Author of the article
Anton Bogdanov
Heat and gas supply and ventilation engineer. Prepares projects for gas supply to private houses.
A gas meter helps you save a lot on gas bills. But like any device, it has its own service life, which at some point comes to an end. Therefore, the question of replacing a gas meter must be asked even before its expiration date.
In what cases is it necessary to change the device?
The following situations may be the reason for replacing the gas meter in 2021:
- the service life of the flow meter has expired;
- the verification period has expired;
- meter failure.
If the service life specified by the manufacturer has expired, then such a device is unsuitable for use and is not allowed to be used. This means that the gas meter needs to be changed. Depending on the type of meter used and its manufacturer, the service life ranges from 10 to 25 years.
These numbers must be looked for in the device passport.
If the established calibration interval has expired, then such a meter can either be sent for verification or simply replaced with a new one. The calibration interval for gas meters is usually from 5 to 12 years.
If the gas meter no longer takes into account gas consumption, the display has gone out, or there is a suspicion of incorrect operation, then the device can be either repaired or replaced. If the device was purchased recently, it is recommended to replace the meter under warranty.
The process of replacing the meter and the reasons that determine that the meter is not suitable for use are regulated by the laws of the Russian Federation, namely the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of September 19, 2013 N 824 On making changes.
Service life
The average shelf life of a meter is 20 years, but many metering devices, often installed in a modern apartment in a residential building, have a much shorter lifespan . For example, for the BETAR counter, it is only 12 years.
At the end of the stated service life, the equipment begins to work incorrectly. It may give inaccurate readings, operate intermittently, or be noisy. In order to prevent distortions in the readings, it is necessary to carry out verification in a timely manner.
When installing the device, a passport is always attached to it, which contains all the necessary data. After reviewing all the information provided, the apartment owner will be aware of how many years later the measuring device should be verified and replaced.
Who pays for the replacement and how much does it cost?
To find out at whose expense the meter is being replaced, you should read Order No. 5329 of December 28, 2021. After reading which, you can find out that a gas meter located in an apartment or on private territory is considered a household property, which means that all costs for purchasing, checking, repairing and replacing the meter are borne by the owner.
However, according to the same order, the meter must be replaced free of charge for citizens living in municipal housing. Also, military veterans, home front workers, and low-income families can apply for a free meter replacement. The list of beneficiaries is different for each region.
For all other citizens, replacing a gas meter costs money. The cost of replacing a meter varies in different regions, but on average for 2021 it is 880 rubles (the price of work does not include the cost of the device itself).
Price
The cost of replacing a gas meter in our organization is charged according to the work performed and the type of meter itself, and ranges from 1000 to 7500 rubles. In addition to installation or replacement, you can order the meter itself, receiving an additional discount for a complex order.
What does the price depend on:
- From the type and device of the meter.
- On the complexity of the replacement work (connection alignment, welding, adjustment).
- Number of gas consumption points.
- A set of services and materials to reduce costs: Meter + Work + Maintenance Agreement.
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Replacement, verification or repair - which is more profitable?
If it is discovered that the meter is faulty, it is reasonable to ask the question: is it worth sending the device for repair or verification, or is it easier to immediately buy a new one?
If the device that has failed to operate is still under warranty, then, of course, it is best to send the old meter for warranty repair, where they will repair it free of charge or offer to replace the gas meter. But you will have to pay about 690 rubles for dismantling the meter. For its subsequent installation - about 580 rubles.
Also, repair or verification makes sense if the meter is expensive. In this case, the money spent on its repair or verification may be much more modest than its complete replacement. Some meter models installed in private homes can cost around 10–15 thousand rubles.
To submit a gas meter for verification, you need to pay for dismantling and installation - about 690 and 580 rubles, respectively. For verification you will have to pay on average about 500 - 700 rubles.
Thus, checking the meter along with removing and installing a gas meter costs approximately 1,900 rubles. Also in many cities there are companies offering to check the meter at home, this will help significantly save time, but will cost from 3,000 to 5,000 rubles.
If it turns out that the meter is broken, you will need to look at the cost of repairs and draw conclusions about purchasing a new device based on this.
If the meter is inexpensive, then it is better to immediately replace it with a new one, since even if the batteries in the device are simply dead, replacing the batteries yourself is not allowed. After all, to do this it will be necessary to open the case, damaging the seal, which is absolutely forbidden to do.
And even gas company employees will not always be able to replace the battery. Often you will have to send the metering device to the factory where it was manufactured, or to a specialized service, which will take a lot of time and cost about 500 rubles.
If the device breaks down, it will also have to be sent for service, and it is unknown how much it will cost to repair it, and whether it will be possible to repair it in principle.
The price of a new meter for an apartment is around 2,000 rubles. This is how much the most popular models Grand-1.6 and SGMB-1.6 cost. A meter for a private house, type VK-G6, costs about 4,000 rubles. Replacing the meter costs around 880 rubles.
Based on these data, it can be calculated that installing a new meter for an apartment will cost 2880 rubles, and for a private house 4880. Verifying the meter costs 1900 rubles, plus the meter will not be in the apartment for some time. This means that all this time, gas consumption will be taken into account according to standards that are significantly higher than actual gas consumption.
Verifying the meter in a private house is justified, while the difference between verification and installing a new one in an apartment is not so big, and many people prefer to simply install a new one.
Repairing the apartment meter does not look profitable at all.
Operating rules
The main requirement is installation carried out by professionals, taking into account all requirements and installation of seals.
The gas company periodically checks the accuracy of the readings and the functionality of the device. The gas meter is checked approximately once every six months.
If during the inspection the organization’s specialists doubt the serviceability of the device, they order an examination. If its results indicate errors or malfunctions that occurred due to the fault of the owner of the living space, he will be required to pay for the procedure for installing a new device, testing and transportation.
Servicing is carried out by the company that performed the installation.
Choosing a company
To replace the meter, you can contact either the local Gorgaz or a company that has permission to replace the gas meter. A third party company may offer a lower price for the service and a shorter turnaround time. And its employees will independently collect and fill out all the necessary documents.
Only those companies that have accreditation to perform such work can carry out meter verification. Only documents from such offices will be accepted by the gas company as a guarantee that the device is in working order and can be put into operation.
You can check your accreditation on the official website of the Russian Accreditation Agency at https://fsa.gov.ru/.
If you do not want to contact private companies, then any local Gorgaz branch is ready to help with both the replacement and verification of the meter. To do this, you will need to fill out an application form, prepare and submit a package of documents yourself.
How to replace a gas meter
The procedure for replacing a gas meter consists of several points.
- Initially you need to buy a new flow meter. If the meter is replaced in an apartment, then you will need to purchase exactly the same meter, both in terms of characteristics, design and size. If the replacement takes place in a private home, then you should think in advance about whether you plan to install any additional gas appliances in addition to those already installed. If a private house already has a gas boiler and stove, then you may need a water heater in the future. Then the capacity of the existing meter will be insufficient. It is also important to determine whether you need a left or right gas meter. And in this case, it is better to install a meter with a higher throughput in advance. If, when replacing the meter with a new one, it is necessary to make changes to the design of the gas pipeline, then a new project will be needed, which will reflect all the changes. Also, in addition to the meter, you will need to purchase a set of new gaskets and replace the old flexible hose with a new one.
- Then you need to take a pre-prepared package of documents and take it to the Gorgaz department. There you need to write an application to replace the gas meter. The procedure for replacing the flow meter, according to Russian Government Decree No. 354 of 05/06/2011, should take no more than 30 days.
- On the specified date, company employees will come to the address, dismantle the old meter and install a new one along with related components. Then they will make sure that it is working properly and that there are no gas leaks. And if everything complies with the standards, a certificate of completion of work will be drawn up.
If you decide to check the meter, then you also need to go to the nearest Gorgaz branch and fill out an application to dismantle the meter. After dismantling the meter, it must be handed over to the company for verification.
If the meter has successfully passed all tests, a confirmation document is issued with it, which indicates the date of the next verification. With the verification certificate and the previously prepared package of documents, you should again go to the Gorgaz branch and write an application with a request to install the verified device in place.
Necessity
In 2009, a law came into force requiring the mandatory installation of devices that record gas consumption.
According to the requirements of the legislative act, the installation of devices had to be carried out without fail before the end of 2015. By the end of this period, there was an unprecedented demand for meters, as well as for their installation services.
Since the beginning of 2015, a new legislative act has come into force, according to which the installation of devices is not mandatory in cases where gas consumption does not exceed 2 cubic meters per hour.
If in an apartment or house the only appliances that consume gas are a kitchen stove, she will not be able to spend more than she should. Therefore, installation of measuring instruments is not necessary. If there are heating devices, meters must be installed.
Replacement rules and safety requirements
The rules for replacing, putting the meter into operation and the time frame within which the work must be completed are specified in Resolution No. 824 of September 19, 2013. In addition, any work with gas equipment must be carried out by a gas company or any other company that has the appropriate permits and accreditation. Even replacing a battery or gas hose must be done by certified technicians.
The rules for replacing a meter in a private house and in an apartment in an apartment building are similar, except that a gas supply project is required for a private house. Such a project must indicate information about the type of meter and gas equipment being installed.
It will also show a diagram of the gas pipeline with the pipes and appliances marked on it, and the diameters and lengths of the pipes and distances from the floor for the meter and taps for gas appliances should also be indicated there.
The project may also indicate other requirements for the location of gas appliances in the room, the location of ventilation and the permissible volumes of the room in which the appliances are located.
In an apartment, a project is not required to install a meter. Employees will adhere to the general rules established by law.
Sealing
After successful repair, verification or replacement of the meter, when the device is installed in place and there is no doubt about its functionality and correct reading of the readings, you need to put the device into operation. To do this, you need to contact the regional office of Gorgaz and write a statement stating that the meter has been replaced, with a request to reseal it. The application must indicate the passport and contact information of the owner, the expected date of commissioning of the device, the type and number of the device, and the address at which the flow meter should be sealed.
Gas company employees will accept the application and contact the client to set a date and time when workers can seal the meter. The gas company must contact the subscriber within three days.
At the appointed time, employees will come to the address, check that the meter is installed correctly and put a seal on it. After this work, a meter replacement report will be drawn up, which will need to be taken to the management company in order to continue paying for gas according to the meter, and not according to the standard.
It is worth considering that the entire time the meter is not on the gas pipe and until it is sealed, the bill for natural gas consumption will be formed from the standards, so you need to try to reduce this time.
What to do with the old meter
It is necessary to save the old meter until all procedures for installing a new one are completed. Because it contains data about the gas consumed during its operation.
Once the new meter is installed, sealed and put into operation, the old meter, regardless of whether it was broken or the owner simply did not check, is considered unfit for use.
You can throw it away, since it no longer provides any useful functions. Useful article? Rate and share with friends!
