One of the important steps on the way to saving budget funds for heating is the organization of heat energy metering. Accounting for resources such as gas, water and electricity has long been a common thing for most consumers. At the same time, the majority thought that heat could not be brought under this line, so installing meters for heating in an apartment became a kind of innovation for them. How to conduct correct installation thermal energy meter? Let's figure it out.
Which one to install: individual or common house?
There can be two options for installing a meter: a general house heat meter or an individual one in an apartment. And each option has its advantages and disadvantages.
Option number 1 - a common house heat meter. For residents of an apartment building, heat metering can be done by installing a common house heat meter for heating in apartment building. By the way, this solution is the cheapest. After all, the very cost of the meter itself, which is very decent, and the price of its installation will be divided among the owners of apartments in high-rise buildings. As a result, the amount that you have to pay will not be so high.
Data from the counter is taken monthly. And the amount received is distributed among the apartments according to its area. Also, if the service provider does not comply with the temperature specified in the contract, then according to the law, he is obliged to return the money paid to the tenants. But before installing a counter of this type, it is worth observing some nuances.
First you need to hold a general house meeting, interview everyone who wants to install a heat meter. It is necessary to discuss the features of the subsequent installation of a heat meter, as well as to choose who will take meter readings and issue receipts for paying for thermal energy. The result of the meeting must be recorded in the minutes, after which a written application can be sent to the management company about the desire of the residents to install a heat meter.
From the installation side, the most economical are common house heat meters for heating. But there are a number of points that reduce its effectiveness in saving budget funds in the future. For example, heat losses may occur due to poorly insulated entrances or apartments of other residents, and you will have to pay more for heat.
Option number 2 - individual metering devices. Undoubtedly, the arrangement of a common house heat meter is cheaper, but in the future one should not expect any special economic effect from it. For this reason, many consumers choose individual heat meters, which are installed directly in the apartment. Installation of such a device is much more expensive, but the result from its use is much higher. You will pay less for heat than according to a common house meter!
It is important to understand how the heating meter works: a distributor is mounted on each radiator in the apartment. Their task is to fix the temperature and its changes during the month. Based on these data, the payment for thermal energy is calculated.
But before starting any preparations to install a meter, you need to familiarize yourself with some technical limitations. The heat meter is installed on the riser, which leads to the apartment. old apartment buildings often equipped with vertical piping. It follows from this that several risers can be included in the apartment, each of which needs to be mounted with a heat meter, which hits the budget quite significantly. The way out of this situation can be the installation of special meters on heating radiators.
Manufacturers of heat meters recommend installing so-called distributors in houses with vertical wiring, the task of which is to measure the flow of coolant, based on the temperature difference, on the surface of the radiator and in the air of the room.
Buildings where horizontal wiring is performed, the installation of any heat meters is not complicated in any way. Compact devices are installed on a pipe that supplies the coolant to living quarters. Sometimes it happens that heat meters are installed on the return pipeline, they have a different principle of operation.
Is it profitable to install a meter in an apartment?
Installing a heating meter in an apartment is beneficial. The homeowner spends money only for the heat provided by the radiators, without paying for losses during its transportation. In order to save as much as possible, you need to get rid of any possible sources of heat loss as much as possible: insulate the room, install airtight window frames etc.
It is guaranteed that you can save on payments and get your money back if:
- obtain permission for installation and technical conditions from the organization supplying heat;
- notify the person in charge who is elected by the general house meeting;
- it will be possible to install 1 metering unit for the whole apartment;
- coordinate design documents with the heat supplier;
- hand over the installed device to it in operation, after that the device must be sealed.
In fact, it is quite difficult to comply with all of the above points in order to install a heat meter in an apartment and pay for the supply of heat according to its indications. Most good option maybe a new building, where each apartment has a separate heat input. And then, there may be various obstacles in the form of various legislative acts. For example, in the Russian Federation there is a decree stating that the readings of individual heat meters are subject to accounting under the following conditions:
- heat meters should be in all apartments;
- on input central heating a house-wide heat meter should be installed in the house.
Almost all high-rise buildings of the Soviet era are equipped with a single-pipe heating system with vertical risers. Imagine the number of appliances that will have to be installed at each connection to the riser. Permission is also unlikely to be issued to you, and the refusal will be justified. The riser pipes also generate heat that an individual meter will not account for.
If in the house landings and other technical rooms are equipped with heating radiators, then despite the installation of an individual heat meter, you will have to pay your share for their heating. Here, step by step, you need to coordinate all your actions with the leadership of condominiums. themselves installation work this is a fairly simple step, most of the time needs to be spent on obtaining various approvals and permits.
You can install the heat meter yourself, then difficulties may arise during its commissioning by the management company. So you can contact a contractor who, for a fee, will help you resolve the issue with the papers.
How to choose the best heat meter?
There are a lot of varieties of heat meters, but 5 types are most suitable for installation in an apartment:
- mechanical (otherwise - tachometric);
- electromagnetic;
- vortex;
- ultrasonic;
- overhead sensors for batteries.
Mechanical heat meters are so called from the fact that the flow rate of the coolant is determined using an impeller immersed in it. With the help of 2 sensors that cut into the supply and return pipelines, the temperature difference is determined. Based on these data, the calculator gives the result of the consumption of thermal energy. Heat meters of this type are quite cheap, but at the same time they are very demanding on the quality of the coolant.
Organizations involved in the supply of heat do not particularly favor similar devices not so much because of the sensitivity to the quality of the coolant, but because, according to experts, this type of device is poorly protected from external influence on it by unauthorized persons in order to underestimate the readings.
Electromagnetic counters. This type of counter works on the principle of occurrence electric current when the coolant passes through a magnetic field. These devices are quite stable and are used quite successfully. Measurement inaccuracy may occur if impurities appear in the coolants or wires are poorly connected during installation.
Vortex heat meters. This type of equipment works on the principle of assessing vortices that form behind an obstacle that is located in the path of the coolant. Mounted on both horizontal and vertical pipelines. These meters are very sensitive to the presence of air in the system, and are also demanding on the quality of impurities in the coolant and the quality of welding work.
For their proper operation, you need to install a magnetic mesh filter. Deposits inside the pipeline do not interfere correct work device. This device makes great demands on the dimensions of straight sections of the pipeline before and after the flowmeter.
Ultrasonic heat meters practically do not have disadvantages. They are not demanding on the quality of the coolant, since its flow rate is determined by means of ultrasound passing through the working section. The temperature difference is calculated using sensors installed on the supply and return. The only negative is that this device is at least 15% more expensive than a mechanical one, but management companies recommend these devices for installation. And this is logical, since it is impossible to interfere with the operation of this device.
Heat meters mounted on the battery measure the temperature on its surface and the air temperature inside the room. After that, the calculator issues data on the consumed heat, based on the passport data on the radiator power, which are entered manually.
This type of device is unlikely to be accepted for operation by a company supplying heat, but if there is a general house heat meter, this device will help to more accurately calculate the heat consumed in each apartment, but it should be borne in mind that these devices must be installed in each room.
Like any metering and measuring device, a heat meter must have a passport and a certificate. Documents must necessarily indicate data on the initial verification, which was carried out by the manufacturer. This information must also be indicated on the body of the device in the form of a special stamp or sticker. During operation, these devices must necessarily undergo periodic verification. Its duration depends on the type of device. On average, verification is carried out every four years.
What is the best way to install a heat meter?
Most simple solution there will be an installation of an overhead device, since it does not require hiring an appropriate specialist and cutting pipes. It will be enough to fix the heat meter on the battery. The situation is different with mechanical devices, for the installation of these devices it is necessary to block the risers, drain the water and dismantle part of the pipe. The same situation is with ultrasonic devices that crash directly into the pipeline.
As mentioned earlier, before placing this equipment, you must have permission and finished project. And in order to avoid problems with acceptance into operation and payment for the device by the supplier, its installation must be carried out by a licensed company, which will be indicated in the certificate of completion. The specialists of this company carry out work according to the following stages:
- make a connection project;
- coordinate the necessary documentation with the supplier of thermal energy;
- install a heat meter;
- register the device;
- put the device into operation, transferring it to the jurisdiction of the controlling organization.
If you decide to carry out these works yourself, first carefully study the instructions for the heat meter. It contains recommendations for installing the device and its operation, which must be strictly observed. By the way, ultrasonic and mechanical devices must be provided with a measuring section of a certain size. That is, a straight pipe without turns and bends must be installed before and after the device.
The measuring section for a mechanical heat meter must be at least 3 pipe diameters before the flow meter and one after. Ultrasonic heat meters are more demanding, where the measuring section must be at least 5 diameters before and 3 after the device (these data depend on the manufacturer).
Now let's talk about whether it is possible to mount an individual heat meter on the return pipeline. Most manufacturers make meters that can be installed on any line, the main thing is not to confuse the temperature sensors. Usually they are screwed into a tee or a special faucet equipped with a separate pipe for this purpose.
In fact, in countries in the post-Soviet space, it is often quite difficult to legally install and put into operation an individual heat meter. Perhaps the effort and material resources invested in this device will not be worth the result. Therefore, it is recommended that before contacting an individual metering organization, it is better to consult with a heat energy supplier.
Meters are pretty good helpers for those who want to save their money. Anyone who does not want to pay for losses during heat transportation is recommended to think about installing a heat meter. Especially since it's not like that. difficult task. The main thing is to decide which metering device you want to install a common house or individual, it is better to entrust the rest of the work to professionals.
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At one time, utility tariffs were low, and none of the consumers thought about installing meters for water and heat. Now the rates have risen so much that a significant part of the family budget is spent on their payment. A particularly large amount in the receipt is the payment for heating. Therefore, property owners, trying to save money, decide to install heat, gas and water meters. The fact is that payment for the supplied services is charged by public utilities in accordance with approved standards, and not upon consumption.
Why do you need a heat meter?
Of course, it is beneficial to install a heat consumption meter, since the monthly amount for heating will be calculated according to the current tariffs and based on the readings taken from the individual meter. Thus, the consumer who installed the heat energy meter pays only for the services received without the additions of the utility companies that supply heat (read also: ""). In addition, the owners have the opportunity to regulate the temperature of heating rooms or utility rooms manually or automatically (subject to the installation of an electronic control system).Consumers should be aware that a heat meter does not save it, it allows you to pay for the actual energy consumed, and not according to approximate calculations obtained as a result theoretical development state regulations. Individual heat meters, such as in the photo, allow you to save a significant amount of money on paying for heat supply services, it can be up to 60%.
Types of modern heat meters
Commercially available heat meters for heating in an apartment are not one device, but a set of devices.The set may include:
- sensors;
- calculators for the amount of consumed thermal energy;
- flow, pressure and resistance transducers.
- house (industrial);
- apartment (individual).
As a heat carrier, water is usually used, heated to the desired temperature.
- heat calculator;
- consumption meter hot water.
House (industrial) heat meters
Household or industrial heat meters for heating are used for installation at production facilities and in multi-apartment buildings. To account for heat, one of three methods is used: electromagnetic, turbine or vortex. The main difference between industrial appliances and residential appliances is their size. The diameter of house meters ranges from 25 to 300 millimeters. The measurement range of the amount of heat carrier is about 0.6-2.5 m³/h.Mechanical heat meters
The mechanical (or tachometric) heat energy meters shown in the photo are simple units. Usually they are equipped with a heat meter and a rotary water meter. The principle of how this type of heating meter works is as follows: for the convenience and accuracy of measurement, the translational movement of the liquid coolant turns into rotational.
A mechanical (tachometric) meter is a very economical purchase, but the cost of filters should be added to its price. As a result, the kit will cost the consumer about 15% cheaper than other types of heat meters, but on condition that the pipeline diameter does not exceed 32 mm.
Mechanical devices have a significant drawback - they cannot be used when the coolant (water) has a high degree hardness and, if it contains particles of rust, scale or scale, as they clog filters and flow meters.
Ultrasonic heat meters
Manufacturers offer consumers big choice models of ultrasonic heat meters. True, the principle of operation for all of them is almost the same: two devices are installed on the pipe opposite each other - an emitter and a device that receives ultrasonic signals. The emitter sends a special signal through the coolant flow and after a while it is received by the receiver. The time interval between the emission and reception of a signal depends on the speed of movement of water through the pipeline. When the time is known, the coolant flow rate is calculated.
An ultrasonic heat meter, in addition to its main functions, can adjust the supply of thermal energy. These thermal energy meters are more accurate readings, they are more reliable and durable than tachometric devices.
Installation of heat energy meters
According to experts, best solution the question of where it is better to put a meter is the installation of a common house heat meter. Then all consumers living in the house will not need to pay for thermal energy, which was not actually supplied to the building. But the cost is big. True, if you divide it by the number of apartments, then it will be quite affordable.To install a common house heat energy meter, you will need, first of all, to hold a general meeting of residents, document decision(draw up and sign a protocol) and submit an application to the management company with a request to connect the unit. After the heat meter is installed, a person from among the consumers will be required to be responsible for taking readings from the device in a timely manner and issuing receipts for each apartment.
If not all residents of the house or entrance agree to install a heat meter, then the owner of the apartment should think about how to significantly reduce the financial costs of individual heating own housing.
Installation of an individual heat meter
Before installing a heating meter in a separate apartment high-rise building you will need to perform a number of activities and actions, otherwise the connection of the device will not be appropriate and legal.Step one . It is necessary to eliminate the existing sources of heat loss, including gaps in windows that are not sufficiently insulated entrance doors freezing corners. Only after this, the installation of a heat meter will result in significant savings in money.
step two . The management company (ZHEK, HOA) must provide the owner of the apartment with technical conditions (TU) - they attribute the requirements that must be met in order to connect. Usually the text of the conditions takes up an A4 sheet. It certainly indicates information about the temperature and pressure of the coolant entering the pipeline of a particular house.
Step Three . Knowing these parameters, you can start buying a heat meter without fail in a company that works legally. When purchasing the device, you must require a sales receipt and cash receipt, a certificate confirming the quality, rules and instructions for use.
Step Five . The measuring instrument is being installed. thermal device by employees of a licensed organization specializing in this type of service.
When choosing a company, it is advisable to pay attention to a number of nuances:
- for the availability of information about the organization in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities;
- for the presence of a package of necessary documentation, including certificates, certificates, permits of SROs;
- availability of qualified specialists;
- availability of special equipment;
- for execution complete list installation works;
- availability of a free visit of a specialist to the client’s apartment in order to inspect communications;
- availability of warranties for the work performed.
To make life easier for yourself, the owner of the apartment has the right to order all of the above works in one place - in a company that deals with this type of service at a professional level, however, you will have to pay a considerable amount for this. If you have the desire and free time, you can prepare the installation documents yourself.
Checking heat meters
Usually, new appliances are sold with an initial check, which is carried out at the factory that manufactures them. The proof that the heat meters have been verified is the presence of a special sticker corresponding to the record, a special stamp, both on the devices and in the documents attached to them.During operation, verification of heating meters is carried out at the expense of apartment owners once every 4 years, for its implementation it is necessary to contact a number of organizations and institutions:
- to the branch of Rostest;
- to a company that has the appropriate authority to carry out the audit;
- in service center manufacturing company.
They independently take readings from the meter for heating in the same way as from the electric meter. In the receipt for payment, they indicate the difference in readings, multiply it by the established tariff and make payment, for example, in one of the branches of Sberbank. The recipient of the payment is the heat supply organization.
Heat meters - installation advantages, detailed video:
Restrictions on installing a heat meter in an apartment
Many consumers are interested in whether they put meters for heating individually in each apartment? The fact is that in most domestic apartment buildings when creating a heating system, vertical riser wiring is used, which prevents the installation of one apartment meter.In such a situation, there is only one solution - to put meters on radiators, but such a solution is difficult to implement for the following reasons:
- installing several heat appliances in one apartment will cost its owners a tidy sum, since each meter for a heating battery costs a lot of money;
- taking readings from each device is hampered by the fact that utility workers are not able to make monthly rounds of all the rooms in the apartments of the house in order to record data. When doing this work on your own, you can get confused in the numbers and make mistakes in the calculations;
- maintenance problems - several devices are much more difficult to control and verify their correct functioning;
- the meter for the heating radiator has poor accuracy, since the difference at its inlet and outlet is so small that the device is often unable to fix it.
In buildings erected after 2000, horizontal wiring is used heating system, therefore, in such apartments it is enough to mount one heat consumption meter, and distributors are not required.
As a result of the above measures, it is possible to significantly reduce the monthly payments for the services provided utilities thanks to the installation of heat meters.
In accordance with federal law RF 261 FZ of November 23, 2009, owners of housing in apartment buildings are required to install meters for the consumption of resources provided centrally - for water, electricity, gas. If possible, then for heating (Decree 354 of 05/06/2011, as amended on 02/14/2015). How to put a meter for heating in an apartment, in what cases should this be done?
The most serious item of expenditure today is energy. In a private house, the owner solves the problem of saving on his own, and in an urban apartment building, everything is often left to chance. Meanwhile, you can also spend less on heating (as well as on electricity and water supply) in the city - if you pay only your own expenses, and not some average indicator. Any modern heater can be equipped and raise / lower the temperature depending on the needs of the family.
A common meter should be installed so as not to pay for heat that did not enter the building in principle. It costs a lot, it is bought by the tenants together.
It is possible to install meters for heating in an apartment or not, depending on the type of wiring in the house. Building recent years provides for horizontal wiring: hot water is supplied to each apartment by one riser, it diverges from it to heating appliances.
A different picture in the houses of the old buildings (Khrushchev, etc.). Here, the riser serves one vertical row of batteries on all floors. How many, so many risers. In this case, it would be necessary to install a metering device for each battery separately, which is unprofitable and greatly complicates accounting.
In buildings with vertical wiring, installation of individual heat meters is not carried out (according to the Order of the Ministry of Regional Development Russian Federation 627 dated December 29, 2011). In such a situation, a distributor can be installed in the system, which determines the flow rate by the temperature difference between the air in the room and the surface of the radiator.
Important: There is a clause in the legislative documents that can complicate your transition to payment by an individual meter. In accordance with RF PP 354 (42-1), if not all apartments in the house are equipped with individual metering devices, the service provider has the right to charge a fee based on the indications of a common house meter in terms of the area of \u200b\u200beach apartment. Sometimes you have to put the question to the vote of the tenants of the house.
Choice of metering device
According to their purpose, heating meters are divided into industrial (they are also used as common house) and individual (apartment).
The apartment device has channels of small cross section (within 2 centimeters). The measurement range of the coolant flow is from 0.6 to 2.5 cubic meters per hour. The package most often includes:
- heat sensor;
- actual counter with calculator;
- pressure, flow, resistance regulators (optional).
A calculator is installed on the meter, two wires with sensors are connected - one to the supply pipe, the other to the outlet. The amount of heat consumed is determined by the temperature difference between them.
The common house device differs from the apartment one mainly in size: the diameter of the channel is from 2.5 to 30 cm.
According to the features of the device, the devices are divided into ultrasonic and mechanical (tachometric). There are also vortex and electromagnetic meters for heating, but they are less common for individual use.
The design of the mechanical includes a calculator and a rotary water meter. The working body is an impeller (screw), which rotates under the action of the passing coolant. The amount of heat is determined by the number of rotations.
The device is relatively inexpensive. With a pipeline diameter of up to 3.2 cm, the purchase will cost 15 percent less than an ultrasonic meter. Repairs are also inexpensive.
The disadvantages include vulnerability to hard water with rust or scale: particles clog flow meters and filters, which reduces the resource. Mandatory installation of magnetic mesh. But even in this case, the operating time does not exceed 5 years.
The main working body of an ultrasonic heat meter is a pair of devices: an emitter and a receiver of ultrasonic signals. Signals are transmitted through the flow of water. The transfer time depends on the flow rate: the speed is calculated from the time and, accordingly, the flow rate.
Advantages of the u / z counter:
- the accuracy of the readings is higher than that of the mechanical one. Accordingly, the calculation of heating according to the meter in an apartment building for these models is more correct;
- the working resource is longer (service life is 10 years).
The ultrasonic device itself is less sensitive to water quality than a mechanical one, but the correctness of the readings depends on the purity of the coolant. Accuracy is affected by dirt as well as air bubbles. To avoid the appearance of bubbles, the meter is installed strictly on a straight section of the highway (not shorter than 1 meter).
Heat meter installation
The decision to install a common house meter is made at general meeting residents, officially documented. Based on the minutes of the meeting, an application is submitted to the housing management company. A person responsible for taking and transmitting testimony is selected from among the residents.
How to put an individual heating meter in an apartment:
- Make sure you can install. Perfect option, in which you will not have any questions - an examination report and a conclusion from a professional certified company.
- Before you install a meter for heating in an apartment, eliminate heat leaks through ill-fitting doors, window frames, freezing corners, leaky facade seams, etc. Otherwise, you won’t be able to save money with your own device. Quite the contrary, since a lot of energy will be spent on heating the street.
- Obtain an opinion from your housing authority on the technical conditions of the installation (what is needed for installation). To do this, you must submit an application, attach a copy of the document on the ownership of housing and the registration certificate of the apartment to the application.
- Call the master from a certified installer, draw up an installation project.
- Coordinate the project with your management company.
- After obtaining permission to install, you can buy a meter. The seller is obliged to provide you with all the accompanying documentation: device passport, quality certificate, cash receipt and sales receipt.
- Call the installer. He will install, test and start the device.
- Sealing is carried out by a commission consisting of a specialist from the installer, a representative of the housing office and the owner of the apartment.
What to look for when choosing an installer company:
- the Unified State Register of Legal Entities should contain information about it;
- the company has a certificate and approval of SRO;
- she has at her disposal necessary specialists and equipment;
- the possibility of calling a specialist to draw up a project;
- providing the client with a guarantee for the installation.
The project must include:
- calculation of coolant flow;
- recommended device model;
- calculation of hydraulic resistance;
- scheme of installation in the pipeline;
- calculation of unaccounted heat losses;
- scheme for calculating payments on the counter.
The installation of heating meters in an apartment building is subject to certain rules:
- the device is mounted in strict accordance with the project. If changes are made, the project is re-approved;
- typical installation scheme - outside the apartment. Installation in the apartment is agreed on an individual basis;
- when installing the heat meter, straight “soothing” pipe sections are left on both sides of the flow meters. Thermal resistance should fall on the axis of the pipe, possible "pockets" and air bubbles should be excluded;
- a bypass must be installed to bypass the meter so that the device can be removed without draining the water from the system.
Checking and taking readings
All measuring devices need regular verification - this ensures that the meter is working and, accordingly, the correctness of the tenant's transmission of consumption readings.
Primary verification is carried out at the factory. It is evidenced by a sticker or stamp on the heat meter itself and an entry in the accompanying documents.
In the future, verification must be carried out every four years at the expense of the owner of the apartment. To do it, you need to contact:
- to a company licensed to provide such services;
- to the service center of the meter manufacturer;
- to the local branch of Rostest.
Readings are taken in the same way as from other meters - electric, water. The difference between the readings for the current and last month is the actual expense, which must be multiplied by tariff rate to calculate the amount due.
The meter can determine the consumption in kilowatts, and it is required to transmit readings in gigacalories. To convert watts to calories, the figure taken is multiplied by 0.0008598.
In our country, the law "On Energy Saving" was adopted. According to the document, all homeowners are required to install heat metering devices in it. Controlling the consumption of water, gas and electricity has long become commonplace. Many believed that heat was incalculable, so the counters for it became a real novelty. How to put meters for heating in an apartment is described in this article.
Installation benefits
What do users think about heating meters in an apartment? Reviews indicate that the benefits of installing metering devices are tangible.
The homeowner must pay only for the heat received, without covering the cost of losses during its transportation. For maximum savings, it is necessary to remove all sources that contribute to heat loss in the house: install window frames that are airtight, insulate the room and take other measures. There are two options for installing the unit.
Installation of a common house meter
Many are interested in how to put meters for heating in an apartment.
It should be noted that people living in can solve the problem of accounting for heat consumption by resorting to installing not an individual, but a common house meter. It should be noted that this is the most cheap option. After all, the cost of the accounting device is high, but it will be distributed among the residents. The resulting amount will be quite acceptable.
The collector takes readings from the device once a month. The owner of each apartment must pay in accordance with the area of \u200b\u200bliving space. At the same time, a clear condition is observed: if the heat supplier does not provide the consumer with the proper temperature in the room, then he undertakes to return the money paid by the tenant.
Where does the installation of a common house meter begin?
The first stage of the event is a meeting of the residents of the whole house. It discusses the key issues of the upcoming installation. It is also determined who will act as a collector who takes testimony and writes out receipts for payment.
The decision of the meeting is mandatory recorded in the minutes, after which you can contact the company with a written statement of consent to the installation of the device.
The main priority of the general house unit is its cheapness. but economic side when used, may not satisfy users. There are many reasons. For example, insufficiently insulated apartments and entrances can lead to increased heat consumption.
Is there a way out? Is it installed in an apartment?
Often residents resort to the installation of individual counting devices. Such for an apartment are much more expensive, but their level of efficiency is higher.
Technical restrictions on the installation of an individual meter
Before you put meters for heating in an apartment, you should familiarize yourself with a number of technical restrictions. A heat meter for individual use is installed on the drain, which leads directly to the apartment. In old-style apartment buildings, as a rule, pipes for heating with vertical modification were provided. This means that the apartment may have more than one riser. Each of them will have to install a counter, which will cost the owner quite a lot.
The solution to this problem lies in the installation of specially designed meters for heating devices. But the installation of such a device in our country is not yet practiced, although in Europe a similar method has become widespread.
Manufacturers of metering units offer a way out of this situation. In order not to install several meters, they resort to the installation of distributors that measure the flow rate of the coolant based on the difference in temperatures on the surface of the radiator and the air in the room.
Another way out of the situation lies in the installation of a common house device, which was described above.
In buildings where the wiring is horizontal, the installation of meters to control heat consumption is not limited in any way. Compact devices are mounted on a pipe that supplies heat to the room. In some cases, installation is carried out on the pipeline.
Heat meters operate with flow meters of various modifications. Depending on the conditions of use, one of the four options can be applied. Let's consider each separately.
mechanical type
This is a counter with a unified design. It can be screw, turbine or winged. The basis of the operation of the unit lies in the transformation of the translational movement of the coolant into the movement of the element for measurement.
This is the most affordable device in terms of cost. It cannot be used if water with increased hardness acts as a coolant, or if it contains rust particles, scale or scale. They can clog the mechanical parts of the device. Therefore, before installing the units, special filter systems are mounted. In addition, the mechanical configuration does not tolerate sudden flow fluctuations well.
Electromagnetic devices
Electromagnetic devices basically contain the factor of current manifestation when a liquid passes through a magnetic field. The devices are characterized by sufficiently high metrological stability. They went into widespread use. Inaccuracies in the readings may be due to the presence of impurities in the water and bad quality wire connections during installation.
Vortex fixtures
The equipment evaluates vortices that appear behind an obstacle located in the path of the coolant. The design can be mounted both on pipelines with vertical and horizontal modification. The devices are sensitive to the presence of air in the pipe, the level of welding quality and impurities contained in the water.
Deposits on the pipes do not adversely affect the operation of the device. The devices are demanding on the dimensions of straight sections in the pipeline before and after the flowmeter.
Units operating on ultrasound
They can measure the time it takes the fluid to travel through a pipeline from a source to receive a signal. Devices are Doppler, frequency, time and correlation.
In any case, the operation of the device is distinguished by impeccability. Measurements by the device are carried out in clean water without impurities or scale. Incorrect readings may occur if there are bubbles or scale in the coolant. This device is reliable and durable.
What should be attached to the meter?
Like any measuring device, the meter must have the appropriate certificate and passport. The documents testify to the initial testing of the unit, which was carried out at the plant. These indicators must be applied to the body of the device. They look like a brand or sticker. The timing of the control testing depends on the model of the device. The average indicator of the event is once every four years.
Who performs preventive inspection of the device?
The current check of the device is carried out after the expiration of the check interval.
To this end, the homeowner must contact a number of authorities:
- local branch of Rostest;
- a private organization that owns these powers;
- service center of the manufacturer.
Important information
With a process such as installing meters for heating in an apartment, you should choose a company that will provide installation at a professional level. Many firms guarantee further Maintenance appliances. Behind scheduled inspection experts will answer.
Order of installation and connection of the device
How to put counters for heating in an apartment according to all the rules? The owner himself has no right to install. Installation is carried out by special organizations that have permissive accreditation for such services. The following activities are carried out step by step by the employees of the companies:
- a connection project is being carried out;
- the document is agreed in the company that will install the units;
- heating meters are being installed in the apartment;
- after the end of work, the devices are sealed;
- the equipment is being registered;
- devices are put into operation, and then they are transferred to the supervision organization.
How to choose a meter installation company?
When choosing a company that will mount the device, you should pay attention to a number of important points:
- the availability of a free visit of an engineer to the facility, during which communications will be inspected;
- implementation of all stages of installation work;
- availability of special equipment and qualified employees in the company;
- availability of permits and certificates of the company;
- information about the company in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities;
- guarantee for the work carried out;
- provision of preferential services to a certain category of citizens;
- the possibility of installment payment and the timing of its repayment;
- provision of service.
Meter installation cost
So how much do heating meters cost in an apartment? The price of the measuring device itself, together with a valve for regulation, a filter and shut-off valves, is approximately 10,000 rubles or more, depending on the model.
However, to this amount must be added the cost of installation. Therefore, you will have to pay not only meters for heating in the apartment. The installation price will increase markedly and will amount to about 20,000 rubles.
What to do with testimonials?
Readings from this unit are taken in the same way as from an electric meter. Next, a receipt is filled out, which indicates the difference in readings multiplied by the current tariff.
The payment for heating according to the meter is paid at the branches of Sberbank. The company providing heat supply is indicated as the recipient.
Conclusion
Heat will be a good assistant to the owner of an apartment or house. The main thing is to determine which device to resort to the installation of, a common brownie or an individual one, and entrust the matter to professional workers.
There are a variety of reviews about heating meters in an apartment. Many residents believe that the presence of individual devices helps to save 30-40% of the monthly payment for heat.
Not so long ago, the monthly rent in Russia was so ridiculous that few citizens paid attention to how the structure of utility payments works. However, every year the price of housing and communal services is growing, and all of us, willy-nilly, are wondering what we can save on? Take a look at the last receipt that came to you - in it the heating fee is a significant part of the entire rent.
What can be done so that this amount is not too expensive for the family budget? There is a way out - to install meters for heating in the apartment!
Alas, ah, housing and communal services employees are not interested in the quality of the service they provide, and in saving this resource, too. After all, payment is charged to them according to long-ago approved standards. Therefore, in winter time it can be cold in the apartment, but with the advent of the warm season they continue to heat intensely.
If you put a meter for heating, what will be the benefit?
- The amount for the monthly provision of heat will be charged strictly according to the established tariffs and, of course, according to the readings taken from individual counter. In other words, you will have to pay only for the amount of thermal energy that you actually consume, without any fictitious increases.
- A chic opportunity opens up - independently regulate the flow of heat! This can be done manually or automatically (this will require an electronic room temperature control system).
Note!
The heat meter does not save heat, it only allows you to pay for the actual heat energy consumed, and not the approximate calculated indicators obtained theoretically.
But, it must be added, this method of heat metering allows you to significantly save on funds used to pay for heat supply (savings can reach 60%).
Types of heat meters
Before considering existing species heat meters, I would like to clarify that the unit itself is not one specific device, but a whole set of them. Thus, the meter may include: pressure and resistance transducers, calculators for the amount of heat received, sensors, flow transducers. A specific set of the unit is determined and approved for each specific object separately.
According to the field of application, meters for heating are apartment and house (industrial). According to the principle of operation - mechanical (tachometric) and ultrasonic. Perhaps it would be better if we consider each of the species separately.
Apartment units for heat metering
An individual apartment heating meter is a device with small channel diameters (no more than 20 mm), and with a coolant measurement range of approximately 0.6-2.5 m3/h. Electromagnetic measurement of heat energy consumption is possible, as well as vortex and turbine. As you may have guessed, this type of meters is designed for installation in private houses and apartments.
Almost always, the coolant here is water, which is heated to a specific temperature. The apartment meter consists of two complementary elements: a heat calculator and a hot water meter. How does a heating meter work?
The heat meter is installed on the water meter, and 2 wires are removed from it, which are equipped with temperature sensors: one wire is connected to the supply pipeline, and the second - to the pipeline leaving the room.
The heat calculator collects information about the incoming coolant (in this case, water) at the inlet and outlet. And the hot water meter calculates how much water is spent on heating. Then, using special calculation methods, the heat meter calculates exact amount used heat.
Household (industrial) heat meters
This type of meters is used in production and in apartment buildings. Heat is accounted for, again, by one of three methods: turbine, vortex, electromagnetic. In principle, house heat meters differ from apartment meters only in size - their diameter can vary in the range of 25-300 mm. The measurement range of the coolant remains approximately the same - 0.6-2.5 m3/h.
Mechanical
Mechanical (tachometric) heat meters are the simplest units. They usually consist of a heat calculator and rotary water meters. The principle of operation is as follows: the translational movement of the coolant (water) is converted into a rotational movement for convenient and accurate measurement.
Such a meter for heating in an apartment is considered an economical option. However, the cost of special filters must also be added to its cost. The total price of the kit is about 15% lower than other types of meters, but only for a pipeline with a diameter of no more than 32 mm.
The disadvantages of mechanical units include the impossibility of their use at high water hardness, as well as, if it contains scale, small scale particles, rust. These substances quickly clog flow meters and filters.
Ultrasonic
To date, there are various models ultrasonic heating meters, but the principle of operation for all of them is approximately the same: an emitter and a device that receives ultrasonic signals are mounted on the pipe opposite each other.
A signal is sent through the fluid flow by the emitter, then after some time this signal is received by the receiver. The signal delay time (from the moment of its emission to reception) corresponds to the speed of the water flow in the pipe. This time is measured and the water flow in the pipeline is calculated from it.
In addition to the main functions, this type of meters can be endowed with the ability to regulate the supply of heat. It should be noted that ultrasonic heat meters are much more accurate in readings, more reliable and more durable than mechanical devices.
How to install a heating meter
Of course, the simplest rational decision of this question is the setting. With it, all tenants will no longer have to pay for heat that was not actually supplied to their house. True, the cost of such pleasure "bites" - from 16,000 rubles.
But if you divide this amount by the number of families, then it will seem quite acceptable. But the savings after installing the meter will be noticed by all residents immediately: payment for the heat resource will be charged not according to theoretical standards, but in fact.
What is needed in order to put a common meter in an apartment building? First of all, it is necessary to hold a meeting of residents, record the decision in the minutes, and then write an application to the management company with a request to connect it.
Attention!
When deciding to install a common house heat meter, do not forget about this nuance: if you don’t have to pay for heating at all in the hot summer, then in the cold seasons the amount billed can be quite decent.
Think about whether all the tenants of the house will be satisfied with this? Plus, it will be necessary to appoint a person responsible for taking readings from the meter and issuing apartment receipts.
Well, if it was not possible to convince the neighbors at the entrance that heating by the meter is much more convenient and many times more economical, then here is an instruction on how to drastically reduce heating costs in your apartment.
Individual heat meter
Below are the steps that must be completed without fail before installing a heating meter in an apartment.
Otherwise, the installed device will not be legal.
- First of all, it is necessary to eliminate all possible sources of heat loss - freezing corners, cracks in windows, poorly insulated entrance doors. Only then the installation of a heat meter will bring tangible material savings.
- ZhEK, HOA or the management company of your city must provide you with technical specifications (technical specifications), which state what is necessary to connect a heat meter in your apartment. As a rule, this is one sheet of A4 format, which says what pressure and what temperature the coolant passing through your home has.
- Now you can buy the heat meter itself.
Important!
It must be purchased from a legitimate company.
Therefore, when buying, require a cash receipt, sales receipt, quality certificate, instruction manual.
- On the basis of the received specifications (technical specifications), it is necessary to order a "project for the installation of a heat meter". It is ordered from a design organization, which must have a license for such work.
- Installation of a thermal energy meter, which must also be carried out by a licensed company.
When choosing a company, pay attention to the following nuances:- availability of information about the company in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities;
- availability of all necessary documentation (certificates, certificates, SRO approvals);
- availability of special equipment and qualified specialists;
- implementation of a complete list of installation works;
- free visit of the engineer to the apartment, during which the inspection of communications is carried out;
- availability of a guarantee for the work carried out.
- After installation, the representative of the Housing Office, the HOA or the management company seals the heat meter, and signs an act of acceptance.
Difficult? Basically, no. But in order not to bother, you can order all these works in one company. That's just the cost of their services will "bite" (about 20 thousand rubles, or even more).
And you can do all the red tape work on the documentation with your own hands. Which way you go is up to you.
Separately, I would like to talk about checking the heating meter. As a rule, a new instrument is sold with an initial inspection carried out at the factory. The proof of its implementation can be a special sticker, a stamp, a corresponding record indicated on the device itself and in the document attached to it. The next check of the heat meter is carried out 1 time in 4 years at the expense of the owners of the apartment.
For this you need to contact:
- to the branch of Rostest;
- to a commercial company that has the authority to carry out the inspection;
- to the service center of the manufacturer.
Attention! Most companies offering meter installations also take care of further maintenance.
If you are interested in how to take readings from a heat meter, then the answer is the same as from an electric meter. Then a receipt is filled in, which indicates the difference in readings and is multiplied by the current tariff. Payment will have to be made at Sberbank branches. The heat supply organization is indicated as the recipient of funds.
Possible restrictions on installing a heat meter in an apartment
Most houses in Russia are equipped with a vertical riser wiring of the heating system. Simply put, the risers that supply heat to the heaters pass right through the rooms. And this prevents the installation of one common meter for the entire apartment.
That is, in this case they are needed, and this is unrealistic for the following reasons:
- Installing several heat appliances at once in an apartment is very expensive (each meter costs 6-12 thousand rubles);
- Poor accuracy of measuring the counter on the radiator alone, since the difference at its input and output is too small for the device to be able to fix it at all;
- The deposition process is much more difficult. Public utilities cannot make a round of all the rooms in each apartment every month in order to take readings from all the meters. And if you do it yourself, you can get confused and make mistakes in the calculations;
- Difficulty in maintenance. Several heat meters will be much more difficult to maintain and monitor their correct operation.
But there is a way out of this situation - the installation of special distributors. They measure the flow rate of the coolant by the temperature difference between the surface of the radiator and the air in the room. The cost of one such distributor is about 1000 rubles.
Attention!
Houses built after 2000 are equipped with a horizontal heating system.
Therefore, there will be enough one heat meter for the entire apartment, without distributors.
Finally
It is possible and necessary to reduce the accrued monthly fee for the services provided to us by housing and communal services. And not by oral and written complaints, but by real actions. One of them is the installation of heat meters.
If most of the inhabitants of our country install heating meters in an apartment and start paying according to their testimony, then public utilities, willy-nilly, will have to put things in order in their household, because there will be no one to write off the losses. And every citizen will be able to save significantly family budget using it for other purposes.
If you are interested in this or you still have any questions about heating meters, then we offer you to look at the photo and video materials, with a detailed explanation on the topic.