Causes of the problem
A water meter can break down for a variety of reasons. The first sign that the device needs repair is when the measuring blades stop spinning. The following facts also indicate a malfunction:
- water consumption greatly exceeds or is less than the monthly norm;
- when you turn on the water, the indicator stands still, rotates with pauses or in the opposite direction;
- The meter glass constantly fogs up.
There may be several reasons why the counter does not spin at all. The most common:
- Incorrect installation.
- Water temperature is more than 90 °C.
- Depressurization.
- Pipe clogged.
- Change in water pressure.
- Leak.
- Correction of readings using magnets.
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If the meter spins in the opposite direction, it can be assumed that the internal mechanism of the water meter or the water supply system is broken. Additional reasons include:
- wear and tear of the meter;
- incorrect installation of the boiler;
- pressure drops in pipes;
- lack of rotary valve;
- incorrect connection of water meters.
If the device shows numbers that do not correspond to water consumption, it can be assumed that the elements of the device are worn out or the flow mechanism is clogged. Many users do not know what to do after the hot water meter breaks down. It is important to follow several rules here.
For reference. The service life of one meter is 12 years. An additional check should be carried out once every 4-5 years.
For what reasons do devices break down?
The course of action will depend on the reason for the breakdown. Errors during installation often lead to increased readings, as well as operating costs. But there are other situations that contribute to problems.
Depressurization
There are two main signs that indicate this is the problem:
- The glass began to fog up.
- The appearance of water leaks nearby.
To identify other possible causes, the pipeline is completely shut down. The current readings are recorded, then wait about 2-3 hours. When time has passed, the water is released again, studying the readings. If the readings are different, check the taps and see how tight the existing connections are.
If leaks appear, tighten the couplings. This often happens if one of the taps breaks. If the problem is fogging, you need to change the indicator.
The meter is not installed correctly
Often the cause of premature failure is that the requirements for installing devices are violated. On each device, manufacturers indicate exactly which pipeline the connection should be made to.
Each device has a service life designed for specific temperature impacts. Over time, the device may fail if it is for cold water, but is connected to a hot pipeline.
Water pipes are clogged
Water contains various impurities that are deposited on the walls of the pipe
Blockages inside pipes are one of the most common reasons why devices break down prematurely. Most often, problems are caused by hot water containing various impurities and foreign substances.
By looking at the impeller of the device, it is easy to understand whether the device is functioning normally. If something is wrong, this part starts spinning too fast.
It is recommended to install special filters on all hot water supply pipes. This will increase the service life and provide additional protection. Essentially, these are special flasks with small meshes placed inside them. Two pipes are mounted in the upper part.
Periodically, the filters themselves require cleaning, which involves performing certain actions:
- Shutdown, draining of remaining water.
- The upper pipes are unscrewed using a folding wrench.
- The mesh is taken out from the inside and completely cleaned.
- All parts are dried and installed in place.
Modern companies produce varieties of filters where cleaning is simplified as much as possible. There are simply special cartridges inside, which over time require replacement with new devices.
Water pressure problems
The operating mode often depends on the speed at which the water moves along the main line. The readings on the water meter change faster if the diameter of the pipes is not too large. If there is insufficient pressure, another situation arises - the arrows simply stop spinning. When troubleshooting, it is worth taking a closer look at this problem.
The counting mechanism is broken
If the counting mechanism breaks down, it is better to replace the water meter with a new one.
The breakdown of the mechanism most likely became the main problem if previous defects were excluded, but the readings on the device still did not change. A stationary arrow with no blockages also speaks in favor of this situation.
The rotors or the counting mechanisms themselves usually fail. Here you cannot do without calling a master to your home who provides the appropriate services.
Owners' desire to save on operating costs can lead to problems. Because of this, they interfere with the operation of devices, which leads to additional difficulties and defects. The rule applies to magnets and other devices with similar properties.
If the water is too hot
According to current regulations, you cannot use water whose temperature is 75 degrees or higher. Deviations from this indicator are acceptable, but they should not be significant. The meters themselves can withstand up to 90 degrees. But the risk of device breakdown increases significantly if such a deviation operates constantly.
Procedure when a malfunction is detected
If sealed water meters are installed in the apartment, independent repairs are prohibited, because the integrity of the seals will be compromised. The only thing you can do if the hot water meter does not spin is to lightly tap the lid. This will clear the blockage in the flow tube and restore the rotation of the impeller. If this action does not help, then further repairs are carried out by water utility employees.
Immediately after identifying a faulty meter, reduce your hot water consumption. At night and when leaving home, be sure to close the blocking valve on the supply pipe. A sealed meter cannot be repaired yourself - file a breakdown report with the water supply company.
In order not to pay large sums for water before installing a meter, you need to switch to minimum tariffs. To do this, an official application is filled out in printed form and certified with a wet seal. After the user contacts the house, an inspector must come to the house, note the readings, cut the seal, and fill out the report.
According to the law, repair or replacement of water metering devices must be carried out no later than 30 days.
Important! If the water meter is under warranty, the manufacturer will undertake repairs and replacement. In case of refusal, you must file a complaint with Rospotrebnadzor.
Making a decision: repair the old one or install a new one?
After registering a report of a malfunction of the hot water water meter, you must make a decision: repair the old device or purchase a new device. In case of minor malfunctions in the operation of the mechanism, you can try to repair the hot water meter yourself or send it to a specialist for service.
Repairing accounting devices that have been in use is very expensive. Sometimes the price for repair is equal to the cost of a new device. Therefore, it is advisable to purchase a meter with warranty service. Many manufacturers provide free installation of water meters. After purchasing, all that remains is to register the device with the water supply company and apply for sealing.
What is considered a breakdown?
The regulations contain complete details of the process of working with hot and cold water meters. This means that the text examines possible problems in the operation of devices and the reasons for them. Thus, paragraph 81 (12) contains the following options for meter failure:
- not displaying data;
- violation of the integrity of fillings (quite common);
- mechanical damage to parts or equipment housing;
- measurement error deviation exceeds the permissible limit;
- expiration of the device's service life without verification.
Attention: the owner of the premises in which it is installed is responsible for the integrity of the equipment.
Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation of May 6, 2011 N 354 On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings.
Who should repair or replace, and at whose expense?
A breakdown of an metering device in an apartment always raises a lot of questions, such as: who should replace it, repair it, and what will they have to pay for?
If the faulty meter is still under warranty, you must contact the manufacturer to request a replacement or repair. The accounting device will be removed for inspection to determine the cause of the malfunction. The procedure will take a considerable period of time, after which an examination report will be drawn up.
The commission's decision will be made in favor of the owner only if experts determine that the device was used in accordance with all operating rules. However, this rarely happens. Most manufacturers refuse to replace or repair the meter. If the company agrees to repair the device, the repair process will drag on for several months. It is much easier to buy a new water meter.
Attention! At the end of the warranty period, repairs and replacement of the meter are carried out at the expense of the owner.
Repairing an old device costs almost the same as buying a new one. Therefore, purchasing a water meter will be the best solution.
What happens if a malfunction is discovered during an inspection?
Often, metering devices fail without the knowledge of the owner. A malfunction of the water meter is discovered only during a scheduled walk-through of company employees. This threatens with large fines and additional costs for services.
The controller will draw up a report of the malfunction, after which the management company will recalculate payments based on average hot water consumption standards for each registered family member. You will have to make additional payments for the previous 3-6 months, because it is no longer possible to determine the moment of the breakdown.
We recommend. To avoid fines, periodically check the operation of the meters yourself.
The hot water meter is broken. What to do?
According to the Rules for the provision of public utilities (Resolution of the Government of the Russian Federation dated May 6, 2011 No. 354), the owner of the premises in which the meter is installed is obliged to report its malfunction to the emergency dispatch service of the utility service provider or to another service indicated by the utility provider in the documents to the counter.
When contacting the dispatch service, it is necessary to provide the readings of the meter at the moment when it failed. The malfunction must be corrected within 30 days from the date of discovery of the breakdown. When repairing the meter, the utility service provider is obliged to notify the apartment owner 2 days before the company employees come to reinstall the meter.
After reinstallation, a representative of the management organization or resource supply company (depending on who is providing the services) must verify and seal the meter.
If a malfunction of the meter was detected during the next verification of the device, then the fee for hot water will be charged to the owner of the apartment according to the standard, until the faulty meter is replaced.
Main rules for installation and operation of the device
Before purchasing a new product, carefully inspect the elements for mechanical damage.
The meter package includes:
- Water metering device.
- Passport with wet stamp, date, signature of the seller.
- Spare gaskets.
- Set of connecting elements.
The service life of meters is, on average, from 8 to 12 years. More detailed information is in the instructions. It should be remembered that operation begins from the date of manufacture of the product, and not from the date of purchase.
To properly install the water meter, you must perform the following steps:
- turn off the water in the riser;
- connect the shut-off valve and the coarse filter;
- count the number of turns when twisting;
- wrap threads and connections with insulating tape;
- make sure that the direction of water flow coincides with the arrows on the body.
After installation, it is necessary to notify the water utility and invite a technician to seal it. During the entire period of operation, the following rules must be observed:
- monitor the tightness of the device housing;
- do not lean foreign objects against the water meter;
- provide free access;
- keep the technical passport until the end of the warranty period.
