Reasons why the hot or cold water meter does not turn
The malfunction of the water meter, expressed in the stop of the dial indicator, can be due to a number of reasons:
- the counting mechanism has failed, as a result of which the sensor does not reflect water consumption;
- the rotor broke;
- due to low water quality, the coarse filter became clogged, followed by the flow element (read about water quality standards here);
- connection errors: a meter designed for installation on a cold water supply pipe is mounted in a hot water pipe or vice versa;
- increased hot water temperature (over 90 °C), which negatively affects the operation of the meter;
- outside interference in the operation of the mechanism with the intention of saving on water costs (installation of needles, magnets, etc.).
Rotation of the meter in the opposite direction may be caused by problems in the water meter itself or in the plumbing system:
- When installing a water meter, the direction of water flow was mixed up;
- The device kit does not include such an important element as a check valve;
- a significant difference in pipeline pressure, namely in the pressure of individual and common pipes (read more about pressure standards in pipes here);
- incorrect installation of the boiler, leading to water overflowing from one pipe to another, for example, from cold to hot;
- wear of the mechanism due to long service life.
Important! Rotation of the meter disproportionate to the water flow may indicate the formation of a blockage in the flow element or physical wear of the meter.
Types of water meters
Today there are different types of water meters on the market. Cold water meters have the abbreviation СВХ in the passport and on the device body and are not suitable for installation on hot water supply pipes.
The hot water meter contains the designation SVG and is not intended to measure cold water flow.
It is more convenient to purchase a universal flow sensor, which is mounted on pipes regardless of the temperature of the passing water. The service life of such a device is from 6 years.
The box with the meter must contain a warranty card and a technical passport of the device, which indicates its characteristics and period of operation without verification. There you can also see whether the device is universal or intended for a specific water pipeline.
Verification is a set of actions that guarantee the accuracy of a measuring device and its compliance with metrological characteristics after a certain service life.
Typically, payment documents indicate the date of installation of the water meter and the date of its verification or replacement.
What to do if the meter stops spinning?
If a malfunction of the meter is detected, you should not try to carry out repairs on your own, since the seals installed by the management company will be broken. The only action that can be taken is to gently tap in order to eliminate possible accumulation of foreign particles or rust in the flow element.
If the device was installed recently and is still under warranty, you can try contacting the store where it was purchased.
It is possible that the cause of the problem is a manufacturing defect. When filing a claim with the seller, you must have a cash receipt or other document confirming the purchase. If the meter was purchased not by the owner of the apartment, but by a specialist performing the installation, you need to contact the company whose representative he is.
If a manufacturing defect is detected in the metering device, it will take a certain amount of time to carry out an examination and return the goods, so accrual during this period will be made according to the standards accepted in a particular region.
Where to contact?
Initially, you should draw up an application to the management company with the relevant information and a request to take readings from the water meter (Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 05/06/2011 No. 354, clause 81(13) (as amended on 07/13/2019).
It is recommended to write the application in 2 copies so that you can keep one of them (with the signature of the person who accepted the document and the date of submission). In this case, it is not at all necessary to know and indicate the reason for the breakdown of the meter.
Based on the application, an inspector will come to the user, take the last readings from the meter and draw up a breakdown report. They will also remove the seal from the device, which will allow for repairs. As a rule, in such situations the meter is replaced with a new one, since its restoration is not always effective and requires a significant amount of time.
After repairing or replacing the device, you must contact the management company again for sealing (clauses 81-81(9) of these Rules).
Required documents
To repair water meters, you need to obtain from an expert a report and an opinion drawn up by him on the causes of the breakdown and methods of elimination. Often, a malfunction in the operation of a metering device is detected as a result of its verification . In this situation, the inspector immediately draws up a report in which he indicates the date and nature of the detected breakdown, and also makes a conclusion.
In this case, replacing the water meter is carried out as soon as possible, which makes it possible not to make recalculations in payment and thereby save the owner’s money. You can find out what recalculation is after checking the meters and how the procedure is carried out here.
Usually, after installing the meter, the management company requires a work certificate , so it is best not to carry out this procedure yourself, but to contact any company that specializes in such services and has the appropriate license. You can also make an application to the Criminal Code with a request to send a locksmith.
After all the work has been completed, including sealing, photocopies of the following documents must be provided to the management company:
- technical passport of the metering device;
- certificate of completion.
The user needs to keep the originals in case any claims are made by the management company.
Important! If the seal is damaged as a result of careless handling, you must immediately call a specialist to reseal it.
If you purchase a new water meter, you need to inspect it for external damage and defects, and also ask the store for a passport for the product, which must contain the date of purchase and the personal signature of the seller.
If the water meter was replaced independently, the owner needs to submit an application to a specialized company, after which a day for the inspector’s visit will be agreed upon. At the appointed time, the specialist will check the correct installation of the meter and the availability of the necessary documentation.
After sealing, the home owner is given an acceptance certificate for the metering device. This document contains the date of work, contact details of the organization and the name of the inspector. It also indicates the water meter readings, passport data and the date of the next verification.
Time frame within which repairs must be made
After a claim related to a malfunction of the meter has been submitted to the management company, repair or replacement of the device must be carried out within 30 days. The service company is obliged to notify the owner 2 days before its representatives arrive to carry out the work. The period in which water consumption was not recorded will be paid according to the standards (average water consumption in the last 6 months). You can find out what the monthly consumption is according to standards and the reasons for exceeding it here.
What to do if there is no reaction?
If after submitting the application there is no reaction from the management company, it is necessary to duplicate the document. Also, if the management company does not respond to such an appeal, it can be held accountable . This service bears full responsibility for compliance with the agreement concluded with the property owners, which stipulates the quality and completeness of the services provided.
Who pays for the repairs?
The individual device used to record water consumption is the property of the apartment owner. In this regard, if it malfunctions, the owner will have to pay for repairs or replacement.
There are often situations when completely new devices, which have not yet expired, fail. In this case, the manufacturer is obliged to provide a new meter completely free of charge.
In addition to installing and repairing an individual meter in the event of a malfunction, the owner is obliged to ensure timely verification, the frequency of which is established by the meter manufacturer. Such information can be found in the technical data sheet of the product.
If the owner of the apartment missed the scheduled verification, the meter readings will be considered invalid, and payment for consumed water will be made according to the standards adopted in a particular region. Read more about standards for water consumption without metering in our article.
Find out more information in the materials on our website about water supply and possible problems with it. Read about why water outages may occur, who is responsible for the risers and their replacement, as well as the nuances of operating meters and the timing of inspection, service and replacement of metering devices.
How to replace a water meter
If you realize that your device that controls the consumption of cold or hot water is faulty, then questions will inevitably arise:
- What to do?
- Where to contact?
The main thing is not to touch the fillings under any circumstances. They are installed by the management company. If you remove them yourself, problems may arise.
If your water meter needs replacing, the first step is to contact the company that manages your home. An employee must come from her and record (draw up a report) the malfunction of the device. Then he will remove the fillings himself. From this moment until the installation of a new meter, you will pay for water according to the general tariff schedule. It is calculated based on the residents living in the apartment and the established cost of one cubic meter of supplied water.
After the management company employee has removed the seals, you can replace the meter. You can easily handle this kind of work yourself or call a professional.
It is best to install a new meter. Some device breakdowns can be fixed, but this is rarely done. The cost of spare parts, plus payment for the work of the master, will be almost equal to the purchase of a new device.
If your meter is still under warranty, you can try to take it to the manufacturer for repair. But such procedures are very long and troublesome. Firstly, the device will be submitted for examination. It must prove that you operated the meter correctly (according to the instructions). In most cases, the commission's decision will not be in your favor. And secondly, the repair itself may take many weeks or even months, and during this time you will pay more. It is much easier to purchase a new device.
After installing a new water meter, you must call the management company employee again. He will inspect the correct installation of the meter, seal it and record the initial readings. From this moment on, the device is considered registered, and you will start paying for water according to its readings. Until the meter is registered with the management company, you continue to pay according to the tariff schedule.
We would also like to draw your attention to the articles:
- Installing water meters yourself.
- How to install a water meter correctly.
Video
This video explains what to do if your water meter breaks down:
A water meter primarily saves money by reducing the amount of utility bills.
For this reason, owners of suburban and urban housing try to connect the highest quality and most practical water meters.
In case of problems, many people want to understand why the hot water meter is not spinning and what to do.
Next, we will consider the popular causes of malfunction in 2020 and answer the question of whether you can fix the device yourself or is it better to contact a service company.
What caused the breakdown
Proper operation requires inspection every 5-4 years . If you do not do this, your water bill may be too high or other problems may arise.
When a device breaks down, you first need to determine why it happened . Externally, this may manifest itself in the fact that the hot water meter stops spinning or incorrect data is displayed on the sensor.
There are several reasons that underlie the breakdown. Let's take a closer look at them.
The unit is not installed correctly
This is one of the common reasons why the torque element stops and the meter fails.
Immediately check how the water meter is installed: if the devices are swapped, the device has stopped working due to a violation of the temperature regime.
The abbreviation SVG or SVKh indicates which pipeline a particular device is indicated for.
Water is supplied under too much/weak pressure
A large pressure disables the impeller, and a small one rotates it at a low speed, which also creates the impression of a malfunction. To make sure, you need to measure the water meter readings when opening the tap to the maximum.
Both breakdowns require calling a specialist . You can find out where to call in the directory.
The pipeline is clogged
One of the popular reasons for the water meter to stop is that the water flow often contains mechanical impurities that can clog filters. As a result, the impeller does not spin.
How to fix:
- disassemble the device;
- clean and rinse the filter mesh;
- assemble and put the water meter in its original place.
The method for cleaning the filter depends on the type of equipment . Usually the mesh is removed after removing the filter - some models have special cartridges for convenience.
It must be borne in mind that only a specialist with permission to break the seal has the right to carry out repair actions.
Also, for a new sealing, an inspector must be called. To find out where to contact, look for the housing and communal services service reference number.
The elements of the device have exhausted their service life
The water flow passes freely, but the arrow or digital rollers remain motionless. This raises the question of why the hot water meter does not spin. It is possible that parts of the meter may either break down or the rotor malfunction.
You won’t be able to fix the problem with your own hands, without the necessary equipment.
An attempt to slow down the counter caused problems.
Owners often try to slow down water meters with magnets, needles and other devices, without thinking about whether a magnet could cause the water meter to break.
Read more: European Court of Human Rights complaint form
All such manipulations lead to the stupor of the counting element and failure of the entire unit.
Avoid such actions, and your meter will last a long time, and there will be no fines from inspectors.
Depressurization occurred due to temperature changes
In this case, as a rule, water begins to drip and the glass fogs up..
To prevent water leakage, simply tighten the couplings.
Foggy glass cannot be fixed so easily - the water meter will have to be completely replaced, because, among other things, you will not see how to charge water.
Temperature standards for hot water were exceeded
Check the flow temperature periodically. The maximum threshold is +90C. If the water meter is under warranty, its repair/replacement is paid for by the manufacturer, which is noted in the contract .
Causes of failure
There are several reasons why water meters malfunction. Users have to independently identify deviations in operation at the first stage. The water meter does not spin, what can be done in this situation? In this case, only consultation with a specialist, subsequent repair or replacement of the device will help. If your hot water meter has stopped spinning, it’s time to think about replacing it and seek help.
Depressurization of the meter
One of the options for disrupting the operation of the device is its depressurization. If the water meter is leaking, you must proceed according to the following instructions.
- Close the water supply taps.
- Record current data from the meter.
- Wait a few hours.
- Study and record the water meter readings again.
If, after waiting, other readings are visible on the device, this means that depressurization has occurred. An option to solve the problem is to tighten the coupling. If the manipulations do not help, consultation with a specialist is necessary. If the glass on the device is fogged up, then no manipulation will help, the meter will have to be changed.
Incorrect installation of the device
One of the events that causes a device to break down is its incorrect installation. If the water meter does not work for this reason, then the malfunction is often critical and cannot be corrected.
Incorrect installation may result in hot and cold water meters being confused with each other. In this case, failure to comply with the operating temperature conditions leads to failure of the device.
Pipeline clogged
Why doesn't the hot water meter work? The most common event preceding this is a pipeline blockage, which is associated with the presence of particles and impurities that settle in the filters and clog the device. It can be cleaned, but this must be done by a professional. Opening the device yourself is unacceptable.
Water pressure
Low water pressure in the pipeline does not so much lead to breakdown of the meter as create the appearance of it. The readings on the meter change slowly, which raises questions for the user. To check for a breakdown, you need to open the tap to full power. If the counter begins to spin faster, then there are no problems in its operation. If the situation has not changed, then there may be a malfunction and an inspection and consultation with a specialist is required.
Read more: Mortgage for a private house without a down payment
The meter is out of order
If it is clear that the water meter is broken, then all that remains is to replace it. The faster the owner does everything that depends on him, the more money he will save. You should promptly report the incident to the management company (MC) that services the house and call a technician.
Maintaining order
If the water meter is broken, then you need to take immediate action. If the water meter is broken, then you will be transferred to the general tariff schedule for utility bills (you will pay the notorious “minimum wage”). To get started, contact the management company (MC). Soon a company employee will come to you, document the fact of the malfunction and remove the seals.
Management company employees will testify to the fact that the water meter is faulty
Many years of experience show that in almost all cases the meter is considered beyond repair, but in some cases repair is still possible. Immediately prepare for the fact that repairs will take a lot of time - only the manufacturer of the device has the right to do this. In order for the company to deal with this, it is necessary to conduct an examination that would prove that the meter was handled properly and is still under warranty.
But let's be honest, the likelihood that the examination will give a positive result is extremely close to zero, so repair work will most likely be carried out at your expense.
