What to do if a pipe breaks in an apartment, where to call? This situation, when the neighbors from below are ready to collect funds for repairs, and it is not known where to look for the guilty, can unbalance anyone. If a hot water pipe bursts on a holiday, where to call to promptly respond and provide assistance?
Responsibility
In accordance with the resolution No. 491 of 08.13.2006, the internal house heating system (risers, radiators) refers to common house property, the operation of which is carried out according to the type of management:
- owners of apartments MKD (apartment building) by drawing up a contract with a management company or direct management;
- partnership of homeowners;
- Housing Cooperative.
Based on this, the responsibility for the operability of heating radiators lies with the service organization that has concluded the contract for managing the house. Either she or the management company is responsible for the water pipe, which is required to be mentioned in the appeal when calling the dispatch service.
The owner of the apartment is responsible for the heating system, starting with the first shut-off valve. The network is maintained by the management company to the indicated section. If the court convicts the landlord, he will have to pay damages. If you voluntarily intend to pay for repairs, you need to conclude an agreement with your neighbors, where you emphasize the absence of claims to each other and the fact of covering all expenses.
During the heating season, radiator unsuitability may appear due to water hammer. This phenomenon occurs due to non-compliance with a gradual increase in the temperature of the coolant under conditions of a significant decrease in the outside temperature in a short period of time. The volume of water in the system increases, the liquid does not have time to be distributed among the expansion tanks and provokes a rush of parts of the system.
What to do
It is difficult to cope with thorough leaks on your own, and it is better to get a list of numbers in advance and know where to call if the pipe burst at night, so as not to waste time contacting the information desk. Each region has responsible plumbing services.
It is good if several people are present at home. While one dials the service number, the other tries to eliminate the leak, inspects the basement, closes the taps with access to them, and saves property.
If the leak is localized in the water supply pipe, it is enough to close the valve on the riser, try to identify the breakthrough area and plug it with any rubber clamp. Elastic durable material is suitable: glove, sheet, rubber band, gasket, bicycle or car camera.
Waterproof material should be used for tight winding of the breakthrough place; over the pipe, wrap in several layers with fabric strips.
DIY repair
If a pipe burst, what should I do? Where to call? Residents usually have at their disposal the necessary emergency numbers.
In anticipation of specialists, a number of repair work can be performed:
- seal off rubber with a rubber seal;
- on top of it, wrap the breakout area with a tin sheet, the edges of which are compressed and fastened closer to the pipe: screwing the damaged area with screws, they tighten it as much as possible.
Such a measure will help to contain the pressure of water until the emergency service arrives . If the hot water pipe is damaged, gloves should be worn to protect against burns.
Where to go
If at least minor smudges are found on the battery, the tenant should immediately contact the service organization, the dispatch service in order to avoid a catastrophe with great consequences. In standard cases, on weekdays they call the plumbing service.
If a pipe burst at night or on a weekend, where should I call? The first instance is the emergency service. During the holidays, the service organization and the management company do not work, so calling to the office does not make sense. To solve the issue regarding the water supply system, you need to call the hotline of the local water utility. Report a problem and request a visit from the emergency team.
Leakage of the riser can not be eliminated on its own: it is necessary to drain, and in the absence of a specialized service, you should not deal with the malfunction of the Mayevsky crane (these are located on the upper floors of the rooms for bleeding air from the heating system).
If the heating pipe bursts during working hours, where to call the victims? First of all, dial the number of housing services (housing maintenance services) or call plumbers who are assigned to the service organization.
When neighbors are flooded
If a pipe burst in the apartment, where to call? Procedure:
- call the dispatching service of the management company, report a pipe break, invite a wizard to determine the damage;
- after eliminating the breakdown in the presence of the employee of the service organization and the owner of the apartment, an act is drawn up on the amount of damage taking into account the damaged property (decoration, furniture, household appliances);
- in case of damaged property of an apartment a floor lower, additional information about losses is included in the act or another act is drawn up;
- you need to calculate the cost of damage and file a claim for damages.
The service provider does not always agree with the amount paid. Alternatively, the services of an independent examination and the use of its opinion for appeal to the court are possible. With a positive decision, the cost of expenses to the affected party is compensated.
The Flooding Act contains the following data:
- Date the document was created
- a detailed indication of the location when drawing up the act;
- a description of the causes and consequences of the incident;
- list of damaged property;
- names and positions of drafters of the act.
The situation when the owner is guilty
Where to call if a pipe breaks? Suppose the owner unauthorizedly reshapes the premises, resulting in a leak: battery transfer or change in the number of sections in it, improper installation, change of the heating radiator to another device. To the best of the knowledge, the experienced homeowner does not always seek to coordinate with the appropriate authorities the amended housing design.
Popular bimetallic heating appliances look more attractive than cast-iron radiators, but, if you want to "modernize" the apartment, it is important to compare them in terms of characteristics with the batteries installed initially. After transferring the heater, replacing it, or increasing the heating area, a test run of the system should be carried out.
To summarize the above: if the owner of the apartment decided to make changes in the heating system, he should be aware of the consequences and possible responsibility.
Basement breakthrough
If a pipe burst in the basement, where to call? First of all, in the housing office or the management service, which will allocate an emergency team to eliminate the malfunction.
The next step will be to warn other residents about pipe damage in the basement and a warning about a temporary ban on the use of sewers. If the incident relates to the private sector, then the service organization is not responsible for the autonomous drainage system. It remains to rely on their own forces or to call paid city service.
Plumbing system
Actions during the breakthrough of the water supply:
- some container should be placed under the pouring stream so that the consequences of the flood are less noticeable;
- block the riser in the apartment, the basement;
- inform the emergency service about the incident;
- valves need to be turned across a stream of water;
- in the remaining time before the arrival of the emergency service, you can fix the pipe with a pipe clamp and rubber plug;
- After fixing the place of the hole, you need to wrap it with a thick cloth and put on it more layers of adhesive tape.
These measures will help with less damage to wait for the arrival of the repair team.