Verification of water meters: how to verify meters at home without removing them

Checking water meters: is it necessary to do it and why is it necessary?

The procedure is mandatory, as stated in the legislation of the Russian Federation. Checking water meters helps you pay for the service correctly. If you don’t do the verification, this does not mean that you won’t have to pay, it’s just that the calculations will be carried out according to a different principle.

In particular:

The first three months according to the average mark of the counter for six months;
Starting from the fourth month - with an increased coefficient - 1.5.

As soon as verification is completed, you will be able to pay for water at its base.

What laws govern the preparation

The main legislative act regulating the filling out of paper is Government Decree No. 354 of May 6, 2011. It stipulates what is “in-house engineering systems” and what is “in-house equipment”, who and in what cases is responsible for the timely replacement of these devices, who should pay for them, the permissible power of the meter for replacement and other nuances.

The rules govern interaction with water meters in apartment buildings, but are also suitable for private households connected to the citywide water supply system.

Verification of meters: types

Meters are verified at home using several types of approach:

Primary

It is done immediately after the counter has been assembled. It is verified before it is released for sale. The established result will be valid as long as the inter-verification period lasts. In addition to the post-production moment, the procedure in question is also applied after the device has been repaired.

Periodic

This is a mandatory procedure that is performed once every five years (maybe a little more or less often).

Extraordinary

It is carried out if there is a suspicion that the device is not working correctly. For example, if the mark is broken, the device has been stored in an inoperative state for a long time. In addition, an extraordinary verification must be carried out if the certificate of the previous visit of a specialist is lost.

Inspection

For this verification, a schedule is drawn up, which Vodokanal employees follow. They only come when it's your turn.

Deciding which verification is necessary depends on the circumstances.

Installation Standards

The rules that should be followed are listed in SNiP 2.04.01-85. In addition to them, there is a legislative framework that regulates issues regarding:

Locations. The meters should be located so that it is convenient to take readings from it (or at least there is such a possibility).
Places. The room where the replacement is being made must have sufficient lighting.
Environmental conditions. The temperature must be at least +5ºС. This requirement is related to the requirement of continuity of water supply.
Straight and curved pipe sections. The pipelines must be level on both sides of the meter; the length of these sections is regulated by SNiP.

In addition, it is worth taking into account the regulations, recommendations and requirements in the passports of the installed units.

Meter verification: how to find out when it is needed

It is better that the verification of water meters at home is carried out according to a schedule. When exactly the next one will be completed is indicated in the housing and communal services payment receipt. You can also view this information in your personal account, through which you transfer the indicators. The verification must be completed before the date indicated in the documents in question. Although sometimes the fact that verification must be passed is discovered precisely because it could not be done on time, since after this it is impossible to transmit meter readings. In order to be able to transfer the indicators, it is necessary to invite a specialist and carry out verification.

Interestingly, if you receive a call where the subscriber on the other end says that you need a meter verification, do not give consent. First, check whether the verification date is coming to an end. If the time is really approaching, you should choose the company that will do this yourself. Don't trust suspicious calls, they could be scammers.

In what cases can the counter be changed?

According to existing legislation, hot and cold water meters can be changed at any time. Typically, official documents indicate the following reasons for such manipulations:

the counter is damaged;
the maximum period of operation of the device specified in the attached documents has expired (there is a risk of breakdown);
there was a need to install a more advanced model; another technology, more modern meters, appeared on the market;
the state inspection did not recognize the installed meter as fit for use;
external mechanical damage has occurred in the device, which creates a risk of changing parameters, etc.;
a direct instruction (order) was received from the management of the management company or HOA.

In the latter case, a written order is usually issued. If we are talking about a common building metering device, then this is a necessary action to generate a full report on the work done to ensure uninterrupted any type of water supply in an apartment building.

Verification of water meters: how it works

The verification conditions are co-dependent on the company’s equipment, namely the availability of portable equipment. Therefore, there are several formats of the procedure:

Without removing the device. You can do without removing the device when the company has portable equipment and can work from home.
With the removal of the device. The device must be removed accordingly if the company does not have portable equipment.

Regardless of the method of operation, if the device is broken, it will be replaced (provided that it cannot be repaired).

Verification of water meters: documentation

When the master has finished his work, he must do the following:

Submit a certificate of verification, which determined that the device is working;
Fill out a report on the work performed.

If the device has been changed, a delivery and acceptance certificate is created. This document indicates who performed the installation and when, who is the consumer (owner of the apartment). The serial number of the water meter is also indicated. Afterwards, all parties put their signatures. These documents need to be submitted to the Criminal Code. And this needs to be done as quickly as possible.

Verification of water meters: what documents are needed

Regardless of whether meters are being verified without removal or not, you must bring the following papers:

A passport indicating the date when the meter was put into operation, including initial expenses.
Certificate with verification date.

Verification of individual metering devices (IMU): what to do after

When the procedure is completed, the company must enter its results into the Rosstandart database . She has 40 days to do this. It is advisable to check whether this has been done. Use your meter number. If the transfer of housing and communal services indicators has already been blocked, send a copy of the verification report to the management company, asking to remove the blocking.

Components of the act

After the name of the paper, the address details for making the replacement are highlighted. Then the specific installation location (the form indicates that this is a bathroom and a cold water pipe; if desired, you can enter other information, for example, about the riser, hot water pipe). Data about the meter being replaced must also be present, specifically:

its type;
factory number;
year (it is advisable to indicate the date) of issue;
the testimony that was on it.

The same information must be provided about the device that is installed instead of the old water meter.

The installation date is a key aspect. The day must be specified exactly. It is advisable that it coincides with the day of signing the act.

If this is not the case, then it will be necessary to justify this discrepancy with other documents. Also important is the full name of the organization that carried out the replacement, and information on the basis of which paper it has the right to do this. A separate column is left to fill in information about the license number, date and place of issue. At the end, for the legal force of the act, the signature of the specialist who replaced the water meter is placed.

Periodicity

According to Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354, the need for verification was legalized, and its frequency must correspond to the instructions in the technical passport for the device.

How many times can you do the verification? For example, for imported devices the procedure should be carried out after 10 - 15 years, for Russian-made meters intended for hot water, the check will have to be carried out after 4 years, for cold water - after 6 years.

Reference! The choice of water measuring devices is left to the discretion of the residents themselves.

Algorithm of actions for replacement

In a situation where one of the described problems occurs, it is necessary to act sequentially:

If the meter breaks down, then contacting the HOA, management company or housing office is mandatory. From this point you need to start the replacement operation.
Report (or at least record) the meter readings that were on the device at the time of the breakdown, or the last available ones. They must be no older than 30 days (calendar month), counting from the date of application.
Notify the service organization about the upcoming replacement at least 2 business days before the process.
Wait for qualified employees of the energy sales company servicing the house to arrive on site. Without their presence, the replacement will be illegal (there is an administrative penalty for this). Or you need to have written evidence that these representatives did not appear on time (registered telegram, letter, etc.).
An appropriate specialist inspects the site.
The water supply unit is being assembled.
The old device is removed, the new one is installed.
Commissioning works are being carried out.
The old (out of order) meter is handed over to the management company or other responsible organization for control.
An act of replacing the water meter is drawn up.

The presented document is significant evidence in legal proceedings; if properly executed, it solves most of the problems associated with documenting the replacement of old equipment in the water supply system.

When is it better to overpay?

There are situations when it is still easier to replace the meter than to carry out verification. The most common cases are when:

the device has expired;
it is deformed and this is visible to the naked eye;
it leaks, the body is not sealed;
The gear indicator does not move when water is supplied.

In addition, the device will have to be replaced if it does not pass verification, so it is important to check the meter yourself visually and using receipts before calling a specialist.

Is it possible to recalculate after completion of work?

If verification work is overdue, residents are transferred to pay for services according to the established standard. This is unprofitable for them, since payments increase by 1.5 - 2 times.

Due to untimely checking of meters, consumers often wonder whether they can hope to recalculate payments for water if, after verification, the correct operation of the device is established. Consequently, his readings were correct and can be taken into account in the calculations.

According to the law, the problem looks different, since a device that has not been verified on time is considered unfit for work, and if it is determined during a subsequent check that it is in good working order, this is not a basis for recalculating payments. If the consumer himself missed the inspection deadline, then he should not hope for compensation.

Attention! There are situations when the inspection was missed for reasons beyond the tenant’s control, or the reasons were valid. Then, through the court, you can obtain a refund of the overpaid funds.

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Contents and sample document

The document is a special form of the established form. All fields must be filled in; dashes and spaces are not allowed.

The following information is required:

certificate number;
validity;
IPU serial number;
number, type, name of the testing unit;
climatic conditions under which verification was carried out;
name of the process implementation methodology;
measurement error;
IPU accuracy class;
verification mark (stamp or hologram);
signature, details, validity period of the verifier’s accreditation;
the date of the.
number and date of the previous certificate (if any).

In the following photo you can see what the certificate looks like:

In the case where the chosen measurement technique involves the indication of metrological data, they are recorded on the back of the document. If there is no free space left to place the information, then the metrological data is drawn up on a separate sheet as an appendix to the main document.

Actions after verification periods have expired

It is recommended to take care of carrying out the procedure several weeks before the end of the verification interval.

The water meter owner must:

Submit an application to the city metrological service.
Submit the required documentation package there.
Conclude a contract for work.
Pay for the service.
Receive a metrology center employee.
Receive a certificate and report from a metrological service employee.

All documentation received from the metrology center must be transferred to the management company, which will register it and confirm the completion of the procedure.

Calibration interval - what is it?

This term refers to a time period after which it is necessary to carry out a verification procedure for the water meter installed in the apartment.
Only accredited metrological services are involved in its implementation . Management companies are not authorized to verify metering devices. This procedure should only be applied to metrology centers.

How does a consumer know to check their flow meter?

The owner of the water meter can easily obtain information about the date of its next inspection .

In receipts for payment of utility services, in the column where the consumer records the current readings of the hot water supply and cold water meters, the exact date of their verification is indicated.

You can also find out about the date of the next water meter verification procedure by looking at the device’s data sheet. The date of its first inspection at the factory is indicated there. You must add 6 years to it. The received date will be the moment of the next verification procedure.

Management companies may be notified of the need to check consumers . Several months before the expiration of the inspection period, companies can notify the residents of the house orally or in writing.

On a note

Until the end of 2020, only verification of household metering devices has been suspended. Even household meters with an expired verification period can be used - their readings will still be accepted for calculating utility bills.

No fines or penalties will be imposed. Moreover, organizations responsible for verification of household PU upon receipt of an application will have to warn individual applicants that verification until the end of the year inclusive is not necessary. However, the commissioning of household metering devices has not been suspended.

The provisions of RF PP No. 424 on the suspension of verification do not apply to common household metering devices. For them, this procedure takes place as usual.

How much does it cost and where to order?

Payment for work to assess the accuracy of instrument readings depends on several reasons:

depending on the type of the meter itself, it is indicated in the technical data sheet;
on the degree of wear of the device, which affects the method of testing (with dismantling or at home);
on the choice of the company performing the work (commercial organizations have higher prices for verification services).

The price range for verification services is significant. Prices also depend on the consumer’s region of residence.

In the case of a laboratory test, taking into account filter cleaning and correction of the internal structure of the device, a verification service on average can cost from 1,500 to 2,000 rubles , including work on dismantling the device and reinstalling it.

In state-owned companies, working from home on average usually costs 500 - 650 rubles. Commercial organizations may request more.

Reference! Usually, verification is carried out inexpensively by accredited government organizations from Vodokanal.

Even more information about the cost of verification and at whose expense it is carried out can be found here.

What is this check and why is it needed?

When used under the influence of external factors, the meters are subject to wear.

As a result, their internal parts may be damaged and the filter may become clogged. The consequence of wear is a failure of readings and unreliable information on water consumption.

This determines how much the owners will have to pay for it.
To determine the accuracy of the meter’s reflection of passing water, its numbers must be compared with the numbers of the reference device. Attention! Assessing the degree of deviation of the digital meter readings from the values of the reference sample is its verification.
Based on the magnitude of the recorded deviations, the possibility of further use of the water meter is determined. Distortions of readings can happen in both directions. When they are overestimated, the owners of apartments with a meter themselves suffer. For example, if they actually used 5 cubic meters. m of water, and the meter shows a consumption of 7 cubic meters. m., then they overpay for water that they did not use.

If the readings are underestimated, apartment owners who do not have metering devices will suffer, since they are charged with the increased difference between the total household expenses and the incorrect figures for the underestimated water metering.

To ensure the reliability of the accounting of water consumed by residents, Law No. 102-FZ dated June 26, 2008 “On Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements”, as well as the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 dated May 6, 2011, introduced the obligation to regularly check the flow rate, devices at a set time interval.

Important! If the deadline for checking the operation of meters is missed, payment for water is charged not on the basis of their readings, but according to the standards accepted in the region.