From what moment is the period for checking a water meter considered

Fine

The law does not provide for a penalty for the fact that the owner has delayed the verification of water recorders. But it has a different mechanism to motivate consumers.

It is fixed by Federal Law No. 261-FZ. It obliges owners to install liquid consumption meters, as well as calibrate them in a timely manner.

In case of non-fulfillment, citizens will pay at the rate calculated with a multiplying coefficient.

This law by 2020 due to non-installation of meters increases the charge for water by about 60%. In the future, the coefficient will constantly grow, which will force residents to install water meters.

Arbitrage practice

Judicial practice in cases of contesting the debt obligations of citizens to the RSO in the event of untimely diagnostics of meters testifies against the plaintiffs. The court makes a decision on the basis of the legislation of the Russian Federation, according to which the owner is obliged:

• install registrars;
• replace them;
• observe the expiration of the calibration interval.

If the owner considers it unlawful that the RSO did not notify him of the need to check the devices or charges the fee according to the norm, and not the indications of the expired device, he can file a lawsuit in court.

But the judge is guaranteed to be on the side of the defendant, since in this case the plaintiff exposes himself as an unscrupulous executor of obligations. It's his fault for missing the deadline.

Legislative regulation of verifications

All issues of installation, inspection and commissioning of intra-apartment water meters are regulated by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 of 05/06/2011 with the latest amendments. According to him, the owner of the housing is solely responsible for the performance of water meters in the apartment.

Any measuring device is not eternal. Gradually, the accuracy of its measurements begins to fall.

And it doesn’t matter here - it’s a household counter, a common house apparatus or laboratory equipment

In all cases, according to the current Russian legislation, such technical means are subject to certification and regular verification (testing) for correct operation.

If there are no meters for the volume of water consumed, then the calculation of the service is carried out according to consumption rates, which are greatly overestimated. Without water meters, you often have to pay two, three times more

The decrease in the measurement accuracy of water meters is due to:

• breakdowns and wear of internal elements - impeller and counting mechanism;
• poor quality waters with a high content of salts and metals;
• ingress of contaminants into the pipes - sand, rust, etc .;
• damage to the device as a result of external mechanical influences;
• drying of the mechanisms inside due to a long shutdown of the water supply;
• the use of low-quality or defective parts in the manufacture of the device.

There are many factors that affect the accuracy of measurements. Even the presence of a magnet next to the counter affects the correctness of its functioning. However, the law requires verification to be carried out only after the expiration of the service life established by the manufacturer. water meter.

At the same time, if the water meter has completely stopped working, has cracks in the case or streaks, then it should be replaced immediately. You can’t wait until the next test according to the technical passport.

If a master from the housing office comes and sees a broken metering device, then fines and accruals in the receipts will follow, not on the fact of consumption, but according to the standards.

Each water meter has its own calibration interval. Domestic appliances for hot water are usually designed for 4 years, and analogues for cold water for 6 years. However, on sale you can also find Russian and imported models with periods between tests of up to 15 years.

The manufacturer of the water meter sets the calibration interval. The law regulates only the requirement for the serviceability of the meter. While it is working, the calculation of the consumed water is based on it.

But if the meter is broken or the period specified in the data sheet has expired since the last test, then the management company or the HOA begin to charge for the resource according to the standards.

The consumption rate for hot water supply in the Russian Federation is set within 4.75, and for cold - 6.93 cubic meters per person/month. But in reality, each person living in an apartment usually consumes about 1–3 cubic meters of hot and cold water combined during the specified period.

The actual overpayment under the tariff as a result turns out to be two to three times. And so every month. There are reasons for installing a meter and maintaining it in good condition.

Methods for replacing the device

You can replace the water meter with your own hands or resort to the services of a specialist. There is a procedure for carrying out work, as a result, the owner receives a package of documents

When replacing the meter yourself, proceed as follows:

1. Write to the management company a statement about the need for a visit by an employee of the organization who will issue a document on the integrity of the seals and the body of the device being replaced at the time of its removal. This document is called the Act to carry out work on the change of accounting equipment.
2. Once the paper is in hand, you can get to work. Before starting dismantling, close the taps.
3. Unscrew the union nuts with an adjustable wrench, if this cannot be done, then you will have to cut them off. After removing the device, you need to check the cleanliness of the pipes, process the coarse filter or replace it.
4. Install a serviceable device with new gaskets in the union nuts. They must be screwed evenly on both sides, without applying force. It will be possible to tighten after water supply, if leaks are found.

To seal the water meter, you must write an application. The master puts a seal on the device, draws up an act of putting it into operation and hands it over to the owner.The specialist will require the owner to present a technical passport, as well as an act of verification and proper quality of the mechanism.

In the case of contacting the employees of the management company or a specialist of a specialized organization, the installation and dismantling of the measuring device will be carried out in the following sequence:

1. An application is written to the management company about the need to replace the measuring apparatus. You should first agree on what day the specialist will come.
2. The employee's duties include drawing up an act on the performance of work to replace the water meter, which indicates that the seals and the body are not damaged.
3. The specialist replaces the old device with a new one and seals it. The owner receives a certificate of putting the device into operation.

When carrying out work by an employee of a private company, an employee of the controlling organization should also be invited to record the removal of the device and the installation of a seal on a new measuring apparatus. Otherwise, the replacement will be illegal.

After the installation of new equipment, the homeowner receives a package of documents on putting it into operation. Papers must be submitted to the settlement center or resource provider.

Documentation

After replacing the water meter, the owner will have a commissioning document from the contractor and a technical passport for the device.

Can I replace the water meter myself? Yes, the law allows for self-replacement of the water meter.

But after installing it, you should call the controller from the resource supplying organization, who will record the replacement of the device, take readings from both devices: dismantled and new. Next, the specialist will draw up an installation act and transfer this information to the employees of the accounting department.

In what cases is it necessary to replace a water meter instead of checking

The frequency of verification of cold and hot water meters is 4 or 6 years, however, situations often arise when replacement of the IPU is required.

Foundations

Replacing a water meter instead of a scheduled check is carried out as follows:

1. Failure of the device, about which it is necessary to notify the Criminal Code or the HOA. The application should include information from the device at the time the breakdown was discovered.
2. Preparation by the consumer of a notice on the date of dismantling of the unit. This must be done in the presence of an employee of the organization.
3. The mechanism is being replaced. Manipulations can be carried out by the same employee of the Criminal Code or directly by the owner of the premises, since a license for such work is not required. You need to purchase a suitable device and take it to registration with the managing organization.
4. Drawing up an application for the commissioning of a water meter.
5. Checking the installation of the device, sealing and registration of the act.

After these actions, the individual meter is considered to be working, and it is allowed to be used for settlements with RCO.

Grounds for refusal of commissioning, i.e. when a replacement is required instead of a check:

• does not work;
• non-compliance with standards;
• incorrect installation;
• incomplete set.

The nuances of checking cold water and hot water meters

The consumer has the right to refuse to check the DHW and cold water meters. But in this case, a replacement for new devices will be required.Such a requirement is established so that inspection, installation and dismantling have a similar price. The regulation is enshrined in the current laws of Russia. Therefore, in order to avoid overpayments, experts recommend immediately changing to a working meter.

For replacement, you need to contact a special organization that will record the readings and remove the seal. Only after these measures is it possible to eliminate the old IPU.

At the time of the procedure, the owner must submit papers for an apartment or a lease agreement, checks for payment for utility services. Otherwise, the verification or replacement of metering devices will be denied.

Self-inspection and troubleshooting of the water meter

The fact of the installation is recorded in a special journal. An employee of the Criminal Code or HOA installs a seal on the unit, enters the testimony in the register. In the future, all accruals for maintenance are carried out according to information from the new equipment.

As a rule, about 85% of the devices to be checked are faulty. If the consumer installed the device a long time ago, then you need to independently monitor its condition and control intervals. It is noteworthy that the installation of a new meter is faster, and the services will cost the same as checking with a third-party company.

Selection of a new meter for cold water and hot water

The period of checking water meters does not begin from the date of installation and commissioning, but from the date of release from production. The information is on the box.

Therefore, the purchase of a water meter that has been in a storage warehouse for 1-2 years entails submitting an application for verification after 24-36 months.Therefore, the owner, when buying measuring devices, must first of all carefully study the date of production, thereby leveling premature expenses and contacting the management company.

Often, during the verification process, the master issues a verdict about the malfunction of the mechanism and the need to replace it with a new unit. In this case, the procedure can be carried out on the spot.

Method and method for mandatory verification of the meter

In fact, there are about three options for action when the user has decided to start carrying out calibration work regarding water meters.

We are going to consider each of the options, and then you yourself can decide which option is the most suitable for you.

The procedure for checking the water meter must be carried out either where the device was installed, or in a specially designed laboratory where the test stand is located. The third option is to replace the devices with updated copies.

First option

If you decide to do the verification on your own, by delivering the meter to the laboratory for verification. And what do you need to achieve this goal? It is necessary to dismantle the device, put an insert for a while or a replacement type device where it is located. After that, you must notify the members of the MFC about the timing of this operation, who will have to correctly credit you with payment for the use of water.

Next, you are required to deliver the device to a specialized type of workshop (if you live in Moscow, it will be extremely difficult to find such an institution), and then you just wait for the moment when the verification procedure is completed. Typically, the verification process takes seven to ten days.

You will not be able to remove the device on your own; for this purpose, you will have to turn to the services of a professional installer who can record the readings given by the device that was to be dismantled, as well as the readings of the device being installed temporarily.

Second option

You can immediately replace the water meter. The devices that have already been installed for you have overcome the verification process: either the primary one was carried out if the meter is new, or the next one in a situation where the meter has already been checked. To implement the second option, you simply need to replace your water appliance. It will take you quite a bit of time. You can replace the old device with an updated version at an average price of one thousand three hundred rubles.

You can also get a trusted meter - the price of such a device should be approximately nine hundred and fifty rubles. When the old meter is replaced with an updated one, then you have a full warranty for this device (the period is in most cases from three to four years). You can also be sure that no one could use this meter before you.

The whole situation lies in the fact that metering devices, the verification of which has already been carried out in the laboratory, are given over to the complex maintenance procedure, that is, the system of nodes, as well as other parts, can be replaced. As a result, the user receives a water metering device that is practically no different from the updated device. The only exception is the warranty period for the meter, which in most cases can be up to one year.

Third option

The essence of this option is that the process of checking the water meter is carried out right where the device was installed, while during the process a special portable stand is used to carry out verification work. This option, if we consider the price category, is one of the most profitable, since the average cost will be from five hundred to six hundred rubles for a water supply meter.

The procedure according to which the procedure for verifying water meters in the place where they are installed should be regulated by official documentation.

If you follow exactly this methodology during the verification work, you will have to follow the following list of operations:

Legal regulation and grounds for recalculation of hot water and cold water

In order to reasonably file an application, you need to know the relevant legal regulations. Issues of payment for utilities are regulated by several acts. The most detailed procedure is specified in Resolution 354.

Government Decree No. 354

Rules for the provision of public services (PP No. 354) dated May 6, 2011.

It contains the following provisions:

• terms of use;
• the rights and obligations of the owner, as well as the organization providing services;
• payment order;
• cases of recognition of housing and communal services as poor quality, including facts of violation of their provision;
• features associated with the use of a central cold water and hot water system, or a separate column;
• the responsibility of the parties.

You do not need to fully delve into the text of the document to solve the problem.

Pay attention to specific articles.

Recalculation for hot water according to Resolution 354 is possible if:

• there were errors when entering data into the accounting system - in case of discrepancy with the actual testimony;
• water does not meet sanitary and hygienic standards after cleaning (approved by SanPin 2.1.4.1074.1);
• the pressure in the water supply pipes is lower than required;
• emergency deadlines were violated.

All grounds are indicated starting in section VIII of the judgment. Paragraphs 86 to 98 describe the procedure for recalculation.

Other legislative acts

Water supply issues are also covered by other legal documents:

1. Housing Code of the Russian Federation. You can refer in the text of the application to Article 157, which indicates the binding of the amount of payment to the regional tariff. In Art. 154 also established the components of the payment for utilities - cold water, hot water, sewerage and energy.
2. The concepts of water supply for multi-apartment residential buildings, as well as the rules for the supply of hot water, can be found in No. 416-FZ.

It is not necessary to refer to these sections, but their knowledge can help in cases of protracted disputes with the management company.

Watch the video: “Do-it-yourself recalculation of housing and communal services. Part 1."

Service life of meters according to GOST

Water meters comply with state standards or technical specifications, which indicate the main parameters and time characteristics.

Many companies do not make water meters according to GOST, but develop specifications for the manufacture of their water meters. Such specifications take as a basis the requirements set forth in state standards and adapt them to the production capabilities of the enterprise. This does not mean that products made in this way are always of poor quality and second-rate. However, when compiling specifications, the manufacturer often does not take into account the moments that are inconvenient for him. You can find out if the meter is made according to TU or GOST from the technical passport.

The water meter undergoes two verifications during this time, but not every sample is able to withstand even the first test. This is due to the poor quality of the water in the pipelines. Foreign impurities and abrasive substances adversely affect the service life of hot and cold water meters. Manufacturers of flowmeters refer to this factor in case of premature failure of devices.

The installation of treatment devices helps to partially solve the problem of drinking water quality. The coarse filter protects against large particles such as build-up of slag or scale. If there is no filter, getting between the impeller and the housing can cause jamming of the counting mechanism. As a result, the flow meter will need to be dismantled much earlier than the official replacement date.

Timing

The verification procedure must be carried out within a clearly defined time frame.

But there is a certain snag here, since the terms for checking hot and cold water meters can be different, and are set both at the federal and regional levels.There are two main requirements at the federal level: verification of cold water meters should be performed every 6 years, hot - once every 4 years.

The difference is explained by the fact that meters for cold and hot water operate at different temperatures and, although they are generally similar in design, the materials used are different. In addition, a meter working with cold water is less exposed to destructive effects, while a meter measuring hot water is constantly affected by high temperature, which causes an increased degree of wear.

Of course, checking on different dates may not be very convenient, so sometimes consumers decide to check the cold water meter ahead of time, simultaneously with the hot water meter.

And here we come to an important nuance: the prescriptions of the legislation on the terms are not used as a hard rule, but only as a recommendation, which it is desirable to focus on IPU manufacturers

The fact is that Government Decree No. 354 indicates that the verification period can be set by the manufacturer, and for some devices this period is longer, sometimes it can reach up to 8 years, or even up to 15 years. If your device has a longer calibration interval, then at the local level a decision is made to focus on it

But it is still important to keep track of when the deadline will end so as not to miss time.

The terms established by the manufacturer are indicated in the passport of the device, sometimes in other documents - the indication of the terms in the documents attached to the meter is mandatory. Still, periods that are very different from the recommended ones are quite rare, and are primarily characteristic of imported devices.Not all of them are approved for use and included in the register of the State Standard - take this carefully so that you do not have to change the meter to an approved model.

Let's highlight one more significant nuance: although it is sometimes believed that the period for verification should be counted from the date on which the meter was installed and sealed, however, in reality it is counted from the date of manufacture of the device. The fact is that after manufacturing, verification is immediately carried out, and in fact the countdown is carried out precisely from it.

Therefore, when purchasing a stale device, it should be borne in mind that its verification should take place much earlier than the period specified in its passport. The exact date by which it will need to be carried out is easy to calculate: the instrument passport contains the date of the previous verification, and you just need to add the verification interval specified in it or other attached documents to it. This will help you not to overstay and complete everything on time.

How are water meters tested?

The check includes the following parameters:

1. External inspection - the readability of the data on the meter, the presence of damage on the case, compliance with the passport data are determined.
2. Test work of the IPU - this is done by passing a stream of water for 5 minutes, it is determined that the tightness of the device is determined.
3. Error detection - with the help of a special installation, measurements are taken that determine the inaccuracy in the measurement of data by the device. An error of up to 5% is considered normal; for large values, calibration or replacement of the meter is required.

Organizations authorized to provide this service

Verification of meters is carried out by special certified organizations.

There are several options for carrying out the procedure, organizations can check both in the standardization center and at home, everywhere there are positive and negative sides.

Consider the pros and cons of attracting the main organizations providing this service.

• Delivery of meters to the centers of standardization and metrology.

  Pros: high quality of work, availability of all necessary certificates.

  Cons: metering devices for delivery to standardization and metrology centers will need to be dismantled independently (with the involvement of the relevant companies and the management company), and the verification period itself can take 3-4 weeks or more, during which the water consumption will be calculated according to the average monthly consumption.

• Involvement of companies providing this service at the place of installation of devices, without dismantling them and breaking the seals of management companies, housing and communal services or manufacturers.

  Pros: verification will be carried out at an agreed time (including evenings or weekends) in your presence and will take no more than 30-60 minutes. At the same time, all the necessary documents will be handed out, which will need to be taken to the Management Company or immediately to the Unified Settlement Center.

  

  

  

  

  

  However, if the meter does not pass the verification, then the costs of acquiring and installing a new meter will have to be added to the costs of its implementation. And this is the main disadvantage. Also, if you want to save money, you can run into companies that do not have the right to carry out such work, in which case the verification will have to be repeated.

• Replacing water meters with new ones.

  The pluses include the fact that new meters will be checked by the manufacturer and will have a warranty period.The disadvantages are the need not only to purchase the meters themselves, but also to pay for their installation services (including the dismantling of previous devices) and calling a specialist from the management company for sealing.

Required documents

The verification period established by the legislation of Russia obliges the owners not only to comply with this frequency, but also to have all the necessary supporting documents. Thus, the owner of the meters must have the following documents:

• Technical passport for the device. This is a document that indicates the characteristics of the meter, dimensions and application (for hot or cold water). It also indicates the number of the water meter, the date of manufacture and sale.
• The contract for the installation of the device in duplicate, as well as the service contract, which must be in triplicate. The first document specifies the obligations of the installer and the consumer, details of both parties are recorded, payment options and the calculation procedure are listed, since the state does not provide for free verification of the fixing device.
• The act of putting the device into operation. It is issued by the water utility in triplicate. It is necessary for the decision of the counter on the account in supervising instances. This document must be signed by the consumer, an employee of the company, as well as an employee of the management office.
• Certificate of conformity of the meter. It confirms the compliance of the device with established standards. If there is no certificate, then it can be obtained on the official website of the water meter manufacturer.

Price

All work related to meters is carried out on the basis of an agreement that the owner of the apartment concludes with the company.

The cost of verification is not regulated by law and is determined by agreement of both parties in a signed contract; there are no specially established standards and are paid by the consumer.

What is the result?

After the procedure, the organization that carried out the verification must provide:

• The certificate of verification of meters in three copies, two of which remain with the consumer.
• Certificate of verification with a verification mark applied to the water meter passport.

How to check the water meter

The rules for checking water meters provide for two ways to carry out the procedure: by removing the meter and without it.

Verification in the laboratory

Process verification of the metering device consists of several stages:

1. When the time comes for the verification of meters, the owner needs to submit two applications to the water supply company. One is submitted for dismantling the device, the other for taking readings by an employee of the company.
2. After receiving the application, a master comes to your home, takes readings of the water meter and dismantles it.
3. The owner takes the removed device to the standardization center, leaves a request for its inspection. The receiving company draws up an act of withdrawal of the meter indicating the brand and serial numbers. The customer must provide a passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation and a passport for IPU.
4. After some time (from 30 minutes to several days), the device can be taken away. Together with him, the consumer is given an act of work performed, a contract for the provision of services and a certificate of verification.
5. Then an application is again submitted for mounting the device back.
6. After that, an employee of the resource supplying organization will come and install a proven water meter, take readings from it and seal it.After installation of the device, the master issues a certificate of suitability of the unit for further work.

During the diagnosis of water meters, the water charge will be calculated based on the average amount for the last 3-6 months.

Verification at home

The procedure for checking water meters at home has recently appeared. It is possible due to the use of a special calibration device for verification. The examination is based on the weighing of water passing through the equipment and is carried out according to the following scheme:

1. The master of the company connects the inlet hose from the measuring installation to the threaded mixer. Usually, use a shower hose with a watering can removed.
2. The readings of the scales of the device are reset to zero, and a container is placed on them to collect water, into which a hose is lowered.
3. Before carrying out the procedure, the operation of the IPU must be checked - the counter should not spin. Data from them is recorded for further comparison.
4. After that, open the tap with a hose attached to it, collect 3 liters of water, and then close it. This experiment is done several times.
5. The obtained data of the calibration equipment is compared with the readings of the water meter and the error that the device gives out is determined.
6. If the error is within the acceptable range (less than 5%), the water meter is considered suitable. The master writes out the relevant documents on verification and transfers the act of rendering services with all signatures and seals. If the error is above the acceptable limit, the unit should be replaced.

Diagnostics at home is more convenient for the consumer, but if the water meter malfunctions, it is still dismantled.