Today, a water meter is installed in almost every apartment, because with its help it is easy to track the amount of resource used and not overpay for the service. There are situations when it may be necessary to replace the meter, then apartment owners face difficulties. In order not to violate the law and do everything correctly, it is recommended to consider the basic provisions and cases when the time comes to change the meter.
Where to go and the procedure for replacing the meter
The use of water meters allows the consumer to significantly reduce the amount of payments - only the amount of energy resources actually consumed is payable. But the readings of the device are taken into account only if it meets the requirements and is in good condition.
In case of breakdown or reaching the maximum service life, the device must be replaced. Resolving these issues is the responsibility of the management company. Similar services can also be provided by a private commercial organization that has received a license for this type of work.
The easiest option is to contact the management company. To do this, the owner must perform the following steps:
- Go to the company's office and write a statement about the need to install a new water meter.
Sample - statements - Agree on the day and time for the work to be completed.
- On the appointed date, hire an employee of the management company to perform the work.
- The employee will remove the seal, recording the current readings of the device in the appropriate report.
- The old device is being dismantled and a new one is installed.
- Security seals are installed, and the result of the work performed is recorded by drawing up a report.
If the owner contacts a private organization, it will still not be possible to avoid the need to coordinate these works with the management company. Its specialist must, at the request of the owner, be present during the installation of the new device and install a new seal.
Otherwise, the measurement procedure involving a private company is carried out in a similar way.
Reasons for meter failure
Factors that provoke malfunction of equipment in an apartment include external interference in its operation and poor quality water. In the first case, the device fails due to manipulations by the resident himself. The operation of the device is affected by the installation of a neodymium magnet. It is used to slow down the machine. This is how apartment residents try to illegally reduce the amount of utility bills charged to them.
Magnets eventually damage the water meter. The specialist checking it will easily determine the fact of the device’s use. The result may be fines.
The water meter is often changed due to the poor quality of the supplied resource. Debris and rust accumulate in the plumbing system, which affects the performance of the filters. Over time they wear out. Due to clogging of the filter mesh, debris, along with water flows, can enter the water meters. It disrupts the operation of device mechanisms. Meter readings become distorted. The water meter may completely fail.
Replacement timing
The water meter can be in operation for the period specified in its passport. This document is issued by the manufacturer, is necessarily included with the product and reflects the permissible service life of the device. After this period has expired, the device cannot be used.
Another circumstance that needs to be paid attention to is the calibration interval. The device must undergo periodic verification, for cold water - every 6 years, for hot water - after 4 years.
Even if the standard period has expired, the water meter may be subject to further use if such a possibility is confirmed during verification.
If the device fails, it also needs to be replaced. Replacement must be carried out if necessary (in case of breakdown), before the end of the service life or calibration interval.
In case of verification, during the execution of these works, you can do without using a meter by installing a jumper. During the period while the device is being verified, payment is made based on the average for the previous six months.
The specified payment procedure when removing a water meter is maintained for a period of up to 3 months, after which you will have to pay according to the standards if the meter has not yet been installed.
There is no liability for delays in replacing the meter after the expiration of the standard service life or calibration interval. The only trouble awaiting the owner in this case is payment according to the standards if the old water meter is not replaced, since the readings of the old meter are considered unreliable.
Legislative framework
The main regulations that regulate the issues of changing metering devices include:
- Housing Code of the Russian Federation.
- 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.”
- Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 4, 2012 No. 442 “On the functioning of retail electricity markets, complete and (or) partial restrictions on the consumption of electrical energy.”
These regulations determine the procedure and conditions for replacing meters. Some points related to the contractual part of such a procedure are stipulated in the Civil Code of the Russian Federation. For example, Article 210 specifies who bears the costs associated with replacing equipment.
Self-replacement
The law does not prohibit the owner from installing the device himself. In this case, the owner must act in the following order:
- Contact the management company with a statement about the need to replace the meter.
- An employee of the management company will check the integrity of the factory seals on the water meter, issuing the appropriate report.
- Remove the old device and install a new one.
- Submit an application to the Criminal Code for the installation of seals.
- Having agreed on the day, accept an employee of the Management Company to seal the meter, with the execution of the corresponding act.
Sequence of actions when installing the device:
Otherwise, the replacement is performed in the same way. But it is impossible to do without representatives of the management company, since they must document the serviceability of the new device and the correctness of its installation, and install protective seals.
Electricity metering devices
In any apartment or private household where there are sources of electricity, metering devices must be installed.
Requirements for meters are determined by the servicing energy company in a given region. Therefore, before deciding to install a meter, you need to consult with specialists from such an organization.
There are two types of metering devices for electricity consumed by users:
- Induction. They work on the principle of rotation speed of a special disk installed inside. This indicator allows you to determine the current power. Such devices are characterized by low reading accuracy and are used extremely rarely. Mainly in old buildings.
- Electronic. This is a more modern version of the devices. They give accurate readings. All information is displayed on the display, which allows the user to receive information about energy consumption at any convenient time. The only drawback of such equipment is its cost. It is higher than that of induction.
The meter can be used subject to certain conditions. First, the entire device must be included in the list of devices that can be used as meters. The device must pass verification. Measurement accuracy must comply with established technical requirements. The meter must be sealed.
What to do after replacement
To register a newly installed water meter, the owner must contact the Unified Information and Settlement Center or the management company. If the management company has entered into an agreement with the tenant to accept papers for registering water meters, it acts as an intermediary, transferring the documentation to the EIRC.
After the documents are accepted, the readings from the device can be used to pay for consumed water.
Documentation
The owner is required to prepare the following papers:
- factory passport of the device;
- commissioning certificate;
- installation agreement and work acceptance certificate, if the initial installation was carried out;
- act of replacement - if instead of the old one, a new meter is installed;
- certificate of conformity - it must be provided by the organization selling the device along with the passport documentation. A copy of the certificate can be found on the manufacturer’s website; sometimes this document is included in the meter’s passport.
You can find out about the number of copies of documents and the more precise composition of the package of papers by calling the EIRC or the management company.
Responsibility for late installation
In addition to information on how to replace the water meter yourself, it is worth understanding what will happen if you miss all the deadlines.
You should call a specialist who will check the functionality of the device and compare the indicators. The owner of the property is responsible for organizing the inspection, but in some cases the initiators are members of the inspection organization.
In addition, if a lack of seals or control marks is detected, the Housing Office may force the owner to pay 3 months of average water consumption for six months.
There will be no penalties, even if the verification is overdue for several years. But experts can draw up an order that will require you to pay inflated amounts.
Recommendations
The consumer, especially when installing the device independently, is recommended to adhere to the following tips:
- it is necessary to prepare for replacing the water meter in advance so as not to exceed the service life;
- Before purchasing a device, you should consult with specialists from the management company regarding the choice of device model and study the technical characteristics of the meter for compliance with operating conditions;
- before starting installation, it is necessary to study in detail the provisions of the passport or operating manual in order to take into account the manufacturer’s requirements for installation;
- installation is carried out with the water supply taps closed;
- the device is installed taking into account the arrow on the body indicating the direction of water supply, and is positioned so that the front panel is as accessible as possible for viewing;
- The union nuts are tightened evenly, with the gaskets tightly compressed, ensuring the tightness of the connections.
Timely replacement will allow the consumer to use the water meter readings when paying for consumed resources. But if you are late in installing a new device, the readings of the old one will be considered invalid, with corresponding consequences for the owner.
We recommend: How to calculate electricity bills
Normative base
The following legislative documents are devoted to the division of powers for housing maintenance depending on the right to own it:
- The obligations of the lessor are specified in [1]Article 676 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.
- [2] Federal Law No. 261 of the Russian Federation, which explains the responsibilities of the population and responsible utility companies for ensuring accounting of the natural resource used with the mandatory use of metering devices.
- The basic rights and responsibilities assigned to the owners of residential premises are enshrined in [3]Article 65 of the Housing Code, with the disclosure of the concept of individual metering devices for each dwelling.
However, from existing practice and emerging precedents, it is clear that the existing laws in terms of installation and further operation of accounting mechanisms are not regulated to the proper level that would satisfy the interests of all citizens.
