Where should I go to get my water meters sealed? This question may well be asked by those consumers who have just installed a metering device, but not all: if the work is carried out by specialists from specialized companies, then this procedure is carried out in conjunction with the installation of devices. And in all other cases, the issues of sealing the meter will have to be resolved independently, but not literally with your own hands, but with the involvement of representatives of resource suppliers, managers and other utility organizations that have the authority to carry out such work.
It is important to note that the question of where to go to seal water meters is difficult due to the fact that consumers do not often encounter this situation, and in addition, certain changes are constantly taking place in the legislative sphere. Therefore, users show excessive anxiety, which, however, is completely justified, since it is the sealing of the meter that allows the device to be put into operation, which means its readings can be used to calculate amounts for paying for the resource received.
Who should seal water meters and according to what law of the Russian Federation
Who has the right to seal water meters? The answer to this question can be found in Article 25 of the Federal Law dated December 7, 2011 No. 416-FZ “On water supply and sanitation.” This document clearly regulates the relationship between the consumer and the supplier specifically in terms of the sealing procedure. It states that any measuring instruments intended to record the consumption of cold and hot water supply must be sealed by organizations that, under a contract, carry out work on water supply and sanitation. However, there is no charge for this, with the exception of certain cases.
Thus, after the consumer has installed a water meter, in order to seal it, he should contact the contractor providing the relevant services. Most often, this can be a management company or HOA, as well as the water supplier directly, etc. Exactly how this service is provided is indicated in Resolution No. 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” dated 05/06/2011. In the same place, in paragraph “y” of Art. 31 says how to properly seal the meter:
- after the meter has been installed, the consumer must submit a written application to the contractor no later than the next month;
- after sealing and putting the measuring instrument into operation, payment for water from the 1st day of the month following the month in which these works were carried out is made according to the meter readings;
- in the event that the contractor, for some reason, slows down the process of sealing and putting the meter into operation, the consumer has the right to appeal to the court or a regulatory authority, for example, the Housing Inspectorate.
Who seals the hot and cold water meter
The answer to this question follows from the answer to another - who is most interested in ensuring that records are kept correctly, and at the same time, eliminating possible interference with the operation of the device? Naturally, this is a resource supplying organization
, which is the only way to control this process, especially considering the fact that the metering device itself is the property of the user and, as a rule, is installed on his premises. Of course, periodic checks allow you to monitor the condition of the meter, but their purpose is different, namely, to verify the accuracy of readings taken and recorded. And the presence of seals (of which there may be several on water meters) is a guarantee against interference with the mechanism of the device.
However, not only the resource supplying organization is engaged in sealing water meters; often such a structure can delegate this function to management companies, homeowners' associations and other public utility institutions that service an apartment building or residential and other facilities located in a private residential area. Also, sealing of water meters can be carried out by specialists from specialized companies who have the appropriate powers and accreditation.
If there is no filling
If there is no seal, there will be no penalties for the homeowner. You just have to pay not according to the meter, but according to the standard tariff.
If you pay according to the readings of the meter, then during subsequent verification you may encounter other problems. The actual absence of a seal (subject to its availability according to the documentation) will be regarded as illegal interference with the operation of the device. The operation of the device will be completed, and the owner will have to pay a large amount. The new calculation will take into account the capacity of the water supply system and the round-the-clock use of the meter from the moment of intervention until the day the problem is eliminated. If the date is not set, the recalculation will be made from the last check.
How to apply for sealing of water meters online
The modern pace of life dictates new rules and norms of behavior for a person; he is increasingly solving problems using the capabilities of the Internet. These opportunities are widely used in the housing and communal services system, and not only to make payments for services received, but also to resolve many other issues.
Of course, you can sign up for water meter sealing by directly contacting the contractor, making him happy with your personal visit. You can also fill out an application by phone, but the most convenient option is to use the Internet: this choice not only saves the consumer’s time, but is also more convenient for the contractor. And in order to complete an application for sealing in this way, you need to choose a method that is convenient for you:
- Personal Area. This option is suitable for those who are registered in the system; for others, you will need to first register an account;
- fill out a special form on the performer’s website;
- by sending an application letter by email.
And if you need to seal a water meter, but you don’t have the desire or time to deal with these issues yourself, you can take advantage of the opportunity provided by the RosSchet online store: you can easily fill out a special form on the website and all these issues will be resolved in the near future.
What documents are needed to seal the water meter in an apartment?
So, you won’t be able to seal the water meter yourself. To perform such work, you need special powers, which means you need to contact the contractor or service provider with this problem. At the same time, when filling out an application online or offline, the consumer must submit a small package of documents, the main of which is the application itself, and it must indicate:
- information about the consumer-payer of services: full name, details of a passport or other identification document, telephone number;
- the planned date for sealing the metering device and putting it into operation;
- information about the organization or company that carried out the installation work (but not everyone requires such information);
- type and type of meter, as well as its serial number;
- date of the next verification;
- meter readings at the time of its installation.
Additionally, but necessarily, copies of the following documents must be submitted along with the application:
- meter passports;
- passport of the owner of the metering device and his SNILS or INN;
- for meters that were verified before September 24, 2020 - a copy of the verification certificate. For new devices, as well as those that were verified according to the new rules, this requirement is not relevant, since information about the corresponding event is available in the FSIS “Arshin” database.
How much does it cost to seal a meter?
The question of whether it is necessary to pay for sealing water meters or not often worries consumers who are accustomed to the fact that they must pay for every service received from utilities and other similar services. But with sealing, the issue is resolved differently and depends on the reasons for this procedure.
In most cases, the consumer does not have to pay for sealing the meter and this rule is relevant if:
- the meter is installed for the first time and needs to be put into operation;
- after the next verification;
- as a result of planned replacement after the service life of the previous device has expired.
All these norms are contained in Resolution PR No. 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” dated May 6, 2011, namely in paragraph 81-9 and in Federal Law No. 416-FZ “On water supply and water disposal" dated December 7, 2011. These documents also spell out situations in which payment for sealing meters should be charged, for example, in the following cases:
- after repair of the water meter and its subsequent verification;
- if the seal(s) was damaged due to the fault of the consumer or third parties;
- re-sealing of the device, regardless of the reason that caused such an event, as well as in some other cases.
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Why do you need a filling?
The need for sealing arises in the following situations related to the operation of the meter:
- after initial installation;
- during periodic verification;
- in case of repair or replacement;
- in case of intentional or accidental damage to previously installed seals.
The sealing ensures protection of the metering device from third-party interference in order to distort the measurement results. The presence and integrity of the seal confirms that the consumer or a third party did not try to change the current readings for the purpose of stealing resources.
How long must water meters be sealed after application?
Understanding this issue is not easy and because of this, users often have a misunderstanding of the entire sealing process. But we must start with the fact that consumers install measuring instruments both in accordance with the requirements of the law and taking into account their own benefits. At the same time, the very fact of installing such a device is not enough to switch to payment based on actual water consumption; it is necessary to carry out the sealing procedure and put the device into operation, after which the readings will become the basis for charges.
Thus, it is the consumer who is interested in sealing the water meter as quickly as possible, but the legislator does not set clear deadlines, for example, in Resolution No. 354 of May 6, 2011 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” there is not a word about this, but paragraph 42 of the same resolution states that if an unsealed device is used, then charges for the resource received are made on the basis of standards adopted in a particular region.
Thus, why water meters are sealed becomes obvious, and the consumer understands that this issue should be addressed immediately after installing the device, without delaying the process. Naturally, he submits the appropriate application to the contractor represented by the resource supply organization, management company, HOA and conscientiously waits for the visit of the representative. And in this case, we can already talk about the timing of sealing the device.
So, after submitting an application in which the consumer indicates a convenient or planned time for sealing the measuring instrument, the representative of the organization must additionally agree on the time of his visit. Moreover, he must do this within three working days, but the appointed sealing date should not be later than 15 days after accepting the application from the consumer.
There is also a rule that the meter must be put into operation no later than the next month after installation. Accruals based on the data of the measuring instrument must be accepted from the first day of the month following the one in which the commissioning process was carried out. And since commissioning is impossible without sealing the device, then accordingly, based on this, these deadlines should be calculated.
What to do if the sealing of the water meter does not go according to plan
In cases where an application has been submitted and, perhaps, even the time for a specialist’s visit has been agreed upon, but for some reason he did not show up and did not seal the meter, the consumer will definitely begin to worry. But there is no reason for this. Since, taking into account the fact that as many as 15 working days are given to seal the meter, after a written request from the consumer, after this period the meter will be considered put into operation. And, consequently, his testimony will become mandatory for the service provider to accept it and, accordingly, charge for the water consumed. However, subsequently, it is still necessary to address this issue and seal the meter.
But we can consider another case. For example, if a consumer installed meters for cold and hot water supply in his house or apartment, and then, for some reason, forgot or simply postponed the sealing process, then he should not forget that such metering devices must be put into operation and, accordingly, sealed no later than next month. Otherwise, charges for consumed water are made based on the standard adopted in the region and often with an increasing factor.
All these rules are quite simple and described in detail in the document regulating the relationship between providers and consumers of utility services, namely, in Decree of the Government of Russia No. 354 of May 6, 2011 “Rules for the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” .
Period for sealing
Cold water and domestic hot water meters need to be sealed in the following situations:
- when installing for the first time;
- replacement due to end of service life;
- damage to the device is detected;
- ball valve failure;
- carrying out repair work on the highway;
- conclusion of a purchase and sale agreement;
- pipeline accident;
- updating the water meter model.
In all situations, employees must be called to seal water meters. If the procedure is not carried out, then the IRC does not have the right to take readings for the resource consumed. Accordingly, accrual in receipts will occur according to the approved rate.
Please note: installation of protective mechanisms on individual metering devices after purchasing a home is optional. However, the procedure will allow you to have in your hands the IPU passports and a report on the manipulations performed.
How are water meters sealed?
How are water meters sealed? This procedure can be considered purely technical and at the same time of little interest to the consumer, but he definitely needs to know how this happens, since the process of acceptance of the device into operation by the contractor, with all the ensuing consequences, depends on how correctly and accurately everything is done.
After the application has been submitted, the contractor’s representative must coordinate the visit and, no later than 15 days, seal the consumer’s meter or meters - in houses with a centralized hot water supply, two devices must be installed, and in the event that heating occurs due to the column , electric boiler or other device, then one water meter is enough.
As a rule, the sealing of meters and their commissioning occur simultaneously, or rather sequentially, but on the same day. But before starting work, the specialist must take several mandatory steps:
- check the serial number of the device indicated in the product data sheet with the one printed on the body;
- check the correct connection and installation of the water meter;
- if the water meter has been verified, then you must check the fact that the corresponding entry was made in the FSIS “Arshin” database or make sure that there is a certificate (if the verification was carried out before September 24, 2020);
- if a replacement was carried out, then the data of the old meter will be required.
The representative must check the compliance of the address indicated in the application and the owner’s documents.
In this case, the consumer is also obliged to check with a specialist, who must present:
- a certificate confirming that he is a representative of the performing company;
- a copy of the license or confirmation of accreditation giving the right to carry out such work.
Also, the contractor’s representative must have with him all the necessary forms to complete the commissioning procedure.
But the sealing process itself is a series of sequential actions:
- diagnostics of the operation of the water supply system and metering devices;
- installation of a seal (or seals).
After this, the specialist can draw up the appropriate documents confirming the commissioning of measuring instruments.
What types of seals are there for water meters?
The main purpose of installing seals on water meters is to prevent interference with the operation of the device mechanism and the influence of the magnetic field.
Several types of seals can be installed on water meters:
- plastic;
- lead;
- rotary;
- antimagnetic.
Moreover, the latter are not always installed, but most often on the initiative of the utility company that supplies water. Their goal is to prevent the device from being exposed to a magnetic field in order to distort its readings by slowing down the speed. As a rule, with such an impact, an external change in the seal-sticker occurs, which is very easy to detect.
Standard seals, required for installation, serve to exclude any possibility of unauthorized entry and interference into the metering device mechanism. Externally, they are small plates or buttons that are attached to the meter on both sides and connected to it with wire or a special rope. Most often, lead seals are installed, which are reliable and able to withstand thermal effects, which is important when it comes to sealing a hot water meter. Rotary seals, in addition to their direct function, also do an excellent job of acting as antimagnetic protection, and at the same time they are the most reliable, since they are almost impossible to counterfeit.
But if for any reason there was damage, then the consumer should know where to go if the seal on the water meter is broken or the anti-magnetic sticker is destroyed. After such a case, the service provider organizes an extraordinary inspection, draws up a corresponding report and, as a rule, issues an order regarding the need for an extraordinary verification of the meter. After this, the device can be resealed and put into operation. But there are different situations, even with legal proceedings, since damage to the seal is a serious violation on the part of the consumer and is often fraught with sanctions in the form of fairly substantial fines.
Often, in cases where any problems arise related to the operation of water meters, most consumers begin to panic, urgently look for the necessary phone numbers and where to call. And everything can be solved much easier by going to the RosAccount resource. On the site you can always ask a question and, most importantly, get a professional answer to it. In addition, in the RosSchet online store you can buy water meters at very attractive prices, as well as order the installation of devices, their verification or replacement.
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A specialist must come to the applicant to put a seal within five working days, which begins to count from the moment the owner submits the relevant application. The master puts seals on the water meters and issues the owner with certain documents that confirm the work done.
The paper contains information about the owner of the premises, information about the company that sealed the water meters, registration information for the meter, as well as a unique seal number and a water distribution diagram where the control element is recorded.
IMPORTANT! If the specialist has not responded to the submitted application, then the owner can continue to use the water, and the service organization will be obliged to take the readings to calculate the cost.
