The numbers disappeared from the gas meter display, most likely due to a low battery. The meter did not last even half of the warranty period. How should I replace the battery myself or return the meter to the seller?
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Achievement received 01/03/2019
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In any case, especially when there is a breakdown or some malfunction in the operation of electronic gas meters or mechanical cold or hot water meters, it is best to immediately call the appropriate specialists. They will fix the breakdown on the spot or give instructions on what the homeowner should do in each specific situation. You should not try to repair such meters yourself, even if your competence allows you to do it even better than those specialists. Since payment for them depends on the meter readings, calling specialists in a timely manner will save both your nerves and your money.
A great many owners of gas meters have encountered this problem and everyone is at a loss: what to do in such a situation? Inside the gas flow meter there is a rechargeable battery which, according to the manufacturer, should operate uninterruptedly for twelve years. After twelve years, the so-called meter verification must be carried out. What routine maintenance is included in this verification is stated rather vaguely and vaguely. It may also include replacing the power source. It’s just that no one’s meters have worked for twelve years yet. But these devices managed to “delight” with an unexpected surprise - their displays began to go out and make it impossible to take monthly readings. To replace the battery yourself, you will have to open the device case, which means breaking the seal. When the verification period approaches, this violation will be identified, and then a fine will definitely follow. Therefore, you should not engage in “self-medication”, but it is better to call the company that installed the meter. What will happen next is difficult to answer, because different companies operate in different areas, and everyone may have different conditions. In general, according to the logic of things, they are required to replace the battery free of charge, since it has not exhausted the service life specified by the manufacturer’s warranty. But in fact, it is unlikely that it will be possible to revive the meter absolutely free of charge. After all, the device will have to be dismantled and then put back in place, and this is a paid service, about which there is not a word in the warranty obligations. In general, be that as it may, it is definitely impossible to open the meter yourself and restore its functionality.
Let me add this technical nuance. The lithium battery is soldered into the meter board, so you can’t just open its case and replace the old one with a new one. This is a rather hemorrhoidal procedure. So my advice is that if space allows, you need to install a gas meter with a mechanical display and don’t sweat it.
First of all, you need to call the gas service (they installed the meter) and describe the whole situation. They will come, look and decide what to do, change the battery or the meter itself. But you cannot remove it yourself, it is connected to the gas pipe, this should only be done by specialists.
How to calculate gas payments?
In accordance with current legislation, the following is taken as a basis for calculations:
- The seal was damaged or the device that takes into account gas consumption turned out to be faulty, and the subscriber notified the gas supply organization on the day the breakdown was discovered. In this case, the volume of gas consumption is calculated based on the standard gas consumption, starting from the day of application and ending with the day following the date of restoration of the seal, including installation of the seal in the place where the meter is connected to the gas supply.
- If a malfunction of the device is detected during inspection, the volume of gas consumption is determined according to the accepted standard from the date of the last inspection until the day the integrity of the seals is restored (no more than 6 months).
Important! Naturally, consumption standards are too high, and the user has to overpay several times for gas consumption.
How is gas payment calculated if the gas meter is faulty?
The owner of an apartment or private house should know that after dismantling the metering device, payment is made based on average monthly consumption. The calculation is performed based on average gas consumption. For calculations, instrument readings for the last year are taken.
If the meter has not worked for a year, then the device readings for the actual period of operation are taken into account. But there are limitations.
Accruals for average consumption are made over three months. After which payment is calculated in accordance with gas consumption standards. [elementor-template > [elementor-template > [elementor-template > [elementor-template >
Source
Who is right?
Of course, such a situation cannot be called fair for the consumer. Without any special skills, and, often, without being officially notified, he is responsible for the condition of the metering device. At the same time, he doesn’t really know what to do if the gas meter in the apartment breaks down.
At the same time, a gas supply organization with a whole staff of specialists and technologies for monitoring the correct operation of meters is free from all risks. Moreover, she also wins when the controller discovers a faulty meter and charges, as they say, “to the fullest.”
However, you cannot argue with the Legislation. And its norms - fair or not - must be followed. That is, the counter must be constantly monitored.
Important! But even if you acted completely law-abidingly and called the gas workers immediately after discovering a breakdown, there is a chance that you will be charged for gas according to the standard for the last date of inspection. Consumers are going to court about flagrant violations of their rights. But, unfortunately, not all cases are resolved in their favor.
What else should you know?
It is not always possible to prove the fact of conversion. In fact, everything happens something like this: the gas meter has stopped - what to do?
- Naturally, call the gas service. The owner of the meter calls the gas workers a couple of times.
- Nobody comes, and the owner of the apartment calms down. There is no gas leak observed. The device does not show excess gas consumption. Quite the contrary.
- And then the inspector himself appears and discovers a malfunction.
- Then everything plays out like clockwork. The owner of the apartment receives a bill for a tidy sum. Everyone is happy, except the owner of the metering device, of course.
Important! Many are outraged, but many pay the bill. Not everyone will be sued, and the outcome of the case is completely unpredictable. Gas workers can easily provide documents to the court stating that this was a scheduled inspection.
There is only one conclusion: the legislation gives preference to the gas supply organization, but not to the consumer. Therefore, if the gas meter does not show numbers, you have no idea what to do, know that only you bear responsibility for any of your actions, and the actions of the gas workers.
The gas meter does not show numbers - what to do?
First of all, be careful and call to notify the organization whose details are indicated on your payment slip. In addition, the following rules must be observed:
- When communicating with a representative of the gas supply company, find out whether your appeal has been registered. If yes, then how?
- The most reliable way to avoid unreasonably charged subscription fees is a written notification, drawn up in duplicate. You keep one of them, with a registration mark.
- If a gas service employee comes to you, ask if he came in response to your request or for a routine check. If you haven’t received a clear answer, call the gas supply organization again.
Important! If, in addition to the gas meter not working, you clearly sense a leak, immediately call emergency service specialists. In this case, there is no need to hesitate.
Installing a gas meter is not yet a mandatory procedure, but some apartment owners resort to it in order to save money. They take readings from the device once a month, and the volume of gas consumption is determined by the difference between the current and previous data. Unfortunately, such devices can break down even if the installation and operation instructions are followed. Device owners should know what actions to take if the gas meter does not turn or does not show numbers. Incorrect behavior when a problem arises can lead to accidents, disputes with the gas company, and significant expenses.
What are the types of gas meter malfunctions?
Installing a gas meter is a rather risky undertaking. If the selected company did a poor job or provided a defective device, it may break down before the scheduled replacement date.
It happens that employees of such organizations deliberately do not inform the owners of the rules for operating devices, subjecting them to fines. Consumers here act at their own peril and risk, so you must at least read the instructions and constantly monitor the device. Depending on the type of installation, owners sometimes notice that these devices do not increase during gas consumption, or the device has completely gone out and stopped showing numbers. You can act in such a situation in different ways.
Why does the gas meter not show numbers?
If the indicators disappear from the gas meter display or stop growing, the chance that everything will recover on its own after some time is negligible.
This usually indicates a breakdown of the device and the need for professional repair.
Frequent causes of gas meter failure:
- installation of a defective device - in such a situation, problems arise several weeks or months after installation;
- oxidation and disconnection of wires on an electronic device;
- freezing of a rotating mechanical mechanism - typical for cold rooms, when the device is close to a constantly open window or external wall.
An electronic gas meter may stop working due to a dead battery. Craftsmen, trying to replace them themselves, often discover that the battery is already soldered to the contacts. In such a situation, any actions threaten to violate the integrity of the device and fines during the next verification.
Who changes the battery in a gas meter in St. Petersburg?
If an electronic gas meter is installed in the room, then the owner needs to clarify whether it is possible to replace the battery in the gas meter independently.
Such information, as well as the type and capacity of the battery, are indicated in the factory documentation. The instructions explain whether it is legal to replace the power source yourself (indicating the algorithm of actions) or provide data to determine who should change the battery.
You cannot replace the battery on the device yourself.
Replacing the battery on a gas meter involves:
- disconnecting the counting unit from the gas supply lines;
- removal of the filling;
- disassembling the case.
Note! It is impossible to independently install the battery into the electronic unit, since the owner does not have the right to open the seal, disconnect the device from the gas supply pipes and reseal the device.
Identification of a gas meter with damaged seals leads to the imposition of penalties on the apartment owner.
Only representatives of sales companies can remove the seal from the gas meter and replace the battery completely legally. Employees will remove, repair and reinstall the counting unit. The owner of the apartment will need to fill out an application to remove the seal and reseal the repaired and verified gas meter.
Similar work is being carried out in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region. The owner of the apartment can contact representatives of the sales organization by calling 006 (for the region) or 8-812-600-01-91 (for city subscribers) and receive information about further actions for replacement.
What to do if your gas meter breaks down
If the gas meter does not show numbers, and there is still a lot of time left before verification, you can cheat a little. It is enough to continue to provide instrument readings based on previous data. It is not recommended to underestimate them; the inspection company may have questions.
You also need to take into account that 1-2 times a year Gazprom carries out scheduled inspections. Such visitors should not be allowed in, otherwise they will record the fact of a breakdown, which will lead to an unprofitable recalculation of indicators. A couple of months before the meter expires, you need to notify the gas company about its breakdown and fill out an application for a replacement. This will save you one visit to a repairman.
How to cheat a gas meter
Those who have tried this say that this method of deceiving the meter works well in the summer.
To completely stop or slow down work, it must be filled to the brim with water.
There were not too many people willing to try this method in practice, so there is little data about it. Most likely, it may turn out that after this method it will completely fail and you will have to buy a new meter. The second method is pneumatic shock. This method will require a gas mask, an iron nervous system, and someone close to the phone.
By turning off the devices and disconnecting all the hoses, we increase the throughput of the gas pipeline, while the partner remains waiting outside with the phone.
Suddenly we open the gas valve to full power, putting on a gas mask before doing this, and after three seconds we close the valve. Repeat this procedure until the counter stops or begins to slow down.
Such an inadequate method of bypassing the gas meter is quite possible.
Why you shouldn't try to fix the problem yourself
When ordering a device, companies in most cases install it with sealing. In such a situation, if the device breaks down, it is not recommended to touch it at all, otherwise there may be serious consequences for working with the meter. Experts do not recommend even trying to change the battery yourself if it is sealed. The essence of the seal is that it protects the device from illegal actions of the owner. Violation of its integrity is regarded by the gas company as an attempt to independently stop the installation for the purpose of stealing gas. Finally, you cannot ignore basic safety rules - any unprofessional work near a gas pipe is fraught with an accident.
Wizard Actions
As soon as you have left a request, you should expect the arrival of the master. The waiting time may vary depending on the technician’s workload. The technician will visit you several times: first he will examine the problem, check the seals and carry out diagnostics, and if possible, carry out repairs right away. The device is dismantled; if it is under warranty, a replacement for a new meter can be obtained free of charge. If the warranty has expired, you will have to purchase a new device, and Gorgaz will dismantle the old one and draw up a report on the malfunction of the metering device. When you visit again, the technician will install a working meter for you and issue you with a commissioning document.
We recommend: How to save gas
When replacing, we recommend purchasing exactly the same meter or its equivalent, this way you will avoid problems with dimensions, gas direction, and additional parts.
After installation, you should contact the appropriate authorities to seal the meter and fill out an application, which will indicate the applicant’s name, number and model of the meter, the latest readings, photocopies of the meter’s passport and the acceptance certificate.
All documents provided after installation, along with the passport, are kept by the consumer - they will be needed during verification.
