Heating Cost Meters

Heating costs are increasing year by year. Therefore, it is in the interest of every property owner to focus on reducing heat consumption. In fact, monitoring the energy expended on heating is even mandated by law in some cases. Heating cost meters serve this purpose well, significantly simplifying the entire process of data collection and subsequent consumption billing.

What are Heating Cost Meters?

Heating cost meters are intelligent electronic devices used to measure the amount of thermal energy used by individual units in residential buildings. They are installed directly on heating bodies or on the return pipe from the body. Since 2015, their installation has been mandatory according to Act No. 318/2012 Coll. § 7 paragraph 4.

How to Choose the Right Heating Cost Meter?

To begin with, it should be noted that there are several types of technical solutions available for measuring heat, based on different principles of measuring the monitored quantities. For industrial and more demanding applications, we recommend a meter that collects data based on ultrasonic impulses.

For residential buildings, an electronic meter is sufficient, where the water flow is directed tangentially onto a paddle wheel. The speed of the paddle wheel's rotation is electronically detected without using a magnetic field. When choosing, it also depends on the pipe dimension and the flow rate.

Both electronic and ultrasonic meters are further divided according to the reading method into meters with visual reading and meters with radio reading.

Meters with Visual Reading

For meters with visual reading, the value of consumed energy is displayed directly on the device's screen. Another advantage is the low price and long battery life. On the other hand, one of the main drawbacks is the need to access the meter for reading.

The Siemens UH 50 is an ultrasonic meter that, without suitable accessories, serves as a meter with visual reading. For the possibility of radio reading, it is necessary to purchase an M-Bus module, Radio module, or Analog module.

Meters with Radio Reading and One-Way Communication 868 Mhz Wireless M-Bus

These meters contain a radio transmission module, and their status can be read remotely without the need to enter the apartment. In one-way communication, the meter continuously transmits data wirelessly during the set reading period.

From our range of meters with one-way communication, we recommend the ENBRA Sharky 774, which is used for measuring the amount of heat in closed heating and cooling systems. It is equipped with a communication interface Wireless M-Bus / OMS or wired M-Bus communication. The complete set includes a heat meter, a pair of couplings, a pair of seals, and a ball valve with a well.

Meters with Radio Reading and Two-Way Communication 433 Mhz SuperCom

Meters with two-way communication contain both a transmitter and a receiver. Thus, they only transmit data upon request.

From the Perspective of the Radio Reading System, We Distinguish Three Types:

1. Walk-By (Reading by Walk) – is primarily used for reading meters in buildings. The worker performing the reading carries a reading device consisting of a modem (receiver) and a terminal (portable PC, tablet, or mobile phone). They walk through common areas in the building or outside the building and perform the reading without having to enter individual apartments.
2. Drive-By – Reading from a stationary or slowly moving vehicle. It is primarily used for reading meters installed at the base of buildings or in shafts.
3. AMR – reading through radio nodes usually installed in buildings. Nodes read data from meters and indicators, usually via Wireless M-Bus. Nodes are connected to a superior system (server), where the data is collected and made available for further processing. This system typically includes a portal solution that allows individual users and administrators to view data via the internet (based on assigned rights).

Heat meters from Siemens and ENBRA differ in the necessity of purchasing accessories. ENBRA meters are supplied with couplings, seals, and a well. For Siemens meters, these accessories need to be purchased separately.

You can find the range of accessories for Siemens meters here.

Cooling Meters

Siemens and ENBRA meters can also be used for measuring cooling. Cooling meters are devices similar to heat meters, operating on the same principle, just with a different temperature range. They are installed with air conditioning units for the allocation of consumed cooling.

The requirement for a cooling meter or a combined heat/cooling meter must be specified for the order so that the manufacturer can set the parameters from production.

Calibration and Verification of Heat/Cooling Meters

Every measuring device, on the basis of which water and energy consumption is billed, must be verified (calibrated) by the Czech Metrology Institute or one of the authorized metrology centers.

The deadline for replacing the seal is extended to 5 years from 1.7.2024. If the meter is not metrologically verified, or if its verification cycle has expired, the consumer may dispute the measured water or energy deliveries.

All meters we offer have this verification valid, and we can provide calibration verification for them.