Replacing water meters in a residential building: step-by-step procedure

SVJs addressing the replacement of water meters due to the transition to remote reading most frequently ask one question: how can the entire process be organised in practice to avoid causing chaos within the building? The procedure is, in fact, straightforward and can be planned to minimise disruption for both owners and tenants.

From enquiry to installation

The entire process begins with a non-binding consultation to determine the number of meters in the building, their type and condition. Based on this, a price quote is prepared; once approved, custom meters are ordered for the building. Installation is then scheduled for a specific date, of which the SVJ board and all owners and tenants are informed in advance.

Access to individual flats

Water meters are located inside the flat, therefore installation requires access to each unit individually. The actual replacement of the meter in one flat takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes, and the entire residential building is usually completed within one to two days, depending on the number of flats.

To ensure the installation proceeds smoothly, it is advisable to inform owners and tenants of the scheduled date well in advance and have them confirm that either they themselves or another adult will be present in the flat at that time to let the technician in.

What the technician does during installation

In the flat, the technician first shuts off the water supply at the existing meter, removes the old water or heat meters and installs new remote-reading meters in their place. After installation, he checks the joint for leaks and verifies that the new meter communicates correctly with the system that continues to collect data. The entire intervention is limited to the location where the meter is installed: usually at the water inlet to the flat or at the heating radiator, and requires no further building modifications.

Before the actual installation, it is advisable for the building's owners' association or the property manager to inform residents that water supply will be briefly interrupted in the affected flat during the replacement. This will last only a few minutes, not all day.

What if the tenant does not show up

If no one is found in the flat at the agreed time, this is usually resolved in one of the following ways:

• by arranging a replacement appointment on the same day the technician installs units in other flats in the building.
• by rescheduling to the next available date within the planned installation for the entire building,
• for rented flats via direct communication between the owner and the tenant: the owner is responsible for ensuring access to the flat.
• in extreme cases by an individual replacement date outside the main installation wave.

That is why it is practical to allow for some time buffer in the schedule and not plan the replacement for the final weeks before the end of the year, more on this in the article about deadline of 1 January 2027.

Pre-installation preparation by the building's owners' association

It pays for the SVJ committee or building manager to prepare the installation well in advance. In practice, this means compiling a list of all flats with contact details for owners or tenants, sending out information about the date and the need for access to the flat, and for flats occupied by tenants, requesting that the owner ensures the tenant is present on that day or hands over a key. The sooner the schedule is finalised, the lower the likelihood of having to arrange a large number of alternative dates.

It is advisable to divide the house into smaller sections according to entrances or floors and schedule a separate time block for each section. Owners then receive a specific time window rather than just a general date, which makes it easier to coordinate the installation with normal household activities.

What happens after installation

After replacement, the remote meter reading system is activated, granting both apartment owners and the SVJ board access to consumption overviews. This ensures the building also meets its obligation to provide owners with consumption information at least once a month. The actual apportionment of water and heating costs between individual flats continues to be governed by Act No. 67/2013 Coll. On services associated with the use of flats.

The total cost of the project, including everything it covers, is described in detail in the article about Odečty vodoměrů on odecty-vodomeru.cz. price of water meter replacement.