Replacing a gas meter: terms, procedure and rules for replacing a gas flow meter

What is the service life of a gas meter? What is the danger of using a device with an expired shelf life?

According to the amendments to Federal Law No. 261 “On Energy Saving and Increasing Energy Efficiency”, owners of apartments and residential buildings must install meters to measure gas consumption by January 1, 2020, or the device will be installed by force by a special service.

The law does not apply to emergency dwellings and facilities that are subject to demolition or are awaiting major repairs. Also, meters will not need to be installed in apartments where the maximum volume of gas consumption does not exceed 2 cubic meters per hour, for example, when only the stove runs on gas in the house. We will find out what the validity period of the device is, after what time the counter changes.

What does the expiration date for a gas meter mean?

The service life of a gas meter is its maximum possible service life; after this time, the device needs to be replaced. Any meter is sold complete with a technical passport, which contains:

• all characteristics of the device;
• the frequency of the need to perform verification;
• service life set by the manufacturer.

How much is?

Let's find out how long the device lasts, for how many years it is installed. Despite the fact that the state has set the validity period of a gas meter in an apartment or a private house for 20 years, it is better to follow the recommendations from the manufacturer prescribed in the technical passport of the equipment. Models of counters and terms of their operation:

• SGK - 20 years;
• NPM G4 - 20 years;
• SGMN 1 g6 - 20 years;
• Betar - 12 years;
• 161722 Grand - 12 years old.

From which date is it counted: from the date of installation or release?

It doesn’t matter how long after the purchase you installed the meter, the life of the gas meter is counted from the date of manufacture of the device in accordance with the Procedure for verifying measuring instruments, the requirements for the verification mark and the content of the verification certificate (approved by order of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation of July 2, 2020 G

No. 1815).

Consider how often you need to change the device, after how many years it must be replaced. According to the standard, if the meter passed all the verifications and worked properly, then it is replaced at the end of the service life (from 8 to 20 years) indicated in the technical passport. But there are cases when the device needs to be changed ahead of the regulated period:

• Seals broken.
• Numbers are not displayed on the instrument panel.
• The presence of damage incompatible with the operation of the device.
• The meter did not pass the verification, or during its implementation, violations were revealed in which further operation is not possible.

Violation of the life of the meter can be the following factors:

• Low throughput.
• Increased indoor humidity.
• Incorrect counter setting.
• There are no dust filters.
• The installed cells do not meet the technical requirements.

How does operation affect the period of use?

The operation of a gas meter, like any other measuring device, affects its operation. This may manifest itself in:

• the occurrence of interruptions that affect the accounting of readings;
• the appearance of noise;
• constant interruptions;
• frequent mistakes when accounting for the consumed resource.

That is why any meter must be constantly checked and, if necessary, repaired or replaced.You can find out about the timing of inspections of gas meters separately.

The device may fail if the user violates the operating conditions specified in the passport. If all the necessary requirements are met and ensured, the meter's useful life will be as long as possible.

At the moment, penalties for an expired gas meter in an apartment or on the street in a private house are not yet provided for by the Legislation, but the owner will in any case receive a blow to the wallet, since the use of a meter whose use has expired is equated to its absence, which means that you will have to pay according to the current regulations and tariffs.

If it is necessary to replace the meter, it is better to notify in advance the authorized person who will perform the replacement services, the presence of an inspector is also necessary, who will write off the readings of the removed device, and, in case of questions, confirm the integrity of the seals at the time of removal of the device and its serviceability. The device must be sealed either immediately or within 5 working days.

Sealing

After a successful repair, verification or replacement of the meter, when the device is installed in place and there is no doubt about its performance and correct reading of readings, you need to put the device into operation. To do this, you need to contact the regional branch of Gorgaz and write a statement that the meter has been replaced, with a request to re-seal it. The application must indicate the passport and contact details of the owner, the expected date of putting the device into operation, the type and number of the device, the address at which the flowmeter should be sealed.

Employees of the gas company will accept the application and contact the client to set a date and time when employees can seal the meter. The gas company is obliged to contact the subscriber within three days.

At the appointed time, employees will come to the address, check the correct installation of the meter and put a seal on it. After these works, an act of replacing the meter will be drawn up, which will need to be taken to the management company in order to continue paying for gas according to the meter, and not according to the standard.

It is worth considering that all the time the meter is not on the gas pipe and until it is sealed, the bill for natural gas consumption will be formed from the standards, so you need to try to reduce this time.

Are Gas Leak Detectors Necessary?

Gas leaks are unfortunately not uncommon. You can insure yourself and your home against a possible tragedy with the help of gas sensors that can catch household gas and notify you of a possible danger.

Such devices consist of a sensor and wall mounting elements. Air enters through the openings in the housing, which is analyzed by the device. If the gas content in the air is high, an alarm is triggered. The sensors are placed at a distance of 1.5-5 m from the source of a possible gas leak.

The cost of such a device can vary from 600 to 2000 rubles, depending on the model and its manufacturer.

Gas leakage sensors

Checking the meter is a regular, but not frequent procedure. Its timely implementation will help to avoid overpayments for the recalculation of consumed gas volumes due to possible malfunctions of the device.

It should only be carried out in accordance with current legislation, which will avoid possible deception by fraudulent pseudo-companies. Conclude a contract for the maintenance of gas equipment only with certified companies that at any time will help troubleshoot a gas appliance or carry out its prompt verification.

Installation rules

Installing a gas meter is a difficult job that does not accept mistakes. It is better to entrust it to specialists. This will help to avoid dangerous situations during installation and operation of the device. So, what needs to be done before installing the controller.

1. Apply to the organization that supplies gas. Some documents must be attached to it. Tenancy agreement or owner's passport. Also needed: an identity document, a subscriber's book, a gasification project for a house or an apartment plan, a metering device passport. The last thing you need is a contract for servicing gas equipment.
2. The second step will be the visit of the master to the house. He will take the necessary measurements and let you know if additional work is needed. Then the final price will be announced.
3. Next, you will need to pay the specified amount, and agree on a convenient time for installation.
4. The last stage is the installation of the device. After the specialists finish, it is necessary to take from them an act and a document with calculations. These papers will be needed for sealing.

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Self-installation is also possible, but it is necessary to accurately calculate the position of the device according to the rules below.

• Installation height 1.6 m.
• The distance from the device to gas appliances is 1 m. If other figures are given in the instructions for the mechanism, then the installation is carried out according to them.
• The device should lag behind the wall by 3-5 cm. In order to be less corroded.
• The controller must be placed in a room with natural ventilation.
• If the device is installed outdoors, a canopy or a special cabinet should be prepared for it.

Remember that the installation will be evaluated by specialists at the time of filling. If any rules are violated, then everything will have to be redone.

Replacement procedure

The procedure for replacing the counter itself is quite simple. You just need to contact the experts:

1. An agreement is concluded with a specialized company to replace the old device with a new one.
2. After signing such an agreement, a specialist comes to the application within a few days at the agreed time.
3. He is checking the old device. If it is necessary to replace it, the old meter is dismantled, and a new one is installed.
4. Before installation, a new meter is also tested for its technical serviceability.
5. After installing a new measuring device, the specialist must issue an act on the work, as well as on the commissioning of a new meter.
6. Based on the documents received, the homeowner applies to the Criminal Code to install seals on the counters. This must be done within 3 days.

Operation of counting devices without seals installed on them is strictly prohibited by law.If this is found, the homeowner will be charged the general tariffs when paying for utilities from the moment when the meter was last fixed with intact seals.

It is also important to know that each meter has a certain calibration interval, during which the manufacturer guarantees that it will give readings correctly. This interval is usually 8-12 years.

Verification is carried out by representatives of the gas service. There are 2 ways of verification: exit and at home. Calling a specialist to your home will certainly be more expensive, but you won’t have to dismantle the counting apparatus and take it to a specialist. The verification results in the recognition of the device as suitable for further use, or the need to replace it is indicated. Based on this conclusion, the owner may be obliged to install a new gas meter.

Installation quality control

The work must be carried out taking into account the safety rules:

1. The distance from the meter to the gas equipment cannot be less than one meter.
2. Outdoors, the appliance can be installed under a moisture-proof canopy or inside a metal cabinet.
3. The standard placement height is 160 cm. Any deviations must be confirmed by the technical data sheet of the product.
4. There should be no heating devices within a radius of 2 meters.
5. The device must be within sight and easy access.
6. The distance between the meter and the wall should be more than 5 cm. This provides natural ventilation and slows down the formation of corrosion on metal parts.
7. Upon completion of installation, a leakage test is mandatory. Previously, it was performed by applying a soapy solution.Now representatives of gas companies increasingly prefer electronic sensors.

Knowing how to properly install a gas meter in an apartment or house, it is easy to control the actions of specialists. In addition, an informed owner will be able to correctly formulate emerging questions and get comprehensive advice.

The easiest way to check the tightness of a gas pipe connection is to apply a soapy solution to the joints. If it starts to foam a lot, then the connection is not tight enough and everything needs to be redone

After installation, you should follow the further operation of the device: while maintaining the same consumption volume, the new device should record approximately the same consumption as the old one. If the readings differ greatly, this is a reason to re-apply to the gas workers.

How is equipment checked for residents of apartments and private houses?

There are no significant differences between the procedure and methodology for checking meters that are installed in a private or apartment building. However, residents of private houses are forced to turn to specialists who work in the local gas service. And apartment buildings, in turn, very often enter into an agreement with a private gas company. Specialists must conduct scheduled and unscheduled inspections on the basis of a valid contract.

Therefore, very often the management company monitors the services of checking meters installed in apartment buildings, which deducts money for the services of the organization. In private homes, people apply for verification after the fact and out of necessity.

Checking a gas meter is a procedure that involves reproducing actions to detect shortcomings in the operation of the meter, or fixing its effective operation. Each resident of an apartment building or a private house must take care of the condition of their metering devices. Only in this case, you can count on the fact that they will last a long time, and will show only evidence that corresponds to reality.

Untimely carrying out of the procedure threatens not only with material problems, but sometimes they are the result of a gas leak, which can only be detected after some time. Therefore, be vigilant, attentive, and most importantly, obey the verification requirements prescribed in the device passport.

To resolve your issue, contact a lawyer for help. We will select a specialist for you. Call 8 (800) 350-14-90

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Features of verification of a gas meter

Verification of a gas meter can be either field (the meter is removed and taken to the laboratory) or local (a specialist comes with the equipment to the applicant and performs verification on the spot).

How is the meter checked at home?

Gas consumers can buy gas meters, which can be verified at home. That is, the device for reading the amount of gas consumed will not need to be dismantled.

It is enough to call a specialist who, using special diagnostic tools, will check the device. You can also check the meter at home by contacting a specialized company that has mobile equipment for checking meters at home with this question.

The procedure for checking gas meters at home without removal is as follows:

1. The verifier comes to the apartment, asks to take him to the place where the gas meter is installed.
2. Having gone to the installation site of the counter, the specialist asks to remove all things from the stove.
3. Then he inspects the counter, checks the safety of the seal.
4. If there are no complaints about the appearance of the device, then it starts verification - it lathers the connections, connects a special installation.
5. At the end of the verification procedure, the equipment is turned off, the specialist installs the connections. Connections are re-washed and inspected for leaks.
6. The trustee completes the certificate for the client. He also fills out his register of gas appliances and writes out a receipt for payment.
7. The consumer makes a settlement with a gas service employee.

Method for checking the gas meter outside the home

If a gas consumer, when installing a gas meter, concluded an agreement with a specialized company for further maintenance, then the agreement usually states that this citizen must initiate the meter verification procedure, call a company specialist to come, dismantle the meter and take it for diagnostics.

Also, an interested person can contact the gas service of the region where he lives and write an application for the dismantling of the meter and its further verification. Together with the application, a citizen must provide his civil passport, as well as a passport for a gas meter.

If the application is accepted and submitted for execution, then a team of specialists comes to the applicant on the appointed day, who remove the gas meter, put a bracket (a pipe of the required diameter, bent in an arc), write out an act, after which the applicant independently carries the meter for verification to the Standardization Center of his district .

If, after the results of the check, it is established that the meter is suitable for further operation, then a special stamp and the signature of the verifier are affixed to the device passport, confirming that the meter has been verified.

While the meter is being verified, gas consumption will be calculated based on the average monthly rate, provided that the consumer has used the gas meter for a period of at least 1 year.

After checking the meter, the person must send an application to the department for the installation of a seal. And within 5 working days from the date of registration of this application, the gas supplier is obliged to seal the meter.

Unscheduled gas meter verification

The consumed gas meter sometimes requires an unscheduled check:

• if any damage was found on the meter, for example, the seal was broken;
• if the consumer has doubts about the correct operation of the device;
• if the consumer has lost the results of the last verification.

Terms for replacing a gas meter and basic rules

Like any technical equipment, gas meters have a certain service life. It depends on the type and brand of the device. Replacement measures are best taken in advance to avoid delay. We will tell in the article how the gas meter is replaced, when it is changed and what documents you will need.

It is forbidden to change the gas meter on your own.This is done by gas specialists who have the right to carry out work to replace measuring instruments.

Self-replacement of the counter is fraught with serious consequences. This is dangerous!

How to replace a gas meter? The algorithm will be the following.

Step 1. It is necessary to contact the territorial management company that deals with gas networks. You should write an application and provide the required documents.

Step 2. Gas service specialists evaluate the technical characteristics for installing a measuring device in a room

At the same time, attention is also paid to the supply of gas networks to a private house or apartment.

Step 3. Acquisition of a counter in specialized stores. It is better to entrust this to a specialist who knows exactly which counter to buy.

There are many nuances that an uninformed person may not know. You need to clarify the cost of replacing a gas meter with the company that will perform the installation.

Experts will be able to announce the price for replacing a gas meter after studying the technical data of the gas pipeline in your home.

Step 4 After the gas meter is replaced, everything should be carefully checked. If the owner is satisfied with everything, it is necessary to sign a certificate of completion.

Step 5. The final stage after replacing the gas meter is sealing. Without this procedure, the measuring instrument cannot be put into service.

When dismantling the old gas meter, the owner should record the latest indicators in order to transfer them to the management company in the future.

The gas measuring device is installed in accordance with the established requirements.It can be located at a distance of 80 cm from other gas equipment. The height above the floor must be at least 1.2 m.

What documents are needed when replacing a gas meter?

To apply for a replacement gas meter, the following documents will be required:

• owner's passport and its copy;
• a document confirming ownership and a copy;
• gas meter passport or certificate with a copy;
• paper with data on the last verification of gas equipment;
• a project for installing a gas meter in a residential area with a list of gas consumption points.

In the application sent to the management company, for sealing and putting the meter into operation, you must specify:

• passport details of the owner;
• contact details for communication;
• the estimated date of commencement of the use of the meter;
• registration number of the measuring device;
• counter model type;
• the address where the gas meter needs to be replaced;
• the name of the gas company that installed the device;
• meter readings before replacement;
• date of the next verification.

RF Government Decree No. 354 dated r established the Rules for the provision of utility services to owners and users of residential premises.

According to this document, the period for replacing a gas meter in a private house and in an apartment cannot exceed 30 days. During this period, the calculation of the utility bill will take place according to the standard established in your region.

After the replacement of the gas meter, from the moment the application for sealing is submitted, the management company must contact the owner within three days. If this does not happen, you have the right to contact the housing inspectorate and file a complaint.

Procedure for replacing a gas meter

Replacement of the gas meter is carried out at the request of the owner of the equipment

The homeowner is responsible for the correctness of gas metering readings, the operability of the device. The subscriber pays for the verification and delivery of the unit to the test site. The procedure is cheaper if the verification is carried out at home by a company specialist without removing the device. In this case, you do not need to pay for the removal, installation and sealing of the meter.

The replacement of the meter in 2020 is carried out in the following sequence:

1. In the territorial service organization, the owner draws up the text of the application and submits the required documents.
2. In the gas supply company, the subscriber orders an installation project.
3. Specialists go to the site to assess the situation, inspect the liner.
4. The owner purchases a gas metering unit of a certain brand, pays for the project and the removal of the old device.
5. After the installation of a new device, the subscriber signs an act of work performed.
6. The accounting device is being sealed.

Replacement should not last more than a month, according to Government Decree No. 354 of 2011 and the Rules for the provision of public services. When contacting the gas management department, the subscriber must submit a passport for drawing up contractual documents for the provision of services for changing the flow meter. With him, the owner has a technical passport of the old device with a fixed installation date and a description of the results of previous checks.

The counter is broken

The failure may be expressed in incorrect readings or too high rotation speed

A breakdown for electronic devices is expressed in the absence of a digital image on the monitor or separate fragments appear. For all varieties, the failure is characterized by the stop of the node and the appearance of a slight leak in the connection area. A specialist is called to fix the breakdown.

If the master detects a violation of the seal, an act of violation is written. The subscriber pays for the previous six months at rates that often exceed actual consumption. At such rates, the expense is also paid in apartments where there are no meters.

If a flow meter malfunction is detected during a scheduled inspection, and the seal remains intact, the subscriber also pays according to the standard for the past 6 months due to the concealment of the faulty device. Suppliers send recalculations within a month after discovery.

Counter expired

The user is responsible for violating the timing of the check, and gas utilities periodically check the condition of the in-house pipeline. The delay in the time of verification leads to the subsequent recalculation for the previous six months according to the current standards. There are no additional penalties for non-compliance with the interval.

Who is replacing

All expenses for checking and reinstalling the gas meter are paid by the owner of the house

Devices for recording gas fuel consumption are installed exclusively by specialists. Installation by one's own forces and workers without proper training is strictly prohibited. Replacement is carried out at the end of the expiration date or as a result of negative results of the device check.

Sometimes the subscriber does not conduct a scheduled check, because believes that it is better to replace the meter with a new one.The replacement schedule is preserved and the participation of a specialized gas service is required. The owner is charged at the rate only for the period of replacement of the flow meter if the utility company is contacted in a timely manner in case of a malfunction. The replacement time is the period from the date of notification until the next day after the sealing of the new device.

At whose expense is established

The cost of replacement is determined depending on the features of the installation and is calculated on an individual basis. The price is affected by the complexity of the work, their variety and the model of the flow meter. The cost of replacement in a private building and an apartment differs.

Some categories of people may not pay for the replacement of gas meters:

• veterans of the Great Patriotic War;
• families classified as having many children;
• needy and low-income citizens who can document their current status.

In other options, the dismantling and installation of expired and non-working devices is paid by the subscriber, the price of a new gas meter is added to the amount.

What is better to do: send the meter for verification or replace it with a new one?

Many citizens are thinking about how best to proceed: organize a meter verification or just buy a new device?

It is advisable to engage in verification if a person is sure that the meter is working properly. Then he will have to spend time on the delivery of the device, as well as money on the verification procedure itself.

If a person is sure that the device is malfunctioning and its further verification will be ineffective, and the meter will have to be written off, then it is better to immediately buy a new one.

Verification of the gas meter must be carried out without fail within the time frame indicated in the instrument's passport. Meters are verified by regional standardization centers.

Verification can be on-site or at the location of the device, depending on the type of meter and the technical capabilities of the equipment. All costs associated with meter verification (scheduled or unscheduled) are borne by the owner of the device.

Legal side of the issue

Gas appliances in the apartment are the property of the landlord. It is he who is fully responsible for the serviceability and proper maintenance of the gas stove. If an explosion occurs, then the owner of the dwelling will have to be responsible for the damage caused.

Previously, gas stoves and water heaters were legally checked once every three years. But since September 2017, the maintenance procedure has been changed due to the increased frequency of fires and methane explosions in apartment buildings. Now maintenance and inspection of gas equipment must be carried out at least once a year.

The main document regulating the issue under consideration is Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 410 “On measures to ensure safety in the use and maintenance of in-house and in-house gas equipment”

It is legally prescribed that the owner of the house is obliged to conclude an agreement with a specialized company on regular maintenance. Without this document, the gas supplier can and most likely immediately refuse to supply fuel, cutting off the gas pipeline to the apartment. No one wants to be held accountable for your non-compliance with the laws.

Initially, all aspects of maintenance and inspection of gas stoves lay with the owner of the apartment.He himself was obliged to monitor the serviceability of all equipment and, as necessary, call the master or repair it himself.

However, this approach led to multiple emergencies, since most homeowners preferred to save money, leaving maintenance of gas-powered in-house appliances for later.

The slightest malfunction in the gas stove or ventilation in the kitchen with it can lead to a pop of gas - as a result of destruction, it often covers more than one apartment

The gas supplier and the company serving the in-house gas stoves do not have to be the same company. However, most often a maintenance agreement is concluded with a resource-supplying organization, so that there is less hassle.

Advantages and disadvantages of the method

The method of checking the meter without removing it undoubtedly has a large number of advantages:

1. You can save a lot of time checking the instrument. Thus, you will not need to pay for the period of absence of the counter according to average indicators, and the check itself will pass as quickly as possible.
2. The complete absence of the risk of failure of the gas system of the room. It's no secret that in most houses the gas pipeline was laid a long time ago, and since that time the pipes through which gas is delivered to the apartment have not changed. They tend to rust and break. And any outside interference is not the best way to affect the condition of the pipes. And if you use the verification method without removal, then there simply cannot be destruction and mechanical damage.
3. It seems that the price for verification in this way is somewhat more expensive than the usual one, but this is not entirely true. In order to understand the true price, add the price for dismantling, verification itself and installation back.As a result, the amount will turn out even more than the price of the check without withdrawal.
4. You save a lot of time. You do not need to wait until the device is tested, you will receive the result immediately, on the day of the test.

But, despite the fact that there are many advantages, there are also some disadvantages that you must be aware of before deciding on such a test:

• Such a check gives an idea only about the general condition of the device. If the counter is in a satisfactory condition, it is quite possible that some part is in critical condition and will fail very soon, and you will not have any idea about it. In this case, the device will only require replacement with a new one.
• Even if the prior is declared inoperative, you will still need to pay for the verification.