When it gets cold outside, most residents wonder when the heating is turned on. This question is becoming very relevant. Quite often in our country, apartments are heated late. That is, the street is already low, the apartment is also cool, and the radiators are still cold. You have to heat with electric heaters, which is expensive. But you should understand that heating is turned on according to standards. When does this happen and what are these norms? Let's try to understand this issue.
At what temperature do you turn on the heating?
There is no specific date when radiators in apartment buildings should become hot. Utility workers rely on the air temperature outside the window. Therefore, people often believe that utility services do not work well and, due to their lack of professionalism, are late with the start of the heating season.
But the utility workers themselves, when they turn on the heating, are primarily guided by Russian Government Decree No. 354, which contains 2 conditions for starting the heating season:
- The average daily temperature outside drops below +8 degrees.
- This temperature lasts for five days.
This means that if for five days the average daily temperature outside is +7 degrees, then on the sixth day the batteries in the residents’ apartments should be hot. Now you understand at what temperature the heating is turned on, and the boundaries are quite clear. But if the temperature stays at +7 degrees for four days, and on the fifth day the temperature rises to +9, then the heating is unlikely to be turned on on the sixth day. Consequently, the average daily temperature plays a big role - heating in the residents’ apartment depends on this parameter.
Start of the heating season
a surprise every time . The beginning of the heating season in winter causes a certain tension among the population.
People do not trust utility services, believing that they delay the supply of heating. To resolve all issues, it is enough to refer to the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 N 354 .
Paragraph 5 of the above Resolution states that the timing of the start of the heating period depends on two circumstances :
- The air temperature on average per day drops below +8 ºС ;
- This situation repeats itself 5 days in a row.
On the sixth day, heating should be supplied to the apartments. The rules are clear and extremely clear . An exception to the general picture is the situation when residents agree and specify in the contract with the organization supplying heat a specific date for the start and end of the heating supply.
In this case, the supply and shutdown of heating will be carried out in accordance with the contract. However, such a system of arrangement should approximately correspond to generally accepted norms and common sense.
Thus, it is easy to track the correctness of the heating season and the legality of the actions of management companies.
This is interesting! The heating is turned on, but the radiators are cold: practical tips for restoring the operation of the heating system
Heating under contract
It is rare for residents of one house to agree on specific dates for the heating season with the company responsible for supplying heat to their home. In this case, an agreement is concluded between the residents and the company, which specifies the start and end dates for the supply of heat to the house. In this case, the average daily air temperature does not play a role. If the contract stipulates that heat will be supplied, for example, on October 5, then on this day the boiler room will be lit to deliver hot water to the residents’ pipes. And no one cares if it’s +15 degrees outside.
However, when drawing up such agreements, they always proceed from common sense and set real dates when the cold snap supposedly begins.
WHEN THE HEATING IS TURNED ON
Before answering the question of when the heating season will begin in 2021 in Moscow, it is worth understanding that in the New Year there have been changes in the rules for the supply of heating to apartments.
Heating in Moscow in 2021 will be turned on only after the air temperature outside has been no more than +8 °C for 5 days. It is precisely due to the temperature regime in our country that heating times are different in each region.
Almost every year, heating in Moscow is turned on at the same time - in October. And, most likely, 2021 will be no exception.
But here it is worth remembering about socially significant objects, where heating is turned on much earlier. These include kindergartens, schools, hospitals.
Temperature standards in residents' apartments
There are special temperature standards that should prevail in residential premises during the cold and warm periods of the year. These standards are specified in SANPiN 2.1.2.1002-00. They must be observed by all companies that service residential premises, since maintaining optimal and acceptable temperatures is the key to the health and well-being of residents.
In accordance with SANPiN, the range of permissible temperatures for the warm season is 20-28 degrees above zero. In cold weather, the range moves slightly to the side:
- For the toilet, kitchen and bathroom - 18-26 degrees above zero.
- For living rooms - 18-24 degrees above zero.
It is these indicators that must be taken into account when determining compliance with temperature standards in residential premises. If the heating in the apartment is poor and the temperature in the living room when measured is 16-17 degrees during the cold season, then the tenant has the right to complain to the management company or the HOA (depending on who provides the heating), and if there is no response, you can file a claim to court.
HEATING SCHEDULE
Until the new law came into force, a schedule for turning on batteries always appeared on the Internet. This year they will also draw up such a plan.
Previously, heating was supplied strictly on October 15, but now everything will depend on the temperature. So, heating starts on the 6th day after the cold snap. Last year, 2021, the batteries of Moscow residents became warm on October 1, as according to the weather forecast there was a strong cold snap.
A hotline for questions about turning on the heating is available in the capital. Citizens can call: +7 (800) 100-23-29.
According to the portal of the mayor and government of Moscow, the line will operate temporarily while the heating is turned on. You can use it to find out about the start of the season and leave a request in case of problems.
The head of the citywide contact center, Andrei Savitsky, said that at the beginning of the heating season, there are usually more calls to the line of the unified dispatch center, which accepts applications from residents in the housing and communal services sector. It is becoming more difficult to reach the EDC for questions not related to heating. A dedicated line will solve the problem, he noted.
You can also call the hotline through a single dispatch center. To clarify information about heating, after dialing the number, press number 2.
You can also submit a request in case of heating problems using the Moscow State Services mobile application. The application is accepted for processing immediately after submission. The status of its execution can be tracked in the application.
Heating in Moscow is turned on when the average daily temperature does not exceed 8 degrees for five days in a row, and weather forecasters promise a further decrease. Turn off the heating using the same principle.
Work to turn on the heating lasts several days. First of all, batteries begin to work in kindergartens, schools, hospitals and clinics, and then in residential buildings and industrial enterprises.
Earlier, Sergei Sobyanin said that the capital is ready for the heating season. This is over 70 thousand buildings, including 33.7 thousand residential buildings, as well as fuel and energy infrastructure. In the summer, all work on the prevention and repair of heat and energy supply systems inside houses, networks and stations was carried out.
When the heating is turned on and off in Moscow. Where to go if this has not been done. How to check that the room temperature meets the standards
- 1.
When is heating turned on and off in Moscow? - 2.
How long can the heating be turned off during the cold season?
- 3.
What temperature should the room be during the heating season?
- 4.
What should I do if the heating season has begun and there is no heating in my apartment?
- 5.
How to correctly measure the temperature in a living room?
- 6.
The temperature at my house during the heating season is below normal. Where to go?
1.When do you turn the heating on and off in Moscow?
In Moscow, heating is turned on by order of the City Government if the average daily temperature for 5 days remains below 8°C and, according to the weather forecast, its further decrease is expected. The heating is turned off according to the same principle - if the average daily temperature for 5 days remains above 8°C and, according to the weather forecast, it is expected to rise further.
Work on turning on and adjusting the heating usually lasts several days. First, batteries are turned on at social facilities (in kindergartens, schools, hospitals, clinics), then in residential buildings, then at industrial enterprises. They turn off the heating in the reverse order - first in industrial enterprises, then in residential buildings, then in social institutions.
In hospitals, clinics, schools and other social infrastructure facilities, if necessary, heating can be provided earlier than the start of the heating season.
2.How long can the heating be turned off during the cold season?
During the month, heating in a residential area can be turned off for no more than 24 hours in total. No more than:
- for 16 hours if the room temperature remains above 12°C;
- for 8 hours if the room temperature is from 10°C to 12°C;
- for 4 hours if the room temperature is from 8°C to 10°C.
For each extra hour, the heating fee in the billing period when the outage occurred is reduced by 0.15%.
In kindergartens, schools and hospitals it is prohibited to turn off the heating until the end of the heating period.
3.What temperature should the room be during the heating season?
During the heating season the temperature should be:
- in a living room - not lower than 18°C (in corner rooms - 20°C);
- in kindergarten: in the playroom of the nursery - 22°C-24°C, in the playrooms of other groups -21°C-23°C, in the bedrooms - 19°C-20°C;
- at school: in all main rooms - 18°C-24°C, in the gym and workshops - 17°C-20°C;
- at the workplace - depending on the type of load, the optimal temperature can range from 16°C-18°C (work requiring great physical effort) to 22°C-24°C (for example, work at precision instrumentation and mechanical engineering enterprises). The temperature in the office during the heating season should be 21°C-23°C.
4.What should I do if the heating season has begun and there is no heating in my apartment?
If the heating season began 5 or more days ago , but there is still no heating in your apartment, you can:
- call the hotline for questions about turning on the heating: 8-800-100-23-29;
- leave a request through the Moscow State Services mobile application;
- call MOEK's 24-hour hotline for consumers.
5.How to correctly measure the temperature in a living room?
To measure the temperature correctly, proceed as follows:
- Before measuring temperature, close all windows and doors in the room.
- Measure the temperature in the center of the largest room in the apartment - at the intersection of diagonals drawn from the corners.
- Keep the thermometer one meter above the floor.
- Make sure that there is at least 0.5 meters to the nearest heating device and the outer wall.
6.The temperature at my home during the heating season is below normal. Where to go?
If, after turning on the heating, you measured the temperature in the apartment and it turned out to be less or more than the standard value, you can:
- call the hotline for questions about turning on the heating: 8-800-100-23-29;
- leave a request through the Moscow State Services mobile application;
- contact the management company (if it is not connected to the unified dispatch service for housing and communal services). Contacts of your management company can be found on the Moscow House portal;
- contact the Moscow Housing Inspectorate by e-mail, through the electronic reception on the mos.ru website, or in person at the address: Mira Avenue, building 19. The work schedule can be found on the department’s page on mos.ru;
- call MOEK's 24-hour hotline for consumers.
The exact date of the heat supply is not yet known.
According to forecasts from housing and communal services workers, the heating season in the Moscow region will begin in October. The exact date of the heat supply is not yet known. According to the rules, the heating season begins if the average daily temperature outside the window remains no higher than 8 degrees for five days. In some areas of the Moscow region, heat has already been supplied to social facilities: schools, kindergartens and hospitals. Municipal authorities decide on their own whether to turn on the heating. Thus, from September 29, all outpatient medical institutions in the Ramensky district will be heated; in maternity hospitals and children's hospitals, heating was turned on in early September. Preschool educational institutions are 62% provided with heat, schools - 28%.
In total, it is planned to prepare 53 thousand apartment buildings, 2,400 boiler houses, 11 thousand kilometers of heating networks and other infrastructure facilities in the Moscow region for winter. According to the Ministry of Housing and Communal Services of the Moscow Region, the urban districts of Molodezhny, Zvezdny Gorodok, Reutov, Kotelniki, and Kolomna are best prepared for the heating season. Problems in preparing for the heating season arose in Klimovsk, Orekhovo-Zuev, Krasnoarmeysk, Protvin and Pushkinsky district.
Where to complain?
We found out at what temperature the heating is turned on, and now you can use the range indicated above as a guide. If the heating season has not started after 5 days at a low average daily temperature, then you can contact the HOA or a company that delivers hot water to the radiators of houses. To do this, you need to measure the temperature in the room in the presence of a company representative. Considering that there is no heating in the house, it should be low in the apartment. If the mark on the thermometer is below the standard temperature mark, then the tenant has the right to draw up a report on unacceptable indicators. It is advisable to draw up this act together with your neighbors and sign it also jointly. In this case, it is necessary to make two copies, each of which must also be signed by the responsible organization. You need to keep one copy for yourself.
What to do if the heating season has begun and the radiators are cold
This situation is most likely familiar to everyone. What measures should be taken if the heating season has already begun, but it is still cold in your house or apartment?
- First of all, you need to find out what temperature your neighbors’ radiators are. If it is just as cold there, but the neighboring houses are warm, we can safely say that your heating system is airy. You can try to bleed the air yourself, but if this does not help, call the management company.
- When your neighbors are warm and your apartment is cold, you should make sure your radiators are working. They may have too many layers of paint on them or are long overdue for replacement.
In cases where the traffic jams in the system have been eliminated, your radiators are in perfect order, and the room is still cold, call a representative of the management company or draw up a report together with your neighbors. Utility services are required to correct the situation within 4 to 12 hours, depending on the temperature in the room.
Complete an application for recalculation based on the number of days (hours) when the service was not provided, and attach a report to it. Do not forget that your goal is to compensate for moral damage and make a recalculation.
We hope that these tips will help you defend your rights and your winters will always be warm!
In Russia, as you know, winter creeps up unnoticed. For utility workers, this often becomes a big surprise, and for city residents, it is a reason to once again ask the question, “When will the heating be provided?” and “Where can I complain if I don’t have one?”
Lawsuit
As a result of the written complaint, for each hour the temperature does not meet the required standards, the cost of payment for heating is reduced by 0.15% of the monthly payment. If the management company or homeowners association does not fulfill its obligations for a long time, then you can go to court for moral, material compensation, as well as compensation for the costs of medications that were purchased to treat an illness resulting from low temperature in the residential premises. There are a lot of options here, but only a good specialist can competently build a case in court. You will need evidence, evidence from neighbors and other residents of the house. In the practice of many lawyers, there are cases where residents sued the company that supplies heat to the house. Outcomes vary, but quite often the court sides with the plaintiff.
When the law is on the side of the HOA
Note that the law allows “downtime” during the heating period, but it is very limited. This is provided in case of an emergency at the boiler room or a pipe break in the house, etc. It is indicated that during the month at a temperature not lower than +12 degrees, 24 hours of downtime are allowed. If the room temperature is in the range from +10 to +12 degrees, then only 8 hours of “downtime” per month are possible. And if the temperature drops below +8 degrees, then no heating is allowed for only 4 hours a month. This rule is valid in 2021, but it was the same in 2021, 2015, 2014. When the heating is turned on and then turned off again for any reason, this can be called a power outage, but it can also be associated with a sharp warming outside. But if you observe interruptions in the operation of the boiler room and your batteries get cold from time to time at low temperatures outside, then you need to contact a responsible organization. It is imperative to respond to such situations, since management companies often abuse and push back the start of the heating season.
Things to remember
Before you knock on the thresholds of the court and other authorities, find out whether the cold is the cause of the problems in your apartment. Perhaps the radiators are too old and worn out so much that water simply cannot circulate through them normally. Invite a plumber to check, and be sure to get a written conclusion from him - the batteries are in order, but there is no heat due to your fault.
Due to the different average daily temperatures in each region, which also vary from year to year, there is no absolutely exact date for the start of the heating season. How can you find out when the heating will come back on? Usually this information appears along with the approach of cold weather in local media. If the journalists are silent, then you should call the service provider (his phone numbers are indicated on the receipt). A specialist from the hotline or control room will probably give an explanation as to when the heat will be turned on.
There may be no heating due to an accident or repairs started by neighbors - and such points should also be taken into account. When figuring out when heating should be provided, remember that the legislation also provided for some relaxations for a heat-saving company (Government Decree 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” dated 05/06/2011):
- when the street temperature is not lower than plus 12, the heating can be turned off for no more than a day per month;
- at a room temperature below 12 plus (up to plus 18) - no more than 16 hours (at a time);
- at a room temperature above 10-12, the permissible one-time shutdown time is reduced to 8 hours;
- and if the apartment is below plus 8, then up to 4 hours (at a time).
On a note! In case of interruptions in heat, payment in receipts should be recalculated at the rate of minus 0.15 of the amount for each hour of no heating.
Knowing where to turn if heating is not provided, remember that in some cases the supplier company may deliberately delay the supply of heat or run the system not at full capacity. If it’s cold outside, but the houses are not heated or the radiators are not hotter than fresh milk, be sure to respond to the problematic situation: call the management company, HOA, or supplier company.
