Algorithm of actions in the event of a breakdown of the gas meter

Only employees of gas services have the right to repair and even inspect the gas flow meter. If the consumer notices any malfunctions of the gas meter, he is obliged to contact Gorgaz. At the same time, he must perform some measures in order to correctly estimate the real consumption of blue fuel while the device was malfunctioning.

Existing faults

Most often, the consumer discovers that the meter is broken, according to its readings. Information on gas consumption for the reporting period will differ significantly from the indicator of the previous period. This is not always associated with a malfunction of the flow meter, but it is a sufficient reason to contact the gas service and request an extraordinary technical inspection.

Other obvious faults:

• Damage to the case is not a harmless breakdown, since for structures the complete tightness of the case is a prerequisite for measuring accuracy.
• The appearance of condensation - indicates a violation of the tightness and makes the measurements incorrect.
• Breakage of the scoreboard - in the mechanical one, the wheels can fly out of the seat. This is a manufacturer's defect, which is quite common. The flow meter gives incorrect readings. In the electronic board, the wires can oxidize, which leads to the same breakdown.
• Sometimes the malfunction is associated with improper installation of the device. Installing some other gasket instead of a paranite gasket, not tightening the nuts leads to gas leakage.
• If the disc stops rotating when the gas appliance is turned on, this indicates a serious breakdown. This is also evidenced by the speed of the disk at the moment when all gas appliances are turned off.

If the gas meter breaks down, you need to contact the service as soon as possible. This determines the period for which consumption will be recalculated.

Calculation of service fees in the event of a gas meter breakdown

The issue of payment for gas at the time when the household meter broke down is regulated by the Decree of the Government of Russia No. 549. The malfunction of the device is recorded by the employees of the gas service. Since it is impossible to establish exactly at what moment the flow meter measurements should be considered false, by default it is considered that the last time the gas meter showed correct data at the previous check.

The entire period of time from the moment of the last check until the installation of a repaired or new meter and its sealing is subject to recalculation. According to the law, the term cannot be more than 6 months. Depending on the circumstances under which a breakdown was detected, the volume of gas consumed is determined in different ways.

1. If the owner of an apartment or a private house discovered a malfunction or a damaged seal and turned to Gorgaz himself, the gas volume is calculated based on the consumption norms adopted in the region.
2. If a breakdown was detected by gas workers during technical inspection, the subscriber also pays for gas based on average consumption rates. However, the recalculation is performed according to the standards for the previous six months.

The current consumption standards are greatly overestimated. This approach is disadvantageous to the owner, but the existing legislation does not take this into account.

Algorithm of actions in case of meter breakdown

Before declaring a breakdown, if it is not associated with damage to the case, you need to check whether there is a malfunction and what kind of malfunction it is. To do this, it is allowed to perform the following operations:

• Turn off all gas appliances - stove, boiler, heater. In this case, the disc should stop. If the meter continues to wind, gas leaks or is illegally connected to the flow meter.
• Turn on the gas appliance at full power for 15 minutes. The data obtained from the meter is compared with the indicators indicated in its data sheet. If they are very different, you need to contact Gorgaz.
• Modern versions are often equipped with an electronic scoreboard. If the readings change when the gas is shut off, the cause is stray currents.

Cheap models are not protected from burglary. Quite often “craftsmen” manage to rewind the readings in order to reduce payments. But at the same time, traces of opening remain on the case: small scratches, chips. On close inspection of the apparatus, they are easy to spot. In such cases, the owner is fined.

What to do if the device is out of order

You cannot start the counter if it stops, or you cannot repair it yourself. If the gas meter does not work, proceed according to the following algorithm.

1. If there is no smell of gas and no leakage is possible, you can use the stove. The consumer has no right to turn off the gas or flow meter on his own.
2. Studying the meter readings and during the inspection of the case, you need to be extremely careful. Violation of the integrity of the seals is punishable by a fine.
3. It is necessary to monitor the actions of specialists. It happens that gas workers accidentally or deliberately damage the seals on the meter, and then blackmail consumers, demanding money to "settle the issue."
4. Before the technical inspection, the arrived specialists must record the integrity of the seals and note this fact in the act of work performed.
5. If the malfunction cannot be eliminated on the spot, the device is dismantled and taken away for repair or examination. If the gas meter is damaged irreversibly, Gorgaz employees remove it from the register and issue a document to the apartment owner to replace it.

If the smell of gas appears in the apartment, the gas pipeline is immediately shut off and contacted by the gas workers. It is prohibited to use the stove and other gas appliances.

Protecting your own rights

In the event of a breakdown of the gas meter, it is important for the subscriber to immediately contact the gas service and keep the evidence of this appeal. Otherwise, unscrupulous employees of the company carry out recalculation on a general basis and illegally misappropriate an additional amount.

The following is recommended to do:

• Find out from the operator his name and demand to record the fact of the call. The record on the mobile phone also serves as evidence if the call is made from it.
• You can duplicate the call with a statement on paper. The document is sent to the secretariat or reception. You need to make sure that the paper is registered and stamped. On the second copy remaining with the applicant, the secretary is obliged to put a mark upon registration. This is incontrovertible evidence for the court.
• If there is no gas leak, it is better to contact the supplier instead of the emergency service. Her details are indicated on the payment order.
• When specialists arrive, you need to find out the purpose of their arrival - exit on notification or scheduled inspection. In the latter case, they insist on changing the wording.

When all the recommendations are followed, the consumer cannot be accused of using a faulty meter before the scheduled inspection and is obliged to pay the recalculation for 6 months.

Recommendations for unfair claims

If the requirements of the gas service are unlawful, follow the general procedure.

1. A complaint is written to the director of the supplier company. The reason for the request is indicated in the application. The organization is obliged to respond to the claim within 30 days.
2. If the complaint is ignored, they turn to higher authorities.Lawyers recommend duplicating the application to several structures at once: to the court, to the prosecutor's office, to the ministry, to Rospotrebnadzor.

Judicial practice shows that gas workers are in a more advantageous position in comparison with ordinary consumers. The latter do not always succeed in proving the fact of contacting the gas company, while the latter are not prevented from presenting retroactive evidence of a planned inspection.