The specificity of central heating services is in increased tariffs in the absence of an installed heat meter in the apartment. Therefore, everyone sooner or later comes to the decision to install this meter. However, the procedure for designing and choosing the optimal model may cause some difficulties. Therefore, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the specifics of the installation issue and the principle of operation of the meter for heating in the apartment.
Heat meter installation time
Is it always advisable to purchase and issue a permit for the installation of a heat meter? Before carrying out these activities, all factors should be analyzed. A modern individual heating meter should reduce heating costs for apartment residents. But in practice this does not always happen.
There are many positive aspects of installing a heating meter. First of all, this is a decrease in the monthly payment for district heating. But before you put the meter on the heating in the apartment - it is necessary to calculate the operating costs and the desired economic effect of this. The following nuances are taken into account:
- The number of heating risers in the apartment. Each of them requires installation of a metering device. If more than two - installation will be inappropriate. Given the average cost of purchase and installation (20 tons) and possible savings (cost reduction of 25-30%) - the compensation time may take from 8 to 17 years, depending on the number of risers;
- In the heating period, the pipes are constantly hot. You need to know how the heating meter works - it does not limit the flow of coolant, but only fixes the thermal difference between the supply and return pipes. Therefore, in some cases, the final figure in the cavitation about payment can not only not decrease, but also increase;
- The mandatory check of heating meters is taken into account, which is carried out once every 3-4 years. The cost of this event is borne only by the owner of the apartment.
If, after a careful analysis of these items, the economic feasibility of installation is deduced, the meters are installed for heating in the apartment. But first you need to draw up all the permits, find out the specifics of the functioning of this meter.
All meters for central heating are installed only by representatives of the Management Company or organizations with special permission to perform this type of work.
The principle of operation of the heat meter
To connect a heat meter, it is necessary that the supply and return pipes in the apartment are not far from each other. The main principle of the heating meter is to take into account the incoming coolant and the thermal difference between the mains.
It does not matter how the heating meter will operate on the radiator or for the entire apartment. He must calculate the amount of heat consumed by the following formula:
Q = G * Δt
Where Q - the amount of heat received in the apartment,G - the amount of hot water passing through the supply line,Δt - temperature difference between the feed return pipe.
In practice, to implement the principle of operation of a heating heat meter, it should consist of the following components:
- Water metering device. It is no different from models for cold water supply;
- Two temperature sensors. They are connected to heating pipes. From them, indications of the level of water heating are sent to the electronic data processing module.
At first glance, the meters on the heating batteries should give an accurate result about the amount of thermal energy received in the apartment. However, there are a number of factors that directly affect the degree of measurement error:
- The thermal difference is less than + 3 ° C. Actual when installing a heat meter on only one heating battery;
- Reduced coolant flow - its circulation in the system is broken. All heat meters for heating in the apartment have the minimum acceptable value for this indicator;
- Incorrect installation. The device is not installed in the direction of movement of hot water, errors during installation of temperature sensors.
It is these factors that make it possible to solve the problem of how to trick a heating meter. It is enough to slightly change the position of the device or artificially reduce the readings of water flow. But any check will easily reveal these violations. The response from the Management Company will be a large fine.
The availability of a common house meter for central heating only partially solves the problem of saving. Current expenses are distributed among the residents of the house.
Permission for an individual heating meter
To install an individual heating meter, you must first draw up all permits. This can be done by contacting the Management Company with which a heat supply contract has been concluded.
At the first request of the owner of the apartment, the Management Company must provide the Technical Conditions. According to them, the desired model and technology for installing a meter for heating in the apartment are selected. It is important to take into account all the requirements, because even a small discrepancy from the technical specifications can lead to a refusal to install.
Then, already knowing how the heating meter works, you can begin to choose the optimal model. During the purchase, you need to make sure that it has the appropriate certificates and will be approved by the representatives of the Criminal Code.
Further steps for installing the heating meter on the radiator are as follows:
- Project drafting. This should be done by a specialized organization. Its work rules are regulated by SNiP 41.02-2003. The license indicates the profile of the activity and the list of work that can be carried out by representatives of the organization. For the correct installation of meters for heating in the apartment, they must undergo training courses in technical supervision bodies and receive a certificate of this;
- Installation and commissioning of a heat meter for heating in the apartment. A copy of the act with wet seals and signatures of the representatives of the Criminal Code is issued to the owner.
In addition, the owner must, on his own, periodically check the heating meters in the metrology and standardization bodies. Dismantling and subsequent installation cannot be done independently. To do this, you will again have to pay for the services of a specialized company.
The time for consideration of the application and preparation of the Technical Conditions by the Management Company for the installation of meters for heating in the apartment should take no more than 1 month.
Types of heat meters
Before installing a heating meter in an apartment, it is necessary to choose its model correctly. Currently, manufacturers offer several options for these heat meters. They differ in the principle of taking readings, accuracy and cost.
Given the general principle of the meter for heating, they all consist of three separate elements:
- Block of accounting for the flow of warm water;
- Two temperature sensors;
- An electronic unit for processing received information from the first two devices.
The difference between the models of heating meters for the battery lies in the principle of reading the meter of the volume of the coolant. The remaining components have slight discrepancies between the actual and calculated data on the temperature of hot and cooled water.
The size of the electronic unit does not affect the choice of a heat meter for heat supply in an apartment. It can be located far from the installation site of the meter for water flow.
Mechanical heat meters
These are the simplest and most affordable devices for completing district heating meters. They work on the principle of converting the translational motion of the coolant into the rotational motion of the flow metering unit.
Depending on the principle of operation, mechanical heat meters are divided into several types:
- With impeller;
- Turbine;
- Screw.
The main disadvantage of these devices is the high error with sharp changes in the speed of movement of water. It should also be borne in mind that the rotational element creates a path and a small hydraulic resistance. A great influence on the quality of work of an individual heat meter has the composition of the coolant. Mechanical models are not suitable for hard water. In this case, they must be replaced by contactless analogs.
The average cost of mechanical (tachometric) models ranges from 4 to 9.5 thousand rubles.
The easiest way to fool a mechanical heating meter. To do this, just install powerful neodymium magnets on it. But in addition to a possible fine, such an “upgrade” can lead to a quick failure of the device.
Vortex Heat Meters
The best option for a heating meter is to take current readings without directly affecting the flow of the coolant. Such devices include vortex models.
Its working principle is based on the analysis of vortex anomalies that arise due to an artificial obstacle. This design allows with high accuracy to obtain indications of the volume of water passing through the device. The following positive qualities of the vortex heat meter for heating radiators should also be noted:
- Optional presence of direct plots. This condition is necessary only for mechanical models of metering devices;
- The composition of the water will not affect the error, and also will not affect the state of the meter;
- The presence of metallic impurities will not affect accuracy.
However, the disadvantages of this metering device must also be taken into account. These include the effect of air congestion on error. Also, the high cost of vortex metering devices makes them unpopular for installation in a heating metering system in private houses and apartments. Most often they are used in the industrial and commercial sphere. Unlike mechanical models, the position of the vortex counter does not affect its operation.
Ultrasonic Heat Meters
The most unpopular view of heat meters. They work on the principle of changing the transit time of an audio signal through a liquid. This in turn depends on its speed.
The accuracy of the reading is affected by the design of the central unit. It can be of the following types:
- Temporary;
- Frequency;
- Doppler;
- Correlation.
An important nuance is the purity of the coolant. It should be free from foreign impurities in the form of scale, rust or a high metal content. Otherwise, the accuracy of the instrument reading will be significantly impaired. Therefore, ultrasonic models are more widely used in closed systems, where accounting for water flow is necessary for the organization of the production process.
Even installing a good filtration system will not give a full guarantee of the absence of external impurities in the coolants.Therefore, it is best to refrain from installing ultrasonic meters for a house or apartment.
Calibration procedure for the heat meter
Each heat meter must undergo regular calibration after 4-5 years. Without this, the Management Company may not accept the meter reading and will form a receipt at the general rate.
First of all, you need to decide on the timing of this event. All information can be obtained from the instructions for the device. Next, you need to find out the address of the nearest organization that is authorized to carry out this work. In order to not in vain call specialists or to dismantle the meter, it is recommended to provide the following information over the phone:
- Model and brand of the heat meter, its serial number;
- The time elapsed since the last verification;
- The principle of operation of the device.
The average cost of this event is from 3,500 to 6,000 rubles, depending on the brand of device.
In conclusion, I would like to warn the owners of heat meters from intentional distortions of the current performance of the device. If fraud is detected, the device will be dismantled, and the amount of the fine will be from 10,000 rubles or more. It should also be borne in mind that the Criminal Code will recalculate according to the general tariff from the moment of the last verification of evidence by their representative.
In the video material, you can familiarize yourself with the specifics of installing a heat meter in a heating system.
