foam plastic from the outside and inside. First, they sheathe its facade, and then insulate the internal walls. Also, some companies choose mineral wool or expanded polystyrene as materials that will perform heat-saving functions.
On the balcony, the areas under the window, floor, ceiling and walls are mainly subject to insulation. The procedure is carried out simultaneously with glazing the window with high-quality double-glazed windows, which will retain heat in the apartment for a long time and eliminate the appearance of any drafts.
High-quality radiators - comfort and warmth in your home
The cause of a constant lack of heat may be old batteries. What to do? If the apartment is cold and the radiators are barely warm, it is better to replace them. It is better to opt for cast iron or bimetallic products. These radiators are very strong, durable, and corrosion resistant. They are distinguished by high power, dissipate heat well and have a temperature regulator.
Good radiators can quickly solve the cold problem in your apartment. In addition, the service life of some of their types reaches 50 years. By replacing radiators just once, you will enjoy the warmth and will forever forget the time when you saw cold radiators in your apartment. What to do and what products to choose is up to you to decide.
Cold from the ceiling and floor
It happens that even with new radiators, windows and an insulated balcony, the temperature in the room still remains low. What to do? If your apartment is cold in winter, heat may be lost due to a thin ceiling or floor. This is especially true for the first and last floors of houses.
The ceiling may freeze due to insufficient insulation of the attic or deformation of the roof. Due to these factors, water may seep into the room, leading to mold and mildew. To solve this problem, you need to repair the roof and insulate the ceiling on both sides.
The problem of cold floors is solved in the same way. It must be insulated or the coating must be replaced with a warmer one. The best option to keep the floor warm is to install a modern heating system.
Checking the door design
If the front door does not fit well and there are gaps in it, about 40% of the heat can be lost. And in most cases, this is precisely why the apartment is cold. What to do in such a situation?
It is urgent to warm yourself, otherwise the winter cold will take you by surprise. First you need to make the door itself airtight. To do this, its inner lining is removed, and the empty space is filled with insulation.
Finishing a single-layer metal door is done in the same way, only in this case a layer of material or foam is glued to its surface, and fiberboard or plywood is laid on top.
Eliminating drafts
The door leaf is insulated, but it’s still cold in the apartment? What and how to do next? Proceed with insulation of other sections of the structure. It is necessary to seal cracks and gaps. Most often they occur when the door is installed incorrectly or when the building shrinks. The resulting space can be finished with a rubberized sealant by gluing it to the frame.
To prevent the cold from penetrating into your home, it is very important to choose the right material for sealing cracks. Buy a seal of optimal thickness - too thin will not have any effect, and a large width of the material will not allow the door to close.
All insulation procedures have been completed, but it’s still cold in the apartment? What to do? Solve this problem with utility services.
What to do if there are cold radiators in the house?
Before running to the utility company, you should talk to your neighbors. This problem may only occur in your home.
If there is a sudden shutdown of heat in the entire entrance, immediately call the housing and communal services department. Perhaps there was an accident on the heating mains, and utility workers were forced to turn off the heating to carry out repair work.
If the temperature has dropped only in your apartment, you should take this situation seriously. Most likely, the problem is related to a malfunction of the heating system in your area. Where to go if it’s cold in the apartment? Apply to the company that services your home.
After receiving the signal, a technician is sent to the problem apartment to inspect the heating system and find out the reason for the lack of heat. If minor problems can be eliminated, they are repaired immediately. By law, utility workers are given 24 hours to do this.
More complex problems are corrected within a week, after which heat should be supplied to the apartment within the standards.
Complaints and claims
If you are provided with low-quality services or after repairing the heating system in the apartment it does not become warmer, you need to make drastic decisions. You have the right to write a complaint and take it to the company responsible for supplying heat to your home.
After the phone call, you must make a written statement regarding your problem. It is usually provided in duplicate. Next, you need to go to an appointment with a company employee to consider your complaint.
You must keep one copy of the application for yourself. The second must contain notes on the date of submission of the document and the serial number of its consideration. These nuances are necessary in case you have to resolve your issue in higher authorities or judicial authorities.
Recalculating heating costs
According to the law of the Russian Federation, a written complaint is considered within three days. During this time, a specialist should visit your apartment and take the necessary heat measurements in each room. Please note that the measuring device must be located 1.5 meters from the floor and 1 meter from the walls. Based on the results obtained, an act is drawn up in two copies. This document is the main basis for recalculating heating costs in the event of poor quality work by the service company.
Despite the modern approach of many management companies to solving citizens’ problems related to heating, order in the housing and communal services sector will not be restored soon. Therefore, all residents need to know where to go if it’s cold in the apartment, how to properly resolve controversial situations and how to correctly fill out their applications.
Take care of the warmth in your home, because your comfort, mood and health depend on it!
With the onset of the heating season, many residents of apartment buildings experience serious discomfort and wonder: why is it cold in the apartment and how to make the apartment warm.
There can be many reasons for cool temperatures in your home. This includes insufficient heat supply and some construction defects that reduce the tightness of the premises and allow cold air to penetrate from outside.
Problems with building design, heating system or thermal insulation
Very often the cause of discomfort is worn-out heating systems. In many socialist buildings, heat is provided through outdated equipment that has not been repaired or replaced for a long time. In such cases, it is quite difficult to ensure a comfortable temperature in a single room without the use of additional heat sources or repair work that provides better thermal insulation of the room.
The reason that residents are freezing in their apartments is also poor-quality setup and regulation of equipment. This may be in cases where non-specialists are involved in servicing heat supply systems or when the apartment heating standards for reasons of economy or other reasons.
It often gets cold in new buildings when mistakes were made at the design stage of the heat supply of the facility or during construction and installation work.
It often happens that there is illegal interference by private individuals in the design of heat supply equipment or unauthorized re-equipment of the system in their own interests, without taking into account the interests of other residents of the house living in neighboring apartments.
Residents can spontaneously perform the following actions, which subsequently worsen the heat supply to other apartments:
- Increase the number of radiators,
- Expand the heated area (for example, when equipping a warm balcony or loggia),
- Connect additional devices using a common heating system (equip heated floors, install thermal curtains, etc.).
The cold may be caused by the low energy efficiency of your residential building, as well as various violations of standards or construction technologies. Old houses are often characterized by low quality thermal insulation, and if the building has gone without major repairs for a long time, then the thermal insulation becomes unusable and practically ceases to perform its functions.
The new houses use the latest generation materials; they are very durable and resistant to negative climatic influences. If residents of a new building have a question: why is it cold in the apartment, then the reason may be either a violation of thermal insulation technology or that during construction they simply saved on materials, replacing them with unreliable and outdated ones. As a result, all the heat goes outside instead of warming the apartment residents.
What to do if it is very cold in your apartment?
First of all, you should check with your neighbors whether they are experiencing the same discomfort or whether you are alone in your problem. It is best to study the situation not only in your specific house, but also in neighboring houses, the heat supply of which is handled by the same management company. If the problem is global in nature, then solving it together will be much easier.
If the apartment has cold radiators, then be sure to measure the air temperature in each room of your living space. It is worth knowing that, in accordance with current standards, the temperature in rooms during the heating season should not be lower than 18C, and in corner living spaces - not lower than + 20C.
After you have made all the measurements, call the control room of your management company and make sure that your complaint has been recorded. If the reason why it is cold in your apartment is not known to the housing office, then a heat test in the apartment should be scheduled with the mandatory drawing up of a report. You should know that if the temperature in your home is below the established norm, then you have the right to demand that the Managing Organization recalculate utility bills for heat supply.
How to make an apartment warm
You can correspond with the management company and the state housing inspection, but this will not make the house warmer. Sometimes it takes years to solve a problem and it is much easier to take care of yourself.
Most often, cold enters our homes through window openings. It is best to install modern windows made of plastic, but if you do not currently have the funds for such improvements, then at least insulate your windows, seal the joints, cracks in places where the glass is adjacent to the frame and other cracks into which leaks leak. cold. Don't forget to also equip the entrance doors and window vents with seals.
It will be more difficult if your walls freeze and mold often appears in the corners. This fact suggests that there are voids in the walls and there are serious problems with thermal insulation. In order to fill all the voids, it is necessary to remove the layer of plaster and treat all the cracks with polyurethane foam. This way you will eliminate cold bridges.
You can also add additional thermal insulation to your apartment. To do this, floors, ceilings and walls are sheathed with plasterboard, all voids are filled with a layer of mineral wool (this is a reliable and inexpensive modern insulation), then the walls are plastered, and the floors are filled with concrete screed and decorative finishing of the surfaces is carried out.
This is a very effective way to make your apartment warmer, which, moreover, will help solve the issue of soundproofing your living space.
It’s cold in the apartment: WHAT and HOW to do?
Causes of cold in the apartment, ways to eliminate it, how and where to go and what to do.
For almost everyone in Russia, winter comes unexpectedly and suddenly. And, as usual, no one is ready for it. “It’s cold in the apartment”, “we’re freezing at home”, “no heating”... Thousands of people type these phrases into Internet search engines. So what to do if you also become a participant in the “battle for heat”?
It's cold in the apartment. Causes?
There are many reasons for the lack of heat in apartments. We will highlight the main ones and try to find solutions for these cases.
1. Wear and tear of the heating system. Almost all heat sources, networks and in-house heating systems are a legacy of the past socialist era. Energy resources are local and cheap. There is little point in investing in increasing efficiency and reducing energy consumption, no bonuses or awards for you. Then the time of the “dashing 90s”... As a result, the housing and communal services sector is equipped with ineffective, outdated, worn-out equipment. Distribution networks are “leaky”, without thermal insulation, in-house heating systems are silted, “boiled”.
2. Poor quality regulation and adjustment of heat supply in the house. It often happens that the life support systems of a house are serviced by specialists without proper training, who have no idea about the building’s engineering systems. Often these “specialists” are completely under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Meanwhile, high-quality regulation of the heating system is the key to warmth in apartments.
3. Errors at the stage of design or construction and installation work of systemsheat supply.
4. Illegal interference by persons in the design and re-equipment of the in-house heating system. Some people, caring only about their own benefit and comfort, regardless of their neighbors, make changes to the apartment heating systems.
Increase the number of radiators
Expand the heated area
Connect additional heating devices (warm floors, thermal curtains)
All this negatively affects the heating system as a whole.
5. Low energy efficiency of the building, low thermal protection of buildings, violations of construction technology. In old buildings, the quality of thermal insulation materials leaves much to be desired. Over time, they become unusable and cease to perform their functions. The result is that the rooms are not heated, the radiators “heat the street.” As for modern buildings, in their construction, of course, new generation thermal insulation materials should be used. They are durable and do not reduce their properties under any climatic conditions. However, builders often do not meet energy efficiency requirements. They skimp on materials or steal them; installation technologies are violated during construction. Result? It's cold in the apartment.
So, it's cold in your apartment. Where to complain?
First, find out if you are alone in your trouble, or if your neighbors are also facing the same problem? You need to study the situation both in your entrance and in the neighboring ones. The fact is that if the problem is common to the entire entrance or house, then solving it “with the whole world” is much easier.
The procedure for filing a claim to the management of the company
But in any case, the first thing you should do is measure the temperature in the apartment. According to standards, the temperature in rooms should not be lower than +18 C, and in corner rooms - not lower than +20 C. The thermometer must be placed at a distance of 1 meter from the outer wall and 1.5 meters from the floor. The measurement is completed within 10 minutes. It is advisable to keep a graph of internal temperature by hour. If the thermometer readings are below the standard temperature, then you should contact the control room of your management company.
Tell the specialist your details and the reason for your request. The dispatcher is obliged to inform you of his data and the data of the registered application (number and time), as well as the reason for the lack of heating in your apartment, if known. If the reason is unknown, then the dispatcher is obliged to agree with you on the exact time and date of checking the heat in your apartment. Based on the results of the inspection, an act is drawn up, which is signed by both parties. If you do not agree with the drawn up act, then a new time and date for the inspection are determined, to which a representative of the state housing inspection is invited. Based on the results of the re-inspection, a report is drawn up again.
If the temperature in the apartment remains below normal, you have the right to demand a recalculation of housing and utility bills. To do this, you must have the following documents on hand:
1) Application act. It is compiled by the management company after your call to the dispatcher within 24 hours. Management company employees must check everything on site and draw up a protocol in triplicate. One is provided to you, the second - to the heat supply organization and the third - will remain with the utilities.
2) An inspection report - it is drawn up after the problem has been eliminated, and it must indicate the number of full days and hours during which there was no heat.
When recalculating, the size of the living space, the number of registered persons, and even how many degrees the air temperature in the apartment was below normal are taken into account. The amount received will be counted towards the payment of the accrued amount of the next month.
If you are refused a recalculation or do not respond to your statements at all, go to court with a claim for consumer protection. Such claims are not subject to duty.
Even if your communication with housing and communal services specialists did not lead to warming in the apartment, then by such actions you can at least save some of the money for paying for heating services, redirecting them to pay for the electricity spent when using an electric heater.
It's cold in the apartment. What to do on your own?
Let's continue. So, you have entered into official correspondence with the management company, heat supply organization and other involved structures. They filed a lawsuit. But the result is zero. Warming in your apartment will not happen until spring, along with the outside temperature, and it’s November. This means you need to begin decisive independent actions to preserve every calorie of heat.
First of all, it is necessary to prevent the penetration of cold with street air through window openings, doors, and interpanel cracks. Fortunately, there is no shortage of materials today. Window joints should be sealed with window sealant, opening windows and external doors should be equipped with seals. The junction between the glass and the frame should also be treated with sealant. If funds allow, install plastic windows in your apartment. This will immediately solve all problems with cold penetration through light openings, that is, windows.
However, walls can also freeze. Is there mold in the corners of the room? This means there are voids in the walls and there are problems with thermal insulation. It is necessary to knock down the plaster and fill the voids with polyurethane foam, thereby eliminating “cold bridges”. If the windows are installed poorly, it may leak through from under the window sill. Also treat with polyurethane foam.
If you have achieved high-quality sealing in your apartment, then do not forget to thoroughly ventilate the room, since fresh air is necessary for human health. Burst ventilation (full opening of all windows at the same time) allows for a complete change of air without cooling building structures. Installing an air humidifier is encouraged.
The outer walls should be covered with thermal insulation material. If this is not possible, then at least organize insulation of the wall behind the radiators with foil-coated thermal insulation sheets to reflect radiant thermal energy and prevent heating of the outer wall.
Radiators and risers should be cleaned of layers of old paint. Paint your heating appliances black to increase heat transfer. You can increase the number of radiator sections.
On the top floor, do not forget to bleed the air from the system.
If your radiator temperature to the touch is significantly lower than the temperature of the riser, then most likely your radiator is clogged. It should be washed.
Sometimes, a very effective measure is to replace the risers and equipment of the heating point (the “heart” of the heating system of the house). If the management company has not budgeted funds for the repair of your in-house heating system, then organize a meeting of residents in advance (spring, summer) and resolve this issue together. It’s an expensive business, but it’s better than spending money on medicines and electricity costs later in the winter. And the most valuable thing is nerves.
These are the main “improvised” ways to increase the indoor temperature. There are cases when all these measures still do not bear fruit. All instances have been passed, court decisions have been made, and from year to year during the heating season it is cold in the apartment. All that remains is to act radically - legally refuse the services of the heat supply organization (dismantle constantly cold heating appliances) and switch to individual heating of the apartment.
It’s cold in the apartment: switching to individual heating?
There are two types of space heating: electric heating and gas heating.
1. Regarding electric heating. Now on the market, manufacturers offer a huge selection of electric convectors, infrared heaters and other electric heating devices. Electric convectors, like water radiators, are mounted under the window. Manufacturers equip them with thermostats and programmable control units. That is, the radiator independently controls the temperature in the room by hour and day of the week. Has high efficiency.
All this contributes to economical energy consumption. In addition, you yourself will be able to control the microclimate in your apartment. And all re-equipment work in this case takes a minimum of time and costs. In my production practice, such cases of switching to electric heating are quite common.
2. Now about the transition to gas heating. Here, of course, more effort and resources will be required. Order projects, coordinate the re-equipment of the heating system in several instances, spend a lot of time in queues, etc. The equipment itself is significantly more expensive. But this is comfort at a higher level. And in this case we can talk about the payback of the project. The lowest cost of converting the heating system to individual heating is in apartments where hot water is prepared using gas water heaters.
Today, the Russian Government is actively working on new bills in the energy sector. New government programs have been launched aimed at solving the current negative situation in the housing and communal services sector. Housing developers are increasingly designing buildings with individual apartment heating. But what to do with the housing that already exists...? On paper, everything is resolved quite simply: the charges have been recalculated, the trial has been won, the culprits have been punished, the house is insulated, the apartment is hot... But not everything is so simple. Many people have been suing housing and communal services for years, but everything remains in place. Therefore, you should not wait - you need to act.
The heating season has arrived recently and, although it has not been really cold yet, the issue of hot batteries is still relevant. And it’s very disappointing when these same radiators, instead of heating the room, only take up space.
So, if the apartment is cold, what should you do?
It's cold in the apartment. Causes
There can be many reasons why apartment heating is unsatisfactory.
- Very often these are worn out communications. For many regions of Russia, the networks are decades old; in many settlements, not only have they been replaced, but even basic repairs have not been carried out.
- For newly built houses, a common problem is an error in the design or installation of heating systems, when in pursuit of the quantity of housing put into operation, its quality is often forgotten.
- Another reason is the inept regulation of heat supply to apartment buildings by specialists who are responsible for the direction.
- Your neighbors may also be to blame for the fact that it’s cold in your apartment, if they, regardless of the other residents of the house, without approval, increase the number of radiators, connect heated floors, and so on. That is, they simply transfer someone else’s heat onto themselves.
That's why, if the apartment is cold, first, find out how your neighbors in the staircase, in the entrance and throughout the house are doing with heat? If the problem is widespread, it will be much easier to achieve a quick and effective response from the management company and, even more so, from the HOA.
Temperature norm in the apartment
Take the temperature in your apartment. It is this data that can serve as the basis for contacting the Criminal Code.
The normal temperature in the room varies for each specific area. For example, it will be different for the northern and southern regions, for the eastern and western. Requirements for air temperature in residential premises during the cold season are contained in GOST R 51617-2000. State standard of the Russian Federation. Housing and communal services. General technical conditions.", approved by Decree of the State Standard of Russia dated June 19, 2000 N 158-st (as amended on July 22, 2003).
The specified GOST, depending on the purpose of the room, determines the permissible air temperature in residential premises: from 18 to 25 degrees Celsius.
So, for example, if, as a general rule, the air temperature in the living room of an apartment should be at least 18 degrees Celsius, then the air temperature in the bathroom or a combined toilet and bathroom room should be 25 degrees Celsius.
The permissible air temperature in the lobby, staircase, and general corridor is 16 degrees.
Accordingly, it is necessary to measure the temperature correctly. To do this, you need to take a thermometer and hold it one meter from the outer wall and one and a half meters from the floor. The measurement takes 10 minutes. It is most effective to make a temperature graph by the hour. If a violation of the temperature regime is recorded, then you have every reason to contact the housing organization with a complaint.
If the apartment is cold. where to go?
You need to start with an application to the emergency dispatch service. The appeal can be either oral, including by telephone, or in writing. If you submitted the request by phone, then you need to find out under what number in the log book the request was registered and who received the call. If necessary, this will help you prove the fact and time of contacting utility companies.
If the application is written, then make sure that your copy contains not just the name of the person accepting it, but the stamp of the organization, as well as the date and time of reception. If the claim is not accepted, then it must be sent by mail with acknowledgment of receipt.
The claim must indicate that the temperature in the apartment is below the standard established by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules and Standards SanPiN 2.1.2.2645-10, paragraphs. 4.3, 4.4, 4.8, 4.9, Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 pp. 49-n), and demand that temperature measurements be taken in the apartment in accordance with the SANITARY AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL REQUIREMENTS FOR LIVING CONDITIONS IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS AND PREMISES.
Sample application to the management company with a request to measure the temperature in the apartment
In ________________(name
Management company)
From: _____________________,
Address: ___________________.
Statement
I, ______________________ (full name) am the owner of an apartment at the above address in a building managed by your organization.
In my apartment in the period from ______ to ________ there are cold radiators, and the temperature in the apartment is below the standard established by the Sanitary and Epidemiological Rules and Standards SanPiN 2.1.2.2645-10, paragraphs. 4.3, 4.4, 4.8, 4.9, Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 pp. 49-n),
Based on the above, I request that the temperature in the apartment be measured in accordance with the sanitary and epidemiological requirements for living conditions in residential buildings and premises.
Date Signature
Upon application, a representative of the management company must come to your apartment and draw up a report stating that utilities are not provided or are provided with poor quality. This act serves as a document according to which you have the right to subsequently request recalculation.
If there are disagreements between you and the utility company regarding the quality of services, the inspection will be repeated. A representative of the Housing Inspectorate is invited to attend. In addition, you can invite an independent specialist yourself. Based on the results of the inspection, a report is drawn up, which is signed by you and the representatives of the commission. The act must indicate the violation of quality parameters, the time and date of the beginning of the non-provision of utility services.
The act is drawn up in two copies, one of which remains with you, the other with the utility companies.
If it is known that the cause of the outage is an accident, no additional verification is required.
If the management company does not respond to your letter, or responds with an unsubscribe, but does not take measures to eliminate your problem, CONTACT sequentially to the following organizations (or better yet, several at once, of your choice):
- To the State Housing Inspectorate of your area.
- To the district office of the Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Rights Protection and Human Welfare (Rospotrebnadzor).
- To the local body of the Federal Antimonopoly Service Teploenergo, thermal power plants, etc. Suppliers are usually monopolists, and their actions are controlled by the FAS).
- To regional (regional) and municipal (city, district) authorities - to the governor, etc.
- The prosecutor's office - they are also obliged to protect the rights of consumers.
- Go to court to demand compensation for your losses. For example, if in the cold you used heating devices and the electricity bill significantly exceeds the usual amounts. You can also claim compensation for non-pecuniary damage.
If you show persistence and patience, you will eventually be able to win.
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