Apartment meters for heating allow you to strictly monitor the actual consumption of thermal energy, therefore, when paying for consumed heat, significant savings are achieved. When installing an individual measuring device, the owners of the apartment have an interest in the economical use of thermal resources, as well as in carrying out measures to warm their homes. The benefit is so obvious that many people are thinking about how to put a heating meter in their apartment. Naturally, citizens are also concerned about the price of the issue, as well as the payback period for funds invested in the installation of a heat meter.
Selection criteria and is it worth putting it at all?
The essence of the meter is to account for thermal energy by measuring the temperature difference and the volume of coolant flow. There are two main ways to make flow measurements: tachometric and ultrasonic. For each of them, manufacturers produce different types of household meters that can keep records of thermal energy. Ultrasonic models are more reliable in operation, more accurate and more durable. Tachometric instruments are inferior in these indicators, and therefore cheaper.
So how much does a heating meter cost? The price of the measuring device itself, including the control valve, filter and shutoff valves, averages about 9,000 rubles. However, to this amount it is necessary to add the costs for the installation of measuring equipment, which must be carried out by a company that has all the necessary permits for the implementation of this type of service. Therefore, the costs increase to 18-20 thousand rubles.
Important! Please note that heating meters in an apartment must have passports and certificates, like any other measuring device. After completion of installation work, the meter must be sealed. It is necessary to carry out periodic calibration of the device. Usually this operation is carried out after four years.
Technical limitations
Unfortunately, almost all old houses have a vertical heating pipe distribution system. This means that several risers pass through the apartment and putting a separate meter on each of them, of course, is not profitable. For such a heating system, manufacturers of metering devices offer to install distributors that measure the coolant flow based on the difference in air temperatures in the room and on the surface of the radiator. The price of one such distributor fluctuates within a thousand rubles. Installation costs can be 2-6 thousand rubles, depending on the configuration.
Installation of an apartment heat meter
In apartment buildings built in recent years, it is planned to install a horizontal heating pipe distribution system during construction. Therefore, in such apartments one heat meter is installed. Compact models of heat meters are usually mounted on a straight pipe, through which the coolant is supplied to the apartment. In some cases, installation on the return pipeline is also possible.
Registering your instrument
If heat meters for heating are installed by a specialized organization that professionally deals with the design, installation and subsequent maintenance of heat meters, then its specialists:
- make a project;
- will coordinate it with the organization responsible for heat supply;
- register the installed metering unit;
- handed over to the supervisory authority.
What to do with testimonials?
Readings of the heat meter are taken in the same way as from the electric meter. Next, fill out a receipt in which they indicate the difference in readings and multiply it by the current tariff. They pay at the branches of Sberbank, indicating the heat supply organization as the recipient of funds.
Who verifies the heat meter?
A new apartment heating meter should be sold with an initial verification performed at the factory. Confirmation of the primary verification is a stamp, a special sticker, a corresponding record indicated both on the device itself and in the documentation accompanying the heat meter.
The next calibration of the device is carried out after the expiration of the established calibration interval. Why should the owner of the apartment apply:
- to the local branch of Rostest;
- to a commercial organization that has these powers;
- to the service center of the manufacturer.
Important! Many companies offering the installation of metering devices carry out further maintenance. At the same time, the specialists of the companies undertake to carry out the next verification.
Criteria for choosing a company to install a meter
When choosing a company to install a heat meter, pay attention to the following points:
- free departure of an engineer to the facility, during which an inspection of communications is carried out and a complete set of a metering unit is offered;
- implementation of the entire list of installation works, availability of special equipment and qualified specialists in the company;
- availability of permits (certificates, certificates, SRO permits);
- availability of information about the company in the Unified State Register of Legal Entities;
- providing a guarantee for the work carried out;
- granting benefits to certain categories of citizens;
- installment payment and its term;
- the possibility of providing service.
It is possible and necessary to tame the growth of tariffs for housing and communal services. And not by complaints to higher authorities, but by real deeds, which include the installation of individual metering devices. If all citizens start paying according to the readings of their meters, then public utilities will have to put things in order in their households, since there will be no one to blame for losses. Controlling costs and defending their interests will force housing and communal services workers to reckon with each consumer, delivering a quality service.
Payment for heating by the meter allows each citizen to save the family budget by directing the released funds to other purposes. Even the installation of a common house meter makes it possible to achieve savings, provided that the apartment building is managed by an honest company that competently directs cash flows for the benefit of all residents.
Loading...