Free legal consultation: +7 (499) 938-42-95 Moscow and region +7 (812) 425-13-93 St. Petersburg and region 8 (800) 333-42-87 other regions
Anyone who has installed meters on pipelines supplying cold and hot water from central networks has been able to see that this is beneficial . There is a category of the population that believes that it is fair to pay for exactly what you use, and this is the most correct approach.
Dear readers! Our articles talk about typical ways to resolve legal issues, but each case is unique. If you want to find out how to solve your particular problem, please contact the online consultant form on the right or call the numbers below. It's fast and free!
Laws regarding the installation of water meters
The government has adopted a number of legislative acts relating to measuring instruments and methods.
Federal Law No. 102 dated June 26, 2008
Federal Law “On Ensuring the Uniformity of Measuring Instruments”, it defines the need for verification of measuring instruments to metrology requirements.
The purpose of the Federal Law is to protect the rights and legitimate interests of citizens, society and the state from the negative consequences of unreliable measurement results.
Verification (verification) is a set of activities carried out to confirm the compliance of metering devices with metrological requirements.
Verification of a device is a check of its serviceability and accuracy using special equipment.
The law regulates the period during which the meter can operate unhindered and what intervals are permissible between verifications of hot and cold water flow meters.
Metering devices are allowed to be installed only those that are included in the State Register of Measuring Instruments of the State Standard of the Russian Federation.
Federal Law No. 261 dated November 23, 2009
The Federal Law “On Energy Saving and on Increasing Energy Efficiency and on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation” obliges all water consumers in apartment buildings, in holiday villages, as well as in temporary use facilities to install water meters without fail.
This law states the need to draw up contracts between the service provider and their consumer; this act allocates 180 days for compliance with the requirements.
The Energy Saving Law makes it mandatory to measure the consumption of utility resources.
Mandatory installation of metering devices will make it possible to:
- Increase the ability to save resources;
- Allows you to determine losses.
You may be interested in an article on how to save energy at home; you can read about it here.
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 of 05/06/2011.
This act explains the nuances of fees for the use of water and other services for residents of apartment buildings and residential buildings, as well as the rules for the provision of utility services.
Here the concept of the amount of payment in the presence of a metering device and in the absence of one is clearly divided.
Why are water meters subject to mandatory verification?
A water meter is a fairly accurate and sensitive device, which after a period of time can fail, that is, show an inaccurate water consumption.
Such indicators are of no interest to either the consumer or the supplier. Why are the readings on the meter no longer accurate, and how much do the device data differ from the actual ones, and in what direction?
Hot and cold water have different effects on metering devices . It is clear that hot water contains chemical additives, so its composition and high temperature are more aggressive towards the meter parts, and therefore calibration of metering devices on hot water supply pipelines needs to be done more often .
A check may show that the device is working properly, and damaged metering equipment must be repaired or replaced.
When do you need to change water meters?
The calibration interval for a meter installed in a hot water supply system is 4 years, for one installed on a cold water pipe - 6 years.
Cold water meters should be checked no later than after 6 years, and hot water meters after 4 years.
There is no need to think that the period set for verification means the replacement of flow metering equipment. The water meter needs to be changed only if it does not work or shows incorrect water consumption figures.
The service life of a water meter is on average 12 years, which means that one device can last 6 years before failure, and another - 18 years.
It should be remembered that it is better to take care of the issue of verifying the water flow meter in advance, 1-1.5 months before the end of the verification interval.
The service provider company maintains records for each apartment, each house or other facility. If the user himself has forgotten that the period between verifications is coming to an end, he will be reminded - he will be sent a notification.
What to do after replacing the device
The installed water meter requires periodic maintenance. It is necessary to check the device that records the cold water flow every 6 years. Checks of hot water meters are required every 4 years. Also, immediately after installing the device, it must be sealed.
By law, outdated water meters are replaced only if they fail or provide incorrect readings. Typically, water meters wear out after 12-20 years of service.
Verification
This procedure can be planned or unscheduled. In the first case, every 6 or 4 years, depending on the type of device, the tenant of the apartment sends an application for its verification to the water utility. This institution sends a master. He can carry out the procedure both with and without dismantling the device.
You can check the water meter yourself. The tenant invites a specialist from a private organization. However, she must have a license. It is also possible to hire a private technician to check water meters. The services of such specialists are more expensive, but they solve exactly your problem.
Verification in all cases is paid. Its cost ranges from 1000 rubles. Private specialists may request a larger amount. It costs more to check water meters, during which the equipment is dismantled and then reinstalled. During subsequent installation, a water utility employee must be present. He needs to make sure that the device is in good working order. He also reinstalls previously removed seals from the water meter. After the procedure, it is recommended to make sure that all connections are in place.
An unscheduled check of water meters is usually required when malfunctions in its operation are identified. The technician can adjust the device on the spot or take it in for repair. In addition, additional manipulations can be performed with the device. The cost of such repairs will be comparable to the cost of purchasing a new device.
Based on the results of the verification, an act is formed. It is signed by the service provider and the apartment resident.
Procedure for checking water meters
How are water meters checked? Since verification must be carried out only with the help of special equipment, not everyone knows that verification can be carried out not only in stationary conditions, but also on site.
To carry out work, citizens independently choose an organization that has the necessary permits.
How to replace a water meter?
- Before starting work, it is necessary to take care of turning off the water , having agreed upon this with the Housing Office;
- Provide access to water supply pipes;
- Pipes must be in satisfactory condition;
- Taps (valves, ball valves) must completely shut off the water in the apartment.
The check can be carried out in several ways:
- With removal of metering devices
- Without removing metering devices
If the verification is carried out by a specialized company, then you should call the plumber servicing the house to remove the meter. The dismantled device will be put into operation, a withdrawal report will be drawn up, indicating the brand and serial numbers. You need to have a document for a water meter with you - a passport and your passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation.
For the verification procedure, special calibration units are used, which allow the accuracy of the readings to be verified as accurately as possible..
Read the article on who is eligible for subsidies for housing and communal services here.
Having received his accounting equipment back after some time, from several hours to several days, the consumer will receive the following documents:
- Agreement on installation of water meters;
- Certificate of completion;
- Certificate of commissioning of a water meter;
- Certificate for cold water meter
- Passport for hot water meter
- Certificate for meters
- Maintenance contract.
A water meter found to be unusable will have to be replaced, a working one must be installed in its original place and used until the next check comes..
There are methods in which removal of meters is not required - verification will be carried out right on the spot.
It is necessary to make sure that the company is accredited and its employees are certified.
How are water meters verified? We invite you to watch the video.
Of course, this verification method is extremely convenient. Representatives of the company will contact the supplier themselves and remove the issue of verification. The service consumer will receive a document stating the date and results of the procedure performed .
This method also has disadvantages. In order to carry out an accurate verification, about 250 liters must pass through the device connected to the tap. water, for which the apartment owner will have to pay.
If an error is detected on the water meter, you will not have the opportunity to repair or adjust the device on the spot. The device will still have to be removed.
Self-replacement
The law does not prohibit the owner from installing the device himself. In this case, the owner must act in the following order:
- Contact the management company with a statement about the need to replace the meter.
- An employee of the management company will check the integrity of the factory seals on the water meter, issuing the appropriate report.
- Remove the old device and install a new one.
- Submit an application to the Criminal Code for the installation of seals.
- Having agreed on the day, accept an employee of the Management Company to seal the meter, with the execution of the corresponding act.
Sequence of actions when installing the device:
Otherwise, the replacement is performed in the same way. But it is impossible to do without representatives of the management company, since they must document the serviceability of the new device and the correctness of its installation, and install protective seals.
What threatens the owner of a residential property if he does not check on time?
Having the IPU verification certificate in hand, the owner must ensure that he does not miss the deadline for the next inspection.
An unverified water meter, both hot and cold, is considered unusable, which means it is impossible to pay according to the readings of such a device.
In the future, bills for payment for water use will be issued at average rates , as for users who do not have meters, taking into account the number of residents registered in the apartment.
These standards will force the consumer to spend a significantly larger amount each month than when the meter readings were taken into account.
Recommendations
The consumer, especially when installing the device independently, is recommended to adhere to the following tips:
- it is necessary to prepare for replacing the water meter in advance so as not to exceed the service life;
- Before purchasing a device, you should consult with specialists from the management company regarding the choice of device model and study the technical characteristics of the meter for compliance with operating conditions;
- before starting installation, it is necessary to study in detail the provisions of the passport or operating manual in order to take into account the manufacturer’s requirements for installation;
- installation is carried out with the water supply taps closed;
- the device is installed taking into account the arrow on the body indicating the direction of water supply, and is positioned so that the front panel is as accessible as possible for viewing;
- The union nuts are tightened evenly, with the gaskets tightly compressed, ensuring the tightness of the connections.
Timely replacement will allow the consumer to use the water meter readings when paying for consumed resources. But if you are late in installing a new device, the readings of the old one will be considered invalid, with corresponding consequences for the owner.
We recommend: What is hot water supply and hot water supply in a housing and communal services receipt
