Counter spinning when neighbors turn on cold water

We installed water meters, the counter turns on cold water when the neighbors open the water, from about 0.5 liters, then they stop, what’s the problem.

Love

Expert Answer

Hello Love.

The counters of the first series did not differ in the complexity of the design, so they could work both in one direction and the other. In other words, during the flow of water in the direction indicated by the arrow on the device’s body, the readings were “wound up”, and when the counter was purged “against the current”, the counter could be “rewound”.

Modern water meters have a reverse mechanism, which even if connected incorrectly makes the measuring mechanism rotate in the right direction.

It can be assumed that when opening the valve for your neighbors, a sharp drop in pressure in the riser causes a reverse flow of fluid from your water supply (the same 0.5 l). If you had an obsolete counter installed, then a similar effect would only be good for you. Now, we can recommend installing a non-return valve at the inlet of the “cold” line. With a high degree of probability this will solve the problem you described.