How to choose a water meter for an apartment and a house

At the moment on the market there are many models of water meters, differing in both the principle of operation and the quality of performance. How to choose a water meter to get a quality, reliable, inexpensive device, this article will tell. First of all, it is necessary to understand the types of devices.

Classification

At the moment, manufacturers produce a large number of models. What are the water meters for their choice and performance in domestic use, depend on the specific situation - the quality of the water, the diameter and the condition of the pipeline. Depending on these parameters, it is necessary to choose the optimal type of device according to the principle of its operation.

Ultrasonic

ultrasonic water meter

The principle of operation is to measure the transit time of ultrasound along the flow of water and against it. The source and meter are piezoelectric sensors that alternately emit ultrasonic vibrations and receive them. Information about the time of passage of the signal, which the sensors receive, processes the chip according to a certain algorithm. As a rule, most ultrasonic counters have nonvolatile memory and when the power is turned off, the current data and the archive of information will not disappear.

The ultrasound emitted by the device is harmless both for humans and for most pets, since it is distributed in a liquid medium.

Electromagnetic

electromagnetic water meter

The principle of operation is based on the Faraday law. The instrument itself consists of a coil inducing a magnetic field. In the water flowing between the two poles of the magnet, there is an electromotive force. Its magnitude is proportional to the rate of water movement. By measuring the magnitude of the EMF, and accordingly the flow velocity of the flow, the device determines the flow rate of water. The data is stored in an energy-efficient archive of the device.

Superstatic resonant

Resonant water metering device for an apartment has a flow area, which consists of three channels parallel to each other. In the central channel there is a swirler, which alternately directs jets of water into the auxiliary channels. By the frequency of jet transfer, one can judge the speed of the water flow. The number of transfer cycles registers a piezoelectric sensor and transmits information to an electronic calculator that processes and stores data in the archive.

Tachometric mechanical

tachometric water meter

Tachometric meters use the force of the water flow to rotate the turbine impeller. The impeller transmits mechanical motion to the counting device. In many models, the installation of a reed switch is provided, which makes it possible to automate the process of monitoring, obtaining and storing data.

All the presented types of water meters for an apartment are combined into two large groups: mechanical and electronic.

Advantages and disadvantages of mechanical meters

Mechanical water meters

+ Of the main advantages can be identified:

• Low cost, compared to electronic models;
• High reliability and maintainability of the design, the service life of most models is 10-12 years;
• Devices are quite accurate and have a small error in measurement;
• The compact overall dimensions of the device are combined with a large information panel, which makes it easy to remove the water flow rate;
• Easy installation and dismantling;
• The device is nonvolatile - does not require connection to the household network or periodic replacement of batteries.

- Of the significant drawbacks can be listed:

• High sensitivity to electromagnetic fields;
• The accuracy of the work is affected by the quality and composition of the water, the presence of solid contaminants, etc.

Advantages and disadvantages of electronic meters

Electronic water meters

+ Advantages of modern electronic measuring instruments are significant:

• Accurate fixation of indicators regardless of water quality, head, or surrounding electromagnetic fields;
• Ability to configure a multi-tariff payment grid, subject to agreement with the supplier of water;
• Ability to install both horizontally and vertically;
• Data transmission can be carried out automatically and remotely;
• Convenient verification of the device, the mechanical unit embedded in the water pipe, remains in place, in fact only the top analytical module is sent. The interval between verification is up to 10 years, depending on the model.

- Disadvantages:

• High cost. The price of an electronic device is 4-5 times larger than a domestic-type mechanical measuring device;
• Need to connect to a power source.

Which water meter is best to buy, modern, with additional functions or a traditional meter, depends on whether these functions are in demand and how often they will be used.

Depending on the temperature of the working medium, the counters are divided:

• For cold water - up to 40 ° C;
• For hot water - up to 130 ° C;
• Combined - can be connected to any water supply lines.

IMPORTANT!Most household water meters are designed for pressure not exceeding 1-1.6 MPa.

Criteria for choosing a measuring device

Which water meter is best to install in an apartment depends, first of all, on the quality of the supplied water and its composition. For water with large amounts of solid impurities and a high level of mineralization, it is better to choose a device that does not have mechanical friction parts. Despite this, it is important to choose the material of the working housing, which directly contacts the working medium.

Material

The most common material is metal alloys:

Bronze and brass are tough and reliable alloys with high impact strength, they are quite durable and resistant to aggressive components in water. Possible the formation of minor caverns or calcification of ducts;

Stainless steel alloy - the mechanical characteristics of the material, as well as its cost, far exceeds alloys. In addition, the complexity of processing the final product makes such material less popular with the domestic manufacturer.

Silumin is an alloy of silicon with aluminum. Pretty resistant to aggressive environments and very cheap, thanks to which is popular with Chinese manufacturers. However, it has very low strength, is fragile, and does not withstand even moderate loads. It is strongly recommended not to buy such a device.

Polymers .This is mainly polybutylene and pressed polyethylene. They are mainly used as components for cold water appliances. The maximum temperature they can withstand 90 ° C( polybutylene).The scope of the devices is limited.

Package Contents

The kit can have drifts, nozzles, gaskets and other fittings for connecting the device to the water supply. It is necessary to check them for defects and the conformity of the thread dimension.

There must be a passport for the device with a stamp on the factory calibration.

In addition, imported water meters, which can be selected in our stores, must have a certificate of compliance with standards, which confirms that they are adapted for operation in domestic networks.

Service

The main indicator is the calibration interval. Which counter is better for water?- Naturally, the one whose such interval is longer. For cold water, it averages 6 years for hot water - about 4. However, in many modern models, these indicators can differ significantly. Specific data can be found from the device's passport. At the same time, the countdown should be carried out not from the date of inspection performed at the plant, but from the moment of registration and sealing of the device at the installation site by the corresponding representatives of the water canal.

Device location

Some obsolete models must be mounted horizontally or vertically. It is better to choose a universal device. It can be checked by simply blowing it into the inlet pipe in a horizontal and vertical position. Air should pass with the same pressure, and the numbers change evenly, without jerks and braking.

Protection of

The conditions for the protection of the device are constantly tightened. How to choose a water meter in order not to change it in a year? It is advisable to purchase the device with a pulse output for remote monitoring or removal of indicators.

In addition, if the device is placed in an easily accessible place, it is advisable that it has a protective cover on the front panel.

Company manufacturers - reliability rating

The choice of the manufacturer company is the key. From the fact that the water meter of which firm you buy, depends on the duration of operation of the device.

The most popular devices are foreign manufacturers:

• Elster Metronica - manufactured under license in many CIS countries;
• Sensus - Germany;
• Zenner - Germany, Russia under license;
• Viterra - Canada;
• Actaris - France;
• Valtec - Italy;
• Metron - Poland.

When purchasing an imported device, it is necessary to remember not only its compatibility with domestic communication networks for the transmission of information, but also about the sensitivity of internal mechanisms to the quality of water. In addition, if a malfunction occurs, the repair of the device can be significantly delayed due to the lack of components. Before you buy an imported meter you need to ask the seller if there are certified warranty repair centers and where they are.

From domestic manufacturers it is worth highlighting:

• Starospribor;
• Gazelectronics;
• Teplopriborkomplekt;

Devices of domestic manufacturers have much less functionality than imported ones. How much does a domestic water meter cost? On average, the price of comparable equipment produced in Russia is 1.5-2 times less. However, the cost of some Chinese devices with the declared wide opportunities can be significantly lower, which gives reason to think about their quality.

Video: how to choose a water meter

Save or pay more?

This natural question arises after the receipt of the first water bill according to the meter. It is possible that the amount of payment may increase. The fact is that the water meter does not guarantee a reduction in consumption, but only helps in saving.

The most common ways to reduce costs are:

• Installation in the toilet tank of the drain mechanism with two modes, allowing you to limit the amount of water used up to 1/3 of the tank;
• Installation on all cranes of an additional multimode aerator or device automatically shutting off the water supply if there are no plates or hands under the faucet;
• Use in washing and dishwashers of economical washing and washing modes;
• The greatest effect is observed when refusing to take a bath in favor of the shower. This reduces costs from 150-200 liters to 35-50 liters.