After installing water meters, the apartment owner is obliged to monitor the operation of the devices. If the received data is inaccurate, the water meter is broken, or after the period specified in the technical documentation has expired, the user is required to submit an application to have the meter checked.
The owner has the right to independently choose the method of assessing the technical condition of the device. This can be checking water meters at home without removing the meter or dismantling it for testing in a laboratory. We will tell you how and in what order the first option is performed.
Timing of inspections
Based on Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354, the owner must carry out verification within the time limits established by the documentation attached to the metering device.
According to the by-law, regional authorities can regulate the timing of monitoring of measuring instruments. Then the inspection will need to be carried out in accordance with the adopted by-laws.
To clarify information about the date of the next inspection, the consumer must familiarize himself with the agreement concluded with the water supply company.
If the date of verification from the factory is unknown, it can be clarified in the technical passport or a copy of the device commissioning certificate
If a deviation from the Federal Law was adopted in the region, then the contract stipulates locally accepted inspection periods, which depend on the quality and composition of the water.
More often in by-laws there are terms:
- 4 years - for SGV;
- 6 years - for agricultural storage.
In the absence of amendments, individual water metering devices are checked at the end of the period specified in the documentation for the water meter. Popular meters from Russian manufacturers: Pulse , Pulsar , Itelma , Meter , SVU have standard inspection periods of 4 and 6 years.
Manufacturers Minol , Triton , Betar have increased the operating period of SGV to 6 years. Some foreign-made water meters, for example Maddalena , must be tested every 10-15 years. A meter that does not pass the inspection within the specified time frame is removed from the register.
After 90 days from the end of the period specified in the contract and/or technical documentation, the service provider will begin to calculate the water consumed in accordance with general regional standards.
Electronic certificate
From September 24, 2022, the record of verification of water meters has become electronic. The metrologist inspector makes a note about verification on the website of the Federal Information Foundation for Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements. It will be possible to track it online on the Arshin website and through the State Services portal at any time.
It was assumed that digital recording would simplify the procedure and free the consumer from the obligation to transfer documents to utility companies. The management company itself will take the data from the Arshina website. But the way this is implemented, to put it mildly, raises questions. The system has not yet been debugged. Not all management companies received access to the data.
According to the rules, a metrologist has the right to enter data into the register not immediately, but within two months.
And so that the consumer does not face sanctions during this time, the owners still have to receive a paper document and personally deliver it to the resource supplier.
How to order a water meter verification?
As the deadline approaches, the user needs to contact the water supply company or a third-party organization that has the right to carry out this type of activity. To do this, just leave a request by phone.
Some devices do not contain recommendations on diagnostic timing. Then it is advisable to assess the technical condition to eliminate measurement inaccuracies, after 4 and 6 years
Before making a call, it is necessary to prepare a device passport, since the following information about the meter will be required:
- model and name;
- type;
- government number;
- device location address;
- telephone number, full name of the customer.
If the workload of the craftsmen at the site is insignificant, the wait for inspection is up to 10 days. If specialists are busy fulfilling pre-filled applications, the waiting time may increase to 1 month.
If you contact a third-party organization, the verification will be carried out almost immediately after the application, but it will cost a little more.
Some water utilities send written notifications about the need to check water meters. If there are no reminders, then you should take the initiative yourself
What to do if the device is lying?
If, after testing, a high error in the operation of the mechanism is diagnosed, the device requires verification in a metrological laboratory for suitability or replacement.
In this case, the following actions must be taken:
- Call a specialist by writing an application to a specialized company.
- Wait for him to remove the seal and dismantle the meter, having previously recorded readings from the device.
- Fix the problem in a metrology laboratory or purchase a new water meter.
- Invite a specialist and install a repaired or new device in the same place.
- Contact the management company by writing an application to register a water meter.
After installing the device, a second application is submitted to the company with a request to seal the water meter.
If you want to learn more about water meters, take a look at this section.
Determining the accuracy of readings
When contacting the water utility, you must indicate the desired verification method.
There are two methods for checking water meters:
- With dismantling of measuring equipment.
- Without removing water meters, at home.
The first method is inconvenient and is rarely used in practice, since laboratory tests of a water meter last from 1 to 4 weeks. Then the payment amounts are calculated based on the average value of the last 6 months, and not on the actual basis.
In addition, dismantling the device requires calling a plumber. After the technician decides that the device is working properly, it must be installed and sealed.
The second method is more convenient because it does not involve plumbing work. Diagnostics lasts less than an hour by connecting testing equipment. Residents do not have to pay for water supply according to average values.
Diagnosis of water meters occurs using a calibration station, which takes into account the volume of liquid passing through it. If any malfunctions are detected, the device will have to be replaced with a new one.
When is it needed?
The need to check a water meter at home arises in the following cases:
water consumption in excess of the usual volume is noticed;- fogging of the transparent cover of the device body;
- low quality of water, noticeable visually (“rusty” liquid due to the high iron content in it or increased hardness);
- leaks due to malfunction of sanitary equipment.
Any of these reasons can cause the device to malfunction.
Call a technician to your home
By agreement between the homeowner and the contractor, a verification date is set. Before connecting the equipment, a service agreement is concluded in two copies.
Popular control equipment are the following devices: VPU Energo M , UPSG 3PM , Vodouchet 2M . Since the verification of water meters will take place at home, it is worth knowing how it is carried out:
- The inlet hose of the portable installation is connected to a threaded mixer, and the other end is connected to a control device. The outlet hose is installed in the bathtub or sink drain.
- Using a valve, the flow of water is limited and the values indicated on the device are recorded. The technician must ensure that the numbers on the counting mechanism do not change when the tap is closed.
- Next, the tap opens and 6 liters of water flows through the fixing device. The volume of water passing through the reference controller is compared with the readings on the meter.
Based on the results, the error of the measuring equipment is determined and if the indicator does not go beyond the norm, the master allows the operation of the water meter.
The inspection can be carried out by companies that have state accreditation. Therefore, a company representative, before starting work, must provide the owner with the necessary documentation
Notes on the possibility of further use are included in the technical passport of the water metering device.
Based on the results of checking the meters, the metrology engineer must issue the following documentation:
- Agreement on performance of services.
- Certificate of completed verification.
- Technical passport with a note indicating the possibility of using the meter.
- Certificate of conformity certifying the measurement accuracy of the device.
- Copies of the company's title documents.
- Check.
If a significant error is detected, the technician will refuse certification and offer to replace the individual metering device with a new one. You can refuse to install a new meter, then payment will be calculated taking into account the regional average values.
The duration of use of water measuring instruments is limited to 10-14 years. Some water meters continue to operate smoothly even after 20 years of operation.
If it is necessary to replace the SGV, it is recommended to install a flow meter with a temperature sensor. Then water with a temperature below 40 degrees will be charged at the price of cold water
Types of water meters
There are only two types of water meters; understanding them will not be difficult. They differ from each other in the color of the markings and inscriptions on them:
- Black or blue. The meter is designed to account for cold water.
- Red. The meter is designed to account for hot water.
The use of a red meter for cold water metering is not prohibited, so two identical meters can be located nearby at the same time. In order to take readings correctly and transfer them to the water utility service, you need to determine which meter belongs to cold and which to hot water.
Pros and cons of home diagnostics
The main advantage of checking at home is saving time and money on removing, installing and sealing the device.
Checking a water meter in a metrology service laboratory can take 1-4 weeks, depending on the workload of the technicians. Payments for water supply these days are made based on average indicators, and not on actual basis. When ordering a service at home, verification lasts 20-40 minutes, which does not affect the monthly payment.
In houses with worn-out sewerage and plumbing systems, there is a risk of compromising the integrity of the units, so the removal and installation of devices can lead to costs for further plumbing repairs.
The minimum cost for meter diagnostics is 500 rubles, the maximum does not exceed 1000, and depends on the region of residence. The price is low compared to the fact that in a year of distorted operation of the device the owner can lose up to 1 thousand rubles.
Firms provide low tariffs for plumbing services to preferential categories of citizens. Therefore, it is better to take the opportunity to carry out a home inspection rather than deal with issues of dismantling/installing devices
The disadvantages of “home” verification include the fact that a detailed assessment of the device is impossible, and after a short period of time it may become unusable. Along with this, if a malfunction of the meter is detected, money will have to be paid for the procedure performed.
Calculation example for the second month
Now let's see how to take readings next month. For our example this is April:
- Let's look at the cold water meter readings. The black numbers are 00008, the red ones are 674. This means that the water meter shows that in two months we have used 9 m 3 of water (674 liters, since this is more than 500, we round up to one cubic meter).
- Now let's see how much we spent in March - 4 cubic meters. Simple arithmetic calculations: 9 - 4 = 5. It turns out that in April we pay for 5 cubic meters of cold water at the established tariff.
- Now the hot water meter. Black numbers are 00006, red numbers are 430. In two months we spent 6 cubic meters.
- In March, 3 m 3 of hot water was consumed. Hence 6 - 3 = 3. In April, 3 cubic meters were also consumed.
- In a notebook or notes we reflect the indicators for April - 9 and 6 m 3 of cold and hot water, respectively. The receipt indicates expenses for the current month. That is, 5 cubic meters of cold and 3 cubic meters of hot water.
Features of verification of metering devices
The procedure for checking water flow meters appeared relatively recently, and only a small proportion of apartment owners with installed meters performed routine checks of the meters.
Many people will be diagnosing devices for the first time. In the process of assessing the accuracy of a water meter, controversial issues may arise.
Point No. 1 – verification or replacement
When checking devices at home, the technician cannot assess the condition of all parts subject to wear, especially in the SGV. Therefore, after assessing the accuracy of the water meter, it may not work for long or may not be allowed into operation at all.
In any case, money will have to be paid for the procedure, and if the device is faulty, the owner will have to spend money on installing a new flow meter. Therefore, consumers have doubts about the need for verification. Many people prefer to immediately replace meters and not pay for an examination.
This nuance was resolved at the federal level by amending GOST and technical regulations for the manufacture of water meters. Modern devices are made of wear-resistant materials and only 20% of them break down by the time of verification.
Thus, most individual water consumption metering devices last 10-14 years and are subject to double verification without changing the original characteristics. Therefore, metrology engineers recommend carrying out diagnostics rather than changing the device.
After verification and other interventions in the operation of the meter, it is required to be sealed. Payment by check will increase by approximately 500 rubles
Point No. 2 – fine for late payment
Attracting clients to check meters from unscrupulous companies can be expressed in sending a warning letter. Then a letter is placed in the consumer’s mailbox threatening to impose a fine.
Particularly suspicious owners of devices will certainly turn to the company that, using threats, imposed a verification service. The prices for services in such companies are often inflated. Such a threat is considered unauthorized due to the fact that no law provides for fines or any liability.
The only consequence of untimely checking of the meter is the calculation of the volume of water based on average values in the region. But to save the family budget, it’s better not to delay verification
Point No. 3 – avoid overpayments
Tempting offers from companies about checking meters at a discount or about express checking meters at home, when a specialist needs 15 minutes to determine the serviceability of the devices, sometimes work.
A metrology engineer appears in an apartment without a license to provide services and carries out a metrological procedure. After the inspection, the necessary documents are issued, but the owners of the devices forget to ask for a copy of the title documents.
When contacting the water utility to register the date of verification, the owner will be refused, since the company that carried out the diagnostics has not been accredited for this type of service. In this case, the meter must be verified again.
Firms imposing services may recognize a working device as defective and offer its replacement, although in fact the old device gives accurate readings and can serve for several more years
Point No. 4 – choosing an organization
Consumers believe that water meters should be verified by the company that installs the devices. What if the company’s license has expired?
According to Resolution No. 354, any company that has state accreditation can carry out verification of individual water meters.
If the procedure was carried out by a third-party company, not by water utility specialists, then the documents are transferred to the resource supplier to extend the period of use of the device.
The owner of the apartment can choose a verification company based on his interests: favorable prices, terms of service, etc.
You will learn how to verify a gas meter without dismantling it and sending it to a laboratory in the following article, which describes in detail the process and order of work.
What is more profitable – checking or replacing the old water meter?
The verification procedure is regulated by current legislation and is performed only by authorized utility organizations. At the end of the inspection, a report is drawn up indicating the results of the audit and the suitability of using a particular water measuring device.
A faulty water meter can either underestimate or overestimate readings
What is water meter verification? If the meter does not pass verification, then it is considered unsuitable. In this case, it is necessary to replace the measuring device. Inspection of water measuring equipment aims to determine the accuracy of the data it records.
Most often, negative results are shown by devices that have expired. Water meters have a complex design. Over time, their parts wear out, being exposed to various adverse factors, which leads to a distortion in the accuracy of the readings.
Measuring instruments may have different calibration intervals. This parameter depends on the type of counter. For example, flow meters used in hot water networks require more frequent inspections.
The meter verification procedure is regulated by law and is carried out by strictly authorized organizations
Cold water meters are inspected less frequently. It is recommended to comply with the verification deadlines, despite the fact that current legislation does not provide for penalties for delay.
All water measuring devices undergo first verification at the factory where they are manufactured. After a successful audit, the documentation that comes with the device indicates that the meter has shown positive results and is suitable for use. The date for the re-inspection is also stated there.
The calibration interval of the water meter is set by the manufacturer. It is important to understand that the company that manufactured the meter provides a guarantee for the device, so its readings are considered reliable until the next inspection.
Filing an application for an audit of equipment used to record water consumption can be done in several ways. The first option involves directly submitting an application in writing to the organization providing the services. This method is more comfortable for users, since it does not require dismantling the measuring device.
Verification of the water meter can be carried out both at home and in the utility laboratory
The second option is less convenient, as it involves dismantling the device. Delivery of the metering device to the utility service is carried out by the user himself. Verification of a hot water meter or a device for cold water requires the availability of all necessary documents.
It is important to remember that some meters cannot be checked at home. This point should be taken into account when choosing a flow meter. If the device fully complies with all the necessary requirements for conducting an audit at home, then the management organization has no right to refuse to provide such a service.
The application is drawn up in accordance with a specific form and must contain all the necessary data relating to a specific device. Contacting the utility service is made in advance (before the period established by the manufacturer expires). Verification of the meter requires the preparation of an application, which indicates:
- Full name of the user;
- exact address of the individual;
- type of meter, as well as its model;
- meter serial number;
- name of the manufacturing company;
- user's phone number.
Only organizations with licenses confirming the right to carry out this activity can carry out verifications.
Only organizations that have a license confirming the right to carry out such activities have permission to conduct water meter inspections. If the device does not pass verification, then the water meter is replaced.
After the inspection (if the verification was not carried out at home), the management organization is obliged to provide a specialist who will insert the device back into the main line.
The user is responsible for paying the cost of cold water meter inspection. The same applies to checking hot water meters. After how many years is water measuring equipment re-inspected? The date of the next verification is indicated in the documentation provided to the owner after this procedure.
The verification application is drawn up in accordance with the form and must contain all the data relating to a specific water meter
The certificate confirming the audit must necessarily contain an imprint containing the serial number. The document must also contain the signature of a specific specialist. After the inspection, documents confirming the suitability of the water measuring device must be submitted to the utility service providing services to the user.
We suggest you read How to clean white leather at home: methods and tips
It is recommended to study in advance the sequence of actions that allow you to verify the water measuring device. This will avoid various unforeseen situations. First of all, the user is required to submit an application to call a specialist who will carry out the inspection. As a rule, it takes from 3 to 5 days to satisfy the application.
Utility service employees must notify the user about the date of the specialist’s arrival. Before the start of the inspection of the water measuring device, an agreement is concluded between both parties, which specifies the nuances of the verification and its cost. The price for checking a water meter can vary (from 450 to 1500 rubles).
A specialist from a utility organization is required to carry out an inspection in accordance with this agreement. When checking the device, the technician has no right to violate the integrity of the seal. A document confirming the audit, after its completion, is sent to the Housing Office.
Before the meter verification begins, an agreement is concluded between both parties
This procedure is carried out taking into account the frequency of checking the water meter. The operation itself does not take much time. It only takes 30 minutes for an experienced technician to inspect a water measuring device, since this procedure is not complicated.
The first stage of the audit involves connecting special equipment to the mixer in the system for verification. A shower hose (with the header removed) may be suitable for this job. The output of the device must be directed into a previously prepared container, the volume of which should be approximately 2-3 liters. This tank is located on the scales.
Then the container is filled with water from the tap. After this, the volume of water in the tank is calculated. At the end, it is necessary to compare the resulting figure with the readings on the measuring device. This procedure must be repeated several times. This is done in order to reduce the error in calculations to a minimum. If it meets the necessary standards, then the master indicates in the inspection report that the device is in working order.
Before starting verification, you need to record preliminary meter readings
An error that is too large indicates that the device is unsuitable for use. Such a device must be replaced. Some flow meters fail before they are due for replacement. The water meter wears out too quickly when it is used in harsh operating conditions.
Conducting an at-home water meter inspection has its pros and cons. The main advantage, of course, is that such a procedure does not require much time. In addition, such verification saves not only time, but also finances.
An inspection that requires removal of the flow meter incurs the cost of reinstalling and sealing the device. The average time for testing a water meter in a laboratory is 2 weeks. In any case, such a revision is not user-friendly.
If the meter is being tested in a laboratory, then the service provided by the utility company is paid according to average rates. This also entails unnecessary financial costs.
The advantage of checking a water measuring device at home is that the procedure does not take much time
Another advantage of checking the water measuring device at home is the impossibility of damaging plumbing components. Removing the flow meter can affect the performance of the plumbing in the house. Before starting verification, you should definitely take into account the service life of the water meter.
Inspecting water measuring equipment at home also has its downsides. The main one is the impossibility of a detailed assessment of the device. A home audit cannot identify and prevent subtle problems that may appear over time. Thus, the exact service life of cold water meters, as well as domestic hot water devices, cannot be calculated. The owner can only be content with approximate data.
The meter must be checked once every 6 years for cold water and once every 4 years for hot water. To answer the question about benefits, let's look at the numbers.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
The method of checking the device without removing it takes less than an hour and is mandatory for all owners of the IPU:
How water meters are checked when calling a technician to your home:
Checking meters without removing them saves money and time for the owner of the devices. After all, while the meter is in the metrology and standardization laboratory, with the removable verification method, payment is calculated based on the average value, and not on the actual basis.
Tell us about how you tested the flow meter at your home without removing the device from the water supply. It is possible that you have information that will be useful to site visitors. Please write comments in the block below, ask questions, post photos on the topic of the article.
Calculation example first month
The easiest way to understand taking water meter readings is to use a specific example. First month - March:
- How to take cold water meter readings? Let's look at the values on the blue water meter: black numbers - 00004, red numbers - 382. The number 382 is less than 500, so we do not take it into account. We record a black number - 4 cubic meters of water wasted.
- How to take hot water meter readings? The red water meter has the following values: black numbers - 00002, red numbers - 834. The last number is more than 500, so we round 834 liters to 1 m 3. The black numbers show that we wasted 2 cubic meters of hot water. With rounding 2 + 1 = 3. We record that we have wasted 3 cubic meters of hot water.
- We advise you to record the readings in a special notebook or notes on your smartphone - they will be needed for calculations for the next month.
- We transfer from the notebook to the receipt that we wasted 4 cubic meters of cold and 3 cubic meters of hot water in March.
