Replacing the water meter as an alternative to periodic inspections

To date, many apartments already have appliances that measure the amount of water consumed. Residents set them for two reasons: the desire to reduce utility costs and preparation for the day when the availability of water meters will become mandatory for everyone. Such devices really allow to save from 500 to 1000 rubles per month (depending on the number of people living). At the same time, it is important for the tenants themselves to reduce payments for utilities: the better they control the water discharge, the less they will pay. However, in calculating the expected benefits, we did not take into account the fact that water meters are periodically replaced. The law does not directly require this, but it stipulates that all measuring devices must be inspected within the agreed time. Let's try to simulate how it looks in real life.

Installation

So, you have purchased the necessary instruments and even managed to install them. Next, they need to be sealed - this service is provided by RGU employees, of course, not free of charge. And you can refuse on the grounds that the devices do not have a certificate. It is not forbidden to set up counters on your own, however, there is a risk of refusing to seal devices on request because they are improperly located or connected.

You can order the entire set of services in a special company. Workers will do all the work at a convenient time, quickly, qualitatively, but expensive. Compromise - buy meters and order installation and sealing in the RGU. After the instruments have been delivered, you need to remember that checking or replacing hot water meters is done every four years, cold - every six years. If you do not do this, you can at any time make a recalculation according to the tariff (from the moment of the next inspection to the present day, but not more than for three years).

Check or replace the water meter

For any sane person it is obvious that it is much easier to check the device than to replace it. But this is in theory. In practice, to pass the test, you must dismantle the counters and take them to a special service. This procedure is fee-based and long, and no one will guarantee that the meter will be suitable. We consider the costs: the payment for dismantling and installation, the cost of verification, and in half the cases and the purchase of a new device. In addition, all the time, while the device is on check, you will be charged for the tariff.

Replacing the water meter requires much less effort. You just need to buy new devices and pay for the work of the master. As a rule, this procedure takes no more than 2-3 hours. However, it should be noted that replacing the water meter instead of testing is justified when you have installed the simplest and therefore inexpensive devices. If you have installed a sophisticated electronic device with the function of storing the last readings or a temperature sensor that begins to record the consumption of hot water only when it reaches a certain temperature, it is best to still take the time to check it. Replacing a water meter with such technical parameters requires a lot of financial costs, so this procedure is justified only if the device does not pass the test.

Remember that the date of commissioning is the number and month of the device check at the factory or the date of manufacture, and not the date of purchase.