Individual heating in an apartment: the best options for an apartment building

Two sides of the coin

Let's make a reservation that the creation of a completely autonomous, individual scheme for heating housing in an apartment building has two sides of the issue: legal and technical. Oddly enough, but the technical side of the issue is much easier to solve - modern manufacturers offer the widest choice of individual heating systems: from the simplest fan heaters to advanced complexes powered by renewable energy sources.But with the legal registration of leaving for "free heating swimming" you will have to pretty tinker.

possible problems with the

We will consider the most cardinal option - a complete shutdown from the main heating systems. In fact, why pay at the same time for the thermal services of the management company and spend money on maintaining your own individual heating system in the apartment.

We disconnect from the main heat

First of all, you will have to get rid of all heat sources in your apartment, in which the coolant supplied by the management company passes.

In new buildings, this can be done very simply - in such houses, as a rule, individual distribution of the coolant to each apartment is practiced, while each apartment has an individual meter. Accordingly, it will be enough for you to simply close the valve and the heat bill for your apartment will be frozen.

But with houses of old construction, the situation is much more complicated. The fact is that there is simply no individual heat supply in such houses. Heat supply pipes pass from one apartment to another along the riser. As a result, it is most likely impossible to remove heating devices in apartments located on the middle floors of apartment buildings.

But in apartments that are located on the edges of the risers, that is, on the upper floors, it is quite possible to remove the heating devices completely. Such a precedent already exists - a resident of Izhevsk thus converted an ordinary apartment located on the extreme, fifth floor of an ordinary typical "Khrushchev".He drew up a refurbishment project in a specialized organization, hired a team from a company licensed to carry out construction and installation work in the field of heat supply.

When refurbishing an apartment, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that the pipelines of the main heating systems do not give off heat to your apartment. Our hero closed the circuit in the floor screed of his apartment, using metal-plastic pipes with minimal heat transfer for this

Thus, the lower floors were not left without main heat, and no one could reproach him for being heated by these pipes.

After the repair work, it is necessary to obtain documents on putting the apartment into operation, which indicates the new heating characteristics. How such paper should look like is shown in the figure. After that, such paper goes to the management company and you have to endure another round of the battle with the employees of the management company, who obviously will not want to reduce their income due to the fact that you will no longer pay for heat.

Electric heating indirect heating

In this case, we are talking about heat pumps of various types. Electricity will only be used to operate equipment that extracts heat from the environment. Therefore, its consumption is relatively small.

It should be noted that the use of heat pumps is optimal only in areas with a mild climate, where winter temperatures are quite mild and there are no frosts.

The heat pump “takes away” heat from the environment. The principle of operation of such an air-to-air device is shown in the diagram.

The best options for heating an apartment are air-to-air or air-to-water pumps.According to the principle of their work, the first ones are close to air conditioners, therefore they can be used in summer to cool the air masses indoors.

To obtain heat, it will be necessary to purchase and install expensive equipment, but in the future the heat pump will justify itself. A unit of heat obtained in this way costs about as much as the one obtained using a gas boiler.

Classification of district heating systems

The variety of schemes for organizing central heating that exists today makes it possible to rank them according to some classification criteria.

According to the mode of consumption of thermal energy

• seasonal. heat supply is required only during the cold season;
• year-round. requiring constant heat supply.

Type of coolant used

• water - this is the most common heating option used to heat an apartment building; such systems are easy to operate, allow transporting the coolant over long distances without deteriorating quality indicators and controlling the temperature at a centralized level, and are also characterized by good sanitary and hygienic qualities.
• air - these systems allow not only heating, but also ventilation of buildings; however, due to the high cost, such a scheme is not widely used;

Figure 2 - Air scheme for heating and ventilation of buildings

steam - are considered the most economical, because. small-diameter pipes are used to heat the house, and the hydrostatic pressure in the system is low, which facilitates its operation.But such a heat supply scheme is recommended for those objects that, in addition to heat, also require water vapor (mainly industrial enterprises).

According to the method of connecting the heating system to the heat supply

independent. in which the coolant (water or steam) circulating through the heating networks heats the coolant (water) supplied to the heating system in the heat exchanger;

Picture 3 - Independent central heating system

dependent. in which the coolant heated in the heat generator is supplied directly to heat consumers through networks (see Figure 1).

According to the method of connection to the hot water heating system

open. hot water is taken directly from the heating network;

Picture 4 - Open heating system

closed. in such systems, water intake is provided from a common water supply, and its heating is carried out in the network heat exchanger of the central.

Figure 5 - Closed central heating system

Where to begin

We start with the legal framework. It is necessary to clearly know what the legislation says about disconnecting from the central heating system and installing an individual one. Often the local administration, referring to Art. 190 FZ, refuses tenants. In court, such a refusal will be considered unreasonable. In Russian legislation, in addition to the Federal Law N 190 "On Heat Supply", there is Government Decree N 307 of 04/16/2012, which considers the procedure for connecting heat supply systems. It indicates a list of individual sources of thermal energy that do not meet certain requirements and are prohibited for this reason for installation in apartment buildings.

recognized as illegal.

Required documents

Thus, in order to refuse the central heating service and switch to individual, it is necessary to collect a package of documents in accordance with Art. 26 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation on the reconstruction of residential premises.

The package of documents includes:

• reorganization statement;
• technical passport of the premises;
• title documents for housing (originals or copies certified by a notary);
• residential renovation project
• written consent of all family members;
• the conclusion of the bodies for the protection of architectural monuments on the possibility of reorganizing the premises.

Documentation for gas heating

The management company, after considering the application, provides a letter of permission to disconnect your apartment from central heating. This letter is necessary for ordering technical specifications (TU) for the installation of individual heating. If you plan to connect gas (install a gas boiler), you must address the appeal to the gas service.

Specifications are issued within ten days. In case of refusal due to the lack of “technical capability”, keep in mind that such a response is acceptable only in regions where there is no gas and it is not possible to purchase it in cylinders.

After purchasing a certified boiler, you should contact the design organization. She will prepare a project for the installation of the boiler, taking into account the technical conditions and possibilities.

Then a project is being made to disconnect from central heating in a heat supply organization. The basis for this will be a letter from the HOA with permission to disconnect

It is important that you receive a written response. In case of disagreement, it will be possible to apply to the court

Having received the project documentation, we go with it to the local branch of the All-Russian Voluntary Fire Society (VDPO). There you will be issued a fire safety certificate for the project. If necessary, a project is made for the chimney.

Then all the documentation is approved by the administration. The conclusion on approval (or refusal) is accepted within 45 calendar days. Refusal to reorganize the premises occurs on the basis of Art. 27 LC RF (case of non-submission of all documents). The refusal can also be challenged in court.

This is the basic scheme of how to prepare a project and legalize the transition to autonomous heating. The list of all documents may differ in different regions. More accurate information will be given directly to the administration of your district.

Is it possible to install independent heating in the apartment?

Residents of apartment buildings often think about how to abandon the state heat. But is it possible to install autonomous heating in an apartment?

To do this, the state must issue a number of permits. The arrangement of individual heating in an apartment is regulated by a number of laws and regulatory and technical acts:

We advise you to read:

• The procedure for installing a heat meter for heating in an apartment building
• Complaint about the lack of heating in the apartment: sample
• How to calculate the payment for heating in an apartment?
• Dependence of the heating temperature on the outside temperature

• "On heat supply";
• Articles 26 and 27 of the Housing Code;
• Government Decree No. 307.

The complexity of the situation lies in the fact that permission for individual heating in an apartment can only be obtained with the consent of local authorities. The opinions of neighbors are also taken into account, and these are tens and hundreds of people.Municipalities meet residents halfway if they refer to Federal legislation and present arguments for the need to connect individual heating.

What makes tenants take this step?

Every time when heating tariffs increase, a number of residents think about switching to autonomous heating. Despite the considerable expenses for the implementation of such a reorganization of housing, the money invested is returned in a short time.

But, in addition to inflated tariffs, there are other reasons for switching to autonomous heating:

• unreasonably high cost of space heating services;
• heating is of poor quality, it is not enough to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home during cold weather;
• the need to use additional heat sources, which increases the cost of paying for services;
• due to the inconvenient location of the apartment, more heat is required (for example, the apartment is corner or located on the ground floor);
• depending on the timing of the beginning and end of the heating season. In autumn, tenants are cold, and in spring they suffer from heat and at the same time also pay for the service;
• the need to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room at any convenient time;
• willingness to pay only for actually consumed heat;
• if you need to leave the city, autonomous heating is simply turned off, without having to pay for a service that you did not use.

Advantages and disadvantages of individual heating

The procedure for switching to autonomous heating has both advantages and disadvantages. They should be considered in more detail in order to weigh the pros and cons, and make a decision.

Advantages:

• Saving.Residents who have switched to autonomous gas heating say that their apartment heating costs have decreased by about 7 times;
• Independence from the established dates for the beginning and end of the heating season;
• The ability to set the desired mode and adjust the temperature at your discretion. Modern systems allow you to set the time intervals in the settings when the temperature in the room will drop (for example, everyone at school or at work), and when it will rise by several degrees (in the evening, at night, when all residents are at home). This allows you to save additional money;
• Uninterrupted supply of hot water;
• The ability to choose any battery, as there is no possibility of water hammer.

The disadvantages include the following:

• High cost of equipment;
• Dependence of modern equipment on power supply;
• The need to install a new heating circuit;
• The need for arranging a suitable exhaust duct.

What devices will be required

Gas companies are actively offering owners of houses and apartments to switch to separate heating, but no one warns what difficulties the applicant for individual heating will have to face. So, the user will have to spend money on the following equipment:

• a boiler (upon granting permission, a person will be offered the parameters of a heater that can be installed in a particular apartment, taking into account the technical features of the housing);
• meters and other elements for calculating gas consumption for heating housing;
• a separate system for capturing air from outside, which ensures the protection of the airspace inside the room;
• pipes necessary for the removal of combustion objects.

Heat supply of an apartment building

There are the following methods of heat supply:

1. Installation of a heat pipeline from central heating networks.
2. Installation of an autonomous heating point.

Scheme of a two-circuit heating system.

These methods of heat supply are equally effective, but having an individual heat supply point with autonomous heating for several apartment buildings is much more convenient. Since the distance between the heat supply point and the consumer itself is significantly reduced, which means that heat losses along the heat transfer line are reduced. This heating method is called decentralized or autonomous.

Autonomous heating and its advantages:

1. With autonomous space heating, the source of heat supply is directly located at a minimum distance from the house, which reduces the time of heat supply and the percentage of heat losses, on the basis of which further reductions are obtained associated with the costs of maintaining, servicing and repairing heating systems.
2. Since the heat supply point is nearby, the utility bills are noticeably reduced.
3. Complete independence from the general city schedule. This means that it is always possible to connect the heating for each apartment if necessary.
4. Each apartment owner can set the optimum temperature in the heating system only for their own housing, while it is possible to independently regulate the level of heat supply.
5. There is a great opportunity to install a floor heating system.
6. The presence of an autonomous heat supply point affects the lower cost of an apartment in a new building.

Autonomous heating and its disadvantages:

The scheme of heating a house using a gas double-circuit boiler.

1. For the construction of an autonomous boiler house, a certain place is required, and often the yard of a multi-storey building is chosen for this.
2. For a gas autonomous boiler house, an additional exhaust system for exhaust gases is required.
3. Since autonomous heating is not yet in such demand, the production of boiler equipment has not yet been established. This means that the cost of a decentralized heating system and hot water remains high.

The best option for autonomous apartment heating is heating powered by a central gas pipeline or through a power supply network, which completely depends on the type of boiler. In apartments, it is most practical to use wall-mounted boilers for heating housing, which, in turn, are divided into gas and electric ones.

gas structures

In a city apartment, the ideal option would be to install a gas double-circuit boiler, which has a closed combustion chamber, it has a thermostat, an automatic shutdown system and electric ignition. This configuration will provide the ability to adjust the optimum temperature day and night. Additionally, a boiler can be connected to the system. This will allow not only to heat the apartment, but also to have enough hot water for washing dishes and showering.

A gas boiler has some advantages over others

Advantages and disadvantages

Modern gas boilers have a fairly high degree of automation. Once the equipment is installed and configured, it can operate around the clock without human intervention. There are also modern security systems that turn off the equipment if something goes wrong, so the risk of gas leakage is minimized.

Especially for small one-room apartments, they came up with compact models that do not take up much space. Such equipment is almost completely silent, so its work will not interfere with family members and neighbors either. Prices are different and depend on the performance, size and manufacturer of a particular model, so finding the right and cost-effective option will not be difficult. Installation of autonomous heating in a gas-type apartment has its drawbacks:

• although the probability of gas leakage is minimized, it still exists;
• the need to install a ventilation system and high requirements for its quality;
• the cost of gas is increasing day by day;
• ventilation must be periodically cleaned of soot.

Gas boiler in the apartment:

Mounting Features

All work on the installation of gas equipment is carried out in several stages: installation of heating equipment, dismantling of old batteries, connecting new radiators to the place of the old ones, starting the system. The last stage may require the participation of regulatory authorities who will check the safety precautions, the correct connection of all equipment and the legality of such a construction.

Do not forget to follow certain rules when installing pipes

Radiators can also be of low strength, since increased pressure or other problems that may occur with a centralized connection will not occur. The autonomous system is personally controlled, so the manifestation of such difficulties is reduced to zero.Often, apartment owners choose batteries made of lightweight aluminum, which have sufficient strength and increased heat dissipation. It is good to use polypropylene pipes with them. When installing pipes, you must follow a few rules:

1. Batteries must be connected in series.
2. A thermal head must be connected to the return of each radiator.
3. Before the top entrance near each radiator, a Mayevsky crane should be installed.
4. A valve will need to be installed on the supply to the radiator.
5. Before supplying water to the system, it is necessary to make a pressure test.

If an autonomous system is planned, then the following items must be installed:

• manometer;
• air outlet device;
• expansion tank;
• valve set.

As a rule, modern boilers in the purchased version already include a number of all the necessary components.

Warm water floors in an apartment building:

Paragraph 2 of clause 40 of Rules 354 was declared invalid

Disputes between owners, who dismantled central heating pipes in apartments and installed autonomous heating systems, and heat supply contractors before the decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation were resolved in favor of service providers.

However, the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation expressed the opposite opinion. The decision of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation entered into force from the moment of its adoption and cannot be appealed. And recognized as inconsistent with the Constitution of the Russian Federation, par. 2, paragraph 40 of the RF PP No. 354 does not need to be canceled additionally, since it automatically became invalid from that moment.

As Elena Shereshovets noted, all the previously established judicial practice is no longer valid, since the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, having changed the provisions of the legislation, has changed the rules of the game. Let's talk about the two main postulates of Decree No. 46-P.

Features of wall-mounted boilers

These models of boilers are gaining more and more popularity, as they save space, because they do not take up floor space, and their small size allows you to place them anywhere. At the same time, the small size should not be embarrassing, because the wall-mounted boiler is an almost full-fledged boiler room, which can heat a fairly large living space.

The composition of a standard wall-mounted boiler includes:

• Boiler control device or burner;
• Expansion tank;
• Circulation pump;
• Devices that support the safety of operation;
• Automation systems, barometer and thermometer.

Gas boilers hanging on the wall are ready to survive any pressure drop without losing the quality of heating. In addition, in some devices, a smooth adjustment of the burner is installed, which helps to prevent the formation of scale in the pipeline and ensure greater durability of the system.

Autonomy promises many advantages:

• Independence from the desires and aspirations of public utilities to turn off the heat at the coldest moment of the year or in the summer, when you also need to wash;
• The ability to fully regulate the amount of energy consumed;
• No heat loss;
• Increasing the comfort of the home;
• Reducing the cost of hot water.

Connecting an autonomous system makes life much easier, since technology will solve many issues. Modern technologies allow us to talk about the reliability of the devices, so that the replacement of central heating will take place not only painlessly, but also on a positive emotional background, so you can make an excellent family even after installing an automatic system.

Summarizing

Summarizing all of the above, it should be noted that an autonomous heating system is necessary in any room. However, it is worth paying maximum attention to installation, since the slightest deviations can lead to loss of resources and money for rework. That is why it is better to let professional certified companies carry out the installation of the boiler and the entire system, as they can give a guarantee for several years, and if necessary, all the shortcomings of the system can be corrected free of charge.

Thus, even if there is self-confidence, but there is not much experience as a plumber or locksmith, it is better not to install the heating system, since the piping schemes and the boiler connection are very intricate. The work has many subtleties, therefore it is better not to take risks, because the comfort and climate of the room will depend on the quality of installation, and this is too high a price for small oversights and a small amount saved.

Among the main problems that can befall are the occurrence of leaks, freezing of the coolant, fire of the boiler. These troubles will be difficult and dreary to eliminate, in addition, it will eat up the money that could go to the work of professionals in their field, so it is unlikely to get a big financial benefit. Thus, connecting an autonomous system will significantly improve the quality and comfort of housing. In addition, independence from public utilities will save time, money and nerves, since you don’t have to go to their offices every time to figure it out because of another incorrectly calculated bill.Moreover, you will not have to pay bills for those months when there is still no heat in the apartments, as is often the case in October and May, and the billed amount is no different from January! In other words, the installation of an autonomous heating system is the solution to most utility problems.