If you live in your apartment or house for a long time, then you should have faced the problem of leaky pipes. When replacing the water supply riser in an apartment becomes an urgent problem, you must try to solve it as quickly as possible, because otherwise you may encounter a leak.
Theoretically, the consumer should not independently perform such work if he uses the services of housing and communal services, but in reality everything is different. Therefore, it is better to do the replacement of pipes with your own hands.
Pipe selection
Having visited the market, you can find pipes from different materials, namely:
- polypropylene;
- become;
- copper;
- metal plastic.
It is best to refuse steel and copper. This is due to the fact that although copper is quite strong and durable, it is not suitable for water supply, because the quality of the water in such pipes may become too low for drinking. As for steel products, they lose to modern polymer options in price, performance and ease of installation.
There is another factor that makes steel pipes abandoned, which is expressed in the fact that it is almost impossible to install them yourself. The result of all this is that you have to choose between polypropylene and metal-plastic pipes. These options are great for self-installation.
Replacing the riser of the water supply in the apartment may include the use of metal-plastic structures that are reliable and allow connecting without the use of additional tools. Such pipes are quite flexible, but the cost of construction can be quite impressive. Connection points need to be checked over time, as they are weak links in utilities.
It is better if the riser is mounted from pipes of the same type, this will reduce the risk of damage and leaks. If you want to save money, it is better to choose polypropylene pipes, however, for their connection it is necessary to master certain skills. You have to use a special soldering unit. This method allows you to achieve a reliable and durable connection. If an error is made during installation, then you can correct the situation by attaching a new section. Polypropylene pipes can be foil. The last option is for mounting a pipeline with hot water.
How to get started
If the replacement of the riser is planned to be carried out in a multi-storey building, then work must begin with obtaining permission to dismantle the water supply. It can be taken in the housing maintenance service. The residents of the entrance must be warned that there is a replacement of the risers. It is important to report the date and time the water supply was turned off.
Activities are held on weekdays. The shutdown is carried out by the plumber, which is sent by the housing maintenance service at the agreed time. Do-it-yourself replacement of the water supply risers in the apartment is better timed to the corresponding work throughout the staircase. This will reduce labor costs and reduce the cost of work. If you don’t agree with the neighbors, you will have to install steel pipes, which does not suit everyone, or mount the adapters from metal to plastic, installing polypropylene.
Work order
Before you start replacing the water riser in the apartment, you need to draw up a layout of the new water supply. At the next stage, the water supply is turned off, the old pipes are dismantled, and then a new riser is assembled and installed. The water supply is connected to the general system, only then you can proceed with the installation of accessories like filters and taps.
Turning off the water supply is carried out by a specialist of the municipal service. All plumbing is disconnected, and the old communications are cut off from the riser and removed from the ceiling. Using a pipe cutter, it is necessary to cut the pipes in order to obtain segments of the desired length in accordance with the drawn up scheme. When cutting, it is important to consider the depth of the fitting. To the final value you need to add 1.5 cm at the ends. This suggests that the estimated length of the workpiece should be 3 cm longer.
Replacing the riser of the water supply in the apartment may include the installation of polypropylene pipes, which are connected with a special soldering iron. To begin with, the wizard will have to choose and screw a suitable nozzle to the device. It is heated to 250 ° C. The end of the pipe and fitting are heated using a nozzle. Thermal exposure should continue for 10 seconds.
The pipe connects to the fitting, after which it remains to wait for cooling. After installing the taps, you can connect the riser to the water supply system and check for leaks at the joints. The pipe is fixed to the wall with clips, while a corner is used to install the mixer.
Instructions for the work
The instructions for replacing the water riser in the apartment require the installation of shutoff valves at the entrance to the system. It is practical and convenient. If the structure has a tap, it can be cut to prevent water leakage. A new crane is installed closer to the riser. Replacement work must begin with inspection of the pipe at the neighbors, where they will have to carry out a joint.
If the connection is planned to be carried out with a plastic pipe, then this should not cause difficulties. Use for this is necessary polypropylene soldering sleeve. When it is necessary to make a joint with a steel pipe, you need to cut a thread on it to attach the adapter. The design is inspected for strength.
If the pipe is old or damaged, it is better to use the services of a specialist who will weld the thread, otherwise you may encounter the appearance of cracks on the surface from the load. Experts recommend cutting or welding about 6 turns. You can also consider the option of connecting with a collet coupling.
Joint Sealing
When major repairs are carried out to replace the water risers in the apartment, the work may include a transition from metal to plastic. For this, an adapter sleeve with an internal thread is used. To seal the connection you need to use flax or fum tape. The coupling is screwed onto a steel pipe. Using a soldering iron, the plastic section connects to the pipe and is joined using an adapter. As soon as you overcome the overlap, you need to solder the tee, from which the wiring to the apartment will go.
Replacement of risers by law
If you are interested in the law on the replacement of water supply towers in an apartment, then you should know that, according to Article 161 of the LC RF, all work is carried out by the management company, to which the apartment building is assigned. But if the issue of replacing the eyeliner inside the apartment is being decided, then all the expenses are borne by the landlord. This aspect is extremely important for controversial issues like the flooding of neighbors.
If the eyeliner fails, the owner is to blame for this, whereas if the flood was caused by the destruction of the riser, the management company will deal with the troubleshooting. The replacement of the water risers in the apartment by the management company should not be carried out. However, if its specialists refuse to change the risers of the house, citing an insufficient amount of funds, then the issue must be resolved by filing a complaint with the housing inspectorate.
The cost of work in Saratov
If you do not plan to deal with the replacement of risers yourself, then you can use the services of specialists. Using polypropylene pipes, the diameter of which varies from ½ to 1¼, the work will cost in the amount of 2500 rubles. If you just drove into a new apartment and steel risers are installed there, then after two years of operation there is a risk of them overgrowing. Experts advise replacing the water risers in the apartment, in Saratov, specialists offer their services at an affordable cost.
Finally
Such work may be needed even if the apartment has a weak pressure of water. When the flow rate decreases over time, you may notice that a thin stream began to pour from the tap. This pressure will not be enough to start the washing machine. In this case, a decision should be made to replace the pipes.