Sealing water meters: procedure, what to do if the seal is broken

Is it necessary to seal meters?

The problem of saving water resources is very acute at the moment; it is necessary to properly use the available natural reserves. Federal Law No. 261 “On Energy Saving” dated November 23, 2009 Art. 13 (as amended on July 29, 2017) and RF Government Decree No. 776 recommend that all co-owners of housing install water meters, otherwise utility bills are calculated with an increasing factor (clause 42 of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 as amended on March 27, 2018).

Installing water meters significantly reduces the amount of payments and allows you to regulate resource consumption. According to RF PP No. 354, clause 81(8), commissioning of a water meter is accompanied by sealing. If there is no seal, then the readings are considered invalid and payment is calculated using increasing factors.

When is it necessary to seal an IPU?

Unlike an electricity meter, the water meter is located in a closed transparent case that cannot be removed, otherwise the control plastic ring will be damaged. In addition, modern cold and hot water meters are equipped with an anti-magnetic sticker. Such a seal responds to attempts to change the readings by exposure to electromagnetic waves (the substance spreads in a transparent capsule). If a sticker is accidentally or intentionally torn off, the word “Open” will appear on the surface when it is put back in place.

On a note! The presence of an antimagnetic element slightly affects the cost of the device, but eliminates any claims from the resource supplying organization in terms of deliberate influence on the device.

The final sealing of the water meter is carried out using a plastic numbered part. To do this, an employee of the relevant organization is called. The work does not directly affect the main part of the device, except for mechanisms without an anti-magnetic sticker. Sealing occurs between two control nuts, which serve to connect the device to the supply system.

This procedure is necessary in the following cases:

Initial commissioning of a water meter in newly built private and apartment buildings.
Completion of the period of use or return of the mechanism from a certified inspection. For cold water IPU, the period after the first verification is 6 years, for hot water – 4 years. If the DHW device is installed on cold water pipes, then the period is calculated based on the data specified in the commissioning certificate.
Meter failure. The fact of damage is detected independently or during inspection by regulatory organizations.
Replacement of valves and pipes (if work cannot be carried out without removing the device). This is especially true if the inlet ball valve fails.
An emergency situation that required the rapid dismantling of the IPU or pipes.
Cleaning filter clogged. If the supplied water contains coarse impurities, the mesh installed at the inlet gradually becomes clogged. To clean, you will need to remove the mechanism.
Damage to the wire used to seal the device.

To avoid problems, you need to take into account the basic rule, which involves maintaining the integrity of the element used to seal the mechanism.

In case of any intervention in the operation of the water supply system, which entails complete or partial dismantling of the water meter, it is necessary to reseal the meter

Responsibility for a broken seal

For breaking the seal, the company may demand payment of an amount without taking into account the meter. The reference number is the date of filing the application or the last day of checking the meter.

The fine for a broken seal on a water meter is calculated as follows: the throughput of the water supply system is multiplied by the number of calendar days when the seal was not installed. This amount is paid by the owner.

If the seal was damaged accidentally, you need to proceed according to the following algorithm:

write a statement about the fact that the seal was removed;
apply for a new filling;
wait for the inspector to arrive to reseal it.

The application must indicate the reason for the situation. The inspector will check the device and make a decision whether an illegal attempt was made to change the readings. Then he must replace the filling with a new one.

If no unauthorized access is detected during the preparation of the report, the owner will not have to pay a fine. In this case, the testimony must correspond to reality. Payment is made only for refilling.

The seal is an element for correctly calculating resource consumption. Plastic or metal products are used. The seal is attached to a wire, sometimes knots are tied on a fishing line behind the seal. The installation is carried out by special structures associated with water supply. Sealing is done free of charge if the owner himself was not the cause of the broken seal. The absence of a seal can result in high costs for water supply services. If the seal is accidentally broken, you should contact the appropriate services and write a statement.

Who should seal the water meter?

To seal a meter, you need a license; you must contact the following organizations:

Management company or homeowners association. When charging for the supplied water resources, it is these structures that carry out the sealing. Exceptions are situations where the owners of an apartment building or cooperative at a general meeting agreed on direct interaction with the supplying organization.
MUP "Vodokanal" or MUP "Water Supply Service" (depending on the region). If the company acts as a resource supplier, then it is the company that is responsible for resealing.

In accordance with clause 81(8) of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354, the installation of seals is carried out by a representative of the utility service provider who has access. In some regions, the presence of an employee of the resource supply organization is also required.

Choosing a reliable and professional contractor.

For most citizens, one of the first questions is how to seal a water meter and where to go if necessary. It is important to note that the sealing of water meters is delegated to specially accredited companies that:

Granted permission to perform technological metrological work.
They have specialized equipment.
Mandatory availability of warranty and after-sales service, a wide range of services in plumbing and troubleshooting and carrying out current and major repairs, replacement and installation of consumption metering units.
Provide a complete package of documents for completed work.
Guarantee the proper fulfillment of their obligations.

Before deciding where to seal the water meter, you should take an individual approach to finding a contractor and pay attention to the duration of the company’s work or its rating among all participants in the modern plumbing market.

Procedure

Process diagram:

A water meter is purchased and installed. Self-installation is allowed provided all the details are followed.
An application for re-sealing is submitted. It is advisable to indicate the expected installation date.
An invited employee will check the correct installation of the meter and documentation.
The device must be sealed with a special plastic element or a lead seal. It is imperative that the wire passes through the holes of the two screw-on nuts.
An act is drawn up. The document indicates the date, full name and address of the subscriber, the name and position of the representative, the purpose of the survey, installation location, number, verification date, service life, cubic capacity of the water meter, seals for meters. If there is an old device, its parameters are overwritten. All indicators are checked and confirmed by signature.

The act must be drawn up in two copies, one remains with the owner. Most often, the contractor’s employee independently transfers documents to the resource supply organization.

Important! If after a month the line indicating the water meter number in the receipt has not changed, then you need to immediately contact the municipal unitary enterprise.

Promotion

Fill out the application for filling 4 inch yourself and we will make a discount in the amount

When submitting an application before the 4th sealing, a discount of 200 rubles

Installation of water meters is mandatory. Sealing of water meters allows you to control the correct compliance with the rules for using IPU. The legislation imposes on the owners of homes and premises compliance with all requirements for the installation, maintenance and operation of water meters in Moscow, in accordance with technical requirements. Therefore, it is important for a potential consumer to know how to properly seal the unit and who has the right to perform this work.

How to apply

Many organizations accept requests for initial or re-sealing by telephone, which is most often due to the presence of previously issued replacement certificates. But it is necessary to take into account that this procedure will not allow you to prove the fact of the application in case of problems, so it is better to submit the application in writing (based on clause 81 of the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 354 as amended on March 27, 2018).

Standard form:

Information about the owner of the premises. Full name, address, passport details, phone number.
Date of installation of the water meter.
Parameters and placement point of the IPU.
Although the RF PP requires information about the organization that performed the work, this point can be skipped. The fact is that this rule applies to meters, the installation of which requires mandatory licensing or certification.
Accurate readings.
Date of next verification.
A copy of the mechanism’s passport or document confirming the inspection in a special laboratory.

The application must be submitted to the management company, HOA or municipal unitary enterprise; the second copy with the date and initials of the receiving person remains with the owner. If it is necessary to change a device with an expiring service life, then the implementing organizations notify the subscriber in advance, indicating the period during which a new meter needs to be installed and the sealing dates.

Who should carry out the work?

Legislative and regulatory acts do not stipulate who specifically has the right to replace a faulty water control device. Owners can involve any legal entity or individual who has the necessary equipment to perform this service.

The organization (or individual entrepreneur) must undergo accreditation and also provide a license confirming the right to carry out such work. A prerequisite is the conclusion of a performance contract. After installation, the organization must provide a certificate of commissioning.

More detailed information on the issue here.

Legality of independent change

Since there is no direct prohibition in the legislation, the user has the right to replace a faulty meter with his own hands.

The only obstacle may be a clause about the inadmissibility of independently carrying out such work in the contract with the management company (or with the service provider, if the contract is directly with them).

Therefore, it is necessary to carefully study the agreement with the management company, if there is one, and also be sure to notify it.

Before starting work, you will need to agree to turn off the riser , as well as stock up on a set of tools and insulating materials.

The consequences of incorrect installation are not limited to a damaged device: in the worst case, independent actions can lead to flooding of your own and neighboring apartments.

Keep in mind: You need to be confident in your own skills and weigh the pros and cons of hiring professionals. Another disadvantage of manual installation is the lack of warranty.

Read about the legality of replacing the meter yourself in this article.

At whose expense is the equipment updated?

According to Federal Law No. 261 (Article 13), payment for the replacement of water consumption meters is borne by the owner of the property. If the apartment is municipal, then the municipality pays.

The following can count on a free change:

citizens with disabilities of the first and second groups;
the poor;
citizens raising children with disabilities;
WWII participants.

Other categories of citizens pay for the replacement of water pumps themselves, unless local authorities provide otherwise.

For example , in St. Petersburg, pensioners are exempt from paying the cost of work.

You can find more information about the cost of replacing appliances in this article.

Duration of the procedure

Time intervals are also specified in RF PP No. 354, paragraph 81-81(2):

The device is put into operation no later than the month following the installation date.
After receiving the application, the contractor can agree on a new deadline. For this purpose, 3 days are given from the moment the notification is accepted. The postponement cannot be more than 15 days from the original date.
If the contractor does not appear at the agreed time, then the device is considered to be put into operation from the moment the application is accepted. Although the law allows the use of IPU without a seal, it is necessary to contact the regulatory authorities so that the work is completed.

The water meter may not be put into operation if violations of the installation technology or non-compliance of the device with standards are discovered.

If there is no filling

If there is no seal, there will be no penalties for the homeowner. You just have to pay not according to the meter, but according to the standard tariff.

If you pay according to the readings of the meter, then during subsequent verification you may encounter other problems. The actual absence of a seal (subject to its availability according to the documentation) will be regarded as illegal interference with the operation of the device. The operation of the device will be completed, and the owner will have to pay a large amount. The new calculation will take into account the capacity of the water supply system and the round-the-clock use of the meter from the moment of intervention until the day the problem is eliminated. If the date is not set, the recalculation will be made from the last check.

In what case do you need to pay?

Existing legislation stipulates that sealing is performed free of charge if a new device is installed or a certified verification of water meters has been carried out.

Paid sealing is possible in the following cases:

If the element is damaged due to the transfer of the connection point. The exception is the reconstruction of communications, which is carried out by the management company or HOA. But if the management organization does not have the right to put a seal, then before tearing off the old one, it is better to coordinate the actions.
If the wire has rotted and the locking device has come off. Many performers restore this element only for money, since it is the consumer who is responsible for the safety of the meter. In such a situation, it is necessary that when carrying out control checks, the owner himself inspects the seal in advance and points out possible violations that have arisen due to the failure of the wire. The sealing element may fall off due to the fact that the contractor used low-quality and unsuitable fixing material.
If the seal is damaged. Exceptions are the actions of employees of a management company, homeowners association or resource supply organization.

Attention! The element may fly off due to the fault of pets, so it is necessary to limit the area of their influence.

What is the sealing process?

Installation of IPU in an apartment requires the water meter to be sealed. It is a reliable, fixed seal that has a set shape. It performs two main functions:

Preventing illegal opening of the water meter.
Inability for the consumer to change the indications for accounting and monitoring resource consumption.

The seal for the reading equipment is fixed with a wire on both sides of the device, ensuring its integrity and ensuring the correctness and truthfulness of the transmitted data. Each line must be separately sealed. As a standard, the rules require separate seals for metering devices for cold and hot main lines. They are a clamp made of soft metal and are installed at the junction of the unit with the water supply and do not in any way affect the quality of the supplied resource.

Special staplers are used to seal the water meter. The procedure itself takes a minimum of time, but it must be carried out exclusively by an authorized representative of the service.