In our country, the law "On energy conservation" was adopted. According to the document, all homeowners are required to install heat meters in it. Controlling the flow of water, gas and electricity has long been commonplace. Many believed that heat is not amenable to any calculus, so the meters on it have become a real novelty. How to put meters for heating in the apartment is described in this article.
Benefit of installation
What do users think about heating meters in the apartment? Reviews indicate that the benefits of installing metering devices are tangible.
The homeowner must pay only for the heat received, not covering the costs of losses during its transportation. For maximum savings, it is necessary to remove all sources that contribute to the loss of heat in the house: install window frames that are leakproof, warm the room, and take other measures. There are two options for installing the unit.
Installation of a common house counter
Many are interested in how to put meters for heating in the apartment.
It should be noted that people living in multi-storey buildings can solve the problem of accounting for heat consumption by resorting to installing not an individual, but a common house counter. This, it should be noted, is the cheapest option. After all, the cost of the accounting device is high, but it will be distributed among residents. The amount as a result 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 quadrature of the living space. In this case, a clear condition is observed: if the heat supplier does not provide the consumer with the proper room temperature, then he undertakes to return the money paid by the tenant.
How does the installation of a common home meter begin?
The first stage of the event is a meeting of residents of the whole house. It discusses key issues for the upcoming installation. It is also determined who will act as a collector, taking evidence and writing out receipts for payment.
The decision of the meeting is mandatory recorded by the protocol, 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. However, the economic side when using it may not satisfy users. There are many reasons. For example, insufficiently insulated apartments and porches can lead to increased heat consumption.
Is there a way out? Do they install heat meters in the apartment?
Often, residents resort to the installation of individual counting devices. Such heat meters for heating for an apartment are much more expensive, but they also have a higher level of efficiency.
Technical limitations for installing an individual meter
Before putting meters for heating in the apartment, you should familiarize yourself with a number of technical limitations. An individual heat meter is installed on the drain, which leads directly to the apartment. In multi-unit buildings of the old type, as a rule, the layout of pipes for heating with a vertical modification was 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 expensive.
The solution to this problem is to install specially designed meters for heating appliances. But the installation of such a device is not yet practiced in our country, although a similar method has been widely used in European countries.
Manufacturers of metering units offer a way out of this situation. In order not to install several meters, resort to the installation of valves that measure the flow rate of the coolant based on the difference in temperature on the surface of the radiator and indoor air.
Another way out of the situation lies in the installation of a common house device, which was described above.
In buildings in which the wiring is horizontal, the installation of meters to control heat consumption is unlimited. Compact devices are mounted on a pipe that delivers heat to the room. In some cases, installation is made on the pipeline.
Thermal meters work with flowmeters of various modifications. Depending on the conditions of use, you can apply one of four options. Let's consider each separately.
Mechanical type
This is a counter with a uniform design. It can be screw, turbine or vane. The basis of the operation of the unit is to convert the translational motion of the coolant into the movement of the element for measurement.
This is the most affordable fixture. It cannot be used if water with increased hardness acts as a coolant, or if rust particles, scale or scale are present in it. They can clog the mechanical parts of the device. Therefore, before installing the units, special filtering systems are mounted. In addition, the mechanical configuration does not tolerate sharp fluctuations in flow.
Electromagnetic devices
Electromagnetic devices basically contain the factor of the manifestation of current during the passage of a fluid through a magnetic field. The devices have a fairly high metrological stability. They went into wide use. Inaccuracies in the readings may be due to the presence of impurities in the water and poor connection quality of the wires during installation.
Vortex devices
The equipment evaluates the vortices that appear behind an obstacle located in the path of the coolant. The design can be mounted on pipelines with vertical as well as horizontal modifications. 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. Devices are exacting to the sizes of direct sections in the pipeline before and after a flowmeter.
Ultrasound Aggregates
They can measure the amount of time that a fluid has passed through a pipeline from a source to receiving 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 pure water without the presence of impurities or scale. Incorrect readings may occur if there are bubbles or scale in the coolant. This appliance is reliable and durable.
What should be attached to the counter?
Like any measuring device, the meter must have the appropriate certificate and passport. Documents indicate the initial testing of the unit, which was carried out at the plant. These indicators must be applied to the device. They look like a brand or sticker. The timing of the control test depends on the model of the device. The average event is once every four years.
Who conducts a routine inspection of the device?
The current check of the device is carried out after the expiration of the test interval.
For this purpose, the homeowner must contact a number of authorities:
- local branch of Rostest;
- a private organization that owns these powers;
- service center of the manufacturing plant.
Important information
In a process such as installing meters for heating in an apartment, you should choose a company that will ensure installation at a professional level. Many companies guarantee further maintenance of the devices. Specialists will be responsible for the scheduled inspection.
Installation and connection procedure
How to put meters for heating in the apartment in accordance with all the rules? The owner himself does not have the right to install. Installation is carried out by special organizations that have permissive accreditation for such services. The following activities are carried out in stages by company employees:
- the connection project is in progress;
- a document is agreed upon in the company that will install the units;
- there is an installation of meters for heating in the apartment;
- after work the devices are sealed;
- equipment is being registered;
- devices are put into operation, and then they are transferred to the supervision of the 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 presence of a free engineer’s departure to the facility during which communications will be inspected;
- the implementation of all stages of installation work;
- the presence in the company of special equipment and skilled workers;
- availability of approvals and company certificates;
- information about the company in the register;
- guarantee for the work performed;
- the provision of preferential services for a certain category of citizens;
- the possibility of installment payment and maturity;
- provision of after-sales service.
Counter installation cost
So how much are the heating meters in the apartment? The price of the measuring device itself, together with a control valve, a filter and shut-off valves, is approximately 10,000 rubles or more, depending on the model.
However, the installation expense must be added to this amount. Therefore, you will have to pay not only the heating meters in the apartment. The installation price will increase significantly and amount to about 20,000 rubles.
What to do with the testimony?
Readings from this unit are taken in the same way as from the electric meter. Next, a receipt is filled out, which indicates the difference in readings, multiplied by the current tariff.
Payment for heating on the meter is paid in the branches of Sberbank. The company providing the heat supply is indicated as the recipient.
Conclusion
The heat meter will be a good assistant to the owner of the apartment or house. The main thing is to determine the installation of which device to resort to, a common brownie or individual, and entrust the work to professional workers.
About the counters for heating in the apartment, the reviews are very different. Many residents believe that the availability of individual devices contributes to the saving of a monthly payment for heat by 30-40%.