Why is the water meter spinning?

Reasons why the water meter can spin in the opposite direction

Like any mechanism, a water meter can fail. One of these failures is reverse rotation. Let's figure out why the water meter is spinning in the opposite direction and how to solve this problem.

The counting mechanism is broken

Inside the water meters there is an impeller, which is driven by a passing stream of water, reflecting the flow rate on the water meter display. The impeller mechanism is designed so that it can rotate in both directions. In rare cases, its partial destruction leads to the fact that the counter will turn in the opposite direction. A broken water meter needs to be replaced.

Incorrect water meter installation

Inattention during the installation of the metering device can lead to the fact that the input will be confused with the output and the meter will begin to rotate in the opposite direction. This oversight is corrected by reinstalling the water meter

Pay attention to the arrow of the water meter body, it should be directed in the direction of the fluid in the system.

How the plumbers confused the inlet with the outlet of the water meter.

check valve not installed

Check valve device

For the correct operation of the mixers, the pressure difference in the hot and cold pipelines should be no more than 10%. With significant pressure drops, when both mixer taps are opened, water from the high-pressure pipeline will flow into the other, causing the meter to rotate in the opposite direction. This problem is solved by installing a check valve.

Important! With different pressures in the pipes, a decrease in the flow rate on one water meter increases them proportionally on the other. For example, if the pressure in the hot pipeline exceeds the cold one, all twisted cubes of cold water will go into the readings of the hot meter

Considering that the cost of hot water significantly exceeds the price of cold water, you will have to pay much more for water.

Reasons for "reverse" rotation

By the way, most often the counter rotates in the opposite direction more often in multi-storey buildings than in private ones.Here's why this might be happening:

• No check valve. It must be installed together with the meter, but this requirement is not included in the list of mandatory specifications for the water utility. In addition, the non-return valve is not included in the delivery of the water meter, so it is often simply forgotten about its need;
• The difference in pressure in a common piping system. There may be a difference in pressure in the common pipe that runs along the floor. With a large difference in pressure or if there is air in the system, the meter can be “pushed through” and rotate in the other direction;
• Reverse flow of water with the boiler installed: if the water from the boiler is not drained, but the riser is open, then it is possible that the liquid moves through the open mixer along the path of least resistance, that is, it overflows from the pipe supplying cold water to the pipe supplying hot. This situation should not occur if the boiler is properly installed;
• The counter is set incorrectly. On the body of the water meter there is an arrow indicating the direction of the water flow. Often people who install the meter on their own make a mistake and mount it incorrectly;
• Also, the cause may be the physical wear of the meter design. Only a specialist can determine this.

What happens if a fault is found during the inspection?

If a malfunction of the meter is discovered during the inspection, then the owner of the apartment faces serious financial losses.

The paid utility bills for water will be recalculated according to the consumption norms according to the number of persons registered in the apartment, and the number of people actually living does not matter, therefore absent citizens will also be taken into account.

At the same time, the period that the device was faulty does not matter, since the owner of the apartment will not be able to document it: the recalculation will be made for the period from 3 to 6 months before the check.

To avoid this situation, it is recommended from time to time to independently check the performance of metering devices.

Causes of the problem

Depending on the reasons for the failure, the malfunction may manifest itself in different ways.

If the counter stops spinning, that is, the dial indicator stops, then various malfunctions can cause this:

• failure of the counting mechanism itself;
• breakage of the rotor of the device;
• with a low quality of tap water, the coarse filter may become clogged, followed by the flow element;
• incorrect connection, for example, installing a cold water meter in a hot water pipe and vice versa;
• excessively high temperature of hot water (over 90 ° C), which can lead to the failure of the device;
• outside interference in the mechanism in order to save money with the help of magnets, needles or other folk remedies.

If the meter spins in the opposite direction, then the reasons for this may be a malfunction of both the meter itself and the plumbing system as a whole.

These reasons include:

• incorrect installation of the meter on its own, in which the direction of water flow is confused;
• the absence of a check valve, which is a mandatory element when installing a meter, but often not included in the meter;
• a large difference in the pressure of the pipelines (between the common and individual pipes);
• incorrect installation of the boiler, in which water overflows from a pipe with cold water into a pipe with hot;
• physical wear and tear of the meter.

If the meter rotates disproportionately to the water flow (too bad), then the reasons for this may be the physical wear of the mechanism or the clogging of the flow element.

Also, the slow rotation of the counter may indicate the use of a fraudulent scheme using a magnet.

If, for example, such a breakdown was discovered after buying an apartment, then it is worth checking if the previous owner used a magnet to slow down the counter.

This is interesting: What to do to avoid an increase in pressure in the cold water circuit - we analyze carefully

Installing a new water meter

You can purchase a new water meter from the appropriate store. When buying, check the device for any mechanical damage. The seller must write the date of purchase of the meter in the passport, the stamp of the institution that implemented the sale and sign. To install a new device, you should invite the appropriate specialist. After installing the meter, contact the managing organization to check and seal the device.

To independently check the correct operation of the new water meter, take a container, the volume of which you know exactly. Record the meter reading. Open the faucet and fill the container with water. Close the faucet and note the new readings. If the counter works properly, they should increase by exactly one unit.

The reasons

If you find that your meter is spinning with closed taps, then you should carefully check the water supply system in the house:

First of all, make sure that there is no water leakage anywhere, that is, all pipes, sanitarytechnical appliances and household equipment that works with the use of water is serviceable and does not leak liquid

Usually if any part of this system is leaking, then you have to pay a lot for water consumption.

Pay special attention to the toilet bowl, namely its cistern. It happens that water can almost inaudibly and imperceptibly flow into the toilet in a thin stream and cause the impeller to rotate in the meter, despite the fact that every tap in the house is closed

In this case, a lot of cubes of water will not be wound, but a slight rotation of the impeller in the metering unit can be noticed.

Also note that not all tie-ins into the pipeline after the meter. If your neighbors somehow managed to make such a tie-in, then your meter may spin when the neighbors open a hot or cold water tap (depending on which pipeline the tie-in is made into). In this case, your payments will be many cubic meters higher than your usual monthly water consumption. Although theoretically this is possible, in fact it is very difficult to do this, because in this case the neighbors must have access to your apartment for unauthorized tapping into the pipeline after the meter.

To properly find the reason why your water meter is spinning when the tap is closed, try the following:

1. Tightly close all taps in the house, turn off the water supply to the toilet tank and disconnect all household appliances from the water supply system.
2. If the impeller continues to rotate, shut off the water supply to the apartment using the shut-off valves installed before the metering unit. If the rotation of the device stops, then the cause of the problem lies in your plumbing system and the equipment used.
3. In this case, it is necessary to invite a plumber home who can find the cause and the place where it flows. He will also be able to evaluate the system for unauthorized tapping.
4. If you haven’t consumed as many cubic meters of water before as you did in the last month, try to remember what equipment or technical household appliance you bought or changed during this month. Most likely, the reason lies precisely in it.
5. Sometimes the problem may lie in the faucet itself, or rather the hot and cold water mixer.

Next, we will look at what needs to be done, what to find and get rid of this or that problem of water leakage.

What is considered broken

The regulations contain a complete specification of the process of working with hot and cold water meters. This means that the text deals with possible problems in the operation of devices and their causes. So, paragraph 81 (12) contains the following options for the meter to fail:

• not displaying data;
• violation of the integrity of the seals (occurs quite often);
• mechanical damage to parts or the body of the equipment;
• deviation of the measurement error over the allowable;
• the end of the instrument's service life without verification.

Attention: the owner of the premises in which the latter is installed is responsible for the integrity of the equipment. Download for viewing and printing: Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 6, 2011

N 354 On the provision of public services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings

VII. The procedure for accounting for utilities using metering devices

81.12. The metering device is considered out of order in cases

Consequences of ignoring the problem

The legislation provides for the possibility to solve the problem or repair the device within 30 days, if the owner independently discovered the stoppage of the device. In this case, payment for water consumption will be calculated based on the average monthly consumption.

Delay in solving problems leads to the fact that utility inspectors, having discovered a faulty device, can impose a fine for the owner not contacting the water utility.

The amount of the fine is calculated according to the number of persons registered in the residential area.

The only exceptions are situations when a person has been absent for a long time:

1. was on a business trip
2. on watch
3. inpatient treatment.

Absence must be documented.

Payment will be made taking into account the last inspection, but no more than 6 months before the discovery of a malfunction.

Fault detection during verification

The water meter is checked once every 3-5 years. The water utility reports its timing. The master arrives at the address and takes the device for examination. If problems cannot be fixed, installs a new device. If verification shows that the water meter is clogged, then it will be cleaned and returned.

In other cases, they will be replaced with a new one. If the fact of external influence on the testimony is established, the owner will be fined.

What to do if the hot water meter stops spinning

Most often, the meter stops not because of its breakdown, but because of the ingress of debris. To get rid of dirt that prevents the rotation of the blades of the device, try the following steps. Open hot water and tap on its body. If this does not help, completely shut off the water, unscrew the filter plug in front of the counter, clean the filter.Insert the tube of the switched on vacuum cleaner into the mixer and open the tap so that the air scrolls the device in the opposite direction.

Hello. I have such a situation. The hot water meter stopped spinning, but the water was flowing. They called a specialist from the company that carried out the verification. The "specialist" said that the problem is in the check valve. He cleaned everything. Everything is working. The service costs 1500 rubles. Issued a receipt. I showed up at the apartment when all the "work" was done. After my question: "What is the reason, how does the check valve affect the malfunction of the meter, since it is installed in the pipeline system after the meter, and what did it do?" - the specialist replied that the non-return valve is “put in the pipe”, advised to turn to the Internet and “google”. After this answer, I had to talk to him in a raised tone, and find out why I should “google” and not get an exhaustive answer from a “specialist”. As a result, unfortunately, I never received an answer - how the check valve caused the meter to malfunction. After his quick departure, I found a receipt for a cash receipt with no basis for the work performed. I didn't find any acceptance certificate either. I have a question: “Can a non-return valve cause a malfunction, is a receipt without indicating the work performed valid”? I plan to "unwind" this issue with the higher management of this "specialist". Thank you.

The procedure for replacing meters

The issue with broken equipment is solved in the following sequence:

• The owner contacts the management company.
• At a predetermined time, an employee of the Criminal Code comes, fixes the fact of a breakdown, removes the seals.
• The user purchases a new device, installs it (independently or with the involvement of a professional) and registers it with the Criminal Code.
• The called master puts seals.

But an examination will be required to show that the product has been properly handled.

Regularly monitor the health of the device to avoid overpaying for the resource. At the slightest suspicion of a malfunction, do not hesitate to resolve the issue. This will save you nerves and money.

Hot water meter not spinning what to do

If the meter breaks and you do not contact your management company, then there may be problems. They can charge more cubes in utility bills. When they come with a check and notice a non-working water meter, they will make a calculation according to the standard from the last date of transmission of readings. If you took readings six months ago, and the meter worked fine all this time.

What to do if the water meter is broken?

• incorrect installation of the meter on its own, in which the direction of water flow is confused;
• the absence of a check valve, which is a mandatory element when installing a meter, but often not included in the meter;
• a large difference in the pressure of the pipelines (between the common and individual pipes);
• incorrect installation of the boiler, in which water overflows from a pipe with cold water into a pipe with hot;
• physical wear and tear of the meter.

You buy a new one, call the representatives of the accounting organization, they draw up an act and old readings - then they will calculate the payment at the rate without a metering device (the call is free).Then you change the meter and again call them for sealing, they will seal the new device, take the initial readings and the next receipt will come with new readings.

Water meter stopped spinning how to fix

Then you change the meter and again call them for sealing, they will seal the new device, take the initial readings and the next receipt will come with new readings. This call is paid, and the tariff is fixed. Do not forget that a stamp with the date of sealing is put on the counter in the passport - the date of the next check will be calculated from this date, and not from the date of manufacture of the counter.

• incorrect installation of the meter on its own, in which the direction of water flow is confused;
• the absence of a check valve, which is a mandatory element when installing a meter, but often not included in the meter;
• a large difference in the pressure of the pipelines (between the common and individual pipes);
• incorrect installation of the boiler, in which water overflows from a pipe with cold water into a pipe with hot;
• physical wear and tear of the meter.

Instructions - what to do if the device stops winding

If a stop is detected, it is necessary to determine whether the device requires repair or replacement.

It is necessary to inspect the water supply system, identify a leak, tighten the couplings and call a plumber.

You cannot remove the sealed water meter yourself. You can try to lightly tap the device on the side of the case - if there is a small blockage, it will be eliminated and the counter will work.

The instruction when the water meter is stopped begins with the main rule - fixing the readings:

1. Inspect the device for mechanical damage. If they are present, we call the wizard. Self-repair is prohibited.
2. If a leak is detected from under the water meter, rings around it or nuts, we check the taps for working condition, shut off the water supply, tightly tightening the couplings, and contact the plumber.
3. Check the correct installation of the device. There are errors when the cold water meter is put on hot. The dial is fogged up and covered with drops. Here it will be necessary to remove the device, a new seal will be required. Only a water utility worker will fix the problem.
4. If mechanical contamination is detected, the liquid pressure decreases or stops and the impeller stops, you can unscrew the plug with the filter yourself and rinse the mesh that is on the pipe in front of the meter. Then you need to turn on the water so that the dirt with water comes out, and then put the grid in place.
5. If after these steps the meter does not start, we apply to the service company.

Note! If it was not possible to make the meter spin, it is better not to delay contacting the water utility so that there are no extra cash charges for the days without using the meter.

Attempt to "tap" the water meter

This procedure requires the following steps:

1. Open the tap with water.
2. With the back of your hand, gently tap on either side of the device. Began to work - good.
3. It didn’t start - put a filter in front of the counter, close the inlet valve, unscrew the filter plug and clean it.

   A push of water in the opposite direction will be able to start the device.

4. Sometimes a powerful stream of air from a vacuum cleaner or hair dryer is sent to the open faucet of the mixer in order to scroll the counter in the opposite direction - this also helps it to work.
5. If none of the above methods helped, you need to call a specialist and give the water meter for cleaning or replacement.

Stops often occur not only due to blockages, but also wedging of the workings on the impeller.

Attention! Prevention from blockages is the installation of filters during the installation of the water system, as well as a decrease in the pressure of the tap that stands in front of the water meter.

Where to turn if tapping did not help and the device does not work?

It is necessary to write an application or leave a telephone application to the company with which the owner has a service agreement. A specialist will arrive at the appointed time, fix the malfunction and remove the seal.

At the same time, he will issue the necessary documentation and the act of removing the seal in several copies, one of the options for which will be received by the owner.

The device is given for examination, a copy of the conclusion will then be given to the owner. In the conclusion of the examination, it must be indicated that the device was handled with care, without interfering with its operation.

With a positive examination, if the water meter is under warranty, repair or replacement will be carried out at the expense of the service company.

Calling a specialist at home

It is carried out from a mobile or landline phone using the contacts provided by the water utility. At the same time, the recorded readings are reported to the dispatcher.

If you need to write an application, the dispatcher will notify you and invite you to the company. But in practice, first a plumber must come to the call, check the sealing and the operation of the entire water supply system.

Equipment replacement

The water meter must be replaced if the problem cannot be corrected. The reasons for the breakdown are indicated in the act of the examination. A copy of the act is handed over to the owner.

Why is it necessary to monitor the health of metering equipment

The above government decree deals with disputes between service providers and consumers. The use of faulty equipment allows public utilities to legally recover additional funds from a citizen. Moreover, the latter are not a penalty.

The logic is this:

• The citizen is obliged to pay for the consumed resource. This is taken into account by a specialized device.
• If the water meter is working, then the bill is issued according to the readings.
• If there is no equipment or it is faulty, then the calculation of consumption is made according to the established norm based on one person registered in the apartment.

Most families use hot and cold water much less than the norm. Therefore, the recalculation will lead to a significant increase in the amounts in the payment.

What happens if the controller detects a breakdown

According to the standards, a control survey of water meters is carried out no more than once every three months. If a problem is discovered during the check, the public utilities will recalculate consumption according to the norm. They will start from the date:

• sealing (if made recently);
• last check.

Each of the operations is accompanied by the drawing up of an act. The specialist will look at the consumer's case and determine when the device was last confirmed to be in good working order. From this date recalculation will be made (for 3 - 6 months). It will be impossible to prove the illegality of such an operation.

Reverse rotation of the metering unit

The thing is that the design of the water meter allows its impeller to rotate in two directions (clockwise and counterclockwise).A ratchet could prevent this rotation, but it is not used in water meters. In this regard, some owners of water metering units in apartments and private houses noticed that their devices rotate in the opposite direction.

There may be several reasons for this phenomenon:

• If you are the owner of a private house and your meter rotates in the opposite direction, then a check valve must be installed on the pipeline, which will protect against unwanted water flow.
• In apartment buildings, this can occur due to pressure differences in the riser pipeline. If the difference is very large, then compressed air can turn the meter impeller in the opposite direction.
• If, with the riser open and the boiler turned off, the water meter rotates in the opposite direction, then water is being squeezed from the cold pipe to the hot one. And when the boiler is on, the meter should not rotate at all, since the common tap is blocked.

Operating recommendations

When buying equipment, be sure to check the scope of supply. It includes a strainer, two connectors and nipples for them, gaskets and nuts, and a check valve. The passport of the device must be printed by typographic method, and the serial numbers inside must match the data indicated on the case.

When using a water meter, you need to monitor its serviceability. Pipes must be in good condition, all joints are sealed. Regular checks will help to avoid sudden breakdowns, according to the regulations once every 4 years (for hot) and once every 5 years (for cold).

It must be remembered that an individual measuring device is the property of the tenant of the apartment.Also, article 13 of part 5 of the Federal Law of 2009 N261-FZ states that the owners of the premises are fully responsible for the installation and use of intra-apartment water meters. Accordingly, the tenant of the house must pay for repairs and maintenance. If the device is new and the warranty period is still valid, the manufacturer undertakes to provide a working device in the event of a breakdown.

What to do if the device is defective?

In some cases, and with experience in the plumbing craft, the problem can be solved on its own. In most situations, you need to contact the UK. Only an experienced specialist can solve the question related to why the counter shows more.

Resolving the situation on your own

The consumer can independently try to solve the problem. But in all cases, he needs to notify the Criminal Code about this in advance. The consumer has the right to independently replace the water meter, which incorrectly records the readings of the resource consumption, if it was he who caused the problem.

For this you need:

1. Notify the CC at least 2 business days in advance. The work itself should be carried out only in the presence of a representative of the company. The requirements are fixed in paragraph 81 (13) of the Government Decree of May 6, 2011 under the number 354.
2. Preliminarily establish the exact cause by checking both the meter itself and all pipes, from the bathroom to the kitchen.
3. Turn off the water in the apartment.
4. If the cause was a leak, then it is necessary to tighten the couplings or tidy the shut-off and adjustment valve.
5. If the cause lies in the blockage of the pipes, then the inlet filter is cleaned. This procedure is recommended once every six months.
6. If the cause is a broken water meter, then you need to replace it.To do this, the device is removed with a key in two places (at the inlet and outlet). Gaskets need to be changed. The new water meter is tightened with new nuts that come with it.

Only consumers with sufficient knowledge in plumbing can eliminate blockages in pipes. If during the procedure the water meter was replaced, then the Criminal Code must be notified of the violation of the integrity of the seal. Her representative will also have to seal the new device in the future.

It is forbidden to independently solve the problem of increased water consumption if it arose for reasons such as leakage in pipes and connections located outside the apartment, excess water pressure and improper circulation of the resource in the DHW system.

Important! In these cases, the problem should be solved only by management companies.

Appeal to the Criminal Code

In such a situation, you should act according to the algorithm:

1. Notify the CC that there is a problem. Do this verbally over the phone or in person. You can write an application.
2. Get a referral. Draw up with him an act of inspection of the water meter, as well as the entire communications system in the house.
3. Sign an act of work aimed at eliminating the cause of increased water consumption.

If the flow meter was replaced during the procedure, the consumer will have to purchase a new device at his own expense. If the old water meter was under warranty, then the management company will have to purchase a new one at its own expense.

The essence of the problem

To begin with, let's figure out when the meter should and should not count the consumption of hot or cold water. Since the water meter is not connected to electricity, the rotation of the impeller in it occurs only at the moment the water moves through the device. The unit cannot spontaneously wind water.That is, the movement of water through the meter occurs only when the taps in the house or apartment are turned on.

Moreover, if you have cold and hot water meters, then at a certain turn of the mixer handle, when both hot and cold water are used, both meters will count the volumes of liquid. Also, the counter will count the volume of water if you press the button on the toilet bowl.

• The meter spins when the water taps in the house or apartment are closed.
• When you are about to take readings from the water meter, you find that not only has it rolled up more cubes than usual, but it continues to wind up the readings even though the tap is closed. Sometimes the meter readings can exceed the usual monthly volumes of water consumption by several cubic meters, and sometimes be several times more.
• Another problem that owners of water meters face can be the rotation of the meter in the opposite direction.

If you are experiencing one of the above problems, then do not rush to think that the neighbors are stealing your water, most likely the reason lies in your plumbing system or the sanitary equipment and household appliances you use. Let's try to figure out why this happened and what to do to fix the problem.