Overview of modern electric heating radiators: affordable heat for every home

Types of bimetallic radiators

There are two main types - sectional and monolithic. Below we will tell you more about them and help you figure out which one is best for you.

Sectional radiators

They are assembled from several sections. Often performed in the form of a "layer cake" of heating plates. This discovery allows to significantly increase the area of ​​heat exchange with the environment. But there is a big drawback: any coolant destroys the joints of the components. The result is a relatively short service life.

Sectional heaters consist of several parts

Monolithic radiators

They also have a large heat exchange area, so they are in no way inferior to sectional heaters. Gives out one section of about 100-200 watts. Monolithic radiators are manufactured according to a fundamentally new technology: the body is cast as a whole, and then processed by pressure. A layer of aluminum is applied over the steel frame under pressure.

Monolithic heaters are one piece

The advantage of monolithic radiators is obvious. Service life is higher twice and is not 25 years, like sectional ones, but 50. But at the same time, they cost about a fifth more. Their disadvantage is that they do not make it possible to add additional sections and thereby adjust the power.

If you think about the question of which heating battery is better for apartments in high-rise buildings, then the answer is unequivocal - monolithic. The point is a large pressure drop due to altitude.

How to calculate the number of sections

The calculation of the number of sections of aluminum heating radiators is based on the required heat output to heat an area of ​​1 sq. m. Here the standard 1000 is adopted W per 10 kV. m. A margin of 10-15% is also taken into account. That is, to heat a room of 20 square meters. m requires radiators with a total heat output of 2200-2300 watts. The following correction factors are also used in the calculation:

A simple table for calculating the number of sections, depending on the power of the section and the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe heated room.

• three-chamber double-glazed windows - a coefficient of 0.85 is applied;
• standard window frames - a multiplying factor of 1.27 is applied;
• lack of proper thermal insulation - a coefficient of 1.27 is taken;
• there is good thermal insulation - we apply a coefficient of 0.8;
• there are two outer walls in the room - we take a coefficient of 1.2;
• there is an unheated attic above the room - the coefficient does not apply;
• the ratio of the window area to the floor area is 50% - we take a coefficient of 1.2;
• the ratio of the window area to the floor area is 10% - we take a reducing factor of 0.8.

By reducing the area of ​​windows, installing triple-glazed windows, equipping the walls with good thermal insulation and applying thermal insulation of the attic, we can significantly reduce heat loss and reduce heating costs. If you neglected normal windows and thermal insulation, be prepared for the fact that half of the heat will go away in the form of losses (and extra money).

For a more thorough calculation, call the experts or use specialized services and calculators. The comfort in the rooms and your heating costs will depend on the quality of the calculations.

Where could I buy? Price

Be careful when buying! wall oil type heatersthere aren't many for sale. Some models of convectors are mistakenly placed in the oil section. For example, an inexpensive cast-iron convector Erisson RCI CR-5909D and the like.

Electric wall-mounted oil-type radiators are much more expensive than their floor-standing counterparts. However, when wall-mounted, space is saved, the device does not get in the way, and the low temperature system on the case makes the heater safer. If the cost of the unit plays a key role, then it is better to opt for inexpensive wall-mounted convectors, the choice of which is simply huge!

Additional features of the electric heater

Additional features of the electric heater

In modern radiators, there is an automatic control of the heating level of the device, depending on the temperature indicators of the air in the room. A specially installed temperature sensor takes the necessary measurements. There are the following types of sensor:

- built into the housing of the control unit

- remote

When a radiator is installed permanently (as the main source of space heating), it is advisable to use remote temperature sensor. Allows you to get more accurate and reliable temperature measurement information. This is ensured by the fact that the sensor is installed at some distance from the heater. After all, close proximity can give inaccurate data, since the air is warmer there. It is not advisable to place the temperature sensor in a draft or in direct sunlight, otherwise the information may also be incorrect. This also applies to installing the appliance on a window sill or on the floor.

When purchasing an electric heater, you should pay attention to the operating modes of the device. This will make it possible to choose the best heater option for individual conditions.

New generation radiators provide the following operating modes:

- main mode. It involves heating the heater to a certain temperature, after which automatic shutdown follows. If the air in the room cools down, the heater turns on automatically.

- economy mode. It is adjusted to a temperature slightly lower than the main mode. If the room is empty for a certain period of time, the heater will turn on.Between these modes (main and economy) it is possible to adjust the difference.

- programmable mode. The advantage is that the program can be set to any time and the transition is completely automatic.

Another important point to note is the observance of electrical safety measures:

- it is important to use grounding

- do not overload the wiring (plug one device into one outlet)

- observe the mode of air humidity (no more than 80 percent)

– protect the electrical part from moisture

Currently, there is a fairly wide range of electric radiators to choose from. Moreover, the article told you in detail about the design of electric radiators, their advantages, as well as the required number of sections of the device, depending on your specific conditions, and thereby greatly simplified the choice of one or another device.

Manufacturers

Here, the advantage of domestic companies is clear: the products adapt to Russian realities. These products have a margin of safety, are not sensitive to low-quality coolant and are cheaper than foreign ones. There are four popular manufacturers:

• Rifar;
• "Thermal";
• Royal Thermo;
• Oasis.

Worthy of praise are goods from neighboring Belarus, the brands "Lideya" and "MZOO".

The leading brand among European companies is the Italian brand Global. There are other manufacturers from Italy who supply quality products: SIRA, Fondital.

Finnish Purmo, German Kermi and Buderus have positive reviews. Smart Chinese products performed well.

Table. Comparison of working pressure and applications of different radiators

Steel panel	Steel tubular	Aluminum	Bimetallic	Cast iron
Working pressure, Atm.	6 — 10	8 — 15	6 — 25	20 — 30	6 — 9
For a private house
For an apartment
Price	Low	Very high for decorative models	Medium	high	On the MC model - low, on decorative models - high

So we examined all the common heating radiators, which ones are better to decide in a private house yourself, using this article as a hint, and not a guide to action. As you can see, any radiators for private heating houses require certain operating conditions, and they must be chosen taking into account the general technical condition and capabilities of the heating system itself, as a whole. Much depends on the budget, when choosing any type of battery, you can find a middle ground in terms of technical characteristics and price range.

In my opinion, in this case, it is most expedient to consider 2 types of radiators - steel panel radiators or aluminum ones. But still, if we compare them with each other, then probably steel ones are still more practical, more reliable, more efficient and cheaper.

Cast iron batteries

The main advantages of this type of radiators are low cost and durability. Cast iron batteries are not subject to corrosion and can last up to 50 years. In addition, they are undemanding to the quality of the coolant and easily withstand quite a serious pressure in the system - up to 12 atmospheres.

The advantages of cast-iron models, therefore, have a lot, and therefore, in some cases, they can be an excellent answer to the question of which radiators to choose for heating a private house. However, despite the large number of advantages, such batteries are installed quite rarely in residential suburban buildings.The thing is that Soviet radiators of this variety look too old-fashioned. It is almost impossible to fit them harmoniously into a modern interior. In addition, these batteries are very heavy and can be used mainly only in buildings with very strong walls. For example, for a house built of foam concrete, they are absolutely not suitable.

Cast iron radiators they are suitable for a private house, but, having decided to choose just such models, it is worth bearing in mind that they do not differ in particularly high efficiency. Such batteries warm up rather slowly, and their heat transfer is not particularly large.

The economic side of things

As for saving energy, won't it be expensive in terms of electricity consumption? Since electric heating radiators are the most modern heating devices, it must be said that manufacturers have taken care of the economic side of the issue.

Production material

Electric radiators are made of aluminium. And this is a metal with the highest thermal conductivity - 230 W / m K. For comparison, the thermal conductivity of expanded polystyrene is 0.035 W / m K. That is, it turns out that the temperature of the coolant is immediately transferred to the air in the room through the aluminum sections. The losses are insignificant: the coolant temperature is +80 °C, the temperature of the outer plane of the radiator is 78-80 °C.

Automation

The device itself is equipped with automation, with which you can set the temperature inside the room. That is, electric batteries heat up to a certain value, then turn off until the temperature in the room drops to the set temperature.

According to the reviews of many consumers, we can conclude that if you correctly set the temperature regime of the device, then 60% of the time it works in normal mode, and 40% in the off state. That's a huge energy savings for you.

Reducing the cost of products

Manufacturers began to realize that the use of expensive materials in the production of electric radiators repels many consumers. After all, the price of such a heater is not the lowest. For example, some models and brands are no longer made of aircraft-grade aluminum, which can withstand high pressure (up to 80 bar). It just doesn't make any sense. After all, the pressure inside the device is minimal.

Some manufacturers make electric radiators according to the type of bimetallic construction. This again increases the cost of the product. If they use mineral oil, then bimetal is not needed here at all.

How to choose

Which heating battery to choose for an apartment depends on the “weak” places of central heating. The following criteria have been developed for this:

• High heat dissipation. The room must be heated quickly and efficiently.
• Resistance to chemically aggressive substances and abrasives that are present in the coolant. For the manufacture of the device, either an inert material is used, or an internal protective coating is applied.
• The operating pressure of the device must exceed the pressure of the heating circuit. It happens different. In high-rise buildings, 12-16 atm is supplied. Whereas for houses with five floors and below, the norm will be 5-8 atm.
• Ability to resist water hammer. Well, if the battery has some margin of safety.
• Long service life.

Features of heating in a private house

Not only the comfort of living in it in the winter period, but also the amount of material costs associated with heating and maintaining the house depends on how efficiently and competently the calculation is made, the selection and installation of heating devices is made. Therefore, first you need to choose the type of heating system that will be installed in it. She may be:

In the first case, space heating is carried out by means of furnace heaters or special electrical devices. including infrared heaters.

Stove heating is the cheapest and easiest way to heat, however, it has many disadvantages, such as:

• Long warm-up period.
• Low heat transfer coefficient compared to other energy sources.
• A high percentage of heat loss (most of the heat with such heating goes into the chimney).

Electric and infrared devices are a more advanced way of heating private houses, but their biggest drawback is the high cost and inaccessibility to a larger number of consumers, as well as the high costs associated with their operation.

A more popular and common option for heating a private house are water-type heating systems. in which space heating is carried out by heating water moving through radiators and pipes.

Their advantages in a private house compared to a centralized system include:

• Low pressure in the network;
• No likelihood of water hammer;
• Limited and adjustable coolant temperature;
• Ability to control the acid-base balance of the coolant.

In addition, they differ in ease of use, efficiency and cost-effectiveness.

How to make an electric battery yourself

If you are on fire with the idea of ​​\u200b\u200borganizing the simplest and most inexpensive heating to install, make an electric battery with your own hands from an old cast-iron radiator. What you need to buy:

• TEN with a power of 0.3-0.8 kW with a water thermostat;
• 2 end caps with gaskets;
• futorka with Maevsky's crane;
• room thermostat;
• wires with a cross section of 2.5 mm².

The assembly of the electric battery is simple: install the heating element in the lower hole of the extreme section, lubricating the gasket with high-temperature sealant. Screw the futorka into the opposite upper hole, slightly open the Mayevsky tap. Close the remaining side holes with plugs, fill the battery with water.

Connect a water thermostat setting the maximum temperature to 80°C to avoid boiling. Put a room thermostat and connect it with wires to the heating element. See the next video for details on the manufacture of an electric battery:

How to choose a heating battery?

At the design stage, you need to think about which heating radiator and wiring diagram to choose.

It is necessary to take into account the power of heating radiators, which depends on the following factors:

• number of external walls,
• number of windows
• the degree of insulation of the house,
• premises area.

You also need to consider the material from which the radiator is made. In view of the foregoing, the heat transfer of heating radiators is calculated. The easiest way to calculate the indicator: 1.8 m2 needs one section.

Based on the amount of heat loss, an additional section is added to the resulting figure.

What are the best heating radiators

Model overview

Heating batteries are the most important link in any heating system, both autonomous and centralized. Each species has its own characteristics. Models differ in material, efficiency, design, price.

The technical characteristics of radiators and their performance indicators affect the cost of products. Today, the following models are presented on the market for heating devices:

• ,
• ,
• ,
• .

Cast iron radiators today are rather a tribute to the past and, it would seem, have gone forever. The decisive argument in favor of cast iron options is maintainability and the possibility of changing the number of sections.

Connection

Due to the connection scheme, heat transfer may deteriorate, losses sometimes reach up to 25%. Connection is possible in several ways.

1. Lateral - the extreme sections will be colder than the central ones. The more segments are installed, the worse the extreme ones are heated.
2. Diagonal. If the water supply is carried out from below and goes into the upper pipe, then the radiator does not warm up completely. The correct method would be in which the liquid is supplied from above and goes down, such a scheme is recommended for long samples (more than 15 segments).
3. Lower - the distribution of heat occurs evenly. In addition, this variety has the most aesthetic appearance, since the feed elements are almost invisible.

You can fix the situation with unheated areas without running additional pipes around the battery by installing plugs in place of the radiator plug in front of the last section at the top or bottom (depending on which connection is used). Then we get a diagonal scheme with effective heat transfer.

To learn more about different connection methods and compare them, as well as how to increase the efficiency of the radiator, watch the video.

1 Global Vox 500

Despite its southern origin (Global production is located in Italy), the Vox series radiators are perfect for heating systems in the harsh climatic conditions of Russia. They have one of the highest heat transfer rates (up to 195 W), which in practice translates into significant savings on the number of sections during assembly. In addition, Global's aluminum products are famous for their low inertia, which allows you to quickly heat a room or optimize temperature parameters.

The Italian manufacturer is aware of the peculiarities of Russian heating systems and has taken care of the reliability of its radiators. They are made by injection molding from high quality aluminum alloys EN AB 46100. The structure is reinforced with solid ribs on the sides, a 2-step painting technology is used. The devices are so solid that their installation can be carried out in heating systems with operating pressure within 16 atmospheres (the norm according to SNIPs is no more than 12 atm. at the level of the 10th floor and above) with an allowable short-term jump twice as much. Destruction occurs only at 48 atm., So that the inhabitants of the house with such radiators are protected from breakthroughs for at least 10 years - this is the official guarantee of the company. No complaints about the appearance equipment – ​​thanks to a good selection color schemes, it fits perfectly into the interior and even serves as its decoration.

Which company bimetal radiators are better

Let's start with Italian manufacturers. First of all, this is the company Sira, whose specialists invented bimetallic radiators. You can also mention the brands Global Style and Radena. All these products have a price per section from 700 to 1500 rubles.Elegant and high-quality finish, interesting design, compactness and lightness - this is what radiators from Italy are. Modern technologies allow them to work for at least 20 years. Specifications:

• Sectional thermal power - from 120 to 185 watts;
• hot water temperature limit - 110 degrees;
• working pressure - up to 35 bar.

Let's not forget about domestic producers. One of the most famous is Rifar. This company from the Orenburg region produces thermal appliances with a price of 500 to 900 rubles per section. Specifications:

• Sectional thermal power - from 100 to 200 watts;
• hot water temperature limit - 135 degrees;
• working pressure - up to 20 bar.

Note the patented radiator RIFAR MONOLIT, which is often called one of the best domestic devices. He is being tested at 150 bar. Specifications:

• Sectional thermal power - from 134 to 196 watts;
• hot water temperature limit - 135 degrees;
• operating pressure - up to 100 bar.

Other countries

Here we can note the radiators of the South Korean company MARS. Their core is not steel, but copper. Price - from 400 rubles per section. Declared characteristics:

• Hot water temperature limit - 130 degrees;
• operating pressure - up to 20 bar;
• section heat transfer - 167 watts.

The Polish company "REGULUS-system" also produces bimetallic radiators with a copper core. The manufacturer guarantees 25 years of work. Specifications:

• Working pressure - 15 bar;
• hot water temperature limit - 110 degrees.

Well, a few words should be said about Chinese manufacturers.Their radiators are significantly cheaper than well-known brands, as they do not shine with careful finishing and beautiful design. In principle, with a very modest budget, you can take the "Chinese", given that he can withstand less pressure.

1 STI Nova 500

Certainly one of the best cast iron radiators for mounting in an apartment (and one of the most inexpensive) is the domestic model STI Nova 500. With small overall dimensions, this heater provides heat transfer at the level of 1200 W, which is enough for high-quality heating of 20 square meters of a room. The radiator also performs very well when pressure is applied, which (in some cases) can be increased to 18 bar without any damage to the integrity of the structure. The temperature of the coolant in the pipes can reach up to 150 degrees Celsius, leveling all possible manifestations of jumps in the main parameters, especially when working in an individual heating system.

According to consumers, another important advantage of STI Nova is the appearance parameter. The manufacturers managed to create a pretty nice design that can fit into any interior. In addition, these radiators are very unpretentious in maintenance and easy to install, even despite the rather large weight.

Attention! The above information is not a buying guide. For any advice, you should contact the experts!

How to determine the number of radiators for an apartment

To calculate the amount heating radiator sections You need to know two basic quantities:

• heat loss of the room (depending on the region, building materials used and the size of windows and doors);
• power of one section of the radiator (indicated in the technical characteristics of the product).

The easiest way is to calculate the number of battery sections according to the area of ​​​​the room. To do this, multiply the height, width and length of the room. The resulting value is the area. To determine the amount of heat for space heating, you need to multiply the result by the regional norm. For central Russia, this is 80 W, for the north - 150, for the south - 60.

But this will be only an approximate calculation, without taking into account the material of the walls. The resulting heat demand should be divided by heat transfer of one section batteries. As a result, you will get the required number of sections. For the calculation, a heat transfer table of heating radiators with average indicators is useful:

You can go an even simpler way. Just take into account that one cast-iron section heats 1.5 square meters, aluminum - 2, bimetallic - 1.8. If you have a room, say, 15 squares, then conclude: you need 10 sections of a cast-iron appliance, 8 - aluminum and bimetallic.

But this, we recall, is just an approximate calculation.

2 Global STYLE PLUS 500

One of the brightest representatives of the Global company, which got into the rating due to balanced performance parameters and a good combination of them with the asking price. The first thing that catches your eye when studying the documentation for STYLE PLUS is a solid warranty period of 25 years. All this clearly indicates the high reliability of the radiator and the manufacturer's confidence in its product.

In a standard assembly (consisting of 10-12 sections), this heater is capable of delivering up to 2280 W of heat to the environment, which, according to the company's experimental calculations, is suitable for fairly spacious rooms ranging from 30 to 37 square meters. The maximum allowable operating temperature of the coolant in the system can reach 110 degrees Celsius, and the pressure - no more than 35 bar, and therefore prefabricated radiators are recommended to be used only in central heating systems.

Conclusions regarding the choice of a radiator for an apartment

In conclusion, we can conclude which heating radiator is better to choose for an apartment. As practice shows, aluminum and steel models are not able to withstand the tests that accompany operation in the conditions of domestic heating systems. Such batteries are not able to withstand pressure and temperature changes. There are only cast-iron and bimetallic devices to choose from.

What to buy - you can decide by evaluating the budget, as well as the characteristics of the models. However, there are a few tips you can use. If you still do not know which heating radiator is best for an apartment, then you should evaluate how old the house you live in is. If we are talking about "Khrushchev", then it is best to use cast iron products. For residents of high-rise buildings, where the pressure is higher, it is recommended to purchase bimetallic radiators. If earlier cast iron batteries were installed in the apartment, then the choice can be stopped on any of the two options. However, those who are going to replace a battery made of another metal should purchase bimetallic models.