How often should you change your water meter?

Let's talk about the timing of checking cold water meters...

Questions about free verification of water meters according to the law will be raised...

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

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 it is worth understanding that our apartments do not have optimal conditions - the presence of impurities and foreign elements in the water, as well as constant pressure drops, accelerate the wear of appliance elements and reduce the period of effective operation. 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? The main regulatory 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

New law when it is necessary to change water meters

You can check it by taking the water meters to the maintenance department or calling a technician to your home. As soon as the service life has expired, the municipal organization responsible for water supply in the city sends a notice. If there is no notice and the period of operation has expired, by law the owner must himself submit a request to replace the water meters to the management company of the house. The procedure for checking water meters according to the law:

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Businessmen call city phones, introduce themselves as employees of city institutions (district public service centers, non-existent city water consumption centers) or management organizations, and in an aggressive form report that the verification period for individual water meters has expired, the meter must be urgently either verified or replaced . At the same time, Muscovites are often threatened with fines for late procedures.

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.

When is it necessary to replace hot and cold water meters?

The inter-verification period for a meter monitoring hot water is considered to be 4 years. For cold water supply – 6 years.

How often are water meters changed? The average operating period of a 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.

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 independently chooses 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.

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.

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).

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 be concerned about the proper operation of the appliances on his property. You can choose any method for checking water measuring instruments.

By regularly checking the device, the organization can detect technical faults in the device’s condition. Also, during aircraft verification, deviations are often discovered, due to which further readings will not be considered valid.
If your aircraft is functioning normally, do not buy a new product too early. It will simply lie in the far corner of the closet, and whether it is needed or not is a moot point.
Not every person is aware that the service life of cold and hot water meters until the next verification begins not from the moment when the water supply itself is installed, but from the date when it was manufactured. This number must be indicated in the passport.

Introduction

Therefore, if during the purchase you miss this nuance, but after the purchase a certain time passes (for example, 5 years), then you will have to hand over the device for verification very soon.
Be careful when purchasing a device. This way you will avoid premature financial expenses and will not waste time searching for the necessary company that deals with verifications.
There are certain reasons that may affect the life of an aircraft. And it doesn’t matter what service life the manufacturer has set.

The counter breaks down much earlier in the following cases:

Water negatively affects the parts of the water meter. Water may contain many solid impurities and particles, due to which the internal parts of the device wear out faster. This leads to only one thing - the device quickly breaks down.
The water supply in the apartment or house had not been updated for a long time, and a lot of garbage had accumulated in the pipes.
In our state, there are frequent interruptions in water supply. Also, aircraft may begin to work poorly when the mechanisms dry out when hot water is turned off in the summer.
When users, trying to reduce the actual readings of the water meter, disrupt its operation, for example, they use special overhead magnets, the water tank breaks down faster.
Due to improper assembly of the aircraft, its readings may remain correct, but the device itself will wear out much faster.
A water meter may fail faster if the owner handles it carelessly, for example, when making repairs. Such influences often lead to a decrease in the performance of the device.
Sometimes the opposite happens - the device has already expired, it needs to be replaced, but still continues to work normally, no problems arise with the aircraft. In such a situation, the water meter still needs to be changed and a new product installed.

It is simply impossible to verify the serviceability of the aircraft yourself. Specialized companies operate for such purposes.

The device can be verified by:

City water workers.
Licensed companies authorized to carry out the verification procedure.

During the period when the water meter will be checked, it must be removed and taken to a special laboratory. For a certain period of time, you will pay for water at the average rate, which also takes into account coefficients.

You will have to pay for this service. But its price is not too high. For example, in the Moscow region, consumers are charged an average of 600-700 rubles for verification. If you have never encountered such work, then invite a specialist. He will come at a time convenient for you and carry out the necessary work.
Checking the water meter is a mandatory procedure. During this, the accuracy of the device is established. People who do this use special techniques for their work. If they find any deviations in the readings, they are higher than normal, then the device must be changed.
If the found deviations are considered normal, operation is allowed until the next verification or until the end of the production life. It all depends on what happens faster - the next verification will come or the aircraft will finally fail.
If you miss the deadline, you will have to pay a fine. For the use of subsoil for the entire period of delay, you will pay according to the standard; this is a kind of punishment to stimulate the timely installation of a water meter.
For example, if verification was scheduled for April 1, but you handed over the aircraft only on June 1, then the readings for all this missed time will not be taken into account. Standards in different regions may vary greatly, but they are almost always higher than average consumption.

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Special means

Please note that there are some exceptions to this rule. But this only happens with the permission of the management company, when the manufacturer has indicated that the device does not need to be checked for a long period of time. Therefore, it is better to obtain permission for an extension rather than postponing it yourself.

The reasons for early replacement of cold and hot water meters are very different:

The desire of a person to replace, for example, with an electronic one. This is not prohibited.
The aircraft is out of order. When the discs begin to spin on their own, but the water is not turned on, the readings at the end of the month are higher than normal, then an urgent check of the meter is performed. If the device has been in use for more than 6 years, then it can be replaced with a new one.
Manufacturing defect. The new water meter you bought has its own passport. It indicates the technical data of the device and possible deviations. It is not necessary to check the device before installation. But, if the aircraft has a manufacturing defect, was stored under incorrect conditions or was transported incorrectly, then its readings will be incorrect. It needs to be changed.
The loss of the aircraft passport and this fact was discovered by an employee of the city water utility.
Aircraft verification is necessary for the consumer. A faulty water meter, when showing incorrect data, can increase payments significantly.

For what reason?

Replacement steps

First, visit a specialized company. Let them know there that you want a specific type of job. You should find out in advance how much this service will cost.
Call a specialist and wait for him. Don't sit idle while you wait for the technician. Provide access to the meter in advance, buy a new device (if you are replacing it).
When the master finishes his work, he will say the final decision. If you only require verification of the aircraft, then the technician will prepare the necessary documents. This is the final stage of replacing or checking hot and cold water meters.

Myths and reality
Let us note that you will only have to pay for the water meter and pay for the service of a specialist. Document preparation is completely free. If a specialist demands additional money from you for documents, you can complain against him to special authorities for exceeding his own powers by an employee of a particular company.

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.

What is the period for checking water meters? Frequency of checking the water meter

As soon as all the necessary procedures related to verification have been completed, a document must be sent to the HOA or management company, according to which the organization will have to calculate payments for water based on individual consumption readings. Usually this is an application indicating the full name of the apartment owner, his passport details, contact phone number, date of commissioning of the meter, information about the device (serial number, as well as type). Information about the organization that installed the device, current measurement readings, and the date of the next verification are also indicated. In some cases, it is also required to provide the HOA or management company with a copy of the meter’s registration certificate. The supplier must update information about the verification of the meter installed in the applicant’s apartment within 15 days. If this is not done, then the meter will, one way or another, be considered put into legal operation.

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The consumer must, first of all, carry out the correct dismantling of functioning devices. This can be done by contacting specialists at the HOA or management company. Sometimes it is necessary to coordinate this procedure with the actual utility provider 2 business days before it takes place. Before the meter is removed, its readings should be recorded and handed over to the water supplier.

Legislation on water meters in the housing of citizens of the Russian Federation

Legislation on the installation of water meters, their service life and the procedure for their replacement. Photo No. 1

Water meters are the main device for metering water entering citizens’ homes through pipelines. Based on the indicators from the water meter display, utility bills are generated and calculated.

If such a metering device is not available in the apartment or private house of a particular citizen, then the latter harms, first of all, himself, because in this case, the calculation of the amount to be paid for the water supplied to his home is carried out according to the average in the Russian Federation, which is often higher than that amount what the citizen himself consumes.

The Housing Code of the Russian Federation, some Federal laws and GOST advise Russian citizens to maintain water meters in proper condition and systematically check them for stable operation, and also, if necessary, replace them.

More precisely, the current legislation of the Russian Federation states that:

The water meter must be replaced if:

based on the results of a qualified inspection, the metering device was found unsuitable for use;
the technical documentation attached to the water meter determined the need to replace it due to its expired service life (in such a situation, it is permissible to check the device for normal operation and, if this is proven, the meter can not be changed for a certain period);
the homeowner decided to change the water meter for his own reasons (repairs, redevelopment, etc.).

Conditions for replacing water meters. Photo No. 2

There is no general obligation to timely replace and check water meters. In this regard, the legislator only gives recommendations on the use of metering devices, and also determines what will happen if citizens do not adhere to them. That is, any resident of the Russian Federation has the right to refuse a paid inspection of the water meter in his home, and inspectors in the presence of such circumstances have every right to recognize the device as unsuitable for use and not to take its readings into account when calculating the cost of water supply utilities. Such a measure, by the way, is disadvantageous specifically for the citizen himself, because the calculation in such a situation will be relative and extremely subjective.
Checking and replacing water meters should be carried out on the initiative of the citizens themselves and at their own expense. As noted earlier, any citizen of the Russian Federation has the right to refuse these procedures. It is also worth noting that in some regions of Russia, meter checks are carried out by management companies completely free of charge, but this practice, unfortunately, is quite rare. Replacement of metering devices is always carried out by homeowners at their own expense. The legislation of the Russian Federation does not provide for any benefits or state support in this aspect of the housing sector.

How often should water meters be changed?

Now it is difficult to imagine an apartment that would not be equipped with water meters. At the moment, the vast majority of Russians have acquired individual metering devices and have appreciated the benefits of paying for water supply at an individual tariff.

Using water meters is the best and most common way to save on utilities. This is due to the specifics of the laws of the Russian Federation in this area and the tariff policy of the relevant authorities. It is known that government water consumption standards differ greatly from the actual volume needed by a person.

Considering that the water supply consumer, as a rule, does not often do a lot of laundry or general cleaning, he hardly has anywhere to spend 300 liters of water - and this is exactly what the monthly norm in terms of days suggests. Thus, at the general tariff, you pay for the water that you did not even use. And since such standards are established to avoid general house overspending, we can assume that in such cases you pay for the water spent by your neighbors.

Do not forget about the increasing coefficient for consumers who have not installed meters. According to government decree No. 232 of February 27, 2020, its value is 1.5, but regional authorities often increase this figure. Thus, the only reasonable solution in the current situation would be to acquire meters, if you have not already done so.

However, the problems, unfortunately, do not end with installation. Despite the fact that water meters are very wear-resistant products, they periodically require diagnostics (or inspection, once every 4 years for hot meters and once every 6 years for cold ones), regular maintenance, and in some cases they need to be replaced.

Replacing a water meter is inevitable under the following circumstances:

The service life of the equipment has come to an end, on average, according to GOST R 50601-93, 12 years.
A scheduled verification revealed an error in the device readings exceeding the permissible plus or minus 2%.
The unit failed due to environmental influences (mechanical stress in pipes or poor quality water containing rust and salts) or due to careless handling.

It is best to change accounting units not on your own, but by ordering a service from professionals. Of course, often the price of replacing a water meter is not as attractive as landlords would like. However, financial expenses if you decide to change water meters yourself may exceed the cost of calling specialists.

In addition, you still need to call a specialist. According to the law, dismantling the old IPU yourself cannot be done. It must be carried out by an appropriately qualified worker, and after that a report on the removal of the water meter must be drawn up. You also need to order a visit from a technician after you finish changing the water meter: you need to put a seal and certify that the new device was installed correctly.

As a result, if you decide to change the water meter yourself, you will have to pay for calling a technician two or three times, that is, for each type of work. If you immediately contact a service organization, everything will be limited to one call.

When choosing a company in St. Petersburg that will change your hot and cold water meters, first of all pay attention to whether the selected organization has an approval certificate issued by a self-regulatory organization.

Such a certificate by law replaces a state license in this field of activity. A scan of the document is usually located on the company’s official website. The validity of the admission certificate is checked using the register of the SRO that provided it. In turn, the validity of the registration of the SRO itself can be checked against the list that is publicly available on the Rostechnadzor website.

Also, when choosing a company, you should take a close look at how much the work costs. If a company offers to change meters at too low a price, most likely the service includes additional services that will be imposed on the consumer, or hidden fees. For advertising purposes, this approach is used by many unscrupulous service providers.

After the replacement is completed, you will only have to register a new meter. To do this, you will need a package of documents including:

act on the removal of a failed device;
replacement agreement between the consumer and the service organization (if there was one);
work acceptance certificate;
technical passports.

All these documents are issued by the master upon completion of the work, and he also makes the necessary notes in the registration certificate of the new meter. To register with this documentation, you should contact your management company, the Unified Information and Settlement Center or the city water utility.

Characteristics of water meters: service life and their warranty period

Requirements for water meters. Photo No. 3

Water meters in the Russian Federation must be checked every 4 years for devices that count the amount of hot water, and every 6 years for cold water. The required period for replacement is determined strictly according to the technical documentation attached to the meter; if there is none, then the need to change the device is determined either by the results of the test or by reaching the meter's service life of 12 years.

Such indicators are defined at the legislative level by the corresponding GOST. Regarding the service life of specific types of water meters, it is also determined by law and is:

for vane devices – 12 years;
for other types of devices – 12-20 years (more accurately determined by the meter manufacturer).

It is worth understanding that such figures from GOST do not at all remove the general obligation to check water meters in order for authorized organizations to accept their readings. In any case, if the check required every 4th year of operation of the device is not carried out, then the device is removed from the official register and its readings are not taken into account when calculating the cost of utilities.

In addition to the periods for checking and replacing water meters, GOST also determines the warranty period for these metering devices. For any type of water meter, it takes at least one and a half years to complete. In the case where the manufacturer of the device indicates its warranty, then it is necessary to follow it, but, again, it cannot be less than one and a half years.

New law when it is necessary to change water meters

The law on hot and cold water meters was adopted in 2020. It is aimed at ensuring that apartment owners must install water consumption meters in their homes. This should significantly save your rent. For those who have not done this, consumption is calculated according to general standards, which increase annually by 20-25%. Therefore, to save money and water resources, many have already installed meters.

26 Apr 2020 glavurist 267

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Procedure for checking and replacing water meters

Who checks water meters and how? Photo No. 4

As noted earlier, checking and replacing water meters is the concern of homeowners in which they are installed. Of course, sometimes management companies, on their own initiative, go around to citizens and offer their services to check metering devices, but this practice is not so common.

If you want to determine the need to replace or check a water meter, it is important for a citizen to analyze:

how hard the water in his area is and under what pressure it moves through the pipelines (if these indicators are high enough, then the service life of the water meter is reduced significantly - by 2-4 years, at least);
How long ago was the device checked or replaced (these procedures must be carried out according to the previously indicated periods);
Are there other reasons to check or replace the meter ahead of schedule?

The truth about the timing of replacement of water meters

We will share verified information not only with this customer, but also with all visitors to the site doservis.ru. There is no deadline for replacing water meters. If someone calls you and demands to replace the meter, they are scammers. They can be represented by Vodokanal, EIRC, MFC, EPRST and even Vladimir Putin - the essence does not change. Persons who mislead with false information are deceivers and must be treated accordingly.

Why is the demand to change the water meter a scam for money? Let's figure it out. What kind of numbers does the counter have related to deadlines? If you look at the technical data sheet, you can find information about such characteristics as:

Guarantee. The period during which the manufacturer undertakes to repair or replace a device that has broken down through no fault of yours free of charge.
Intervalidation interval. Indicates how often verification should be carried out.
Lifetime. Average life expectancy of the device. Indicated in GOST, in fact it does not affect anything. You can completely ignore this indicator.

As you can see, there is no specified replacement period for the hot water meter anywhere. And at the cold water meter too. Such a concept simply does not exist, as we have now become convinced of.

Therefore, if someone calls and says that, for example, the deadline for replacing your cold water meter has come, this is a lie. No one can decide when it's time to change your water meter but you. By the way, how can you determine when it’s time to change the meter?

External damage. If cracks or chips appear on the device, it is better to install a new one.
Leak. This is a serious problem, because you can flood your neighbors or your own apartment. Immediately turn off the water and wait for the technician.
Water consumption is not written off. Are you pouring water, but the flow rate on the meter does not change? It is better to replace it, otherwise problems may arise with the management company, which may think that you stopped the device with a magnet.
Old water meter. If the device is many years old, there is a risk that it will not pass the next verification. It may be more profitable to install a new device.

Answers to pressing questions on the topic

Nuances arising during the operation of water meters. Photo No. 5

Summarizing today's article, our resource decided to present answers to the questions most interesting to citizens on today's topic. You can find the information below.

“Why is verification needed and what does it involve?”

This activity is necessary to evaluate the device for correct operation. If everything is in order with the meter, then it can continue to be used to determine the cost of utilities. Otherwise, you will need to replace the device with a working one.

“Is it possible to avoid inspection?”

As noted earlier, yes, it is possible. However, it is important to understand that, having discovered an unverified meter, the management company will no longer take its readings into account when determining the cost of utility services, which can lead to some overpayments for water.

“What to do when the meter reaches the end of its service life?”

Change or check for stability of operation, nothing else. Ignoring replacement or inspection is fraught with the consequences described earlier.

“In what cases is a water meter replaced early?”

This procedure is necessary if:

the meter is out of order;
the check determined that it was faulty;
the device has manufacturing defects and incorrectly displays the amount of water consumed by residents;
The homeowner himself decided to change the device ahead of schedule solely for his own reasons.

Legislation

The Housing Code of the Russian Federation dated December 29, 2004 No. 188-FZ establishes criteria for the quality of housing and communal services.
Federal Law No. 261 of November 23, 2009 “On energy saving and increasing energy efficiency and on introducing amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” obliges owners to install water consumption recorders. If this obligation is not fulfilled, citizens will pay according to the consumption standard, calculated with an increasing factor. This is the latest law that increases water fees by about 60% due to failure to install meters.
Federal Law No. 102 of June 26, 2008 “On ensuring the uniformity of measurements” contains a requirement for mandatory diagnostics of water consumption recorders.
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 23, 2006 No. 306 “On approval of the rules for establishing and determining standards for the consumption of utilities and resources for the purpose of maintaining common property in an apartment building” provides separate tariffs for calculating fees for those who have not installed water meters.
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of residential premises in apartment buildings” defines the criteria for the quality of utility resources, the procedure for their payment and provision, the responsibilities of the parties, and the practice of recalculation. Places the responsibility for maintenance and monitoring diagnostic timing on the owner.