The new legislation provides for the mandatory installation of water meters. In addition, meters are the best choice for those who prefer rational use of resources. According to the most conservative estimates, savings from the use of measuring instruments are 30% with the average water consumption in an apartment. The result will be clearly displayed in the payment document as early as the next month after installation of the device.
However, those who do not yet have experience using meters should find out in advance how to take readings from them and what numbers to enter when filling out the documentation. The information in our article will also be relevant for those who already use measuring equipment - errors when reading data can result in unexpected expenses.
Location of standard type meters
Water meters are installed according to the standard water distribution scheme in the apartment: pipes with hot water go on top, and, accordingly, there is a meter for hot water, and below - for cold water. They are mounted on water pipes in the toilet or in the kitchen under the sink. Sometimes pipelines with meters are located vertically, but for clarity, the instrument bodies are painted in the appropriate colors: red and blue.
Meters for hot and cold water
In order to check that the meters are installed correctly, before taking readings from the water meter, open the tap and drain cold water from it. In this case, the blue meter responsible for recording cold water should start working. If you have figured out the location of the meters and they are working correctly, you can proceed to the most important activity: taking readings.
How to submit testimony for water (example of Moscow and the region)
According to the law, apartment owners must install water meters to measure water consumption. If this is not done, the management company will calculate the amount based on the average indicators for each resident of the apartment. Submit values to the appropriate service in several ways - in writing or via the Internet.
Compliance with the deadlines for the transfer of testimony is a determining factor in the preparation of the final amount: if the owner is late with payment, then a penalty will be imposed on him.
How information is read from the meter
It is not difficult to take readings from water meters in an apartment. To do this, you just need to arm yourself with a pen and a piece of paper.
Also remember that it is very important to store data from last month: it will need to be used for calculations. What do we need to take readings?
- Determine which meter is for hot water and which is for cold water. You need to write all the numbers displayed on the dial.
- The last digit must be entered in a rounded value: if the indicator is more than 500, then you need to write down the number rounded up, less - down.
- The resulting quantity must be multiplied by the tariff rate. Examples: 5 cubic meters (cubes) of hot water at 100 rubles per 1 cubic meter - 500 rubles per month.
Before recording and transmitting the received readings, make sure that the water supply system in the apartment is working without interruptions and there are no leaks anywhere. Otherwise, you risk transmitting incorrect readings.
What numbers from the meter do we need?
If you pay attention to the meter dial, you can see black and red numbers. Let's look again at what they mean and which of them we need to write off:
8 digits - that’s how many indicators the scoreboard includes. 3 numbers of which are red
Please note that they indicate liters and are not counted, since the result must be indicated in cubic meters. The remaining 5 digits on black show exactly what we need - the amount of resource consumed, which we will enter in the receipt. It is necessary to read the readings from the meter for the reporting period, which today is 1 month
This means that in order to determine the number of cubes consumed, we will need to subtract previous information from last month from today’s readings, and only then make entries
It is necessary to read meter readings for the reporting period, which currently amounts to 1 month. This means that in order to determine the number of cubes consumed, we will need to subtract previous information from last month from today’s readings, and only then make entries.
How to count
The transmission of readings is an important stage, but the calculations carried out are no less significant. It is necessary to clearly determine what amount will have to be paid for the resources that a person consumed during the month.
As written above, most organizations require consumers to make payments by the 25th. In advance, consumers are given payment slips that indicate monthly data and the amount of recommended payment.
But no one is immune from mistakes. And therefore, the wrong amount may also be indicated on the bills. In order not to part with your money because of such an oversight, you need to make the calculations yourself. This is not as difficult to do as some people think:
- First you need to determine the amount of resources consumed. To do this, you need to subtract the previous ones from the current readings.
- Next, you simply need to multiply this figure by the average tariff. You can find it on the website of the company providing the services.
As soon as the calculations are made, you can safely pay the bill. If certain discrepancies are observed, you should definitely find out why they arose and only then make payment.
If difficulties arise during the settlement process, it is recommended to read the contract. The company must indicate all the details of the calculation in the concluded contract.
Sometimes an organization even reserves the right to carry out calculations independently after receiving all the necessary data. This happens especially often when it comes to a 3-phase meter.
How to correctly take water meter readings
Water meters are no longer a luxury, but a necessity in almost any apartment.
In order to take water meter readings, you need to know literally a couple of nuances.
The main thing on the meter for an ordinary resident of a particular apartment is the central display with numbers - they show the number of cubic meters of code used in the apartment. These numbers have a division into black and red boundaries - to take readings from the meters, we should only care about the numbers displayed in the black part of the digital field (for example, on the top counter in the picture we are only interested in the number 20, and 270 in the red field is needed only for statistics).
It is important to ensure that there are no water leaks in the apartment. With the help of water meters, this is very easy to do - just turn off the water taps everywhere and see if the meter is spinning
If not, then everything is fine in your apartment!
Data taken from water meters is submitted to special authorities to be included in the rent each month.
the moderator chose this answer as the best
All water meters are made the same way and their dial is divided into two parts - on the left there are black numbers that count cubic meters of water consumed, so they are entered into the statement, and on the right there are red numbers, they take into account the consumption of liters, they do not need to be taken into account anywhere. Why did many people ask, perhaps there are two reasons - the first is that these numbers are needed to carry out a more accurate verification of the device, and the second, perhaps they were left for self-monitoring of water consumption for advanced users. If people with low vision live in the house, then it is best to cover up the red numbers so that they are not visible at all.
Below is a fragment of the accounting, which shows that each line has its own device, try not to confuse, otherwise you will then have to explain and pay extra, or return the money.
Water meter readings must be submitted regularly, before the end of the current month, by phone or directly to the controller every month.
To take readings from a water meter, just look at its dial and rewrite the numbers, you need to take into account that the meter may have numbers highlighted in red - these are fractions of cubes; you don’t need to take them into account, you only need to take into account numbers on a white background, black - that’s them recorded and reported when transmitting readings and included in payment receipts.
Look at photos of water meters with different allocations of whole numbers and their fractions, look at yours and easily determine which numbers to rewrite.
Every month, on the day of submission of information about meter readings, it is necessary to take readings from water meters, which are usually located in close proximity to hot and cold water risers. The cold water meter has a blue plastic housing, and the hot water meter has a red housing. The first black field, consisting of five digits, contains the required number of cubic meters consumed in total, according to the cumulative principle, since the start of operation of the meter. We enter this data on an invoice or other form.
Payments for water supply must be made monthly. To do this, you need to learn how to take meter readings correctly.
The water meter has a display with numbers. Usually it has 3 digits after the decimal point and 5-6 digits before it. You will need to write down the numbers before the decimal point. You need to record readings from the hot water meter (usually red) and from the cold water meter (usually blue).
When paying, you will have to indicate the figures from last month and the present ones, as well as calculate the difference.
What do the numbers on the meter mean?
A water meter is a complex structure, the components of which are designed to measure the consumption of water consumed by apartment residents. Externally, it looks like a small round device protected by an antimagnetic screen. There is a digital panel on the front - a mechanism that keeps track of the resource. Some dials can rotate 360 degrees, while other meters have additional remote reading capabilities.
To provide correct hot and cold water readings, it is recommended to take a closer look at all the numbers on the device screen:
- The main display is divided into several parts: the first four black digits, up to the decimal point, tell you about the water consumption in the apartment in cubic meters. The next three digits, after the decimal point, are highlighted in red - they indicate water consumption in liters. In some models of water meters, instead of three red numbers, there is an additional small round dial where the flow rate is indicated in liters.
- Technological circular scale of water flow - a small round dial is located in the lower right corner of the meter. It tells you how much water is supplied to the system at the moment.
- Water consumption in liters can be represented by three dials at once in different models. They are used to calculate hundreds, tens and units of liters.
- There are several more numbers above the top digital display; they remain unchanged. This is the index or serial number of the meter - it is entered in the passport, and is also indicated in the relevant acts when the water meter is replaced or repaired.
Some water meter models may have more characters after the decimal point, but this indicator is not decisive. Different meters must be installed for cold and hot water, therefore, the readings will differ. If the apartment has a gas water heater or boiler, then you will need only one meter - for cold water.
Calculation example for the second month
Now let's see how to take readings next month. For our example this is April:
- Let's look at the cold water meter readings. The black numbers are 00008, the red ones are 674. This means that the water meter shows that in two months we have used 9 m 3 of water (674 liters, since this is more than 500, we round up to one cubic meter).
- Now let's see how much we spent in March - 4 cubic meters. Simple arithmetic calculations: 9 - 4 = 5. It turns out that in April we pay for 5 cubic meters of cold water at the established tariff.
- Now the hot water meter. Black numbers are 00006, red numbers are 430. In two months we spent 6 cubic meters.
- In March, 3 m 3 of hot water was consumed. Hence 6 - 3 = 3. In April, 3 cubic meters were also consumed.
- In a notebook or notes we reflect the indicators for April - 9 and 6 m 3 of cold and hot water, respectively. The receipt indicates expenses for the current month. That is, 5 cubic meters of cold and 3 cubic meters of hot water.
Checking water meters
The correct operation of these devices must be checked periodically. This is done by a special metrological service. Cold water meters are checked strictly once every 6 years, hot water meters - once every 4 years. The procedure is available both at home and at the verification service. Without it, after the specified period, the readings of your water meters will not be taken into account by the management company.
If you feel that the counter is not working correctly, you can check it yourself:
- Record the exact readings of the eight digits on the device.
- Fill a 20-liter jerrycan completely with cold or hot water five times (depending on the water meter you're checking).
- In fact, you have used exactly 100 liters of water.
- Check how much the water meter shows. If the indicators have shifted to numbers far from 100 liters upward, then it makes sense to check the operation, the tightness of all plumbing, and, possibly, replace the device.
How to correctly take water meter readings
The use of water meters has long ceased to be rare and exotic in our city apartments, especially since the installation of these devices is mandatory in accordance with current legislation.
However, those who are just starting to use them often have a number of questions related to how to take water meter readings. This is very important, because errors made when taking meter readings can lead to problems associated with paying for the resource consumed. That is, just one incorrectly recorded number can cost an unlucky payer a pretty penny, especially when it comes to the use of hot water, which is paid at higher rates
A little about a water meter with remote readings
One of the interesting models of water meters is a meter with remote readings. It works on the following principle:
— the simplest devices in their design contain a reed sensor and a magnet; — during each passage past the sensor, a low-current pulse appears, which records a certain flow rate; — to receive pulses there is a special module that converts data into a form convenient for reading and transmission.
Such a meter eliminates the problem of unreliable readings, but does not eliminate their submission and recording in the receipt. Improved devices transmit information directly to the Internet - to a centralized resource cost accounting system.
How to take water meter readings
Whoever encounters water meters in an apartment for the first time, after installing, or purchasing a new apartment with already installed water meters, the question will certainly arise, how to correctly take readings of water meters? In this article I will describe in detail the instructions on how to do this correctly.
How to determine where the hot water meter is and where the cold one is?
To correctly transmit readings, we determine where the hot and cold meters are. The blue meter is always set to cold water, and the red one to hot. Also, according to the standard, it is allowed to place the red device not only on hot water, but also on cold water.
How to determine in this case where to correctly write off the readings? According to the standard since Soviet times, at the entrances from the water risers to the apartment, cold water is supplied from below, and hot water from above.
And the easiest way to determine, as they say, is “at random,” if you haven’t determined the other two parameters, since modern builders can arrange the pipes as they see fit, just open the tap, for example, of cold water, and see which meter is spinning, and so define it.
How to correctly take water meter readings
So, we figured out where which device is, and now we’ll figure out how to correctly take readings from water meters. The most common counters have eight digits on the dial, so let's start with such models.
The first five numbers are cubes, the numbers stand out on them against a black background. The next 3 digits are liters.
To take readings, we only need the first five digits, since liters are not taken into account by the monitoring services when taking readings.
Let's look at an example:
The initial meter readings, 00023 409, will be based on this indicator, after a month the readings on the meters are 00031 777, we round the red numbers to one, the total is 00032 cubic meters, from 32 to 23 (initial readings), and it turns out that 9 cubic meters of water have been consumed. We enter 00032 in the receipt and pay for 9 cubic meters. This is how to correctly take readings for cold and hot water.
There are cold and hot water meters without the last three red digits, that is, without taking into account liters, in which case there is no need to round anything.
How to pay for water using meters
For Russia, payment for water is made as follows:
Enter the initial and final readings for cold water into the receipt, for example, 00078 - 00094, subtract 78 from 94, you get 16, multiply 16 by the current tariff, you get the required amount.
Calculate hot water in the same way. For example, 00032 – 00037, a total of 5 cubic meters of hot water is obtained, also multiply by the tariff.
To pay for sewerage (sewage), sum up these 2 indicators, 16 + 5, you get 21, and multiply by the sewerage tariff.
16 cubic meters of cold water, add 5 cubic meters of hot water used, you get 21 cubic meters, pay for cold water, and in the “heating” column, pay for heating 5 cubic meters. For drainage – 21 cubic meters.
Does the meter count correctly, how to check
You can check the correct operation of the meter yourself with a 5-10 liter canister, or another container, having collected approximately one hundred liters; with a smaller volume it is difficult to calculate the discrepancies in the volume of drained water and the discrepancy in the meter readings.
What happens if you don't take meter readings?
If you do not submit your readings during the test, then the relevant services will issue an invoice at the rate provided for apartments where a meter is not installed, that is, according to the standards per person.
That's all the advice on how to correctly take water meter readings.
Good luck to you!
Deadlines for submitting water bills
Each city and region of the country has its own periods for submitting testimony. Often these dates range from the 20th to the 31st of each month. It is at this time that it is easier for the management company to make calculations and enter information into the program. Some organizations recommend submitting testimony early in the month. Most enterprises insist on timely payment of water costs, since over time the subscriber will be charged interest for failure to pay on time.
If all apartment residents submit information at the same time, the difference between the individual water consumption in the apartment and the general house consumption will decrease. That is why many management companies indicate on special containers the exact deadlines for submitting a sheet with records and apartment number. In addition, on the payment slips themselves there is often an entry asking for information to be submitted no later than a certain date.
Meanings of numbers and their decoding
There are eight digits on the counter dial, 5 of which are black and 3 are red. Red ones indicate the number of liters used. They should not be considered, since payment for consumed water is made in cubic meters. That is, we are only interested in black numbers indicating the number of cubic meters of water we used during the reporting period.
Next you need to proceed as follows:
- Write down the required numbers in a notepad or notebook in the order in which they are shown on the device.
- Round the last figure up if the number of liters is more than 500.
- Multiply the resulting value by the established tariff for water payment and enter the resulting value into the paybook. Now you can go to the nearest bank branch to pay for consumed water.
Please note: Before taking readings from the water meter, make sure that the pipes in the house do not leak, and that the taps in the bathroom and kitchen provide shut-off water at normal levels. If all sources of water consumption in the house are turned off, and the meter continues to “increase the numbers”, even at a minimum speed, it means that there is a leak in the home network that needs to be identified and eliminated to prevent paying for unused water
If all sources of water consumption in the house are turned off, and the meter continues to “increase the numbers”, even at a minimum speed, then there is a leak in the home network that needs to be identified and eliminated in order to prevent paying for unused water.
You can check the correct operation of hot and cold water meters as follows:
After turning off all the taps in the house, pay attention to the meters. They must be in a stationary position, and their readings must remain unchanged
After this, you need to take a 10 liter pan and fill it with water to the brim. This manipulation should be performed five times, thus gaining 50 liters. Then check the readings again with the actual water calculation. They should increase by exactly 50 liters. If there are discrepancies between the actual and nominal readings, the meters should be checked by the appropriate organization for possible problems and malfunctions.
How to take readings correctly?
In order to regularly pay for used water, it is necessary to perform a kind of “ritual” every month, on the same dates, which includes the following actions:
- receiving a receipt;
- taking readings from metering devices;
- entering data into the receipt (when transmitting information by phone or Internet, this item is not needed);
- payment for the actual quantity used.
Depending on who is involved in generating utility bills, there are different methods of transmitting data. But first things first.
Analysis of the design of a water meter
To understand how to correctly take readings from a water meter, you need to understand its design, or more precisely, study the display - the top panel covered with transparent plastic.
The main element that you will have to “work with” every month is a digital scale, the same as that of an electric meter. Almost all tachometer instruments are equipped with a roller scale - the most popular due to their simple design, accuracy and low cost.
In addition to mechanical models, there are electronic ones in which the roller scale is replaced by a display. They are more expensive than conventional models, and they are also energy-dependent - they often operate on a battery.
We talked more about the types of water meters and the rules for choosing them in this article.
Before taking readings, you need to accurately determine which water meter is installed on the hot water pipe and which one is installed on the cold pipe.
There are several ways to find out:
- use color coding - the body of meters for cold water is usually painted blue (as is the edging of the display), for hot water - red;
- find the letter marking - hot water supply/hot water supply or water supply/water supply;
- touch the pipe with your hand - the hot water supply line is always warm (except during summer shutdown periods);
- open the tap and determine by the rotating indicator.
Traditionally, hot water pipes are laid on top, therefore, DHW meters are installed in the top position. Unfortunately, not all plumbers comply with generally accepted requirements, so when using this method of determination, you can make a mistake.
To conveniently take readings, water meters must be installed in a visible area - on an open section of a water supply pipe or under a plumbing hatch cover. Both devices should be facing the light source.
What numbers are important for the calculation?
Having decided whether the devices belong to hot and cold water supply, you need to write down the actual numbers - those indicated on the scale or display. And before that, you will have to figure out which numbers need to be counted on both water meters, and which ones do not need to be taken into account.
The scale of a simple tachometer device includes 8 rollers, that is, it shows 8 numbers: the three rightmost ones indicate consumed liters, the rest - cubic meters.
However, there are counters whose display differs in the total number of digits or the number of digits after the decimal point. In this case, you need to consult a specialist who installs meters or a representative of the service company who performs the sealing.
Is it possible to round off readings? This is allowed, up or down. Typically, if the red numbers reach the value “600”, the number is increased by 1, that is, liters are rounded to the cube.
Reading example:
Let's assume that the next number on the dial of the cold water meter is 00076.268. We write down only “76” on the receipt. Let's assume that next month the readings are 00084.896. We round and write “76” in the column for the last month, and “85” for the current month. The difference is 9 m³.
To understand how much you need to pay for consumed water, we multiply the cubic meters spent by the regional tariff, let’s assume 34.5 rubles/m³. It turns out 310.50 rubles - that’s what you’ll have to pay for cold water.
We discussed the specifics of calculating water consumption in more detail in our other article. Having figured out what numbers need to be supplied to water meters, all that remains is to choose the most convenient method of transmission, if there are several of them.
Methods and timing for transmitting evidence
Thanks to the development of communication networks, users are provided with many ways to transmit monthly water consumption data.
All methods can be divided into 3 large categories:
- telephone message;
- transfer of readings via the Internet;
- submission of data on paper – receipts.
But first you need to understand where to send the readings taken: to the management company, housing department, the main entrance or directly to the branch of the supplier company. It is better to check this information with a representative of the service organization.
Source
Alternative counters
Time does not stand still. The tachymetric water meters that we reviewed are being replaced by impulse devices. They allow you to remotely reflect your water consumption. For example, on a special display installed at the entrance, or directly in the general office system of the controlling company. With such meters, the homeowner no longer needs to independently collect readings.
There are already current water meters that independently send readings to your computer and smartphone via Wi-Fi. But they are still distinguished by a noticeable high cost.
Now you know how to correctly record and indicate meter readings on a receipt. Perhaps in the near future technology will free us from these actions.
How to submit written testimony
This option is considered the most common and is still relevant. Many apartment owners do not know how to use computers and do not have the ability to access the World Wide Web, so written submission of data remains in demand.
To indicate the amount of resource consumption for a certain payment period, a tear-off notice is used. In some cities of the country, a certain system operates: - the subscriber brings a tear-off sheet with the indicated values to the management company or cash center; — a special container is placed on the territory of the organization, into which it is necessary to place a sheet of notes.
In apartment buildings, the system is simpler: the management company places a small mailbox on the ground floor in the entrance. Once a month, before a certain date, you need to drop a sheet with readings of water consumption in the apartment into it. Each sheet must indicate the apartment number and address of the subscriber.
How the meter works
To understand how to correctly take readings from water meters, you need to pay special attention to the principles of their installation and operation. Let's look at them further:
- Readings for hot water are taken from the hot water meter, which is usually located on top of the water pipe. This is due to the position of the pipes, since the hot water pipes are located on top. Accordingly, you will need to look at the readings on the cold water meter at the lower meter.
- The numbers must be written off from a special display located in the central part of the control center. It shows a lot of numbers: the three on the far right indicate the minimum indicators and change very quickly. Next come the ones we need, denoting cubic meters.
To make it easier to understand, sometimes the meters are colored blue and red - so as not to make a mistake when you take the data.
Functioning of meters and their differences
The following options for electricity meters are available:
- mechanical;
- electronic;
- electromechanical (appeared to replace mechanical ones).
The appearance of the electric meter is not of fundamental importance, because readings can be taken from any device
Mechanical meters are being gradually replaced with modern devices. The reason for this is a noticeable error during operation. The mechanism operates under the influence of a force field created by an inductive coil. So, first, a current passes through a coil, creating a magnetic field that sets a metal disk with a gear in motion. This gear is already moving the rollers depicting numbers
These are the ones that users pay attention to when they need to read device data.
Mechanical counters are gradually losing popularity
Electronic meters for measuring electricity have a different operating principle. Sensors are installed here that transmit voltage and current to the converter. Next, a pulse is generated, which the controller recognizes and then displays the readings on the display. These numbers are permanently stored in the device's memory. Even when the light is turned off, zeroing does not occur, because the device goes into offline mode.
How to determine which meter is cold and which is hot
If both water meters have red markings, then you should determine which one belongs to what. To do this, there are two ways to determine whether a meter belongs to a hot or cold water supply:
- Location relative to each other. According to the standard, the cold water meter should be located lower than the hot one. This condition is not mandatory, so during installation the meters can be located in a way that is convenient for the master. This can make it difficult to determine which meter is which.
- Turning on the water. To accurately determine which meter belongs to cold water, regardless of their location relative to each other, you should open the cold water tap. After opening the tap, one of the meters will begin to rotate, this will be the cold water meter.
Where are water meters located and how do they work?
Metering units are installed on all pipes of the hot water and cold water systems entering the apartment. Sometimes the connection to the water supply occurs according to a complex scheme - the bathroom and kitchen are separately powered. We have to install meters on all connections to cold water supply and hot water supply. Access to them must be free. Controlling organizations and representatives of the Council of an apartment building have the right to check the correct operation of the meters once every 6 months. Thus, they find craftsmen who install magnets, unwind the dial of the water meter, and stop the rotation of the impeller. Violators pay for water at a tariff with established increasing coefficients and cover losses from the entire house.
It is permissible to place metering units in plastic boxes; they are mounted side by side, placed together with the leakage protection system unit and shut-off valves. The panels of the boxes must open so that the seals and cells are visible. The operating principle of the counters is simple:
- The counting mechanism is driven by the flow of water.
- When the taps are open, the rotary indicator begins to spin.
- The stronger the flow of water, the faster it rotates.
Induction, tachometer, and electronic models have been developed. Each owner chooses them at his own discretion.
Calculation example first month
The easiest way to understand taking water meter readings is to use a specific example. First month - March:
- How to take cold water meter readings? Let's look at the values on the blue water meter: black numbers - 00004, red numbers - 382. The number 382 is less than 500, so we do not take it into account. We record a black number - 4 cubic meters of water wasted.
- How to take hot water meter readings? The red water meter has the following values: black numbers - 00002, red numbers - 834. The last number is more than 500, so we round 834 liters to 1 m 3. The black numbers show that we wasted 2 cubic meters of hot water. With rounding 2 + 1 = 3. We record that we have wasted 3 cubic meters of hot water.
- We advise you to record the readings in a special notebook or notes on your smartphone - they will be needed for calculations for the next month.
- We transfer from the notebook to the receipt that we wasted 4 cubic meters of cold and 3 cubic meters of hot water in March.
Step-by-step instructions for calculating hot and cold water consumption in an apartment
When installing metering devices, you should inform the management company or the resource supplying organization (depending on with whom the consumption agreement is concluded) about their presence in the apartment. Afterwards you need to report the initial meter readings. These will be the first 5 digits of the black segment of the scale.
Further actions:
- The previous or initial readings are subtracted from the last readings. The resulting figure is the water consumption for a certain period in cubic meters.
- Submit current testimony to the Criminal Code in person, by phone or electronically (by e-mail).
- Multiply the number of cubic meters consumed by the tariff for 1 m3 of cold water. The result will be the amount to be paid, which, ideally, should match the amount in the receipt from the management company.
The calculation formula looks like this: NP – PP = PKV (m3) PKV X tariff = CO, where:
- NP – real indications;
- PP – previous readings;
- PKV – consumed amount of water in cubic meters;
- SO – amount to be paid.
The tariff for cold water consists of two tariffs: for water disposal and water consumption. You can find out each of them on the website of the water supply organization or your management company.
For example: a new cold water meter has been installed in the apartment. The meter scale consists of 8 digits - five on a black background and 3 on a red background. Initial readings during installation: 00002175. Of these, the black numbers are 00002. They should be transferred along with information about installing the meter to the Criminal Code.
A month later, the numbers 00008890 appeared on the counter. Of these:
- 00008 on the black scale;
- 890 – on red.
890 is a displacement exceeding 500 liters, so 1 should be added to the last digit of the black scale. Thus, in the dark sector the number 00009 is obtained. This data is transmitted to the Criminal Code.
Consumption calculation: 9-2=7. This means that over the course of a month, family members “drank and threw away” 7 cubic meters of water. Next, we multiply the quantity by the tariff, we get the amount to be paid.
The rules for hot water are similar to cold water:
- take readings (all numbers up to the red scale) from the meter;
- round the last number to one, discarding or adding liters of the red part of the scale;
- subtract the current readings from previous readings;
- multiply the resulting number by the tariff.
An example of calculation using a type 2 meter with a 5-digit scale and three displacement displays: in the receipt for last month, the latest reading of the hot water water meter is 35 cubic meters. On the day the data was taken, the scale numbers were 37 cubic meters. m.
On the rightmost dial scale the arrow points to number 2. The next display shows number 8. In the last of the measuring windows – number 4.
In liters consumed:
- 200 liters, according to the first dial (it shows hundreds);
- 80 liters - according to the second (shows tens);
- 4 liters is the reading of the third scale, which shows units.
In total, during the billing period, hot water consumption amounted to 2 cubic meters. m. and 284 liters. Since 284 liters is less than 0.5 cubic meters of water, this figure should simply be discarded.
When transferring data to Vodokanal or Management Company, indicate the last reading - 37. To find out the amount to be paid, multiply the number by the tariff.
How to fill out a receipt
We have already figured out what numbers are when taking readings from water meters and how we need to read them. But in addition, we need to figure out how to correctly fill out the receipts that we will use when paying. There are a number of special simple rules for this:
- In the second column and second drain, you must indicate the latest information from the cold water meter. There is no need to enter the last three digits from the readings - we will not need them here.
- In the third column of the second line, indicate data on cold water for the past month. Also, the fillings should not include the last 3 digits of the information.
- Third row, second column. Here we need data on hot water today.
- Third row, third column. The information here indicates hot water data for the past month.
- To fill out column 4, you first need to take information from the cold water meter for the current month and subtract the data for the previous month from it. That is, we need to calculate how many cubic meters of cold water and hot water you have used for the current month. Accordingly, information on cold water is indicated in the 2nd line, on hot water - in the third line.
- Usually the receipt already shows the current tariff for cold and hot water, so that it is more convenient for you to calculate the amount to pay. However, if this is not written, then you will have to personally find out this information from your management company or from the person responsible for transmitting the testimony, and enter it yourself. This information must also be indicated in column 4.
Once your receipt is completed, you can go pay your bills. This can be done at post offices, as well as through banks. If necessary, payment is made online through the City system, a personal account on the housing and communal services website, or through Sberbank online. Moreover, in most cases, no commission is charged, and the amount to be paid must be entered independently.
The article was written based on materials from the sites: fb.ru, ru-act.com, okanalizacii.ru, www.saures.ru, okommunalke.ru.
When to take instrument data and how to fill out paperwork
So, now you know how to calculate water meter readings. Now let's figure out when to do this. The rules for transmitting information from meters state that this must be done before the 27th of the month. If information is not provided, the amount is calculated as the average value for all previous months.
However, it is important not only to take water meter readings correctly, but also to fill out the form without errors. In the official form, indicate only information that is relevant on the day of removal. If the housing is communal, a single invoice is issued, and the amount is divided by the number of registered residents.
Rice. 2
Fill out the payment form correctly, writing down the numbers as clearly as possible. If what is written down is difficult to understand or goes beyond the established fields, the document may be considered invalid and you will have to pay according to the average standards.
How to take readings from five-roller meters
On some meters, the whole part is represented by a roller scale, and the fractional part by three or four pointer scales.
Such counters are called “with a combined roller digital scale” or five-roller. If you have a five-roller counter, you take the whole part of the readings from the roller numbers, and the fractional part from the arrows.
One pointer scale shows hundreds of liters consumed, the other tens, the third units. To obtain the value of the fractional part, you need to multiply the value of hundreds of liters by a factor of 0.1, the value of tens by a factor of 0.01, and multiply the value of units by 0.001. Then add up the calculation results.
In our example, it will look like this: 7*0.1 + 5*0.01 + 9*0.001 = 0.759 cubic meters.
We add the fractional part of the readings with the integer: 6 + 0.759. We get the water consumption according to the meter to be 6.759.
Since we write only whole values on the receipt, your choice is: round the fractional part according to mathematical rules or ignore the fractional part.
In the first case it will be 7, in the second 6 cubic meters. No need to worry about missing liters if you choose the non-rounding option. The consumed part of the cubic meter will be paid by you in the next period.
Just like for eight-roller meters, when you first take readings, the entire number from the meter is included in the receipt: 7 or 6, depending on whether you round the fractional part or not.
Next month, we write down on the receipt the difference between the new and previous values: 5 (12 – 7) or 6 cubic meters (12 – 6) of water.
The main supplier of five-roller counters in Russia is the German manufacturer Zenner.
Let's sum it up
Do not forget about periodic inspection of devices by water utility inspectors. If some parts are unscrewed or the integrity of the structure is compromised, you will have to pay a fine. Often, inspectors not only check the condition of the device, but also compare the readings with those that were given last time - in this way they monitor their reliability.
It is recommended to record data from water meters at the end of each month. You can choose a different date, but it is advisable to always do it at the same time to avoid confusion. It is necessary to provide information to the management company on time to avoid the accrual of penalties.
Thank you very much zhkh.club for the information.
How to take readings from meters with electronic displays
Meters with an electronic digital panel are less common than others. They are more expensive, require electrical power, and do not have significant advantages over roller ones.
However, if you have a meter with an electronic display, write down the whole number of cubes on the receipt. Round the numbers after the decimal point according to mathematical rules or ignore them.
In our example: 25 (with rounding liters) or 24 cubic meters (without rounding).
All other rules for collecting, calculating, recording and transmitting readings for meters with electronic displays are identical to any other meters.
Manufacturers of meters with electronic displays: Siemens, Betar, Sayany, Grand and others.
The simplest one is an eight-roller counter.
Clue! When submitting information, you must provide the first five digits. It is better to round up to avoid confusion.
Five-roller models display information using dial indicators indicating the volume of water in a fractional ratio (1 liter, 10, 100). When rounding water readings in cubic meters, you need to look at the hundred-liter figure.
Taking readings from meters with electronic displays is quite simple; these are metering units with eight-digit values.
A new model of counters without a dial has also appeared. Readings are transmitted to a smartphone via Bluetooth or can be displayed on a wall-mounted display. If meters are installed in hard-to-reach places (for example, in the basement or attic), this model will be very convenient.
Practical recommendations for recording readings
Here is a simple example of how to take water meter readings yourself:
New hot and cold water meters were installed in the apartment, on which the readings at the time of their installation were zero.
That is, it looked like this:
- Hot water: 00000000;
- Cold water: 00000000.
After a month of using the water, the readings changed as follows:
That is, by being careful and attentive, recording and paying for readings on time, you don’t have to worry about how to correctly take water meter readings, since making serious mistakes is unlikely. The main thing is to do everything regularly and responsibly.
We talked about how to submit water meter readings via the Internet in our other article.
If you have to purchase additional meters, perhaps our tips on choosing them will help you with this.
The video will clearly demonstrate how to take water meter readings.
Form and decoding
The form of receipts was developed on the basis of Order No. 924 dated December 29. 14 years old. The document consists of several sections.
Let's decipher the document for payment for housing and communal services:
- Section 1 records information about the payer and the organization providing services, namely:
- month and year;
- information about the owner (address, last name, first name and patronymic);
- number of registered persons;
- total living area;
- name of the company providing services (MC, HOA and others), information about its address, contact numbers, indication of work schedule.
- Section 2 includes:
- recipient of funds (company name);
- Personal account number;
- what is the payment for (type of service provided);
- bank account number;
- the total amount to be paid for the entire month.
Below you can see information about the presence of debt for previous periods, the amount of the advance and the total amount for payment (the advance is deducted from). In section number 3, which is a table of 13-14 columns, you can see the following information:
- name of payments (for what needs payment is charged), for example, repairs and maintenance of housing;
- volume of services provided;
- general house needs (GDN) and their volume of consumption, tariff;
- total amount for the month.
Section 4 contains background information about standards and meter readings (separately for apartments and single-room apartments).
In section 5 you can see information about recalculations (if any). Section 6 describes how the amounts for payment in installments were calculated. The next section consists of calculating the payment for major repairs. In section 8 you can see the details for transferring funds for major repairs. Columns 9 and 10 show the recalculation (its amount), as well as the presence of subsidies and various benefits. And in columns 11 to 13 inclusive, you can find information about the total amount to be paid (registered for the apartment and ODN in separate amounts). On the left in the table the services themselves are indicated, namely:
- home repair and maintenance;
- heating and units of measurement;
- hot water and cold water with units of measurement;
- drains;
- electricity and a line with totals.
How to take readings from meters with a roller scale
A counter with a roller scale is often called an eight-roller counter because there are eight windows with numbers on the indicator panel. Typically five black and three red.
The first five digits show the number of cubic meters consumed. The last three digits are the fractional part of the consumption - liters.
We write an integer on the receipt, so the first five digits are the main part of the readings.
The fractional part can be ignored or rounded to a whole number according to mathematical rules - if after the decimal point there is less than 499, downwards, if more than 500, up.
For example: in the figure, the whole part of the reading is 4 cubic meters, the fractional part is 736 liters. We can round liters to the nearest whole in the current month or include them in the payment for the next period (when the meter turns over the next cubic meter).
If you are taking readings for the first time, write down 5 cubic meters (with rounding of the fractional part) or 4 (if you decide not to take into account the fractional part) on the receipt.
Next month the counter shows 11 in the integer part and 235 in the fractional part. With and without rounding – 11 cubic meters of water.
In the receipt we write down the difference between the current readings and the result of last month: 11 – 5 = 6 or 11 – 4 = 7 cubic meters.
As you can see: whether you round the fractional part or ignore it, the total number of paid cubic meters does not change. Pick one method and stick to it every month.
Manufacturers of roller digital scale meters: Valtec, Itelma, Beregun, Meter, Okhta, Taypit, Alekseevsky, Economy, Norma and others.
How to keep track of water consumption?
If you have installed a new meter, then you do not need to calculate the water consumption for the month, since it will display the readings in the first five cells (cubic meters). If the water meter is not new, then the latest data should be subtracted from the current indicators.
Expert opinion Golubev Denis Petrovich Lawyer with 7 years of experience. Specialization: civil law. Author of dozens of articles in the media
When you transfer data to the company, the cold and hot water readings need to be added up, and the hot water readings should be noted as water heating in cubic meters. Payment for sewerage is carried out in full volume of cubic meters of cold and hot water supply.
An example of taking readings from a meter
First, we determine which water the meter is connected to. Look at the color of its body or rim. Blue is cold water, and red is hot. If the meters have the same parameters, then open any water tap and see which device will rotate. Then we will fill out the receipt:
- We indicate your full name in the appropriate column.
- We record the date the readings were taken from the device.
- We record current water consumption indicators.
You can fill out the receipt using this link.
For example, on the cold water meter on the reporting date there were the following numbers 00078634, where the last three are liters. We need to enter the first five 00079 in the receipt (we round the last cell). In a month, our readings will be different: 00085213. Enter 00085 in the receipt.
To calculate cold water, we need to indicate the difference between the current readings and the previous ones: 00085-00079=6 cubic meters. To calculate the final cost of the service, let’s take the approximate price for one cube - 38.06 rubles. We multiply the price by 6 cubic meters = 228.36 rubles per month.
Monthly water consumption is calculated automatically; you only need to rewrite the current readings. If you have two risers in your apartment: one hot and the other cold, then each meter transmits information about consumption.
Water meter with electronic dial. How to take readings?
This water supply meter displays two parameters:
- Water consumption in liters.
- Water heating in cubic meters.
The peculiarity of this meter is that it detects hot water with a temperature below 40 degrees as cold
It is important to take both readings
How to use the device?
There are two markers on the electronic scoreboard:
- The line number is indicated by the right marker.
- Column number is left.
V1 is the total volume of water that passed through the turbine.
V2 - indicators when connecting the device.
V1^ - hot water consumption (above 40 degrees).
T is the water temperature.
To switch the first marker, you need to make a long press on the counter. To switch the second marker, make a short press.
The numbers displayed in the third line show the amount of water spent during the reporting period. The checksum will be shown below. To take readings, you need to switch markers.
Submission of testimony
We figured out how to take water meter readings
It is also important to submit them to the relevant organization on time - before the 26th of each month. Usually, for these purposes, a receipt and a coupon for it are filled out:
- Write down the full name of the apartment owner, address, number of residents and, of course, the payment period.
- The cold water (cold water) field indicates the values on the water meter for the past and present month. In our example these are 00004 and 00009.
- The same information is written in the DHW (hot water) column. In our example - 00003 and 00006.
- In the “Consumption” field, you indicate how much cold and hot water you consumed per month. For our example, these are 5 and 3 cubic meters, respectively.
- The column “Water drainage” is the sum of hot water and cold water. For our example: 5 + 3 = 8 cubic meters.
- For the “Amount” field, you need to multiply the “Consumption” of cold and hot water by the established tariff, and then add these products.
Receipts are kept by the owner of the house, and the tear-off coupon is placed in a special box, container placed near the entrance door or in another place established by the management company. In some places it is possible to transmit testimony virtually - through State Services.
If you cannot submit a coupon with information on meters on time, then you need to notify the company involved in this accounting. You should be given average readings for the current month, the basis for which will be your data on water meters for the previous three months. And for the next payment (when you are already able to take meter readings), you can submit an application for recalculation.
Time limits for taking water meter readings
To transfer settlements to the management company, a date is selected from the 15th to the 30th of the month .
The contract with the authorized organization usually states the date of transfer of the testimony. If there are no such recommendations, then the homeowner needs to have time to transfer data from water meters in the second half of the month. Then there will be no discrepancies with accounting - everything is clear and transparent, there are no “floating” balances.
For greatest accuracy, data should be taken every month on the same date . In this case, the consumer sees real consumption on a monthly basis and can accurately plan his payment expenses.
If the homeowner for some reason does not provide evidence, then payment will be calculated based on the average consumption for the last 3 months.
You can correct the data after checking the meters by a management specialist. This check occurs once every 6 months.
How to recalculate
In some situations, it may be necessary to verify the correctness of the enumeration.
If you overpay
Due to incorrect counter information or errors by the receiving employee, excess funds may appear in the account. According to RF PP No. 354, if discrepancies are detected, but provided that the IPU is fully operational and is not classified as out of order, the payment is recalculated.
To return funds, you must:
- Receive from the contractor a copy of the inspection report, which established the presence of surplus due to the difference in readings.
- Write a statement requesting a recalculation of the payment made.
- Submit the documents to a special department of the service company and be sure to receive confirmation that the information has been accepted for consideration.
If everything is done correctly, the due deduction will be indicated on the next receipt. If there is a significant overpayment, the amount is spread over several months.
Advice! If the contractor does not recalculate and does not provide an answer about the decision, you need to contact the regulatory authorities. The cause of failure may be a detected malfunction of the device or damage to control seals, which must be confirmed by an inspection report.
If testimony has not been submitted for a long time
The lack of information about consumed resources recorded by the IPU does not exempt the owner or tenant from paying, since residents are not limited in access to the service and can use water. Based on existing legislation (RF PP No. 354), each owner of a premises that is equipped with a meter has the right to calculate water consumption according to the readings of a correctly installed and commissioned meter. In such a situation, the amount is calculated at a single tariff for a specific region.
If you do not submit meter data, then the payment calculation method changes: for the first 3 months, the average indicator for the past six months is taken as a basis, and then according to the standard. Changing the situation is quite simple: you need to invite a specialist from a service organization to check the meter and take control readings.
In this case, it will not be possible to achieve recalculation, since it was the owner who ignored the right granted to him to submit monthly information.
Exceptions include special cases that may require legal proceedings where it will be necessary to prove the presence of force majeure circumstances or confirm temporary absence.
Plumbing inspection
Long before reading water meters in the new month, it is recommended to thoroughly check your existing plumbing for water leaks. Timely detection of leaks will help avoid unnecessary costs.
The easiest way to check is to watch the meter. If the water meter wheel is in place, then all equipment is working properly. If water is not used anywhere, and the water meter continues to work, then this may indicate a faulty plumbing.
You have checked all the equipment and found no faults, but the meter readings are still in doubt? In this case, there is a simple way to check the operation of the counter. For the experiment, you only need a 20-liter saucepan. Before starting the test, remember the meter readings, then fill the pan five times. This way you will use exactly 100 liters of water. Now all that remains is to take readings from the meter. If the difference is more or less than 100, then you should contact the appropriate authority to troubleshoot the device.
Thus, so that there is always cold and hot water in the house, and the bills do not shock you, you must remember to transfer the consumption readings to the appropriate authorities every month. You should also regularly check all plumbing fixtures and the water meter for serviceability. As a reminder, it is recommended to keep a calendar to mark the day the readings are taken each month.
Decoding the apartment meter readings
Meters for hot and cold water are designed in the same way. How to correctly take readings from a water meter (or how and what numbers to read on a water meter):
- Find the 8 large numbers on the front panel of the water meter.
- Rewrite the first 6 digits, separating the last one with a comma.
- Round the resulting number according to the rules of mathematics. If the last digit is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, remove it.
- If the last digit is 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, add one to the penultimate digit and get rid of the digit after the decimal point.
The result obtained shows the total water consumption. To determine monthly consumption, you will need 2 numbers (values at the beginning and end of the month). Subtract the smaller number from the larger one. Use the difference to calculate your utility bills. The resulting number is your monthly water consumption, measured in cubic meters.
The procedure for taking readings from a multi-tariff meter and calculating the payment amount
Electronic models of electricity meters, unlike inductive devices, are equipped with electronic dials that display not only the consumed kilowatts, but also the date, operating time of the meter and tariffs by zone, since these devices are multi-tariff.
- Single tariff. This type of metering device counts the electricity used regardless of the time of day according to a single tariff (T1);
- Two-tariff. The calculation of consumed electrical energy is carried out at different tariffs, since in this case the day is divided into two time zones: (T1) day - from 7-00 to 23-00 and (T2) night - from 23-00 to 7-00. The cost of energy used at night is significantly lower.
- Three-tariff. In addition to the day (T1) and night zones (T2), the electricity meter takes into account energy during daytime peak loads (T3), which are read from 10:00 to 14:00.
Data is read from a multi-tariff device as follows:
- To correctly record readings from an electronic device, it is necessary to write off information separately for each time zone. To do this, click on the “Enter” button on the display panel.
- After pressing, the display initially displays the T1 value data, which is written off to the electricity metering log or payment receipts.
- After subsequent presses, the following readings (T2 and T3) are alternately displayed on the display, which are also reflected in the accounting documents, while the numerical data is recorded only in kilowatts, without taking into account the numbers after the decimal point.
- After the output of indicators is completed, the checksum of all three modes (day, night and peak period) is reflected on the multi-tariff meter display.
The calculation of payment for the used electricity of a two-tariff meter is carried out according to the following scheme:
What kind of lighting do you prefer?
Built-in Chandelier
Meter readings for the reporting period: T1 – 000226, T2 – 000355.
Indicators of the previous month: T1 – 000120, T2 – 000280.
To determine the total fee, all data is summed up: 583 + 150 = 733 rubles.
The electricity payment of a three-tariff meter is calculated in a similar way, taking into account the readings of three zones:
Current readings: T1 – 000345, T2 – 000255, T3 – 000530.
Data for the past month: T1 – 000315, T2 – 000215, T3 – 000470.
To determine the total fee, all data is summed up: 165+98+240=503 rubles.
Important! If your meter has more tariffs, then all of them must be taken into account in the calculation.