Heat meter is a device used to measure the flow of thermal energy units. They can be used to monitor the distribution or use of hot water and are particularly useful in district heating systems where payments for DHW used by individual properties on the system may need to be determined.

The main use of heat meters is to track and control thermal energy consumption in heating and cooling systems. They can be used in direct or IoT-based cost accounting, ensuring that the energy costs of your system are accurately calculated.

A heat metering system is normally supplied from its manufacturer as a fully matched set of components, including the flow meter, precision temperature sensors and a heat calculator unit. This is to ensure that the meter will always be accurate. The sensor elements are often supplied with a specific length of cable attached to both the sensor element and the meter body to account for electrical resistance of the cables.

There are two main types of heat meters; the in-line type and the insertion type. The insertion type is usually more convenient, but has the disadvantage that its precise tolerance is double that of in-line.

There are several applications for heat meters, but the most common is to monitor the flow of hot water in residential buildings or to measure DHW usage in district heating systems where payment for the DHW used by individual properties on the heating network may need to be determined. The market for heat meters is expected to grow in the future.