How to install and check water meters. Izvestia's instructions

According to the law, owners of residential premises are required to install metering devices for the consumption of communal resources. This requirement also applies to water supply systems. Izvestia tells you how to install water meters and when to check them.

Do I need to install water meters in the apartment

Water meters must be in every residential building — this requirement is prescribed in art. 13 of Federal Law No. 241-FZ. Thanks to this device, the owner will be able to pay only for the volume of water that he actually used.

If meters are not installed, although there is a technical possibility for this, utilities will be calculated using an increasing coefficient. This will significantly increase the cost of water supply. The only way to avoid an increase without installing counters is to prove that this is impossible. The home maintenance organization must confirm that there is no technical possibility for installation.

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What are water meters?

The modern market offers several types of water metering devices, differing in principle of operation and technical characteristics.:

• ultrasonic;
• vortex;
• electromagnetic;
• tachometric.

The choice of the optimal model depends on the specific operating conditions. Ultrasonic, vortex and electromagnetic models are mainly used in industrial enterprises and in household accounting systems. They are highly accurate and durable, but they require high-quality water and a power source.

Tachometric meters are more often installed in apartments. They are powered by turbines and do not need to be connected to an electrical network. There are "dry" and "wet" models of such devices. For the former, the mechanism is located outside the pipe, and the readings are read using a magnet, while for the latter, the mechanism is located in water. "Dry" meters are more expensive, but they last longer, "wet" meters are cheaper, but their service life is shorter.

Smart meters are now being installed in many homes — they are equipped with a pulse output and a controller. Due to this, readings from them are transmitted automatically via the Internet. However, the operation of the devices still needs to be monitored — in the event of a malfunction, they may stop transmitting data, which will lead to debts.

There are several important points to consider when selecting a water meter.:

• it must meet the requirements of the management company (the list of acceptable models can be clarified with a representative of the Management Company);
• it is necessary to purchase the device in specialized stores.;
• check the completeness of the delivery before use;
• verify the number on the counter with the one indicated in the passport;
• pay attention to the date of the factory check — if it was a long time ago, you will need to check the meter before using it.

How to install water meters

The installation of water metering devices can be performed by a management company, HOA, or other specialized organization. It is important that she has the appropriate accreditation — a specialist without a license will not be able to transfer the data on the results of work to the registry of the FGIS "Arshin", and then the counter will not be considered valid. If properly qualified, the owner can install the water meter himself and then register it.

The meters are installed in rooms with artificial or natural lighting and an air temperature of at least +5 degrees. It is important to place the devices in such a way that it is easy to remove the indicators from them and disassemble them in case of a malfunction. For cold and hot water, separate water meters are required — they can be mounted on horizontal, vertical or inclined sections of the pipeline, depending on the technical characteristics of the device.

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If the owner applies to the master, then after the completion of the installation work, he will receive a package of documents, including:

• contract for the installation of a metering device;
• technical data sheet of the meter;
• the act of commissioning (confirms that the meter is sealed, serviceable and ready for operation);
• a copy of the organization's license.

If you install the meter yourself, you will have to contact the management company or another organization that supplies water to the house in order to seal it and draw up an act of commissioning.

To start transmitting meter readings, the devices must be registered. To do this, you need to contact the water utility, the management company or the EIRC — the necessary contacts and address can be found on the water receipt.

Documents will be required for registration:

• counter passport;
• installation agreement;
• the act of commissioning;
• certificate of acceptance of works.

All the necessary papers are issued when the meter is sealed, so you can not skip this stage. After registration, the readings must be transmitted every month within the time limits set by the utility provider.

How to check the water meter

All water meters have a service life, usually 12 years. However, every few years, the devices need to be checked so that they do not distort the readings and work properly. The verification period is set by the manufacturer and is usually 4-6 years. The exact date can be viewed in the meter's passport, utility bill, or in the personal account through which the readings are transmitted.

It is advisable to check the meter 1-2 months before the end of the specified period. This will help to avoid delays and give you time to fix any problems if they occur.

To check the counter, you need to:

• find a verification company (you can contact the Management Company for advice or choose one yourself);
• check if she has an accreditation on the website of the National Accreditation System;
• call a specialist and wait for the work to be completed;
• to receive the necessary documents: a certificate of work, a receipt and a copy of the organization's accreditation certificate;
• after a few days, check the information about the inspection in the Arshin system.

Since the fall of 2020, only electronic verification records in the unified register of Rosstandart have legal force. The database of the Arshin system is publicly available and allows you to check information about any metering device.

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If there is no verification data in the registry, you must:

• contact the organization that carried out the work;
• file a complaint with Rosstandart if there is no response.

When checking counters, it is important to avoid scammers. It is recommended not to call the numbers of the "masters" from the flyers in the mailboxes, not to accept checks from unknown organizations by phone, and not to let unknown people into the apartment, posing as employees of the vodokanal, the Criminal Code, etc. Before checking, it is recommended to take a picture of the meter and the seal on it — if the device is damaged, this will be proof that the owner is right.

Earlier, the Ministry of Construction developed a single standard, according to which the Management Company and the HOA will have to explain to the owners what the prices of their utilities are made up of.