Installation of metering devices for hot and cold water consumption is relevant for private and multi-apartment buildings. Today, there are rules for installing water meters, and the whole process is carried out on them. These conditions allow you to save money, because a person can control the level of consumption in cubic meters.
In addition, such conditions help to discipline employees of regulatory bodies, since they cannot write off losses due to worn pipes to the consumer. Each region has its own rules for installing water meters, it is worth adhering to them. In addition, it will be necessary to impose a seal, so it is worthwhile to find out from the regulatory authorities whether the counter itself can be installed. The rules for installing water meters are not so complicated. Even if there is no experience, everyone will cope with this task.
Device Preparation
Before the water meter is in its place, it is necessary that a rough filter is in the pipe. Because large particles can be in the water. Because of them, the life of the device is reduced several times. You can’t do without a check valve. According to the rules, this prevents data from being unwound from the device. Therefore, often public utilities do it all themselves. Even in the acceptance process, they pay attention to it.
Therefore, the rules for installing water meters must be followed. The device itself is fixed in such a way that when it breaks down, it is easy to dismantle and not harm the entire system. To ensure that everything is reliable and as tight as possible, a fum tape is used. This is important, as it is water and it will drip into any small hole, and over time there will be a rush. It is at the planning level that it is worth remembering this, if there are not enough skills, it is better to turn to professionals. You can create a seal and tow.
The manufacturer is trying to produce such counters so that even a person without experience can figure it out. To do this, there are special arrows - guides. They say how water should pass through a water meter. For example, the American women (nuts) are fixed to the filter from the position of the sharp end of the arrow, the check valve. There is also an additional hint on the device itself.
If you do not take into account the rules for installing water meters in the apartment, then after dismantling, there is no need to talk about correct operation. And sometimes disrupting the process, there is a blockage in the water supply. The arrow should be positioned so that the feed comes from a shut-off tap fixed to the water riser. When installing water meters with your own hands, the only rule is to not forget about the instructions that the manufacturer always applies to their devices. Any recommendations will benefit and eliminate errors.
Fixing the device to the plumbing system
The rules for installing a water meter in the apartment are not so complicated that it was necessary to invite the master without fail. It is good if the wiring is made of metal-plastic or polypropylene pipes. Since they are simply cut with any sharp knife. But there is one feature. To fix the pipes between themselves, a special soldering iron is used. Working on it is simple, but you need to purchase it, and its cost is an average of four thousand rubles.
The operation procedure has a simple sequence:
- The pipe is cut, after which it is fixed to the shut-off valve for water, but the water meter itself is collected in advance.
- Do not forget about additional reliability - tape fum. Some may use something else, but additional compaction is not enough.
- As soon as the counter is connected to the tap, it is necessary to determine how the counter thread will rise. The excess pipe is removed, and a thread or fitting is already mounted at its end.
- Using a soldering iron, pipes are fixed between themselves.
- After the check valve is removed and fixed on the prepared pipe with a thread.
- Further, a nut returns to the water meter .
- Need to do a leak test. To do this, open the crane at the riser. If leaks do not occur, then all work is completed and completed. When a violation occurs, it is worth eliminating it. Even small droplets will cause serious damage.
- Next, an application is submitted and an employee is expected to check and seal the device of the water meter.
As you can see, installing water meters is not so complicated and long. If the pipe is metal, then this process requires more time and tools. It will be necessary to saw something, after soldering and inserting taps, etc. The procedure will take a lot of time and not everyone will be able to do it himself. Some people before embedding the meter, change the entire water system and choose polypropylene pipes. Sometimes this decision is right, because metal has its own life.
Who can help?
Not every person will cope with such a task. In addition, there are elderly people who, by virtue of their age, do not get down to business. But what should they do? Since there are rules and procedures for installing water meters, you can invite masters to complete this task. But it is worth approaching this process with all seriousness and carefully choosing a company.
But how to understand that the company is serious and has competent specialists? There are simple selection criteria or certain factors that you should focus on:
- Only a license will say that the company has good specialists. In addition, such documents indicate that there is the right equipment and tools. Sometimes they have pipes, taps, so it’s possible to purchase nothing.
- Do they give a guarantee for all work performed. If breakdowns occur during the process, repairs are carried out at no extra cost. Only those who are confident in the actions taken to install the equipment can give such guarantees.
- All documentation. It is necessary to obtain a guarantee, as well as to seal the device.
This spectrum makes it possible to understand that there is a master in front of the person who will make the installation of the meter in the water correct and accurate. When a company receives certification for its activities, they already bear full responsibility for their work. Such masters, before starting the whole process, create a diagram on which it becomes clear what and where to settle down. When the owner of the house approves it, then all installation work goes on it.
The Internet helps everyone check which companies may be licensed. This list is in the direction of a single customer. If the master takes on the job, then the owner no longer needs to rack his brains on how everything will look and what needs to be acquired. When the rule and order are not violated when installing the water meter, the regulatory authorities do not quibble.
What is the legal side?
Oddly enough, but the process of consumption of cold and hot water is regulated by the Federal Law. However, some apartment buildings must have a common meter, as well as additional in each apartment. But it is definitely worth knowing the SNiP and the rules for installing water meters. At the same time, everyone must comply with the conditions under which access to the metering devices of the inspection bodies should occur unhindered and conveniently. Without sealing, such equipment does not have its own strength, so it’s worth inviting a master.
After the acquisition, everyone will see a special passport on the counter in the box. There will be data, namely a number. By this indicator, it is easy to find the device in the database of the Information Fund. If such a fix is obtained, then an additional check is not necessary. Although sometimes it is produced - it all depends on the inspection authorities.
Is it obligatory to set?
But it is not always required to install a counter in a house that has been built for a long time. But which ones are included here? These are houses recognized as shabby. But this requires special documentation. Because such structures have corresponding pipes. To create additional load on them is simply dangerous. So, the owner of such an apartment or house may well refuse the installation procedure and will not be punished. Payment without a water meter occurs at a certain rate, taking into account the living people.
What to do right away?
The procedure itself has two important stages, which depend on the prevailing local characteristics and practice. This is equipment installation and documentation. They can be made at one time or separately. The first process a person performs himself or asks for help from specialists. Each process has its own sequence and sometimes the owner does a lot on his own.
Acceptance is always made by someone who after collects a fee for the water consumed. You need to put a seal without payment, so if you ask for money, this is fraud. Often, in order not to violate the rules for installing a cold water meter, the whole process can be performed by one organization - the controlling authority of the water utility. They have specialists with experience in this process, so this is the best option.
There are nuances
It doesn’t matter how many connection points are in an apartment or house - each source must be under control. Therefore, how many incoming pipes from the main highway, the same number of metering devices should be. If this is a centralized process for supplying hot water and cold, water control is put on both. What are the rules for installing a water meter in a private house? But if it is a private sector and there is only one input, then there should be only one metering device. After the meter, a wiring is made to supply water to all sources. It could be:
- Restroom.
- Bathroom.
- Kitchen, etc.
In this situation, the installation is the simplest - the main supply source is turned off and after work is underway. Therefore, when creating wiring throughout the house, you need to make shut-off cranes so as not to go into the well and close the tap there. If this is not the case, you will have to dehydrate the whole house.
Installation works take place close to the riser, to the trunk by the insertion method. Everyone is always interested in the cost of such work. They will depend on the selected material from which the pipes are made. In addition, the technical condition of all systems and the cost of the device itself matters. It is at the level of choice of the company conducting the installation work to identify how much they will take. Sometimes price matters.
It is also necessary to study the water-measuring device - how it works and how reliable. It is worth paying attention to:
- Pressure regulator. But this is at the discretion of the owner.
- Fine filter. Not everyone installs it, because it is often clogged and must be cleaned or replaced.
- Check valve. This is a prerequisite. Without it, no one will put a seal.
Each element is placed sequentially, depending on the proposed scheme and rules. To make it easier, there is a special marking of each element. It must be understood that dismantling may be required at any time. So, you should not make nodes that are not subject to this. After that, all fasteners are checked for leakage of cold and hot water. The installation of the meter is done after the water has been drained from the system (after you need to fill it back). As a result, a wide variety of deposits and sometimes large particles form on the filters. Therefore, after starting it is worth checking them, otherwise the device will fail.
How does commissioning take place?
When each process is completed in full, it is an act of delivery and acceptance of equipment. This document spells out a lot:
- Instrument numbers.
- Installation date.
- Data on the consumer of water.
- Information about those who accepted the whole system.
This document is signed by each of the participants. But this act is not considered the main one. Also, the water consumer should have:
- The technical passport, in which the most important thing is the data on entering the counter and the initial numbers on it.
- Information that the counter was checked by specialists. They also indicate the date of the next visit for the same actions. This is done once every four years.
To check the entire device, it must be removed and taken to a special organization. The company that maintains and monitors the correct operation of the device can also make repairs. It is worth immediately solving many issues at the installation and commissioning level, concluding contracts so that there are no problems afterwards.
If the water meters were installed correctly and the order was not broken, then there will not be any problems. It is worth knowing that each region can have its own characteristics and uniqueness of the procedure. This is an individual order, although no one has the right to deviate from generally accepted legal data.
When it is required to tear the seal off the counter, this is mandatory reported to the regulatory authorities. There are enough reasons for this - damage, replacement of any component and others. They make a note, and the owner captures the data on the unit itself. After recovery, a specialist is again invited to seal. This procedure is the same for every moment, even if it happens several times.
What next?
When all the masters have checked and drawn up the act, the owner can independently take readings and make payments on them. This is not difficult to do - everyone copes with ease. It is known that there are uniform rules for installing a water meter in an apartment. There is one law for all, and there is a punishment for deviating from it.
The contract spells out every moment. What is included here? This may include checking the device, replacement, time for payment, etc. Contracts are drawn up for a specified period, may be extended or a new one made. These conditions depend on the supervisory authority, but without such a document service should not occur. Everyone who has a meter in an apartment or house, notes that payment for water is reduced, since it is carried out according to actual data. How much is spent, for so much and paid.
Conclusion
This is exactly how the approximate installation of the meter on water occurs. Changes may be - it all depends on the region, city or area. Today, there are many specialists who are ready to help any citizen who is unable to create these procedures on his own. But everyone should imagine how this is done to be sure of the correct installation.