The natural resources of planet Earth are by no means unlimited. Scientists are working on the creation of artificial substitutes, statesmen limit the consumption of resources at the legislative level, and caring inhabitants try to prevent squandering in a single family. Gradually, for all categories of citizens, the competent use of natural resources becomes relevant. In order to prevent inefficient spending of water resources in most developed countries, it is customary to install a water meter unit with a meter.
Essential elements
To understand the principle of operation of a system consisting of many parts, you need to know its structure. A water meter unit is a specific section of a water supply system, including:
- counter;
- crane;
- filter;
- connecting elements;
- shutoff valves;
- compensation pipes.
Installed meters are divided into turbine and vane. In both cases, the flowing water promotes the rotation of the turntable, which is located in the meter body. Using a special mechanism, the number of rotations is converted into the volume of the missed fluid and is reflected on a special board.
If the wing devices are allowed to be installed only on horizontal sections of pipes, then turbine devices can also be used with vertical flow.
Shut-off valves regulate the access of water from the external line and block it if necessary. The trigger control allows you to drain the water from the internal system, the filter prevents its contamination. Connecting elements and expansion tubes ensure uninterrupted operation of the unit in normal and emergency mode.
Types and designs
Typical water meter nodes are divided into:
- simple devices used for drinking and for domestic purposes;
- nodes with a bypass line for connecting a fire extinguishing system on an industrial scale;
- double entry system for household needs and extinguishing fires;
- special nodes on the album of the center for measuring water flow (CIRV).
System purpose
Simple nodes are used in apartments of high-rise buildings and in private residential buildings. Since the payment of the consumed liquid in the absence of a meter is carried out according to overestimated indicators, the installation of a water meter unit is a significant budget savings for the long term. The water consumption rate calculated for individuals is about 5 cubic meters per month, while the actual figure usually does not exceed 3 cubic meters. In addition, consumers who have installed the meter, stop thoughtlessly pouring water. Thus, a reduction in financial costs leads to global saving of natural resources.
Complex water-measuring systems are used for production purposes, where they also record water consumption and do not allow excessive spending of money.
Principles of using a water meter system
Despite the fact that additional costs are a mandatory attribute of the installation of a complex water-measuring unit, this action must be carried out in industrial buildings and structures.
The expenditure of natural resources without taking into account the amount of consumption is punishable by fines. And in some cases, the lack of a node with a spare line can lead to human casualties.
The main functions of the water meter node with a bypass line are called by specialists:
- Delivery of an additional volume of liquid to the internal water supply system by opening the bypass pipe if necessary to extinguish the fire.
- Replacing the main line if the meter is removed due to a malfunction, verification or repair.
A prerequisite for mounting the stroke is the selection of a pipe of a larger diameter than the one on which the meter is installed. The spare line must have the capacity needed to extinguish a particular room.
DIY assembly
It is difficult, but possible, to carry out the installation of the water meter assembly in accordance with building codes and rules without the involvement of specialists. It is necessary to arm it with its components, namely: counter, check valve, filter and nuts.
The assembly of the unit is carried out taking into account marks indicating the direction of moving water. On the sharp side, the arrows of the nut are screwed to the filter, and on the obtuse side, to the check valve. The joint is sealed with rubber gaskets of a suitable diameter without additional winding.
An arrow on the body of the meter will tell you the direction of the connection. Spare parts are screwed to the meter on both sides, according to the marks, using nuts and sealing elements.
The opposite movement of the water mass in different parts of the unit will lead to improper operation of the meter. It is also possible to stop the flow of fluid into the internal water supply system.
Counter Installation Conditions
Since the water meter unit is not the simplest technical system, there are a number of specific rules:
- The insert is carried out on existing water supply systems operating for a long time.
- A prerequisite is the washing and crimping of pipes.
- The design is installed only in a warm and dry room.
- It is necessary to provide access for repair and visual inspection of the water meter assembly.
- The meter is recommended to be mounted on a straight pipe section equal to its eight diameters, at a height of 30 cm to 1 meter.
- The distance to the wall should not be less than 4 cm.
- After installation, it is necessary to call a specialist to monitor and seal the meter.
Water meter assembly
Having special devices, it is not difficult to install the counter. The easiest way to embed the device in a metal-plastic pipe, it is easily amenable to any knife. For polypropylene pipes, only a soldering iron is required. The most difficult thing is to install the water meter assembly on a metal base. Here you will need a tool for cutting threads and pipes, as well as certain knowledge and skills.
In any case, the sequence of actions when inserting a measuring unit consists of several stages:
- Closing the access of the water flow using an overhead tap.
- Pipe notch at the installation site.
- The connection of a separate assembly with a tap that cuts off the access of water.
- The marking of the pipe at the place of the future connection from the back.
- A cut of excess length of water supply.
- Threading the system or installing an additional fitting.
- Disconnecting the check valve from the water meter assembly and screwing it to the common pipe.
- Reconnecting the meter to the valve.
- Opening the water access valve and inspecting all threaded connections for leaks.
The lack of leakage and the display of information on the counter indicates the correct installation of the node.
Thus, a competent owner who has the skills to work with pipes or performs counter insertion for the first time will completely cope with the task. And several special devices, an ordinary tool and the information contained in the technical literature or in this article will help him in this.