Why water meters with a built-in check valve are worse than standard designs

Connection instructions

Installing a water meter does not require special knowledge and skills, but it is worth considering some recommendations.

The following photo shows the connection diagram:

1. wet counter,
2. Filter,
3. Check Valve,
4. Ball valve.

Of the tools you will need:

• wrench, adjustable wrench;
• soldering iron for plastic pipes;
• scissors for plastic pipes;
• connecting elements (clamps, couplings).

When carrying out installation work, you need to start with the installation of the crane. In the future, with its help, the water supply will be carried out or stopped.

The next element should be a water filter, then the meter itself. Lastly, a valve is installed that blocks the reverse flow of water in the pipeline chain.

Installation is carried out without welding, all elements must be threaded. The choice of a place for installing a metering device should be determined by a convenient, free approach to the device, in case of its sealing, removal, replacement.

Installation details

Installation nuances

Devices require compliance with the nuances during installation. There are such requirements:

1.It is better to install the device horizontally.

2.It is forbidden to install down the dial.

3. A coarse filter should be installed in front of the counter.

4. Before the counter, you must leave a section that is equal to five diameters of the passage of the device.

5. if the diameter of the water supply and the device are different, it is necessary to use adapters mounted outside the direct transition zone of the meter with control.

Attention! When choosing a device, they rely on the volume of water that they consume, so the diameters of the device and the pipeline may differ in size

Installation steps

At the installation stage, you should observe the nuances. There are tips such as:

1. After the completion of installation work, the water supply should be tested.

2.The installation is suitable for straight pipeline areas to protect against the effects of turbulence, make the meter work correctly.

3. it is forbidden to install fittings in the form of gates, sensors in places to establish balance.

4.The head of the device must be on top when installed horizontally.

if the meter is installed vertically, or in places with a slope, it is recommended to install devices with a sensor for transmitting readings at a distance.

Install on your own or through a company?

Under current legislation, the installation of water meters is at the expense of the homeowner. That is, you must buy a meter, install it at your own expense. The installed water meters are sealed by representatives of the water utility or the DEZ free of charge.

Self-installation procedure

Self-installation of water meters is possible. Nobody should object. You just have to do everything yourself - and install the meter, and call the representative of the Housing Office to seal it. What you need:

• purchase a meter and all the necessary details;
• agree and pay for the disconnection of the cold / hot water riser (contact the operational campaign, set the date and time);
• install a meter, turn on the water;
• call a representative of the water utility or DEZ (in different regions in different ways) to seal it, get the commissioning certificate in hand;
• go with the act and passport of the meter (there must be a serial number, a stamp of the store, the date of factory verification) to the DEZ and register the water meter.

Self-installation of water meters is not prohibited

All papers are considered, a standard contract is filled out, you sign it, on this it is considered that you pay for water according to the meter.

How to hire a good firm and what they should do

There are two ways to find a company that installs water meters: take a list in the DEZ or find it on the Internet yourself. The list will already include firms that have licenses, but obviously not all that work in this area. On the Internet, it is necessary to check the availability of a license. A copy of it must be posted on the site.

Then, in any case, you should read the standard contract that the company will conclude with you. It should contain a complete list of services. The conditions can be different - someone provides their counter, someone puts yours, someone comes with their spare parts, someone works with what the owner has. By combining the list of services provided and make a choice.

No hassle, but decent money

Previously, the contract contained a clause on service maintenance, and without it, firms did not want to install meters. Today, this item is recognized as illegal, since it is not necessary to actually service the meter, and it should not be in the clause, and if it is, you have the right to refuse these services and not pay for them.

Preparing for installation

If you have chosen a different campaign, you must leave them an application. There are two options - some firms accept applications on their website and may even offer a discount for this, while others prefer to see you in the office and sign an agreement.

First, company representatives inspect the installation site

In any case, first a campaign representative arrives (you agree on the date and time of arrival), inspects the “field of activity”, assesses the condition of the pipes, takes measurements, and often takes photos of communications. All this is necessary in order to be able to develop a meter connection diagram and quickly assemble it.Then you should call and clarify the date and time of installation of the water meter. In this conversation, you need to find out who is negotiating the shutdown of the risers with the operational campaign. Normal firms take it upon themselves.

Installation of water meters by campaign representatives

At the appointed time, a campaign representative (sometimes two) arrives and does the work. In theory, they should agree with you what and how to put, but this does not always happen. At the end of the work (usually takes about 2 hours), they give you a certificate of completion and a special paper on which the factory numbers of the metering devices are written. After that, you must call a representative of the govodokanal or DEZ to seal the meter (different organizations deal with this in different regions). The sealing of counters is a free service, you will only need to agree on the time.

In the normal condition of the pipes, the installation of water meters for professionals takes about 2 hours

In the act that you were given during installation, the initial readings of the meter must be affixed (they are different from zero, since the device is verified at the factory). With this act, a photocopy of the organization's license and your water meter's passport, you go to the DEZ, sign a standard contract.

What does he look like?

Outwardly, the water meter is similar to a medium-sized manometer, but with two nozzles - inlet and outlet. The dial has an elongated rectangular hole through which you can see the discs of the counting mechanism with numbers. They show the current value of water consumption.

The size of the case is small, which allows you to compactly place the device in a small space, among many pipes and other elements.

Modern designs of electronic water meters can have rectangular outlines and a liquid crystal display. It depends on the type of instrument, manufacturer and other specific features.

Differences from a mechanical water meter

The first and most significant difference is the presence of an electronic dashboard on an electronic counter, and its absence on a mechanical one.

This scoreboard makes it possible to display readings in a convenient plane, transfer them via Wi Fi, or via a wired network to any connected device.

Some models send data directly to the service provider. Electronic water meters require a battery or a constant source of electricity.

Reference! The size of both types of counters is approximately the same. Therefore, in the case of replacing a mechanical water meter with an electronic one, additional space is not needed.

Comparison table of mechanical and electrical meter:

	Mechanical	Electronic
Price category	budget, cheap	Expensive
Accuracy of measurements	Accuracy fluctuates, may degrade over time	Readings are accurate, do not deteriorate
Ease of use	Readings are taken only on the device itself, manually.	The ability to display the electronic panel with indicators in a convenient place. Data transmission via the Internet, wired connection and directly to the water supply company.
Need for electricity or battery	Missing	The need for a constant supply of electricity or periodic change (recharging) of the battery
Verification frequency	4 to 7 years old	Up to 10 years, without the need to remove the entire mechanism

Tachometric counters

This type of water meters is the most common. They operate on a simple principle.

Principle of operation and design

The main element of the counter is the impeller. It has a perpendicular orientation of its axis with respect to the direction of the water supply. The nominal diameter of this type of device does not exceed 50 mm.

Install tachometric meters to measure the flow of both cold and hot water, if we are talking about small volumes. These water meters are not designed for high flow rates.

When an avalanche of water passes through the impeller in transit, a circle is made. Each is accompanied by the overflow of a certain amount of liquid through the device. The more pressure the water creates, the faster the impeller spins.

A sensitive counting mechanism receives information about the number of revolutions through the gearbox, and all changes are shown on the dial.

Devices with an impeller are single-jet, multi-jet, combined. In the first, water is supplied to the input blades by one stream. A torsional impulse is sent to the indicator of the counting unit by a magnetic coupling. Experts advise mounting such meters on hot water pipelines with a cross section of 15 to 30 mm.

In multi-jet models, the flow is divided into parts on the way to the impeller. The measurement error is reduced, because. there is an impact on the blades of the same force. This completely eliminates the turbulence of the flow.

When the coverage of water use measurements needs to be extended, a combined type tachometric device is installed. It is understood that with a change in the flow rate, some one counter comes into operation. The transition takes place automatically.

The combined counter consists of the main and additional device. The first is activated by opening the valve when large volumes of water are consumed.

There is only one measuring unit, it has high accuracy, is sealed, so it works even in flooding conditions. For DN pipe more than 50 mm, instead of the impeller, a rotating impeller is laid in the design of the device. The water meter in this case is installed along the axis of the line. The ideal place for its installation is at the entrance.

Such meters are mounted on pipelines of industrial enterprises with a cross section of up to 500 mm where significant volumes of water pass. The direction and angle of the flow is determined by a special fairing.

Pros and cons

Mechanical water meters are compact. They can be mounted in remote places, so they do not spoil the interior of the room. The simplicity of the design allows these devices to be set at an acceptable price for most consumers. The error in their readings is insignificant.

Tachometric counters are non-volatile devices. The main element in their design is the impeller placed in the water. According to the number of revolutions that it makes, consider the volume of water

The negatives include the following:

• blade wear;
• sensitivity to impurities present in water;
• dependence of water meter readings on the magnetic field;
• the inability to fix the instantaneous consumption;
• the presence of moving elements in the flow chamber.

Despite the presence of shortcomings, if you follow the verification schedule, the meter can last up to 12 years. The device does not require external power supply to operate.

Dry and wet devices

Based on the location of the counting device, then tachometric water meters are divided into dry and wet. In the first case, the liquid does not affect the counting mechanism in any way. The rotational movement from the impeller is communicated to it by means of a special magnetic coupling.

An impenetrable partition protects the mechanism from corrosion. The model has a rather high cost, but it can be used even where hot water is supplied, in which foreign impurities are present in large quantities.

In addition, the accuracy of the readings of such a device is very high. If there is a need for remote data acquisition, a pulse output device can be included in the system.

Mount the pulse output unit directly at the inlet of the pipeline. The information transformed into an impulse enters the recording device

The module that collects information can be located at any distance from the measurement node.

In a wet-flow instrument, the counting unit is in constant contact with dirty liquid. This negatively affects the duration of his service. To correct the situation, a filter is mounted in front of the counter.

Valve type of devices

The principle of operation of the valve device is similar to those listed above. It belongs to the dry category. But there is a useful improvement in its design - the possibility of installing a water valve inside the device has been introduced, thanks to which you can immediately turn off the water. This design feature formed the basis of the name.

The valve meter is easy to install. A big plus is that the front indicator part of the meter can be rotated 360°. In addition, you can rotate in three dimensions, which makes it easier to read the data.It can also be equipped with a pulse output.

How to take water meter readings

Who first encounters water meters in an apartment, after installation, or buying a new apartment, with water meters already installed, the question will definitely arise, how take readings correctly water meters? In this article I will describe in detail the instructions, how to do it right.

How to determine where the hot water meter is and where it is cold?

For the correct transmission of readings, we determine where the counter is hot and cold. The blue meter is always set to cold water, and the red meter to hot. Also, according to the standard, it is allowed to put a red device not only on hot water, but also on cold water.

How to determine in this case where it is correct to write off the testimony? According to the standard since Soviet times, at the entrances from the water risers to the apartment, cold water is supplied from below, and hot from above.

And the easiest way to determine, as they say, “at random”, if you haven’t determined by the other two parameters, since modern builders can do the piping as they like, just open a tap, for example, cold water, and see which counter is spinning, and so define.

How to take water meter readings

So, where we figured out which device, and now we’ll figure out how to shoot correctly water meter readings. The most common counters with eight digits on the dial, and therefore we will start with such models.

The first five digits are cubes, the numbers stand out on them against a black background. The next 3 digits are liters.

To write off the readings, we need only the first five digits, since liters, when taking readings, the controlling services do not take into account.

Consider an example:

The initial readings of the counter, 00023 409, will be based on this indicator, after a month the indicators on the counters are 00031 777, we round the red numbers to one, the total is 00032 cubic meters, from 32 - 23 (initial readings), and 9 cubic meters of water are used up. We enter 00032 on the receipt, and pay for 9 cubes. So it is correct to take readings for cold and hot water.

There are cold and hot water meters without the last three red digits, that is, excluding liters, in which case nothing needs to be rounded off.

How to pay for water by meters

For Russia, payment for water is made as follows:

Enter the initial and final indications for cold water in the receipt, for example, 00078 - 00094, subtract 78 from 94, it turns out 16, multiply 16 by the current tariff, you get the required amount.

Do the same for hot water. For example, 00032 - 00037, you get a total of 5 cubic meters of hot water, also multiply by the tariff.

To pay for sewerage (water disposal), sum these 2 indicators, 16 + 5, it turns out 21, and multiply by the sewerage tariff.

16 cubic meters of cold water, add 5 cubic meters of hot water used, 21 cubic meters come out, pay for cold water, and in the “heating” column, pay 5 cubic meters for heating. For water disposal - 21 cubic meters.

Does the counter count correctly, how to check

You can check the correct operation of the meter yourself with a 5-10 liter canister, or another container, gaining about a hundred liters, on a smaller volume it is difficult to calculate the discrepancies in the volume of drained water and the discrepancy in meter readings.

What happens if you don't submit meter readings?

If you do not take, send during the indication, then the relevant services will issue an invoice at the rate provided for, as for apartments where the meter is not installed, that is, according to the standards per person.

That's all the advice on how to properly take readings of water meters.

Good luck to you!

Types of water meters

Water meters are installed to measure the amount of water passing through a pipeline. There is also a flow meter that measures the flow of water over a certain period of time.

After installation, a seal is installed on the water meter

Mechanical water meters are non-volatile models and are divided into cold (up to 40 degrees) or hot (130 degrees) water meters.

Types of counters:

• Single jet. Such dry-running meters measure the number of revolutions of the impeller, which is spinning under the influence of the flow of water. With the help of magnetic couplings, the data of the rotation of the blades of the device are transmitted to the reader. The design of the mechanical counter is protected from an external magnetic field. Water metering devices can be equipped with a pulse output, which allows you to read readings remotely.
• Multi-jet. The main difference from single-jet is that the water flow is divided into jets before being fed to the impeller. Thus, the error of indications is reduced. Installation of the water meter is quite simple, and for its verification it is necessary to remove only the upper part of the device. For remote data transmission, the meters can also be equipped with a pulse output.
• Valve.The principle of operation of this water meter is no different from those described above, but the device device provides for the installation of a special valve that can turn off the water. The top of the water flow meter with reading panel can be rotated around its axis for easy reading of water flow.
• Turbine. Meters for measuring the flow of hot or cold water, which are installed on a pipe from 5 cm in diameter. They are mounted at the inlets of water supply systems of industrial firms, high-rise buildings and for water supply systems.

You can also highlight electromagnetic water meters, which are used mainly to measure the amount of water in the food and chemical industries, they are not used to measure water in an apartment. Ultrasonic meters are installed in industrial enterprises.

Design

The valve can be purchased separately or as an assembly mounted in the meter's shackle.

The device is a brass or polymer valve on a rod with a spring element. Under the pressure of the supplied liquid, the length of the spring is reduced, moving the damper, the water rushes into the formed passage. The reverse flow of the liquid is impossible, since the valve is tightly adjacent to the gasket with a straightened spring, which cannot be moved by either water or air pressure.

The water meter is equipped with a mechanical pre-filter, but despite this, there is a possibility of oxidation of the valve elements. In case of failure, the reverse current prevention unit cannot be repaired, but can be easily replaced with a serviceable one. In case of failure of the non-return valve built into the flowmeter, the device itself must be replaced.

Other parameters of water meters

How choose a household water meterso that the device can serve without interruptions and measurement errors? In addition to the criteria listed above in our article, there are a number of parameters that play an important role when choosing a device:

The installation length is the distance from the end of one thread to the end of another, which determines the likelihood of installing a water meter in the right place. In most cases, they are found with an installation length of 110 mm.

The sensitivity limit is a criterion for accounting for energy resources, when the impellers or turbine of the device begin to rotate, that is, consumption is fixed. The standard sensitivity limit for household meters is 15 l/h. On sale you can also find water meters with a sensitivity limit of 1 l / h.

Pressure loss is a parameter that determines how much the water pressure will drop when it flows through the device. Standard meters reduce pressure from 0.6 bar.

The interval between verifications is an indicator indicating the period for which the measurement accuracy specified in the passport must be maintained. The time interval is usually 3-4 years. Water meters must undergo periodic verification in state metrology.

The presence of a check valve - will prevent the reverse flow of the liquid and protects the device from water hammer, thereby extending the life of the water meter.

Repair

Like any other mechanism, the check valve may require repair. In most cases, this is due to the influence of contaminants contained in water, deposited on the elements of the device and preventing its normal operation.

Some models of valves provide for the possibility of repair and revision without dismantling the body. In this case, the task of restoring the health of the device is simplified.

Taking into account the peculiarities of the operation of water supply systems, the serviceability of an individual meter for standard service life and the calibration interval cannot be guaranteed without a non-return valve installed with it. Together with the safety function, this element will eliminate possible claims against the consumer by regulatory organizations.

The purpose of using a check valve in water supply

Installing a water meter with a check valve prevents flow in the opposite direction and protects against water hammer.

In addition, such components prevent the meter from twisting.

The latter feature is both an advantage and a disadvantage for consumers. The inability to twist the meter does not allow owners to change readings and save on water supply. However, this feature helps to avoid the large fines provided for such actions.

Using a non-return valve complete with a meter

The presence of a built-in check valve in the water meter simplifies the installation of the metering system. The role of constipation in such devices is performed by a spool, the rotation of which is provided by a spring. Otherwise, the mechanism of operation of water meters is similar to that given earlier.

The main disadvantage of meters with built-in gates is that water meters of this type break more often. Restoring the locking mechanism is quite difficult. Therefore, in the event of a breakdown, you have to change the counter.

Why is water accounting necessary?

There is a closed and open heating system.In a closed heat supply system, as a rule, water is heated due to the fact that in the boiler room of a house or a central heating point, the pipes of power engineers (through which hot water comes to our heating radiators) in a special way come into contact with pipes of water utilities (through which purified drinking water flows ).

Contrary to popular belief that cold water is “clean” and hot “dirty” (non-potable), in fact, both cold and hot water in such systems flow into the house through one pipe and do not have any significant differences. Another thing is that due to some kind of malfunction of the pipes in the boiler, heating water can be mixed with drinking water, but this is an emergency, and not at all a normal situation.

To detect such situations, dye is added to the heating water from time to time.

There are also open heating systems where hot water actually enters the faucet from the heating circuit, and then you can’t drink it. In most cities, the heating system is closed.

If you are not sure which system is in your city, call the housing office and find out. If you have a faucet installed on an old battery in your old house, this does not mean at all that the system is open, and even more so that you can use this faucet. No, it is intended for housing professionals.

And unauthorized receipt of water from closed heating systems is nothing less than state theft, that is, a crime that is prosecuted by law. After all, heating water comes to our house not from a water utility, but from power engineers.

And the systems of power engineers are designed in the expectation that hot water that has entered the house (they do not call it water at all, they call it an energy carrier) will return safe and sound (only already cooled), so that it is heated again and sent on a journey through heating mains. And if the energy source is lost somewhere, then the power engineers, of course, are looking for who, where and why lost this water.

In a number of villages and small towns there is heating, but there is no hot water supply, that is, hot water comes from the boiler room only to the batteries. It is also illegal to take this water from the batteries in this case. Among other things, it is unfit for consumption and may contain a lot of harmful substances, because in principle it is not designed to be consumed in this way.

The payment for cold water consists of two components: payment for water supply and for water disposal (sewage). This money goes to the water utility. The payment for hot water (with closed heating systems) includes, plus one more component, the payment for water heating. Energy workers receive money for heating.

With open heating systems, cold water supply is paid to the water utility, hot water supply to the power industry, and water disposal of both cold and hot water to the water utility. Tariffs (cost of a liter or cubic meter) and standards (average amount of water consumed) are approved and enforced by the national regulator and local authorities.

With the help of water meters (or, in other words, flow meters), drinking, network and waste water (both cold and hot) are accounted for.According to the device of the mechanism for accounting for water consumption, water meters are divided into tachometric, electromagnetic, volumetric, ultrasonic, combined and pressure drop or diaphragm meters.

What is it: device and principle of operation of a wet walker

The wet walker is designed in such a way that all its parts are washed by water.

It does not have a dividing wall that separates the measured liquid from the rotating and measuring mechanisms.

The product does not include a magnetic clutch. Such a device shows more accurate measurements, however, it requires a good purification of the liquid from impurities.

Important! The design of wet water meters allows them to work in conditions of high humidity. Therefore, they are best used for wells or in damp, damp areas.

It is recommended to install dry meters in apartments.

Difference from a dry-running device

The wet walker does not have a special partition that separates the counting mechanism from the measured medium.

The liquid completely fills the counter mechanism up to the glass above the counter pointer.

The design of this device is simpler than that of a dry-running one. The absence of stuffing box seals makes it more accurate, sensitive, and convenient to use.

When comparing dry-running and wet-running meters, the following differences and advantages of the latter can be distinguished:

1. There is no dividing wall between the gearbox and the counting mechanism.
2. The whole mechanism is in liquid.
3. Simplicity of design.
4. More accurate measurements.
5. Above the threshold of sensitivity.
6. Easier to repair.
7. The counting mechanism is not oxidized.

Popular models and their differences

Model SVK-15 X

The most common devices counters Norma SVK-15 are available in several versions.

SVK-15 X is a device for measuring cold water, the brass body is equipped with a protective sleeve against magnetic field. It is completed with a built-in fitting or a separate check valve. Supplied with or without mounting parts.

SVK-15 G is a universal device that measures the volumes of hot and cold water flow. The price of the model is 450-650 rubles. The cost increases depending on the nominal diameter.

SVK-15 MX - single-jet wet meters are used to account for cold and drinking water in domestic and industrial pipelines. The mechanism is filled with water, which serves as a lubricant for the measuring device. The device works in flooded rooms. Diameter nominal bore 15 mm, maximum pressure 10 atm, temperature from 5 to 50 degrees. The body is made of brass.

Install the device horizontally, vertically, at an angle. It is forbidden to mount with the counting mechanism downwards. The check interval for this species is 6 years.

SVKM-15UI - this model is universal with a pulse output, designed to measure hot and cold water. Withstands temperatures up to 130 degrees The devices are used in residential and industrial premises.

Devices use:

• in open and closed water supply systems;
• supply and return pipelines;
• bundled with other electronic devices.

Counters are produced with six DN options: 50, 65, 80, 100, 125, 150 mm. Marking with the letter "I" means the presence of a pulse sensor. By metrological classes, meters are divided into class A - vertical installation, class B - horizontal installation.