What is the service life of a gas meter and who should change it?

All measuring instruments given in the table are used for domestic use: they are intended for installation in apartments of apartment buildings.

When choosing, you should pay attention to how many gas appliances the measuring device will serve: only a stove or a column and a stove.

The price of meters varies from 1,500 rubles to 15,000 rubles . It depends on the inter-verification period, the country of origin and the throughput of the device.

Only those measuring instruments that have been verified and have a seal on the body should be allowed for installation.

Standard device life

Depending on where exactly the measuring device will be installed, the following types of gas meters are distinguished: household, industrial, municipal. The main difference between them is the volume of gas that is passed through over a certain period of time. The service life also varies.

Over time, the functionality of the device decreases. This can lead to unnecessary noise, interruptions in operation, and incorrect accounting of gas consumption. In this regard, gas meters need to be periodically checked and replaced. The nominal service life of such a device is 20 years.

Reference! The countdown begins from the moment the device is released, not installed.

However, each product comes with a passport for it. This document always indicates both the service life and the frequency with which inspections must be carried out. The SGK 4 meter, for example, according to the instructions, can operate for no more than 20 years, while the Betar device has a service life of 12 years. Therefore, first of all, it is necessary to focus on the data specified in the passport.

Terms of use

Before igniting the boiler, you must unscrew the gas valve, then light the burner.
Before opening the valve, you must make sure that there is no characteristic odor. Leaks are detected at pipeline joints and gas point taps using a special device or soap solution.

Basic Rules:

• when turned on, the incoming valve is first turned off, then the match is lit and then the burner tap is opened;
• during operation, the transoms open, ensuring the removal of combustion products;
• if exhaust gases are discharged into the chimney, holes are made in the lower part of the door leaf of the room for a supply stream of fresh air.

If a smell appears, immediately call the emergency service and remove people from the building, do not use electrical switches, prevent sparks and open fire, and organize ventilation. Preschoolers and those who do not know how to do this are not allowed to use gas installations.

Replacing the meter according to the law

The inspection and replacement procedure is regulated by Federal Law No. 102. It clearly states that meters (including gas meters) need periodic inspection.
Only accredited organizations and individual entrepreneurs who have received permission to carry out such actions from the state can carry out this procedure, in accordance with this regulatory act.

The legislator indicates that it is necessary to focus on the service life specified in the technical data sheet of the product. After this time has expired, the device must be replaced.

Replacement is also carried out by accredited organizations. It is prohibited to disassemble meters, change readings or replace them yourself.

Verification and inter-verification interval

Each measuring device must be checked regularly. The manufacturer indicates the calibration period in the technical documentation supplied with the device. This means that the manufacturer guarantees performance all the time from verification to verification. After the expiration date, the device must be verified in specialized laboratories.

If it fails the test, it is sent to the manufacturer or a specialized workshop for repair. During normal operation, it is returned to the user until the next verification.

The timing of gas meter verification is regulated and ranges from 8 to 12 years. If the verification period has expired, then its operation is prohibited by law.

Who should pay for the procedure

Responsibility for checking the measuring equipment rests with the person who owns the apartment. The owner of the premises is also responsible for ensuring that the inspection is carried out on time. It should be noted that if a delay is detected, fines may be imposed on the owner.

The homeowner must also pay for the inspection. The cost of its implementation depends on the region of residence and in some cases can reach 25% of the cost of the measuring device.

Peculiarities! Considering the cost of conducting verification activities, some citizens prefer to change the meter before the second verification instead of carrying it out.

Replacing a gas meter is a paid service. Its cost depends on many factors, so it is impossible to give exact numbers. The estimated replacement price is from one thousand to fifteen thousand rubles. The average cost of this service by region reaches three to four thousand rubles. Specific numbers depend on the type of meter, model and brand.

Sanctions for expired metering device

Responsibility for the serviceability and compliance with all regulatory documents for the gas meter lies with the owner. There is no legal penalty for an expired or non-functioning meter. But the operation of meters that have not passed verification, along with faulty equipment, is equivalent to their absence.

This means that the owner will have to pay a tariff according to the standard, which is several times higher than the actual consumption of natural fuel. If the owner evades paying the tariff, he will incur a large debt, which will lead to the gas being cut off.

Check and replacement

The frequency of checks also depends on the specific meter model. In most cases, this procedure must be performed once every eight years. It looks like this:

1. Call a specialist (usually the receipts contain a notification that it is time for an inspection).
2. Replacing the old meter with a device from the service company (the new device is installed while the old one is being checked).
3. Checking the dismantled product.
4. Issuance of a conclusion based on the test results, which will indicate whether the device can continue to be used.

Reference! The inspection will take no more than three weeks.

If the conclusion indicates that the device can be used, it will be installed in place.
Otherwise, an act is drawn up, which states information about the impossibility of further use of the meter. It is provided to the owner, who will have to replace the metering device. If it is necessary to replace the meter in an apartment building (located in the basement of a building), municipal services are entirely responsible for carrying out the process.
Residents of the house do not need to spend money on the procedure. If we are talking about replacing an internal device or an apparatus located in a private house, the responsibility for carrying out the replacement rests with the homeowner.

In this case, the citizen must contact the gas service with which he has signed an agreement with a corresponding request. In this case, it is necessary to indicate the time and date of replacement.

You must first purchase the device itself. It is desirable that it be the same model as the previous product. If a similar product is not on the market, you should contact the gas service staff so that they can select a new device.

Reference! In some cases, welding may be required to install a new product. They are carried out by gas service employees and paid for by the customer.

At the appointed time, an employee of the company with which the citizen has an agreement will carry out the necessary work. After completion, the device must be sealed. This can happen within no more than five days from the date of installation. Before installing the device, a preliminary check of the device’s serviceability is carried out.

Is it necessary to install a gas meter in an apartment?

In 2009, a law on energy saving and increasing energy efficiency was passed, requiring all owners of gasified apartments to install natural gas meters by 2015. Towards the end of the mandatory installation period, conscientious citizens became so worried that some stores ran out of meters, and people signed up to receive the long-awaited device during the next delivery, and the companies involved in their installation began to ask fabulous sums for this service.

However, on January 1, 2015, a new decree amending Federal Law No. 261-FZ came into force. According to the updated article of the law, the installation of meters is not mandatory if the volume of gas consumption does not exceed 2 m³/hour. What follows from this? Since any gas stove, due to its technical characteristics, is simply unable to consume more than this specified maximum, in apartments where, of all gas appliances, only stoves are equipped, meters cannot be installed. But owners of housing in which gas water heaters and heating boilers are installed will still have to install metering devices.

Complaint about the actions of gas service employees

If a citizen is faced with the fact that the company servicing his apartment is not going to change the meter, it is necessary to file a claim addressed to the head of this organization (or its branch in the region).
Often this measure is enough to get results. If the complaint does not help, you can contact:

1. Ministry of Energy. This department has a special department that considers citizens' complaints.
2. "Rospotrebnadzor". Meter replacement is a paid service. This organization oversees the legality of providing such services.
3. The prosecutor's office. As in the previous case, the prosecutor’s office is a supervisory body; accordingly, department employees can conduct an investigation into the fact of violation of a citizen’s rights.

Important! If contacting these organizations does not yield results, legal proceedings can be initiated.

Breakdown and safety

By law, it is prohibited to install or replace a gas meter yourself without notifying government authorities.
A violator who disobeys this rule will be required to pay a fine or may be imprisoned. When you need to change a gas meter, you should contact the appropriate specialists by submitting an application requesting a replacement. There is no charge for making a request. The owner, who is also the applicant, pays only for the dismantling of the old meter, as well as the purchase of a new one. That is, the process is similar to the initial installation of equipment.

Before replacing the device, you will need to fill out the necessary documentation and pay all utility bills so that the replacement work is free. Before turning on the new equipment, a note will be made of the last readings of the old device. The removal of seals and sealing of the new meter is carried out exclusively by the master, recording his actions in a journal.

To choose the right meter on the market, you need to know which models are installed in your region. After the metering device has been changed, you need to pay attention to whether there is a gas leak, how much of the resource is consumed, and whether there are any significant differences with the readings of the old equipment.

Device selection

There are several types of devices. Modern manufacturers produce several varieties. Rotary or membrane meters are suitable for use in residential premises. Gas workers recommend installing with built-in thermal correctors.

However, they have their advantages and disadvantages . The advantages include savings on paying for gas consumed in excess of the prescribed norm. The disadvantages are very high cost. What to consider when choosing a device:

• life time;
• maximum gas consumption;
• frequency of inspections;
• absence of sounds or noise during operation;
• size and requirements for installation location;
• price.

Installing a gas measuring device will significantly save your family budget and insure yourself against irrational waste.

Before installing it, you must familiarize yourself with the rules for selecting a device, the requirements for installation and operation, and strictly follow them.

Requirements

The measuring device is installed in strict compliance with certain requirements. Primary requirements:

1. the distance from gas appliances is no closer than 80 cm. These requirements apply to the gas stove and water heater;
2. distance from the floor covering – at least 120 cm;
3. installation is carried out by welding or rubberized hoses, which should not come into contact with the heating elements of gas equipment;
4. the counter can be installed in any position: vertical, horizontal;
5. When choosing an installation location, you need to ensure accessibility and good visibility for taking readings.

If you follow these rules, you can install the meter anywhere.

Legislation and regulations 2021

Art. 13 Federal Law No. 261 dated November 23, 2009 obliges gas suppliers to install measuring equipment at controlled facilities. For owners of dilapidated and emergency facilities, as well as those who consume less than two cubic meters per hour, having a gas meter is not necessary; payment will be made at the established tariff.

If a gas boiler or water heater is installed in the room, then the responsibility for installing and replacing measuring equipment falls on the home owner. If the owner refuses, the measuring device may be forced to be installed.

Costs for installation and replacement of technical equipment in accordance with Art. 158 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation is borne by the owner of the property. If the device is located outside the residential premises, then the management company is responsible for replacing it.

Verification period for the VK-G4 gas meter

Thus, for the household meter VK-G4, the manufacturer’s passport specifies the equipment verification period for 10 years.

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated July 21, 2008 No. 549, approved clause 25 of the Rules for the supply of gas to meet the household needs of citizens, that the determination of the amount of fuel used is calculated according to the data of the reading device, verified on time according to the passport data. That is, the readings are not taken into account for presentation for payment if the verification actions are not completed on time.

The suitability examination is established by the Federal Agency for Metrology.

The customer department of the gas supply organization records data on the installation and suitability of measuring equipment. And it is mandatory to inform subscribers with a personal notification about the verification period, even if the device is working properly. The information is sent along with the payment receipt, which indicates the contact details of the metrological and gas services.

The suitability of a gas meter in an apartment or private house also depends on the location of the equipment. Initially, the gas meter package includes a passport, which lists data about the device design and installation and operation requirements. When the rules for installing devices that affect the service life of the meter are not specified in the manufacturers' instructions, then we use the rules for placing gas appliances in an apartment or in a private house, prescribed in the standards for the design of gas equipment (SP 42-101-2003 General provisions for design and construction gas distribution systems):

• height from the floor to the measuring device – 1.6 m.
• The radial distance from the gas meter to the heating appliance and to the kitchen stove is also set at 0.8 m.

It is not permissible to install above a kitchen stove, sink or in areas with a lot of excess heat and excess moisture.

A gas meter is a complex device and during installation certain conditions specified in the rules for installing gas equipment must be observed. It is prohibited to install a meter or install gas pipes yourself. Installation actions are carried out by specialists certified to carry out work on replacing gas measuring instruments. If the customer wishes, a meter is also installed from the street side on the wall of a residential building. In this case, the gas measuring device is protected from exposure to direct sunlight, strong temperature changes, and moisture. Such influences shorten the service life of the device.

According to Federal Law No. 102-FZ “On Ensuring the Uniformity of Measurements”, measuring equipment is verified before sale, otherwise sale is not allowed. The verifying organization is obliged to put a stamp with the signature of the verifying organization and the date of inspection in the certification document.

The calibration interval of the measuring instrument is determined by the manufacturer and is prescribed in the established document for the device. The interval between verifications is determined from the date of issue, but not from the installation of the meter.

When the time comes for verification, the meter is verified or replaced with new equipment. The client chooses to verify or replace the gas meter himself. If the subscriber refuses to follow the established procedure, then the department of the gas supply organization recalculates the payment for gas according to consumption standards from the end of the verification period in accordance with current legislation. There is no provision for payment of fines for late verification of metering devices.

How often

How often the gas meter is changed depends on the manufacturer. Each part has its own service life. Most often for gas measuring instruments it is 10-15 years.

The manufacturer attaches a technical passport to each part. On its pages you can find two values ​​- the date of issue and the period of operation. The legislation sets the maximum service life of measuring instruments - 20 years.

ATTENTION! Verification is carried out once every decade.

The homeowner changes gas meters if their service life has expired, or inspection reveals defects or malfunction of the device.

Gas meter verification period

In accordance with the list of requirements set forth by Federal Law No. 102 (effective from June 26, 2008) to residents, all metering devices without exception (including gas meters) must be checked in advance before use.

In the future, checks are carried out periodically during the ongoing operation of the metering device. The rules are defined for each user of the resource metering device and must be followed.

Standard inspections are performed once every 5 years. In some cases, the interval between inspections can reach 10 years.

The period when a device is checked for compliance with its officially approved standards begins not from the date of actual installation of the meter in the gas supply system, but from the moment the device was released by the manufacturer.

It is when the device is released that it is initially tested for compliance with the target. Once the meter is assembled at the factory, it is initially inspected and tested to determine how well the meter performs to specifications.

All technical characteristics of the gas meter and information about its initial testing can be viewed in the document attached to it - the technical passport.

In some cases, the data necessary to determine the period for checking the device is not indicated in those documents. passport, but in a separate certificate. The last document in this case also comes with the product in one set.

conclusions

The meter is replaced when it breaks down and at the end of its service life. The initiator can be the owner himself or a representative of the gas service. When choosing a device, you should listen to the opinion of a professional, since only he can take into account all the technical details.

After completing the work, the gas service employee must draw up two reports: on replacement and on putting the device into operation. After this, all that remains is to put a seal and monitor the condition of the new flow meter.

Sources

• https://mschistota.ru/texnika/srok-ekspluatacii-gazovogo-schetchika.html
• https://StrojDvor.ru/gazosnabzhenie/sroki-sluzhby-i-ekspluatacii-gazovyx-schetchikov/
• https://progazosnabgenie.ru/gazovaya-armatura/srok-ekspluatatsii-gazovogo-schetchika.html
• https://PravoNedv.ru/kvartira/zhkh/zamena-gazovogo-schetchika.html
• https://okommunalke.ru/schetchiki/srok-ekspluatatsii
• https://grazhdaninu.com/zhilishhnoe-pravo/zhkh/srok-sluzhbyi-gazovogo-schetchika.html
• https://sovet-ingenera.com/gaz/equip/zamena-schetchika-gaza.html

If the meter is expired

Users themselves must monitor compliance with the verification intervals for gas metering devices. They are held accountable in this matter.

Specialists from gas services are required to perform a routine inspection of the metering equipment located inside each apartment and the gas supply system in general. The period for such inspection is once every 6 months.

If a delay in the verification period is detected, a recalculation will be made for the violator using gas. He will be paid for the past 6 months according to the current approved standards.

The law does not provide for separate fines for violation of the verification period. The specified recalculation is used as a sanction, according to which there is an automatic increase in the amount payable for the amount. service for the 6 months preceding the violation.

Cost of services

IMPORTANT! Article 158 of the Housing Code states that owners of living space pay for all services related to the arrangement of their homes. Installation of measuring instruments and their verification refers to such services and activities.

The cost consists of the price of the meter, the services of the installation organization, and the complexity of the work performed. If the only gas equipment in a house or apartment is a stove, then the cost of installation will be 4,500 - 6,500 rubles, including the cost of the device.

If the house has heating equipment, a water heater, the cost of installation will be 6,500 - 9,000 rubles.