If a gas meter creaks in the apartment, there can be many reasons for this. Only a specialist should understand the problem. In no case is it allowed to intervene independently in the operation of the device.
The principle of the gas meter
The operation of the device depends on its type. The most common is a membrane meter, which is installed in apartments and private houses. Inside the apparatus are two chambers with membranes. Gas constantly passes through them in turn - first through one chamber, stretching the membrane, then through the second. With the passage of gas, the membrane film switches the working valve to the second. Next, the action is repeated. This process is continuous, moving in a circle. The frequency of valve switching and membrane stretching depends on the amount of gas passing through the meter. Here, the stem connected to the pendulum drives the dial.
Other types of counters work like this:
- Drum Has inside a drum through which gas moves. One turn of the wheel is equal to a specific amount of fuel passed through it.
- Levitation. The force of the gas flow drives a rotating element inside the device. The number of revolutions is displayed on the dial.
- Vortex. It has sensors inside detectors that read the vortex flows generated by the passing gas. In the future, the amount of resource used is displayed on a digital panel.
- Jet. It has a special emitter inside. It determines the volume of gas that passes through it.
- Rotary. It has working rotors inside, which rotate during the passage of gas through the cavity of the device.
- Turbine. Gas passes through a turbine built into the apparatus. It provokes the speed of the turbine. Their amount is equal to a specific volume of gas.
There is also a modern ultrasonic counter. It works on the principle of movement of ultrasound in a pipeline from different sides of the highway. One stream moves towards the gas, the other - in the direction of its movement. To calculate the amount of fuel used, the apparatus determines the difference in gas flow rate.
What noises are clearly audible
More often, owners of gas meters characterize third-party noises in different ways. The device can squeak, pop, click and even whistle. Especially distinctly sounds are heard at night, if the apartment has gas heating and a boiler located inside with all nodes.
Basically, a device that makes third-party sounds is street. The conditions of its operation lead to this.
In any case, noise from the meter comes when the device is already faulty, will soon become worthless, or temporary problems will occur.
Squeak Reasons
The first reason that the gas meter creaks and makes any other sounds is because of foreign objects inside the case: insects that have got inside, small pebbles, leaves, dirt. If it enters the meter body and is subject to vibration, they can completely fail in the inside of the device.
Do not write off the design features of the device. For example, for rotary counters, noise and creaking during operation is normal. Especially at low temperatures.
The broken tightness of the case is another reason why the meter may make noise. Most often, the creak comes from the side of the outgoing gas stream.Only a specialist should evaluate the tightness of a structure. If depressurization is observed in the area of the dial, an urgent replacement of the device is required. Such an apparatus incorrectly counts. As a result, the subscriber will pay a large amount for gas or average.
Noisy metering devices that have fully served their terms, but are still in working position. This is especially true for rotational models. The reason lies in the fact that worn out elements are no longer able to rotate at the speed that was issued at the beginning of operation. From this, they often wedge and they can creak.
How to solve the problem
If the gas meter creaks, you can only inspect the device from all sides. In no case is it allowed to dismantle the device yourself, much less open it.
If the meter is located on the street, you can remove debris from its case with a brush or soft brush. If after external cleaning the device continues to make a strange noise, it is better to block the gas flow into the house before the arrival of a specialist. If there is an electric meter nearby, it is advisable to turn off the latter.
Sometimes the master explains the noise from the rotary apparatus by the type of device model. In this case, the owner makes a decision - to replace the device at his own expense or to wait until the end of his operational period and after that to establish a more suitable model of the device.
How to report a meter malfunction correctly
If the damage claim is incorrect, the service bills may be overestimated over time. In order not to overpay, save nerves and achieve results from a gas supplier, you must submit an application in this way:
- Pay attention to the payment receipt for gas. It contains the coordinates of the legal entity that serves the house and gas equipment.
- An application should preferably be submitted in writing. It is important to clarify in what form the appeal is registered. The application must be registered necessarily, otherwise the fact of contacting the service is not considered valid. It is recommended to apply in duplicate. Leave one at the office of the service company, and the second with a note about registration - to myself.
- It is undesirable to contact the gas service by phone. More often, such applications are left without reaction.
- During the visit, a specialist should ask if this is a planned check or reaction to an appeal. If there is no clear answer to the question, you should call the service company and find out everything.
The gas company is responsible for the quality of the service provided and the serviceability of the equipment.
