A heating main breakdown on Widok Street in central Warsaw has left 34 buildings without heat as temperatures plummet to -14°C.
Breakdown Details
A heating main breakdown on Widok Street in Śródmieście has caused a disruption in heat supply to 34 buildings in the Widok, Zgoda, and Chmielna areas. On Sunday, February 1, before 15:00, the breakdown occurred at number 20 on Widok Street, affecting buildings near Widok, Zgoda, Chmielna streets and nearby sections of Aleje Jerozolimskie, Marszałkowska, Krucza and Bracka streets.
According to preliminary information, heat is expected to return by February 2 at 15:00. The breakdown surprised the heating services, and while specific affected addresses were mentioned, a complete list has not been provided in the report.
Technical Explanation
Such breakdowns occur more frequently during severe frosts. In Warsaw’s heating network, the temperature of the network water is raised as the outside temperature drops, because the demand for heat in buildings increases. This means the network operates at higher parameters (temperature and pressure), increasing the load on infrastructure and revealing weaker points.
On Sunday, February 1, a frost of around -14°C was recorded in Warsaw. At such temperatures, the water in the supply pipe can reach around 106°C (depending on the type of node and regulation method). The water doesn’t boil despite exceeding 100°C because appropriately high operating pressure is maintained in the network.
Emergency Information
In case of a heating breakdown in Warsaw, reports are accepted by the heating emergency service at number 993. For more information about district heating in Warsaw, residents can refer to the city’s official resources.