The rapid development of technology allows modern people to arrange their home as comfortably as possible. This requires various types of installations: utility networks, household plumbing equipment, etc.

Let's consider the basics of arranging a water supply system in an apartment building.

It is quite a difficult task to provide water to a multi-storey building, since the building includes a large number of apartments with autonomous sanitary equipment.

The water supply system is an engineering system with pipe distribution, water pressure control devices, as well as metering units and filters.

Often residents multi-storey buildings use a central water supply system.

Components of a central water supply system. Types of schemes

Typically, the water supply system consists of:

  • Distribution channel;
  • Water intake structure;
  • Purification plant.

Before water is supplied to the room, it travels a long way directly from pumping unit to the pond. After the water has been completely purified and disinfected, it enters the distribution channel. The distribution channel ensures the flow of water to special installations.

Note that the water supply system is divided into 3 types:

  • Collector;
  • Consistent;
  • Mixed.

Often, collector wiring in a house is used if the apartments are equipped with great amount plumbing equipment. The collector circuit ensures stable operation of all sanitary installations and devices.

Water supply system risers

Risers - vertical arrangement of pipes in the water supply system.

They are divided into three types:

  • Heating riser;
  • Water supply riser;
  • Sewer riser.

Maintenance Such installations are provided by representatives of such organizations as housing and communal services, housing and communal services and others that serve the house.

Let's look at some legal aspects:

  1. The serviceability of communications in a residential apartment building must be ensured by the management company. Consequently, the organization must replace the risers at its own expense (if we are talking about pipes that have become unusable after their useful service life has expired);
  2. The city or district administration is obliged to replace risers in a municipal building;
  3. In the event that communication systems are privatized, residents pay for repairs.

In some cases, responsible persons try to evade their responsibilities or demand money for the work done.

In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the responsible persons fulfill their direct duties. An official application must be completed and sent. If no reaction is observed, a complaint is filed with the housing department. As a rule, such actions are quite sufficient to restore justice.

Features of supplying hot water to a residential building

The hot water supply system in the house includes two types of wiring - lower and upper.

To maintain optimal temperature conditions in the pipeline, looped wiring is often used. With the help of gravitational pressure, water circulation in the ring is ensured, even in the absence of water intake.

In the riser, the water is cooled and directly enters the heating unit. At an even higher temperature, water is supplied through the pipes. In this way, a continuous process of coolant circulation is carried out.

In addition, the system hot serve water is divided according to certain criteria:

  • Local;
  • Centralized;
  • Open thermal;
  • Closed thermal.

Important! In accordance with SNiP, it is strictly forbidden to supply non-potable hot water to pipes containing technical liquid.

Description of the closed type heating system

IN last years The use of a closed water supply scheme is becoming increasingly popular. A closed system is based on the use of a heating main with a completely separate, autonomous circuit into which cold water is pumped for subsequent passage through heat exchangers.

The latter absorb heat from the main water, which is heated in a thermal power plant. In addition, other heat sources are available, but the most common among them is considered to be direct heat transfer from an open-type hot water supply.

In this case, the quality of hot water supplied to the house does not depend on the condition of the pipes located in the central heating system. Closed circuit involves the use of heat exchangers and additional pumping units.

Support system hot water closed type has undeniable advantages in comparison with open: quality indicators and bacteriological properties.

Closed hot water supply circuit ensures stable temperature regime regardless of the air temperature in winter.

Modern engineers are increasingly resorting to the use of a closed-type system, since this scheme is characterized by the highest reliability indicators for consumers.

For the normal functioning of any construction projects, including apartment buildings, it is very important to have a functioning water supply. Water supply in an apartment building is a central water supply line, as well as intra-house and apartment pipe distribution.

Issues discussed in the article:

  • What features does the water supply system have in an apartment building?
  • What water supply schemes are used in an apartment building.
  • What types of pipes are suitable for supplying water to apartments.
  • Who is responsible for replacing water supply risers in apartment buildings?
  • How a hot water supply scheme is constructed.
  • How to increase the pressure in the water supply system.

What features does the water supply system have in an apartment building?

It is quite difficult to establish cold and hot water supply in an apartment building, since there are many consumers. Each apartment is a separate object of an apartment building, which must be provided with water supply. At the same time, pipes of different diameters are a single structure with sufficient complex system wiring

The water supply system in an apartment building is a large and unified complex of pumping equipment with filters and meters installed in it, also with shut-off and control valves and apartment-by-apartment pipe distribution.

Mandatory elements in the water supply scheme of an apartment building are pressure regulators. The water entering the apartments of apartment houses must go through several preliminary stages of purification to remove any impurities of mechanical origin. In addition, chlorination is often carried out to disinfect water.

Central water supply is recognized as the most convenient water supply system in an apartment building. That is quality water supplied to central water supply under high pressure. Water circulation is ensured using a water supply system located in all cities and settlements. Most often, water is supplied from surface reservoirs located far enough from sources of pollution. Such a water supply system in an apartment building consists of three components:

  • water intake structures;
  • cleaning stations;
  • distribution network.

Thanks to the elements described above, water from pumping station first enters a body of water, where it is purified, and then enters distribution network to supply water to necessary facilities. Such a water supply system will function well only if there is high-quality and correct pipe layout, as well as good pressure.

Since the water supply in an apartment building must provide water to a sufficiently large number of users, central water supply can be carried out using a well constructed using a special water intake tower. Most good option The well is artesian, when water is taken from a great depth and is therefore of very high quality and clean. However this method water intake is quite expensive and is more often used to ensure water supply not in an apartment building, but in a club (cottage house with no big amount apartments).

The water supply system in an apartment building using a water tower consists of several elements:

  • caisson;
  • main tank for water intake;
  • pumping station.

A caisson is a metal container located at a depth of 2-2.5 m above the well itself. A pipe is installed in the caisson that drains water from the well. The concrete-ring caisson is considered the worst in terms of tightness. Violation of tightness leads to frequent flooding from incoming groundwater.

Using a pumping station and a caisson, water is transported to a storage tank in which an automatic float valve is installed, which turns on the pump when the water in the tank drops and does not reach a certain level.

Level total pressure in such a water supply system in an apartment building depends on the volume of the storage tank or tank. Even Electric Energy turns off, water still continues to flow into the apartments until the pressure in the tank decreases due to a drop in the water level.

Scheme of cold water supply in an apartment building: 3 main types

The operation of any household appliance in an apartment that is connected to water depends on the proper installation of the water supply system in an apartment building. Thanks to a competent water supply scheme, all apartments should be provided with water using a central water supply, and water should flow to all necessary supply points.

On this moment There are several ways to provide cold water supply in an apartment building.

Scheme 1.Scheme of sequential water supply for an apartment.

The simplest and most practical method of apartment-by-apartment water supply in an apartment building is a sequential connection diagram. This option is affordable in terms of price and installation of utilities. This scheme is common in residential buildings.

With this scheme, main pipelines with hot and cold water are mounted in parallel, and any equipment is connected using tees, which is why this scheme is sometimes called a “tee connection”.

Such a water supply scheme in an apartment building implies the presence of a common main line for a large number of users, from which wiring is done using the same tees. Main pipe large diameter It is like an elongated collector.

This water supply scheme is not only very common, but also ideal for water supply ordinary apartment, in which there is one bathroom and there are not many household appliances, working by receiving water resources. This water supply scheme in an apartment building has its strengths and weaknesses.

Strengths:

  • savings on pipes to a significant extent;
  • the project is quite simple and easy;
  • the cost of laying water pipes is reduced.

Weak sides:

  • in the case of simultaneous use of several open devices, a sharp drop in pressure at the end points of water supply is possible;
  • there is no way to selectively turn off the system, that is, if one pipe breaks, it will be necessary to turn off the water supply in the entire apartment;
  • It is quite difficult to determine the location of the leak;
  • no free access to tees;
  • if an accident occurs, there will be a need to damage the finishing layer of the wall or floor.

Only qualified specialists should install pipes in accordance with the sequential water supply scheme in an apartment building. Only in this case the pipe will not leak immediately, and the pressure will be normal.

Scheme 2.Collector circuit.

The operation of household appliances that depend on water may be impaired due to a decrease in pressure in general scheme water supply of an apartment building. To avoid this situation, a collector circuit is sometimes chosen.

Installing this system is quite expensive and difficult. Due to the fact that the pressure drop in the manifold circuit is eliminated, all points of the plumbing equipment can be used simultaneously. This possibility is achieved by laying a separate pipe to each water supply point. If an urgent need arises, each individual pipe can simply be closed. In this case, there will be no branches leaving the main pipe, which makes the collector circuit as safe as possible for ensuring water supply in an apartment building. In addition, the likelihood of a leak is reduced due to the fact that the collector pipe is connected to the main one in only one place, and in general the main and collector pipes are located in parallel.

The figure of this diagram clearly shows its basic principle - each water consumer is connected through a separate pipe directly to the cold and hot water supply collectors. Moreover, the pipe itself has no additional branches or unnecessary connections along its entire length. These circumstances exclude the possibility of leakage. Both connections (collector-pipe and pipe-water consumer) are always easily accessible for repair.

Strengths:

  • system reliability due to a small number of connections;
  • adjusting the operation of a separate plumbing fixture;
  • ease of maintenance and repair of the water supply system in an apartment building;
  • the interior does not deteriorate thanks to the hidden installation of pipes.

Scheme 3.Mixed scheme.

Quite often this water supply scheme is used in an apartment building. Installation work in this case is cheaper, but only specialists can design such a scheme correctly, because the wrong device simply will not give the desired result.

Let's assume that a collector water supply runs through the basement, from which risers rise, and on each floor, collectors are connected to the risers that supply sanitary fixtures. It turns out that the lower distribution and risers are equipped with a tee system, and the collector water supply system in the apartment building runs along the floors. In its pure form, a collector circuit is one or more collectors installed directly in the basement of an apartment building. From there the rest of the devices are powered.

Types of pipes used for water supply in an apartment building

There are several types of pipes that are used to organize water supply in apartment buildings.

  1. Steel pipes.

Today this type pipes are practically not used when organizing water supply in an apartment building. The fact is that at the moment this material has already used up its resource. Plus, such pipes are not cheap. And the installation itself is quite an expensive and labor-intensive pleasure. The main disadvantage of this type of pipe is the collection of condensate, which destroys the pipeline material. The volume of the pipe decreases due to the formation of rust and plaque inside it, which means the throughput capacity decreases.

  1. Copper pipes.

The main advantage of copper pipes is their long service life (about 50 years). This service life is achieved by the absence of rust formations, plus copper has bactericidal properties. All this causes the high cost of this type of pipe.

  1. Metal-plastic pipes.

Metal-plastic pipes are quite popular today. Pipes made from this material are practical and reliable, and they are easy to install. To carry out installation, you will need a special tool, and the joints are made using fittings. A metal-plastic pipe can withstand high loads(both physical and mechanical).

Water supply in an apartment building and sewerage

To ensure a comfortable life, a water supply system in an apartment building is simply necessary. However, only specialists can install such a system correctly. To install the equipment, a special diagram must be drawn up, in accordance with which the installation will be carried out. If the system is installed correctly, it will be protected from leaks and deformation of drainage systems. Quite often, when installing a water supply system in an apartment building, the water supply through the riser is turned off.

If the installation of sewer pipes is carried out in an apartment for the first time, then it would be better not to change the usual location of all plumbing fixtures, that is, you should use old scheme. For proper installation you should measure the exact distance between the sink, toilet, bathtub and other equipment that operates from the water supply and draw up an appropriate plan for future work. In addition, you need to correctly determine the location of the clamps and the central sewer pipe. It is believed that a slope is required when creating a sewerage system. You should also use only high-quality materials.

Before installing new or replacing old sewerage equipment in an apartment in an apartment building, you should evaluate the general sewer riser and its condition. In case of absence external signs rust, then you can do without replacement. In cases where replacement is necessary, this procedure should be carried out carefully, since a damaged pipe is subject to deformation and, if handled carelessly, the entire riser may need to be replaced.

Sometimes it happens that it becomes necessary to lay new pipes due to the advent of new equipment powered by water supply (washing machine, dishwasher, etc.). Also, a similar need may arise due to the connection of additional plumbing equipment.

To carry out high-quality sewer installation, you need:

  • pipes;
  • components;
  • compositions for fixation and sealing;
  • tools;
  • fitting;
  • devices.

Water supply and heating in an apartment building

Today there are many options for heating and water supply systems in an apartment building. Moreover, they are all relatively interdependent. This especially applies to heating. The fact is that the apartment cannot be heated independently of the hot water supply.

Of course, you can install a heating system in an apartment yourself, but all your actions must be coordinated with utility services. Often there is a need to replace old heating pipes for new ones. Previously, heating pipes were made of cast iron. However, cast iron structures are susceptible to plaque formation and reduced permeability, which leads to the need to carry out annual pipe blowing. Modern analogues of heating systems do not require such maintenance.

To replace old heating pipes, you must first carefully dismantle them. In this case, dismantling should begin from the central riser. Even in modern rooms such pipes are located in the corner, since it is not customary to hide them in the walls. It is important to know that heating equipment can only be dismantled and replaced if there is no hot water in the system, that is, after the end of the heating season.

The water supply system in an apartment building can be installed using different methods. The main difference is always the method of collecting cold water, its purification and supply. Special attention It is worth paying attention to the installation of pipes for water supply in the apartment, and before that it is worth determining the amount of equipment that operates from the water supply.

How are water supply risers located in an apartment building?

Risers are a vertical arrangement of pipes in a water supply system. They are divided into three types:

  • heating;
  • water supply risers;
  • sewer.

The maintenance of such installations is carried out by special organizations (for example, housing and communal services, housing and communal services, and so on).

It is important to know certain legal aspects of this issue:

  1. Serviceable communications, including water supply, in an apartment building must be provided by the management company. That is, the replacement of risers and pipes whose service life has expired must also be carried out at the expense of the management company.
  2. In a municipal building, the risers must be replaced by the city or district administration.
  3. If communication systems are privatized, then repair work is paid for by the residents themselves.

Sometimes people who are responsible for replacing communications try to avoid fulfilling their responsibilities or charge a fee for their services. In this situation, residents have the right to file an official application demanding repair or replacement of pipes. In the absence of any feedback People living in an apartment building can write a complaint to the housing authority. Most often, such steps on the part of residents lead to the restoration of justice.

By whom and in what order is the replacement of water supply risers in an apartment building carried out?

Overhaul of the water supply in an apartment building or overhaul of the entire worn-out housing stock is quite an expensive undertaking. Therefore, in cases where the management company skillfully evades fulfilling its obligations, residents are forced to chip in for repair work. However, in addition to financial and technical problems, there are a large number of organizational issues. It is important to understand that replacing entire risers can also be effective for residents. For example, replacing steel with propylene will improve the quality of the supplied water. In addition, due to lower pressure losses in plastic pipes, the energy consumption for pumping to the upper floors will be reduced (pumping pumps are powered through a separate meter and payments for it are distributed among the apartments of the pumped floors). Also an impressive advantage will be the fact that prices for heating network services with such pipe replacement will be reduced by 10-20%.

To accept correct solution Regarding emerging organizational issues regarding the repair and maintenance of water supply systems in an apartment building, it is necessary to know and understand certain technical features.

  1. Replacing the riser in an apartment by itself will not give any result. If you change the riser, then completely, from the basement to the exit to ventilation pipe, top plug, inspection hatch or drainage.
  2. Boners are vital important elements engineering communications systems, an accident on which may entail, incl. and human casualties.
  3. Housing legislation regarding risers (Article 36 and clause 5 of Article 155 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, Articles 290, 292 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation) is clear: risers are not the property of the residents, even if the apartment is privatized. Their owner is the management company (municipal housing office, departmental economic protection department, private operating company).
  4. The risers are replaced as part of a major overhaul, and contributions for the overhaul are made as payment for housing and communal services. If among the residents of a particular apartment building there are many pensioners, beneficiaries, students, the unemployed, and so on, then most likely there will be no free funds in the account of a completely honest management company. On the one hand, this is bad for residents (they need to contribute money), but on the other hand, it is good (they have the opportunity to dictate their terms).
  5. Major renovations in a residential building are done every 25 years. The operational life can be extended based on the audit performed, but the period between repairs cannot be increased.
  6. It is not the responsibility of the management company to carry out scheduled major repairs every 25 years. This fact also provides residents with sufficient flexibility regarding organizational issues related to repairs of risers.
  7. The riser where any emergency repair work was carried out during this 25-year period will be considered emergency until the next major repair. This rule applies even if the fault was a small fistula through which a drop of water leaked out per day.
  8. The priority signs of accidents when determining its degree are always external manifestations: patches, clamps, weld beads, traces of caulking.

The regulations state that early repairs of engineering systems in a building can only be carried out in the event of a proven danger to the life and health of residents. To organize such repairs, representatives of the HOA or management company must draw up an application and send it to the relevant executive authority.

A decision to carry out major repairs, including the water supply system in an apartment building, can only be made after several necessary checks and examinations. The application is drawn up in free form, but in accordance with the generally accepted template.

At the beginning of the application, a header is drawn up, which indicates the addressee (position, company name), followed by the surname, first name and patronymic of the manager, the applicant’s details, address and contact telephone number. The main text of the application should reflect the essence of the problem and also reflect the last date of the inspection. A description of the status of all engineering systems should be added. The conclusion must be dated and signed by the applicant.

If, after submitting such an application, a refusal was given, then the residents must demand that it be formalized in writing, then they will be able to apply with this written refusal to the court. However, the court's decision will have to wait a long time, perhaps even more than one year. Therefore in this case there are 2 possible options actions:

  1. You can wait for a serious accident that will result in flooding of the entire entrance. In this case, workers will simply be forced to carry out repair work. However, sometimes it happens that housing office employees simply make a patch on a problem area, rather than replacing the entire riser.
  2. You can hold a general meeting of homeowners and raise the issue of carrying out high-quality replacement of pipes for own funds. In this case, the fee for one apartment will be 3-5 thousand rubles.

Each house has risers installed:

  • heating system;
  • sewer;
  • for supplying cold and hot water to the apartment.

Replacing any of the above risers to repair the water supply system in an apartment building is carried out in the following sequence:

  1. Covering the repaired riser.

If we are talking about hot water supply and hot water supply, then it is worth waiting some time after shutting off, since the remaining liquid will still drain. If it is planned to replace the sewer riser, then none of the residents should drain the water (its supply should be turned off).

  1. Removal of old pipes.

It is necessary to invite locksmiths through management company, since this type of work is quite complicated, especially if the pipes are cast iron.

  1. Installation of new pipes.

Now you should turn on the water and make sure there are no leaks. The best option There will be a simultaneous replacement of communications throughout the house. This reduces the likelihood of leaks and emergency situations.

Despite the fact that the basic principle of replacing communication systems is the same everywhere, there are still some peculiarities.

When replacing the heating riser:

  • make a statement about the need to turn off the heat supply and send it to the management company, since you won’t be able to turn off the riser yourself without special knowledge;
  • consider installing shut-off valves when connecting batteries, this will eliminate the need to turn off the heat in the entire house when a leak is detected;
  • Do not over-reduce the diameter when installing pipes, otherwise the pipe will burst due to the high pressure in the central heating system.

To replace a water riser, you need to choose the right type of pipe. Cold water and hot water systems are different because when supplying hot water, plastic reinforced pipes are used that do not deform from high temperatures.

It is better to replace pipes in the entire house at once. However, sometimes it happens that some neighbors are against it, then the master simply cuts off old pipe in the apartment in front of the ceilings (upper and lower) and installs special fittings. Dismantling must be carried out with upper floors, but you need to install a new riser from the first floor.

Expert opinion

How to share responsibility for water supply with RSO

Elena Sholomova,

lawyer, auditor, chairman of the board of TSN "Zelenaya, 22"

  1. Where is the border between cold water and hot water networks?

The common property of an apartment building includes cold water and hot water systems, which consist of:

  • risers, branches from risers to the first disconnecting device located on branches from risers, disconnecting devices;
  • ODPU cold and hot water;
  • the first shut-off and control valves on the branches of the intra-apartment wiring from the risers;
  • mechanical, electrical, sanitary and other equipment located on these networks.

The main reason to know who is responsible for what is finance. Responsible person must maintain its property and pay for losses on networks, as well as deal with emergency situations. Even the smallest accident on a network “in the ground” will be quite expensive, since it will be necessary to organize excavations and then new landscaping of the territory. And if a parking lot or some other object is detected on the network, the task may not be feasible at all.

The person in charge of the network section is also responsible for all consequences of the accident. This person will also respond to consumer complaints.

Owners should not bear the cost of maintaining property that does not belong to them. It cannot be argued that the disputed site belongs to common property just because it is not on the balance sheet of the RSO. This position was defended by the HOA from Khabarovsk (determination of the Judicial Collegium of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated March 21, 2016 No. 303-ES16-917).

  1. Where is the border on heating networks?

According to the law, common property includes:

  • risers;
  • heating elements;
  • regulatory and shut-off valves;
  • ODPU thermal energy;
  • other equipment located on these networks.

The place of fulfillment of the obligations of the heat supply organization is the delivery point located on the border of the balance sheet heat-consuming installation or the heat network of the consumer and the heat network of the heat supply organization, or at the point of connection to an ownerless heat network.

It is necessary to defend the position that the equipment or the disputed section of the network is not part of the common property. It is worth referring to the absence of minutes of the general meeting and the absence of references to the disputed object in the management agreement for the apartment building. And to transfer the place of delimitation of balance sheet ownership, it is not enough for the RSO to say that the network section does not belong to it; the will of the owners of the premises in the apartment building is necessary.

Such conclusions are contained in the ruling of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation dated December 21, 2015 in case No. 305-ES15-11564, A41-22117/2014.

  1. Where is the border along the sewer networks?

According to the law, the following components of the in-house sewerage system are considered common property:

  • sewer outlets;
  • shaped parts (including bends, transitions, pipes, revisions, crosses, tees);
  • risers, plugs, exhaust pipes, drainage funnels;
  • branches from risers to the first butt joints;
  • other equipment located in this system.

If there is no act of delimitation of operational responsibility, then the boundary of operational responsibility is established along the line of balance sheet ownership (clause 32 of the Rules for cold water supply and sanitation, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of July 29, 2013 No. 644).

If water is supplied to the subscriber through ownerless networks that are transferred to the water utility, then the boundary of operational responsibility is established along the border of ownerless networks.

Often the disputed areas are sewer outlets from the wall of an apartment building to the first inspection well. Most often, a controversial issue arises after the completion of the construction of an apartment building, when the developer does not transfer the external sewerage networks to municipal ownership. The boundary of operational responsibility for sewer networks, at the insistence of the water utility, in this case should pass through the point of entry of the outlet into the first inspection well. The fact is that:

  1. Internal sewerage is a system of pipelines and devices within the boundaries of the external contour of a building and structures, limited by outlets to the first inspection well, ensuring the disposal of waste, rain and melt water into the sewerage network (clause 3.1.6 SP 30.13330.2016 “SNiP 2.04.01– 85* Internal water supply and sewerage of buildings"). Hence the conclusion that the sewerage system, including sewer outlets and outlets, branches from risers to the first butt joints, belongs to common property. Therefore, in the opinion of the water utility, the demarcation should be installed at the point where the outlet connects to the sewer well.
  2. The costs of maintenance and repair of sewerage sections from the outer border of an apartment building to the first inspection well are not included in the tariff for sewerage services, and sewer outlets serve only one apartment building.

In connection with the above, the water utility insists on servicing only the yard network of canals, but releases from external wall He refers houses to wells as the responsibility of the management company.

According to judicial practice sewer outlets apartment buildings should be divided into:

  • the internal part, which is located inside the house to the outer boundary of its wall;
  • the outer part, which runs from the outer boundary of the house wall to the walls of the sewer wells.

Unless something else was established by the general meeting of owners, sewer outlets are considered common property only in that part that is located inside the apartment building (up to the outer boundary of its wall). Passing outdoor areas sewer networks By local area in itself does not classify them as common property (resolutions of the Arbitration Court of the East Siberian District dated 08.24.2016 in case No. A78-10409/2015, Arbitration Court of the Northwestern District dated 05.05.2016 in case No. A56-27226/2015, Arbitration Court of the Ural District dated October 3, 2016 in case No. A76-4485/2015).

The norms of SP 30.13330.2016 do not apply to the relationship between you and the RSO. Any SNiPs are applicable during design and construction, but not when determining the composition of common property in apartment buildings.

Hot water supply system in an apartment building

DHW is an entire system that consists of pipelines and various devices used to heat cold water and distribute hot consumers. Sometimes special pipes are used in the bathroom and toilet to heat these rooms. These pipes are also used as a dryer.

According to the radius of action, the hot water supply system in an apartment building can be:

  1. Local.

Such a water supply system is usually created for a group of small objects or one small building. The consumer heats the water himself in this case thanks to a gas or electric flow-type boiler. Maintenance of local water supply systems must be regular, and their use is usually determined by the inability to use a centralized supply of hot water.

Strengths of the local hot water supply system in an apartment building:

  • it works autonomously;
  • Repairing such a system is quite simple;
  • heat loss is small.
  1. Central.

This type of system appeared in connection with the liquidation of regional and local boiler houses, as well as heat supply systems. These systems are much more practical to use, since there is no need to install special equipment for heating cold water and no additional wiring is needed. However, the central hot water supply system in an apartment building has its disadvantages:

  • frequent repairs and regular maintenance of pipes;
  • slow fulfillment of repair requests by utilities;
  • sudden changes in pressure;
  • the temperature is not high enough.

The local hot water supply system does not have such disadvantages.

Within the framework of centralized water heating and water supply systems, both open (network water is mixed with heated water) and closed (water is heated through surfaces without contacting the heat carrier) heating networks can be used.

Open heating networks are the most rational to use, although the quality of the supplied water may deteriorate significantly depending on the temperature regime. Today such systems are quite rare.

A closed hot water supply system in an apartment building is more popular in Lately, since it is based on the use of a heating main with a completely separate, autonomous circuit (a reservoir for injection of cold water). Cold water is pumped into this autonomous circuit, which then passes through the heat exchange elements. In this case, the heat exchange elements take heat from the main water, which is heated in the thermal power plant. There may also be other heat sources, but the most widespread is direct heat transfer using open system hot water supply.

In this situation, the quality of the hot water supplied to the house does not depend on the condition of the pipes located in the central heating system. If a closed system is used, then there are heat exchangers and additional pumping units.

A closed hot water supply system in an apartment building has certain advantages over an open system, namely qualitative and bacteriological properties.

A closed hot water supply circuit in an apartment building ensures a stable temperature regime, regardless of the air temperature in winter.

Today, engineers often use a closed hot water supply system in an apartment building. A scheme of this type is considered more reliable.

DHW in an apartment can be carried out using several methods:

  • water is heated in the boiler room and then supplied to the consumer;
  • the water is heated in a special point, which is located in the block or area;
  • water is heated using special equipment installed in basement apartment building;
  • The water is heated in the consumer’s apartment.

DHW can be circulating. With this device, water constantly moves through the pipes and thereby ensures not only the supply of hot water, but also heating.

There is also a dead-end DHW system. In this situation, the water is not used immediately, but may cool down over time. In this regard, a special container is often installed in the apartment where the water is heated and its temperature is maintained.

It would be more rational to use individual system DHW, as per use centralized system a monthly fee must be paid.

The most economical option A boiler can be considered to provide hot water supply in an apartment, since you will only need to pay for cold water, and hot water is provided by the user himself.

Scheme for increasing pressure and solving the problem of insufficient pressure

Quite often the problem of unstable water pressure in the pipeline arises. Moreover, this problem is familiar to both owners of private houses and residents of multi-apartment high-rises. However, in a private home, the pressure in the water supply system may drop due to a minor problem in pumping equipment, which can easily be eliminated on your own. But problems with central water supply in an apartment building arise for reasons beyond the control of users.

In any building, the water supply system has two networks: external and internal. The boundary between them is the flange of the valve, which is located immediately at the inlet after the pipeline crosses the wall.

In addition, the water supply system consists of two units: an inlet and a water meter, as well as risers with connections and distribution branches. Also one of the elements internal network may be a water pump.

Depending on which particular scheme is used, such a device can be a pump or a storage tank; such an element, thanks to the water supply, can regulate the stability of the water supply as its consumption increases.

The main task of the internal water supply network in an apartment building is the distribution of water among distribution points or between consumers. the main role in this distribution is allocated to water intake fittings. Control valves only control water flow.

It is the type of water supply system that determines the location and total number of the above-described elements, as well as the ratio of the pressure characteristics of the internal and external networks.

According to its purpose, water supply can be:

  • utility and drinking water (usually provided in buildings up to 12 floors);
  • utility and drinking water supply combined with fire-fighting water supply (buildings from 12 to 16 floors);
  • separated drinking and fire-fighting and utility with the supply of water of different quality (for high-rise buildings).

Of course, under different circumstances and in different cases The pressure in the water supply system in an apartment building will vary significantly.

The most simple option The water supply system is provided for a building up to 6 floors high. In this situation, at the entrance to the building, the pressure necessary for the operation of the internal pipeline is provided by the external network. In this case, there is no need to install any additional devices to increase the pressure.

If external network cannot cope with the task and there is a need to increase the pressure, then the following schemes can be used:

Scheme 1.Scheme with the introduction of regulating capacitance.

If there is not enough pressure to supply water to a distant or high point, and you need to increase the pressure for several hours, then this water supply scheme in an apartment building will be the most optimal. It is based on a fairly simple principle of operation: during a period of decline in consumption (most often at night), the container is filled, and when consumption increases (during the daytime), this water supply is used to ensure normal functioning networks.

Such tanks can be used not only to provide water supply in an apartment building with a large number of floors, but also to regulate the water supply of a private house.

This tank can be placed on the connection to plumbing equipment, which needs higher pressure (laundry, shower, etc.).

Scheme 2.Scheme with regular pumping of water.

If an insufficient pressure level is constantly present, then in order not to depend on the time of day, it is better to use a scheme with a booster pump. This pump is suitable for use in an apartment or private house that is connected to a central water supply with low pressure. The main disadvantage of this scheme is the asthmatic activation of the pump every time the tap is opened, which leads to fairly rapid wear of the equipment.

Scheme 3.A circuit in which there is both a booster pump and a regulating tank.

This scheme combines the advantages of both schemes described above and helps protect the pump from rapid wear. If the system has a hydraulic accumulator, that is, a tank for storing water, then the pump will turn on only when the water level in such a tank drops to a certain level. This happens thanks to a signal from a special sensor in the form of a float, which is installed on the container.

You can select a pump separately from the tank and vice versa, but there is an excellent alternative: a special water supply station that is installed on the pipeline. Such a station already includes both a container for collecting water and the pump itself. This unit not only allows you to optimize pressure, but also provides the ability to supply water from a water intake (well, pond, water tower). Besides, this system Quite easy to use and can be installed independently.

If the building has more than 16 floors, then parallel (separate) water supply systems are more often used. Water is supplied to each such water supply network in an apartment building using booster pumps located together on the technical floor or in the basement. As a rule, such networks are supplied with cold and hot water from water tanks.

Often these networks are divided into zones: the required pressure for the lower floors is created using the pressure of the external pipeline, and for the upper floors - using booster pumps.

Constant supply of hot water to an apartment building multi-storey building can be carried out using two methods using different operating principles:

  1. In the first case, the hot water supply of an apartment building takes water from the cold water supply (cold water supply) pipeline, then the water is heated by an autonomous heat generator: an apartment boiler, a gas water heater or boiler, a heat exchanger that uses the heat of a local firehouse or thermal power plant;
  2. In the second case, the hot water supply scheme of an apartment building takes hot water directly from the heating main, and this principle is used in the residential sector much more often - in 90% of cases of organizing hot water supply in a residential building.

Important: the advantage of the second option of a water supply system for a residential building is better water quality, which is regulated by GOST R 51232-98. Also, when taking hot water from a centralized heating main, the temperature and pressure of the liquid are quite stable and do not deviate from the specified parameters: pressure in the pipeline hot system water supply is maintained at the level of cold water supply, and the temperature is stabilized in the common heat generator.

Let us consider the water supply of an apartment building according to the second option in more detail, since this is the scheme that is most often used both in urban areas and in country houses, including country houses or garden houses.

What elements does the water supply scheme of an apartment building include?

The water metering unit, which organizes the supply of water to the house, is responsible for several functions:

  1. It takes into account the consumption of cold water supply, that is, it acts as a water meter;
  2. It can shut off the supply of cold water to the house in emergency situations or when it is necessary to repair components and parts, as well as to eliminate leaks;
  3. Serves as a filter rough cleaning water: any hot water supply scheme for an apartment building should contain a similar mud filter.

The device itself consists of the following components:

  1. A set of shut-off valves (taps, valves and valves) at the inlet and outlet of the device. Standardly these are gate valves, ball valves, valves;
  2. Mechanical water meter, which is installed on one of the risers;
  3. Mud filter (filter for coarse water purification from large solid particles). This could be a metal mesh in the housing, or a container in which solid debris settles to the bottom;
  4. Pressure gauge or adapter for inserting a pressure gauge into a water supply circuit;
  5. Bypass (bypass from a section of pipe), which serves to turn off the water meter during repairs or for data verification. The bypass is equipped with shut-off valves in the form ball valve or valve.

It is also an elevator unit that performs the following functions:

  1. Ensures full and continuous operation of the heating system in an apartment building, and also regulates its parameters;
  2. It delivers hot water to the house, that is, it provides hot water supply (hot water supply). The coolant itself in the heating system enters the hot water supply system of the apartment building directly from the centralized heating main;
  3. The heating point can switch the hot water supply between return and supply. This may be necessary during severe frosts, since at this time the temperature of the coolant on the supply pipe can rise to 130-150 0 C, and this despite the fact that the standard supply temperature should not exceed 750 C.


The main element of a heating point is a water-jet elevator, where hot water from the working fluid supply pipeline circuit in the house is mixed in a mixing chamber with the return coolant by injection through a special nozzle. Thus, the elevator allows a larger volume of low-temperature coolant to pass through the heating circuit, and, since injection is carried out through a nozzle, the supply volume is small.

Embed adapters for DHW connections it is possible between the valves at the entrance of the route and the heating station - this is the most common connection scheme. The number of inserts is two or four (one or two each on the supply and return). Two inserts are typical for old houses; in new buildings, four adapters are practiced.

On the cold water route, a dead-end tie-in scheme with two connections is usually used: water metering unit is connected to the bottling, and the bottling itself is connected to the risers through which pipes are distributed throughout the apartments. Water will move in such a cold water supply system only during disassembly, that is, when opening any mixers, taps, valves or valves.

Disadvantages of this connection:

  1. If there is no water supply to a particular riser for a long time, the water will remain cold for a long time when drained;
  2. Heated towel rails embedded in the DHW inlets from the boiler rooms, which simultaneously heat the bathroom or toilet, will only be hot when the DHW is drawn from a specific riser in the apartment. That is, they will almost always be cold, which will cause the appearance of moisture on the walls, mold or fungal diseases of the building materials of the room.

A heating station with four hot water connections in the house makes the circulation of hot water continuous, and this happens through two bottlings and risers connected to each other by jumpers.

Important: if mechanical water meters are installed on the hot water taps, then the water supply consumption will be taken into account without taking into account the water temperature, which is incorrect, since you will have to overpay for hot water that was not used.

Hot water supply can operate in three ways:

  1. From the supply pipe to the return pipe to the boiler room. Such a hot water system is effective only in warm time years with the heating system turned off;
  2. From supply pipe to supply pipe. Such a connection will bring maximum benefits in the demi-season - autumn and spring, when the coolant temperature is low and far from maximum;
  3. From the pipe reverse into the return pipe. This DHW diagram most efficient in extreme cold, when the temperature on the supply pipe rises to ≥ 75 0 C.

For continuous movement of water, a pressure difference is required between the starting and ending points of insertion into one circuit, and this difference is ensured by limiting the flow. This limiter is a special retaining washer - a steel pancake with a hole in the middle. Thus, the water that is transported from the inlet to the elevator encounters an obstacle in the form of a washer body, and this obstacle is regulated by a rotation that opens or closes the retaining hole.

But too much restriction of water movement in the pipeline route will disrupt the operation of the heating point, so retaining washer The diameter should be 1 mm larger than the diameter of the heat station nozzle. This size is calculated by representatives of the heat supplier so that the temperature is return pipe heating of the elevator unit lay in regulatory limits temperature graph.

What is pipe filling and riser

These are pipes laid horizontally and carried through the basement of a residential building, which connect the risers to the heating station and water meter. Bottling of cold water supply is done in single copies, bottling of hot water supply is done in duplicate.

The diameter of the DHW or cold water filling pipes can be 32-100 mm, and depends on the number of connected consumers. For any water supply scheme, ø 100 mm is too large, but this size is taken taking into account not only the actual condition of the route, but also taking into account the size of salt deposits and rust on the inner walls of metal pipes.

A vertical pipe riser distributes water to the apartments located above it. Standard scheme Such wiring includes several risers - for cold and hot water supply, sometimes - separately for heated towel rails. More wiring options:

  1. Several groups of risers passing through one apartment and providing water to water points located at a great distance from each other;
  2. A group of risers in one apartment that supplies water to a neighboring apartment or several apartments;
  3. When organizing hot water supply, pipe jumpers can be used to connect up to seven groups of risers across apartments. The lintels are equipped with Mayevsky taps. This is called a circulation pipeline, or CTP.

The standard diameter of cold and hot water supply pipes for risers is 25-40 mm. Racks for heated towel rails and single risers are mounted from ø 20 mm pipes. Such risers provide both single-pipe and two-pipe system heating the house.

Closed hot water system

The constant circulation of water in a closed hot water supply system is based on the principle of taking cold water from the pipeline and supplying it to the heat exchanger. After heating, the water is supplied to the distribution system throughout the apartment. The working fluid in the heating system and hot water for the technical needs of consumers are separated, since the coolant may have toxic inclusions to improve its heat transfer qualities. In addition, hot water pipes rust faster. This scheme is called closed because the consumer uses the heat, and not the coolant itself.

Pipe liner

The main function of the connections is to distribute water to the water collection points in the apartment. The standard diameter of the supply pipes is 15 mm, the grade of pipes is DU15, the material is steel. For PVC or metal-plastic pipes the diameter should be the same. When repairing or replacing the liner, it is not recommended to use a smaller diameter so as not to change the design pressure parameters that must be observed circulation system hot or cold water supply.

To organize the correct eyeliner, tees are most often used, with more complex scheme wiring - collectors. The collector supply requires hidden installation, so the collector should be installed when servicing a large number of rooms in the house. After 10-15 years, metal pipes become overgrown from the inside with salt mineral deposits and rust, so preventive work to restore the system’s functionality consists of cleaning the pipes steel wire, or replacing old pipes with new ones.

Given the apparent functionality and durability of PVC or metal-plastic pipes, it is recommended to use steel products for liners - they withstand water shocks and temperature changes well. Such deviations in the DHW operating mode can often be observed when the heating system is turned on or turned off in an emergency. Pipe material should be included in the plan for the water supply scheme of a residential building at the stage of drawing up the project and estimate.

  1. Galvanized metal pipes - they have been used for many decades, and they have proven themselves to be the best. The zinc layer on the metal prevents corrosion from developing and does not retain salt deposits. When purchasing galvanized products, you should remember that welding work on such a surface is not carried out, since weld will remain unprotected by zinc - all connections must be made on threads;
  2. Pipe connections on fittings for soldering copper connections last much longer than steel and even galvanized pipes. Such connections with a solder connection do not need to be maintained, and they can be laid in both open and hidden ways;
  3. Corrugated pipe line for cold or hot water supply made of stainless steel. Such products are simply and quickly mounted on threaded connections or compression fittings. No special equipment other than two adjustable wrenches is required for this. The guaranteed service life of stainless steel is not limited by the manufacturer. The only thing that will have to be changed over time is the silicone seals.

Features of hot water supply and calculation of the volume of hot water

Calculation of the amount of hot water in the system depends on technical and operational factors:

  1. Estimated hot water temperature;
  2. Number of residents in an apartment building;
  3. The parameters that plumbing fixtures can withstand and the frequency of their operation in the overall water supply scheme;
  4. the number of plumbing fixtures that are connected to the hot water supply.

Calculation example:

  1. A family of four uses a 140 liter bathtub. The bathtub fills in 10 minutes, the bathroom has a shower with a water consumption of 30 liters.
  2. Within 10 minutes, the water heating device must heat it to the design temperature of 170 liters.

These theoretical calculations work based on average water consumption by residents.

Breakdowns in the hot or cold water distribution system

You can fix the following emergency situations with your own hands:

The valve or faucet is leaking. This happens most often due to wear of the oil seal or seal. To eliminate the malfunction, it is necessary to open the valve completely and with force so that the raised oil seal stops the leak. This technique will help for a while; in the future, the valve must be rebuilt and worn parts replaced.

Noise and vibration of a valve or faucet when opening in a hot water supply system (less often cold). The cause of noise is most often wear, deformation or crushing of the gasket in the gearbox of the mechanism. Noises appear if the tap is not opened all the way. This fault can cause a series of water hammers in the pipes, so its elimination is of utmost importance. The faucet valve is capable of closing the valve seat in the faucet or valve body in a few milliseconds, if it is not a ball valve, but a screw valve. Why is the risk of water hammer higher in hot water supply systems? Because in hot water pipes operating pressure more.

How to fix the problem:

  1. Shut off the water at the inlet;
  2. Unscrew the valve housing of the noisy faucet;
  3. Replace the gasket, but before installation, chamfer the new gasket so that the valve does not vibrate when opening at high pressure.

The heated towel rail does not heat up. The cause of the breakdown may be the presence of air in the water supply system with constant coolant circulation. Typically, air accumulates in a pipe jumper, which is installed between adjacent risers, after an emergency or scheduled drain of water. The problem is eliminated by bleeding the air plugs. To do this you need:

  1. Vent the air at the highest point of the system - on the top floor;
  2. Shut off the hot water supply riser located in the apartment (the riser is closed in the basement of the house);
  3. Open all hot water taps in the apartment;
  4. After bleeding air through taps and mixers, you need to close them. And open the shut-off valve on the riser.

Hidden faults

At the end of the heating season, the pressure difference between the heating main pipes may not be maintained, and because of this, heated towel rails connected directly to the hot water supply will be cold. This is not a reason for concern - you need to bleed off the air, which equalizes the pressure, and the heating will be restored.

Hot water supply (HW) networks have much in common with cold water supply networks. The hot water supply network comes with lower and upper wiring. The hot water supply network can be dead-end and looped, but, unlike cold water supply networks, looping the network is necessary to maintain a high water temperature.

Simple (dead-end) hot water networks are used in small low-rise buildings, in domestic premises industrial buildings and in buildings with stable hot water consumption (baths, laundries).

Schemes of hot water supply networks with a circulation pipeline should be used in residential buildings, hotels, hostels, medical institutions, sanatoriums and rest homes, in preschool institutions, as well as in all cases where uneven and short-term water withdrawal is possible.

Typically, a hot water supply network consists of horizontal supply lines and vertical distribution pipelines-risers, from which apartment distribution lines are arranged. Hot water supply risers are laid as close to the appliances as possible.

Figure 1. Diagram with the upper distribution of the supply line: 1 - water heater; 2 - supply riser; 3 - distribution risers; 4 - circulation network

In addition, hot water supply networks are divided into two-pipe (with looped risers) and single-pipe (with dead-end risers).

Let's look at some of the large number possible schemes of hot water supply networks.

When the lines are routed from the top, the prefabricated circulation pipeline is closed in the form of a ring. The circulation of water in the pipeline ring in the absence of water intake is carried out under the influence of gravitational pressure that arises in the system due to the difference in the density of cooled and hot water. The water cooled in the risers falls down into the water heater and displaces water with a higher temperature from it. Thus, continuous water exchange occurs in the system.

Dead-end network diagram(Fig. 2) has the lowest metal consumption, but due to significant cooling and irrational discharge of cooled water, it is used in residential buildings up to 4 floors high, if the risers are not equipped with a heated towel rail and the length of the main pipes is small.

Figure 2. Dead-end hot water supply circuit: 1 - water heater; 2 – distribution risers

If the length of the main pipes is large and the height of the risers is limited, use circuit with looped supply and circulation lines with installation of a circulation pump on them (Fig. 3).

Figure 3. Scheme with looped main pipelines: 1 - water heater; 2 - distribution risers; 3 - diaphragm (additional hydraulic resistance); 4 - circulation pump; 5 - check valve

The most widespread two-pipe scheme(Fig. 4), in which circulation through risers and lines is carried out using a pump that takes water from the return line and supplies it to the water heater. A system with one-sided connection of water points to the supply riser and installation of heated towel rails on the return riser is the most common version of such a scheme. The two-pipe scheme turned out to be reliable in operation and convenient for consumers, but it is characterized by high metal consumption.

Figure 4. Two-pipe hot water supply scheme: 1 - water heater; 2 - supply line; 3 - circulation line; 4 - circulation pump; 5 - supply riser; 6 - circulation riser; 7 - water intake; 8 - heated towel rails

To reduce metal consumption, in recent years they have begun to use a scheme in which several supply risers are combined by a jumper with one circulation riser(Fig. 5).

Figure 5. Scheme with one connecting circulation riser: 1 - water heater; 2 - supply line; 3 - circulation line; 4 - circulation pump; 5 - water risers; 6 - circulation riser; 7 - check valve

Recently appeared diagrams of a single-pipe hot water supply system with one single supply riser per group of water risers(Fig. 6). The idle riser is isolated and installed in pairs with one water riser or in a sectional unit consisting of 2-3 looped water risers. The main purpose of the idle riser is to transport hot water from the main to the upper lintel and then to the water risers. In each riser, independent additional circulation occurs due to the gravitational pressure that arises in the circuit of the sectional unit due to the cooling of water in the water risers. An idle riser helps correct distribution flows within a sectional node.

Figure 6. Sectional single-pipe hot water supply diagram: 1 - supply line; 2 - circulation line; 3 - idle supply riser; 4 - water riser; 5 - ring jumper; 6 - shut-off valves; 7 - heated towel rail.

Hello Timur!

Such a service as DHW circulation exists, and was introduced by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 8, 2012 N 1149 “On amendments to the Basic Principles of Pricing in the Field of Activities of Public Utilities Organizations.”

In accordance with the review of this document conducted by Garant.ru:

Hot water: tariffs are introduced for open and closed water supply systems. The principles of pricing in the field of activity of public utility organizations have been adjusted. It has been established that regulatory authorities choose the type of tariff (one- or two-part) for cold water, wastewater disposal and treatment Wastewater, established for a specific organization of the public utility complex, in the manner determined by the guidelines. It is also stipulated that these authorities set 2 tariffs for hot water: in a closed hot water supply system and in an open hot water supply (heat supply) system. Under closed system refers to a complex of technologically interconnected engineering structures intended for hot water supply. It can be carried out by taking hot water from hot water supply networks or by heating cold water using a central heating point (without taking hot water from the heating network). In such a system, the hot water tariff consists of a component for cold water and a component for thermal energy. An open system is understood as a technologically connected complex of engineering structures designed for heat supply and hot water supply, carried out by extracting hot water from the heating network. Here, the hot water tariff consists of a coolant component and a thermal energy component. It is stipulated that the surcharge to hot water tariffs is set in the form of a surcharge to the cold water component based on the fee per 1 cubic meter. meter of cold water. In order to establish tariffs for hot water for 2013, the documents provided for by the Rules for regulating tariffs, surcharges and marginal indices in the field of activity of public utility organizations are submitted to regional authorities in the field of regulating tariffs and surcharges before December 1, 2012. The Ministry of Regional Development has been instructed to prepare amendments to the Rules establishing and determining consumption standards utilities. They should establish the procedure for establishing standards for the consumption of utility services, which determines the consumption of thermal energy for heating water for the purpose of hot water supply. Amendments to the Rules that are mandatory when concluding managing organization or HOAs or specialized consumer cooperatives contracts with resource supply organizations. They must establish the procedure for determining the volumes of hot water supplied under a heat supply and (or) hot water supply contract in order to provide hot water supply services.



This article is also available in the following languages: Thai

  • Next

    THANK YOU so much for the very useful information in the article. Everything is presented very clearly. It feels like a lot of work has been done to analyze the operation of the eBay store

    • Thank you and other regular readers of my blog. Without you, I would not be motivated enough to dedicate much time to maintaining this site. My brain is structured this way: I like to dig deep, systematize scattered data, try things that no one has done before or looked at from this angle. It’s a pity that our compatriots have no time for shopping on eBay because of the crisis in Russia. They buy from Aliexpress from China, since goods there are much cheaper (often at the expense of quality). But online auctions eBay, Amazon, ETSY will easily give the Chinese a head start in the range of branded items, vintage items, handmade items and various ethnic goods.

      • Next

        What is valuable in your articles is your personal attitude and analysis of the topic. Don't give up this blog, I come here often. There should be a lot of us like that. Email me I recently received an email with an offer that they would teach me how to trade on Amazon and eBay.

  • It’s also nice that eBay’s attempts to Russify the interface for users from Russia and the CIS countries have begun to bear fruit. After all, the overwhelming majority of citizens of the countries of the former USSR do not have strong knowledge of foreign languages. No more than 5% of the population speak English. There are more among young people. Therefore, at least the interface is in Russian - this is a big help for online shopping on this trading platform. eBay did not follow the path of its Chinese counterpart Aliexpress, where a machine (very clumsy and incomprehensible, sometimes causing laughter) translation of product descriptions is performed. I hope that at a more advanced stage of development of artificial intelligence, high-quality machine translation from any language to any in a matter of seconds will become a reality. So far we have this (the profile of one of the sellers on eBay with a Russian interface, but an English description):
    https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/7a52c9a89108b922159a4fad35de0ab0bee0c8804b9731f56d8a1dc659655d60.png