Any resident of an apartment or house is interested in the uninterrupted operation of the gas meter.
Like all measuring instruments, gas equipment has its own service life.
To avoid delays or in case of breakdown, it is necessary to take measures to replace the gas meter. How to change a gas meter in 2021?
Types of gas meters and their service life
The service life of meters depends on the manufacturer and on average ranges from 12 to 20 years. The need to replace a gas meter may arise if its service life or verification has expired.
The following types of gas metering devices differ:
- Electronic . Such devices are distinguished by their small size, high accuracy of readings, ease of setup, noiselessness, and convenience; The verification period for electronic devices is once every 10 years. Suitable for home and industrial use. The only negative is the high cost: from $35 to $170.
- Membrane. These are simple, safe devices; They are relatively inexpensive: from $20 to $100. Among the disadvantages are large dimensions, increased noise levels, inaccuracy in readings and frequent double-checks.
- Volumetric. They are distinguished by their reliability, high throughput, and reasonable cost: from $20 to $120. The disadvantages include the size and increased noise level. Volumetric gas meters are usually installed in factories and enterprises.
- Rotary. They are distinguished by their mobile size, low noise level and affordable price: $25-105. But at the same time, they allow frequent errors and require verification every 5 years.
How to replace a gas meter
First, you need to purchase a gas meter at the Mosoblgaz store or in our store. The selection is based on the center-to-center distance of connection to the gas pipeline and throughput. Of course, the simplest and most inexpensive thing is to immediately order our master with a counter on the appointed day.
Secondly, prepare documents for replacement: registration certificate, owner’s passport and certificate of ownership. Also a service agreement, if you don’t have one, we can also help you draw it up.
Thirdly, decide on a day convenient for you - a specialist will come to you at the appointed time.
To draw up a maintenance contract, download and manually fill out the contract form or send a request through the form:
Fill in the form
Replacing a gas meter in an apartment
It’s worth noting right away: it is prohibited to change the gas meter yourself! This must be done by gas specialists who have permission to perform work on replacing gas measuring devices.
Replacing the gas meter yourself can have serious consequences. Is it dangerous!
How to change a gas meter? We offer step-by-step instructions:
- Contact your gas supplier (directly to the company's office or through their website) with a request to take control readings.
- Write an application to replace the gas meter.
- Provide documents.
- Find out the cost of replacing a gas meter. The price list for services must be posted on the website.
- Sign the act of dismantling the old meter and recording the latest readings.
- After installing the new meter, specialists check everything carefully and, if everything is satisfactory, sign the certificate of completion of the work.
Next, the gas workers will seal the new meter . Without this procedure, the gas appliance cannot be put into operation.
The gas meter is installed in accordance with established rules. It can be placed at a distance of 80 cm from another gas device. The height of placement above the floor is at least 1 m 40 cm.
Rules for sealing the meter
According to government decree No. 549 of 2008 , only supplier companies are granted the right to install seals. However, it is not the emergency dispatch departments that install the devices themselves that are responsible for this, but authorized employees of subscriber departments. Therefore, for sealing you will have to write another application.
It should indicate:
- Full name, passport details of the owner of the property;
- brand and serial number of the device;
- flow meter readings at the time of installation;
- date of the next verification.
The application must be accompanied by a technical passport of the new device, an installation certificate, and a document on putting the equipment into operation.
The technical data sheet of the product should be kept until disposal of the device. The document is included in the list of mandatory documents for each verification.
If the installation was carried out by a representative of a third-party licensed company, then it is necessary to present documents confirming the qualifications and right of the representative of this company to work.
What documents are needed when replacing a gas meter?
The following documents (and their copies) are submitted simultaneously with the application to replace the gas meter:
- owner's passport;
- document on ownership of housing;
- gas meter passport/certificate;
- information about the last gas meter verification;
- project for installing a meter in a house with a list of gas consumption points.
In the application sent to the gas supplier for sealing and putting the meter into operation, the following should be indicated:
- passport and contact details of the owner;
- address;
- start date of using the meter;
- model type and registration number of the measuring device;
- data from the gas company that installed the meter;
- gas consumption indicators before replacement;
- date of the next verification.
RF PP No. 354 of 05/06/2011 established a period for replacing a gas meter in a private house and apartment of no more than 30 days.
What's the result?
- The more people are registered in an apartment with a stove and/or water heater, the more profitable it is to install a meter.
- If you only have a gas stove and 1-2 people are registered, the savings, even in the long term, are not very impressive.
- The less you use gas, the more profitable it is to install a meter. If you heat water in an electric kettle, cook in a slow cooker and sometimes simply forget why you need a stove, the difference between the standard and actual consumption will be significant.
- For gas heating, installing a meter is beneficial in the vast majority of cases. But according to the law, you don’t have much choice.
Replacing a gas meter in a private house
The procedure for performing work on replacing a gas measuring device in a private house is no different from the algorithm presented above . But in this case, personal responsibility for the quality of installation of new equipment being put into operation increases.
The reason for this is the following circumstances:
- The supply and metering of gas consumption is carried out here on an individual basis.
- Boiler houses in the private sector, as a rule, operate on natural gas, so control of large volumes of fuel consumption is of paramount importance here.
Installation quality control
Work must be carried out taking into account safety rules:
- The distance from the meter to gas equipment cannot be less than one meter.
- Outside the home, the device can be installed under a moisture-proof canopy or inside a metal cabinet.
- The standard placement height is 160 cm. Any deviations must be confirmed by the technical data sheet of the product.
- There should be no heating devices within a radius of 2 meters.
- The device must be within visibility and easy access.
- The distance between the meter and the wall should be more than 5 cm. This ensures natural ventilation and slows down the formation of corrosion on metal parts.
- Upon completion of installation, a leak check is required. Previously, this was done by applying a soap solution. Now representatives of gas companies are increasingly giving preference to electronic sensors.
Knowing how to properly install a gas meter in an apartment or house, it is easy to control the actions of specialists. In addition, an informed owner will be able to correctly formulate emerging questions and receive comprehensive advice.
The easiest way to check the tightness of gas pipe connections is to apply a soap solution to the joints. If it starts to foam a lot, it means the connection is not tight enough and everything needs to be redone.
After installation, you should monitor the further operation of the device: while maintaining the same volume of consumption, the new device should record approximately the same consumption as the old one. If the readings vary greatly, this is a reason to contact the gas workers again.
How much does it cost to replace a gas meter?
In a private house, the replacement of a gas measuring device is clearly carried out at the expense of the owner of the property, be it an individual or a legal entity.
As for the apartment, it all depends on the status of the living space. If the apartment is privatized, then the owner pays for the replacement of the gas consumption meter.
If the apartment is municipal and provided to the tenant on the basis of a social tenancy agreement, then reinstallation of the gas meter is carried out free of charge, at the expense of the state.
In addition, the legislation provides this service free of charge to a number of categories of citizens, namely:
- large families;
- WWII veterans;
- low-income citizens of retirement age.
Thus, the owner of an apartment or house will have to pay:
- purchasing a gas meter;
- services of specialists in dismantling the gas meter and installing a jumper pipe;
- services for verification, repair and replacement of the meter.
The total cost of installing a meter depends on:
- meter models;
- type and complexity of work;
- device installation location;
- tariffs of the company providing meter replacement services;
- region of residence;
- number of gas consumption points.
On average, the price for the service will be from 3 to 7 thousand rubles.
Requirements of Russian legislation
The main document is Resolution No. 824 , approved by the Russian government on September 19, 2013.
It made changes to the Rules for the provision of public utilities and affected mainly the requirements for replacing gas meters.
Reasons for replacement specified by law
According to the law, it is necessary to replace an existing gas meter if:
- expiration of the service life specified in the technical data sheet of the product;
- negative verification results.
Negative results include visible mechanical damage, recorded error exceedances, broken seals, and lack of readable indicators.
Detection of a meter malfunction with a damaged seal during an inspection is a reason for imposing penalties on the owner. To avoid getting into an unpleasant situation, you need to monitor the condition of the device and the integrity of the seal.
The initiator of the verification can be the owner who noticed a malfunction of the device, or a gas service employee performing a scheduled or extraordinary audit.
Performer and frequency
Important questions also raised by the resolution are: after how many years does the gas meter need to be replaced, and who should carry out the replacement? The frequency should be determined by the flow meter passport. Most models have a service life of 20 years. But there are also exceptions.
For example, a Betar brand product can only work correctly for 12 years. Therefore, verification with information from the manufacturer is mandatory.
The dismantling of the old device, as well as the installation of a newly purchased one, can be carried out by an employee of the gas service serving the area of residence. Representatives of a private licensed company can also get involved. Self-replacement is prohibited.
Who should pay for the replacement?
According to Order of the Ministry of Industry No. 1815 dated July 2, 2015 , payment for replacing the meter is the responsibility of the owner of the premises. Depending on the type of property, payers can be legal entities, individual entrepreneurs or individuals.
You will have to pay both the cost of the new metering device and all the manipulations performed by specialists. These are services for dismantling an old flow meter and installing a newly purchased one
Accordingly, these are owners of square meters in apartment buildings, owners of private households and holders of rights to commercial real estate.
The exception is municipal housing, where residence is temporary for citizens. In this case, the owner is the local government. Therefore, all costs are borne by the municipality. The only thing residents should do if a flow meter malfunction is detected is to file a complaint with the housing and communal services service.
Free service can be used by war veterans (veterans and rear service personnel), large families and non-working pensioners. At the local level, expanded lists may operate and additional benefits may be provided. You can check this information with your municipal gas company or local government.
Gas meter verification: paid or free?
If the meter verification period is coming to an end, the verification work is paid for by the owner of the living space.
Some owners of apartments and houses consider frequent verification inappropriate because:
- in addition to verification, you have to pay for dismantling, reinstalling and sealing the meter;
- delivery of the gas meter to the laboratory for verification work is carried out by the owner independently and at his own expense;
- if the meter does not pass verification, you will have to change it, but the cost of verification will be paid in any case;
- the verification period sometimes takes up to 3 weeks; During this period, the owner will pay for gas consumption according to the standard.
Conclusion: at the end of the verification period, it is recommended to replace the gas meter . It will be faster and more profitable than useless verification. The period between the need for verification or replacement depends on the type and brand of the measuring device.
Why carefully monitor the operation of the meter?
There are two options for calculating payment: 1. When the owner of the premises where the mechanism is installed promptly discovered and reported a breakdown of the meter on the same day. Then, during reconstruction, all money spent will be carried out in accordance with the standards. The replacement period is counted from the day the breakdown is notified until the day the new device is sealed. 2. The gas service technician detected problems during a scheduled inspection. Then the accrual period is calculated from the last date of inspection until the present moment of recording the breakdown.
By law, the payment period cannot exceed six months, but everyone knows that payment standards are significantly higher than actual prices.
Criterias of choice
There are utility gas meters for sale for various needs. Before choosing a gas meter, you need to know the initial data. You need to find out how much gas all your gas appliances consume when operating simultaneously.
For an apartment with one gas stove, a meter with the smallest throughput is enough (more about this in the chapter “Throughput”). If additional gas equipment is installed, then the consumption of all devices must be taken into account. You can view this data in the instructions for the meter.
You need to find out where the gas meter will be installed, it could be a kitchen, a balcony, a utility room. Based on this data, you can choose the appearance of the meter, its dimensions and connection type. The noise level emitted by the device is also important.
After selecting all the necessary characteristics, you can begin choosing a meter model. They may vary in price, appearance and additional features. After reading the descriptions of several popular models in this article, you can choose which gas meter is best suited for your situation.
What to do with the old meter
It is necessary to save the old meter until all procedures for installing a new one are completed. Because it contains data about the gas consumed during its operation.
Once the new meter is installed, sealed and put into operation, the old meter, regardless of whether it was broken or the owner simply did not check, is considered unfit for use.
You can throw it away, since it no longer provides any useful functions. Useful article? Rate and share with friends!
Repair or replacement?
In some situations, replacing equipment may be more profitable than carrying out verification and repair work. If the device breaks down, you will have to pay for the dismantling work, examination and, if it is impossible to restore correct operation, a new flow meter and its installation.
Moreover, all the time spent on these manipulations, gas fees will be calculated based on regional standards.
Therefore, many users who suspect a major breakdown of the device prefer to immediately install a new meter. The old one is either disposed of or, after successful repair, stored as a spare until the end of its service life.
What benefits does installing a metering device give to an apartment owner?
The meter cannot be called cheap, and installing it yourself can lead to big problems. The device will not be able to quickly recoup its costs; this will require at least a year. But after a year or two, if you choose the right device, after 11-12 years you will notice significant savings. Installing a meter is a good long-term investment.
The big plus is that you don’t have to pay for gas if you are not in the apartment (for example, you temporarily move to a dacha or go on a business trip or vacation). If you often leave, the device will pay for itself very quickly.
Gas meter device
The general structure of the meters is the same; they must have:
- Inlet valve;
- Measuring device;
- Crank mechanism;
- Counting device;
- Outlet valve.
Everything seems simple, but in reality these metering devices are complex mechanisms.
Examples of replacements for meters from different manufacturers.
Let's look at the installation process using different devices as an example.
Replacing VK meters
Selecting an installation kit
- Mounting kit for replacing meter VK-G4 1(1/4) inches L250
1,500₽
Add to cart
Selecting a gas meter
- Gas meter G4
3,900₽
Add to cart
Assembling the kit and counter
Replacing gas meter VK G4
We install the resulting structure to replace your old device
Replacing METRIX meters
Selecting an installation kit
Replacing the Metrix g10 gas meter
Selecting a gas meter
- Gas meter G10
10,700₽
Add to cart
Assembling the kit and counter
Replacing gas meter VK G4
We install the resulting structure to replace your old device.
Replacing UBSG meters
Selecting an installation kit
- Mounting kit for replacing UBSG G4-G10 L236 meter 1(1/4) inches
1,000₽
Add to cart
Selecting a gas meter
- Gas meter G4
3,900₽
Add to cart
Assembling the kit and counter
Replacing the counter UBSG 0001
We install the resulting structure to replace your old device.
Replacing AGAT meters
Selecting an installation kit
- Set of mounting parts for replacing counter AGAT G16, G25 L308 1(1/4) inches
1,000₽
Add to cart
Selecting a gas meter
- Gas meter "Prince-M" G25
26,100₽
Add to cart
Assembling the kit and counter
Installation kit for replacing gas meter AGAT G10, G16, G25
We install the resulting structure to replace your old device.
What to do if your counter is not on the list.
If for some reason you were unable to find a mounting kit that fits your meter, you can try to find it yourself, and, as you know, for this you only need to know L - the center distance and D - the diameter of the connecting nut.
The second option is to call our specialists, and together we will try to find a suitable kit for you, and if we cannot find something suitable, we can make a kit for you personally.
Replacing the device battery
The need to change the battery is usually indicated by a blank screen. In some cases, some of the numbers become difficult to distinguish or “disappear.” Sometimes users notice the screen flickering, which may also be evidence of a faulty battery.
Most models are equipped with a soldered battery. To make a replacement, the technician first unsolders the contacts of the old battery, and then uses a soldering iron to fix the new one.
In this case, you will also have to turn to the help of the gas service, since opening the device yourself is prohibited. Moreover, most batteries are sealed.
Is it possible to install a gas meter yourself?
Despite the apparent simplicity of installing a gas meter in an apartment, working with gas is very dangerous, and only representatives of the gas service who have permission to do this type of work can do it.
Improper installation of gas equipment can become a source of many problems not only for the apartment owner, but also for the entire building. Therefore, the restriction on self-installation of gas is justified.
Even if a professional installed the meter, this work will be illegal without contacting Gorgaz. Therefore, you cannot do without a visit to the gas service. A meter installed without their knowledge will be considered unauthorized.
