The water meter is broken. What to do if the water meter breaks

19.07.2019

If the readings of your water meter have stopped changing (in other words, “the numbers don’t spin”) or, on the contrary, have become disproportionately large, then you have every reason to believe that the water meter is broken.
In this article, we will analyze the main causes of water meter failure.

Reason one: depressurization

A clear sign is fogging of glass or water leakage. In the first case, it is necessary to change the water meter. The second option often happens with faulty stopcocks that are unable to shut off the water supply completely. Then it is enough to call a plumber and carry out the appropriate repairs.

Reason two: violations of installation rules

Violations can be varied, but the classic option is to install a counter hot water to cold and vice versa. Such inattention in the future will lead to guaranteed incorrect indicators.

Reason three: clogged filter

With poor water quality, which is quite common in our country, mechanical admixtures clog the filter located directly in front of the water meter. In this case, water simply does not pass through the meter. To eliminate it, it is enough to open and clean the filter.

Fourth reason: failure of the rotary or counting mechanism

Here, on the contrary, water will pass through the water meter, without, however, rotating the dial indicator. The problem can be solved only if the device is taken to a specialized organization for repair.

Reason five: water pressure

With a strong pressure of water, the meter readings will be significantly higher than with an average, and even more so with a minimum (the so-called "drip mode"). Although in fact the volume of water passing through the meter will be the same.

Reason six: "craftsmen"

The desire to save money leads our people to implement the most inadequate ideas. A magnet or needles, which are trying to slow down the movement of the impeller, has already become a “classic of the genre”. However, all such actions lead to a single result - the device fails and has to be replaced with a new one.

No matter how high-precision the measuring device is, it is just a technique. Therefore, sooner or later, any mechanism, including a water meter, may become unusable. What are the reasons that affect the health of the water meter?

It needs to be known

Cold and hot water meters are very sensitive to the quality and pressure of water in the pipes. As a rule, the main culprit for the incorrect operation of the device is the clogging of the opening of the mechanism, which entails an increase in pressure in the pipes. Accordingly, the meter readings cold water change not in favor of the consumer. This is also characteristic of the device that records hot water.

Such pollution is a direct consequence of poor quality water. As practice shows, all kinds of impurities contained in the liquid very quickly pollute the flow part of the mechanism. And in just two years, the water meter can completely go out of working condition. In order to extend the life of the device, it is recommended to mount special filters in front of the mechanism and clean them systematically. As a rule, this must be done every six months.

How to determine the malfunction?

Often the readings change even when the taps are closed. If this was found, it is recommended to turn off all the taps and accurately record the readings of the device. After an hour, recheck the instrument values. If it was found that the readings have changed, it is necessary to carefully recheck all stopcocks.

A leak can occur due to a breakdown of the shut-off and adjustment mechanism, which does not completely block the flow of water into the apartment. In this case, the couplings must be tightened. If a leak has formed in the pipes, specialized help is needed.

Misting flowed on the device indicates that the mechanism is seriously damaged. In this case, unfortunately, the device will have to be dismantled and a new one installed. A bad sign indicating a malfunction of the water meter is the noise of flowing water, in which the indicator needle is in the same position. This breakdown is repairable, but it is cost-effective to purchase a new device.

Don't Forget Trust

Any meter (cold and hot water) requires a mandatory technical procedure - verification. This is necessary in order to accurately determine whether the device is working. After all, it is often impossible to visually notice the breakdown of a water meter. Verification should be carried out taking into account a certain time interval. It ranges from 3 to 6 years.

In order for the mechanisms to work properly, and the data provided by the water meters to be correct and reflect the resources actually consumed, regular maintenance should be carried out. Competently it can only be carried out by specialists with a number of narrow-profile knowledge that can accurately identify a breakdown, as well as establish and eliminate its cause. It is these specialists who work at CJSC H2O-Technologies. They can be entrusted not only with the installation of water meters, but also with their verification of equipment.

Utility bills can be quite surprising in recent times. large sizes. To reduce them, it is necessary to reduce the cost of water, heat, etc. and control them. For this, various counters are installed, the choice of which must be approached very responsibly. They help control consumption, and therefore find ways to reduce them. But counters, like any other devices, tend to break down. Such a nuisance can lead to a decrease or increase in their testimony. For example, a water meter will either show that you have not used up anything, or that the apartment is “flooded” with water. How to be in this situation? What to do if the water meter is broken? This is exactly what will be discussed in the article.

Possible causes and solutions

You can understand that the water meter is faulty either by visually inspecting it or by looking at utility bills. In the first case, the arrow (or wheel) may simply not spin when water flows from the tap. According to the bills for services, it can be understood that the meter gives incorrect readings (both up and down). There may be several reasons for this behavior of the device:

Depressurization of the device. If, when examining the meter, you notice that its glass is fogged up from the inside, then this will mean its breakdown. In this case, it is necessary to carry out a replacement (in the case of a meter that is installed in the inspection hole of a private house, this rule is not always applicable, since due to high dampness it is only dry in summer).
A leak in the plumbing. If old communications are installed in the house, then leaks often occur. This does not apply directly to the malfunction of the meter, but its readings will be overestimated. If you think you're wasting too much water, check for leaks.
The quality of the water passing through the meter. The internal structure of the device is quite sensitive to the presence of debris passing through it. That is why manufacturers recommend installing a special filter at the meter inlet. If this is not done, then in a couple of years your device will simply stop working.
The temperature of the supply water can also affect the operation of the meter. All instruments are designed for stable operation at 90ºC. If the supply water is higher than this value, then the inside of the meter may be damaged.

It is impossible to exclude the marriage in the production of equipment. This is not so common, but this reason cannot be ruled out.

In addition, the counter, like any mechanism, wears out. If he has worked for many years, then it is likely that he will break down. In any case, when the counter stops or its incorrect readings, the device must be replaced.

How to replace a water meter

If you understand that your device that controls the consumption of cold or hot water is faulty, then questions will inevitably arise:

What to do?
Where to apply?

The main thing is not to touch the seals in any case. They are set by the management company. If you remove them yourself, then problems may arise.

If the water meter needs to be replaced, then the first thing to do is contact the company that manages your home. An employee should come from her and fix (draw up an act) a malfunction of the device. Then he will remove the fillings himself. From this moment until the installation of a new meter, you will pay for water according to the general tariff scale. It is calculated based on the tenants living in the apartment and the established cost of one cubic meter of supplied water.

After the employee of the management company has removed the seals, you can replace the meter. It is quite possible to cope with such work on your own or call the master.

It is best to install a new counter. Some damage to the device can be corrected, but this is rarely done. The cost of spare parts, plus the payment for the work of the master, in total, will almost equal the purchase of a new device.

If your counter is still under warranty, then you can try to give it to the manufacturer for repair. But such procedures are very long and troublesome. First, the device will be given for examination. It must prove that you correctly (according to the instructions) operated the meter. In most cases, the decision of the commission will not be in your favor. And secondly, the repair itself can drag on for weeks or even months, and during this time you will pay more. Much easier to buy a new device.

After installing a new water meter, you must again call an employee of the management company. He will examine the correct installation of the meter, seal it and record the initial readings. From this moment, the device is considered registered, and you will start paying for water, according to its indications. In the meantime, the meter has not been registered with the management company, you continue to pay according to the tariff scale.

We also want to draw your attention to the articles: