Sealing of water meters - how much does it cost, who should seal?

// 18.09.2017

It's not a concern. There is no need to perceive the installation and sealing of water meters as an additional burden on the family budget. Quite the contrary. Everyone who is trying to save money thinks about housing and communal services. The system is very expensive. Resource providers are trying to plug their holes at taxpayers' expense. But this is done all over the world.

But you shouldn’t think that you can only cope with this. Together we will try to give a price for savings. Water meters with sealing are one of the elements of saving the family budget. You can have a different attitude towards the Moscow government, but at one time it made a decree that regulated the sealing of water meters and made it mandatory.

The operation itself is not very difficult, but it is necessary to explain the legality of the action itself. Sealing is included in the installation process of water meters in Moscow - the blacklist of companies is here. Confirms the legal fact that you have a water IPU installed, which they were able to seal for you. Without this, even the presence of meters in your apartment will not be considered an accounting action.

At the beginning of the 2000s, people started talking about saving resources in Moscow. Looking to the West, they began to think that water is an expensive pleasure. The community decided that it was time to install sealed water meters in the house. But any action must be accompanied by legal grounds. Legislators created a legal act that spoke about the unity of measurements in the country. It served as the basis for the further development of the resource accounting system.

The law should only work if there are legal mechanisms at the level of regional authorities. The Moscow government issued a decree that approved all work on sealing and water meters. It also talked about calibration intervals. How to seal. And who can do it.

It is clear that the first question that arises for the owner of accounting mechanisms is when to carry out the sealing. Let's list:

• you moved into an apartment where IPUs were present;
• the mechanisms may have expired (look in the technical documentation for how to seal it);
• any mechanism could become unusable for various reasons of sealing;
• the entire system has gone bad after an accident that is beyond your control.

These are only some of the listed reasons that may cause you to need to seal your water meters . Let us remind you that you need sealing, and not those departments that install, seal and verify measuring elements.

Is it necessary to seal the water meter?

The procedure for sealing a water meter is considered mandatory and regulated by law. If there is a seal, this guarantees the correct installation and use of the device. A water utility inspector will not put a seal on a faulty meter: water meters that are not marked with a seal are not allowed for use by apartment residents.

Indicators taken from faulty and unsealed water meters are not taken into account. Tariffs for water consumption are set according to a regulatory table, but this tariff is considered unprofitable for users. Therefore, most residents install meters in their apartments.

According to regulatory data, there are 6.9 cubic meters of cold water and 4.7 cubic meters of hot water per person.

Such consumption is considered inappropriate, exceeding real indicators, therefore, from an economic point of view, installing water meters will be more profitable.

Price for sealing water meters

The City Center for Accounting and Saving of Resources in Moscow is engaged in the full cycle of work on IPU water. You can definitely call at any time and place an order for installation of water meters, verification or sealing. By the way, sealing is done free of charge. There is no price for it.

Sealing itself is part of the process of installing or replacing mechanisms. Sealing is one of the most important functions when servicing instrument equipment.

Do you have questions about sealing meters? Write! We'll call you back

When is it necessary to seal the meter?

The law requires sealing to be carried out in the following cases:

1. Initial installation.
2. End of service life of the water meter.
3. The device has become faulty.
4. The ball valve was broken.
5. The integrity of the water meter was accidentally compromised.
6. Replacement of valves and taps responsible for water supply is required.
7. There was an accident.
8. Initially, there was no seal, and there was no passport for the metering device.

During the initial installation, the technician from the management company fills out all the paperwork for the water meter, and if he has the appropriate authority, he seals it. If the plumber does not have the right to seal the meter, then after installing it, they call an inspector from the city water utility. The technician carefully inspects the device for correct installation, then places a seal.

When the meter's service life comes to an end, it is also important to seal it. To do this, the water meter must be replaced or verified. These actions are carried out by a representative of the water utility or the relevant organization. The water meter is checked on site or dismantled and taken to a service center. After installing the device, a seal is made in its place.

In case of unintentional damage to the water meter, in case of an accident in the water supply system, in case of breakdown of ball valves, valves and other components of the water supply system, the meter is sealed. When carrying out repair work, you will most likely need to dismantle the water meter. Therefore, after its installation, you need to call a specialist to carry out legal commissioning and sealing.

For reference: if there is no seal on the meter initially, then you need to hurry. During inspection, the apartment owner may receive a fine for failure to fulfill obligations before the law. All documents and passports must be provided to organizations that keep records of water consumption readings.

How are water meters sealed?

How are water meters sealed? This procedure can be considered purely technical and at the same time of little interest to the consumer, but he definitely needs to know how this happens, since the process of acceptance of the device into operation by the contractor, with all the ensuing consequences, depends on how correctly and accurately everything is done.

After the application has been submitted, the contractor’s representative must coordinate the visit and, no later than 15 days, seal the consumer’s meter or meters - in houses with a centralized hot water supply, two devices must be installed, and in the event that heating occurs due to the column , electric boiler or other device, then one water meter is enough.

As a rule, the sealing of meters and their commissioning occur simultaneously, or rather sequentially, but on the same day. But before starting work, the specialist must take several mandatory steps:

• check the serial number of the device indicated in the product data sheet with the one printed on the body;
• check the correct connection and installation of the water meter;
• if the water meter has been verified, then you must check the fact that the corresponding entry was made in the FSIS “Arshin” database or make sure that there is a certificate (if the verification was carried out before September 24, 2020);
• if a replacement was carried out, then the data of the old meter will be required.

The representative must check the compliance of the address indicated in the application and the owner’s documents.

In this case, the consumer is also obliged to check with a specialist, who must present:

• a certificate confirming that he is a representative of the performing company;
• a copy of the license or confirmation of accreditation giving the right to carry out such work.

Also, the contractor’s representative must have with him all the necessary forms to complete the commissioning procedure.

But the sealing process itself is a series of sequential actions:

• diagnostics of the operation of the water supply system and metering devices;
• installation of a seal (or seals).

After this, the specialist can draw up the appropriate documents confirming the commissioning of measuring instruments.

What types of seals are there for water meters?

The main purpose of installing seals on water meters is to prevent interference with the operation of the device mechanism and the influence of the magnetic field.

Several types of seals can be installed on water meters:

• plastic;
• lead;
• rotary;
• antimagnetic.

Moreover, the latter are not always installed, but most often on the initiative of the utility company that supplies water. Their goal is to prevent the device from being exposed to a magnetic field in order to distort its readings by slowing down the speed. As a rule, with such an impact, an external change in the seal-sticker occurs, which is very easy to detect.

Standard seals, required for installation, serve to exclude any possibility of unauthorized entry and interference into the metering device mechanism. Externally, they are small plates or buttons that are attached to the meter on both sides and connected to it with wire or a special rope. Most often, lead seals are installed, which are reliable and able to withstand thermal effects, which is important when it comes to sealing a hot water meter. Rotary seals, in addition to their direct function, also do an excellent job of acting as antimagnetic protection, and at the same time they are the most reliable, since they are almost impossible to counterfeit.

But if for any reason there was damage, then the consumer should know where to go if the seal on the water meter is broken or the anti-magnetic sticker is destroyed. After such a case, the service provider organizes an extraordinary inspection, draws up a corresponding report and, as a rule, issues an order regarding the need for an extraordinary verification of the meter. After this, the device can be resealed and put into operation. But there are different situations, even with legal proceedings, since damage to the seal is a serious violation on the part of the consumer and is often fraught with sanctions in the form of fairly substantial fines.

Often, in cases where any problems arise related to the operation of water meters, most consumers begin to panic, urgently look for the necessary phone numbers and where to call. And everything can be solved much easier by going to the RosAccount resource. On the site you can always ask a question and, most importantly, get a professional answer to it. In addition, in the RosSchet online store you can buy water meters at very attractive prices, as well as order the installation of devices, their verification or replacement.

Where to go and what you need to seal water meters

From July 1, 2012, the installation of water meters in an apartment or private house is considered mandatory. If the rules are not followed, homeowners are punished with fines. Installing a water meter, as well as its sealing, is considered an integral process when putting the device into operation. To understand how the procedure occurs, you need to consider where to apply for the service and what documents are needed to implement it:

1. Who performs the filling? The procedure is carried out by authorized employees of the city water utility company or the organization to which the subscriber pays a monthly fee for resource consumption. This includes municipal enterprises, homeowners' associations or management companies. These organizations have entered into an agreement with the water utility for the possibility of self-sealing when installing or replacing a device. Some utilities exempt themselves from the authority to seal the water meter. They refer consumers to private organizations that provide this service.
2. What documents are required for filling? Until 2010, management companies required a special license to seal a meter. It gave organizations the authority to seal; today this document has been abolished. In order for the technician to be able to attach a seal to the water meter, it is necessary to provide him with the passport of the metering device at the time of the procedure. When the seal is installed, a company employee must draw up a report on the work done. This act indicates the meter number, the name of the organization, and the date of its sealing. The seal number and technical data of the water meter are also written down here.

If the procedure was carried out according to the rules, the acceptance certificate is signed by two persons - the owner of the apartment and the foreman.

The document is sent to the management company and stored there until the next water meter sealing date.

Who does it

The most common question that arises among apartment owners where water meters need to be sealed is who is involved in this activity. There may be several options:

• Management Company;
• housing maintenance office;
• water utility

To find out exactly how the work is done and where to go for help, you can call the management company’s hotline or visit its website. If it is the management company that is responsible for sealing and checking water meters, then you can leave a request for the service directly on the website. There you need to indicate your address, in particular, the apartment number, as well as your last name. At the appointed hour, the technician will visit the subscriber and take the appropriate actions. At the end of the procedure, the parties must sign the commissioning certificate, since it is prohibited to use an unsealed meter for its intended purpose.

When contacting the DEZ or Housing Office, the actions will be similar. The subscriber calls the specified number, leaves a request and waits for the technician at a certain time. If the city water utility does the sealing, then the procedure is smoother, since the service is provided directly from the resource supplier. Acceptance for use occurs after the subscriber has read all its conditions on the department’s website.

For reference. To agree on the date of acceptance of the metering device, you must call the number provided on the Vodokanal website or appear in person. Each organization has a set work schedule for a technician who will arrive at the appointed time for sealing.

If the sealing was carried out by third-party companies, then the act of putting the water meter into operation must be handed over to the water utility in person. You can write a letter and send it by email, attaching scanned copies or photographs of existing documents.

How much does it cost to seal a water meter?

According to established legislation, the initial sealing of water meters is free of charge. The subscriber does not have to pay anything at the end of the procedure. Several cases where no fee is charged:

• if an emergency replacement of pipes and fittings was carried out, which was the reason for resealing the device;
• if the meter is new, installed after a device that has expired.

The data is specified in Art. 20 Federal Law “On Water Supply and Sewage”, so if a master tries to take payment for his services, such actions will be considered illegal. There are a number of cases when filling is carried out for a fee. When the seal is broken due to the fault of the apartment owner, it can only be restored for money. Depending on the region and city, this cost can vary from 600 to 2000 rubles. In this case, the service life of the device will be different: for example, old water meters have a longer service life. When answering the question whether you need to pay for a filling, you can first find out about it by phone.

Important. From the moment the application is submitted, an employee of the water utility or management company must put a seal within 15 days. The operator accepts the application, and the day before the master’s visit, calls the subscriber back to confirm his presence in the apartment at the designated time. Work often takes place within 3 days or 1 week, so you won’t have to wait long. For the waiting period, tariffs are carried out according to the regulatory table established by the department.

Who should seal water meters and according to what law of the Russian Federation

Who has the right to seal water meters? The answer to this question can be found in Article 25 of the Federal Law dated December 7, 2011 No. 416-FZ “On water supply and sanitation.” This document clearly regulates the relationship between the consumer and the supplier specifically in terms of the sealing procedure. It states that any measuring instruments intended to record the consumption of cold and hot water supply must be sealed by organizations that, under a contract, carry out work on water supply and sanitation. However, there is no charge for this, with the exception of certain cases.

Thus, after the consumer has installed a water meter, in order to seal it, he should contact the contractor providing the relevant services. Most often, this can be a management company or HOA, as well as the water supplier directly, etc. Exactly how this service is provided is indicated in Resolution No. 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” dated 05/06/2011. In the same place, in paragraph “y” of Art. 31 says how to properly seal the meter:

• after the meter has been installed, the consumer must submit a written application to the contractor no later than the next month;
• after sealing and putting the measuring instrument into operation, payment for water from the 1st day of the month following the month in which these works were carried out is made according to the meter readings;
• in the event that the contractor, for some reason, slows down the process of sealing and putting the meter into operation, the consumer has the right to appeal to the court or a regulatory authority, for example, the Housing Inspectorate.

Who seals the hot and cold water meter

The answer to this question follows from the answer to another - who is most interested in ensuring that records are kept correctly, and at the same time, eliminating possible interference with the operation of the device? Naturally, this is a resource supplying organization

, which is the only way to control this process, especially considering the fact that the metering device itself is the property of the user and, as a rule, is installed on his premises. Of course, periodic checks allow you to monitor the condition of the meter, but their purpose is different, namely, to verify the accuracy of readings taken and recorded. And the presence of seals (of which there may be several on water meters) is a guarantee against interference with the mechanism of the device.

However, not only the resource supplying organization is engaged in sealing water meters; often such a structure can delegate this function to management companies, homeowners' associations and other public utility institutions that service an apartment building or residential and other facilities located in a private residential area. Also, sealing of water meters can be carried out by specialists from specialized companies who have the appropriate powers and accreditation.

How to seal a water meter when first installing or replacing

Having decided who will seal the water meter - the management company or the water utility, you can fill out an application and wait for the procedure to be completed. To put a seal on the meter, the subscriber must prepare all the documentation and also be sure that the device is installed in accordance with all existing legal rules. After submitting the application, a technician visits the designated apartment and carries out the sealing procedure.

During initial installation, the application must be filled out as follows:

• owner details – passport information, apartment address;
• owner contact information;
• planned date of commissioning of the water meter, its serial number;
• certificate of installation of a water meter;
• information about the company installing the water meter;
• the latest readings of the device, if it has already been used;
• date of the next verification of the device.

When replacing the device, the same data is indicated, only the water consumption readings are not taken into account. If the device is replaced, the indicators are reset to zero and after commissioning they are counted from zero. The filling itself is simple: the master uses a special device called a seal. It has a small hole through which the wire is threaded. This wire is also threaded through the eyelet in the meter. Then the seal is fixed at the bonding site.

We recommend. You cannot open, tear or cut the seal yourself in order to manipulate the meter. Such actions are punishable by law and entail a fine; you will have to reinstall the seal, this time at a cost.

How to apply for sealing of water meters online

The modern pace of life dictates new rules and norms of behavior for a person; he is increasingly solving problems using the capabilities of the Internet. These opportunities are widely used in the housing and communal services system, and not only to make payments for services received, but also to resolve many other issues.

Of course, you can sign up for water meter sealing by directly contacting the contractor, making him happy with your personal visit. You can also fill out an application by phone, but the most convenient option is to use the Internet: this choice not only saves the consumer’s time, but is also more convenient for the contractor. And in order to complete an application for sealing in this way, you need to choose a method that is convenient for you:

• Personal Area. This option is suitable for those who are registered in the system; for others, you will need to first register an account;
• fill out a special form on the performer’s website;
• by sending an application letter by email.

And if you need to seal a water meter, but you don’t have the desire or time to deal with these issues yourself, you can take advantage of the opportunity provided by the RosSchet online store: you can easily fill out a special form on the website and all these issues will be resolved in the near future.

What documents are needed to seal the water meter in an apartment?

So, you won’t be able to seal the water meter yourself. To perform such work, you need special powers, which means you need to contact the contractor or service provider with this problem. At the same time, when filling out an application online or offline, the consumer must submit a small package of documents, the main of which is the application itself, and it must indicate:

• information about the consumer-payer of services: full name, details of a passport or other identification document, telephone number;
• the planned date for sealing the metering device and putting it into operation;
• information about the organization or company that carried out the installation work (but not everyone requires such information);
• type and type of meter, as well as its serial number;
• date of the next verification;
• meter readings at the time of its installation.

Additionally, but necessarily, copies of the following documents must be submitted along with the application:

• meter passports;
• passport of the owner of the metering device and his SNILS or INN;
• for meters that were verified before September 24, 2020 - a copy of the verification certificate. For new devices, as well as those that were verified according to the new rules, this requirement is not relevant, since information about the corresponding event is available in the FSIS “Arshin” database.

How much does it cost to seal a meter?

The question of whether it is necessary to pay for sealing water meters or not often worries consumers who are accustomed to the fact that they must pay for every service received from utilities and other similar services. But with sealing, the issue is resolved differently and depends on the reasons for this procedure.

In most cases, the consumer does not have to pay for sealing the meter and this rule is relevant if:

• the meter is installed for the first time and needs to be put into operation;
• after the next verification;
• as a result of planned replacement after the service life of the previous device has expired.

All these norms are contained in Resolution PR No. 354 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings” dated May 6, 2011, namely in paragraph 81-9 and in Federal Law No. 416-FZ “On water supply and water disposal" dated December 7, 2011. These documents also spell out situations in which payment for sealing meters should be charged, for example, in the following cases:

• after repair of the water meter and its subsequent verification;
• if the seal(s) was damaged due to the fault of the consumer or third parties;
• re-sealing of the device, regardless of the reason that caused such an event, as well as in some other cases.

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What happens if the seal is broken?

After replacing the meter, as well as installing the seal, the user undertakes to comply with the law. Violation of the integrity of the seal leads to liability. Even if the subscriber has not reported violations to the appropriate organization, inspectors will discover them when checking the meter - if the wire is torn off or cut, then this is considered non-compliance with the rules.

Unscrupulous consumers may resort to various tricks to reduce their utility bills.

A broken filling has the following external signs:

1. The plastic seal is completely susceptible to breakage.
2. If a sticker seal is used, an inscription appears on it.
3. If the “Expert” protective device is used, the body is susceptible to cracking.
4. When using anti-magnetic tape, it will change color.
5. In a conventional seal, the wire or twine winding is broken.

In total, there are three types of violations: standard breaking of the seal, without interfering with the operation of the device, connection without using the meter, illegal use of magnets. The minimum fine will be 200 rubles, but this figure varies depending on the city. If the seal was broken and the subscriber connected the water supply bypassing the water meter, the penalty increases. It is at least 1000 rubles. With the additional use of magnets, the fine will be 200-300 thousand rubles, the subscriber may be punished with imprisonment.

What does commissioning of a metering device include?

When the time and date are agreed upon, the metering device is installed, the CP contractor carries out the procedure for putting the CP into operation. This process consists of several stages (clause 81 (4) RF PP No. 354):

1. Reconciliation of the CP data with its documentation.

The CP contractor checks the serial number on the meter and in the passport, the equipment and installation diagram - they must match the information in the technical documentation of the CP manufacturer. If the meter is not new, then it is necessary to check the date of the last verification (clause 84 (1) of the Russian Federation Regulations No. 354).

2. Checking the control unit for operability.

The operation of the counting mechanism of the metering device, which records resource consumption, is checked.

3. Sealing of the metering device.

The utility service provider installs control and antimagnetic seals on the meter.

4. Recording of PU readings at the time of sealing.

This stage is necessary to correctly calculate the fee for the consumed resource according to the readings of the new meter.

5. Drawing up an act of putting the metering device into operation in two copies with the signatures of the owner and executor of the control center (clause 81 (6.7) of the RF PP No. 354).

The act records the date, time and address of putting the PU into operation, data on the representatives of the CP contractor who participated in the procedure, data on the PU (type, number, installation location), initial meter readings, indication of the installation locations of the seals and their numbers, the date of the next verification.

If, during an inspection of the control unit, its inconsistencies with the technical documentation are revealed or the fact of violations in its operation is established, then the executor of the control system may refuse to accept the owner of the control unit for calculations, which is indicated in the act (clause 81 (5) of the RF PP No. 354).

What types of hot water meters for homes are there?
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Who can avoid installing water meters?

If the subscriber lives in a room in which installation of a water meter is impossible for technical reasons, then he has the right to refuse installation of the device. This includes the following cases:

• house in disrepair;
• old pipeline requiring major repairs and complete replacement of the water supply system;
• there are no conditions for correct installation of the meter.

All these cases allow the consumer not to install a water meter. Then the calculation of the consumption of cubic meters will be carried out using standard data regulated by the water utility.

Who should worry about having a filling?

Sealing a technical device is a householder's concern if he does not want to overpay according to the regional standard, which, as a rule, exceeds the volume of actual consumption.
The presence of a seal does not change the quality of the meter's operation. But settlements with the resource company before signing the meter acceptance certificate are not made based on its indicators.

Only official sealing becomes the data reference point for the generation of monthly receipts for payment for expended water resources.
Legislative acts prohibit taking into account information for payments for water from meters without seals. Organizations that have received permission to seal measuring instruments provide:

• proper safety of meter operation;
• control of water consumption within the framework of uniformity of measurements.

After applying the seal, the blame for incorrect operation of the measuring equipment falls on the responsible persons who carried out the installation.

Who is responsible for checking meters for hot water supply and hot water supply?

To seal hot water and cold water meters, you need to identify the organization that manages the housing.
Additionally, you can obtain information about the company performing the duties of controlling the IPU. Read also: Limitation period for loans

Then an application is drawn up addressed to the director of the division or company. The essence of the appeal is to install and/or seal a water meter. The document contains information:

1. Details of the owner of the premises or tenant - full name form, residential address, contact details.
2. Information about the metering device.
3. The address where the IPUs are located.
4. Type, license plate of the meter.
5. Attach a copy of the installation certificate.
6. Indicate the reasons for installing the seal.
7. Specify your preferred time for completing the work.
8. Attach copies of technical data sheets of devices.

The application must be completed in two copies. One paper remains in the archives of the RSO or management organization, and on the second form a mark is placed on the registration of the appeal. If it is impossible to personally submit the application, documents may be sent by Russian post. The letter must be of a registered nature, with notification.

After registering the appeal, the RSO or management company is required to send an employee to carry out the work. The application execution period is no more than 15 days. In reality, the event takes place over 3-4 days.

If the owner sent the application within the established time frame, and the management company employee did not seal it within fifteen days, then the consumer has the right to pay according to the old IPU. The date of calculation of new settlements is the day of drawing up the act.