Sealing a water meter: laws, rules, procedures and cost 

Meter storage rules

One of the mandatory conditions for the supply of electricity is compliance with the rules for proper storage of electricity meters. In particular, these include the condition of preserving the magnetic seal on the electric meter.

Most often, metering units are installed outside the apartment, on the landing. In this case, the conditions for their storage must be observed. They should be located:

• in a metal cabinet;
• behind a metal grill;
• in a locked state.

Such measures help to avoid intentional or accidental damage to devices. If specialists from the energy supplying organization discover that the seal on the electric meter has been broken, such a violation of the rules for storing and using the meter can result in big troubles for the homeowner.

In private homes, metering devices are safer than in a standard apartment building. However, whatever the reasons for the absence or damage of the seal, in any case, a fine for breaking the seal will be issued to the owner of the residential property.

In practice, there are cases when the seal can be broken by employees of the organization supplying electricity when checking the readings. If such negligence is detected, the owner of the facility must immediately contact the appropriate organization with a request to draw up a report and record the fact of violation in it.

What to do if the consumer suddenly discovers the absence of an electrical appliance that should account for the energy supply to a residential or industrial facility? In such a case, the owner of the property should submit a corresponding application to law enforcement agencies. The application must indicate all known circumstances surrounding the loss of the meter. The police will open a criminal case and conduct an investigation into the theft. In this case, the energy supplier will not impose a fine on the owner of the property for the absence of a seal on the meter.

What if you don't put a seal on the water meter?

Is it possible to leave the IPU without a filling? Theoretically, yes, this does not directly contradict the law. But then the meaning of the mandatory installation of a meter is reduced to zero.

The readings of an unsealed device are not the basis for calculation.

In this case, consumption is calculated according to the consumption standard per person established for a given region, multiplied by the number of registered residents. The amount turns out to be higher than calculated by the counter.

In what cases is filling performed?

Now it is difficult to find the owner of a city apartment who does not have a water meter installed; many have had them for a long time. But in some cases, re-filling is necessary. You should not try to install water meters yourself, because before registering the device, you will have to provide a document on installation of the device from an organization that has the right to install and replace metering devices.

Reasons for replacing and re-sealing water meters may be:

• expiration of the warranty period for the device;
• premature equipment failure;
• faucet needs to be replaced;
• accidental damage;
• replacement of pipes, valves, and some other elements;
• unexpected system failure;
• purchase or exchange of housing.

It follows from this that water meters need to be re-sealed in almost any case if they have been changed or damaged.

What are the risks of failure?

Failure of a seal is considered to be a violation of the integrity of the seal.

Characteristic signs of a breakdown are:

• complete destruction of the seal;
• cracks on the body;
• the appearance of a control inscription on the seal - sticker;
• The antimagnetic filling loses its color.

For breaking a seal, an administrative fine is provided, the amount of which is determined based on the severity of the violation.

The minimum fine is 200 rubles, imposed under the following conditions x:

• 
  the failure occurred unintentionally, and the regulatory authorities were informed about it in a timely manner;

• during the period preceding the disruption, consumption did not change significantly;
• the controller had regular access to the device;
• the case of failure is isolated.

If these conditions are not met, the fine may be increased fivefold. The use of magnets and illegal insertion entail a fine of up to 300,000 rubles, and possible criminal prosecution.

Reference! If the seal is accidentally broken, you should immediately contact the management company or utility supplier, record the failure, and write a request to reseal the meter.

Even more information about what to do if the seal is broken can be found here.

How to seal a meter

Purchase and registration of water meters

In order not to encounter problems in the future, you need to approach the issue of choosing a water meter more responsibly.
According to the advice of experts, there is no need to buy a special device. The best option would be to purchase a mechanical apartment meter. Electronic devices can break down, which happens quite often, which entails unnecessary costs and worries due to the need for re-registration. The device for calculating water consumption must be certified. After installation and installation of the seal, responsibility for the meter will lie with the organization carrying out this work. Meters for metering hot and cold water supply have design features. It is almost impossible to make a mistake when purchasing, because a cold water meter has a blue stripe, and a hot one has a red one.

The body of the stopcock must have an eyelet for installing a seal. If this is not the case, installation of a seal is not possible. With a missing eyelet, it is possible to turn off the tap, disconnect part of the pipeline and collect water without taking it into account.

The most important point when purchasing a water meter is the passport. There is no need to purchase devices without a corresponding passport printed by a printing house; it will not work, just like a photocopy.

Registration of a water measuring instrument

To register a meter, you must write an application indicating information about the owner.
The application also contains the desired date for sealing. You will also need a photocopy of the device’s passport. Country houses can also have centralized water supply. Cold water meters must also be installed there. The hot water supply will most likely be from a boiler. Installation of devices in private households should only be carried out in a building with a cold period temperature of at least 50 degrees. Otherwise, it will be necessary to carry out work to insulate the pipeline, water meter and room.

Another important requirement is lighting. It should be convenient for maintenance and readings.

What does a filling look like and what is it for?

A seal is a kind of seal that is made according to a sample. It is placed on water meters in order to prevent illegal entry into the device and changes in liquid consumption indicators.

The seal is attached to the pipe using a simple wire. It ensures the safety of the device in the following way: the meter cannot be removed and opened without removing the seal.

ATTENTION! Meter sealing is a procedure that guarantees utility services the reliability of the readings and the integrity of the meters.

A separate seal is installed on each meter. The owner of the apartment must have two seals that are fixed on the hot and cold water meter.

Today there are several types of fillings.
They differ in material and diameter. Usually a metal filling is placed, which has a diameter of about three centimeters.
But there are also plastic products. There are also magnetic seals. Thanks to this protection, it becomes impossible to change the readings on the meter using a magnet.

What is needed for sealing? Just call a specialist. Installation of the device does not take long. Does not require special equipment. However, this should only be done by a specialist. You should not take on this matter on your own.

Who has the right to this

If you need to recalculate water costs, you need to not only install water meters, but also register and seal them.
Without going through this procedure, billing will occur at the general rate. Not everyone can install and seal meters. Only a few companies have the right to do this. Before installing seals, a company employee must check the integrity of the devices and their correct installation. The same person provides the property owner with documents on the basis of which the water meter is registered. Of course, you shouldn’t contact the first office you come across. When choosing a company, be sure to check whether the organization has a license to provide such services. Check to see if the company provides warranty service. Naturally, the appropriate documents must be drawn up for all work carried out. All types of work must be carried out strictly in accordance with the requirements of higher organizations.

HVS

If there is a gas boiler or water heater in the house, then only cold water is supplied. In this case, only one water meter needs to be sealed. If there is a hot water supply, it is necessary to install a pair of meters, each of which must have a seal.

The meter for hot water is sealed in the same way as for cold water. There are no fundamental differences in installing a seal. The technician seals the water meter and issues the appropriate papers containing all the necessary data.

Carrying out sealing

Where should I go to get a filling installed? These issues are dealt with by authorized persons of the organization to which you pay for the use of water. To a municipal or management organization, HOA, Vodokanal, etc. This is a kind of legal entity that grants you the right to use water resources and charges a fee for it.

The installation of a water meter is regulated by regulatory documents. According to which, first you need to submit an application to a local organization.

The application must provide the following information:

• Full name, passport details of the applicant;
• Dates for expected commissioning of the meter;
• Registration number and type of meter, as well as the location where it is installed;
• Details of the company installing the meter;
• Water meter reading at the time of its installation;
• Next verification, date.

The application must be accompanied by a copy of the meter's passport, as well as copies of all documents from the last meter verification.
Next, you wait for a technical inspector who checks the water meter for the presence of the manufacturer’s seal and the necessary documentation for it. If everything matches, then the water utility seals the meter.

Then an Acceptance Certificate is issued containing the following data:

• Date of installation of the seal;
• Data from two parties;
• Meter installation address data;
• Counter data;
• Water meter data from the last check;
• water intake site plan;
• seal number;

Two copies of the Acceptance Certificate are signed. The owner keeps one copy for himself. Summing up, the question arises - why do you need to seal the meter? Well, first you need to clarify that it is not the meter itself that is sealed, but the place of the water supply where the device is attached.

Correctly performed sealing cannot interfere with the normal functioning of the water meter. Cannot prevent water shut off when necessary

And during the inspection process, the inspector first of all pays attention to the integrity of the seal.

How many highways are there on the territory of the living space, the same number of seals must be installed. It is not always enough to install and seal the device once. If the seal is not installed correctly, the device data will be incorrect and you will have to pay according to the established tariff.

Water meter sealing is performed when:

• initial installation of the meter;
• when replacing a meter due to the failure of a previously installed one or if its validity period has expired;
• when replacing a piece of pipe on which the water meter is located;
• in case of a leak, eliminating which had to damage the seal;
• if the integrity of the seal is violated.

That is, installing seals on the meter is necessary during its installation, replacement, or in case of damage (intentional or accidental).

When examining the question of who should be responsible for sealing water meters, it should be noted that some organizations, in order to protect themselves from unnecessary work, send subscribers to private organizations dealing with this issue. This, of course, can significantly reduce the time it takes to complete the work, but you first need to find out whether this organization has a license to perform such services.

And the most important thing is to draw up a sealing report and issue you a second copy. Also, according to Federal Law of the Russian Federation No. 102 “On ensuring the uniformity of measurements,” it follows that when installing a water meter, it is mandatory to install filters that protect the devices from clogging.

In case of first installation and replacement

This event is carried out by qualified specialists of the management company that maintains the house. Often, calling an employee takes a long time. Since there is only one specialist, but there are many applications. Therefore, contacting a commercial institution becomes a way out of the situation.

When choosing an organization, you need to inquire about whether they have the appropriate license. To call a specialist, you need to write a paper that includes the following data, which must be indicated:

1. information about the owner of the premises where the water meter is located;
2. the root cause of the meter sealing procedure;
3. information about the counter;
4. information that indicates the installation of a water meter;
5. date of the next meter check.

There are no regulated standards for writing paper; everything is done in free form. However, you should adhere to a business style of writing. A copy of the passport for the water meter must be attached to the completed paper. The collected documents can be sent by registered mail or brought in person to the institution.

Regulatory acts

In 2011, the Federal Law on Water Supply was adopted.
The edition at the end of 2021 changed it, including the paragraph regarding the sealing of water meters. Since the beginning of 2021, metering devices have been sealed at the expense of the organization (most often it is a housing and communal services company or a management company). Subscribers are charged only if the seal is broken or damaged due to the fault of the property owner. In this case, it is re-applied at the consumer’s expense.

In this case, it does not matter who is to blame in this case: the owner of the house, apartment or his guests (that is, third parties)

At the moment, there are no federal or regional laws that would require charging fees for commissioning water meters. Commercial registration, including sealing, is completely free. Sealing is carried out in two cases: during installation and after verification of metering devices.

If a seal is required when installing a meter for the first time, then in case of verification you need to ask how legal this service is at the moment. Government Resolution No. 354 states that verification of IMU (individual metering devices) is a mandatory procedure that must be performed at the expense of the owner.

According to the law, the owners of metering devices are citizens, owners of housing and those private enterprises that control the consumption of various resources. The frequency of verification of water meters varies. Firstly, it is also regulated by laws and SanPiN. Secondly, the minimum period of time between verifications is indicated in the technical documents for the meters.

For hot water, the calibration interval is 4 years, and for cold water - 6 years. This difference is caused by the fact that hot water destroys not only some plastic parts in water systems, but also the meter mechanisms. First of all, these are gaskets and an impeller. Technical data sheets do not always indicate this value correctly, since foreign verification standards may differ from domestic ones.

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: Severe reprimand

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.

Responsibility for violation of sealing

Accounting for consumed resources is most often carried out using meters, so in order to avoid a situation where the user manipulates the device, the equipment is sealed. The seal is an indicator of the absence of interference in the operation of the device. Therefore, the absence of a seal or violation of its integrity is a rather serious problem. An unsealed meter is a big violation. A fine for breaking the seal on the water meter is provided if the violation was due to the user’s fault. The same thing happens when consuming other resources - a fine for breaking the seal on a gas meter will entail certain penalties.

Each consumer may encounter the problem of violating the integrity of the seal. If the seal is missing or damaged, it is necessary to immediately solve the problem. The cause of the problem situation may be the following:

• accident, carelessness leading to damage;
• deliberate violation of the integrity of the device seal;
• the fault of the utilities.

Accident

As a rule, gas and electricity meters are located high, but water meters are accessible to pets, children and accidents when putting things in order or making repairs. If an unfortunate misunderstanding occurs, you must immediately contact the service organization, write a statement and draw up a report. The statement indicates the date, time and cause of the incident. Employees of the organization must register the document in two copies; it is better to take a copy for yourself. If it is not possible to notify the service in person, it is recommended to send a registered letter, and the receipt of payment should be retained as evidence. The fine for breaking the seal on the meter depends on many factors, but in this case it can be avoided.

An employee of the organization will draw up a document on site indicating the reason and date of the event. In the near future, a re-sealing will be carried out; as a rule, when you contact the service with the problem of violating the integrity of the seal yourself, a fine for the absence of a seal will not be charged.

Deliberate actions

If during a routine inspection service workers discover a violation of the integrity of the seal or its absence, the owner will have to respond.

An employee of a certain service will draw up a report in which he will indicate the identified fact. Consumption is recalculated from the date of the last control. Even if the scheduled inspection took place a long time ago, they will recalculate the entire period.

Carelessness of a utility worker

If the inspector breaks the seal, you should insist on drawing up a report and attract witnesses. Re-read the document drawn up; you have the right not to sign the act if you disagree with some points. further proceedings are transferred within the walls of the organization.

What is a seal and why is it on the meter?

The metering device is considered officially valid only after sealing. The seal protects against illegal access. It is a round seal of small diameter, usually no more than 3 cm. It is made of metal and plastic. Magnetic seals or tapes for the water meter can also be used. Special standards regulate what the seal on the water meter should look like.

Varieties:

• Mechanical lead seals consist of a lead plate with a hole for a wire.

• Mechanical plastic fillings are lightweight and sometimes melt when exposed to high temperatures.

• Rotary locks are a more complex type of seal with laser engraving.

• Antimagnetic seals-stickers. The design is applied to the sticker using paint containing metal particles. If you bring a magnet to the counter, the drawing will “float”, and this can no longer be corrected.

Sealing water meters allows organizations responsible for water supply to secure the readings of water meters and make them reliable.

Fine for violating the integrity or breaking the seal

The procedure for collecting fines for a broken seal on an electric meter is regulated by the Code of Administrative Offenses (CAO) of the Russian Federation. The amount of punishment is provided for in Article 19.2 and varies from 300 to 500 rubles.

But only if:

• no violations were detected in the operation of the device;
• the amount of energy consumed remained at the same level.

If representatives of the supplier organization record a malfunction of the metering device despite the fact that there is no seal on the electric meter, the penalties may be significantly higher.

However, the procedure for imposing sanctions provides not only for the obligations of the consumer. but also his rights. The owner of the facility should be aware that the fact of violation of the integrity of the seal must be recorded in an appropriate act drawn up by a representative of the organization supplying energy. The deed must be signed by the owner of the property.

In case of disagreement with the information contained in the document, the consumer has the right:

• refuse to sign the document;
• identify specific facts with which he disagrees.

It is the act that is the basis for legal proceedings if the client refuses to pay the fine imposed on him. Any facts presented to the court may tilt its decision in favor of one of the parties. If the court rules in favor of the electricity supplier, the consumer will have to pay a fine. However. its amount does not always correspond to that specified in the claim. The court has the right to reduce the fine based on the circumstances of the case and the financial situation of the defendant.

When trying to recover money from the violator, representatives of the supplier organization may warn the customer about criminal liability. You should know that the absence of a seal on an electricity meter or the installation of an unsealed meter in an apartment is an administrative offense, liability for which is regulated by the provisions of the agreement concluded by the parties and the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.

Indications for sealing

Sealing of water meters is carried out in the following cases:

• when installing a new device . When an owner purchases a new water meter, a seal must be installed after its installation;
• in case of breakdown or replacement. If the meter in the apartment breaks down or its service life has expired, then it is necessary to change and seal the device;
• during repair work . When a pipeline is replaced, requiring the installation of new pipes, the old seal is removed. After completing the plumbing manipulations, the water meter must be sealed;
• in case of accident . If an accident occurs in public utilities, the elimination of which requires dismantling the meter, then after completion of the work, it is necessary to install the water meter in place and seal it;
• if the integrity of the installed seal is violated . If the seal breaks due to careless actions of the owner or unauthorized persons, then a new protection must be installed.

If a person has purchased a home with water meters installed in it, then there is no need to replace or reseal them.

When a person buys a secondary home that already has water meters, he should inquire about the manipulations carried out with water meters. If the previous owner did not provide the relevant documents that confirm the fact of sealing, then the new owner needs to repeat the procedure.

In addition, the lack of passports for devices can lead to many problems. For example, a specialist who comes to install a seal on a water meter has the right to refuse this procedure due to the lack of passports for the device. Does the document need to be restored? Of course yes.

ATTENTION! If the papers are available, the owner will be provided with all services in full

When is it necessary to seal water meters?

Before we clarify who seals water meters, let’s find out in what cases the installation of seals is mandatory:

• This is the primary setting;
• The meter has been replaced;
• accidental damage was found on the existing filling;
• the water supply line was damaged.

In any of the above situations, it is impossible to do without installing a seal or replacing the existing one, otherwise the settlement center will not take into account the device data. If we are talking about re-filling, then it is done when:

If we are talking about re-filling, then it is done when:

1. The device has reached the end of its service life.
2. It suffered premature failure.
3. System elements (for example, a valve or pipe) have been replaced.
4. The ball valve is broken.
5. The meter has been damaged.
6. There was an emergency in the water supply system.
7. The owner purchased the apartment on the secondary market.

Why are meters sealed?

After a certain period, organizations providing water supply services may require water meters to be resealed. In this case, there is no need to worry, because such a procedure really exists. This is possible in the following situations:

• the service life of the product has been exceeded;
• water meter needs to be replaced;
• the locking mechanism has failed;
• the coarse filter has failed;
• water meter damaged;
• the wiring was replaced;
• the owner of the house or apartment has changed.

In some cases, you are allowed to dismantle the old water meter yourself, but you must provide the seal number and the latest readings to the controller. In other cases, special documents are required that the master has the right of access to carry out such work. In this case, you will have to contact the appropriate companies. As can be seen from the list above, replacement of the seal will be required in any case where the integrity of the meter’s structure has been tampered with. Each water meter has a calibration interval and service life. After their expiration, the meter is removed for inspection or replaced, which leads to re-sealing.

Tips for purchasing and sealing meters

To minimize possible problems with meters, try to purchase them responsibly.

• Don't try to find any newest electronic device, it is best to get a regular mechanical water meter. Electronic devices are not yet so reliable and often fail. And this, as you yourself understand, is additional costs and wasted time.
• You should not try to buy a cheaper meter somewhere on the market, because in this case it may turn out that the device will not have a certificate of conformity.
• It is better to purchase a water meter from a retail chain. If a water meter is delivered to a store, it must have all the necessary certificates.

Cold (blue stripe) and hot (red stripe) water meters have some design features.
Typically, water meters for hot water are more expensive than for cold water. You can buy two devices for hot water; this meter is also suitable for cold water. But in this case you will overpay a little. But installing a meter for cold water on hot water is not allowed. Before purchasing, read the device instructions and make sure that the equipment is complete. Usually, in addition to the meter itself, the kit also includes additional materials: filters, nuts with rubber gaskets, nipples and a check valve. If you have a new apartment and meters have not yet been installed, do not be lazy to purchase and install an additional tap for the toilet cistern. This will allow you to use the toilet when repairing the plumbing in your kitchen or bathroom.

When purchasing a meter, pay attention to the serial numbers. The number on the water meter must match the number printed in the device passport

In addition, the passport itself must be printed in a printing house; photocopies are not allowed.

To register water metering devices, you must submit an application and provide information about the owner of the premises: full name, series and number of passport, mobile phone number. If registration of meters at an enterprise is necessary, the name, address and contact details of the enterprise must be indicated. The application usually immediately states your wishes regarding the timing of the filling.

If you are the owner of a country house and you have a centralized water supply connected, then you can install a meter in the same way. Country houses rarely have hot water; in most cases, only cold water is supplied. When installing the meter, please note that its installation is possible only in rooms where the temperature in winter does not drop below 5 degrees Celsius. If the room temperature is lower, then additional insulation of the pipes and water meter will be required. Also, lighting is required in the room for installing the meter. Its brightness should be enough to allow you to take meter readings without any problems.

How long does it take for filling?

Typically, the time available for sealing the meter is indicated in the technical document of the device. If the model was released recently, then it may take more time to seal it than for an older device. Most often, one working week is allocated for this operation. Before sealing, an authorized employee will check the technical passport and the certificate that was received after installation. The inspector evaluates the correctness of installation and compliance with all standards. He also makes sure that the meter is working properly. A sealing report is drawn up and a seal is installed on the meter with adjacent components. The owner of the apartment is issued a maintenance agreement, which specifies the additional duties and responsibilities of the parties.

Advice! Before signing, it is better to carefully read the contract, setting aside enough time for this. The inspector has no right to refuse this. Particular attention should be paid to various insurances, subscription fees and other mandatory payments. If they are too high, then you can contact the company with a corresponding request.

As soon as the contract is signed, payment for water supply is based on meter readings. In this case, one copy of the agreement remains with the owner of the apartment, which will serve as security for obligations. The owner also retains the original technical passport. The meter is sealed free of charge in the following cases:

• initial installation;
• an inspection was carried out;
• The meter was repaired.

These points are spelled out in Article 20 of the Federal Law on Water Supply, which was adopted on January 1, 2013, in paragraph 5. If the device fails due to the fault of the user, then you will have to pay for the sealing service. In some companies, the fee for such work reaches 2 thousand rubles. Some users appealed such high tariffs for services. A video about the sealing can be seen below.

Is it necessary to seal the water meter?

The sealing of the water meter is approved at the legislative level, therefore the sealing procedure is mandatory. The seal is proof of the correct installation of the water meter. Unsealed water meters are considered to be faulty water supply devices.

Data from faulty water meters are not taken into account, and water consumption tariffs will be calculated according to the table of standards for each person in the apartment. The standards are very high, which is unprofitable from an economic point of view. According to the standard, there are 6.9 cubic meters of cold water per person, and 4.7 cubic meters of hot water per month. But these standards may vary by region.

Sealing must be performed on each cold and hot water meter.

Penalties

If the seal was not installed after installation of the meter, then no penalties are provided for this. A fine may be imposed if a scheduled inspection is carried out by the management company. The inspector assesses the condition of the device and the seal on it once a year; if its integrity was broken through the fault of the user, then this will be considered a violation for one’s own benefit and misleading about the amount of water consumed. In this case, the water supply to the residential building is stopped and recalculation is made. This is done based on the water supply and throughput. In this case, the figures are taken for the whole day, water supply will be restored from the moment the fine is paid in full.

Advice! Such actions of the Criminal Code can be appealed by filing a corresponding application with Rospotrebnadzor. The amount of the fine will be significant, since the date of the last inspection will be taken as the starting point if another date cannot be established documented.

For free

To seal water meters free of charge, the law provides only one condition - compliance by the consumer with all requirements for the installation and operation of the control device. Thus, filling is not paid for in the following cases:

1. Initial installation and commissioning carried out in accordance with legal regulations.
2. Re-commissioning due to repair, replacement or verification.

If the meter fails, the consumer is obliged to immediately notify the service provider, having first taken the last readings. The device is considered faulty and out of order if at least one of the following conditions is present:

• exceeding the permissible error in readings;
• no display of measurement results;
• presence of mechanical damage;
• violation of control seals and inspection signs;
• expiration of the device verification period;

In addition to notifying the contractor, the consumer must ensure that the malfunction is eliminated within a month, and if dismantling of the equipment and subsequent installation is required, notify the service provider two days in advance.

IMPORTANT! Actions to remove and reinstall faulty equipment must take place in the presence of a contractor.

Order and procedure

Sealing the water meter is necessary in the following cases:

• The meter is installed for the first time;
• The seal is damaged;
• After the next verification;
• After water meter repair.

When sealing a water meter, two seals are installed - for hot and cold water. One is enough for a universal counter.

The water meter must have a printed passport. Otherwise the product is invalid. The document contains a serial number. It must be checked against the registered number on the case.

You can install the water meter yourself, or you can call a specialist. Then you need to do the sealing.

How to seal a water meter

First you need to find out which organization is doing the filling in a particular house. The products are sealed by an official organization that supplies water to homes, charges a fee for it and can draw up documentation for the procedure. These are homeowners' associations, water utilities, management companies.

• submit applications for sealing of the water meter to the appropriate service;
• you will be given a date for installing the filling;
• The technician will check the correct installation, the functionality of the water meter, and the availability of documents (passports for the water meter);
• sealing the device;
• the owner is given an acceptance certificate.

What you will need to apply:

• complete information about the person submitting the application, his phone number, passport;
• the desired day on which the meter will be put into operation;
• water meter serial number;
• installation address;
• installation data;
• readings of the previous meter at the time of installation of the new one;
• date of scheduled verification (it is in the passport).

What documents are needed: a copy of the device’s passport (sometimes the original is required), a verification certificate (if the meter is not new, but after the next verification).

It is important to note that if the owner recently purchased an apartment and meters are installed in it, there is no need to do a new seal. Replacement is required when there is no passport and certificates confirming verification and sealing.

When the technician arrives, you need to check the following:

• make sure that the specialist came specifically from the service involved in water supply;
• ask for a license to perform the procedure;
• he should have samples and forms for filling out documents.

When the above has been verified, you can allow the technician to put a seal on the meter. It also checks the integrity of the product.

• diagnostics of equipment, its first launch;
• printing installation;
• issuing documents.

The installer is responsible for whether the water meter is sealed correctly.

Regulatory acts and documents

There is no separate law on fillings. In 2011, the law “On water supply and sanitation” (Federal Law 416) was adopted; a new version appeared in 2021. The frequency of inspections and sealing periods are regulated by this law.

According to the rules, the homeowner receives a sealing application form and fills it out.

When the application is reviewed by the services, the master arrives. Upon completion of the procedure, he issues an acceptance certificate in two copies - for the owner of the apartment and the organization involved in water supply. The owner must carefully study the act - the basic data must be recorded in it. The documents are then signed by both parties.

What should be stated in the acceptance certificate:

• date of filling;
• Full name of the inspector who performed the procedure;
• company name, contacts;
• installation address;
• day of inspection, recorded values;
• device number, information from the passport;
• water supply unit diagram;
• serial number of the seal.

Two acts are signed - the first certificate is given to the owner, and the second is transferred to the appropriate service. All information is entered into an electronic database, with the help of which the amount for water supply is then calculated.

Paid or free

According to Federal Law 416, starting from 2021, sealing of water meters is carried out at the expense of companies providing utility services and free of charge for the consumer.

The owner pays only in one case. If the seal is unusable (broken or torn), paid sealing of the meters is carried out. The cost of installation and re-sealing is paid by the party at fault in the incident.

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.