Where to turn if instead of hot water comes cold? Hot water is a little warm: where to complain and what to do Hot water does not go what to do
From the author: Hello friends! If you turned on cold water with a habitual movement, but boiling water suddenly poured out of the tap, it means that the matter is unclean. And in every sense, because you definitely won’t be able to wash in this state of affairs. The problem needs to be addressed, and quickly.
To save you from a lot of Internet queries in the spirit of “hot water flows from a cold tap for a reason”, we decided to bring all the information available into one article. Today we will look at why such situations can occur, and what needs to be done in order to eliminate them and prevent them in the future.
Causes of the problem
There are several possible reasons why hot or warm water started to come out of a cold water tap:
- incorrect wiring installation;
- mixer malfunctions;
- lack of a check valve installed in the water supply system;
- improper use of any plumbing equipment.
Let's deal with each item in order.
Incorrect wiring
This factor depends solely on the work of specialists who service your home. If, during the process of connecting the pipes, the wiring was connected incorrectly, then the water, accordingly, will go through the wrong pipe.
In such situations, the cause of the problem is obvious, since problems begin immediately after any global plumbing work is done in the house. These, for example, include the replacement of common house risers.
If immediately after such work, when you turn on the water supply, you find that the cold water has ceased to be cold, this is a reason to immediately apply to the management company. After that, specialists of the appropriate profile should correct the situation.
Faucet malfunctions
If the problem arose immediately after installing a new faucet, then usually the problem is that the fixing washer is not tightened correctly. In this case, the product must be removed and reinstalled.
But it also happens that the equipment has been serving for quite a long time, and only after that there were problems. In this case, the problem should be sought in the interior of the mixer.
At the heart of its design, two variants of the crane box are used. The first is metal parts and a rubber gasket. This is the last one that can cause problems. The material from which it is made is rather unreliable. It can become deformed, damaged or simply rot over time.
The second version of the crane box is two plates made of ceramics. They have holes just needed to adjust the mixing of cold and hot water. This device is more reliable than a rubber gasket, but it can also gradually wear out, losing its tightness. Then the involuntary mixing of hot water into cold begins to occur.
In both cases, there is only one way to solve the problem - replacement. Fortunately, not the entire mixer needs to be replaced, but only the damaged part of the structure. In the first case, this is a rubber gasket, in the second, the entire cartridge. In both situations, the replacement is quite easy, even a beginner can handle it. And the repair cost is very low.
The absence of a check valve in the system
Recently, this problem occurs less and less. This is due to the fact that almost all apartments now have water meters installed. They are registered by the management company only if there is a check valve, since its absence can make it possible to “twist” - that is, forcibly reduce - the meter readings.
But even if in one of the apartments located along one riser there is no check valve, then there may be problems with mixing water into the “wrong” pipe. The secret lies in the pressure difference. In a pipe with cold water, it is always lower than in another. The check valve installed on it prevents the outflow of water in the opposite direction, but its absence leads to the opposite consequences.
Thus, cold water is displaced by hot water and, accordingly, almost boiling water begins to flow from both pipes. The situation worsens in cases where the apartment, in which there is no non-return valve, is located on one of the upper floors.
If this equipment is not available in your apartment, then there is only one way out - to install it. The check valve can be supplied both separately and together with a meter to account for water supply. If everything is fine with you, then the problem is in one of the neighboring apartments.
You can find out the source of the phenomenon as follows.
- Pay attention to how the meter installed in your apartment works to account for cold water supply. If it spins in the opposite direction, then turn off the water with the stopcock and look again. In the event that the reverse movement stops, you can be sure that the problem lies precisely in your apartment, and in particular in one of the plumbing fixtures, which we will discuss below.
- If there is no meter, then turn off the hot water using the shut-off valve, and start cold water in the mixer. Then close the last one. Open the stopcock and feel the cold water pipe. If you feel that it is heating up, then you again have a problem. If not, then it's in the neighboring apartments.
- Now turn off the hot water shut-off valve again and open the cold one in the mixer. Wait a few minutes. When hot water finishes flowing from the cold faucet, touch the riser. If the problem is in one of the apartments located above you, then the upper part of it will be heated. And vice versa. Let's say right away that you should not instantly run to your neighbors with a scandal. Most often, they themselves are not aware that they are the source of such an unpleasant phenomenon, so you need to try to resolve the issue peacefully.
Now that we have dealt with check valves, let's look at what plumbing equipment can cause water to “squeeze” in pipes.
Incorrect use of equipment
Two types of equipment are most often the source of the problem: a hygienic shower and a water heater. The first is a shower head with a mixer, which are installed next to the toilet. This wonderful hygiene device is misused by many.
As a rule, the design of the shower includes locking elements, as well as a special button that is responsible for starting water from the watering can. To perform hygiene procedures, you must first open the tap, and then press the button.
So, after using the shower, many people only return the button to its original position, and the locking mechanism itself is not blocked. Water from the watering can stops running, but it is present in the mixer itself. If one of the neighbors turns on the cold water, the pressure in the corresponding pipe will drop, which will lead to hot water entering there.
There is only one way to deal with this phenomenon: always close the shut-off equipment after using a hygienic shower. Only in this way will you protect yourself and your neighbors from displacing cold water with hot water.
As for the boiler, here we again return to the issue of the check valve. If the latter is not present, then the already heated water from the device can go into a riser designed for cold water.
The consequences of this situation are not only mixing hot water into cold water, but also economic losses. In this mode, the boiler will work to heat a huge amount of water, that is, almost continuously. Imagine what the bills for the electricity it runs on will be.
Therefore, it is extremely important to observe two rules. The first is the installation of the notorious check valve. It must be mounted below the tank and locking mechanism.
The second rule relates to the operation process. In order to avoid displacement, which we have already written about more than once, before turning on the boiler, it is necessary to close the hot water supply pipe, as well as open the input and output valves related to the equipment.
When switching off, on the contrary, close the corresponding valve and open the shut-off valve on the pipe. Otherwise, overshoot will occur.
Summing up, we can say that the problem can be solved either by communicating with neighbors, or by contacting the management company, or by a slight re-equipment of the water supply system located in your apartment - this means installing a check valve if it is not there.
Possible consequences
It is not worth postponing the decision of the issue, as this can lead to unpleasant consequences. And we are talking not only about the inconvenience of using plumbing, when hot water is poured instead of cold. There are also more serious problems:
- the temperature of the water in a particular pipe is due to specially derived standards. They are based on the calculations of specialists so as to prevent the development of various pathogens in the water supply system. Many bacteria, for example, cannot live and multiply in cold and hot water, but they feel great in warm water. Thus, when mixed, ideal conditions are created for them. A multiplied colony of bacteria - for example, legionella - can cause unpleasant diseases. Moreover, it is not necessary to drink such water, it is enough to take a shower. Diseases can be quite serious, up to pneumonia, so the situation is definitely worthy of your attention;
- The second possible consequence is material damage. Some plumbing products are simply not designed for excessively high temperatures. If the water passing through them is too hot, this can lead to deformation of individual structural elements and, subsequently, to failure of the equipment itself. These, for example, include a meter for accounting for water supply, a toilet tank, and the like;
- the third factor is the responsibility for the life and health of other people. If, due to a malfunction in your apartment, one of the neighbors gets burned with hot water, then the blame for this will be solely on you. For some reason, some believe that the management company should be held responsible for such cases. But in fact, she is only responsible for the section of water supply that reaches the stopcocks located in your apartment. Everything after them is your business and your responsibility. Therefore, do not ignore the complaints of neighbors, even if at first glance everything is in order with your water supply. It is better to once again carefully check the operation of the system in order to avoid trouble.
Now you know that the flow of hot water from a cold faucet is not due to higher powers or insidious plumbers. Most often, the problem lies in the apartments themselves. Therefore, in the event of its occurrence, it is quite reasonable to announce a meeting of the owners of those dwellings that are located along the corresponding riser, and discuss the issue with them.
If you still can’t identify the source of the problem on your own, then it makes sense to call specialists from the organization serving the house. In any case, we are sure that after our article you will be able to successfully solve this issue. Good luck to you, and see you soon!
Using ordinary tap water, the consumer may be in for a surprise: instead of cold water, he gets hot.
Why is this happening
The most common reason for having hot water instead of cold water is the effect squeezing hot cold water due to the fact that the pressure of hot water (6 atm.) in the water supply system of the house is greater than the pressure of cold water (4 atm.), and non-return valve is missing. Therefore, it is advisable to take care of it yourself, because this may contribute to the fact that one day sucking will scald his hands. The valve must be on each floor.
check valve- a device that prevents the flow of water in the opposite direction through the pipeline. That is, water cannot, on its own or under pressure, go into the pipeline from which it came. Instead of installing 2 valves, you can install new types of water meters on hot and cold water pipes that are equipped with these devices.
Where to complain and to whom
If the installation of water pipes in your apartment is done correctly with the installation of check valves, then the appearance of hot water from a hungry tap is unlikely, and if this is observed, then the problem one of the neighbors on the porch.
The owner of the apartment must necessarily establish in which apartment the problem is located, since it is the owner of the property who is responsible for squeezing in the absence of a check valve because the area of responsibility of the HOA or the Criminal Code ends after the stopcock (riser and stopcock).
The maximum that you can do is to complain to the control room of your management company or HOA.
What devices are to blame for squeezing
Any plumbing fixture can cause squeezing if a non-return valve is not used, because almost every home uses a dishwasher, boiler, washing machine.
- Most often, consumers use a one-hand mixer. Refers to the cartridge type. The main working part has 3 openings for supplying cold, hot water and draining mixed water. Mixing of water is carried out by overlapping the holes for cold and hot water by the required amount with the mutual movement of two ceramic plates, adjustable by a handle. The tightness of the system is ensured by careful fitting and tight connection of these plates. As the mixer wears, the plates can lift up against each other, creating a gap, in which case a squeezing effect can occur.
- The same situation is possible when using a standard mixer, which has 2 taps and a shower if the faucet-shower switch is set to an intermediate neutral position when the taps are open. In this case, if a non-return valve is not used, then water will circulate in the system due to the pressure difference in the hot and cold water supply pipes leading to the mixer. Hot water will mix with cold water. This phenomenon is accompanied by the noise of flowing water, which is an additional overflow diagnostic.
- Another device that can cause the phenomenon of squeezing is a bidet (hygienic shower) with a mixer and an additional button on the shower head that closes the water without shutting off both taps. If, after hygiene procedures, the faucet valves are not closed, but only the button is released, then the water in the bidet will not be supplied, but there will be a mixture of hot water in the cold water system, which can flow out when the cold water valve is open, including in the neighbor's apartment. By constantly closing the bidet faucet valve, you can avoid the situation when the cold water faucet is either cold or hot water.
- The boiler may be the source of the problem. In the absence of a check valve, hot water from the boiler will flow into the cold water riser, due to a decrease in pressure when one of the neighbors uses cold water, or if they forget to close the taps at the inlet or outlet of the boiler when the tap on the hot water riser is open . If the boiler is constantly connected to the network, then in the event of an overflow, there will be hot water from the boiler in the cold water pipes, and, as a result, electricity costs may increase significantly.
What needs to be done
Check the cold water meter. It must not reverse. If, nevertheless, it is spinning, then it is necessary to close the tap on the riser, if the movement has stopped, then you definitely have a problem and you need to find a mixer or device that squeezes hot water.
- If there are no water meters, turn off the tap on the hot water riser, open cold water in the mixer and wait until the hot water stops flowing. Then close the mixer, open the hot water tap on the riser and determine by hand whether the cold water outlet is heating up. If the problem is in your apartment, then the outlet will heat up, and if the neighbors have it, then it will remain cold.
- To determine in which neighboring apartments the cause of the leak, turn off the hot water on the riser. Then, on the mixer, open the cold water tap, when hot water stops flowing, go to the riser and determine with your hand whether the riser is heated in the upper or lower part of the tap, which will show you the source of the malfunction on the upper or lower floors.
If the problem is in your apartment, and you do not leave the faucet valves in the intermediate position for a long time and constantly close the bidet valves, and hot water continues to flow from the cold tap, then the faucet malfunction is the cause. Most often this is an old, corroded gasket whose service life (7 years) has expired or a bad faucet gland. The mixer itself may be faulty. Replacing faulty parts yourself or with the help of a plumber will fix the problem.
> What should I do if lukewarm water comes out of a hot faucet?
The supply of hot water is one of the most frequent problems in the field of housing and communal services. It is not uncommon for a utility payer to receive lukewarm water instead of hot water. Thus, the rights of the payer are violated. What to do in such a situation?
Legislation clearly regulates the minimum and maximum water temperatures. Deviations within 3-5 degrees are allowed, but no more. Hot water should be between 60 - 75 degrees. According to the norms, the water temperature is less than 60 degrees is already considered warm. No wonder these numbers are taken. The fact is that at temperatures below 60 degrees infectious pathogens multiply, which are dangerous to humans. Water temperatures above 75 degrees are also not normal, very hot water can cause burns. Cold water also has its own rules. The temperature of cold water should be within +4 - + 20 degrees. Temperature + 20 and below destroys various infections. The above norms of hot and cold water are taken not only for convenience, but also for protection against infectious pathogens.
If the water temperature standards are violated, first of all, you need to contact. You can file a complaint over the phone or directly at the company's office. To measure the water temperature, the company will send its specialist (plumbing). The help of a specialist is needed to fix the fact of a mismatch in water temperature. It should also be noted that you do not need to measure the water yourself. The data received will not be legally binding.
After checking the water, the plumber will draw up two acts. One will take to the company, the other will leave you. If your fears are confirmed, and instead of hot you get lukewarm water, then in this case, you have the right to recalculate. To do this, you need to take a water measurement act, documents on the ownership of housing and once again contact the service provider. Water payment discount will depend on water temperature discrepancy. If the water temperature is below 40 degrees, then you can pay for hot water at cold rates.
Next, specialists from the management company will find out the reasons for the violation of water temperature standards. In fact, there can be many reasons:
- cracks, growths, depressurization of pipes;
- poor-quality plumbing;
- Violation of the rules of operation by neighbors. For example, installation of a warm water floor;
- mistakes of the construction company.
After identifying the causes, the company must eliminate them. In most cases, the cause is wear and tear and untimely repair of the plumbing. Responsible for it is the company that provides utilities. The company will do the repair. Also, a decrease in the temperature of hot water may be due to a builder who incorrectly brought out the plumbing. In this case, the management company must sue the builder. Or maybe you yourself are to blame. In plumbing, partitions can break, and instead of hot water, you get a little warm. Then you'll have to change the plumbing yourself.
There are times when the utility company does not respond to complaints and does not want to recalculate water prices. Then you need to fix the appeal to the company. All complaints must be in writing. Documents will be needed if the case goes to court. If the company does not provide a representative to measure the water temperature, you need to contact an independent specialist. The drafted act will have a very important role in the trial. Be sure to file a complaint with the State Housing Inspectorate for the inaction of the service provider. If all attempts to settle the issue peacefully have failed, then it is already necessary to go to court. There is a high chance of winning the case. There are precedents. You just need to prove the inaction of the utility company in court.
Poor water flow from the faucet
The weak pressure of water flowing from the tap is an unpleasant problem for a comfortable stay in the apartment. The reasons may be different. In some cases, you can cope on your own, and in some cases, you will need the help of a specialist or contacting the management company that serves your home.
Reasons for low water pressure:
- clogging or deterioration of the mixer aerator;
- clogging or deterioration of the mixer itself;
- clogging of the inlet flexible hoses;
- clogging of the pipeline;
- clogging of pipeline filters;
- decrease in water supply pressure in the plumbing system;
- pipeline depressurization, i.e. his breakthrough;
- improperly designed piping system.
Eliminate weak water pressure from a faucet Elimination of weak water pressure with your own hands:
- Clogged or worn faucet aerator it's not a big problem. We unscrew the aerator from the gander of the crane. We wash and clean the aerator mesh from plaque and debris. If the mesh is rotten, then a replacement is required. It is required to wash the aerator mesh every 2-3 months. It has small nozzles and therefore quickly clogs due to poor water quality. If the problem persists, then check further.
- Clogging and deterioration of the mixer itself also a common cause of low pressure. If the water does not flow well in only one place in the apartment, and the pressure is good in other faucets, then for sure the problem is only in this faucet. You need to turn off the water. Next, disassemble and clean the internal parts of the mixer from n. Also replace worn parts. There is a problem with the sprayer in the shower or in the bathroom. The holes on the sprayers are covered with limescale and water cannot flow with the required pressure. Limescale is easily removed with acid. Place the sprayer in a plastic bag with a solution of acetic or citric acid and fix the bag with electrical tape or tape for several hours. Rinse the sprayer after the procedure. It will be like new.
- Clogged inlet flexible hoses also easy to fix. It is necessary to disconnect the hoses with an adjustable wrench or wrench. And wash them. Next, we deal with the pipeline itself.
- Pipeline blockage more complex operation. Cleaning is carried out with a special cable. A lot of rust accumulates in old metal pipes, which can also cause poor water pressure. After cleaning, you need to substitute a bucket under the pipe outlet and turn the water on valve so that all the dirt in the glass is in a separate container. If the cause is a blockage in the common water riser, then this can only be solved by replacing the clogged section of the pipe with a new one.
- Clogged pipeline filters, if present, is also a common cause of poor water pressure. Filters are coarse and fine cleaning. We shut off the water. We remove the plug from the coarse filter flask using an open-end or adjustable wrench. Remove and wash the mesh filter. If it is worn out, then we change it to a new one. We collect everything in the reverse order. And we proceed to check the fine cleaning system. Disconnect it from the water supply, change the insert and rinse the filter glass from dirt. Also assemble the filter in reverse order.
- Reducing the pressure of the water supply in the plumbing system this is an external reason. If the neighbors also have a weak water pressure, then you need to call the management company and report the problem.
- Pipeline depressurization, i.e. a pipeline rupture can also be solved only by the management company.
- Incorrectly designed piping system maybe if you always have low water pressure. This issue also needs to be resolved with the management company.
Constant and timely maintenance of plumbing fixtures will minimize the occurrence of such problems.
