Almost one in ten Russian citizens uses illegal methods to reduce the cost of electricity and water consumption. It will be more accurate to say that the consumption remains at the same level, but the readings of metering devices provide completely different figures. To reduce the payment for electricity on old meters, the readings are "unwound", and special magnets are put on the new ones. The same situation is with water meters.
What are the water meters and why is a magnet used
Each apartment owner, by law, must install metering devices in a residential building. Moreover, the owners themselves are not opposed to this, because payment by meters, and not by the specified standards, is much more profitable.
It is very important to choose the right counter that can save your own money. Before traveling to the store, it is necessary to correctly classify accounting devices. They come in many forms. First of all, they can be divided into those that are designed for cold and hot water.
In fact, they are no different and do the same job, but there is a difference in the materials that are used to create them. For cold water meters, materials are used that can withstand temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius. As for metering equipment for hot water, the temperature indicator rises to 150 degrees Celsius.
Modern means of accounting can be universal and can be used for both cold and hot water.
Also, counters are divided by type relative to energy supply. It is volatile meters that are cheaper and more popular, but it is worthwhile to understand that when a power outage occurs, they will stop working. Other meters that are independent of electricity are also no less popular.
All counters are divided into the following groups:
- Ultrasonic. It controls the acoustic effect that occurs during ultrasonic vibrations.
- Vortex. It takes into account the frequency of the vortices of the water flow, together with the special shape, due to which the speed is described.
- Tachometric. It is paired with a turbine, which is located in the stream.
- Electromagnetic. A magnetic field is induced, due to the speed of passage of water through the meter.
Among other things, all accounting tools can be further divided into household and industrial. The most popular types are electrometric or tachometric, due to their accuracy, reliability, ease of installation, ease of operation and relatively low cost.
A neodymium magnet, when correctly positioned, acts in a special way on a magnetic field, due to which it is possible to slow down its speed to 70%, without loss of water flow rate.
What are the consequences of disruption of water meters by magnets in law and fines
If during verification of the meter a magnet (or any other magnetic device) was found that could affect the meter, then the inspector will record an administrative offense and draw up a protocol for causing property damage. In this case, you will have to pay the amount that should have been credited to the account for the entire time that the owner used this device.
To find out the exact amount of the fine, the following occurs:
- The inspection body sets the exact or approximate date when the magnet was installed. This is done by installing the last reconciliation of the inspection body.
- If the date of use of the magnet cannot be established, then the average rate of water consumption is taken as the basis, multiplied by 10 and 3 years, if the inspector has not come earlier. Thus, the total amount of the fine is obtained.
If you refuse to pay the fine, then a tougher article can be applied, and the fine itself will still be collected in the end, but in a judicial proceeding with even more serious consequences.
How to check the need for demagnetization of the counter
Even if the inspector during verification of the meter did not establish the fact of using a magnet, the metering device accumulates residual magnetization, which can be detected by special devices. This is also true for tenants who can get into an unpleasant situation if, after renting a home, the inspector discovers the fact of using a magnet.
Magnetization can be checked with a teslameter. In the presence of residual magnetization, the device will show this. But there is a small problem, because there are still no officially established norms of residual magnetization, but in any case, it will not arise if the owner does not use illegal methods.
Also, at the legislative level, there are no requirements and rules that would describe the procedure for taking measurements.
How to demagnetize a counter and remove residual magnetization
In order not to encounter problems from the inspection authorities, when renting an apartment, in case of detection of residual magnetization, it is best to get rid of it as soon as possible. There are special demagnetizers for this. They work on the principle of reducing the magnetic field to the level of demagnetization. Such a device was previously used to demagnetize the head of a cassette recorder.
The demonizer is a coil that runs on an electrical network. To turn on the device, you just need to hold the device near the meter for several minutes. This will be enough to remove traces of magnetization from the meter.
If there is minimal knowledge of physics and electricians, then the device can be made independently at home. Solenoid winding - approximately 1000 turns of wire brand PEL or PEV with a diameter of 0.7-0.9 mm. The resistance of such a winding will be about 8 ohms. Such a coil is designed for a voltage of 10-15 volts.
We feed the coil with alternating voltage. When demagnetizing, first remove the tool from the coil, and only then turn off the power. Otherwise, the metal may not demagnetize.
Those demagnetizers that are on sale can be from 40 to 120 watts. Modern devices can generate a magnetic field strength of 150 W and continuous operation for more than 3 minutes.
In any case, it is better not to use magnets, because there is no guarantee in their effectiveness, given the use of modern water meters, but you can make problems. You can always reduce energy consumption by simply installing energy-saving light bulbs and personally controlling energy consumption.
