After installing water meters, the owner of the apartment is required to monitor the operation of the devices. If the data is inaccurate, the water meter breaks, or after the time specified in the technical documentation expires, the user must submit an application for verification of the meter.
The owner has the right to independently choose a method for assessing the technical condition of the device. This can be a check of water meters at home without removing the meter or with dismantling for testing in the laboratory. We will talk about how and in what order the first option is performed.
Inspection Dates
Based on the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354, the owner must conduct verification in the time frame established by the documentation attached to the metering device.
According to the by-law, regional authorities can regulate the timing of the monitoring of measuring instruments. Then the audit will need to be carried out in accordance with the adopted by-law.
To clarify the information on the date of the next inspection, the consumer needs to familiarize himself with the contract concluded with the company providing water supply.
If the date of verification from the factory is not known, it can be specified in the data sheet or a copy of the instrument commissioning certificate
If a deviation from the Federal Law was adopted in the region, then the locally accepted inspection dates, which depend on the quality and composition of the water, are prescribed in the contract.
More often in by-laws there are terms:
- 4 years - for SGV;
- 6 years - for SHV.
In the absence of corrections, 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, IED They have standard inspection periods of 4 and 6 years.
Manufacturers Minol, Triton, Betar increased the period of operation of the SGW to 6 years. Some foreign water meters, for example, Maddalenamust be tested every 10-15 years. The counter that has not passed the verification within the specified time period is deregistered.
After 90 days from the end of the term specified in the contract and / or technical documentation, the service provider will begin to calculate the consumed water in accordance with general regional standards.
How to order calibration of a water meter?
When the deadlines are approaching, the user needs to contact the water supply company or a third-party organization that has the right to carry out this type of activity. To do this, just leave a request by phone.
Some devices do not contain recommendations on the timing of diagnosis. Then it is advisable to assess the technical condition to eliminate measurement inaccuracies, after 4 and 6 years
Before making a call, it is necessary to prepare the device passport, as the following information about the counter is required:
- model and name;
- a type;
- government number;
- device location address;
- phone, name of the customer.
If the workload of the craftsmen on the site is insignificant, the waiting for verification is up to 10 days. If specialists are busy with pre-executed applications, the waiting time may increase up to 1 month.
If you apply to a third-party organization, verification will be carried out almost immediately after the application, only it will cost a little more.
Some water utilities send written notifications about the need to verify water meters. If there are no reminders, then you should take the initiative yourself
Determination of accuracy
When contacting a water utility, it is necessary to indicate the desired verification method.
There are two methods for checking water meters:
- With the dismantling of measuring equipment.
- Without removing water meters, at home.
First method inconvenient and rarely used in practice, since laboratory studies of a water meter last from 1 to 4 weeks. Then the calculation of the amount of payment is made according to the average value of the last 6 months, and not on the fact.
In addition, the dismantling of the device requires a plumber. After the technician decides on the proper operation of the device, its installation and sealing is required.
Second method more convenient because it does not include plumbing. Diagnostics lasts less than an hour by connecting calibration equipment. Residents do not have to pay for water supply on average.
Diagnostics of water meters is carried out using a calibration station, which takes into account the volume of fluid passing through it. If a malfunction is detected, the device will have to be replaced with a new one.
Call the master at home
By agreement of the homeowner and contractor, a verification date is assigned. Before connecting the equipment, a service contract is concluded in duplicate.
Popular monitoring equipment are devices: VPU Energy M, UPSJ 3PM, Water accounting 2M. Since the verification of water meters will take place at home, you should know how it is carried out:
- The inlet hose of the portable unit is connected to a threaded mixer, and the other end to the control device. The outlet hose is installed in the drain of the bathtub or sink.
- With the help of the valve, the flow of water is limited, the values indicated on the device are fixed. The technician must make sure that the numbers on the counting mechanism do not change when the valve is closed.
- Then the tap opens, and 6 liters of water is spilled through the fixing device. The volume of water passing 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 with state accreditation. Therefore, the company representative, before starting work, must provide the owner with the necessary documentation
Notes on the possibility of further use are entered in the technical passport of the water metering device.
As a result of the verification of the meters, the metrological engineer should issue the following documentation:
- Service Agreement.
- The act of verification.
- Data sheet with a note about the possibility of using the meter.
- Certificate of Conformity, confirming the accuracy of the measurement device.
- Copies of legal documents of the company.
- Check.
If a significant error is detected, the technician will refuse certification and will offer to replace the individual metering device with a new one. You can refuse to install a new meter, then payment will be charged taking into account regional average values.
The duration of the use of measuring instruments for water is limited to 10-14 years. Some water meters continue to run smoothly even after 20 years of operation.
If you need to replace the SGW, it is recommended to install a flowmeter with a temperature sensor. Then water below 40 degrees will be charged at the price of cold water
Pros and cons of home diagnostics
The main advantage of verification at home is to save time and money on the removal, installation and sealing of the device.
Checking the water meter in the laboratory of the metrological service can last 1-4 weeks, depending on the workload of the technicians. Payment of water supply on these days is based on averaged indicators, and not on the fact. When ordering a home service, verification takes 20-40 minutes, which does not affect the monthly payment.
In houses with a worn out sewage system and water supply system, there is a threat of violating the integrity of the nodes, so the removal and installation of devices can lead to costs for further repairs of plumbing.
The minimum cost of diagnosing the meter is 500 rubles, the maximum does not exceed 1000, and depends on the region of residence. The price is low relative to the fact that for a year of distorted operation of the device, the owner can lose up to 1 thousand rubles.
Preferential categories of citizens, firms provide low tariffs for plumbing services. Therefore, it is better to take the opportunity to check the house, rather than deal with issues of dismantling / installation of devices
The disadvantages of "home" verification include the fact that a detailed evaluation of the device is impossible, and after a short period of time it may become worthless. Along with this, if a meter malfunctions, it will be necessary to pay money for the procedure.
Features of verification of metering devices
The calibration procedure for water flow meters appeared relatively recently, and only a small proportion of apartment owners with installed meters performed a routine check of the meters.
Many have to diagnose devices for the first time. In the process of evaluating the accuracy of a water meter, controversial issues may arise.
Nuance No. 1 - verification or replacement
During the “home” calibration of devices, the technician cannot assess the condition of all parts that are subject to wear, especially in the GBW. Therefore, after evaluating the accuracy of the water meter, it may not work for long or it may not be allowed to operate at all.
For any outcome, you will have to pay money for the procedure, and if the device is faulty, the owner will have to spend money on installing a new flowmeter. Therefore, consumers have doubts about the need for verification. Many people prefer to immediately replace the meters and not pay for the examination.
This nuance was resolved at the federal level by amending the GOST and technical regulations for the manufacture of water meters. Modern devices are made of wear-resistant materials and only 20% of them break at the time of verification.
Thus, most of the devices for individual metering of water consumption last 10-14 years, are subjected to double verification, without changing the initial characteristics. Therefore, metrological engineers recommend a diagnosis, rather than changing the device.
After verification and other interventions in the operation of the meter, its sealing is required. Payment by check will increase by about 500 rubles
Nuance No. 2 - late payment penalty
Attracting customers to verify the counters of unscrupulous companies may result in sending a warning letter. Then a letter with the threat of a fine is placed in the consumer's mailbox.
Particularly suspicious owners of devices will certainly turn to a company that has imposed a verification service using a threat method. Prices for services in such firms are often overpriced. Such a threat is considered unauthorized due to the fact that no law provides for fines and any liability.
The only consequence of an untimely check of the meter is the calculation of the volume of water, according to the average values in the region. But to save the family budget with verification it is better not to delay
Nuance No. 3 - avoid overpayments
Tempting offers of firms about checking meters at a discount or about express checking meters at home, when a specialist needs 15 minutes to determine the health of devices, sometimes work.
A metrological engineer appears in an apartment without a license to provide services and conducts a metrological procedure. After verification, the necessary documents are issued, but owners of devices forget to ask about a copy of title documents.
When contacting the water utility for registering the verification date, the owner will be refused, as the company conducting the diagnostics did not pass accreditation for this type of service. In this case, the meter must be checked again.
Firms that impose services may recognize the working device as defective and offer a replacement, although in fact the old device gives accurate indicators and can last several more years.
Nuance №4 - choice of organization
Consumers believe that the calibration of the water meters should be carried out by the installation company of the devices. And if the company has run out of license?
According to Decree No. 354, any company with state accreditation can carry out verification of individual water meters.
If the procedure was carried out by a third-party company, not by water utility specialists, then the documents are transferred to the resource provider to extend the life of the device.
The owner of the apartment can choose a calibration company based on his interests: favorable prices, terms of service and the like.
You will learn how to verify the gas meter without dismantling and sending it to the laboratory from the next article, which describes in detail the process and the procedure for work.
The method of checking the device without removal takes less than an hour and is mandatory for all owners of IPU:
How is the verification of water meters when calling the master at home:
Calibration of meters without removal saves finances and time of the owner of devices. After all, while the meter is in the laboratory of metrology and standardization with a removable verification method, payment is calculated based on the average value, and not on the fact.
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