Installation Precautions For Water Meters

To ensure the accuracy of water meters, while implementing mandatory inspections and strengthening supervision and management of water meter products in the market, attention should also be paid to the installation and use of water meters. Next, the editor will introduce the installation methods and precautions for water meters.

一、 Installation method of water meter

1. Before installing a water meter on a newly laid pipeline, it is necessary to rinse off any debris inside the pipeline before installing it. This is because a large part of the reason why the water meter slows down or stops running is due to hemp threads, iron nodules on the inner wall of the pipeline, and sediment deposition, which makes the water meter measurement more accurate and reliable.

2. The installation of a water meter should ensure that the direction on its casing is consistent with the flow direction of water in the pipeline. The location of the water meter device should be as convenient as possible for reading and changing the meter, to prevent direct exposure to sunlight and cold wind from invading the place. The water meter dial should be upward and not tilted. If tilted, it will increase the frictional resistance between the wing wheel axles of the water meter and even cause uneven meshing of the water meter gears, reducing the sensitivity of the water meter. The water meter will move slower and slower as the tilt angle increases.

3. Nowadays, the practice of installing meters outside the house is being implemented. Due to the much worse outdoor working environment than indoors, ordinary water meter groups concentrated outdoors are exposed to long-term sunlight and rain, and the gears inside the water meter are in a high-temperature state for a long time, which is prone to deformation and aging, greatly affecting the measurement accuracy of the water meter. Even if used for a long time in a normal working environment, the dial against which the water meter pointer is pointing is prone to dirt, covering the scale and making it difficult for the meter reader to accurately read. Therefore, outdoor water meters should generally be equipped with protective boxes.

4. Some water meters do not meet the requirements due to limitations in installation space conditions and a lack of technical knowledge among installers. For example, if the water meter is installed immediately after the valve, the water meter should be installed horizontally. In order to facilitate reading, incorrect operations such as turning the upward dial to the side should be carried out.

二、 Installation precautions for water meters

1. The selection of water meters is generally based on the nominal diameter of the pipeline, and the flow rate should not exceed its maximum flow rate. Corresponding specifications should also be selected based on flow rate, pipe diameter, etc.

2. Determination of installation location: Generally, the inlet water meter is installed in an outdoor water meter well, basement, or dedicated room. The water meter of household users is installed on the main inlet pipe. There should be a stop valve in front of the water meter and a check valve behind it. The distance between the water meter shell and the wall should not be more than 30mm. The center of the water meter is 450~500mm from the other wall, and the installation height is 600~1200mm. Overall, water meters are located in areas that are easy to view, not exposed to sunlight, not subject to freezing, and not contaminated.

3. It is best to install a filter in front of the water meter, and before installing other instruments in the pipeline, the dirt in the pipeline should be removed to avoid blockage.

4. In order to maintain the level of the dial, the water meter can only be installed on a horizontal pipeline. In addition, the arrow direction of the water meter shell should be consistent with the water flow direction. If necessary, a bypass pipe can be considered.

5. Connection form: When DN ≥ 50, a flange connection is used; When DN ≤ 40, threaded connections are used.

6. Rotary wing and vertical spiral wing water meters should be installed horizontally. Horizontal spiral wings and volumetric water meters can be installed horizontally, obliquely, or vertically according to the actual situation. When installed vertically, the direction of water flow must be from top to bottom.

7. Maintenance valves should be installed on both the front, back, and bypass pipes of the water meter, and a drainage device should be installed between the water meter and the valve behind the meter. To reduce head loss and ensure the straight flow of water in the front pipe of the meter, gate valves should be used for maintenance valves in front of the meter. Household water meters in residential buildings may not have maintenance valves and dedicated drainage devices behind the meters.

Editor's summary: That's all for the installation methods and precautions of water meters, hoping to be helpful to everyone.