Is it worth installing a gas meter in an apartment with a gas water heater? When answering this question, they take into account the economic feasibility and benefits, the current regulatory documents regulating the need to connect a meter.
How much gas does a geyser consume?
There will be no universal answer to this question. Average gas consumption per hour depends on several factors:- water heater power;
- operating features;
- frequency of use;
- serviceability of the flow boiler and gas meter.
If we talk about average figures, taking into account a standard dispenser with a power of 11 kW, then the minimum gas consumption for a family of 3-4 people will be as follows:
- Methane - during the month the costs will be 50-60 m³, provided that an automatic water heater is used. If a semi-automatic device is installed, costs increase on average by 0.6-0.8 m³ per day. Accordingly, expenses will increase by 18-24 m³ per month.
- Liquefied gas consumption- the passport of boilers (Bosh, Proterm) indicates that in 6-8 hours of continuous use they will completely burn all the fuel in a 50 liter cylinder. The cost of propane is higher than methane, which makes its use less profitable.
Consumption in liquefied gas dispensers increases by an average of 15-20% if the settings are incorrect or there are connection errors. On the other hand, installing a propane dispenser does not require obtaining permits or preparing project documentation.
Is it profitable to install a gas meter with a water dispenser?
First you need to decide whether such a connection is really necessary. Yes, you will need to do this. To connect new gas instantaneous water heaters you need a meter. This norm is described in the joint venture and the housing code. Whether it is necessary to install a gas meter in an apartment for a gas water heater and stove is decided based on the following technical conditions:- Only the stove is present- existing standards allow you to do without a metering device. Costs will be calculated based on the number of people living in the apartment. Gas tariffs are usually higher than when installing control equipment.
- Installing a gas meter in an apartment with a gas water heater and a gas stove- a counter is required. The maximum gas consumption, subject to normal operation and serviceability of the boiler, will not exceed 50-60 m³ for a family of 2-3 people. After making simple calculations, we can come to the following conclusion:
- According to the meter, you will only need to pay for actual gas consumption per month: for example, in the Moscow region, a m³ costs about 4.41 rubles.
- According to the tariff, 25 m³ is calculated for each person. The savings every month will be at least 15-25 m³.
Which gas meter for stove and water heater - one or two
Control equipment is available in household and industrial versions. There are several types of meters, differing in size and operating principle. The connection is made in accordance with current regulatory documents. The gas meter for the stove and column is selected according to several parameters:- throughput- the minimum coefficient is G2.5; if autonomous heating G4 is used;
- Dimensions - the compact counter for stove and column has dimensions of 195x212x155 mm;
- principle of operation - in domestic conditions, membrane-type equipment is mainly used.
It is possible to install two gas meters separately on a stove and a column only if such a connection is allowed in the design at the connection. You can find out about the possibility of installation before you start completing the documentation.
The finished project provides a detailed diagram of connecting the meter to the stove and gas water heater. Installation is carried out in strict accordance with current standards:
- the distance from the gas meter to the column is at least 800 mm;
- the gap between the stove and the heating boiler is increased to 1000 mm.
Counter name | Manufacturer | Gas flow direction | Distance between pipes (mm) | Weight (kg) | ᴓ fittings, inch | Min. gas consumption |
CJSC "Gazdevice", Russia (Russian - Italian production) | left and right | |||||
left and right | ||||||
UBSG-001 G10 | ||||||
can be installed in any position | 1 1/4"" or 1 1/2"" | |||||
Elster Instromet, GmbH, Germany | left and right | |||||
1 3/4" or 2" | ||||||
Vector G1.6, G1.6T | Petersburg Measuring Instruments Plant LLC (SPb ZIP LLC), Russia | left and right | ||||
Vector G2.5, G2.5T | ||||||
Vector G4, G4T | ||||||
Signal, Russia | 3/4 “M33 × 1.5 | |||||
1 “M33 × 1.5 | ||||||
Relero, Russia (Omsk) | ||||||
Betar, Russia (Chistopol) |
Utility costs make up a significant part of the family budget, so when thinking about saving, we involuntarily ask ourselves: how to reduce utility bills? Are gas meters profitable? Is it necessary to install gas meters in an apartment or private house? How much will all this cost and how much will you save in the end? You will find answers to these and other questions in our article.
Is it necessary to install a gas meter?
Initially, Federal Law No. 261-FZ of November 23, 2009 “On Energy Saving and Increasing Energy Efficiency...” obligated all citizens to install meters for the natural gas they use before January 1, 2015. However, later those who use blue fuel only for cooking were relieved of this obligation.
According to the amendments adopted in 2016, the requirements of the energy saving law do not apply to homes without gas heating equipment. It turns out that in apartments equipped only with a gas stove or a gas stove and a water heater, the owner is not required to install a meter. But this remains his right.
But in houses and apartments where gas is used for heating, the installation of a natural gas meter is still mandatory. The law obliges Russians to do this before January 1, 2019.
Are gas meters profitable?
Before deciding to install a household gas meter, a reasonable consumer will weigh the pros and cons, namely: find out how much the meter will cost and how quickly it will pay off.
Let us immediately note that you will have to pay not only for the meter itself, but also for its installation. To avoid troubles and even danger, installation can only be entrusted to professionals, that is, employees of a specialized organization that services gas networks and equipment.
Ryazangorgaz informs:
In an apartment equipped only with a gas stove, a small-sized meter is sufficient, designed for consumption up to 1.6 cubic meters per hour. Installation of such a device, along with its cost and the cost of the necessary materials, will cost 4,000 rubles (prices valid at the time of publication). This is provided that no additional work is needed to reinstall the gas pipeline in the apartment.
A more complex installation with welding work is more expensive and requires preliminary project development.
According to consumption standards, in the presence of a central hot water supply and heating for gas stoves, each person has 10 cubic meters of gas per month and the payment is 62.47 rubles per person. Thus, a family of 4 people without a meter pays 250 rubles a month for gas. Actual consumption, as statistics show, is usually significantly less than the 10 cubic meters allotted by the standard. It depends on how many people actually live in the apartment and how actively gas is used. If you have an electric kettle, microwave and multicooker, gas consumption is minimal. Definitely, the meter is beneficial in those houses where, for example, five people are registered, but only two live. Actual gas consumption will clearly cost less than the standard fee for five people. That is, everyone’s consumption is different, but average calculations show that installing a meter will be beneficial in any case.
This concerns the installation of a gas meter in an apartment, where, as we remember, it is no longer necessary.
But in houses heated with gas equipment, the installation of a meter is required by law! This must be done before January 1, 2019. And here it is no less important to understand the issues of saving.
In a private house or cottage, gas consumption is higher; therefore, a more powerful meter will be needed, designed for consumption of up to 4 cubic meters per hour.
If the device is installed outdoors, a meter with a thermal corrector is required. Many people consider installing a gas meter on the street to be a much more convenient option for many reasons: there is no risk of damaging wallpaper and furniture during welding, and you also don’t have to figure out how to fit the device into the interior. Some owners of private houses want to install a gas meter on the street, citing the desire to not allow strangers into the house to take readings.
According to the Ryazangorgaz company, the cost of installing a VK G-4 gas meter (with the cost of the meter) is 7,750 rubles, installing a VK G-4T meter with a thermal corrector outside the building (with the cost of the meter) is 9,500 rubles, installing a device purchased by the customer himself , will cost 5400 rubles. (prices valid at time of publication).
The amounts are considerable, but let's do the math.
The Ryazangorgaz company provided calculations made on the basis of data from specific personal accounts of Ryazan residents living in private houses. Experts took the actual amounts charged by the gas supplier in 2016 and compared them with the amounts that would have been charged according to the standards if these houses had no meters:
Thus, it turns out that a family of four, having installed a gas meter in a house with an area of just over 100 square meters. m., can save from 32 to 58 thousand rubles per year, depending on the installed gas equipment. The savings are impressive! It turns out that the meter will pay for itself in a few months, and then - continuous profit.
Pros and cons of installing a gas meter
The advantages include:
No payment for unused gas (payment is made only for the resource actually consumed)
The presence of a seasonal factor (heating is not used in summer). This is especially true during the holidays, when people do not live in their homes for about a month, and in some cases longer. In this case, marking zero in the amount to be paid column will be more than a pleasant surprise.
The cost of the device itself and installation can be quite high;
The need to carry out scheduled checks of the device’s serviceability.
According to the Ryazangorgaz company, there are about 6 thousand houses in Ryazan that are heated with natural gas and, contrary to the requirements of the law, are still not equipped with metering devices. These are mainly private residential developments in Kartsevo, Bozhatkovo, Kanishchevo, Mervino and other areas of the city.
Now Ryazangorgaz offers special conditions for installing gas meters for residents of these areas - the procedure has been significantly simplified.
So, what do you need to do to install a gas meter in your home and start saving?
1. Call the Ryazangorgaz division at your place of residence:
93-75-40, section of the Moskovsky district - st. Severnaya, no. 17;
93-73-80, section of the Zheleznodorozhny (and part of the Sovetsky) district - Semashko St., no. 18;
93-75-00, section of Oktyabrsky (and part of Sovetsky) district - st. Zubkova, 4b.
2. On the selected day, wait for a technician who will evaluate the technical conditions for installing the meter.
3. The final stage is the installation of the meter. The contract for the work will be concluded on the spot, payment will also be made at home using strict reporting forms. Ryazangorgaz employees immediately seal the device, they also transmit information about its installation to the gas supplier, on the basis of which the data is entered into the gas supply contract.
That is, you don’t need to go anywhere, just call, specialists will come with their meter and the necessary materials and will do everything.
What if you still don’t install it?
Most likely, it won’t work if you don’t bet. Article 13 of the Federal Law “On Energy Saving...” states that if the homeowner does not ensure the installation of meters for the natural gas used, he will be obliged to provide access to representatives of a specialized organization to the installation sites of the meters and pay the costs of their installation and operation. If the services for installing metering devices and their operation are not paid for by the owner of the apartment on a voluntary basis, the money will be recovered through the court.
The above is also confirmed by Article 158 of the Housing Code of the Russian Federation, which states that “the owner of a home is obliged to bear the costs of maintaining the premises he owns.” As you can see, the installation of meters in houses occurs at the expense of citizens, namely the legal owners of the apartment.
Thus, Russians received additional time to voluntarily decide to connect metering devices. Further, perhaps, legislators will introduce some kind of sanctions, and even more likely, coefficients to the standard will appear, which will increase until a meter appears, as is now happening with water supply.
The main thing that gas workers advise is that you cannot “install” the meter yourself or involve non-professional organizations for this. A mistake made can cost your life.
Today, utility bills “eat up” a significant part. Total installation of meters on everything possible will help solve this issue. But if everything is more or less clear with light and water, then with the installation of gas meters a lot of problems arise. Are gas meters required? Is it worth installing them? How much will all this cost and what savings will result? All of these issues are controversial and are worth discussing in more detail.
Who will be “put on the counter”
For some time now, the installation of the mentioned equipment has not become mandatory for all consumers. Whether you need to install gas meters depends on how exactly you use it. It is this criterion that determines the volumes of blue fuel consumption. If you use gas exclusively for cooking, and the only gas appliance in your apartment is a stove, then installing a meter or not depends only on your desire. But if, in addition to a gas stove, you have a heating boiler or water heater that runs on gas, you will have to install a meter, and it doesn’t matter whether you want it or not. Installing gas meters for such consumers (Law “On Energy Saving”, as amended on December 29, 2014) will not work; the only question is whether they will install them voluntarily or forcefully.
Standards
Residents of apartments where the gas is not installed pay for used gas according to the following standards:
- 12 m 3 per person for those households where only a stove is installed; in terms of money, this amounts to slightly less than 60 rubles per person. per month;
- 24.5 m 3 for owners of a gas boiler or water heater, which in money amounts to about 120 rubles per person.
Who should install gas meters? We do everything according to the rules
Those who have decided to install a gas meter should understand that this equipment is a high-risk device. That is why only a specialist who has received the appropriate certification can install a gas meter in an apartment. Under no circumstances should you trust this matter to neighbors or relatives, even if they have “golden hands.” You also need to pay attention to the fact that the invited master must be an employee of the exact company that supplies you with blue fuel. If this is not the case, then even a correctly installed device will not be subsequently registered for you. So in this case it is best to adhere to certain rules.
Setting up the counter: procedure step by step
Since we have already found out that the installation of gas meters must be carried out by a gas specialist, the first thing you need to do is contact the help desk of this organization. If you don’t know the phone number, look on the back of the payment receipt you receive monthly. The dispatcher will explain to you where exactly you need to go to submit your application, specify the address, office number and reception hours.
The next step will be a personal visit to the gas service - there you will need to write a statement. In addition, you will be asked for a passport, a document certifying ownership of the residential premises (or a lease agreement), as well as a receipt for payment for gas use for the past month (or several months), and they will check the presence/absence of debts. After this, the specialist will set a day when you should expect the arrival of the master, who will take the necessary measurements.
Before the gas service employee arrives, think about where the meter will be located; several parameters must be taken into account:
- height from the floor cannot be less than 120 cm;
- the distance from the meter to appliances (gas) cannot be less than 80 cm.
Taking this data into account, you can independently determine the location of the meter and express your wishes to the master. Sometimes the meter can be placed in a hanging cabinet or behind a decorative shelf. If, after taking measurements and calculations, the master says that additional pipes will be required and the cost of the work will increase, agree. The overall costs will increase slightly, but a device that is not very aesthetically pleasing will not be an eyesore for many years.
After discussing all the details, we again go to the gas industry. Now you need to pay the cost of the project and installation work, and also discuss the installation date of the meter with the master.
Pros and cons of installing the device
Before deciding whether to install gas meters, you should also try to weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of this process. Perhaps this will help you make the right decision.
- payment only for actually used blue fuel;
- seasonal factor - as a rule, in the summer it is much less, especially for those who use it for heating, so “summer” utility costs will become scanty;
- it doesn’t matter how many people are registered in your apartment and how many of them actually live - you will only pay for what is “accumulating” on the meter.
- if there are 2 people registered in the room, but there are 8 people living in it, then you should think about the rationality of installing the device;
- if you install a meter, then turning on the gas in winter in order to additionally warm the room will become an expensive pleasure;
- the cost of the device itself can be quite high.
Selecting a gas meter
Having answered positively to the question of whether it is necessary to install gas meters, the consumer is often faced with another difficult task: how to choose the right meter?
- First of all, the meter must have a quality certificate, and its sale can only be carried out by those companies that have a special permit. Do not hesitate to ask the seller about the availability of such documents and study them carefully.
- All meters are divided into membrane and rotary. The latter are a little cheaper, but it is still better to give preference to the former - they are more reliable, do not leak gas and keep more accurate records.
- When choosing a meter, pay attention to the direction of the gas flow - from right to left or vice versa - this depends on the location of the gas pipe in your house.
- You need to choose a meter based on what gas appliances you have in your home: if you only have a stove, one appliance will suit you, but for the water heater and boiler you need another.
- Since it is very important to choose a good and high-quality device, before purchasing it is best to consult with several specialists and choose the most suitable option.
How much does it cost
So, the choice is made. We buy a gas meter. Its price can range from 1,500 to 15,000 rubles. It all depends on the quality, country of origin, model and calibration interval. The device is also important - the larger it is, the more expensive the device.
The cost of installing a gas meter can vary significantly depending on the region of residence. On average, the following indicators can be given:
- 2800 rub. — installation of a meter in an apartment without changing the pipeline layout and using welding;
- 4500 rub. - the same, but using welding and changing the existing gas connection;
- 6000 rub. — installation of the device in households/apartments equipped with water heaters and gas boilers, with a change in the junction and the use of welding;
In addition, you may additionally need some components - taps, gaskets, fittings, etc. - and this will cost another 100-2000 rubles. And, of course, you should separately “thank” the installer, otherwise after finishing the work you risk getting cracked tiles and walls charred from welding - the amount of “thank you” is usually 300-500 rubles. Having made some simple calculations, we can say that installing a meter can cost from 3 to 10 thousand rubles. Pleasure, frankly speaking, is not cheap, but let’s also estimate how quickly the gas meter, the price of which, by the way, is not the biggest expense, will pay for itself.
Economic expediency
For example, consider two options:
1. Apartments with only a gas stove.
As already mentioned, installing meters at No. 261) is not necessary in this case, but maybe it’s really beneficial? We count.
The average family of 3 people lives in an apartment with centralized hot water supply, heating and no gas meter. The consumption rate in this case is 10 m 3 /person. At a tariff of 4.50 per m 3, the family will pay 135 rubles per month. If you install a meter, it turns out that residents on average consume no more than 5-6 cubic meters of gas per month, which means they will have to pay about half as much, that is, about 70 rubles, and this is in the most extreme case, but in practice it usually works out far less. However, if you calculate all the costs of purchasing and installing a meter, you can see that it will pay off in eight to ten years. But there is one more nuance: if 3 people live in your apartment, and, for example, seven are registered, then the savings can be very significant.
2. Apartment equipped with a stove and water heater.
To make the comparison more accurate, let's take the same family of three. The rate of gas use in such a situation is 24.5 m 3 / person. With the same conditional cost of a cubic meter of blue fuel, we have:
24.5 x 4.50 x 3 = 330.75 rubles.
Based on practice, we can say that in fact in such houses the meter “runs up” significantly more than the standard, especially in winter. So many consumers who installed meters were unhappy with this situation: with the installation of a meter, they have to pay more - about 400-450 rubles. But there is also a peculiarity here: the fact is that the water heater and boiler are used only a few months a year, and in the summer the payment for gas using a meter becomes meager. Thus, the total amount for the year will still be much less than the standard amount.
Conclusion
In general, whether it is necessary to install gas meters is up to everyone to decide for themselves. To date, there are no penalties for their absence, but who knows what will happen in a year. There is a real possibility that after 2019, consumers who have not installed meters will be forced to do so, and then the cost of installing a meter could increase many times over.
Changes to Federal Law No. 261 “On Energy Saving and Increasing Energy Efficiency...” have already entered into force. According to the rules, up to individual gas consumption metering devices. Otherwise, specialists will install the device forcibly.
There is very little left until the designated date, but there is no need to panic. We tell you how to survive the changes in the law as painlessly as possible.
Who is not affected by the changes?
The provisions of the law do not apply “to dilapidated, emergency facilities and facilities subject to demolition or major repairs before January 1, 2013” (wording from the law). In addition, owners of apartments in which the maximum volume of natural gas consumption is less than two cubic meters per hour will not have to install meters.
It's easy to find out if you fit this definition.
If only a stove runs on gas in your house, you do not need to install any meters either before January 1, 2019, or after.
But if the apartment has heating appliances - a gas water heater or a heating boiler running on natural gas - you cannot do without installing a meter.
By the way, these rules should not be news to consumers - they were adopted several years ago, consumers were given a deadline for installation - until the end of 2014. But then many were unable to fulfill the requirements.
Moreover, not only the apartment owners, but also the gas workers themselves did not have time to adapt to the new conditions. Manufacturers were unable to provide the country with such a number of metering devices. Due to all these difficulties, the deadline was postponed until January 1, 2019. Now there is no way out of installing meters.
Counters under duress
If the owner does not want to install gas consumption meters voluntarily, the gas distribution organization has the right to install it forcibly. No owner consent is required for this.
They can force a meter to be installed now if the owner protests against its installation.
In any case, all installation costs will be recovered from the consumer in one way or another.
To be fair, it is worth noting that so far there are no fines for failure to install meters before January 1, 2019.
Didn't let the gas man in - get a fine
You won't be able to hide from the gas service. According to the law, the owner who has not fulfilled the obligation to install a gas meter must provide access to gas service employees to the installation site of the device. If the owner refuses to let the gas workers in, the specialists have the right to file a lawsuit to compel them to provide access.
In addition, the owner is obliged to provide access for maintenance of in-house gas equipment, during which the absence of a meter may be noticed. And for refusing to let gas workers in for maintenance, consumers face administrative liability and a fine of 1,000 to 2,000 rubles.
Price issue
Installing a gas meter in an apartment is not a cheap pleasure. As of July 23, 2018, according to JSC Gazprom Gazoraspredeleniye Tula, this service (without gas pipeline reinstallation, cost of materials and equipment) costs 4,123 rubles.
We looked at prices for gas meters in online stores. The price of household appliances suitable for an apartment starts at about 2,000 rubles. Most models cost about 3,500 rubles.
That is, if we want to buy a meter in the middle price segment, we will pay for installation, add the cost of the necessary materials, and we will get a sum of about 8,000 rubles.
An impressive price tag, especially if you compare it with the current living wage in the Tula region - 9,498 rubles.
Realizing that not all consumers are ready to pay the entire amount at once, gas workers made concessions. In the Tula region, as in a number of other regions, the gas distribution organization provides installments for the service. But consumers who take advantage of the offer will have to overpay: installments are provided at interest that does not exceed the refinancing rate of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation. Now, for example, it is 7.75% per annum. The maximum installment period is five years, it can be reduced at the request of the buyer.
Experts assure: after installing meters, gas payments are significantly reduced, and the devices pay for themselves in several years. This is especially true for those who have more people registered in their apartment than actually live there.
How to install a counter
To install a gas meter, you must submit an application to the customer service department of Tulagorgaz JSC, contact the Single Window service at the branches of Gazprom Gas Distribution Tula JSC, or fill out the appropriate application in electronic form on the websites of these services.
When applying in person, you must have a passport and a title document for the property.
Beware of scammers!
Only specialized organizations that have the appropriate permit to carry out the work have the right to install gas consumption meters.
Remembering the disastrous experience of installing electricity meters when scammers became active in the city, we warn readers:
- Do not trust strangers and always check documents with gas service employees;
- Do not hesitate to call the organization whose employee introduces himself as the specialist who came to the apartment.
Remember: It is prohibited to connect gas meters without permission! Gas is dangerous, so under no circumstances should you trust installation or dismantling of any gas equipment to non-professionals.
Thank you for your help in preparing the material from Gazprom Gas Distribution Tula JSC.