Maintenance and verification of meters: what is the difference?

Water meters are now installed in most Moscow apartments—83 percent. City residents have been using individual metering devices (IMU) for many years, however, maintenance and verification are often confused. How they differ was explained by specialists from the State IP Coordination Center.

The most important thing: verification of meters is mandatory, and the consumer enters into a maintenance contract at will. If the device has not undergone maintenance, this does not in any way affect calculations and charges for water. And in the absence of timely verification, accruals are first made according to the average calculated indicator, and after six months - according to the standard (cold water - 6.935 cubic meters per person per month, hot - 4.745 cubic meters, wastewater - 11.68 cubic meters).

The types of work in these cases are also different. Maintenance is a check of the functionality of the device as a whole. It includes a visual inspection, checking and integrity of seals, control taking and recording of readings, and cleaning of filters from deposits. Specialists also wipe the meter from dust and check the functionality of the water shut-off valves to turn off the filters.

Special organizations arrange verification to make sure that the device accurately shows the volume of water consumed. They can carry it out without removing the meter: the technician will check it on the spot. If the device is still removed, it is sent to a specialized organization. Another option is to replace the old IPU with a pre-verified one.

The timing of the work also varies. When you need to check the meter is indicated in the documents issued by the manufacturer. Typically, terms range from four to six years. Devices are usually serviced twice a year; the terms are specified in the contract.

Legislation

1. The Housing Code of the Russian Federation dated December 29, 2004 No. 188-FZ establishes criteria for the quality of housing and communal services.
2. Federal Law No. 261 of November 23, 2009 “On energy saving and increasing energy efficiency and on introducing amendments to certain legislative acts of the Russian Federation” obliges owners to install water consumption recorders. If this obligation is not fulfilled, citizens will pay according to the consumption standard, calculated with an increasing factor. This is the latest law that increases water fees by about 60% due to failure to install meters.
3. Federal Law No. 102 of June 26, 2008 “On ensuring the uniformity of measurements” contains a requirement for mandatory diagnostics of water consumption recorders.
4. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 23, 2006 No. 306 “On approval of the rules for establishing and determining standards for the consumption of utilities and resources for the purpose of maintaining common property in an apartment building” provides separate tariffs for calculating fees for those who have not installed water meters.
5. Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of residential premises in apartment buildings” defines the criteria for the quality of utility resources, the procedure for their payment and provision, the responsibilities of the parties, and the practice of recalculation. Places the responsibility for maintenance and monitoring diagnostic timing on the owner.

How does verification take place?

The verification has the right to be carried out by a company that has received state accreditation for this activity and is included in the appropriate list. This can be either a government organization or a private business. The DUK or water utility may recommend a specific company, but the law does not bind the consumer to a specific service provider. You can choose a company based on your own considerations. The main thing here is to check the availability of permission for this activity.

There are two legal options for checking your water meter. The first, which was suggested to me, involves the following actions:

• Call a housing and communal services representative to remove the seal and record current readings.
• You dismantle the meter and take it to a specialized company for verification. You hand over the device and wait for the verdict.
• If everything went well, then you will receive a document authorizing the further use of the water meter - a verification certificate. You go home, replace the meter, call a specialist to seal it.
• If the readings differ from the control values ​​by more than 5%, then you will be prohibited from reinstalling the device. You go to the store to buy a new meter and install it.

The second option involves measuring the accuracy of the readings on the spot, without unscrewing or removing the seal. You need to pay for the call of a specialist, but if the outcome of the inspection is favorable, you will not have to dismantle the meter. The controller will issue a document of compliance, which must be taken to the water supply organization.

The material costs of checking a water meter depend on the method of conducting it, your capabilities as a plumber and the region of residence.

Let's look at the average figures for Moscow:

• work of a dismantling and installation technician from 1000 rubles;
• the cost of verification in a budget organization is from 250 rubles;
• verification without dismantling – 600 rubles;
• installation of a new device from 2000 rubles;
• the price of a water meter is from 400 to 2600 rubles.

If we consider what is more profitable than replacement or verification, then we should proceed from the age of the meter and its price. The availability of “incoming verification” also plays an important role.

What is water meter verification?

Federal Law No. 102 established that verification consists of a number of operations. They are performed to confirm the water meter’s compliance with metrological requirements, that is, they reveal the accuracy of its readings.

When to do it

Diagnostics of the condition of hot and cold water meters must be done within the time period specified in the technical data sheets. Typically, the verification interval is 6 years for a cold water flow meter, and 4 years for a hot water flow meter.

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The owner monitors the deadlines independently. If they are missed, the water bill will be charged according to the standard.

Certificate of inspection of hot and cold water meters

This is a document that confirms the performance of the recorders and guarantees the accuracy of their readings until the next diagnosis.

It is compiled by a specialist from the organization that performs the verification, immediately after the procedure. The company must have an accreditation certificate for the right to engage in such activities and own the necessary equipment.

The act will contain the information:

• name of the implementing organization;
• information about the accreditation certificate;
• water meter data: its model, serial number;
• results of the procedure;
• date of issue from which the next check will be counted.

A copy of the report must be provided to the resource supplying organization to notify that the water meter is working well and objectively recording readings.

Difference in procedures

The verification and replacement procedures are similar, but there are still differences. When the next inspection is due, the apartment owner needs :

It is the responsibility of the tenant to monitor the service life of the appliances. Resource supply and management companies are not required to remind you that the service life has expired.

If the device is not verified or replaced, water charges will be calculated based on average indicators.

What is replacement

An alternative to checking water meters is to replace them. It includes dismantling the old recorder and installing a new one.

The owner makes a choice: carry out diagnostics or immediately replace the meter with a new one.

IMPORTANT! Mandatory replacement is made if the device is broken or found to have failed verification.

When to do it

Devices that are deemed unsuitable for further use must be replaced. The reasons will be indicated in the act:

• natural wear and tear;
• pipes are clogged;
• depressurization of the housing due to mechanical impact or interference in its operation.

The consumer can independently notice the breakdown during the next reading. This could be a leak, mechanical damage, recording of readings after a previous examination. All these factors are grounds for reinstallation.

Documentation

After reinstalling the device, the owner will have a commissioning document from the performing organization, a technical passport of the device. The new device must be sealed . The law also allows for independent replacement of the flow meter by the consumer.

After this, you need to call the controller from RSO, who will record the replacement of the device, take readings from the dismantled one and from the new one. Next, he will draw up an Installation Certificate and transfer this information to the employees of the settlement department.

Checking the water meter - reasons

Mandatory verification of the accuracy of the water meter (verification) is enshrined in federal legislation (No. 102-FZ of June 2008). Recommended interval: 4 years for hot water supply and 6 years for cold water supply. The exact frequency of verification and service life of the device are indicated in its technical documentation.

The water meter undergoes its first verification at the factory. From this date, and not from installation, the work period is counted. When purchasing a device, it is important to know this nuance. Stale goods may have a service life that will end before the scheduled inspection.

Periodic verification is necessary to determine the quality of the device. Information about her is included in the passport. The consumer is issued a special certificate with an expert’s signature, a holographic sticker and a seal. The document must be photocopied and a copy taken to the DUK.

The owner must monitor the approaching verification deadlines. This is often done by the resource supply organization. Information is provided via a payment receipt or an additional warning. However, there is no such provision in the law. Missing the verification deadlines threatens the owner of the meter with charges for water according to established standards, which is usually more than the actual consumption.

What is better - replace or check

Important! If there are no legal grounds for replacing the water meter (breakdown), the tenant has the right to decide for himself whether to change it or have it checked.

Pros and cons of checking or replacing meters

Let's summarize:

1. Financial aspects. The cost of verification is lower than that of replacement. Dismantling a device hidden under decoration or in a decorative niche is unnecessary trouble and expense.
2. Psychological aspects. Nobody likes the “apartment renovation” state.
3. General aspects. The verification procedure lasts 20-30 minutes, including paperwork. After verification, no debris remains.

ADVICE! Many companies that provide diagnostic services for metering devices do not charge clients if the device turns out to be inoperative, or make the procedure cheaper.

Checking or replacing water meters - which is better?

If there is no reason to replace the water meter, the owner has the right to decide for himself: to change it or have it checked.

It seems that when choosing “to change or check water meters,” the main criterion is the financial aspect. Then let's pose the question a little differently. What is cheaper: replacing or checking water meters?

The cost of meter verification depends on the region and ranges between 400 and 600 rubles. If the device does not pass verification, you will also have to pay for a new meter.

It is necessary to take into account the fact that verification records the performance of the meter only at a given point in time and does not guarantee that the device will not fail in a week or month. Reasoning in this way, many apartment owners come to the conclusion that it is better to immediately replace the meter.

The cost of a water meter ranges from 500 to several thousand rubles + the work of a specialist (you can install it yourself). Yes, perhaps a little expensive to replace every 4-6 years.

In addition, there are other disadvantages, namely:

1. Larger amount of preparatory work. If for verification it is only necessary to provide access to a visual inspection of the device, then for replacement it will be necessary to open full access to the meter; in addition, it may be necessary to carry out additional work: for example, replacing shut-off valves or pipes.
2. Time costs - coordination with the management company, possibly restoration of the box.
3. Buying a meter. High-quality devices are not cheap.
4. Working hours. Verification takes about 20 minutes, and replacing the device can take several days.

If there are still several years left until the end of the meter’s service life, then try diagnosing the device first, especially since the whole process takes a minimum of time. In addition, many companies that provide meter verification services do not charge clients if the device turns out to be inoperative, or they offer a good discount.

Replacement is recommended if the water meter has served for a long time, you doubt the accuracy of its readings, or you want to purchase another, more modern and more convenient model.

So, should you change or check your water meter? Everyone decides for themselves what will be more appropriate in their case . Decide for yourself or use our recommendations suggested above in the article.

What is a credential stamp?

Another question, where is the mark applied? This sign is transferred to the water meter and other technical documents. It certifies that verification has been carried out with the required results. It is also intended to protect the meter from some kind of illegitimate access, even with adjusting devices. Specific verification marks are also used to cancel existing marks.

State metrological service departments work with verification designations. Also state metrological centers of the State Standard of the country. The activities are carried out by metrological services that have a license to carry out verification, have documents for this, and constitute relevant agreements and acts.

According to legal acts for 2021, the element must have a clear design. It must be maintained throughout the entire verification period and applies to the modes in which the water volume meter operates. Here is a sample of the mark after checking the measuring elements not only of water.

Verification elements carry a whole package of information:

1. Sign of the Russian metrological department.
2. A certain code for a metrology company.
3. Two extreme digits of the period of use of the verification designation.
4. Personal sign of the person who performed the diagnostics. But it may not be present in some cases intended to prevent illegal access to configuration mechanisms.
5. During verification, additional information may be placed in the image. For example, some month of the year when the water meter was checked and a report was issued.

Codes for services applying this methodology are assigned during their licensing for the right to verify water measuring instruments.

Who is authorized to conduct inspections and complete paperwork?

The final certificate of work performed is drawn up by the organization that tested the metering device and signed by the customer and the contractor.

Periodic testing of IPU is carried out by specialized private or public companies that have the appropriate accreditation to provide this type of service.

The consumer should make sure that the chosen organization has the appropriate accreditation, otherwise the copy received by the customer will not have legal force.

Who has the right to perform verification

The consumer needs to carefully approach the choice of organization to perform verification. There are a huge number of offers for the provision of such services posted on the Internet, but it is important to check the company for government permits so as not to become a victim of scammers.

We recommend: Until what date should meter readings be submitted?

Carrying out work from the contractor requires obtaining a license for the specified type of activity and passing accreditation, confirmed by the appropriate certificate.

The homeowner can select a contractor by checking the availability of permits as follows:

• by calling the management company, which has a list of companies authorized to perform these works;
• by personally verifying the presence of the necessary documents with unexpired validity;
• by visiting a specialized website on the Internet, all accredited companies are included in an interactive register with free access for anyone.

The consumer has the right to independently choose a contractor and is not obliged to take into account the obsessive wishes of the management or utility organization.

Press center

Water meters often help you save on utility bills. Water meters quickly pay for themselves, but servicing metering devices necessarily includes a procedure for checking them. If it is overdue, the subscriber is automatically transferred to charges according to the standard. To prevent this from happening, you should remember the basic rules.

Legislation: who and when

Verification of a metering device is testing the device for its suitability for further use. There are certain standards that metering devices must comply with. The measurement error should not exceed plus or minus 2% of the reference readings.

According to Government Decree No. 354, the owner of the premises is required to carry out routine verification of water meters. He is responsible for meeting the verification deadlines: for cold water meters, the verification interval is 6 years, for hot water meters it is 4 years. It is important to remember that the verification period is not counted from the moment of installation, but from the date of manufacture of the device. Do not forget that each metering device has a service life, which usually ranges from 6 to 12 years, provided that the device undergoes regular maintenance.

The verification period is expiring: what to do?

According to the law, a metering device is considered to be out of order if the verification interval has expired. Therefore, until verification is carried out, utility bills for three months are accrued according to average indicators and then according to the standard. Verification of the metering device can only be carried out by companies accredited in the field of ensuring the uniformity of measurements. They can be both public and private.

There are three options to “legalize” the use of a water meter if the verification period expires. The owner independently determines which method to choose:

First option

Performing meter verification at home. To do this, you need to call a representative of the verification company, who, without removing the water meter, will check the accuracy of its operation. It is possible to check devices without dismantling, provided that their diameter is no more than 20 mm. These water meters are usually installed for residential premises.

However, before carrying out verification, you need to make sure that the company you are contacting has accreditation issued by the relevant Federal Service. Without it, the verification may be considered invalid.

STEP #1. Call a specialist from a verification company to your home.

STEP #2. Sign the work completion certificate in two copies. Keep one copy for yourself.

STEP#3. Obtain a certificate of verification of the metering device.

STEP#4. Contact the “One Window” service of JSC “Rostovvodokanal” with a package of necessary documents.

Second option

Verification of the device in the laboratory of the metrology center. The most reliable and at the same time the longest method. This procedure takes more than two weeks. Subscribers who are on direct payments with JSC Rostovvodokanal, before dismantling the water meter, must contact the One Window service or through the Internet reception on the website of JSC Rostovvodokanal with a request to remove control seals from the metering device. After a representative of Rostovvodokanal JSC removes the control seal (which will be documented), the owner must independently or with the help of an invited technician disconnect the metering device and record the readings at the time of dismantling. The device is then sent to a metrology laboratory, where the accuracy of its operation will be checked. In Rostov-on-Don, this work is performed by specialized companies that have the appropriate permit. If it is in working order, the metering device returns to its operation and is resealed.

STEP #1. Submit an application (in person or remotely via the website) to JSC Rostovvodokanal to remove control seals from the water meter.

STEP #2. After the company employee removes the seal, dismantle the water meter, record the readings and send it for verification.

STEP#3. After measurements, obtain a water meter verification certificate and install the water meter.

STEP#4. Contact the “One Window” service of JSC “Rostovvodokanal” with a request to install a control seal and a package of documents on the verification of the metering device.

Third option

Install and register a new device. JSC "Rostovvodokanal" draws attention to the fact that the installation of metering devices must be entrusted to specialists who are well aware of the intra-house, intra-apartment water distribution, or will be able to understand it and install the metering device, in accordance with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation on ensuring the uniformity of measuring instruments, in the right place - so that the water meter takes into account the entire consumed utility resource, and emergency situations will not occur.

STEP#1. Remove the metering device.

STEP#2. Install a new meter.

STEP #3. Contact the “One Window” service of JSC “Rostovvodokanal” with an application for registration of the metering device and an application for installing a control seal.

In case of concluding a contract for cold water supply and sanitation with an apartment building, directly between JSC Rostovvodokanal and the management organization (HOA/housing cooperative), all actions related to registration, sealing and acceptance of metering devices for commercial operation are carried out by the management company (HOA/housing cooperative) .

PACKAGE OF DOCUMENTS FOR CHECKING A METERING DEVICE

1. Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation - the owner (if necessary, a power of attorney in simple written form)

2. Completed application for registration of a metering device.

3. Technical passport of the device with a note on the verification performed.

4. Certificate of completed work on verification.

5. Water meter readings on the day of application.

6. Certificate of verification of the metering device (if the water meter is found to be in good working order), which will indicate the date of the next verification.

7. In case of verification of a hot water water meter, it is necessary to provide a certificate of registration of the metering device after verification from the management organization.

WHEN REPLACING A METERING DEVICE, YOU MUST HAVE:

1. Passport of a citizen of the Russian Federation - the owner (if necessary, a power of attorney in simple written form).

2. A completed application for registration of a metering device.

3. Technical data sheet of the new device.

4. Dismantled (old) water meter.

If the meter being verified is installed in an individual residential building, as well as if a new water meter is registered, then within 14 working days after submitting the application, a specialist from Rostovvodokanal JSC will go to the specified address to check the functionality of the meter, seal it and compile control inspection report, a copy of which will remain with the subscriber. From this moment on, the verification of the device will be considered completed.

Individual cold water metering devices installed in multi-apartment residential buildings are considered accepted for commercial metering only after the specialists of the “One Window” service of JSC Rostovvodokanal have drawn up a certificate of registration of the installed metering devices.

If the technical passport of the water meter is lost

The passport of a metering device is a document that indicates the date of manufacture of the device, the date of its initial verification at the manufacturer, where marks are placed on the passage of all subsequent verifications during the operational period. You can try to restore your passport by contacting the manufacturer. If there is no information about when the water meter came off the assembly line and when the initial verification was carried out, then it is recommended to replace such a meter.

For all questions related to the installation and acceptance for commercial operation of metering devices, subscribers can contact the Hotline service of Rostovvodokanal JSC tel.: 283-17-17

Change or check?

There is no clear answer. Some people can remove and install them themselves, others find it easier to pay for the service. Water meters often fail after working for about 5 years. This is due to the quality of the water and the lack of an additional filter at the inlet. Sometimes the device breaks down before the first operational verification is due. Metering devices on a cold pipe are especially susceptible to this.

Verification and transportation of the meter to the appropriate company will take a day, of which the apartment will be without water for at least 4-5 hours. Add to this the time it takes to provide compliance documents to the DUK or water utility.

An argument in favor of carrying out verification can be the presence of several water meters. Companies offer discounts on two (or more) meters.