Is it necessary to install a gas meter in an apartment: law

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.

Choosing the right model

The choice of specialists is based on the size of the room, the location of gas equipment, and the number of devices connected to the metering device. Craftsmen take into account the diameter of the thread and the throughput of the flow meter.

The user is advised to pay attention to the balance between price and service life, as well as the date of manufacture. A production date that is too old will significantly shorten the period until the next verification, since this period is determined by it, and not by the date of purchase or installation.

When choosing a meter, a real specialist will definitely pay attention to the direction of gas flow it is intended for. The photo shows the right counter. The left one has a mirrored entrance and exit

It would not be superfluous to clarify the design features, as this affects the frequency of verifications. Thus, compact rotary models must be inspected every five years. Membranes are subject to professional inspection every 10 years. Turbine devices frequently used in the industrial sector - once every 8 years.

The model chosen by the owner independently will, in any case, be checked to ensure compliance with all requirements. Therefore, before purchasing, you should consult with gas specialists.

The subtleties of choosing gas meters are described in more detail in this material.

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.

Work order

What should a consumer do if the gas meter in their apartment needs to be replaced?

First, you should write an application to the gas utility with a request to replace the device . The document is drawn up by the gas service at the location of the apartment.
When accepting an application, the service will need to prove the owner’s rights to the property, so you need to take a certificate of ownership with you.
This organization can provide advice on choosing a replacement model . After all, even after a couple of years of operation, a device may become obsolete; products with higher performance characteristics are constantly appearing.
You need to buy a new meter . It is important to check for its certification and passport, which indicates the date of manufacture. During manufacture, the device undergoes an initial test, from which the next scheduled test is calculated.
When submitting an application, you also need to find out from the gas service how much the replacement work will cost. They will take into account the dismantling of the old IPU and the installation of a new one.
The applicant must find out about the arrival date of the master in advance. On the appointed day, the gas meter is changed; the technician must issue a certificate for carrying out the work and putting the meter into operation.

After installation, the meter must be sealed by a gas service specialist.

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:

Replacing a gas meter: at whose expense

The main responsibility for the readings of the gas meter and its performance lies on the shoulders of the owner. Subscribers also bear the cost of maintaining the meter. This includes payment for verification and delivery for verification.

What is verification? These are several operations that are performed by government metrological service bodies. They are aimed at studying and confirming the compliance of a gas flow meter (or other measuring instrument) with accepted technical requirements.

As mentioned above, delivery of devices is provided at the expense of the owners. This is confirmed by paragraph 3.16 “Procedure for verification of measuring instruments”. The document was approved by order of the State Standard of the Russian Federation dated July 18, 1994 No. 125.

So, any consumer of gas from natural sources is simply obliged to take measures to ensure reliable accounting of gas volumes. When the time interval between checks set by the manufacturer of the measuring device has expired, you need to send the metering device for verification. This is the only way to obtain a conclusion about its effectiveness for further use.

For the convenience of consumers, today there are rules for the provision of utility services to citizens. They indicate that the fee for replacement, verification, repair of collective and individual metering devices, which lasts no more than 30 calendar days, is calculated based on average monthly consumption.

It is determined using the purchased measurement tool based on the last half year. If a common house or individual metering device has been in use for less than 6 months, it is necessary to take into account the actual period of its operation, which does not exceed the consumption standards for these utilities.

Neighbor's consent to connect gas: sample consent.

Read here how to install gas into your home and where to start.

Read about the fine for unauthorized gas connection at the following link:

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.

Basic installation requirements

There are requirements for the installation site, the order of work, and for those who carry out the installation. All of them must be observed by both the customer and the contractor:

The distance from gas appliances (stoves or water heaters) to the meter should be at least 80 cm.
The height from the floor is selected to be at least 120 cm.
Subject to these two standards, the rest of the installation location is determined by the home owner.
The device is installed at the expense of the homeowner. You need to know about this and collect in advance the amount necessary to purchase a new model and to pay for dismantling and installation work.
For safety, all work must be carried out by professionals with appropriate qualifications, with permission to work with gas networks and equipment.
To replace, you need to carefully select the model of the new meter. It must be certified, suitable in terms of throughput, power, and other characteristics
After installation, the new meter must be sealed, otherwise its indicators will not be taken into account when calculating payments.
The dates of inspections should be noted in the passport of the new gas consumption meter. The period for checking the device depends on its model.

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.

Rules for sealing metering devices

Government Decree No. 549, issued in 2008, states that only companies providing services have the right to install seals. However, this is not the responsibility of the emergency dispatch department, which is engaged in the installation of meters, but of the specialists of the subscriber departments vested with the appropriate powers. That is why, in order to get sealed, you need to write a second application. This application must provide the following information:

Last name, first name, patronymic and passport information of the owner of the premises;
The name and number of the product received by him at the factory;
Meter data at the time of installation;
Scheduled inspection day.

The application must be accompanied by a technical passport of the product that is planned to be installed, an installation certificate, and a document on the start of operation of the device. If the installation was carried out by an employee of a private company with a license, then you need to attach documents that confirm the qualifications of the master and the right to perform such a service.

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.

How much does it cost to replace the device and who should pay for it?

Replacement of the device is carried out for a fee. Each specific region sets its own price limit. As a rule, a citizen pays from one to five thousand rubles.

Penalty for self-replacement

The fine is determined based on the gas consumption rate in a particular region. In total, for each illegal month of gas consumption, ten thousand rubles will have to be paid to the state treasury.

In addition, if installed independently, a citizen may be completely cut off from gas in order to protect the rights and legitimate interests of other consumers.

Thus, metering devices must be installed according to the rules provided by law. Otherwise, a large fine will be imposed on the citizen.

Replacement timing

Replacement of the device is necessary before the expiration of the standard service life or calibration interval, as well as in the event of breakdown. The law provides for a period of 30 days within which the work must be completed.

The duration of the verification interval and the standard service life are indicated in the device passport issued by the manufacturer. The interval between verifications ranges from 5 to 12 years. Most products have a service life of 20 years, although some models may have a shorter lifespan.

If the gas meter is not replaced in due time, payment for services is made based on average indicators. But after 3 months, the owner will have to pay according to the standards, which will lead to a significant increase in bills for gas consumed. Therefore, you should not delay the installation of a new device, so as not to miss the replacement deadline.

It is also important for the owner to notice a malfunction of the device in time. Otherwise, if the failure of the meter is determined by a Gorgaz employee, you will have to pay for the consumed gas according to the standards from the moment of the last verification, which records the working condition of the gas meter, the frequency of which is up to 3 months.