Calibration of water meters at home without removal: the timing and subtleties of the verification

Timing of inspections

Based on Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354, the owner must carry out verification within the time frame established by the documentation attached to the meter.

According to a by-law, regional authorities can regulate the timing of the control of measuring instruments. Then the check will need to be carried out in accordance with the adopted by-law.

To clarify information about the date of the next inspection, the consumer needs to familiarize himself with the contract concluded with the water supply company.

If the date of verification from the factory is unknown, it can be clarified in the data sheet or a copy of the instrument commissioning certificate

More often in by-laws there are terms:

• 4 years - for GHS;
• 6 years - for SHV.

In the absence of edits, the verification of individual water meters is carried out at the end of the period specified in the documentation for the water meter. Popular counters of Russian manufacturers: Pulse, Pulsar, Itelma, Meter, SVU have standard inspection periods - 4 and 6 years.

Manufacturers Minol, Triton, Betar increased the period of operation of SGV up to 6 years. Some foreign-made water meters, such as Maddalena, must be tested every 10-15 years. A meter that has not passed the test within the specified time is removed from the register.

Take a sociological survey!

In the Ruling of October 24, 2012, which was issued by the Supreme Court on the verification of electricity meters, water meters and other measuring devices, it is explained that only legal entities and individual entrepreneurs are required to carry them out.

However, individuals in whose apartments such devices are installed must also calibrate their meters at intervals specified in the technical documentation. Otherwise, the correctness of the displayed data is not guaranteed even by the device manufacturer.

During this time, the permissible measurement error goes beyond reasonable limits and the consumer should determine whether everything is in order with his measuring device.

This norm, as well as the verification procedure, are prescribed in the following legal documents:

According to the provisions of par.59 of Decree No. 354, in case of missing the verification period, the consumer cannot pay for cold and hot water according to meter readings.

Although it is legally established who has the right to check water meters in an apartment, management companies (MC) monitor compliance with the verification deadlines.

Starting from the 1st day of the month following the one in which the verification was supposed to be carried out, accruals will be carried out:

• based on the average calculated meter readings for the last 6 months - during the first three months;
• according to the standard - from the 1st day of the 4th month.

Therefore, the Criminal Code, referring to these regulations, as well as to the law on housing and communal services in 2019, as before, insist on the verification of water meters.

How to check water meters at home yourself

Self-checking the meter at home does not carry any power. It can only be done for yourself. Such verification does not indicate the serviceability of the device and its exact performance. You can perform such a procedure before paid verification to ensure the quality of the meter. But such a procedure may be inaccurate, as it is amateur.

How to make your own verification:

1. To begin with, a 10-liter container is prepared, the meter readings are recorded;
2. A tap with water is opened, and 10 liters are drained in a thin stream;
3. Then the pressure is increased and collected 10 times in 10 liters;
4. Next, the pressure is turned on to the maximum and collected 100 times in 10 liters;
5. As a result, the total amount of liquid should be 1110 liters, the difference is compared with the meter readings.

The meter must be checked by a qualified person.

The permissible error is a maximum of 2%. If the norm is exceeded, the indicators are considered inaccurate.Self-calibration has certain difficulties and requires a lot of water. That is why it is better to use the services of a specialist.

Is it legal?

Often, homeowners are faced with the unexpected arrival of specialists to check meters. If the tenants refuse to let representatives of any company into the apartment, they begin to speak rather rudely about the need for the procedure and scare them with a fine.

The presented actions are illegal, moreover, no organization is authorized to impose a fine in the absence of verification of meters.

But if the owners of the apartment themselves call the service employees to check the meters, everything happens legally.

So, when the end of the verification period is approaching, you can call the service for verification and present the results to the management company in order to pay according to the readings of the instruments.

Fee for the initial and repeated procedure and its amount

The primary verification procedure is carried out after the manufacture of the meter in the process of passing metrological tests. It is carried out at the factory.

Therefore, the initial check of the water meter is free for the consumer. He acquires an already verified device, in the passport of which there is a mark on the passed test.

The consumer pays the tariff for re-calibration of the water meter. It is installed in every region. General provisions regarding payment for verification work are fixed in the Rules, which are approved by the Government Decree of December 22, 2009 under the number 1057.

The amount of the fee is determined taking into account the standards of labor intensity, profitability, the average salary of metrologists and other indirect costs.

The cost of the verification procedure for one flow meter ranges from 400 to 600 rubles on average. The fee may be higher if additional services were provided by the metrological service.

Management companies are not entitled to calibrate water meters. They only have the right to notify about the need to undergo the procedure for devices whose calibration period is expiring. Verification work can only be carried out by accredited metrological centers.

Cancellation of verification of water meters: causes of misunderstandings

The main reason that caused unrest around the issue of abolishing the verification of water meters is that the Criminal Code and other commercial organizations began to act illegally. This was expressed in urgent requirements to carry out a mandatory replacement of metering devices. Since at that time the abolition of the verification of water metering devices in Moscow and the Moscow Region (according to Decree 831-PP) had not yet been introduced, urgent proposals began to come to homeowners without taking into account real terms.

Muscovites responded to such unauthorized actions with numerous appeals to the court. This issue (before the entry into force of Decree 831-PP) was dealt with by the Moscow Prosecutor's Office (interdistrict Khoroshevskaya). Its employees conducted an investigation into the appeals to the court for illegal actions of the Criminal Code. So, before the entry into force of the resolution, the water meters were checked every 4 years (for a hot water meter) and once every 5 years (for a cold water meter).Therefore, regardless of which water meter the user has installed, its calibration interval has always been the same. However, what about those who have installed imported equipment, the declared service life of which is 12 years?

Given that users install a variety of metering devices, they decided to abandon the leveling in the verification requirements. Now the fixed period for replacing water meters has been canceled, however, no one has canceled the mandatory verification of accounting devices.

Check or replace: which is better

Abroad, they also began to deal with the replacement and verification of meters not so long ago. The latest research data was obtained in Estonia. Research has shown that 40 percent of screenings fail. The cause of the breakdown often lies in the plastic elements that are constantly in contact with the liquid.

Over time, their surface begins to wear off. Counters are not even subject to restoration repair. On the territory of our country, such studies are not yet actively conducted.

Or they are held, but without announcing the results to the general public. But there is no doubt that our meters, for the most part, are not able to meet the requirements. Many water meters do not even live up to the inspections themselves, users change them on their own.

What documents should be issued after verification

There are several important points here.

1. Instrument conformity certificate.
2. Acts with information about the work performed.
3. The act confirming the commissioning.
4. The contract for the installation of the device itself.
5. Technical passport issued by manufacturers. It lists the current specifications.

Certificate of trust.

Who should pay and is a free procedure possible?

If the supplier himself provides for the costs in this area in advance, then he pays for all the work. The relevant clause must be included in the contract. If it is missing, consumers should be wary.

It often happens that during the inspection everyone is forced to pay according to the standard rates. Such a decision is never legal. In this situation, residents can pay for average consumption over two to three months. When the counter is installed back, a recalculation is carried out.

Additional information about the rights and obligations of the owner

The consumer should be aware that it would be illegal to require additional fees in connection with sealing and commissioning. As for the act itself, the drawing up of which completes the check, it must contain the following information:

• Date when the next test will be performed.
• Indications from the instrument scale at the time of the start of work. Be sure to describe the places where the seals are located.
• Commissioning decision. If the commission refuses to do so, then a written indication of the reason is also required.
• Description of the location where the device was installed.

If the test dates are ignored, the instrument will be considered unsuitable for actual use. At the same time, calculations for utilities are carried out according to the same rules as for general house metering devices.

How is the verification of the meter at home

By agreement between the homeowner and the contractor, a verification date is set. Before connecting the equipment, a service contract is concluded in two copies.

Popular control equipment are devices: VPU Energo M, UPSZh 3PM, Vodouchet2M. Since the verification of water meters will take place at home, it is worth knowing how it is carried out:

• The inlet hose of the portable unit is connected to the threaded mixer and the other end to the control device. The outlet hose is installed in the drain of a bathtub or sink.
• With the help of the valve, the flow of water is limited, the values ​​\u200b\u200bspecified on the device are fixed. The technician must make sure that the digits of the counting mechanism do not change when the tap is closed.
• Next, the tap opens, and water flows in a volume of 6 liters through the fixing device. The volume of water passed through the reference controller is compared with the readings on the meter.

Based on the results, the error of the measuring equipment is displayed, and if the indicator does not go beyond the norm, the master allows the operation of the water meter.

The audit can be carried out by firms that have state accreditation. Therefore, the representative of the company, before starting work, must provide the owner with the necessary documentation.

As a result of checking the meters, the metrological engineer must issue the following documentation:

1. Contract for the performance of services.
2. Verification certificate.
3. Technical passport with a note about the possibility of using the meter.
4. Certificate of conformity, certifying the accuracy of measurements of the device.
5. Copies of legal documents of the company.
6. Check.

If a significant error is detected, the technician will refuse certification and offer to replace the individual metering device with a new one.You can refuse to install a new meter, then the payment will be charged taking into account the average values ​​for the region.

The duration of use of measuring instruments for water is limited to 10-14 years. Some water meters continue to operate smoothly even after 20 years of operation.

Verification procedure

Checking with a special device

First you need to call by phone and leave a request. On the appointed day, the master will come with special equipment, packed in a blue or black suitcase, and perform the check without dismantling the meters.

Names of popular measuring instruments:

• Test-sun;
• VPU Energo-M.

The equipment is installed on the mixer with hoses. The device consists of a measuring controller, a flow converter and a computer that converts and calculates all data.

First, an external inspection of the meters is carried out. Then determine the error of the meter. Verification of water meters without removal will take 5-20 minutes. If deviations are found in the operation of the counter from the specified parameters, the device will be replaced with a new one.

In order to minimize the possibility of recognizing the meter as inoperable, it is recommended to check it yourself visually before concluding a contract. You need to make sure that:

• mechanical damage;
• water or condensation under glass;
• corrosion in the place where the counting mechanism is connected to the body;
• uneven running of the impeller of the counting mechanism;
• fixed position of the right drum of the counting mechanism with the water tap open.

How much does it cost to check a water meter

Checking water meters at home without removal is not included in the maintenance and repair of property at home or other services, so it is paid separately by the landlord.

There is no state billing. The service is provided by private companies that can set any prices. The agreement between the parties on the cost is formalized by the contract.

On average, the price of checking water meters is 500 rubles, but it can vary in one direction or another, depending on the model of the device and the company that will perform the check.

What to do after the procedure

The fact of testing is documented by the act of verification (in 3 copies), certificate of verification of meters. Additionally, you need to get a contract, a copy of the state accreditation, a receipt for payment. A verification mark can also be applied to the counter, sometimes it replaces a certificate. The inspector returns device passports.

One copy of the act is referred to the management company (HOA / ZHSK or Vodokanal, depending on who the payment for utilities is made with) to update the information and restore the calculation procedure if the transition to the calculation was made according to the standards.

Is it possible to do the verification yourself?

You can independently do the verification, using improvised means for this. But it is carried out only for the purpose of controlling the parameters of the device for itself and has no legal force, since upon the fact of testing, an act certified by an accredited company must be obtained.

Control taking readings of the water meter (IPU)

When the meter is under control, accruals are made based on the average amount received over the last 3 months. In 2017-2018no changes to the meter verification procedure are planned.

Usually Russians use Russian-made meters. The documentation of such metering devices says that the check interval is regulated by the current GOST.

If you have to replace an individual water meter, then the person is obliged to provide his management company with all the necessary documents, which will mention the exact date of installation, as well as the start of operation of the device.

The management company does not take any action until it receives these documents. Residents can often forget about this, but only after this is done, you can start the procedure for calculating the water consumed, taking into account the reconciliation of meter readings.

In some cases, the management company has all the necessary information about the exact date of installation of an individual meter in the apartments of residents.

This allows the management company to report in time that it is necessary to go through the procedure for reconciling meters. Meters that have not passed the test will be recognized as unsuitable for accounting. The meters should also be closely monitored, otherwise they may be in a faulty technical condition. In such a case, water accounting will not be carried out.

Who to contact if the time limit of the counter has come up?

In such a case, 2 methods can be recommended: 1. Hand over the device to a serviced institution; 2. Call a specialist at home.

Action algorithm

When checking a water meter at home, you will need to call a specialist to your home. First, an application is submitted to the metrological service. For reinsurance, the procedure is performed in advance, because there may be a queue for the service.Based on such an application, a specialist with his equipment leaves the house and performs verification. Its essence consists in pumping water through a water meter and weighing it using high-precision scales.

Checking meters at home does not take much time

Stages of sequential verification:

1. First, an application is submitted to the metrological center to call a specialist;
2. The date and time of the arrival of a professional at home is assigned;
3. Before verification, an agreement on the provision of a paid service is concluded between the consumer and the center;
4. Then the payment for the service is carried out;
5. Verification takes place according to the contract, while the integrity of the meter is violated and the seal is removed;
6. When the verification is completed, the client receives a conclusion, which will need to be taken to the service company.

With the timely provision of a document on checking the meter, the tenant will not be fined. The verification algorithm is simple. The work is done fairly quickly.

First, special equipment is connected to the mixer. To do this, use a shower hose, but without a watering can. The output of the device is sent to a separate container. It is already installed on accurate scales.

Before checking, it is required to block any other sources of water intake. Then the parameters of the device are recorded. Next, several liters of liquid are poured into the container. Water is weighed and converted to liters.

The resulting volume must be compared with the initial meter readings. It is necessary to perform the procedure several times. As a result, all the results are compared and the average is calculated. With a normal error, the specialist confirms the health of the meter. But if the error is large, then the device will need to be replaced.

Checklist for organizing the testing of DHW devices

When carrying out the verification procedure, it is recommended to proceed according to the following scheme:

1. A few weeks before the end of the calibration interval, submit an application to the metrological center of the city. Find out in advance if he has accreditation to conduct water meter inspections.
2. Submit the package of documentation indicated by it to the metrology center.
3. Enter into a contract.
4. Pay for the services of the center. Their cost on average will be from 400 to 1500 rubles. The price of the service depends on the number of devices, the nature of the verification procedure (with or without device removal).
5. To accept an employee of the metrological center on the agreed day.

Reference! After verification, it is necessary to obtain an act and a certificate from an employee of the metrological service.

Documents for verification of water meters

The owner of the flow meter is required to provide the following data to the metrological center:

• technical passport for a water meter;
• act on the commissioning of the flowmeter;
• contract with the metrology service for work;
• device conformity certificate.

Metrological services may also additionally ask for a contract for the installation of a water meter.

Read more about the documents required for checking water meters here.

How is the procedure itself?

This event can be carried out both with the removal of the counter and its further sending to the metrological laboratory, and without dismantling. The latter option is now more commonly used. It is more economical and more profitable for the consumer in terms of financial costs.

If the verification procedure is carried out without dismantling, then the following actions are performed:

1. An employee of the metrological center comes to the consumer at home.

   Previously, he inspects the water meter for the integrity of the body and seals. In the presence of damage, they immediately draw up an act on the unsuitability of the device for testing.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

2. If the device is in good condition, then the specialist begins to use a special calibration installation. There are two hoses running from it. The first one is fixed at one end on a tap installed in the kitchen or in the bathroom, the second is simply pulled into the sink.
3. Hot water is passed through the installation and drained through a hose into the sink. The value of the consumed amount of water is fixed on the display of the installation. These data are compared with the readings of the DHW flow meter. On their basis, the error of the device is calculated.
4. With an error within 5%, the water meter is considered to have passed verification.

During the procedure with dismantling, the device is completely removed from the pipeline and sent to the laboratory. Then it is fixed back on the pipe if it passes the test. In any case, the seal will be broken, which will require an additional call of an employee of the Criminal Code to re-seal the device.

Where to check the water meter and do I have to pay for it

The verification procedure is carried out only by special organizations, since the process involves the issuance of permits.

Please contact the following institutions:

• State metrological service. It is under the jurisdiction of the State Standard.
• Organizations that have received accreditation in the field of ensuring the uniformity of measurement. Licensing is carried out by the Federal Accreditation Service.
• Management or resource supply companies, but only with the appropriate permission.
• IPU manufacturing plants. Some enterprises provide the service of re-verification of issued water meters.

When applying to a non-state structure, you must make sure that the institution has all the relevant documents that are valid at the moment.

Verification of the water meter is provided exclusively as a paid service, since the obligation to provide IPU housing lies with the owner. This is reflected in the RF GD No. 354 dated May 6, 2011 (as amended on March 27, 2018).

In the case of renting housing from the municipality in 2018, the administration pays for the next verification. You can also get the service for free by participating in various promotions of organizations or using a special offer. In some regions, special conditions apply for privileged categories of citizens, but for more information, you need to contact the Social Security Administration.