Which water meters are best to install? What to do if water meters overestimate readings

Those who do not check their devices on time will face an increased tariff.

Ukrainians have a new expense item - they are required to check hot and cold water meters every three to four years. If this is not done, utility companies threaten to ignore the instrument readings and charge the highest tariff. Vesti found out how legal it is and what consumers should do.

Why is it necessary to install water meters?

Payment for water supply services is carried out in two ways:

• according to standards - average consumption indicators, depending on the number of units registered in the apartment and the tariffs approved in the region. When calculating standards, a single methodology is used for the entire country; the difference lies in the size of the increasing coefficient and tariff, depending on the individual characteristics of the region;
• according to individual metering devices - the installed meter determines the actual amount of consumed resources that are subject to payment.

Savings when installing a meter
Considering that a multiplying factor is used when calculating standards, as well as the fact that when a meter is installed, the consumer pays only for the water actually used, the second payment method is preferable. A comparative analysis shows that the bill amounts when paying by water meter are two times or more less than those calculated according to the standards.

Information about the timing of verification of the IPU is not true

The situation that happened to the owner of an apartment in one of the apartment buildings in Orel is quite typical. A representative of a commercial company, without clearly indicating that he was not a provider of utility services for energy supply, checked the IPU in her apartment under the pretext of reconciling readings.

Then the inspector explained that the readings were not accepted for calculation because the meter’s calibration interval had expired. If the IPU is not urgently replaced, then the electricity payment will be calculated using a multiplying factor. When leaving, the company representative left a leaflet with contact information so that the owner could submit a request to replace the meter.

The consumer took advantage of the offer, and the organization promptly replaced the IPU. At the same time, an agreement and work order for replacing the meter were drawn up, which indicated the reason for its replacement: “the verification period has expired.” The owner of the apartment paid 3,800 rubles for the work and the metering device.

Having received the next receipt for electricity, the consumer discovered that the replaced meter could work for another two years: its verification period expired only in 2020. The CU contractor checked the installed device and drew up a report stating that the replacement was carried out with violations, and the meter itself was not put into operation.

The owner wrote to the organization that replaced the IPU, demanding that the money be returned to her, since she was misled and was incurring losses: the service provider did not accept the readings of the new meter for calculations. But the company refused her.

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Data transfer deadlines

The rights and obligations of utility organizations and consumers are approved by Government Decree No. 354, adopted in May 2011 and establishing the basic rules for the provision of these services to the population.

Document for downloading and reading the resolution: Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354

According to the specified document, the transfer of information for the current month must be carried out no later than the 26th day, and not after the end of the reporting period.

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The inspector threatens with increased fees for the resource and immediately offers to replace the IPU

Today, various commercial firms involved in the sale and replacement of IPU actively use the norms of RF PP No. 354 to promote their services. To convince residents of apartment buildings to pay for the replacement of the meter, they cite clause 60 of the RF PP No. 354 regarding the calculation of resource fees using a multiplying factor in the event that the device fails or its calibration interval has expired.

There are many examples of such situations, here are just a few of them:

1. To advertise ]for the installation and verification of meters[/anchor], unscrupulous companies in the Sverdlovsk region used advertisements stylized as receipts for housing and communal services.
2. Flyers, similar in appearance to a receipt for payment of housing and communal services, under the threat of increasing fees for the resource, urge consumers to sign up for a replacement meter.
3. In Moscow, cases of visits from “sales company employees” have become more frequent, advising residents of apartment buildings to urgently replace their electricity or water meters.

Since the owners and tenants of premises in apartment buildings do not always remember when the verification period for the metering devices installed in them expires, they follow the lead of such organizations and replace completely working metering devices, usually at inflated prices. Later, it will be quite difficult for the owner to prove that the service was imposed under pressure.

However, in judicial practice there is an example when a consumer was able, through the court, to return the money that she paid for a service imposed on her. Let's figure out how she did it.

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Methods of providing information

The methods of providing information depend on the infrastructure capabilities of a particular locality, the rules established in the region, and the provisions of the agreement concluded by the consumer with the resource supplier.

When transmitting data, in addition to water meter indicators, the consumer indicates:

• Full name of the payer;
• location of the metering device, with the full address of the apartment;
• personal code of the consumer (put down on the invoice);
• identification numbers of metering devices assigned by the manufacturer.

Testimony can be transmitted in the following ways:

• telephone call is the most common form of data transfer, but not always convenient. Connection problems often arise due to heavy line congestion. As a result, the caller has to communicate with the answering machine for a long time, after which the line is disconnected. Telephone numbers of the water supply company are usually specified in the service agreement. This information can also be clarified from employees of the management company or from the media;
• By SMS message – information is sent in the prescribed form to a code number. A separate message is transmitted for each of the water meters;
• via the Internet - the consumer registers in the program, a personal page is created with an individual login, protected by a password. The readings are entered no later than the set date and saved;
• via a mobile application - a form of transmission via the Internet, available for portable gadgets. Requires installation of a special application;
• by email;
• by directly visiting the company or sending a paper form - some organizations place special boxes for collecting testimony.

Methods of transmitting readings for the city - Moscow

• Unified service department -.
• Mobile application - downloaded from the official website.
• City service portal – Login to your personal account.

The possibility of data transfer is offered by the official portal of the State Service. If a consumer has difficulties using the Internet service, assistance is provided by MFC employees. This simplifies the task and saves time.

The specific data transfer method depends on the capabilities available in your particular region.

Method of transmitting readings via the Internet:

Types of water flow measuring instruments

The range of instruments for measuring water flow can be divided into groups according to the principle of their operation: tachometer, electromagnetic, ultrasonic and vortex.

Tachometer type counters

Tachometer type meters have a turbine or impeller in their design. Under the influence of the flowing stream of water, it rotates, changing the readings on the dial.

Meters of this type display water consumption in liters or cubic meters. This is the most common type of water metering device, widely used in everyday life. Tachometer type counters are quite compact, inexpensive and, nevertheless, have good measurement accuracy. They can last up to 12 years. All these characteristics have made tachometer-type devices popular for installation in apartment buildings.

Also, tachometer water flow meters can be divided into types according to their design. They can be:

• compact, executed in a single body;
• separate, having a separate remote sensor and information display device.

The design should be determined after choosing the location for installing the measuring device. If you can provide easy access to the meter installation site, then it makes sense to purchase a simpler, compact monoblock device. But if the installation location of the device is located outside the direct access zone, it is better to equip the system with a meter with a remote sensor and move the information display device to a place convenient for you.

Water flow meters, depending on the modification, can measure flow in one pipeline or in several, respectively, be multi-channel and single-channel.

The choice between devices of this type also depends on the characteristics of the water supply system in your home. If you have one input water supply pipeline, then you can get by with a single-channel meter. A multi-channel device can be installed if there are several water supply pipelines, for example from the main water supply and your own backup well. In this case, after some time you will be able to conduct a comparative analysis of the volume of water consumed.

1.1. Vane tachometer counters

For household devices, the most common design is with a wing mechanism for measuring water volume. Their internal cross-section usually does not exceed 4 centimeters, and the maximum throughput is no more than 15 cubic meters per hour. Thus, they almost perfectly meet the requirements for domestic water meters.

1.2. Tachometer counters with turbine mechanism

If you intend to measure large volumes, then you can pay attention to tachometer meters with a turbine mechanism. They have an internal cross-section of up to 10 centimeters and can measure large water flows.

When choosing a device of this type, you need to pay attention to the way they are installed. They can be designed for horizontal or vertical installation; in addition, there are devices on the market with a universal installation method.

Tachometer devices are also divided into “wet” and “dry” based on the method of manufacturing the measuring block.

In wet type

the passing fluid flow acts directly on the impeller or turbine. Thus, such devices become very sensitive to the quality of flowing water. If there are foreign impurities in it, they will quickly damage the measuring mechanism.

Therefore, “wet” meters should not be installed to measure the volume of water lifted from a domestic well (Abyssinian well) or to measure coolant flow in heating systems. In such designs it is necessary to use a “dry” type

, in which the measuring unit is isolated from the water flow.

"Dry" water meter

To increase the measurement accuracy inside the tachometer device, the water flow can be divided into several jets. As a result, the turbulence of the water in the flow is reduced. Such counters are called multi-jet; the complexity of their design determines their higher price compared to single-jet ones.

Where are tachometer type meters installed?

As a rule, the inlet pipeline in an ordinary Russian apartment has a cross-section of about 2 centimeters. As a result, to record water consumption in the apartment, you should install a conventional single-jet water meter. This will be the best choice in terms of price-quality ratio.

If you need to install a measuring device in a cottage or small building, it is better to use a multi-jet meter with an internal cross-section of up to 5 centimeters.

Larger models (meters with turbines with an internal cross-section of more than 5 centimeters) are installed in industrial enterprises and at water intake points. Such meters can be installed as common meters in apartment buildings.

A fairly promising product is tachometer type counters equipped with a pulse output. They have a measuring unit that can be installed directly at the entry point of the pipeline. The received information is converted into pulse form and transmitted via communication channels to recording equipment. The information collection unit can be located at almost any distance from the measuring unit, which makes it possible to create distributed information collection systems that do not require the physical presence of a controller near the meter.

Electromagnetic type meters

Electromagnetic type meters are commonly used in industrial installations. When a liquid flow passes through an artificially created magnetic field, its indicators change, which is recorded by sensors and displayed on the display. The complexity of the design causes the increased price of devices of this type. Typically, such equipment is used in food processing plants, breweries, pharmaceutical factories, and for measuring waste flows in sewer systems.

Ultrasonic type meters

Ultrasonic meters measure liquid flow by exposing it to ultrasonic vibrations. The resulting acoustic effect is analyzed by the sensor and displayed on the display. Such flow meters can be used not only to measure water flow, but also to calculate the volume of gases, steam or reagents.

Such meters can be placed either directly in the pipe or on its surface. The surface installation method allows you to quickly change the location of the measuring device. Thus, a surface ultrasonic meter can be used to perform temporary monitoring or calibration of readings from other devices.

Typically, ultrasonic meters are used on industrial equipment and for measuring the volume of wastewater.

Vortex counters

Vortex type meters have in their design a body with a special shape, which causes the appearance of vortices in the fluid flow. The resulting result is analyzed and displayed. These devices are used to regulate technological operations and their use for domestic purposes is irrational.

Meters for measuring the volume of hot water

A separate type should include measuring devices designed to estimate the volume of hot water. First of all, it should be noted that they have a higher error, which can reach up to 6 percent, while the error of tachometer-type cold water meters does not exceed 5 percent. Thus, meters should be used strictly for their intended purpose and installed exclusively on hot water supply pipelines. Also, measuring devices for hot water must be of the “dry” type - hot water carries many impurities.

For a more objective measurement of the volume of hot water supplied, devices with a temperature sensor are used, which not only measure the volume of passing liquid, but also determine its temperature.

Basic designations

In order to understand what a particular number in the characteristics of water meters means, you should know the basic symbols used.

• Qmax
  is the maximum volume of liquid that the meter can pass in one hour.
• Qn
  – nominal volume of liquid. Typically half the maximum volume. This indicator is a design indicator - when passing such a volume, the meter will operate normally throughout its entire service life.
• Qmin
  is the minimum volume of liquid, during the passage of which the meter will operate within the indicated error.
• Qt
  is the transition volume, the passage of which changes the measurement error of the meter.

All of these characteristics are usually measured in cubic meters.

What happens if the data is not transferred in a timely manner?

According to paragraphs. 58 – 60 of the above government resolution No. 354, if the testimony is not reported within the prescribed period, charges for the provision of services are made in the following order:

1. For three months, the amount is determined based on the average previous expense over the last six months. After receiving the data, the value is recalculated;
2. Starting from the fourth month, the consumer will receive an invoice with the amount determined according to the standards applicable to payers without individual metering devices.

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Considering that the amount according to the standards significantly exceeds that calculated by the water meter, the consumer should not forget about the need to timely transmit meter readings, otherwise he will have to pay much more than usual.

What to do if you receive a large bill due to failure to provide evidence

If for some reason the consumer has not reported water meter data for more than three months and has received a huge water bill, the following options are possible:

1. Pay the bill, then contact the water supply company, providing the necessary data with an application for recalculation and confirming your identity with a civil passport. After clarification of the readings, the amount is recalculated. The overpayment goes towards future deductions;
2. Contact the city water utility without paying the bill received. If the review of the application is positive, the amount will be recalculated.

The current rules suggest that the payer must transmit data based on water meter readings at least once every three months in order not to pay more than the actual volume consumed.

The procedure for putting a new meter into operation was not followed

Individual metering devices, including electricity, are the responsibility of the owner of the premises to account for the consumption of resources in which they are installed. It is the owner who is obliged to ensure that the meter verification period has not expired, the mechanism is not damaged, and the seals installed on the IPU are not damaged (clause 81 of RF PP No. 354).

After installing a new meter or replacing a faulty one, the provider of the corresponding utility service must, without charging any fee at the owner’s request, accept the IPU for calculations (clause 81 (9) of the RF PP No. 354).

At the same time, a representative of the CU contractor checks how the IPU is installed, the documentation for the device, seals the meter and records the initial readings. After this, an act of putting the device into operation is drawn up (clauses 81(4), 81(6) RF PP No. 354).

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Additional technical features

Modern technologies offer opportunities that allow you not to think about transmitting readings and even the process of taking data.

Many manufacturers offer for sale water meters equipped with devices that remotely transmit readings to centralized metering systems of utility organizations. Such metering devices are more expensive, but such technical means are especially relevant for busy people or those who are away from home for a long time and are unable to regularly report water meter readings.

If the technical availability of the water supply company requires the use of such systems, after purchasing and installing a modern water meter, the readings will be reported automatically, without consumer intervention and direct control by the utility organization. A visit from a water utility representative will only be required when the water meter verification period has expired.

The consumer should not forget about his responsibilities stipulated by the current rules for the provision of public utilities and provide water meter readings in a timely manner so as not to overpay for unused resources.

Causes

If you find that your meter is spinning when the taps are closed, then you should carefully check the water supply system in your house:

1. First of all, make sure that there are no water leaks anywhere, that is, all pipes, sanitary fixtures and household appliances that use water are in working order and do not leak liquid. Typically, if any part of this system is leaking, then you have to pay a lot for water consumption.
2. Pay special attention to the toilet, namely its tank. It happens that water can almost silently and imperceptibly flow into the toilet in a thin stream and cause the impeller in the meter to rotate, even though every tap in the house is closed. In this case, very many cubes of water will not be wound, but a slight rotation of the impeller in the metering unit can be noticed.
3. Also note that not all taps into the pipeline are after the meter. If your neighbors somehow managed to make such a tie-in, then your meter may spin when the neighbors open a hot or cold water tap (depending on which pipeline the tie-in is made into). In this case, your payments will be many cubic meters higher than your usual monthly water consumption. Although this is theoretically possible, in reality it is very difficult to do, because in this case the neighbors must have access to your apartment for unauthorized tapping into the pipeline after the meter.

To correctly find the reason why your water metering unit is spinning when the tap is closed, try the following:

1. Close all the taps in the house tightly, turn off the water supply to the toilet tank and disconnect all household appliances from the water supply system.
2. If the impeller continues to rotate, shut off the water supply to the apartment using the shut-off valve installed upstream of the metering unit. If the unit stops rotating, then the problem lies in your plumbing system and the equipment you are using.
3. In this case, you need to invite a plumber to your home who can find the cause and place where the leak is occurring. He will also be able to evaluate the system for unauthorized insertion.
4. If you previously did not consume as many cubic meters of water as you did in the last month, try to remember what equipment or technical household appliance you bought or replaced during this month. Most likely, the reason lies precisely there.
5. Sometimes the problem may lie in the tap itself, or rather the hot and cold water mixer.

How to take readings from meters with a roller scale

A counter with a roller scale is often called an eight-roller counter because there are eight windows with numbers on the indicator panel. Typically five black and three red. The first five digits show the number of cubic meters consumed. The last three digits (fractional part of consumption) are liters.

Most management companies and payment centers charge for water by whole cubic meters without taking into account liters.

Therefore, residents usually write only the first five digits on the receipt, up to the decimal point . The fractional part can be ignored or rounded to the nearest whole number.

Example for an eight-roller counter

In the figure, the whole part of the readings is 4 cubic meters, the fractional part is 736 liters. We can round liters to the nearest whole in the current month or include them in the payment for the next period (when the meter turns over the next cubic meter).

If you are taking readings for the first time, write down 5 cubic meters (with rounding of the fractional part) or 4 (if you decide not to take into account the fractional part) on the receipt.

Next month the counter shows 11 in the integer part and 235 in the fractional part. With and without rounding – 11 cubic meters of water.

In the receipt we write down the difference between the current readings and the result of last month: 11 – 5 = 6 or 11 – 4 = 7 cubic meters.

As you can see: whether you round the fractional part or ignore it, the total number of paid cubic meters does not change. Pick one method and stick to it every month.

Manufacturers of roller digital scale meters: Valtec, Itelma, Beregun, Meter, Okhta, Taypit, Alekseevsky, Economy, Norma and others.