Riser replacement in an apartment starts with the house manager, because the riser is common property of the whole building and replacing it means shutting off and draining the entire riser. We replace the water or drain riser section in your apartment once the work has been agreed, and at the same time we can also replace the pipes and valves after the inlet. Replacing one riser section costs from €100, and we agree the price before the work starts.
The Apartment Property Law (Dzīvokļa īpašuma likums) draws the line at the riser: the pipes up to the common property risers belong to the apartment, while the risers themselves are part of the building's utility systems. That is why the owners' meeting decides on riser replacement and its funding, and the house manager organises the work.
In practice this means three things. The water is shut off for the whole riser, not just your apartment. The new section has to join the pipe on the neighbours' floors above and below, which often remains old cast iron or steel. And in many apartments the riser is boxed in or tiled over, so access has to be opened first.
Who pays for what, and what to do if the house manager is not planning a replacement, is explained in the article who pays for riser replacement.
Approval from the house manager
The house manager approves the work, the materials and the day the riser will be shut off. If the whole building is organising the replacement, we follow the procedure set by the house manager.
Access
We look at where the riser runs through the apartment and whether it is covered by boxing or tiles. Removing and restoring the boxing or tiles is agreed in advance.
Shut-off and draining
The riser is shut off and drained by the house manager or their service company. The neighbours on the same riser are warned about the water interruption.
Removing the old section
The old cast iron, steel or galvanised section is cut out within the floor, and the ends are prepared for joining to the pipe on the neighbours' floors.
New section and connections
The new riser section is installed with transitions to the existing pipe, a branch for the apartment and, if agreed, new valves.
Filling and testing
With the house manager's permission the riser is refilled, and the joints are checked for leaks at every connection point.
The pipes after the inlet valve up to the taps, toilet and bath are your apartment's property, and you can order their replacement yourself. It is best value to do this when the riser is shut off anyway: the old pipes are without water, and the new system starts from a new branch.
Usually the water and drain connections in the bathroom and the branch to the kitchen are replaced. The pipes can be run exposed or concealed in the wall, in plastic (PPR), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) or multilayer pipe. Concealed installation needs wall chasing and restoration of the finish, which is not plumbing work.
If only one joint is leaking and the pipes are in good condition overall, pipe repair is enough without replacing the whole system.
In 2023 the Senate (Supreme Court) ruled that the water inlet valve fitted where the supply enters the apartment is part of the building's common water supply system. If the inlet valve leaks or does not close, tell the house manager: replacing it means shutting off the riser, and it is a matter for the building.
The valves after the inlet are up to you: the shut-off valves at the cistern, the sink and the washing machine, and the flexible connectors. It is worth replacing them together with the pipes, because old ball valves that have not been moved for years often no longer close fully.
In the LV portāls summary of Cabinet Regulation No. 906, buildings of the 119 series are given a service life of 60 years, and 467 and 602 series buildings 70 years. For water and drain pipes this period is much shorter: 15–30 years depending on the type, and 60 years for cast iron drainage with cast iron fittings.
In the districts where these series dominate, the buildings went up from the 1960s to the 1980s. Construction in Zolitūde began in 1983, and the 119 series dominates there; in Pļavnieki 602 and 119 series buildings were built from 1985; in Mežciems the 602 series was built in 1975–1986; in Imanta the 464, 467 and 602 series dominate. If the water pipes and risers have not been replaced since construction, they have already exceeded their standard service life.
More about plumbing in these districts: in Zolitūde, in Pļavnieki, in Mežciems, in Imanta and in Purvciems.
| Job | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Riser section replacement | from €100 | for 1 riser (cold water, hot water or drain) within one floor |
| Pipe replacement in the apartment | from €500 | bathroom and the branch to the kitchen, risers excluded |
The price depends on the type of riser, the material of the old section (cast iron drainage is harder to cut out), how many risers are replaced at once, access through boxing or tiles, and how the new section joins the pipe on the neighbours' floors. For pipe replacement, the number of connection points matters, and whether the installation is exposed or concealed.
The price does not include materials (pipes, fittings, transitions), restoring tiles and boxing, or shutting off and draining the riser. That is done by the house manager or their service company as a paid service at their own rates. If you are replacing the bath or the hot water towel rail at the same time, see bath replacement and towel rail replacement. You can see all jobs on the plumbing services page, and prices on the plumbing prices page.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Riser section replacement in an apartment | from €100 | for 1 riser within one floor; materials extra |
| Pipe replacement in the apartment | from €500 | bathroom and the branch to the kitchen, risers excluded; materials extra |
Sources
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