Service life and replacement of hot or cold water meters: law, checks

Why replace and who can do it?

Water meters are needed to obtain information about the amount of resource consumed, so that residents pay only for the volume used. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully monitor the serviceability and correct readings of the measuring devices and promptly replace them, which will be required at the end of their service life or in the event of a breakdown of the recording equipment, if repairs cannot be made.

This procedure is possible by contacting a management company or a private organization that specializes in providing services for verification and replacement of water meters and has a license for this type of activity, or you can do it yourself.

The date on which it is necessary to change the water meter is regulated directly by the manufacturer, as the period when it is desirable, but not necessary, to perform a scheduled check of the mechanism.

Timing for replacing meters

The period during which the water meter can be used is determined by the manufacturer and is indicated in its technical passport. Russian manufacturers have established an average service life of 12 years. The operating period for different brands and models is different and is standard.

Like all measuring instruments, water meters must be verified. The calibration interval for hot water supply meters is 4 years, for cold water supply - 6 years. Verification is necessary to confirm the accuracy of measurements and the reliability of equipment.

If deviations in instrument readings from the norm are detected, it is imperative to replace the water meters. You will also need to change the device if the water meter is not working correctly (the taps are closed, but the meter is spinning). If, during verification, it is established that the measuring device is operating normally (there is no error), and the standard service life has come to an end, such a device is considered suitable for use, and a specialist will confirm this fact.

The service life of water meters is counted from the date of manufacture indicated in the passport, and not from the date when they were installed.

What to do at the end of its service life

After the expiration date of water meters, payments for water consumption will begin to be made according to standards. Therefore, the flow meter must be changed.

The tenant must independently determine the end of the meter's service life. It depends on the production date and period of use, which are indicated in the flowmeter passport. To accurately determine the verification time, you should take into account not only the year, but also the month. This is why it is so important to keep technical documentation for the device.

The service life of cold and hot water meters is the same (standard - 12 years), although the latter operate in more extreme conditions. High temperature negatively affects the technical condition of the entire device. Therefore, the calibration interval of the meter for water supply in an apartment has been reduced to 4 years.

After 12 years of service, the metering device is considered out of order and should be replaced with a new one.

Steps to follow when replacing a flow meter:

inform the nearest water utility department or your management company about your intention to dismantle the meter;
after receiving permission to unseal, remove the old one and install a new flow meter (you can do it yourself, you can entrust this to a specialist);
Call a water utility representative for sealing.

Responsibility for untimely change of meter

According to the current legislation, if the inter-verification period has expired, then it is required to reconcile the performance indicators of the measuring device and the parameters established for it. The owner of the property must check the meter. If the diagnosis is not carried out in a timely manner, then within 3 months the tenant will pay for the service according to the average water consumption for the last 6 months, and after that - according to established standards.

Penalties for late verification are not provided for by law, even after several months or years have passed since the end of the verification period. But the homeowner will suffer losses, because... the standard water consumption exceeds the actual one.

The meters can operate for 12-18 years without any problems. The period indicated in the technical data sheet for the meter is in no way a guide to replacing the equipment.

Legal regulation

Regulatory documents that regulate the installation and replacement of measuring devices:

Federal Law “On Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements” dated June 26, 2008 No. 102-FZ. On its basis, the procedure for using measuring instruments is established.
Federal Law “On energy saving and increasing energy efficiency, and on introducing amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” dated November 23, 2009 No. 261-FZ. Regulates the need to install meters to save resources.
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” dated 05/06/2011 No. 354. Based on it, the amount of payments is calculated in the presence of accounting mechanisms, as well as if they are absent.

Law on replacing the water meter, is it necessary to change it in 2021

Everyone who uses hot/cold water meters has long been convinced that this approach allows for good savings. The population is guided by the principle that you need to pay for what you use - this is the most correct approach.

The government has adopted several acts that regulate the means and methods of measuring water supply. Federal Law No. 102 of June 26, 2008 - this law governs the provision of uniform measuring instruments. The document defines the need to check devices according to metrology requirements.

The purpose of the act is to protect the rights of citizens, society and the state from the negative impact of incorrect measurements. This document also establishes a period after which the inspection must be carried out. During this period, the device operates unhindered, taking into account the supply of cold/hot water. It is allowed to install only those meters that are approved by the register of measuring instruments of the State Standard of the Russian Federation.

Federal Law No. 261 dated November 23, 2009. This law “On energy saving and increasing energy efficiency and on introducing amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” obliges all water utility subscribers in apartment buildings to install water meters without fail. To do this, you need to draw up an agreement with the water utility, and 180 days are given for all installation procedures.

Mandatory installation of a meter provides the following advantages:

Economical management of resources.
The measuring tool allows you to determine possible losses.

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 dated May 6, 2011. This document explains the features of payment for the use of water and other services in apartment buildings, as well as the rules for the provision of utility services. The resolution clearly defines the concept of the amounts payable in the presence of a meter, as well as in its absence.

The device for measuring the amount of water supplied is an accurate measuring instrument. The latter may simply work together over time and show a false expense for which you may overpay.

Neither the water utility nor the end client in your person will like this situation. What is the reason for the loss of measurement accuracy and how large is the error, and in what direction?

Hot/cold water has different effects on metering devices. Hot water contains chemical additives that, in tandem with high temperature, aggressively affect the parts and mechanisms of the measuring instrument. Therefore, checks of such devices need to be done more often.

The result of such a test can show complete serviceability, while failed equipment should be repaired or replaced.

The inter-inspection period of the installed measuring device in the hot water supply system is 4 years. As for cold water supply, meters are checked every 6 years. The deadlines do not indicate that replacement will be required. The water meter must be replaced when a breakdown is detected and the recording occurs with errors.

The average service life of the meter is 12 years. From this we can easily conclude that one copy can last 6 years, and the other – all 18. It is important to note that you need to start the meter checking procedure in advance, and not on the last day of the end of the checking interval. It is best to do this one to one and a half months in advance.

If the inspection deadline is approaching, the supplier may also notify you by written notice.

The check is performed on specialized equipment, but not everyone knows that the same check can actually be done right on site. To carry out the procedure, the subscriber can choose an organization that has the right to perform this type of work.

before starting work, it is necessary to turn off the water with prior approval from the housing office;
open access to water supply pipes;
the condition of the pipes must be satisfactory;
Shut-off units should be provided in the apartment to locally shut off the water.

The check is performed using several methods:

If you use the services of a specialized company, call a home plumber to dismantle the water meter. The removed meter will be put into operation and a document on seizure will be drawn up, which indicates the serial number and brand of the device. Keep the documents for the counter with you - your passport and your passport as a citizen of the Russian Federation.

The verification procedure is carried out using a calibration unit, which verifies the readings as accurately as possible. The duration of the check ranges from several hours to several days. When you receive the water meter back, you will be given the following documents:

Meter installation agreement.
Certificate of completed work.
Document confirming the commissioning of the water meter.
Certificate for cold water supply meter.
Passport for hot water supply water meter.
Certificates for equipment.
Maintenance contract.

If after checking it turns out that the water meter is broken, it will need to be replaced. A working device is installed in the same place, all changes are documented. The new water meter can be used until the next check comes.

When choosing a company to check the meter, make sure that it is specialized and has the appropriate permits for such activities. Upon arrival of specialists, all necessary water meter tests are performed. This approach is the most convenient - you save a lot of time. Representatives of the equipment testing company independently contact the water utility, which, in turn, eliminates the need for verification. You, as a client, receive a document about the date and results of the meter tests.

This on-site testing approach has its drawbacks. During the test, up to 250 liters of water are passed through the device, for which you will need to pay. If a malfunction is detected, you will not be able to repair or adjust the water meter on site - dismantling will still be required.

If the check was not completed on time: what to do

If there is a water meter inspection report, its owner is obliged to ensure that he does not miss the deadline for the next procedure.

An incorrectly functioning meter is considered unusable, and payment based on these readings is impossible. Thus, in such a situation, you will pay for water utility services according to average standards. In simple words, it’s as if you don’t have a meter installed that takes into account the number of people living in the apartment.

These numbers will be much higher than what you paid if you had a properly working meter.

To summarize, we note that meters need to be checked once every 6 years for cold water supply, and once every 4 years for hot water. The procedure is paid, and the maximum cost for the service does not exceed one thousand rubles. There are only three ways to check:

Inspection by the water utility with dismantling of the water meter.
Self-diagnosis on site with the involvement of a specialized organization that has all the permits to carry out such work.
Dismantling and inspection by the same specialized company on site, only in a shorter period of time than diagnostics at the water utility.

This is interesting: Energy meter TsE6803V: technical specifications 2021
The last two methods allow you to quickly complete the procedure, and the company’s specialists contact suppliers and notify them of the completed check.

Do not ignore the end of the interval and the need to test the water meter. By doing this, you can only overpay for the water supply services received at prices that are considered average.

Checking the meter does not mean that it is time to change it; perhaps everything is in order or the operation of the device needs to be slightly adjusted.

In case of failure, the water meter must be replaced. As a result, be attentive to the measuring instruments not only for water, but also for all other services, and you will save a lot of money. All payments are made only for what you used.

Hot and cold water meters allow you to accurately control water consumption. Metering devices built into hot and cold water supply pipes constantly “read” the volumes of water passing through them. But water meters are ordinary mechanical or electronic devices.

The constant operation of device elements will sooner or later lead to their wear and failure; a change in the performance of components can affect the display of water consumption readings, both up and down. In such situations, the inevitable fact becomes the need to replace metering devices.

The procedure for replacing water meters is strictly regulated by law

The water meter has a certain effective service life. Hot and cold water meters must be installed in each apartment on the appropriate water supply lines. In most situations, each of us uses water quite often. Over the years of operation, the elements of the device wear out and can cause breakdowns. Any change in the operation of the device may cause incorrect data transmission.

Each meter manufacturer conducts laboratory tests, the results of which determine the approximate period of effective operation of the device. According to most experts, the real service life of high-quality devices under optimal conditions of use reaches about 15-20 years.

But it is worth understanding that our apartments do not have optimal conditions - the presence of impurities and foreign elements in the water, as well as constant pressure drops, accelerate the wear of appliance elements and reduce the period of effective operation. For this reason, a so-called inter-verification period has been established - the period between production and testing of the device’s functionality. It amounts to:

for hot water meters – 4 years;
for cold water meters – 6 years.

The difference in terms is due to the nature of use - hot water is a more aggressive environment. In addition, do not forget that hot water is expensive, and this circumstance requires more careful control.

Do you need to change your water meters according to the law? The main regulatory act, which lays the foundations for regulating issues related to metering devices, is Federal Law No. 102 of June 26, 2008. The law establishes key requirements for monitoring the use of resources. If a device is not assigned a registration number, it cannot be considered operational and cannot be used to monitor water consumption.

Each water meter has its own registration number

After the inter-verification period, the meters must be verified. The procedure for checking meters involves determining, using high-precision weighing equipment, errors in transmitting data on water volumes. All actions are carried out in the apartment, without dismantling the equipment, and take several tens of minutes.

After carrying out the verification procedure, a specialist from an organization that has the appropriate accreditation fills out a report and makes appropriate entries in the instrument passports about the verification.

If the verified water meter is in working order, it will work until the end of the next verification period. After the next period, verification will also be carried out, and so on. That is, the meter does not need to be changed after the verification period has expired; it must be replaced only if faults are detected. In practice, a high-quality meter can complete two verification periods without problems.

If we consider the question of how profitable it is to verify or replace water meters, then the first option looks more attractive in all respects:

no need to dismantle the device;
the cost of verification is lower than the price for purchasing a new meter and installing it.

When should the meter be changed? Replacement is required in the following cases:

The device is faulty.
During verification, critical deviations in the transmitted readings were identified, requiring replacement or repair of the device.

A malfunction of the water meter is determined by the following signs:

a sharp change in monthly water consumption readings that has no objective reasons;
The motion indicator or flow dial does not function.

But only a specialist from an authorized company can officially determine the malfunction. To do this, it is necessary to carry out verification within the established time frame. Don't hesitate to replace it if your meter is faulty.

If you do not change it in time, sooner or later the controlling authority will identify the malfunction and calculate consumption according to the general standard until the serviceability can be confirmed. Such recalculation may affect several years and result in a significant amount. It is better to spend a little money on purchasing and installing a meter.

Self-installation of a water meter is not rational

You will still have to notify the management company about the replacement and invite a specialist to check the correctness of the procedures performed, as well as to seal it.
Installation by a specialist management or specialized company will allow you to obtain guarantees and avoid liability in the event of violations or breakdowns.

The rules for replacing a water meter imply the following sequence of actions:

Submitting an application to the management company to replace the meter.
Coordination of the arrival of the master.
Purchase of necessary equipment.
The technician visits the apartment and carries out the procedure for replacing the device.
Installation of seals and commissioning. The replacement technician must provide all necessary documentation.

To facilitate the procedure for replacing and checking metering devices, general requirements are imposed on their installation:

Meters must be accessible.
Pipes must be maintained in good condition.
Valve and ball equipment must tightly shut off the water.
In a private house, replacement of meters is carried out on a general basis.

Thus, replacement of devices should be carried out only in case of malfunctions in its operation. No one can force you to change the metering device, but if malfunctions are detected, payment will be made according to the standards, so it is better to monitor the performance of the control devices, check them in a timely manner and change them if necessary.

This is interesting: Automatic traffic jams for the meter: types and dismantling 2021

Many Russians have meters for cold and hot water in their apartments. The financial issue for the purchase and installation of equipment has finally been resolved. And it seems that savings on utility bills have even begun to manifest themselves. But a new thunder struck - putting forward a demand to replace or check water meters from private companies. Moreover, the replacement in this case looks like a planned or forced one.

What this is, whether the actions of the management company are legal and whether replacement of water meters is actually necessary, we will discuss below.

If you are overwhelmed with calls from various companies demanding that you URGENTLY change your water meter, know that such calls are illegal and there is NO need to take any action with your meters.

Firstly, representatives of the ERC or DEZ never call their clients. They simply receive data from meters between the 23rd and 26th of each month and issue a water bill on this basis. If the data is not received within the specified period, the invoice will be generated according to the average rates per person. In addition, representatives of these same organizations do not remind you that it is time to check the water meter. The user should be aware of this. Thus, according to the law, the previously established calibration intervals for meters for hot (4 years) and cold (6 years) water have been canceled since 2012. Now water meters need to be checked as needed, that is, if the user suspects that the device is counting incorrectly. And only in this case, having a verification certificate in hand, you need to contact the Criminal Code or the Economic Desk to carry out the procedure for replacing the meter.

Important: it is worth knowing that according to the technical data sheet, the estimated service life of the device is 12 years. And it is likely that your meter will completely expire without a single check.

Secondly, frequent calls from various companies are pure fraud, which, unfortunately, still affects vulnerable segments of the population - gullible people, pensioners, or those who simply do not know the laws.

Important: mandatory replacement of the meter is illegal. No matter who it is carried out by. This is simply a scam of the consumer out of money.

Thirdly, if you are wondering where scammers get your phone number, then know: all data is leaked from the DEZ or ERC database. The answer to the question “why” is obvious.
Moreover, it is always worth remembering that a metering device is a fairly simple mechanism, at the heart of which lies an impeller and a magnet with a dial. That is, there is simply nothing special to break there. And even if an arrogant employee of a private company somehow convinced you of the advisability of carrying out inter-interval verification and is now trying to tell you that the device urgently requires replacement (even though in your opinion he thinks it is correct), do not give in to scammers. Change the device only if you notice real discrepancies in the readings and actual water consumption.

Meters for cold and hot water are subject to mandatory replacement only if they are found to be inoperative as a result of verification. In this case, the owner is given a certificate of inspection and recognition of the mechanism as unfit for use. Here are the reasons for the failure:

Natural wear and tear;
Clogged pipes and build-up on the impeller;
Depressurization of the meter housing due to mechanical impact or unauthorized interference in its operation.

With the act in hand, you should contact the DEZ or management company and write an application to replace the water meter. In this case, you must buy a new device at your own expense. When the technician changes the meter and seals it, he will issue a certificate of putting the new device into operation. All that remains is to take the papers with zero water meter readings and the report on the work performed to your management company or to the Unified Center.

Important: if during the test the meter is found to be working, the device must be replaced. And the owner is issued a certificate stating that the mechanism is fully operational and subject to further use.

There are several ways to check the functionality of accounting equipment:

Houses without dismantling with the help of a foreman invited from the DEZ or Housing Office. He will connect a special device to the mixer and check that the water used is recorded correctly. You will receive a certificate of suitability of the device.
Houses without dismantling, by inviting a private craftsman from a private company. The same actions will be carried out. But they will be considered legal only if and when the company or craftsman has a license to carry out such work.
Take the device to the metrological service yourself. You just need to remove it first after drawing up a report on the integrity of the seal and the device body. As a rule, a piece of pipe can be placed in place of the removed meter while the water meter is being checked. In this case, the management company will recalculate in accordance with average water consumption standards.

By the way, the first and last methods of checking the device are considered the most profitable in terms of saving the family budget.

But don't relax completely. There is also a so-called planned replacement of metering devices for cold and hot water. This is carried out if a law has been adopted to replace the water meter with a more advanced model. But there is simply no such law.

In the second case, a planned replacement of the meter occurs precisely when the device malfunctions and this is documented after checking the mechanism.

In other cases, any arrogant and harsh demands to replace or check water meters can be considered pure fraud and punishable by law.

Remember: only you have the right to decide whether you need to check the meter and change it or not.

Important: if you are afraid that the hot or cold water meter is really faulty and you will have to change it after checking, then in this case you can save money on checking and just buy a new mechanism right away. Notify the DEZ about your desire to replace the device and wait for a technician to complete the work.

This is interesting: Designation of the electricity meter on the diagram for 2021

Help us become better, evaluate the presentation of the material and the work of the author

Each Russian citizen consumes different amounts of water, gas and electricity, and this may be much less than provided by the standard. Metering devices will help control resource consumption and save utility costs.

In accordance with clause 1 of the Federal Law of December 27, 2018 No. 522-FZ “On amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation in connection with the development of electrical energy (power) metering systems in the Russian Federation” (hereinafter referred to as Law No. 522-FZ), innovations are provided related to the operation and replacement of electricity metering devices. From July 1, 2021, the responsibility for installing, verifying and replacing devices is transferred from consumers to resource providers and network organizations.

The consumer of services will only retain the obligation to maintain the integrity of the metering device.

When replacing meters in 2021, users of electricity services must be guided by the following standards:

If you want to find out how to solve your particular problem in 2021, please contact us through the online consultant form or call :

Moscow: +7(499)350-6630.
St. Petersburg: +7(812)309-3667.

Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Article 210, Article 539, Article 543);
Housing Code of the Russian Federation (Article 39, Article 43);
Federal Law of June 26, 2008 No. 102-FZ “On Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements” (Article 13);
Federal Law of November 23, 2009 No. 261-FZ “On energy saving and increasing energy efficiency and on introducing amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” (Article 8, Article 13);
Decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation dated August 13, 2006 No. 491, August 31, 2006 No. 530, May 6, 2011 No. 354, May 4, 2012 No. 442.

In accordance with the requirements of current legislation, the responsibility for ensuring the uninterrupted operation of electricity meters, their replacement and repair lies with management companies or apartment owners if the meter is located indoors or within the boundaries of the user’s land plot.

The management company is obliged to enter into an agreement with the owners of the premises, the clauses of which will indicate the conditions for the use, installation and replacement of electricity meters. Metering devices for municipal apartments and meters located on staircase landings must be installed, maintained and replaced at the expense of management organizations.

Metering devices should be changed if:

All devices are being replaced on a scheduled basis;
the counter is faulty, records inaccurate results;
The service life of the old device has expired;
the state verification period has expired.

The installation of a new device can be initiated not only by the consumer, but also by an energy-saving company, which sends a written notice of replacement to the homeowner.

According to the new Law No. 522-FZ, a state program is provided, according to which metering devices will be replaced free of charge with new meters with additional capabilities at the expense of government agencies.

If you want to find out how to solve your particular problem, please contact us through the online consultant form or call :

The replacement schedule will be developed by the relevant organizations with mandatory warning to service consumers. New meters will be the property of the energy supplier.

Replacement will be made as the service life of the old meters is exhausted.

The legal provisions obliging the installation of gas meters have not changed in 2021. In accordance with Art. 13 of the Federal Law of November 23, 2009 No. 261-FZ “On energy saving and increasing energy efficiency and on introducing amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” (hereinafter referred to as Law No. 261-FZ), gas suppliers must take actions to equip the facilities under their control control, gas consumption metering devices in a timely manner.

The requirements of Law No. 261-FZ for the installation of devices by owners do not apply to owners of emergency and dilapidated facilities, as well as if gas consumption for users is less than two cubic meters per hour, for example, if a gas stove is installed in the room. In such cases, organizations that supply natural gas to consumers are required to operate, install and replace gas meters.

In this case, the owner’s consent is not required and the gas meter can be installed forcibly.

If the owner of the living space wants to install a gas consumption meter, or this needs to be done by force, then the installation procedure and all operating costs will be borne by the owner himself . In accordance with Art. 158 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, the owner bears all expenses for maintaining the residential premises.

There are no innovations in legislation in 2021. In accordance with Art. 13 of Law No. 261-FZ, the responsibility for equipping water metering devices and putting them into operation lies with the owners of residential premises. They also bear the costs of purchase and installation. Owners of municipal housing have meters installed free of charge.

If you want to find out how to solve your particular problem, please contact us through the online consultant form or call :

The procedure for using water is determined by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 14, 2013 No. 776. Based on Decrees of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 23, 2006 No. 306, dated May 6, 2011 No. 354, tariffs are established and categories of beneficiaries are determined.

The coefficient for payment according to the standard in 2021 is 1.5, that is, those who did not install it pay 50% more for water consumption.

After 4 years of service for the meter for hot water and 6 years for cold water, the devices must be verified. If the specialist does not detect any violations, then you can continue to use the equipment until the next inspection interval. The average service life of meters is 12 years.

With the removal of the metering device , dismantling and further readings are taken, the equipment is examined in the laboratory, and a verification report is drawn up.
Without removing the metering device - research and tests of the water meter are carried out on site, and upon completion a report is drawn up.

The owners and occupiers of the premises themselves must keep track of when the time has come for the inspection. To avoid paying for services according to the standard due to the expiration of the period for conducting equipment testing, the verification results should be provided to the managing organization.

Counters

Water meter replacement certificate: sample 2021

Counters

Gas meter NPM g4: characteristics and verification period 2021

Counters

How gas meters are changed: paid or free 2021

Counters

How to correctly take readings from a water meter in 2021

Counters

How does the day/night counter work? 2021

Great article 0