Any person who has installed meters for hot and cold water is convinced of personal experience in obtaining benefits. The majority of Russians are of the following opinion - you only need to pay for what you use.
In this article we will tell you how often water meters need to be changed according to the law.
The government has adopted certain regulations, controls and measurement methods:
102 federal law on replacing a water meter
The legal act dated June 26, 2008 determines the feasibility of checking measuring instruments (whether they meet metrology conditions).
- The main task of the Federal Law is to protect rights and real interests individuals, countries as a whole from negative consequences erroneous calculation results.
- Verification (verification) is called various actions, the task of which is to confirm the compliance of water meters with all necessary conditions.
- Inspecting a device refers to checking it for damage and accuracy. Special equipment helps to check the device.
- The legislation specifies the time period during which the metering device is able to carry out its activities as usual. It also indicates after what time water meters are changed.
Federal Law No. 261 of November 23, 2009
This regulatory legal act imposes an obligation on everyone using in an apartment building, summer cottage, water with the obligatory installation of special devices that keep track of it.
The one who supplies services and the one who consumes them are obliged to enter into contracts. The requirements must be fulfilled within 180 days.
Counters help:
- Seriously save resources.
- Decide on losses.
Government Decree of the Russian Federation No. 354 of May 6, 2011.
This act describes the specifics of the amount of fees for the use of water and other services. Applies to owners of apartment buildings and residential buildings. The law specifies the conditions under which services are provided in this area.
There is also a detailed division of the term about the amount of payment if there is a water meter or if it is absent.
For what reasons do devices need to be checked?
The counter is considered very accurate and sensitive. After a certain time period has passed, it may fail, in other words, display information that is not the most reliable.
Neither those who consume water nor those who supply them need such information. What are the reasons for such a failure, and how much does the water meter information deviate?
Warm and cool water have different influence to the counters. Of course, in warm water There are chemical components, so its structure and high temperature have a greater effect on the measuring device. It is for this reason that such devices need to be checked much more often.
The results of the study can inform about the serviceability of the device. If accounting equipment deteriorates, it is sent for repair or replaced.
When is it necessary to replace hot and cold water meters?
Interverification time period for the meter monitoring hot water, consider 4 years. For cold water supply – 6 years.
But this does not mean that after this time it will be necessary to replace devices that take into account consumption. Water meters need to be replaced only when they stop functioning. Or when they reflect unreliable data.
How often are water meters changed? Average the temporary period of operation of the water meter is 12 years. In other words, one device can work without breaking for 7 years, another – for 15 years. Each case is individual.
It is necessary not to forget that it is better to think through this issue in advance - a couple of months before the time period between verification intervals expires.
The one who supplies the services monitors every living space, every house, and so on. If a person accidentally forgot about the expiring period between checks, he will definitely be sent a special notification.
In what order are water measuring devices checked?
How exactly are water meters checked? Since this procedure requires a certain technique, not everyone knows that this process can be implemented both in a hospital setting and at home.
For this purpose, a citizen in independently makes a choice of an institution that owns all the required documents.
- First, the water is turned off, notifying the Housing Office in advance.
- Provide access to water supply pipes.
- The taps must completely shut off the flow of water into the home.
Checking is carried out using the following methods:
- Water meters are removed.
- Water meters remain in place.
If the procedure will be performed by a special company, it is necessary to call a specialist involved in home maintenance. He will remove the device. The disassembled device will be put into operation, with the drawing up of a withdrawal certificate. The brand and serial numbers must be indicated. There must be a document for the device - it is called a passport, as well as a document - proof of your identity.
Checking is carried out using special calibration installations. They verify the accuracy of information as competently as possible.
After a certain period of time (after 3 hours or several days), the device is returned to the owner with the following documentation attached:
- Agreements that water measuring instruments have been installed.
- Certificate of completed work.
- Certificate of commissioning of the meter.
- Cold water certificates.
- Passports for hot water.
- Certificate for water measuring instruments.
- Technical support agreements.
When is it legal to change water meters in an apartment?
If the device is found to be damaged, it will need to be replaced. If the device is in good working order, it is returned and you can continue to use it until the next verification.
There are ways in which you do not need to remove the meters - the verification will be done right at home.
But it's worth getting proof of the company's accreditation. Its specialists must be certified.
Of course, this verification method is very convenient. Company employees will call the supplier themselves and resolve this issue. The homeowner will only have to receive a document with the date and results of the process.
But this method also has disadvantages.
- To carry out a proper verification, more than two hundred liters of water are passed through a device attached to the tap, and the owner of the residential premises will have to pay for this.
- If the meter shows inaccuracy, you will not be able to repair or correct anything on the spot. In this case, the water meter will be removed.
What consequences await the owner of an apartment or house if he fails to pass the inspection within the specified period?
Having the verification report, the owner is obliged to track the date of the standard verification.
An untested water supply device of any type is considered faulty. In other words, paying for readings on this water meter becomes impossible.
Next, bills for payment for water use will begin to be calculated based on the average established standards. The procedure is the same as for persons without water meters. In such a situation, the number of citizens registered in housing is taken into account.
These requirements lead to the fact that the consumer will be forced to pay much more every month than with existing meters.
Is it necessary to pay for the IPU verification service or not?
Users should check their water meters. This is done at your own expense, during the time period designated by the manufacturer (it is indicated in the meter’s passport).
Verification is a paid service. It all depends on what region. The price varies from 400 rubles to 1000.
It is also worth noting that the cost of work when using a portable standard, without removing the device, and in the case of its removal, does not actually change.
It is not very difficult to keep track of the verification date and the organization of its implementation. Every home owner should always worry about proper operation devices on its territory. You can choose any method for checking water measuring instruments.
Frequently asked questions from residents
Question:I signed an agreement for annual monitoring and verification of the meter. The cost of the service is 600 rubles, for the past four years. I have been using water meters for 5 years. I was informed that the cold water meter needs to be replaced. For what reason? Everything works fine. Replacement costs money. I have 2nd degree disability. Money for extra years. What are the options?
Answer: water measuring instruments must be checked once every 6 years for cold water and once every 4 years - for hot. The service provider sends appropriate notice. The price for such a service ranges from 350 to 1000 rubles. It is not necessary to change - this service and constant checks are imposed on you. All in in this case depends only on your desire.
Question: I would like to know when the period of operation of a water meter expires - from the moment of its release or from the moment of its installation?
Answer: The shelf life of water measuring instruments is determined by the manufacturer of the water meters. Devices from Germany and Italy work for 10-12 years, but they are also very expensive. Domestic water meters work less - 5-7 years, and not all of them pass testing. We recommend that you do not bother with inspections; it is better to immediately purchase new devices. And it’s even better to buy imported ones once, so you’ll spend less (since they will last you longer).
Like any other metering device, a water meter has a certain service life, after which it must either be repaired or replaced. Repairing tachometer-type water meters, which in the vast majority of cases are installed in apartments, is not cost-effective - it is much easier to immediately buy a new one. How to determine whether this is worth doing, whether it is necessary to change water meters every 4 years, and what determines its service life - more on all this below.
Warranty period, meter service life and verification interval
Many people often confuse the concepts of “lifetime”, “warranty period” and “ calibration interval" Therefore, to understand whether water meters need to be replaced every 4 years, it is necessary to understand the difference between them.
The service life or service life is the period during which the device can perform its functions. The standard service life is set by the manufacturer. For mechanical devices it is about 10 years. However, in practice, a water meter can work longer or, on the contrary, fail earlier - it all depends on the operating conditions and the quality of manufacture of a particular instance.
Guarantee period– the period during which identified deficiencies in the operation of the device are eliminated at the expense of the manufacturer. In the case of meters, the device is usually simply replaced with a new one. The warranty period is usually 3–5 years.
The inter-verification interval is the period between two verifications of the device, that is, procedures that make it possible to determine the possibility of its further use. Most tachometers have a lifespan of 4 years when used for flow measurement hot water and 6 years – for measuring cold flow.
High-quality tachometer water meters can easily operate for more than 10 years - after all, they are designed for such a service life. If the metering device is made of high quality, the water does not contain a large amount of impurities, a filter is installed rough cleaning, the volume of consumption is small, and the tap is rarely opened to the maximum - this period is far from the limit. Where did the myth come from that you need to change water meters every 4 years?
The fact is that this is the standard calibration interval for hot water meters. This means that after this period it is necessary to verify the metering device. Verification can only be carried out by companies that have the appropriate license. Only in this case are the results taken into account by supplying organizations and management companies.
The rest can only replace old counter on new. It is they who most often spread the myth that it is easier to do this than to pay for verification, because “the meter will not pass it anyway.” However, very often, thereby allowing owners to save a substantial amount that would have to be paid for the purchase and installation of a new water meter.
The STEK company operates in Moscow and the Moscow region. The installation of water metering devices in the public sector is included in the national resource conservation program, and allows users to proceed to payment utilities from unfavorable tariffs to payment only for the actual use of water volumes.
Everyone who uses hot/cold water meters has long been convinced that this approach allows for good savings. The population is guided by the principle that you need to pay for what you use - this is the most correct approach.
Legislation
The government has adopted several acts that regulate the means and methods of measuring water supply. Federal Law No. 102 of June 26, 2008 - this law governs the provision of uniform measuring instruments. The document defines the need to check devices according to metrology requirements.
The purpose of the act is to protect the rights of citizens, society and the state from negative influence incorrect measurements. This document also establishes a period after which the inspection must be carried out. During this period, the device operates unhindered, taking into account the supply of cold/hot water. It is allowed to install only those meters that are approved by the register of measuring instruments of the State Standard of the Russian Federation.
Federal Law No. 261 dated November 23, 2009. This law “On energy saving and increasing energy efficiency and on introducing amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” obliges all water utility subscribers to apartment buildings V mandatory install water meters. To do this, you need to draw up an agreement with the water utility, and 180 days are given for all installation procedures.
Mandatory installation of a meter provides the following advantages:
- Economical management of resources.
- The measuring tool allows you to determine possible losses.
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 dated May 6, 2011. This document explains the features of payment for the use of water and other services in apartment buildings, as well as the rules for the provision of utility services. The resolution clearly defines the concept of the amounts payable in the presence of a meter, as well as in its absence.
Why is it mandatory to check meters?
The device for measuring the amount of water supplied is an accurate measuring instrument. The latter may simply work together over time and show a false expense for which you may overpay.
Neither the water utility nor the end client in your person will like this situation. What is the reason for the loss of measurement accuracy and how large is the error, and in what direction?
Hot/cold water has different effects on metering devices. Hot water has chemical additives, which are in tandem with high temperature aggressively affect the parts and mechanisms of the measuring instrument. Therefore, checks of such devices need to be done more often.
The result of such a test can show complete serviceability, while failed equipment should be repaired or replaced.
When is it necessary to change water meters?
Inter-inspection period established measuring instrument in a hot water supply system is 4 years. As for cold water supply, meters are checked every 6 years. Deadlines They don't say it will need replacement. The water meter must be replaced when a breakdown is detected and the recording occurs with errors.
The average service life of the meter is 12 years. From this we can easily conclude that one copy can last 6 years, and the other – all 18. It is important to note that you need to start the meter checking procedure in advance, and not on the last day of the end of the checking interval. It is best to do this one to one and a half months in advance.
If the inspection deadline is approaching, the supplier may also notify you by written notice.
How are water meters checked?
The check is performed on specialized equipment, but not everyone knows that the same check can actually be done right on site. To carry out the procedure, the subscriber can choose an organization that has the right to perform this type of work.
The procedure for replacing the meter:
- before starting work, it is necessary to turn off the water with prior approval from the housing office;
- open access to water supply pipes;
- the condition of the pipes must be satisfactory;
- Shut-off units should be provided in the apartment to locally shut off the water.
The check is performed using several methods:
- With the counter removed.
- Without removing the meter.
If you use the services of a specialized company, call a home plumber to dismantle the water meter. The removed meter will be put into operation and a document on seizure will be drawn up, which indicates the serial number and brand of the device. Keep the documents for the counter with you - your passport and your passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation.
The verification procedure is carried out using a calibration unit, which verifies the readings as accurately as possible. The duration of the check ranges from several hours to several days. When you receive the water meter back, you will be given the following documents:
- Meter installation agreement.
- Certificate of completed work.
- Document confirming the commissioning of the water meter.
- Certificate for cold water supply meter.
- Passport for hot water supply water meter.
- Certificates for equipment.
- Maintenance contract.
If after checking it turns out that the water meter is broken, it will need to be replaced. A working device is installed in the same place, all changes are documented. The new water meter can be used until the next check comes.
Checking the water meter on site in 2018-2019
When choosing a company to check the meter, make sure that it is specialized and has the appropriate permits for such activities. Upon arrival of specialists, all necessary water meter tests are performed. This approach is the most convenient - you save a lot of time. Representatives of the equipment testing company independently contact the water utility, which, in turn, eliminates the need for verification. You, as a client, receive a document about the date and results of the meter tests.
This on-site testing approach has its drawbacks. During the test, up to 250 liters of water are passed through the device, for which you will need to pay. If a malfunction is detected, you will not be able to repair or adjust the water meter on site - dismantling will still be required.
If the check was not completed on time: what to do
If there is a water meter inspection report, its owner is obliged to ensure that he does not miss the deadline for the next procedure.
An incorrectly functioning meter is considered unusable, and payment based on these readings is impossible. Thus, in such a situation, you will pay for water utility services according to average standards. In simple words, as if you do not have a meter installed taking into account the number of people living in the apartment.
These numbers will be much higher than what you paid if you had a properly working meter.
Is the verification service paid or not?
You have to pay for these types of checks. The cost varies from 370 to 1,000 rubles. You can make payments online without commission. Organizing the verification procedure is not at all difficult. How you perform the check is at your discretion.
To summarize, we note that meters need to be checked once every 6 years for cold water supply, and once every 4 years for hot water. The procedure is paid, and the maximum cost for the service does not exceed one thousand rubles. There are only three ways to check:
- Inspection by the water utility with dismantling of the water meter.
- Self-diagnosis on site with the involvement of a specialized organization that has all the permits to carry out such work.
- Dismantling and inspection by the same specialized company on site, only in a shorter period of time than diagnostics at the water utility.
The last two methods allow you to quickly complete the procedure, and the company’s specialists contact suppliers and notify them of the completed check.
Do not ignore the end of the interval and the need to test the water meter. By doing this, you can only overpay for the water supply services received at prices that are considered average.
Hot and cold water meters allow you to accurately control water consumption. Metering devices built into hot and cold water supply pipes constantly “read” the volumes of water passing through them. But water meters are ordinary mechanical or electronic devices.
The constant operation of device elements will sooner or later lead to their wear and failure; a change in the performance of components can affect the display of water consumption readings, both up and down. In such situations, the inevitable fact becomes the need to replace metering devices.
The procedure for replacing water meters is strictly regulated by law
The procedure for replacing water meters is strictly regulated by law. Knowledge of the basic rules and requirements for metering devices will allow you to easily answer a number of important questions about water consumption. And sooner or later, every person faces them - is it necessary to change water meters in an apartment, how often do they need to be changed, what is better: checking or replacing, when should it be changed and is it necessary to do it at all? Having thoroughly analyzed all these issues, problems with servicing metering devices will not arise.
Replacement of measuring devices: why, legal regulation
The water meter has a certain effective service life. Hot and cold water meters must be installed in each apartment on the appropriate water supply lines. In most situations, each of us uses water quite often. Over the years of operation, the elements of the device wear out and can cause breakdowns. Any change in the operation of the device may cause incorrect data transmission.
Each meter manufacturer conducts laboratory tests, the results of which determine the approximate period of effective operation of the device. According to most experts, the real service life of high-quality devices under optimal conditions of use reaches about 15-20 years.
But you should understand that in our apartments there are no optimal conditions– the presence of impurities and foreign elements in water, as well as constant pressure drops, accelerate the wear of instrument elements and reduce the period efficient work. For this reason, a so-called inter-verification period has been established - the period between production and testing of the device’s functionality. It amounts to:
- for hot water meters – 4 years;
- for cold water meters – 6 years.
The difference in terms is due to the nature of use - hot water is a more aggressive environment. In addition, do not forget that hot water is expensive, and this circumstance requires more careful control.
Do you need to change your water meters according to the law? Main normative act, which lays the foundations for regulating issues related to metering devices, is Federal Law No. 102 of June 26, 2008. The law establishes key requirements for monitoring the use of resources. If a device is not assigned a registration number, it cannot be considered operational and cannot be used to monitor water consumption.
Each water meter has its own registration number
Federal Law No. 261 “On Energy Saving...” dated November 23, 2009, establishes a mandatory requirement for the installation of serviceable water meters in apartments and private houses. In the regions, legislative clarifications may be made regarding the procedure and timing for checking meters. Thus, Order No. 831 cancels the mandatory verification activities every 4 and 6 years in Moscow.
Verification or replacement
After the inter-verification period, the meters must be verified. The procedure for checking meters involves determining, using high-precision weighing equipment, errors in transmitting data on water volumes. All actions are carried out in the apartment, without dismantling the equipment, and take several tens of minutes.
After carrying out the verification procedure, a specialist from an organization that has the appropriate accreditation fills out a report and makes appropriate entries in the instrument passports about the verification.
If the verified water meter is in working order, it will work until the end of the next verification period. After the next period, verification will also be carried out, and so on. That is, the meter does not need to be changed after the verification period has expired; it must be replaced only if faults are detected. In practice, a high-quality meter can complete two verification periods without problems.
If we consider the question of how profitable it is to verify or replace water meters, then the first option looks more attractive in all respects:
- no need to dismantle the device;
- the cost of verification is lower than the price for purchasing a new meter and installing it.
Procedure for replacing water meters
When should the meter be changed? Replacement is required in the following cases:
- The device is faulty.
- During verification, critical deviations in the transmitted readings were identified, requiring replacement or repair of the device.
A malfunction of the water meter is determined by the following signs:
- a sharp change in monthly water consumption readings that has no objective reasons;
- The motion indicator or flow dial does not function.
But only a specialist from an authorized company can officially determine the malfunction. To do this, it is necessary to carry out verification within the established time frame. Don't hesitate to replace it if your meter is faulty.
If you do not change it in time, sooner or later the controlling authority will identify the malfunction and calculate consumption according to the general standard until the serviceability can be confirmed. Such recalculation may affect several years and result in a significant amount. It is better to spend a little money on purchasing and installing a meter.
Self-installation of a water meter is not rational
Is it possible to replace the meter yourself? No one forbids replacing the metering device on your own. But such actions are not rational for several reasons:
- You will still have to notify the management company about the replacement and invite a specialist to check the correctness of the procedures performed, as well as to seal it.
- Installation by a specialist management or specialized company will allow you to obtain guarantees and avoid liability in the event of violations or breakdowns.
The rules for replacing a water meter imply the following sequence of actions:
- Submitting an application to the management company to replace the meter.
- Coordination of the arrival of the master.
- Purchase of necessary equipment.
- The technician visits the apartment and carries out the procedure for replacing the device.
- Installation of seals and commissioning. The replacement technician must provide all necessary documentation.
To facilitate the procedure for replacing and checking metering devices, general requirements are imposed on their installation:
- Meters must be accessible.
- Pipes must be maintained in good condition.
- Valve and ball equipment must tightly shut off the water.
- In a private house, replacement of meters is carried out on a general basis.
Thus, replacement of devices should be carried out only in case of malfunctions in its operation. No one can force you to change the metering device, but if malfunctions are detected, payment will be made according to the standards, so it is better to monitor the performance of the control devices, check them in a timely manner and change them if necessary.
When installing a water meter, we are always warned that sooner or later it will become unusable, however, we understand this ourselves. There are many factors due to which constant operation of this device is simply impossible.
Most likely, you have heard about them for a long time. First of all, this is water quality. The water in the tap is only suitable for bathing and washing, so it is quite hard, which impairs the operation of the device. Its mechanism itself also suffers. Although very coarse filters are installed in the meters, sooner or later they become clogged, and precipitation gets inside the device and interferes with its smooth operation. Particular harm This damages the impeller and the wheel with the blades; sediment clogs the blades and the device stops working normally.
But the operation of the meter and the intervention of the owners are no less affected. Some people really want to use a large number of cubes, and pay very, very small amounts. So such cunning people use various magnets, put all sorts of ribbons with beads inside, and stick needles into the device. Only then are they very surprised when the device either turns up much more or refuses to work at all.
Changing the water meter
Before you believe rumors about what needs to be changed and when, open the technical passport of your water metering device and read it carefully. The service life of a conventional water meter is about sixteen years, from which we draw a simple conclusion: you will only need to change the meter after an appropriate period of time or due to wear and tear.
Water meter verification: legal or not?
If you do not follow the adopted laws and innovations at all, then it will be quite easy to deceive you, even in terms of calibrating the calculating device. Although you most likely know that this procedure must be carried out within a certain time frame, you may not have noticed the changes and may not have heard that the calibration interval for them has been cancelled. Thanks to this, the meter can work for you for at least sixteen years until its performance properties become unusable.
Since verification was and is carried out at the expense of the consumer himself, it is from your pocket that the amount from one to one and a half thousand rubles will go out of the procedure for each meter. In fact, we recommend that you really check with your appliance once every 6 years, as damage may cause it to use more cubes than you actually use.
The main thing is not to give in to the admonitions of fraudulent companies or simply unscrupulous management companies about mandatory verification intervals. If they actively force you to perform and pay for this procedure, just remind them that the prosecutor’s office does not agree with them. Remember: knowledge of the laws can always protect you and save your money.
The meter gives incorrect readings
The device should only be replaced when it can no longer be used due to a malfunction. To ascertain this fact, you need to contact your management company, otherwise you risk running into scammers who will force you to change a device that is still usable and sell you a new one at an inflated price. In addition, it is not at all necessary that it will work better than the old one and you will not have to contact special structures again.
How can you determine that the water meter readings have become incorrect? When you have such suspicions, you need to call a specialist from your management company, which will tell you exactly whether there are discrepancies between your consumption data at the billing center and the data from your device. If they are significant enough, the meter is confiscated as having fallen into disrepair and removed from the register.
In this situation, you should quickly buy a new device and seal it. If all the indicators agree, the master will inform you about this and calmly leave. By law, again, no management company has the right to force you to replace a perfectly working water meter.
Therefore, an appliance should only be replaced when it actually malfunctions, and not after any period of four, six or ten years. Carefully follow the laws and your rights, carefully filter any information, then no one will be able to deceive you.