Installation of heat energy meters
According to experts, the best solution to the question of where it is better to put a meter is to install a common house heat meter. Then all consumers living in the house will not have to pay for heat energy, which in fact was not supplied to the building. But the cost of a common building meter for heating is rather big. True, if you divide it by the number of apartments, then it will be quite affordable.
To install a common building heat energy meter, you will first need to hold a general meeting of residents, draw up a documented 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 the installation of a heat meter, then the owner of the apartment should think about how to significantly reduce the financial costs of individual heating of their own housing.
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 compared to heat meters of another type, but provided that the diameter of the pipeline does not exceed 32 mm. Mechanical devices have a significant drawback - they cannot be used when the coolant (water) has a high degree of hardness and if it contains particles of rust, scale or scale, because they clog filters and flow meters.
How a heat meter works, types and characteristics of these devices
Today, a heating meter is very profitable, since such a device saves money. This happens because after its establishment, payment for heat will be carried out according to tariffs. This means that the meter will only count the amount of heat energy that comes in, and there will be no need to overpay. As prices rise, people are more and more concerned about how to save money.
An important item of expenditure in every family is payment for heat energy. To save money in this direction, there is a heat meter for heating.
When buying a meter for heating, it includes (Fig. 1):
- Directly counter, that is, a device that counts the amount of coolant.
- Temperature sensors. There should be 2 of them. They give readings about the temperature of water heating, which enter the main electronic module.
- As well as other components that are included individually, depending on the type of device.
Rice. 1 Package contents of the device
What does the user get from installing a heat meter
The cost of heating increases every year. Some people are trying to solve this problem through a more economical attitude to heat: they put up new windows, insulate their home. Modern double-glazed windows are energy efficient and allow you to save about 30% of heat.
Very often, the owner of the house has to pay a lot of money during the heating season.At the same time, batteries do not always heat the room at the proper level. As a result, a person pays for what he does not receive. In this case, heating meters are a great option to save money. By installing a meter in an apartment, you can save about 40% of the total payment for heating services. The installation of a measuring device pays off within 3 to 6 months of the heating season.
Sometimes poor heating is associated with the negligence of service workers, with the operator's unwillingness to lose money to achieve the required parameters of the coolant. If the apartment has a heating meter, this can be a weighty argument in the event of a lawsuit with utilities.
Electromagnetic heating meter
This is an expensive model of thermal devices, and is one of the most accurate devices. The principle of operation of an electromagnetic meter is to pass the coolant through the device, while the electromagnetic field conducts a weak current. This device needs to be maintained, that is, periodically cleaned.
Rice. 4 Electromagnetic heat meters
The electromagnetic device consists of 3 main parts:
- primary converter;
- An electronic unit that can operate both from batteries and from the mains;
- temperature sensors.
In this case, the electromagnetic thermal device can be installed in any position (horizontal, vertical, or at an angle), but this is only in the case when the area where the meter is installed is constantly filled with coolant.
If the diameter of the pipe does not match the diameter of the device flange, then adapters can be used.
The procedure for installing a heat meter in an apartment building
In new buildings, heat meters are already installed without fail. Otherwise, the house will not be commissioned. But for residential multi-apartment buildings that have been built and occupied for a long time, it is required to fulfill the requirements of the legislation in terms of equipping with the necessary equipment.
First of all, before installing a heat distribution system, you need to make sure that the house has the technical ability to install it on a heat supply system. The procedure would then be:
- The decision to install the device must be made at a meeting of the owners of the premises. It is collected at the initiative of the owners of apartments or the management company. At the meeting, it is recommended to discuss the following issues:
- installation method - by the managing organization or with the involvement of a contractor;
- terms of installation and commissioning;
- the amount of contributions associated with the installation and commissioning of the meter (if residents accumulate contributions for major repairs on an account opened for their home, they have the right to decide to pay the costs of installing and commissioning a heat distribution system at the expense of major repairs);
- method of financing - in a single payment or in installments.
- The meeting may be held in person and in person and in absentia. The decision is considered adopted if the consent is received from at least 10% of the total number of votes of the owners of the premises.
- If the residents initiated the meeting, they must record their decision and send a written application to their management company with a request to install a heat meter.
- Then a project is prepared for installation and an estimate of the work, taking into account the installation site and the meter model. The document is issued by the design organization and agreed with the heat supply company.
- After agreement, the metering device indicated in the estimate is purchased and installed in the heat supply system of an apartment building. On the body of the device and in the passport for it, there must be a verification icon, i.e. the equipment is certified and gives accurate measurements.
- The device is installed and put into operation. Installation takes one business day. Then an inspector from the resource supplying organization is invited, who inspects and seals the metering unit.An act of commissioning is drawn up and from the next month, the calculation of payment for heat is made according to the readings of the heat ODPU.
What is a heat meter for?
It’s worth starting with one explanation: the heat meter does not directly reduce resource costs. It only counts the incoming thermal energy. In the case when the house has good thermal insulation, the windows in the entrances are intact, the windows in the apartments do not see through, the facade is closed with expanded polystyrene foam or basalt wool, and the windows and doors are not wide open, then the installed unit will bring you lower heating bills.
If a high-rise building is poorly insulated, batteries in the entrances heat the street, and the tenants do not take care of the insulation of the windows, then the bills for the supply of thermal energy may be higher than before.
For residents, it may be a good option to install a heating meter in their apartment. Since the summer of 2012, all heated buildings in Russia are required to have such meters.
Therefore, it does not matter what condition your house is in: the heat meter in it must be
Who benefits from these whole-house appliances? Why was Federal Law 261 adopted? Consider the key points of this question:
- To ensure that the payment for heat is divided fairly among the owners of houses. Simple situation. In one house, the owners carried out expensive thermal insulation measures, while in another they decided to save money on this. For this reason, it is not right to demand the same payment from them for the supply of thermal energy. This argument is most liked to bring employees of housing and communal services.
- An attempt to force the tenants of high-rise buildings to save heat in their home. This argument sounds more eloquent. Persuasion on our citizens is no longer valid, but they know how to count money. If they are taught that a door or window that is not closed will result in additional expenses for them, then the tenants will begin to carefully monitor this.
- The most unpleasant moment for those who consume housing and communal services: Federal Law 261, which has come into force, clearly states that the responsibility for the safety of common property in the house now lies on the shoulders of residents.
In the old days, the procedure for calculating fees for heating attics and basements was as follows: they were calculated on the basis of the total heating bill with reference only to the existing tariff. It was necessary for the management company to maintain and monitor the performance of common house property. And do it for a fixed fee.
Ultrasonic heating meter
This type of meters is most often installed as a common device for apartment buildings. The principle of its operation lies in the ultrasonic signal, thanks to which the device, in fact, takes measurements (using a sensor). This signal is passed through the water. The complete set of this device consists of an emitter and a device that sends a signal. These components are installed one opposite the other.
Rice. 3 Ultrasonic device
An ultrasonic device is best installed in homes with new piping, as it is very sensitive to contamination.
There are such types of ultrasonic heat meters:
Each of these types gives accurate readings only if the water is clean and free of impurities. Any contamination or even air bubbles will affect the readings.
The advantages of this counter include the information content, which is achieved thanks to the liquid crystal display and the fact that when installing this model, the hydraulic pressure does not increase.
But there is also such a minus in the operation of an ultrasonic device: if the power supply is unstable, then it is connected via UPS.
Installing a heating meter
There are special companies that install heat meters, namely:
- They are doing a project;
- Submit documents to the relevant authorities to obtain permission;
- Install the counter and immediately register it;
- Next, test tests must be carried out and the device is put into operation.
If the counter is not registered properly, then its readings are not taken into account. To pay bills, you need to submit indicators, and the receipt comes with the amount at the established rate.
The developed project should include the following points:
- Device (type) model for a specific heating system;
- Necessary calculations for coolant flow rates, as well as calculations of heat load;
- There should be a diagram of the heating system, indicating the place where the meter will be installed;
- The hydraulic resistance of the device must be calculated;
- Calculation of possible heat losses;
- And also be sure to calculate the waste for heat energy.
The principle of operation of the counter on the battery
Let us consider in more detail the heating meter how it works, and what factors can affect its functioning.
A heat meter is installed in order to determine the volume of coolant in the radiator, as well as to measure the water temperature level.
If the wiring in the house is horizontal, the unit is mounted on a horizontal pipe. At the same time, one device per apartment is enough. But with vertical pipe routing, a separate meter will have to be installed for each battery.
It should be noted that the heating meter in the apartment is quite accurate. But there are a number of factors that can have a strong influence on the device and cause some error. For instance:
- The circulation of the coolant is disturbed, a low flow rate is observed.
- There is a thermal difference, which is less than +30 degrees.
- The installation of the meter is illiterate. For example, temperature sensors are installed incorrectly.
- The quality of the pipeline, the water is poor. For example, water is too hard and has various impurities like sand, rust.
What are the types of heating meters?
Depending on the installation method, the heating meter can be common and individual. In the case of a common building option, a metering device is purchased one for the entire high-rise building. Despite the fact that the meter is expensive, it will be quite affordable for the owner of each apartment. After all, the total price will be divided among all tenants. Despite the availability of purchasing a heat metering unit, the savings may not be high due to the fact that some apartments may be poorly insulated. As a result, everyone will have to pay.
Therefore, many people prefer to install an individual meter on the heating battery. to pay only for the heat actually received by the apartment. True, such a device is not suitable for every room. For example, installing a meter in an old house with a vertical type of wiring can be quite problematic. After all, the device is installed on the riser. And in such houses there are several of them. Putting a counter on each riser is very expensive. In this case, distributors are used.
Also all counters heating for an apartment according to the principle of work can be classified into:
- Ultrasonic. Most often used. They are considered the most accurate, durable and reliable. The error can be caused by particles of debris getting on the signal receiver, the formation of air bubbles.
- Mechanical. Suitable for use in polluted or saline circulating fluids.
- Electromagnetic. Pretty accurate. Differ in stable work.
- Vortex. The principle of operation is that data on the strength of the resulting vortices are compared after the passage of the circulating fluid.
Features of installing a heating meter
It should be noted that self-installation of heating meters in an apartment is unacceptable. This may result in refusal of registration, and the personal account will not be reissued.
It is also important to remember that every four years the unit should be given for inspection
To install the device, you need to carry out a number of actions:
- get permission;
- study the technical conditions;
- create a project, it must be agreed with the heat supply company;
- install the unit.
How much will it cost to install a heating meter?
For those who want to spend money wisely, a heat meter is the best investment option. Of course, the price of the device is considerable. But if you consider that the acquisition pays off quickly enough, then the counter is not so expensive. For a heating meter, the general house price is more affordable than for a unit installed individually for one apartment.
The cost of devices depends on the type and manufacturer. It must be remembered that in addition to buying the device itself, you will have to spend money on its installation. After all, installation should only be carried out by a professional. I must say that the price of heating meters includes, in addition to the equipment itself, some components: shut-off valves, control valve, filter. On average, the cost is from 9000 rubles. If we add to this the cost of installation, the amount can rise to 20,000 rubles.
It is very profitable to buy meters in bulk: at the same time, the price for a heating meter will be slightly lower. This is possible, for example, if other residents plan to install this unit in the entrance for their apartments.
Who should pay for the installation of a common house heat meter
The Housing Code fixes the issue of maintaining the common property of an apartment building. According to Art. 36 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, all of it belongs to the owners of the premises in it on the basis of common shared ownership. The composition of the property also includes common house engineering communications, on which metering devices for heat used for heating the house are installed.
Accordingly, all costs associated with the installation and maintenance of devices are borne by the owners of apartments and other premises in the MKD. Equipping ODPU is a legal obligation, but the procedure requires a decision on installation at a general meeting of apartment owners. The initiator of such a meeting may be the managing organization or the tenants themselves.
How to install a heat meter in an apartment
The simplest solution to the issue is a thermal common house heat meter and its installation. It will allow residents to no longer pay for heat that has not been supplied to their home.
The cost of a heat meter for an apartment building is not cheap (from 16 thousand rubles), but if you spread the amount over the number of apartments, it will not seem so high. And the savings after installation, the tenants will notice immediately. Payment for heat will be charged not according to the mentioned standards, but upon the fact. Heat payments will be distributed according to the area of each apartment. If the house has a common house meter, then it is possible to return the money paid for heat if the batteries were cold for some period.
Will all residents of the house be able to withstand such a financial burden? Moreover, a person must be appointed to take readings from the meter and issue apartment receipts.
In order to install a heat energy meter in an apartment building, you should hold a meeting of owners, record the decision in the minutes, and then apply in writing to the management company with a request to connect it.
Only an individual heat energy meter will allow you to pay for the actual amount of heat you consume. True, a certain appendage for heating common house areas (entrance, stairwells, etc.) can be added to the calculated amount.
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;
- to the service center of the manufacturer.
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:
Vortex heating device
This meter can be installed on pipes, both horizontal and vertical. The principle of operation is to measure the speed and number of vortices. That is, it is an obstacle in the way of the water flow, the water goes around the obstacle and as a result, vortices are created. It is not sensitive to the manifestation of various blockages, such as rust, scale, etc. This counter can give incorrect readings only if there is air in the system.
Complete set of the vortex heating device:
- Counting mechanism;
- Frame;
- Plates;
- Heat fairing;
- Filter.
Rice. 5 Vortex device
The vortex counter is installed horizontally between two pipes.
Types of thermal heating devices
The main types of heat meters include:
- Tachometric or mechanical;
- Ultrasonic;
- Electromagnetic;
- Vortex.
And there is also a classification by scope. For example, industrial or individual.
An industrial heat meter for heating is a common house (in apartment buildings) device, it is also installed at production facilities. This unit has a large diameter from 2.5 cm to 30 cm. The range of coolant quantity is from 0.6 to 2.5 m3 per hour.
An individual heating device is the unit that is installed inside the apartment. It differs in that its channels have a small diameter, namely no more than 2 cm. And also the range of the amount of coolant becomes from 0.6 to 2.5 m3 per hour. This meter is equipped with 2 devices, namely, a heat meter and a meter for hot water.
Recommendations for the choice of the device and its installation
To correctly account for the low flow rate of the coolant used to heat the apartment, 2 types of household heat meters are used:
- mechanical (otherwise - tachometric);
- ultrasonic.
Note. The technical parameters of commercial metering devices are determined by design engineers based on the calculation.
This is what tachometric heat meters look like
To understand the difference between them and make the right choice, you need to understand a little how a heat meter works. It consists of three main elements that perform their functions:
- A flow meter whose task is to determine the amount of water flowing through a pipe section per unit of time. Crashes into the supply pipeline.
- Temperature sensors for direct and reverse flow (resistance thermocouples).
- Electronic calculator block. Receiving signals from sensors and a flow meter, the device calculates the consumed heat according to the formula embedded in the program. The result is reflected on the display and can be transmitted to the supplier via a GSM connection or the Internet.
Ultrasonic heat meters designed for installation in apartments
An important point. When issuing technical specifications, heat supply organizations strongly recommend installing ultrasonic heat meters in an apartment. The reason is not only reliability and durability. Unscrupulous tenants only think how to deceive any meters, including thermal meters (for example, stop with magnets).The principle of operation of the ultrasonic device does not allow to influence the readings illegally.
Attached heat meter from the famous European brand Danfoss
It is impossible not to mention another type of heat consumption analyzers - overhead devices installed directly on the battery (the so-called proportionalizers). They determine the energy consumption by the temperature of the heat-releasing surface and the air in the room, only you need to put the technical parameters of the radiator into the memory of the device in advance.
Proportionalizers are widely used in Western Europe, but they are not yet in demand in the post-Soviet space due to inconsistency in legislation. Nevertheless, in large cities some experience has already been gained in the successful use of such heat meters, as described in the video:
As mentioned earlier, the installation of a heat energy meter is carried out by the personnel of a licensed company. You can only control their work, knowing that the flow meter is placed on the supply pipeline, and the sensors cut into the supply and return lines. Moreover, in new models there is only one sensor - for the return line, and the supply temperature meter is built into the flow meter housing.
As a rule, modern heat meters do not need to observe measuring sections (straight pipes of a certain length before and after the device).
Conclusion
So, based on the foregoing, we single out cases when it is possible to install heat meters on an apartment:
- In the Russian Federation, it will be necessary to take into account the requirements of the legislation and organize control over heat consumption in all apartments and other premises at the same time.
- From a technical point of view, installation in new buildings will not cause problems, where horizontal distribution of central heating is provided for dwellings, connected to a common two-pipe riser.
- In old systems with vertical wiring, it is necessary to put a meter on the entrance (allowed in Ukraine) or on each radiator. A more radical way to resolve the issue is to unite with neighbors, order a project and reconstruction of the heating network in order to convert the wiring to horizontal.
A separate input to each apartment is ideal for installing heat meters (they are placed in a common cabinet along with a collector)
The formal side of the issue is much more difficult to solve than the technical one, and regardless of the country of residence. Enterprises and officials who are deprived of the possibility of illegal enrichment in heating systems will begin to put up all sorts of obstacles. Hence the advice: carefully study the legislation, consult a lawyer and use documents, not words, to confirm any fact.
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Heating systems > Is it profitable to install an individual heat meter in an apartment and how to do it right
