How to change water pipes in an apartment. Replacing water pipes in an apartment: how and what to change

Replacing pipes inside an apartment or house must be approached with all seriousness. Even if you have experience in installing plumbing, heating, sewerage, anyway, each new object always has its own unique features.

Replacing water pipes in an apartment with your own hands is quite within the power of everyone, however, this occupation is far from being as simple as it seems. Let's look into the nuances together.

Exists four main types of pipes, which is installed inside the apartment.

Pipes are:

1. Steel, galvanized, cast iron.
2. Copper.
3. Metal-plastic.
4. Polypropylene, PVC.

Each material has its pros and cons. Let's consider them.

Steel, galvanized pipes

Steel pipes came to us from the last century. Just before there were no pipes made of artificial materials.

So I had to mount heavy steel pipes, threading, using welding, a burner. The plumbers of that time were physically very developed people.

Advantages of steel pipes:

• Reliability. Such pipes are connected by a threaded or welded method, while the connection becomes monolithic.
• Strength. Steel pipe is quite durable.

But the cons of such a pipe still exceed the pros:

• fragility. Maximum 20 years and the pipe needs to be replaced as from the inside, it becomes inaccessible.

• Heavy installation, special equipment and tools. Not everyone has the skills to cut threads, weld a seam. Connections are required to be laid with tow, lubricated with sealant. All in all, pretty troublesome.
• It's hard to get into the pipe. Again, equipment and skills are required.

That is why the most common type of plumbing work is the replacement of metal pipes with plastic ones.

The same pros / cons occur with a galvanized pipe, with the difference that its service life is slightly longer. But installation is more troublesome, so it's better to invite professionals.

Copper pipes

Previously considered elite, when there were no plastic pipelines.

Copper has a number of positive properties, for which it continues to be put so far:

• The antibacterial effect of copper is well known, which is the main reason for its use.
• Thermal conductivity. Copper is an excellent conductor of heat, which allows it to operate over a very wide temperature range, especially in the refrigeration industry. Copper does not become brittle at low temperatures.
• Reliability and aesthetics. Copper withstands high pressure, its linear expansion is minimal, i.e. it does not "play" with temperature changes.
• Copper is a natural, environmentally friendly material.

Among the minuses, we highlight the following:

• The high cost of the pipe, since copper is a rather expensive material.
• Installation requires professional skills. Copper is compressed by a press or soldered by capillary welding. In both cases, it is better to use the services of specialists.
• There may be “stray” currents in the copper pipeline circuit, so it is better to entrust the laying scheme to a specialist.

Copper pipe is produced in coils and in straight lengths, it depends on the diameter of the pipe. Therefore, if you want to cool and permanently replace the pipes in the apartment, you may well use the copper option, but always with the involvement of professionals.

Metal-plastic pipes

This is the most common option today. This is explained simply - very easy and affordable installation, plus the inexpensive cost of materials. It turns out a kind of budget-home option.

Such a pipe is a five-layer structure, in which the outer and inner polyethylene layers are glued to the aluminum layer with adhesive layers. It turns out a kind of sandwich, which easily bends and assembles.

Advantages of a metal-plastic pipe:

• Easy assembly. Repairing pipes in an apartment is similar to picking up a children's designer.
• pipeline cost. This is the most economical piping method.
• Savings on workers' wages. The amount saved is pretty decent. You yourself are quite capable of assembling the entire pipe at the proper level, except that you can change the entrance valves to the apartment with the help of professionals.
• You can always crash into a finished pipeline, and it won't take long.

• Over time, the connections will loosen and will need to be tightened. Therefore, such a pipe can be hidden in the floor or walls only if it is installed using press equipment.
• Pretty low reliability. Joints may begin to leak as a result of water hammer or a large temperature difference.

Tip: when choosing a pipe, make sure that it does not exfoliate and is seamless. Otherwise, you will not have any trouble during installation.

There are a number of nuances in how to properly connect metal-plastic pipes:

1. Cut the pipe with special scissors, which you hold strictly perpendicular to the pipe. Otherwise, an uneven cut will give trouble when tightening the fitting nut.

1. Calibrate the end of the pipe with the nut and ring fitted to calibrate evenly without distortion.

1. Use a spring-loaded pipe bender where possible. The metal-plastic pipe bends very easily, but if the bend is significant, it can simply “fold”.

This saves on fittings and reduces the number of connections.

These pipes are gaining popularity in the segment of domestic water supply, heating and sewerage. The reason for the growing popularity of such water pipes as connections with.

To connect PP pipes, a special soldering iron is used, which heats the pipe and fitting evenly to a temperature of 260 degrees and then the products are simply connected.

Diffusion welding takes place, i.e. penetration of particles from one part of the product into another (diffusion).

Often, the replacement of heating pipes in an apartment is carried out using polypropylene pipes.

They are produced in a wide species range, which divides the pipe according to the temperature purpose.

We list the types of polypropylene pipes and their purpose:

1. PN-10. The simplest polypropylene pipe. Used for cold water supply only.

1. PN-20. Universal pipe. Can be used for both cold and hot water supply.

Important! Polypropylene is a material that changes volume strongly with temperature. For example, if the temperature changes by 100 degrees, a 10 m long pipe will become 15 cm longer!

This is a lot, so use a special reinforced pipe to avoid pipe breaks for heating and hot water supply.

1. PN-25. Reinforced pipe used for any water supply and heating.

Reinforcement is of three types:

• External reinforcement with foil. Such a pipe must be cleaned of foil to the depth of soldering, otherwise the connection will not work.

• Internal reinforcement with fiberglass.

• Internal reinforcement with foil.

This version of the pipe can still have a polyethylene layer instead of the inner PP layer, which somewhat improves the temperature characteristics of the pipe as a whole.

Replacing water pipes in an apartment with polypropylene pipes also has its positive and negative sides.

• Very reliable connection. With the right choice of pipe type, the water supply system as a whole practically does not deform as a result of temperature changes. The joint does not leak.
• Polypropylene is easily cut with special scissors, as in the example of a metal-plastic pipe, edges are easily processed.
• After a little practice, the process of soldering pipes is not difficult, this work is available to almost everyone.

• Some bulkiness of pipes, since they have a rather large wall thickness.
• The rigidity of the pipe, the dimensions must be carefully adjusted.
• If the section of the pipe and fitting heated by the soldering iron is not immediately connected, then it will no longer be possible to reheat due to structural changes in the material. Just take a new piece of pipe and a new fitting.

Tip: take the pipe and fitting with a reserve for contingencies, with an agreement to return the remaining unused parts back to the store. Sellers go for it without problems.

Tip: in the case of installing a polypropylene water pipe, replacing water pipes will not cause you significant difficulties. In addition to the pipe and fitting, you will have to purchase some tools that will always come in handy, but we do not recommend purchasing a special soldering iron. The thing is quite expensive and can only be used in soldering polypropylene pipes. Although, if you plan to engage in installation on an ongoing basis, then another matter.

For heating, take only a reinforced pipe, and fiberglass reinforcement is preferable. Such a pipe practically does not "play" from temperature changes.

Also, a sewer pipe is made from polypropylene. It looks very aesthetically pleasing, although polypropylene is recommended only for the internal sewer system.

If, after reading this article, you still did not decide to carry out the work to replace the pipeline yourself, then at least you will already be able to qualitatively control the performance of these works by the builders. Well, write an application for the replacement of pipes to the installation organization, coordinate the completeness with the workers, draw up a plan and proceed with the repair. Everything will work out.

If replacement of water supply pipes in an apartment is required, most people invite a specialist.

Can you try to do it yourself?

What to change

The modern market can offer us:

• Black and galvanized steel pipes;
• Copper;
• metal-plastic;
• Polypropylene.

The comparative advantages and disadvantages of these materials have already been repeatedly mentioned, so we will only briefly go through the main points.

Steel pipes without anti-corrosion coating

pros

• Mechanical strength;
• Cheapness;
• Fittings availability.

Minuses

• Susceptibility to corrosion and overgrowth of the inner surface, especially in cold water;
• Great weight;
• Labor-intensive installation with welding or on.

Galvanized pipes

This pipe is afraid of rust only where deeply cut threads have exposed steel from under a layer of zinc. At the same time, the pipe has increased in price, and mounting it is still not easy work.

Tip: However, where special strength or high temperature resistance is needed at a low price, galvanized steel is the best choice.

In particular, it is an ideal material for entering a private house from a heating main.

Copper

pros

• This material, in the absence of catastrophes (a meteorite falling on the house, the third world war or a serious family quarrel), is practically eternal. The oldest copper plumbing is over a century old and in excellent condition.
• Working temperature. It is capped at 250 C from above. This means that the pipes will not only survive peak water temperatures; they will withstand superheated steam.
• Resistance to moisture and chemically active substances. The pipe will not rust or dissolve.

Minuses

• Price. It is the most expensive of all materials.
• Mounting on is tedious and requires a fair amount of physical strength; also needs a special tool.

metal-plastic

pros

• Easy assembly;
• Reasonable price for pipes and fittings;
• Neat appearance.

Minuses

Serious minus, in fact, one, but very significant: leaks on the fittings. After several tens of heating-cooling cycles, the connections begin to flow. Because of this, it is better to make them available for maintenance.

Polypropylene

pros

• Quick installation that does not require special skills;
• Extremely reliable and mechanically strong connections;
• Cheap material and fittings;
• Light weight is important both during transportation and when attaching water pipes to light partitions.

Minuses

• Unreinforced polypropylene elongates strongly when heated;
• Connections with fittings are non-separable;
• Special tool required for installation

Reinforced polypropylene is deprived of the first drawback - pipes in which one of the layers is aluminum foil or fiberglass. In addition, it withstands significantly more water pressure.

Comparison results

In the aggregate of all properties, reinforced polypropylene pipes are definitely the best choice. Ceteris paribus, it is better to stop at a pipe reinforced with fiberglass: it does not require stripping during installation and does not delaminate. But more on that later.

How to change

So, we settled on reinforced polypropylene. Replacing pipes in an apartment with your own hands, step by step, looks like this:

Dismantling the old plumbing

1. We turn off and reset the water supply risers;
2. We disassemble the threads or, which is simpler, we cut the old water pipe from the valves and further with a turbine;
3. Carefully, without much effort and distortion, unscrew the valve.

Tip: With older screw valves, it is often more convenient to first completely unscrew the head with the wing and stem.

In this case, you do not need to gouge a piece of the wall to unscrew the valve.

Be prepared, if necessary, to anneal the threads with a gas canister with a nozzle or a blowtorch; the valve, when you begin to unscrew the head, be sure to hold it with a second gas key.

Otherwise, there is a risk of breaking off the thread on the steel pipe coming from the riser.

Cleaning an old pipe

The pipe section up to the valve is almost always completely or partially clogged with slag and sand. In cold water, corrosion and salt deposits turn debris into hard growths inside the pipe.

Judging by the absence of deposits on top - galvanization. However, as you can see, it also needs to be cleaned

Cleaning the pipe before installing the valves is a mandatory operation. To do this, you can use a thin steel string (drapes were hung on such during the youth of Joseph Kobzon) or, if the riser is close, with an ordinary screwdriver.

If you have to wield a string, make a handle on one side of it like the one on the well gate, and on the other side, a hook the size of a match head. You will have to clean the problem areas, accompanying the supply of the string by turning the handle.

Valves and filters

The new valve sits on the old thread with a winding of sanitary flax soaked in paint.

Tip: in order not to get your hands dirty, wind one turn of linen, smear on opposite sides of the thread with a paint brush and then wind the rest of the winding.

Don't forget to lay down plastic or folded newspaper. Even one drop, let it fall on the floor.

Next, we install the filter, then the fitting-adapter from the thread to polypropylene.

It is advisable to place the filter so that the settling barrel is directed downwards. Otherwise, slag and scale will collect anywhere, but not in it.

Of the valves, it is better to stop at modern ball valves that block the water by turning the handle or flag by 90 degrees.

Installation of polypropylene

1. We select a soldering iron nozzle that matches the diameter of the pipe and fittings. By the way, for home plumbing, a diameter of 20 mm is optimal, which is at the same time the cheapest.
2. We remove the outer chamfer from the pipe.
3. We must clean the reinforced pipe with aluminum foil: even if the aluminum layer is glued between the layers of polypropylene, when aluminum comes into contact with water, the pipe may begin to delaminate after a short time. The fault is electrochemical processes in aluminum in the presence of an electrolyte and low currents.
4. We insert one side of the nozzle into the fitting, put the other on the pipe.
5. Let the plastic melt.
6. We insert the pipe into the fitting and hold for a few seconds.

Conclusion

And really easy, right? Do not forget: we turn it on, opening the valve only partially, after which we carefully inspect the plumbing, all threads and connections with mixers for leaks.

In the article, together with the reader, we will try to figure out why you need to replace the water pipes in the apartment and how you can do it yourself.

Motivation

Clogged pipes

Over time, steel pipes without an anti-corrosion coating will inevitably overgrow. First of all, this applies to cold water. The inevitable sand, scale, slag and deposits of mineral salts form a solid substance inside the pipe over several years, interfering with the flow of water.

Of course, you can disassemble the water supply and clean the pipes with a special thin cable. However, this will be a half measure: after a few years, the procedure will have to be repeated again.

In addition, since the late eighties, thin-walled pipes have been used by builders in many typical apartment buildings. For reasons of economy, of course. Such water pipelines, when disassembled after 20-25 years, literally crumble in their hands.

Numerous leaks

Seam pipes often begin to leak at several points along one seam. With a minimum time interval. After you call the welder for the fifth time, there will inevitably be a desire not to deal with the consequences, but to fix the problem once and for all.

Appearance

Untidy with streaks of rust and years of paint layers are simply ugly. To hide them in a box means to look for adventures on ... your back. All communications must be available - this is the golden rule of an experienced plumber.

At the same time, replacing water pipes with modern ones will make it look neat and presentable.

Tip: if for some reason you have to hide communications under the decor, make it collapsible. It is better to make a little more effort in the repair than to smash expensive tiles with a sledgehammer later with curses.

Material selection

What can the modern market offer us? Let's take a look at the nearest store for an overview of popular modern materials.

Steel pipes

Throw away and forget like a bad dream. We are changing the plumbing precisely because they did not live up to our expectations.

Steel pipes with zinc coating

Already warmer. Galvanized does not rust and does not overgrow. Unlike. Against it - only a relatively complex assembly. If you do not have a welding machine or a lathe, the only way to assemble the galvanized plumbing yourself is to manually cut the threads and assemble the structure on the couplings and corners.

This means that we will have to buy dies and keys, which are not cheap. In addition, it requires both a certain skill and great physical strength.

metal-plastic

Beautiful appearance. Neat shiny fittings. A good choice for a summer residence, where minor leaks are not terrible. There is, perhaps, only one contraindication to the use of metal-plastic pipes in an apartment.

After several cycles of heating and cooling, they often begin to leak on the fittings, and you have to tighten the union nuts. If you have chosen metal-plastic, it is especially important to leave the fittings available.

Polypropylene

Among modern materials for plumbing - a clear champion. There is only one inconvenience: the connections are not separable. The fact is that the pipes are not connected to each other, but are welded with a special soldering iron. However, the procedure is simple, and the soldering iron itself is very inexpensive. If you need to change the configuration of the water supply - you can always cut and weld again.

Other than that, it's the perfect material. It does not overgrow from the inside, does not rust and does not lose its qualities over the entire reasonable temperature range. Connections never leak and withstand very significant mechanical loads, no different in strength from a solid pipe.

Fittings for any connections and adapters for any threads are not a problem to buy now. A person puzzled by how to change water pipes can safely opt for polypropylene.

Embodiment

Installation of water shut-off valves

If the water supply is from the base of the house - most likely, the valves have also become unusable. And even if they still block the water, it is better to replace the old screw valves with modern ball valves that block the water by turning a flag or handle.

The new valves are both prettier and much more reliable, and do not have many of the problems of their predecessors, such as valve separation.

• To replace the valve, we need to turn off the risers of cold and hot water.
  People who know well how the water is turned off and in what condition the valves on the risers, and at the same time the risers themselves, hardly need our advice. For everyone else -

advice: to replace the valves, call a plumber, and officially, with the registration of an application at the housing office.

In this case, no one will turn on the water in the basement when your plumbing is dismantled. In addition, when dismantling the old valve, the thread that broke off from the side of the riser is an ordinary case.

It's better that it doesn't become completely your problem. The locksmith, if necessary, will be able to invite a welder, but for you this is not always realistic.

But from the valves you can already dance on your own. Further replacement of water pipes for any adult will not cause problems.

Filters

• Regardless of which type of faucet you choose, installing filters after the valves is a must.
  Scale, slag and sand kill ceramic faucets at once, but even with conventional faucets with rubber gaskets, a clogged filter on the faucet spout will not please you.
  And it’s also tiring to clean the fittings of the toilet tank over and over again - there the clearance for water is small and easily clogged with any debris.
• Choose the simplest coarse filters. Do not be fooled by the seller's stories about the delights of expensive Italian fittings.
  Inside the filter there should be a stainless metal mesh and a small sump in which slag accumulates. The rest is from the evil one.

Tip: filters are always mounted with a removable lid (barrel) down. Otherwise, the slag will remain anywhere, but not where it should go.

The bottom filter is installed correctly, but the top one is not.

Assembly of threaded connections

• The filter to the valve and the first fitting made of polypropylene to the filter are threaded. Most likely, the thread is also used when installing the faucet in the bathroom. If you don’t want to remember that threads can flow, don’t reinvent the wheel, use the old-fashioned way.
  Screw a flax coil onto the thread (winding is sold at any plumbing store), brush with drying oil or any paint, and then wind the rest of the flax along the thread and assemble the threaded connection. Do not be afraid to overdo it with paint: the excess will squeeze out, unless you get dirty.

Polypropylene connection

• The main part of the plumbing assembly is no more difficult than assembling a model from a children's constructor. We select the nozzle of the soldering iron, heat the fitting and the pipe on it at the same time and insert one into the other.
  Half a minute - and the connection is ready. In order to fix the pipe on the wall, we use special plastic fasteners.

The horrors of repair behind

Here is a summary of all the tricks of how to replace the plumbing. As you can see, nothing complicated. Replacing water pipes in an apartment with your own hands does not require supernatural skills and expensive tools. All it takes is a little time and a very small amount of money.

In contact with

Classmates

Those who decide to make repairs in a new building apartment will not have to change communications, because the pipes in new houses are made of polymer materials that meet all modern requirements. But if you live in an old building, then replacing plumbing communications in the apartment is a must. After many years of use, they have reached a high degree of wear, and the appearance leaves much to be desired. If you prepare well, then you can replace the pipes in the apartment yourself.

How to replace plumbing pipes in an apartment

Modern communications and components are of high quality and durability. However, sometimes there is a need to replace the water pipes in the apartment. This may be for the following reasons:

the pipe is clogged with rust and mineral deposits (typical for old pipes, the inner side of which is not treated with an anti-corrosion coating);

if you wish, change communications in the bathroom or toilet from open to hidden;

due to rupture or leakage caused by pipe wear or installation errors;

when redeveloping the bathroom, during which it was necessary to change the wiring of communications.

Before you start replacing pipes in an apartment, you need to assess the amount of work to be done and outline a plan for their implementation. It should contain the following items:

piping scheme;

replacement materials;

the necessary tool for replacing pipes;

dismantling of old communications;

installation of new pipes according to the drawn up scheme.

After assessing the scope and nature of the upcoming work, it is necessary to draw up a plan for the planned wiring. It may not differ from the existing one, or it may be completely different.

galvanized and metal;

cast iron;

• metal-plastic;

  plastic.

Types of piping

Pipe routing can be of several types. Let's briefly describe each of them.

Serial (also called "tee") wiring. This is the simplest type. Two pipes (with hot and cold water) are diverted from the riser, and from them, using tees, water is supplied to where you need. This scheme will not require any large financial costs or special physical efforts from you. In addition, the consistent piping in the apartment is easily dismantled and has good maintainability.

Collector wiring. Such a scheme involves a pipe connection to each consuming device. Collector wiring will require more labor costs (which means that the cost of installation will also increase), but in general this scheme is more reliable and more durable than a tee. In addition, with it, each pipe has its own shut-off valve, which will allow, if necessary, to shut off the desired one, leaving the rest open.

Open type. With such a wiring, communications are laid along the walls of the apartment using various connecting elements - brackets, clamps, etc. The disadvantages of this type include low aesthetics - all pipes are in sight. But the convenience of replacing pipeline elements increases many times over, and any damage can be detected and eliminated very quickly without the risk of flooding neighbors.

Hidden type of wiring. This scheme is becoming more and more popular. With a hidden type of piping in an apartment, communications are removed into special recesses that are made in the floor screed. This option has a very high aesthetics, but the repair or maintenance of such a network will not be easy. In addition, it is possible that after repairing pipes with this type of wiring, repairs will be required for the entire room.

When is it necessary to replace the pipes in the apartment and at whose expense it is carried out

A leaking pipe in an apartment is a big nuisance and, unfortunately, a common event. In the zone of greatest risk are the apartments of the old housing stock, where communications have not changed for decades. However, it is not necessary to wait for an emergency to replace pipes. You can make repairs in your apartment and lay modern pipes instead of outdated ones.

When there is a need to replace pipes, the first question that comes to mind is where to go? Should the management company do this? What is the cost of replacing pipes in an apartment? Is it possible to contact a third party to carry out this work?

Replacement of pipes in the apartment. How to act.

According to the rules for the maintenance of common property, the management company is responsible for the segment of communications to the first tap from the riser. After the tap, the pipe belongs to the owner of the apartment, and only he is responsible for its performance and safety. Therefore, the elimination of a breakdown or replacement of this section falls on the shoulders of the owner of the home. Another thing is when repair or replacement of risers is required. Since these pipes are the responsibility of the Housing Office, in case of leakage or malfunction, it is there that you should contact them for replacement.

However, as practice shows, public utilities are usually reluctant to contact apartment owners on this issue and do not always respond promptly to a call for plumbing work. Quite often there are reasons why they do not want to replace the risers themselves. To avoid such a situation, you need to contact the management company not verbally, but with the help of a written application, a copy of which should be kept with you. On this statement, the Housing Office should put a resolution. In it, you should indicate the reason for replacing the pipes.

In the event of a negative response to repair or replacement, it is necessary to insist on an inspection of the communications, after which an act on the technical condition of the pipes must be drawn up. If a refusal follows after that, you should again take a written response from the Housing Office with the rationale for the refusal. This document will be very useful if the riser breaks and you suffer property damage. In this case, the management company must be sued and demanded to compensate for the losses incurred.

There is another option, how to replace the public pipe. You can do it yourself, by attracting a specialized organization. However, this does not cancel the appeal to the housing office according to the above scheme. In the event that the hired company performs the replacement or repair of pipes in your apartment in an improper way, the document will be able to help in solving the problems that have arisen.

You also need to remember that if it is the management company that replaces the pipes in the apartment and determines the cost of the work, then the owner of the premises pays for the service.

It cannot be said that any refusal of the management company to replace the risers will be illegal. A motivated refusal is quite possible, for example, if the owner of the apartment moved the pipes in the bathroom during the repair, in order to implement the planned new design of the premises. In this case, the transfer or replacement of communications is not the concern of the management company.

If leaky places and traces of rust are visible on the riser, then this is a serious reason for contacting the housing office. True, specialists can carry out not the replacement of pipes, but their “repair” by installing a clamp on the problem area. Sometimes, there can be 5-6 such clamps on the pipe.

How to write an application for pipe replacement.

This application is made in free form. In it, you describe the situation and demand the intervention of the management company to replace or repair pipes in the apartment.

It is also worth noting that the owner of the premises submitting the application does not have debts for paying utility bills, does not allow delays in payments, and therefore can count on the provision of quality services. An application is written in the name of the head of the management company. If there are any difficulties with the preparation of the document, then there are samples in any housing office, you can check with them.

Replacement of pipes in a privatized apartment and a municipal one. Who cares?

Not everyone living in an apartment can be its owners. The owner of the premises pays for the work in the privatized premises. When concluding a contract with a contractor, you need to check that he has permission for repairs of this type. The document should also contain a clause about the company's responsibility for its work. If the contract is concluded with a management company that maintains the house constantly, then it must provide all the necessary guarantees.

If a person lives in a municipal apartment, then you need to look at the terms of the contract of employment. It is possible that the tenant himself must carry out the necessary work to replace or repair pipes in the apartment. In this case, you need to look for an organization that will replace the pipes, and pay her. If the contract says that the repair of communications should be carried out by the municipality, then it is necessary to write an application to the appropriate department under the administration of the city or district.

What material to choose so that the replacement of pipes in the apartment is successful

The most common today are pipes for cold and hot water made of metal-plastic, polypropylene, copper and galvanized steel. Let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of each material.

Metal-plastic pipes

Pipes made of metal-plastic have the form of a structure in which there are four layers - cross-linked polyethylene, an aluminum layer, the thickness of which is 0.4 mm (performs a reinforcing function), a layer of glue and wear-resistant plastic on the outside.

These communications are universal. Based on the name, such a pipe combines a layer of both plastic and metal. Thus, the outer layer does not corrode and has a long service life. The inner layer makes the pipe reliable, while being ductile and durable. The developers of metal-plastic communications managed to eliminate the problem characteristic of plastic - instability to high pressure and temperatures.

resistance to corrosion;

ease of installation;

the outer layer of the pipe does not conduct current;

many different fittings.

The disadvantages of such pipes are:

the need for constant tightening.

Polypropylene pipes

If you are replacing pipes in an apartment with polypropylene pipes, the repair price will definitely please you. The cost of such communications today is the most optimal in terms of price and quality. You will also get high performance pipes from this material. This type of communication can be called the most utilitarian and practical.

Unlike pipes made of PVC or polyethylene, polypropylene pipes are not so susceptible to temperature changes, especially low ones. Polypropylene can also cope with hot water, but thresholds must not be exceeded.

How to replace pipes in an apartment with your own hands

Replacing pipes in an apartment is an expensive undertaking. To finally understand this, it is enough to call a couple of companies that provide such services. Thus, if you have at least minimal installation skills, you can replace the pipes in the apartment yourself. At the same time, it will be possible to save a significant share of the funds in the budget, even taking into account the purchase of some tools.

At first glance, it is not so difficult to replace pipes in an apartment - I removed the old ones and installed new polymer ones. However, this work only seems simple, in fact there are many nuances that should be taken into account in order to avoid trouble.

Replacement of water pipes in the apartment

Old water pipes made in the 1960s and 1970s were made of "black" steel. Obviously, such communications in a modern apartment do not hold water. Many owners replace them with new ones made of plastic.

As a rule, they replace the water pipes in the apartment according to the scheme below.

At first, a new wiring of a plastic pipeline is planned. Replacing pipes is a good reason to fix the wiring for the better. Usually they change the old tee to a more modern manifold.

Having planned the wiring and drawing the location of new home plumbing lines with chalk along the walls, you can move on to acquiring all the necessary details. It is better to calculate the footage of pipes in an apartment in kind, which, moreover, practically eliminates an error with the number of fittings. If it is planned to replace it with plastic communications or metal-plastic ones, then this assumes that they will be mounted by welding or fittings, respectively. It is difficult to give a clear preference to any option, but it is worth noting that the installation of metal-plastic pipes is simpler and faster compared to polypropylene products. However, the latter win in reliability.

Having purchased pipes and fittings for replacement, you can begin to dismantle the old pipeline. To do this, shut off the water in the apartment on the risers of cold and hot water supply. Then disassemble the threaded coupling on the domestic conduit, which connects it to the valve on the riser. When all this is done, you can not stand on ceremony with old pipes - they are cut off by a grinder and taken out of the apartment.

Having removed old pipes from the apartment, you can take up the installation of new conduits. Polypropylene and metal-plastic pipes are mounted from the tap to the collector comb (if a sequential system is selected, then to the tee).

The joints of the polypropylene conduit are connected by welding using the same couplings. The pipe and coupling are mounted on a soldering iron, heated and pressed into each other. Metal-plastic is assembled faster: a lock nut is twisted from the fitting, a pipe is inserted into it and put on the fitting fitting. After that, the locknut is screwed onto the end of the fitting, thereby pressing the joint.

After all of the above, it remains only to connect the pipes to the fittings of the hot and cold water risers.

Replacement of sewer pipes in the apartment

Replacing sewer pipes in an apartment will differ somewhat, primarily in more complex calculations and dismantling. In this case, the assembly of a new pipeline is usually faster than in the case of communications for cold and hot water. This is possible due to the fact that the sewer pipes are joined through a socket connection with a sealing ring. Therefore, there is nothing difficult in replacing these communications in an apartment with your own hands, you just have to get ready for a dirtier job than in the case of plumbing or heating systems.

Direct replacement of sewer communications in the apartment takes place in three stages.

At the very beginning, you need to update the siphons under the sinks. After that, the slope of the sewer pipes that connect the siphon and the riser is calculated. Slope - the difference between the entrance to the pipe and the exit from it, and the entrance is located under the siphon, and the exit is in the tee on the fan riser. The height difference is directly related to the length of the pipe. Typically, the slope of a pipe with a diameter of 50 mm is 2-3 cm per linear meter. After calculating the slope, it is necessary to project all dimensions onto the supporting surface of the future sewer pipeline, drawing the location of the branch on the wall. Having done all this, you can remove the old sewer pipes.

The dismantling of the old system begins with the blocking of the fan riser. This happens by introducing a pneumatic plug into the collapsible end of the revision of the riser, which will block the drains from the neighbors. Next, you need to very carefully mint the central tee, which collects all the sewer pipes in the apartment. Then the old pipes are dismantled. To disassemble them, no special actions are needed, cast-iron pipes are broken with a hammer, and their remains are taken out of the apartment.

After dismantling comes the assembly stage. First, a PVC pipe is mounted from the toilet drain to the cast-iron tee with a diameter of 100 mm. After that, drain pipes of taps and bathtubs with a diameter of 50 mm are inserted into the tee. Installation is simple: the smooth end of the pipe is inserted into the socket, directed in the opposite direction from the direction of the wastewater discharge.

After completing these steps, the cork is removed from the revision, and the riser is sealed (just tighten the cover). The replacement of sewer pipes in the apartment is completed and they are ready for work again.

Replacement of heating pipes in the apartment

Replacing these pipes will be the fastest. Since you cannot replace the supply and return risers (this is a communal property), all work consists only in replacing the batteries and those pipe sections that lead from the radiators to the riser.

It is necessary to replace communications not during the heating season. When heating is started in the apartments, you will not be allowed to interfere with the operation of the system.

Replacement of heating communications is carried out as follows:

making sure that there is no water in the riser, you need to cut off the horizontal wiring pipe, leaving a small area at the riser;

a thread is cut into this section (with a die and a screw), onto which a ball valve is screwed. The same actions are performed on the second riser, after which there is no urgent work left, since the interests of the rest of the residents of the house are no longer affected;

having installed new batteries, you can begin to breed pipes. The supply pipe is installed first, which is connected by bends to the upper fittings of the radiators. After the supply pipe, a discharge pipe is placed, which is also connected by bends to the lower fittings of the batteries. Pipes are connected by welding, since polypropylene products are used for heating that can withstand a coolant temperature of 95 degrees;

the last step is to connect the supply and discharge pipes to the valves on the riser.

Replacement of pipes in the apartment

The fan pipe serves to prevent unpleasant odors from entering the apartment. It connects the sewer riser to the street. Usually these pipes are placed vertically, but there may be another shape, for example, an angular one.

It is quite possible to carry out the replacement of the fan pipe in the apartment on your own. Materials and tools for this work are similar to those that were needed to replace sewer communications. There are a number of rules to keep in mind.

The diameter of the riser and the fan pipe must match.

The end of the vent pipe should lead to the roof or where the unpleasant odor will quickly dissipate.

The fan pipe must go through warm rooms, and its end must go outside. This is necessary for the formation of traction, which appears due to temperature differences.

Usually, each riser has its own fan pipe. Since in standard-plan apartments, as a rule, there are no more than two risers, this condition should not create unnecessary problems. It is not necessary to replace the fan pipe with a vacuum valve.

So, the replacement of pipes in the apartment may well be carried out on its own. All that is required of you is accuracy and consideration of certain nuances. If no mistakes were made when replacing pipes in the apartment, then the new communications system will last for decades without breakdowns.

How much does it cost to replace pipes in an apartment

If self-replacement of pipes in the apartment is not included in your plans, you can always turn to specialists. At the same time, the determining factor in choosing a company will be the cost of their services. When replacing pipes in an apartment, the price depends on the following factors:

type of communications;

the amount of materials (depending on the size of the apartment or house and the method of wiring);

hidden or open type of pipe laying;

the presence or absence of additional equipment.

In the table below we will give the approximate cost of services for replacing pipes in an apartment.

PRICE LIST FOR INSTALLATION OF WATER SUPPLY PIPES
Installation of a cold water and hot water draw-off point Polypropylene
Installation of a draw-off point for cold water and hot water Rehau
Installation of cold water and hot water draw-off point Copper
Installation of a cold water point only (under the toilet bowl, old car, etc.)
Installation of manifolds (set)
Ball valve installation up to 3/4"
Installing the pressure reducer
Installing a fine filter

Before proceeding with the dismantling of old systems and the installation of new ones, you need to purchase all the necessary materials for these works: pipes, fittings, flexible pipes, manifolds, seals and much more. And it would be better to do it with a trusted supplier.

Working with SantekhStandard you get the following benefits:

quality products at reasonable prices;

constant availability of products in stock in any quantities;

conveniently located warehouse complexes in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Novosibirsk and Samara;

free delivery in St. Petersburg, Moscow, Novosibirsk, Samara, including to transport companies;

delivery of goods to the regions through any transport companies;

individual approach and flexible work with each client;

discounts and various promotions for regular customers;

certified and insured products;

trademarks registered in Russia, which is an additional protection against low-quality fakes.

Specialists of the SantekhStandard company are ready to help both individuals and companies choose pipes. All you need to do is call:

With your own hands, you decide. This is not difficult to do if all the necessary tools and some knowledge are available. The article discusses what material to choose for water pipes and how to change pipes in an apartment.

Changing pipes yourself is quite difficult

When is the replacement of water (sewer) pipes required?

Several signs may indicate that the moment has come when it is time to change the pipes in the apartment:

1. Clogged pipes. If the pipes are clogged, then no matter how much you break through them, you still have to change them. The reason is that over time, slag is deposited on the walls of the steel pipe, preventing the flow of water. Another reason is that the service life of steel pipes is relatively short, and most of them have not changed since the Soviet Union. When dismantled, such pipes crumble in the hands.
2. Leaks in different places. It is also better to replace seam pipes immediately than to call a welder for each new leak. They have a feature: leaks begin in different places along one seam, and after a fairly short interval of time.
3. Appearance. When planning repairs, this issue is particularly acute. Who wants their new Italian tiles to be accentuated by the "design" of an old and rusty plumbing? But modern materials allow not only to lose all problems with pipes at once, but also look neat and presentable even without packing them in a box.

The choice of material for plumbing in the apartment

If earlier water pipes were mostly made of steel, now the choice of material has expanded significantly. In order not to get confused in the choice when it is necessary to replace the water pipes in the apartment, consider the advantages and disadvantages of the materials that are used most often.

• Steel. It is better to discard this option immediately, because it has more disadvantages than advantages. The last one is reliability. But there are much more negative sides: fragility, installation features that only a professional can do, the need for a special tool, susceptibility to corrosion.
• . Already better, but installation is still complicated and requires a welding machine. But there are more advantages: anti-corrosion properties of galvanizing and durability are added to reliability.
• Metal-plastic. Positive aspects - deposits do not accumulate in the pipes; simple installation, which can be done by anyone who can more or less hold the tool in their hands; low cost. But there are also flaws: from a temperature drop or water hammer, fittings, joints, begin to leak. To fix the problem, you need to tighten them. This procedure will have to be repeated approximately once a year, so the connection points should always be freely available. In view of this, in some cases it is preferable to change the metal-plastic pipe to a more practical option.
• . Replacement of water pipes is most often carried out using this material. There are several reasons for this: high reliability (guarantee is given for up to 50 years); ease of installation; low cost of the material; does not overgrow from the inside; connections are not flowing. Diffuse welding is used to connect polypropylene pipes. This means that there is a penetration of particles from one part of the pipe into another. This method allows you to make a strong connection that does not flow even after a while. The disadvantages of the material include bulkiness due to the large wall thickness; during installation, you need to act quickly, otherwise the heated by a soldering iron and not immediately connected area becomes unusable.

Replacing the water supply also involves the installation of all additional elements of the line.

Important! When choosing a metal-plastic pipe, pay attention to some details: it must be seamless and not exfoliate. Polypropylene greatly changes its volume under the influence of high temperature. Heated to 100˚С, a ten-meter pipe increases by fifteen centimeters! This is a lot, so for hot water you need to use a reinforced pipe. This will help avoid breaks.

The subtleties of replacing the water pipe with your own hands

When you have come to the conclusion that you need to change the water pipes in the apartment, the next step is to find out where to start and how to do it. If you decide to change pipes to plastic, then the following recommendations are for you.

We change the old water shut-off valves: valves, faucet

It should be borne in mind that the replacement of the water supply begins with checking the valves at the entrance to the apartment. Most often, they no longer perform their function, so they need to be replaced. In order to change the water valve, the water in the riser is blocked.

Do-it-yourself pipe wiring

If you don’t know how to turn off the water in the apartment, the best solution would be to call a plumber, then the likelihood that one of the neighbors will turn on the water in the basement when your water supply is dismantled will be reduced to zero. Yes, and a common problem when the thread breaks off from the side of the riser will not become your headache. And for a plumber, this is an ordinary case, which he will solve in a short time.

Important! It is necessary to call the plumber officially, with the registration of the application.

Installing filters

Slag, sand, and other debris cause faucets to fail much sooner than one would expect. Therefore, the installation of filters is required. Take the simplest coarse filter, it makes no sense to take an expensive one: all he needs to perform his duties is a stainless metal mesh and a small sump in which debris accumulates.

Important! You need to install the filter with the sump down, otherwise it is useless, because it does not retain slag.

The correct and incorrect installation is shown below: the lower filter is in the correct position, but the upper one is not.

We collect threaded connections and make a riser

The thread is used when mounting the filter to the valve and when mounting the first polypropylene fitting to the filter. Let not a modern, but time-tested method - the use of linen winding and paint.

You can also use more modern materials, for example, fum tape. It doesn't need paint.

We connect polypropylene pipes

Replacing water pipes is quite feasible for non-professionals. First, polypropylene pipes need to be prepared - cut into the desired length of the segment, and only then proceed to welding. To do this, you will need a special soldering iron, which you can buy or rent.

Choose a suitable nozzle, heat the soldering iron to a temperature of 260 ° C and start welding. You need to work quickly. Now, using special plastic fasteners, fix the pipe on the wall, and the replacement of pipes in the apartment has taken place.

WATCH VIDEO

If, after reading all the recommendations, you did not dare to replace the plumbing yourself, you can find out what is the average price for replacing the plumbing in an apartment. Calling the wizard is justified if you do not want or cannot do this work yourself. Replacing the plumbing is not difficult, but requires certain skills.