Water meters: types, installation and legal aspects of the issue. Reviews from people. How to install apartment water meters Water metering in an apartment

Reading time: 9 minutes

Reforms in the housing and communal services sector are evidenced by the widespread use of metering devices - meters for gas, electricity, water. Since the choice of device remains with the service consumer, it is worth figuring out how to choose optimal model and how to install a water meter in an apartment.

Purpose of installing the meter

Almost a quarter of the monthly expenses for public utilities accounts for the payment of hot and cold water supply. If there is no water meter in the apartment, payment is made according to the average water consumption per person per day: 190 l cold and 130 l hot water.

This norm significantly exceeds the volume used by consumers, so apartment owners are interested in whether it is profitable to install a water meter. Calculation of standard consumption is made according to the number of people registered in the apartment, and their age and whether they actually live at this address are not taken into account at all.

As a rule, 2 metering devices are installed in the apartment: hot and cold water. It’s easy to roughly calculate the costs of cold water and sanitation in a metropolitan family of 3 people without a meter and with its installation:

Without counter	Without counter	By meter	By meter
Standard – 6.935 m3/person Tariff “cold water” – 35.4 rubles.	Standard for water disposal: 11.68 m3/person; tariff: 25.12 rub.	Average consumption of cold water according to the meter for a family of three: from 6 m3 to 9 m3.	Average meter readings: 18 m3.
Cold water: 6.935 m3 x 3 people = 20.805 x 35.4 = 736.50 rub./month.	Water disposal: 11.68 m3 x 3 = 35.04 x 25.12 = 808.80 rubles/month.	Min. amount for cold water 6x 35.4 = 212 rubles/month. Max. amount for cold water 9x35.4 = 318.6 rubles/month.	Average water consumption fee: 18x25.12 = 452.16

When calculating according to standards, the volume of water used is divided by the number of registered residents, regardless of the number of people living in the house. There may be many more residents, so someone has to pay other people's expenses out of their own pocket. That is why, by installing a meter, the owner or tenant of the apartment will pay only for the water actually used.

Legal regulation of meter installation

Legislation regulating the installation of water meters was developed in accordance with the Federal Energy Reserve Conservation Program. Based established standards every resident can control water consumption, save resources and reduce utility bills.

Legislative acts also stipulate whether it is mandatory to install water meters in apartments in 2019.

The installation of hot and cold water supply meters is regulated by the following regulatory documents:

Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 6, 2011 No. 354 On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of November 14, 2014 No. 1190 On the Rules for determining the amount of payment for utilities paid by tenants of residential premises in dormitories included in the housing stock of organizations carrying out educational activities, under rental agreements for residential premises in a dormitory;

Law of November 23, 2009 No. 261 “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 23, 2006 No. 306 “On the establishment and determination of standards for the consumption of utility services and standards for the consumption of utility resources for the purpose of maintaining common property in an apartment building”;
Law of the Russian Federation dated December 7, 2011 No. 416 “On water supply and sanitation.”

Having familiarized yourself with these laws, you can understand whether it is necessary to install a meter in a communal apartment.

A water meter is a device that allows you to reduce payments. If the neighbors manage to agree, they can choose one of two payment methods:

by the number of registered;
by the number of people living in the rooms.

If you have a water meter, residents will not have to pay for utilities:

during the absence of water supply;
when carrying out preventive and repair work;
in case of emergencies.

How to choose a water meter

When choosing residential water meters, you should consider performance characteristics devices and features of their installation. All counters are divided according to the principle of operation into several groups:

tachometer - equipped with an impeller that rotates under the influence of water;
vortex – record the frequency of vortices of the water flow;
electromagnetic - record the speed of liquid passing through the meter, inducing a magnetic field;
volumetric devices - count even the weakest flow of water;
ultrasonic – analyze the acoustic effect.

Optimal for residential premises tachometer counters and electromagnetic devices. Tachometer meters and electromagnetic devices are considered optimal for residential premises.

Meter installation procedure

Having calculated the savings on utility bills when installing an individual water meter and having decided to purchase a meter, the consumer needs to contact the local Vodokanal branch. There they will tell him what technical requirements the device must meet and explain how to correctly install the water meter.

It is advisable to purchase equipment from a specialized store. Since water meters for cold and hot water have different design and complete set, they are accompanied by technical documentation indicating the serial number of the model and a mark on passing the initial verification.

IN regulations there is no direct indication of the need to prepare design documentation for the installation of a water meter. The legislation does not mention at all whether a project is needed for installation or whether it can be installed independently. And yet everything must be observed technical specifications requirements imposed by the regulatory organization, and buy a device that meets the characteristics and metrological requirements established by law.

The undoubted advantage for a water meter is:

accuracy of measurements;
quick dismantling for verification;
long service life.

Many consumers do not know where to start or what the installation procedure is. Unlike other metering equipment, water meters can be installed either with the help of specialists or independently.

By Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354, only metering devices of the established type and those that have passed verification are allowed for use.

Before installation, the water meter must be submitted to the Vodokanal instrumentation service. The employee will put the institution’s stamp in the water meter’s passport, fill in the required fields and put a mark on the meter, which must remain intact throughout the entire verification period.

The legislation of the Russian Federation does not contain the time frame within which a device that has passed verification must be installed, therefore, before carrying out installation work You should take your time to think about where exactly it is best to mount the device.

Typically, the place for the meter is allocated closer to the entry of the pipeline into the room. In practice in apartment buildings Most often, individual water meters are installed in bathrooms, less often in bathrooms. However, the main condition is to comply with all installation requirements.

To utility company switched to performing calculations using the new meter, rather than using established standards, the consumer must immediately after installation contact Vodokanal to put the equipment into operation.

The employee will seal the device and draw up a report. It is this document that is considered the basis for switching to paying for water according to meter readings.

Often homeowners are interested in who should install individual water meters in a privatized apartment. According to paragraph 3 of Art. 15 of the Law of the Russian Federation “On Energy Saving and Increasing Energy Efficiency”, installation of metering devices is carried out at the expense of the owners of residential premises.

Since the owners of privatized apartments are citizens, they are responsible for purchasing and installing equipment.

Manufacturers of water meters promise that the costs of purchase and installation will pay off after just a few months, and the right approach and saving resources, this period will be halved.

Device installation rules

Vodokanal representatives will seal the device and allow its operation if the consumer takes into account the basic rules for installing water meters in the apartment:

Examines the condition of the pipeline and replaces elements that have become unusable.
Select the installation location and check the completeness of the device: union nuts, filter rough cleaning, check valve and counter.
For self-installation, prepare the following set of tools: keys, an iron for forming joints and scissors for cutting plastic pipes.

This is the most simple circuit connecting a water meter in a residential building or apartment. Upon completion of installation work, the system’s functionality is checked and a representative of Vodokanal is invited.

Preliminary activities

Even before purchasing a metering device, the apartment owner must prepare a package of documents for transmission to the resource supplying organization:

application, copies of passport pages;
document confirming ownership;
site plan;
the consent of all residents of communal housing, because water meters in communal apartments are not installed without the consent of the owners;
technical passport of the meter;
verification certificate;
agreement for installation of the device and its maintenance.

Since the water meter is installed directly on the pipes, their technical condition must be checked before installation. Unstable pressure and air jams in central water supply systems will negatively affect the operation of the equipment and lead to rapid wear of its moving parts.

It is strictly not recommended to install metering devices on an old pipeline. Before connecting a water meter in an apartment, experts advise updating communications by replacing metal pipes for products from modern materials, depending on the:

water quality;
pressure in the water supply system;
type of connecting and shut-off valves used.

Self-installation of the meter

If the consumer is confident in his abilities, he can install the water meter himself. Before starting work, you should carefully study the technical documentation supplied with the device, and then proceed with installation. In this case, you should take into account:

If water meters have already been installed, but consumers want to transfer water meters in the apartment with their own hands, they need to use equipment with a diameter of up to 15 mm.

The water meter is mounted horizontally with the dial up, in a place accessible for taking readings. In addition, the device must not be subject to mechanical influence from other equipment.

How to choose a contractor to install a meter

It is not established by law who can install a water meter in an apartment, but since the contractor in this case is responsible for the correct performance of the work and the suitability of water meters for use, the organization must develop an installation scheme in accordance with the requirements of regulatory authorities.

There are many companies that offer water meter installation services. You need to choose who installs the meter from among the companies that have a license and are equipped with the necessary equipment.

The contractor must document the completion of all work and ensure that the consequences of incorrect installation are eliminated.

Water meter sealing and documentation

The use of unsealed water meters is prohibited by Law of the Russian Federation No. 102 of June 26, 2008 “On ensuring uniform measuring instruments,” therefore, immediately after installation, you must contact Vodokanal in writing with a request to seal the meter.

This procedure is necessary in order to prevent outside interference with the operation of the device. It is described in more detail in the presented video.

The specialist checks the correct installation, absence of damage and documentation for the water meter, and then issues a commissioning certificate.

In accordance with Art. 20 of the Law of the Russian Federation No. 416 of December 7, 2011 “On water supply and sanitation”, during the initial installation of equipment and repair work, sealing is performed free of charge.

Water meter registration

After installation and sealing, the meter must be registered. To do this, the consumer submits documents to the management company or the Unified Information and Registration Center within 14 days so that the following information about the equipment is entered into the common database:

initial meter data;
serial numbers and year of production;
water meter installation date.

Only after registration and receipt of the appropriate act, the use of the meter is considered legal.

Who pays for the installation of meters

Low-income citizens are interested in how to install water meters in their apartments for free. The answer to this question is contained in a number of regulations: housing is provided with metering devices at the expense of the owners.

In apartments owned by municipalities and provided under a social rental agreement, installation of water meters is carried out free of charge based on the obligations of the parties specified in the agreement. Standard option This document does not oblige the employer to pay for the installation of metering devices, so installation is paid for from municipal funds.

In a communal apartment, each owner and tenant has their own personal account, everyone runs separate households and pays for utilities separately. Therefore, there are no problems with installing a water meter in a communal apartment. It is enough just to obtain the consent of all property owners/tenants and contact the resource supply organization.

The legislation also identifies categories of persons who enjoy benefits when installing water meters:

WWII participants, home front workers and rehabilitated people;
the poor;
disabled people of groups 1 and 2;
widows of WWII participants.

Installation cost

The price of installing water meters includes the cost of purchasing a water meter and its installation. Device costs depend on:

modifications,
configurations,
technical characteristics,
manufacturer.

Equipment installation can also be done in different ways: on your own or with the involvement of organizations. The cost of the contractor’s services depends, in particular, on which pipes the device is mounted on.

To calculate the total amount of expenses you need to know all of the above aspects.

Possible meter malfunctions

A malfunction of the water meter is indicated by the lack of response to water consumption or the constant movement of numbers on the display while no one opens the tap.

There are several common reasons why the meter breaks:

low water pressure or clogged pipes;
improper installation or depressurization of the device;
water temperature for which the device is not designed.

In all cases, the water meter readings are incorrect. It is impossible to make calculations based on them.

As practice shows, most often the consumer is interested in what to do if the hot water meter does not change readings. This happens due to exceeding the permissible temperature standards when supplying hot water.

This type of malfunction can be prevented by periodically checking the maximum temperature threshold. It should not exceed 90°C.

How to properly take and transmit readings

There are 8 numbers on the water meter display. Red indicators indicate liters, black indicators indicate cubes. To calculate water consumption, it is the cubes that are taken into account, so when taking monthly readings, you need to take into account only the black numerical values.

The frequency of reading water meter readings is once a month. Typically, the exact date is specified in the utility contract.

The data obtained is multiplied by the water payment tariff. The amount received is indicated on the receipt.

You can submit readings to Vodokanal in various ways:

by phone;
via SMS;
through a mobile application;
on the city services website.

How often should verification be performed?

It is the responsibility of the consumer to monitor the correct operation of the water meter and submit it for verification within the established time frame. During testing, the functionality of the device and its accuracy are confirmed.

The verification interval established by law is 6 years for a cold water meter and 4 years for a hot one.

In order not to miss deadlines and prepare documents correctly, read the material

Conclusion

Experts have plenty of tips on how to save money on your utility bills. The most effective of them is to purchase a water meter to measure hot and cold water. In order to independently regulate water consumption and pay only for the cubic meters used, you need to install meters in your own or municipal apartment, even if it is not privatized. Manufacturers offer a wide range of equipment, so choosing a reliable device is not difficult, and it will pay for itself quite quickly.

What to do if the water meter breaks down: Video

Lawyer. Member of the Bar Association of St. Petersburg. More than 10 years of experience. Graduated from St. Petersburg State University. I specialize in civil, family, housing, and land law.

You can install a water meter:

on one's own. After installation, be sure to contact the management company so that its employees seal the meters and issue a commissioning certificate. The management company has the right to refuse to register your meters if it considers that the technical requirements during their installation were violated;
with the involvement of a specialized organization. You can choose it yourself or ask your management company for a recommendation. After installation, the organization must issue you a commissioning certificate and other documents for the meters. Please contact the management company with these documents to draw up a contract for meter payments.

You can view the contacts of your management company on the portal.

After the meters are put into operation, starting from the 1st day of the next month, you will be able to pay for water supply and sewerage according to the readings of the meters.

After a certain time, it will be necessary to check the water meters to make sure that they are working correctly.

2. How to install electricity meters?

At the end of 2009, our country adopted a law on energy conservation, obliging all owners of buildings, structures, residential buildings, as well as individual apartments and premises in multi-apartment buildings, ensure accounting of water coming from water supply networks.

The feasibility of installing water meters

Installing water meters requires funds; nothing is being done for free now, but the law does not provide for funding for these activities from the budget. The costs required to install water meters are borne by the building owners. The Russian government considered that the savings received after installing metering devices would cover the costs of their installation.

To date, the installation deadline for metering devices has expired, despite the fact that they have been postponed several times. Nevertheless, the equipment of apartments, and especially individual houses, remains at a low level. The reasons for this situation are obvious:

Lack of production capacity for manufacturing sufficient quantity metering devices at the time of adoption of the law;
Difficulty in installation and commissioning (at the initial stage, only organizations engaged in construction activities had the ability to install water meters);
Lack of penalties for citizens who do not comply with the law.

Payback of the meter - Photo 03

The installation of a meter in itself is not a water saving measure. It’s just that with it we stop thoughtlessly pouring water, forgetting to turn off the tap, or not repairing a leaking toilet flush tank for months. This reduces overall consumption drinking water, and utility bills are reduced. The cost of installing water meters pays off for quite a long time, but given the reduction in payments for sewerage, saving 20-30 rubles per month per person is not difficult.

The payback of the hot water meter occurs even faster due to high cost thermal energy. And the installation of individual metering devices on credit for up to 5 years at the Central Bank refinancing rate, which is the responsibility of the energy supply organization, actually becomes free.

Legal regulations affecting the process of installing metering devices

For owners who do not want to equip their premises with meters, the law provides for sanctions in the form of forced installation of water meters by the energy supply organization. But this provision of the law does not yet work, since the mass installation of metering devices has led to a decrease in the income of organizations supplying settlements water, since the state limits the increase in tariffs.

Laws are constantly being improved; for example, since 2011, independent installation of water meters for individual houses and apartments has been allowed. Since 2015, changes to the “Rules for Setting Standards for Public Utilities” have come into force, putting rubles on the pockets of careless owners. Most regions of the country already have increased standards for water consumed without meters.

Costs for water supply and sanitation for owners who ignore the law will increase every 6 months and, in addition to inflationary price increases, will increase 1.6 times over 2 years.

Rules for installing water meters

It is quite easy to install water meters in your apartment. If the installation of a common house meter requires an organization carrying out this type of activity and a special project that is carried out in accordance with building codes and regulations, then an individual water meter is installed based on the instructions specified in the device’s passport. Rules for installing water meters in apartments have not yet been developed by anyone and, most likely, they will never appear, but in regulatory documents There are certain points that must be observed.

Water meters cannot be installed in hard to reach places, and the reading scale should be visible to the naked eye.
It is necessary to observe the lengths of straight sections of pipes after and before the device specified in the passport.
Some devices are supplied with connecting pipes, the installation of which eliminates the issue of straight sections.

Water meter installation diagram

The simplest diagram for installing a water meter in an apartment looks like this:

To provide water during repairs or verification of the meter, a bypass with a shut-off device can be provided in the circuit. It is much cheaper to make a pipe of the appropriate length and insert it instead of the meter. Sometimes a check valve is installed after the meter, but such a device is necessary when there is a reserve tank in the apartment. On some meter models, the manufacturer installs a mesh filter. Then the filter (No. 2) can be excluded from the circuit. The wiring diagram shows ball valves as disconnecting devices. The use of valves instead of them, of course, is allowed, but less resistance and the absence of rubber gaskets increase the pressure of water flowing from the tap and simplify operation.

Features of selection, verification and replacement of water meters

The choice of a water meter is made based on its consumption, and the size of the connecting pipes of the device is most often smaller than the cross-section of the pipes into which it cuts, but a water meter is usually installed in the apartment in accordance with the diameter of the water supply. Water meters from various manufacturers are now on sale.

The question immediately arises - what kind of water meters to install? When choosing the cheapest one, you can make a mistake. Warranty period and operating time, duration of the calibration interval, ease of installation - these are additional criteria that must be taken into account. The manufacturing time of the meter is also important, because the longer it sits on the store counter, the sooner you will have to carry out the next verification.

The calibration interval for cold water meters is usually 6 years. Water meters for hot water metering last 4 years until the next verification. But there are manufacturers who produce water meters with other calibration intervals.

Unfortunately, re-checking meters rarely gives positive results. Having paid a considerable amount for verification, you may be denied further use. You can check the accuracy of the device yourself. Having simultaneously fully opened all the taps in the apartment and filled the containers with water, carefully count the spilled volume and compare it with the readings of your meter. If the error is above 2%, then the meter most likely will not pass verification, and it is better to buy and install a new one.

Choosing a location and technology for installing water meters with your own hands

The installation location of the water meter in an individual residential building must be agreed with the supplier. Installation of a water meter in an apartment does not require such approval. Usually it is placed immediately after the shut-off device on the riser (in the diagram this is the valve in front of the filter). The technology for installing water meters is quite simple. When buying a meter, purchase taps, a filter, bends, couplings, lock nuts, and sections of pipes with threads of the required sizes. Putting it all together using FUM or linen tape is not difficult for a man.

It’s even easier to install water meters with your own hands when using metal-plastic pipes and fittings. But in polypropylene water supply embed the counter without welding machine it won't work.

Please note that the valve on the riser is a common property of the house; you have already paid for its repair and maintenance using a monthly receipt from the management company. If a closed valve allows water to pass through, then there is no need to turn off the common tap on the riser. It is enough to submit a request to the service organization about the need for repairs.

Putting the meter into operation and sealing it

To register a water meter, you must submit an application to the management company, attach to it a water meter installation diagram (a drawing on a piece of paper is enough) and a photocopy of the device’s passport. Agree on the arrival time of a technician who will check the correct installation and install seals on the meter and the bypass shut-off device (if there is one). Breaking the seals automatically deprives you of the right to use a water meter to record its consumption.

The signed act of commissioning a water meter imposes some responsibilities on you. It is necessary to submit monthly meter readings to the operating organization. The deadlines for data transfer are strict, but if there are no readings, problems will not arise for 3 months. During this period, bills will be presented based on average monthly consumption. Then the calculation will proceed according to the standard.

In addition, it will be necessary to allow employees of the management company to check the meter. Such checks are carried out no more than once every 6 months, but refusal to do so may result in the loss of the opportunity to pay for your water consumption using the meter, and the management company will have the right to charge you water consumption according to the standard.

Some cases from practice

Special attention should be paid to the points of the rules by cunning people who make taps into the water supply system in addition to the metering device. The water supplier, in case of detection of illegal withdrawal, has the right to make a calculation based on the maximum water flow through such a pipe. The time taken into account in the calculation does not exceed 6 months, but the amount of the fine even through a pipe with a diameter of 15 mm can be 100 thousand rubles or more.

The use of metering devices does not solve the problem of water leaks into the sewer system through faulty toilet shut-off valves or torn faucet gaskets. The fact is that water meters have a sensitivity threshold of 1% of the nominal flow. An apartment water meter DN 15 mm can pass through up to 15 liters of water per hour, and the meter dial will not move. There are many cases when a single pensioner, who uses 5-6 m³ of water per month according to the meter, has 10-11 m³ of it drained into the sewer every month through a leaking toilet.

Currently, management companies only have the right to inspect the condition of equipment inside apartments, but cannot fine negligent owners or force them to repair faulty sanitary fixtures. Management companies are forced to cover the difference between the general house meter and the sum of the apartment meters, which occurs when there are a large number of small leaks from their income. This difference in some houses reaches 35-40% of total consumption. The Government of the Russian Federation urgently needs to make changes to the “Rules...”, allowing management organizations to register apartment leaks and collect the corresponding amounts from apartment owners.

A decree of the Russian government obliges all Russian citizens to install water meters in their apartments. Moreover, all owners of apartments whose technical conditions allow installation are required to install a water meter. It is worth remembering that according to the law of the Russian Federation, no penalties are provided for those who decide to do without a meter. In this case, in relation to incorrect users water resources They will only apply an increasing coefficient for water according to the standards per person per month. And by 2017 it threatens to reach 60% of the initial tariffs for 2015.

Only those owners whose apartment is located in a dilapidated building and this is confirmed by the relevant act are exempt from installing meters. In this case, the increasing coefficient will not be applied even in the absence of a water device.

Well, for those who nevertheless decided to install a water meter, the material below contains all the legal provisions and rules for installing water meters.

Important: all actions related to the installation of a water meter must be documented in order to avoid friction with the water supply company.

Buying a meter

If you decide to install and connect a water meter in your apartment, then you need to know a certain procedure for doing this. First of all, you should buy a water meter yourself. Since the resolution clearly states that installation and connection of devices is carried out at the expense of the user of the device.

The modern market of plumbing equipment offers wide choose mechanisms from the simplest vane to complex ultrasonic. Professionals recommend choosing the simplest one. The service life of the wing mechanism is about 12 years. And the principle of its operation is the rotation of the impeller under the influence of a water flow passing through the pipe and device.

It is worth noting that water metering devices are made in a red or blue housing, depending on their purpose. Thus, meters in a blue case are designed for cold water and are capable of working with liquid whose temperature does not exceed 40 degrees. Meters in a red casing operate on a hot pipeline with water, the temperature of which can reach 150 degrees. Related Notes temperature regime are available on each device in the lower left part of the case under the glass.

Important: there are also so-called universal metering devices suitable for working with both hot and cold cold water. Moreover, the temperature range of such PUs varies from 0 to 90 degrees. Universal water meters are made in a gray housing.

The new meter must have a technical passport in which the serial numbers will match the number on the device body.

Selecting the installation method

After you have purchased a water meter, you need to decide how you will install it. To do this you can:

Use the services of a foreman from the housing office, management company or emergency department;
Conclude an agreement for the installation of a meter by a private company;
Handle the installation yourself.

Let's look at all three options in detail.

If you decide that you want to invite a specialist from your local management company, DEZ or housing office, then you need to write an application to the appropriate organization for a visit from a specialist. As a rule, a specialist arrives within 3-4 business days. In this case, the technician installs water meters for cold and hot water, and then seals them. The owner of the apartment must receive a certificate confirming the installation and sealing of the devices. Similar document is called the “act of putting the meter into operation.” The document must indicate the serial number of the meter, the date of its installation and the initial readings of the dial. The owner can only take the documents to the company that supplies water to the house, so that from that moment on, water bills will be generated based on the water meter readings.

Important: now every month from the 23rd to the 26th you must provide meter readings to your water utility.

If you invite a master from a private company

The procedure for the work of a private master in an apartment and the requirements for him should be as follows:

You need to select a trusted private organization that has the appropriate license to carry out work in the apartment to install metering devices. It is the presence of such a license that guarantees that the representative of the management company will not find fault when sealing the meter. And often even the presence of a license from a master from private company gives him the right to seal the metering device.
It is necessary to conclude a contract for the implementation certain type works Moreover, in the contract, try to exclude the clause on water meter service. Because it does not exist as such, but you will pay money. And, in addition, the law prohibits including this clause in the contract form.
After the contract is concluded, we agree on the time of the technician’s visit and entrust him with cold and hot water metering devices for their installation.
The specialist must install water meters and issue you a certificate of work done. If the master has the right to seal metering devices, then he does this too, after which he issues to the owner a certificate of putting the meter into operation. If the master does not have the right to do this, then the owner must declare the installation of a water meter in the Criminal Code or DEZ in accordance with the requirements of the law, and invite a master to install the seal.
The document on sealing the meters, just as in the first case, must be taken to the URC or water supply company. From now on, water receipts will have payment amounts in accordance with the meter readings.

Self-installation

If you decide to install the meter yourself, then you should know that the law is not prohibited from doing this. There is no requirement to install a water meter only with the help of specialists. But you will need to invite a DEZ specialist for sealing. Otherwise, the water meter in the apartment will be considered non-existent, and water bills will be generated based on regulatory data.

So, before we start plumbing work in the apartment, talk to management company the time at which they can shut off the water in the riser. This must be done, otherwise a flood is guaranteed both in your apartment and in the apartments of your neighbors on the lower floor at the time the pipeline section is cut out.

As soon as hour X is set, you can start working.

The process of self-installation of a water meter

First of all, it is worth preparing all the components of the system. These requirements are:

Stopcock. The device is installed on a section of pipeline in front of all other structural elements in accordance with the water flow in the pipe. Thanks to the shut-off valve, it will be possible to shut off the water in the system if there is a need for repair work in the apartment. It is better to choose a lever or butterfly type faucet. They are the strongest and most durable. A valve can also be used, but only if partial water supply to the system is provided.

Important: a silumin shut-off valve, which may be included with a water meter, is not suitable for installation in the system.

Coarse filter. This element is designed to protect the meter from small debris getting into it. Especially if the water in the pipes is of poor quality due to the condition of the pipeline or for other reasons. To connect the meter, it is better to choose an oblique filter. It can be mounted both vertically and horizontally.
Water meter for cold/hot water or universal.
Check valve. This element helps prevent water from flowing back to the meter after closing the tap. Thus, inaccuracy and failures in the water meter readings are completely eliminated.

Important: the check valve is always installed last in the design along the flow of water in the pipes. The only case where the check valve changes its position is a vertical pipeline with water flowing from bottom to top. In this case, the check valve is installed immediately after the shut-off valve, but in front of the water meter.

In addition to all the listed elements, it is worth preparing union nuts with gaskets. Moreover, rubber gaskets are suitable for a cold water meter, but for a hot water meter it is better to purchase paronite gaskets. You also need to prepare tow and plumbing paste. It is not recommended to use sealant, since it cracks during operation and breaks the tightness of the entire structure.

So, we lay out all the structural elements on the floor in the required order and in such a way that the arrows on each of them accurately imitate the flow of water in the pipeline. Otherwise, the water meter will count incorrectly.

In order to calculate which section of pipe needs to be cut, you first have to assemble the entire structure with a meter. So, first we twist together the stopcock and the coarse filter using tow and plumbing paste. In this case, the filter pipe must always look down. Do not tighten the threaded connections too hard to avoid breaking them.

Now we mount the union nut on the filter pipe also using paste and tow.
On the other side of the union nut, we mount the meter so that its body faces up with the glass. Don't forget the gasket.
All that remains is to connect the check valve to the water meter. To do this, you must first screw together the union nut number 2 with the pipe check valve. And after that, using the required gasket, connect the valve to the meter. The structure is ready.
Now we measure the length of the entire system and set aside a section on the pipeline equal to the length of the structure.

Important: the meter must be installed as close as possible to the entrance section of the pipe into the apartment. In the future, the inspector should not have any suspicion that the owner may independently wedge himself into the pipeline in front of the meter without permission.

Now you need to cut off the required piece of pipe, not forgetting to substitute the basin. If the pipes are metal, then you will have to cut a thread to install the entire structure with a meter. If the pipes in the apartment are plastic, then you can use special adapters for installing a water metering system.

You need to check the installed meter carefully, slowly, opening the taps. This way you can avoid water hammer.

Further actions

If the water meter is working normally and there are no leaks in the system, all that remains is to invite a specialist from the DEZ or Management Company to seal the water meters. To do this, we write an application to the desired organization and wait for the master. He must appear within 15 working days. If this does not happen, we write another statement. If the master does not install the meter again within 15 days in accordance with the requirements of the law, the meter is considered to be put into operation from the day the first application was written. To do this, you need to have a copy of it in your hands with the incoming registration number written in the corner.

If the master does come, he must seal the meter and issue a document confirming the commissioning of the water meter.

The document, together with a copy of the technical passport for the water meter, is provided to the DEZ, UK or ERC.

The owner of an apartment or house independently decides whether to install water meters with his own hands, or whether to use the services of professionals. There is no legal prohibition on installing appliances yourself. Only preliminary verification of the device and its sealing after installation are mandatory. Otherwise, the device indicators will not be taken into account.

You can often find a list of situations in which installing water meters is beneficial or, on the contrary, economically infeasible. In particular, the following data is provided: when the same number of people live in an apartment as are registered, the savings in paying for water supply after installing meters will be about 20-30%.

Unfavorable situations include accommodation more people than registered, as well as an unsuccessful water supply scheme. When introducing separate flows into the kitchen and bathroom into the apartment, you will need to install four meters (two for hot water supply pipelines and two for cold pipes). If there is a separate supply of fluid to the toilet (this is also common in old-plan houses), five meters will be needed.

By by and large all these arguments are not so significant, since their installation is mandatory, which means that this will have to be done in any case.

Counter selection

There are several options for water flow metering devices on the market. The rules for installing water meters in an apartment with your own hands do not include an exact indication of the type of devices, so the choice remains with the homeowner.

Regardless of the design and operating principle, be sure to take into account the following features of the devices:

recommended location of the meter (there are models for vertical and horizontal pipelines, as well as universal products that can be installed in any position),
the diameter of the connecting pipes, which must correspond to the diameter of the pipeline (the most common models are DN15),
permissible ambient temperature (theoretically, hot water meters can be installed on cold pipelines, the main thing is that the water temperature does not exceed permissible value, that is, you need to select models for hot water supply pipes with special care.

All water consumption meters can be divided into two categories: non-volatile and connected networks. The first include the simplest and most reliable mechanical products that have an impeller. As the flow passes, the blades rotate and the number of revolutions is counted.

Volatile meters can be of the following types depending on the operating principle:

vortex (the device counts vortices formed when the flow passes through a special element installed inside),
electromagnetic to determine flow rate influence the flow electromagnetic waves(models are highly sensitive to water composition),
ultrasonic ones use vibrations to determine flow.

If the counting mechanism is isolated from the water flow by a special partition, such models are called “dry”.

Dry type water meter

Products with non-insulated counting mechanisms are “wet”.

The procedure for installing water meters in an apartment is the same for all models.

The meter must be purchased in a store, not on the market, and when purchasing, not only pay attention to the presence of a passport, but also carefully check the number indicated in the document with the number on the meter itself. This check will allow you to ensure that you are purchasing a certified device that is fit for use.

Choosing an installation location

Before installing water meters in an apartment, you need to know that the following requirements are imposed on the installation site of the meters, which are common for both private houses and apartments:

temperature above 5° C,
availability of lighting (natural or using lighting fixtures),
accessibility for inspection, maintenance and repair.

In any case, the meter should be installed as close as possible to the entry point, but for apartments the rules are somewhat more flexible. Usually the metering device is installed in the toilet, and if the communications are inconveniently located (under the floor), installation in the bathroom is allowed.

Installation of a water meter in a private house is required no further than 20 cm from the input. If a well is installed, its lid is equipped with locks and sealed after the meter is sealed. Opening is permitted only in exceptional cases - in case of fire or accident.

Preparing for installation

Experts who know how to install water meters in an apartment recommend, first of all, check the package contents of the purchased device and prepare necessary materials and tools. First of all, experts advise purchasing gaskets (rubber for cold pipelines, paronite for hot ones). You may also need plumbing tow and special sealing pastes. As an alternative, synthetic threads that already have silicone lubricant can be used.

Kit necessary tools depends largely on the type of pipes available. Please note that you will have to cut out a certain area, so you will need a hacksaw or an appropriate tool for plastic.

If the pipes are metal, to install the assembled unit (meter with additional accessories), you need to cut the thread (stock up with the necessary tools).
If the communications are made of plastic (polypropylene), purchase connecting fittings, scissors for cutting plastic pipes and a special soldering iron.

To tighten the connections, you can use adjustable or spanner wrenches of the appropriate diameter; it is just important not to be overzealous and not to “tighten” the threaded connections.

When checking the completeness of the meter, you can lay out all the elements on a flat surface in the direction of the water flow:

Important: When laying out the elements of the future meter block, pay attention to the arrows indicating the direction of the water. They should all point in the same direction.

Before installation begins, you will need to shut off the water supply. In a multi-storey building, you will have to turn off the entire riser, which can only be done by utility workers.

Sequence of work

1. Installing a water meter yourself begins with the so-called dry assembly. When assembling the circuit “roughly”, count the turns and note on which of the turns the circuit element takes the required position. After this, all connections are disassembled and reassembled using winding, plumbing grease and gaskets. At this time, it is important to ensure the required position for each element.

When this “chain” is placed horizontally, they “look” up:

faucet or valve handle,
dial (numerical panel) of the counter.

Down turn:

impeller,
filter sump (in this position it is easy to clean).

2. The second stage is cutting out a section of the pipeline for installation of the system. The installation diagram of a water meter in an apartment requires exact matching of the parameters, so it is important to measure the length of the assembled sequence with a minimum error and mark the corresponding distance on the existing communications. Before cutting out a section of pipeline, place a basin or tray to drain the remaining liquid in the system.

3. Installing the assembled unit on a metal pipeline will require cutting threads at the cut points. Easier to work with plastic pipes– in this case it is enough to use special fittings.

Conducting self-installation water metering devices, it will also be important to know where to go for this and what the cost of the procedure is.

Read about kitchen siphons, their types and installation.

You will find a review of water filters at this address. And reviews from owners can help when choosing.

Checking the quality of installation

To check the quality of the meter installation, it is necessary to connect the general water supply, then smoothly turn the tap handle or valve and carefully inspect the assembled unit for leaks.

If everything works flawlessly, you can call a representative of the utility service or water utility to inspect, check and seal the meter. Only after he makes the appropriate marks in the device’s passport and issues a document confirming the fact that the meter was put into operation will you be able to pay for water supply in accordance with the readings received.

In the whole process, the difficulty, in fact, is not how exactly to install water meters in the apartment, but the process of obtaining permits and registration documents, agreeing to turn off the water supply and other organizational hassles. However, by implementing self-installation water meters in an apartment - the cost of savings can be approximately 1500-2500 rubles for the installation of each measuring device.