How to install water meters in the apartment with your own hands?

Install the water meter yourself or invite specialists - this is the question the apartment owner decides on his own. There is no special regulatory act prohibiting the independent installation of a metering device. There is no direct prohibition in the rules for installing water meters in an apartment. Only a document on the state verification of the device and its sealing at the end of installation are required. If you neglect this, the readings of the device will not be taken into account. Consider how to install water meters in the apartment with your own hands or by the forces of a specialized enterprise.

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Installing a water meter - is it profitable?

It all depends on the specific situation. As an example, we can cite situations when the installation of the meter is profitable, or, on the contrary, is inappropriate:

• If the same number of people live in the apartment as officially registered, the actual savings when paying is from 20 to 30%.
• Installation of a water meter is disadvantageous if more people live in the house than officially registered.

Important! Another example is a poorly designed water supply scheme. With separate water supplies to the bathroom and the bathroom, 4 metering devices will be needed: 2 each for cold and hot water. If there is a separate water supply to the toilet, then 5 pieces of water meters will be needed.

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How to choose a counter?

There are several types of metering devices on the market. Which one to purchase is the decision to make to the homeowner. Regardless of the type of accounting device, the following should be considered when buying:

• Recommended device location. There are special models for horizontally and vertically located pipes, as well as universal devices that can be mounted on a horizontal and vertical pipe.
• The diameter of the nozzles for connection, corresponding to the parameters of the pipeline.
• Permissible temperature range of the medium. This means that devices for metering the consumption of hot water must be selected with particular care.

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Kinds

All water meters can be divided into 2 classes:

• Operating from the mains.
• Non-volatile.

Non-volatile

Non-volatile mechanical devices equipped with impellers are the simplest and most reliable devices. The blades rotate as the water flows. The consumption of water is calculated according to the number of revolutions of the impeller.

Addicted

Volatile water meters are of these types.

• Whirlwind.
• Electromagnetic (sensitive to the composition of water).
• Ultrasonic

In the case when the metering device is isolated from the water stream, we are talking about a “dry” water meter. On the contrary - products in which the counting mechanism is not isolated from water are called “wet”.

Important! They only buy counters in stores. It is necessary to pay attention not only to the availability of technical documentation, but also to the fact that the numbers of the device number coincide with the number indicated in the documents. This indicates that you have acquired a certified, usable water meter. After the purchase, take the device for verification to a special department of Vodokanal or ZhEK. If desired, it is possible to contact a specialized company.It is important that she has a license. After verification, a corresponding stamp will appear in the data sheet, and the accounting device itself will be sealed. In no case can you remove the seal.

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How to install a water meter in an apartment - choosing a place for installation

There are certain rules for the installation location of the water meter. So, the requirements for installing water meters in the apartment, affecting the choice of location:

• Air temperature over 5 degrees.
• Availability of free access for checking, repairing and taking readings.
• The presence of lighting. It can be a lamp or natural light.

It is possible to install a water meter in the bathroom or toilet.

Important! For private homes, the distance from the meter to the input should not exceed 200 mm. When arranging a well, it is supplied with a lock and sealed. The well can only be opened in an emergency or in case of fire.

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DIY water meter installation - rules and order

Before you install the meter on the water, you need to purchase a set of tools and supplies.

For successful installation you will need:

• Gaskets: for cold water supply from rubber, for hot - from paronite.
• Plumbing tow or synthetic thread with silicone grease.
• Sealing paste.

Of the tools for metal pipes, you may need:

• Hacksaw for metal.
• Thread cutting tool.

Important! Connections can be tightened with adjustable wrenches or ring spanners.

For polypropylene pipes you will need:

• Special scissors.
• Connecting fittings.
• Soldering iron with which you can solder plastic.

Important! The easiest way to install the meter in a system with plastic or polypropylene pipes. You can cut a polypropylene pipe not only with special tools, but also with an ordinary sharp knife.

Installation of water meters is carried out in the following order:

1. Assemble the water block.
2. Shut off the water supply.
3. Cut the pipe, connect the assembled meter, using FUM tape or tow to seal.
4. After connecting the meter, measure the exact location for the counter thread.
5. Cut off the excess pipe, install a special fitting (as an option - cut the thread on a metal pipe). Use a soldering iron to connect polypropylene pipes.
6. Disconnect the check valve with the American from the mounted device and screw it onto the prepared thread.
7. Reconnect the meter with the union nut.
8. Open the tap and check how tight the connections are. If there are no leaks, then the device is mounted correctly.

Now it remains to wait for the employee of Vodokanal, who will arrive at your request and put a seal on the device.

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Professional installation

If you decide to install a water meter by a specialized company, you must choose contractors with all seriousness. Here are the main criteria for his choice:

• License for the provision of services of this type. This is a guarantee of the professionalism of employees and the availability of the necessary types of equipment.
• Quality assurance of the work performed and free maintenance for the entire warranty period.
• Documentation of services (installation contract, certificate of completion). The documents regulate the mutual obligations of the parties. In addition, the procedures for registration, registration and maintenance of the device are greatly simplified.

The company will develop a water meter installation scheme in the apartment and perform all work in accordance with it.

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Stock footage

This is the installation procedure for a device that takes into account water consumption. Do it yourself or engage professional craftsmen - decide for yourself.