Tubular heating radiators - features of choice

Main varieties

According to the type of arrangement of the tubes, horizontal and vertical steel radiators are distinguished. Horizontal devices are mainly equipped with spacious offices and halls. Scope of vertical tubular batteries - private homes, hospitals and schools. The design features of vertical models contribute to a visual increase in the height of the premises.In addition, they almost do not accumulate dust.

The shape of this type of heaters can be angular, flat, radius and designer. In corner models, two sections are used, which are located at a certain angle to each other. In this case, the possibility of adjusting the angle, depending on the features of the interior, is allowed. Flat models are characterized by a single-row arrangement of tubes: this form of the device is the most popular among buyers. The radial configuration suggests the presence of an arc. Designer models are made with special originality. One option is to bend vertical tubes to create a wave-like effect.

When should a tubular radiator be chosen?

Tubular radiators are installed in medical institutions because they have good hygienic properties. They do not accumulate dust, they are less traumatic due to the smooth bending of the pipes and the absence of sharp corners, and are also more wear-resistant than conventional radiators.

fit perfectly into any interior

The originality of design solutions in the performance of tubular radiators knows no bounds. An ordinary radiator can become a real work of art and a source of pride for the owner of the house. Convector tubular radiators have double walls, which greatly enhances heat transfer. In a large hall where the whole family gathers on cold winter evenings, such a radiator will become an indispensable household appliance and a beautiful piece of furniture.

How to choose radiators for an apartment

Now, knowing the weaknesses of central heating, you can already imagine what requirements good batteries must meet. Let's list them.

one.For radiators, the pressure declared by the manufacturer must exceed the pressure (both working and one and a half times the test pressure) in the heating system. Let's take the numbers as an example. In five-story houses of the old layout, this parameter is not more than 5 - 8 atmospheres. Multi-storey buildings of a modern type are heated under pressure up to 12 - 15 atmospheres.

2. Separately, we note the ability to resist water hammer. Because, living in an apartment, it is difficult to protect yourself from pressure surges in heating, it is better to prevent trouble in advance. By the way - if you often hear buzzing and clicking in the batteries, contact the utility. Pressure, you see, is “playing around” in the system.

3

The quality of water in the domestic heating system is unimportant, so the batteries must withstand its “chemical attack” with honor without collapsing. It is necessary to use radiators with a special coating on the inside or a chemically neutral material for the walls. And their thickness must be such that particles of sand and small pebbles do not rub it, acting like emery

And their thickness must be such that particles of sand and small pebbles do not rub it, acting like sandpaper.

4. When deciding which radiators are best for an apartment, let's not forget about their main function - to heat. That is, it is preferable to choose devices that have more heat transfer.

5

Let's not ignore the design of radiators - few people will be satisfied with the ugly cast-iron monsters of a miserable shape, which were everywhere in Soviet times. I would like the batteries to harmoniously complement the decoration of the rooms - today this is quite real. 6

The last parameter is the duration of the service. There are no comments needed here.The less often you have to mess with the installation of these bulky and rather expensive devices, the more profitable it is for the owners.

6. The last parameter is the duration of the service. There are no comments needed here. The less often you have to mess with the installation of these bulky and rather expensive devices, the more profitable it is for the owners.

Selection criteria depending on the type of heating system

The difference between autonomous and centralized heating is great. Therefore, the heating elements must also be different. Let's start with the standalone schema differences.

• Low network pressure. The length of the network is small, therefore, significant pressure is not required for the movement of fluid through the pipes. The possibility of water hammer is excluded. The components of the circuit receive a small load, therefore, for a private house, equipment with low protection against pressure drops, including devices with thin walls, is chosen.
• Small heat losses. The distance from the boiler to the batteries is small, the liquid does not even have time to cool down a little. This is good, since strong heating is not required, which means that resources are saved. But in an emergency, it is quite likely that overheated coolant will be thrown into the system. Therefore, thermal stability is important for it.
• Possibility of freezing. If the temperature in the rooms drops below zero, the liquid freezes, expands and bursts pipes and heating elements. This is quite rare, but still possible. To prevent it, alcohol-containing additives are added to the water or completely replaced with antifreeze, similar compounds. This is allowed only for closed systems, otherwise toxic fumes will appear in the air.

Brief description of steel tubular heating radiators: Zehnder and other manufacturers at an affordable price

Today the market offers the following types of steel heaters: panel steel radiators: designs of 1, 2, 3 plates, as well as tubular radiators, sectional or non-sectional designs. Batteries, consisting of 1 - 6 elements in one row, are combined in the upper and lower parts with collectors.

Panel products with an autonomous home heating system heat up quickly, but also cool down quickly. Tubular steel radiators are more economical: the heating of the registers is slow, the heat transfer is uniform, they keep the heat for a long period of time due to design features. Heating of the room occurs from each tube with a coolant circulating inside. At the same time, there are two types of heating of the environment: convection air (30%) and radiant radiant heat (70%).

Steel radiators can be painted in any color

Manufacturers offer the following types of heating radiators, which differ in size, design, operating parameters, and external design.

• Product height - 20 cm - 3 m.
• The number of tubular elements is 1, 2, 3 or more.
• The depth of the battery row is up to 22.5 cm (1-6 tubes).
• Sectional traditional step 4.5 cm for the home, and 6.5 cm for public spaces (kindergartens, schools).
• Wall thickness 1.2 - 1.5 mm,
• The cross-sectional diameter of the round tube is 2.5 cm.
• Heat dissipation of radiators: 1200 - 1900 W, low inertia.
• The value of the working pressure of European products is 6 - 15 atm. (Russian - allow 22.5 atm.).
• Acceptable temperature fluctuation of the hot coolant is 40 - 120 degrees C.
• Color solution - up to 500 iridescent shades.
• Variety of tube shapes: semi-circular, oval, triangular, round, rectangular configurations.

Vertical heating radiators have the following connection methods: bottom and side options. A radiator with a bottom connection is connected to hidden communication lines, a side connection method is for external joints with a pipeline line. The mount can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted, for which the structures are welded legs, or figured radius and corner to decorate the design and evenly distribute heat.

Types of heating radiators and their comparative characteristics

The size of the heating device is a significant characteristic that is paid attention to when choosing, as it determines the power and space occupied in the room.

Standard

In addition to the size, heating radiators also differ in the material of manufacture.

Photo 1. Bimetallic radiators of standard size. Such devices are usually installed in apartments.

Cast iron

Heating systems common in Soviet times, which remain in communal apartments in the 21st century, are cast-iron batteries. Characteristics of standard cast iron products:

• average height - 50-60 cm;
• length of one section - 7-8 cm;
• power limit - 0.15-0.17 kW;
• working pressure - 9-10 atmospheres.

Aluminum plate

The material of such heaters quickly transfers heat from the liquid into the room.

In addition, these devices are much lighter than cast iron heating systems, and the flat plates of the body look much more modern. But their dimensions are similar, the differences are revealed in the technical characteristics:

• average height - 60-70 cm;
• long one component - 7-8 cm;
• thermal ceiling - 0.17-0.19 kW;
• working pressure - 16 atmospheres.

Bimetallic

These radiators outwardly do not differ from aluminum ones, since the body is made of the same material, but steel tubes are placed inside them, which protect the structure from water hammer, high pressure and improve thermal conductivity.

Characteristics of standard models:

• the height of the section and, accordingly, the whole product - 40-50 cm;
• component length - 8 cm;
• maximum power - 0.19-0.21 kW;
• withstand pressure during operation - 20-35 atmospheres.

Photo 2. Design of a bimetallic heating radiator. The arrows indicate the component parts of the device.

Low

Low radiators are the most compact among all types of radiator appliances.

Cast iron

Since such products were produced according to strict standards, their sizes do not differ in variety. Neat cast-iron radiators of small sizes are made to order by figured casting. Dimensions and values:

• section height - 40-50 cm;
• component length - 5-6 cm;
• thermal ceiling - 0.09-0.11 kW;
• working pressure - 9 atmospheres.

Photo 3. Low radiator made of cast iron. The device is white in color with a fairly modern design.

Aluminum

Small aluminum radiators are much more common, as production is not so long ago and technology continues to improve. The small size determines the scope of their use: such devices are installed in kindergartens, utility rooms, heated garages, attics and verandas. Characteristics:

• height - 50 cm;
• section length - 6-7 cm;
• temperature maximum - 0.11-0.13 kW;
• operating pressure - up to 16 atm.

Bimetallic

The scope of application of bimetallic heaters of small sizes is limited to the same category of room types that are presented for aluminum devices.

The list is supplemented only by office premises at a considerable height - due to the high pressure in the pipes of skyscrapers and business centers. Characteristics:

• product height - 30-40 cm;
• the length of one section is 6-7 cm;
• power ceiling - 0.12-0.14 kW;
• withstand pressure during operation - up to 28-32 atmospheres.

Cast iron

Here, the dimensions of cast iron products are not much different from other categories: all factory models are standard in size, as they were produced according to GOSTs.

High cast-iron radiators are purchased in specialized foundries (not so cheap). Characteristics of devices of this type:

• height of the body of the heating system - 80-90 cm;
• length of one section - 7-8 cm;
• temperature ceiling - 0.18-0.21 kW;
• the maximum pressure is about 9-12 atmospheres.

Aluminum

Here the choice is much wider: for cramped rooms where long radiators do not fit, it is better to purchase narrow but high aluminum models. They, as a rule, have only 4 components, but this is fully compensated by their length. Characteristics:

• The height of the product is up to two meters.
• The length of the section is about 10-12 cm.
• Maximum power - 0.40-0.45 kW.
• Pressure ~ 6 atmospheres.

Attention! It is strictly forbidden to use this type of radiators in central heating systems - the battery simply cannot withstand such pressure

Bimetallic

The steel core of bimetallic batteries does not allow them to be very high, since the circulation of water through it will be difficult.

However, even half the size, compared with a fully aluminum counterpart, is enough to heat a spacious room. And the value of the maximum pressure level is simply amazing:

• The height of the heating system is ~ 80-90 cm.
• The length of the component is 7-8 cm.
• Thermal ceiling - 0.18-0.22 kW.
• Working pressure - from 20 to 100 atmospheres.

What are the features of tubular radiators?

Tubular radiators have their own varieties. The most popular on the Russian market are steel options, due to the excellent technical properties of this metal. They tend to have a simple yet stylish design, making them suitable for both residential and office use.

Steel tubular batteries are a non-separable structure consisting of vertical steel tubes. The tubes are connected by lower and upper collectors, which creates an efficient coolant circulation system. In this case, the level of heat transfer depends on the size of the radiator and on the number of tubes in a row and the thickness of their cross section. Parameters of steel radiators:

• height from 30 cm to 3 m
• depth up to 22.5 cm
• number of tubes - from 1 to 6 tubes in a row

Russian manufacturers of tubular radiators make the wall thickness of the tubes 2 mm and the diameter of the pipes is 25 mm, while imported counterparts have a wall thickness of 1.5 mm and various pipe diameters. Russian radiators can withstand a maximum pressure of up to 22.5 atmospheres, and foreign-made designs can withstand a maximum of 15 atmospheres.

Features of tubular heating radiators

Tubular radiators in the interior

Why steel tubular radiators have become so popular? The reason for this is their design.In the manufacture, the same technologies are used as in the production of automotive equipment. It was this idea that Robert Zendre took advantage of, who introduced the first tubular heating radiator back in 1930.

A feature of these heaters is the inability to disassemble them. The classic design consists of an upper and lower branch pipes connected by tubes. This makes it possible to fill the battery with coolant as much as possible, which affects the heat transfer in a positive direction. In addition, we can distinguish such positive performance indicators of a steel tubular heating radiator:

• Water hammer resistance. The welded structure is able to withstand a short-term load up to 6 atm;
• Smooth inner surface reduces hydraulic resistance during heating operation;
• Opportunity to purchase batteries of traditional form, as well as designer models;
• The absence of right angles not only makes cleaning easier, but also reduces the risk of injury.

Why are tubular heating batteries not as common as sectional ones? The main factor is the relatively high cost. This is due to more labor-intensive production and the use of high-alloy steel grades. Therefore, there are practically no reviews about the rusting of tubular radiators. The only exceptions are home-made "handicraft" products.

Cons and pros of steel heating radiators

First about the merits

• They have good heat dissipation, which occurs not only by heating the air, but also in the case of panel-type radiators by convection.
• Since these radiators are not difficult by design, there is nothing special to break in them. Due to this, their service life is quite long.
• These radiators are lightweight, so they are easy to mount. Moreover, there are always several mounting options - after all, models with a variety of connections are produced.
• Radiators made of steel are cheaper than similar models made of aluminum.
• The appearance of steel radiators is very attractive, so they can even become an interior decoration.

Now for the disadvantages

• The biggest drawback is the inability to resist corrosion. As soon as the water stops flowing through the steel battery, it immediately begins to rust. Therefore, these radiators are absolutely not suitable for district heating systems, where, as a rule, water is drained for maintenance and repair during the summer period.
• Having studied the characteristics of steel heating radiators, we see that they cannot withstand water hammer. After all, they have welded parts, the seams of which also cannot withstand increased pressing pressure. After that, the radiator may lose its shape, or even burst at the seams. Therefore, steel radiators can only be used in autonomous heating systems and point.
• Unfortunately, sometimes the paint on a steel radiator of not very high quality does not hold well. Therefore, after several heating seasons, peeling of the coating occurs.

Operation and maintenance

Steel radiators are produced in the form of finished panels. If the calculation of the heating battery power is incorrect, you will have to add a new one.

With an aluminum radiator, everything is simpler - if you wish, you can add one or more sections, or remove unnecessary ones. You can do it yourself.

The service life of aluminum radiators significantly depends on the manufacturer and model range. The cheapest ones will start to leak after 5 years, or will crack with a slight water hammer (see photo). And expensive models can last 20 years or more.

An aluminum radiator burst due to water hammer.

With steel radiators it is more difficult. By definition, they cannot be particularly strong - thick metal will worsen their thermal conductivity. Therefore, they are afraid of high pressure, they wear out quickly when it drops.

But if the system has a stable working pressure and there are no water hammers and surges, then a steel panel radiator can last up to 15 years. In addition, in case of problems, it can be “patched up”. This is much easier to do than aluminum.

As for special care, neither steel nor aluminum require it. Unless you need to wipe them from dust, which is easier to do with a steel radiator.

Connection and installation

Even the best type of radiator can be useless if installed incorrectly. The floor unit is placed on metal legs. Corner design usually means mounting on the wall, sometimes with a large number of turns. Such batteries are made only on an individual order, which increases their cost relative to analogues. The wall-mounted tubular heating unit is in demand more than others, however, its height is limited for technical reasons.

Attention should be paid to the choice of reliable fastening products, which should be especially strong when installed on the floor. When the battery is connected, the need to crimp it cannot be ignored. Only this procedure helps to be 100% sure that any risks of leaks are excluded.

Tubular radiators are widely used in kitchens, corridors, guest rooms and bathrooms.

Only this procedure helps to be 100% sure that any risks of leaks are excluded. Tubular radiators are widely used in kitchens, corridors, guest rooms and bathrooms.

Radiator connection diagram.

Taking into account the variety of options for laying risers and room shapes, as well as the presence of upper and lower coolant supply through risers, bimetallic radiator connection schemes are a separate story that is voluminous in content.

It is only important to note that due to the narrow channels of the vertical collectors of bimetallic radiators, they are sensitive to the direction of the coolant supply and, as indicated in the instructions of any manufacturer, it is important to connect the radiators in such a way that the cooled coolant always leaves the lower collector. With top feed, a standard side connection scheme is obtained.

But with a lower supply and side connection, the cooled coolant will exit the upper collector, while the vector of the gravitational pressure of the cooling coolant will be directed downward and prevent forced circulation from the side of the pumps, which leads to incomplete heating of the radiator, as a rule, only the first 2 sections work.

Therefore, with a lower supply, a bimetallic radiator should be connected either according to the bottom-bottom scheme.

Or according to a universal scheme, which does not depend on the direction of the coolant supply in the riser.

A feature of the universal scheme is the need to install a larger diameter pipe opposite the upper radiator outlet, in which, due to the principle of Bernoulli's law, increased pressure is created causing the coolant to flow into the upper radiator manifold.

You can read in detail about all the wiring diagrams for bimetallic radiators in my article “How to install a bimetallic radiator correctly” on my website, where I give examples of more than 50 different options from my practice.

Artist choice.

As it becomes clear from this article, a heating radiator installer must have a serious amount of knowledge, skills and tools for the quality provision of this service, taking into account all the above nuances. I also want to note that, taking into account the specifics of Internet marketing in the market for services for replacing heating radiators in apartments, unfortunately, there are a large number of unscrupulous performers, which I did a detailed review in my article comparing several proposals of those present at the request "replacing radiators" in the top 10 Yandex, the article "It's expensive for you!" on my site in the Master's Blog. Be careful.

Moderator of the Heating section, forum City of Masters, Sergey @k@ Olegovich, techcomfort.rf.

pipeline material.

The pipes with which new radiators are connected must be of the same material from which the heating risers are made according to the design of the house.This rule, understandable for any professional builder, is very often violated by finishing teams performing turnkey apartment renovations and offering their customers, in addition to finishing work, to replace radiators, connecting them most often with the most accessible material for a non-professional installer - polypropylene. How it looks is clearly shown in the photo of our alteration of a similar installation.

Few people know, which is not surprising in the modern Russian repair services market, the installation of high-temperature heating systems with polypropylene pipes in apartment buildings is prohibited according to GOST R 52134-2003. Of course, there is no direct prohibition, but according to Table 26 in this GOST, heating pipes must withstand a temperature of 100g.C in emergency mode for 100 hours at a pressure of 10 bar. The marking of any polypropylene pipe indicates the maximum operating temperature - 95 gr.С. So do not trust the words of the ZhEKovsky plumber as the ultimate truth, allegedly "we do not have such temperatures and never will." You should understand what the words of the employee will mean, not backed by contractual obligations, in comparison with your own safety. These words will mean absolutely nothing, in the event of an accident with serious consequences, you will not be able to hold anyone accountable. And is it worth the risk?

Therefore, in case of vertical wiring with steel risers made of black VGP pipes, the radiator must be connected with steel pipes, and with horizontal beam wiring, with pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene.

Manufacturers

Among the most popular manufacturers of heating radiators are the following:

Konner. Country of origin - Russia. Under this brand, high-quality cast-iron batteries are produced, which are not inferior in quality to European counterparts, but adapted for operation in domestic conditions. Among the advantages of the products stands out resistance to water hammer and high-quality anti-corrosion protection of internal surfaces. The collections include many products of different shapes and design solutions, there is a special line of batteries in retro style.

In addition to cast iron, the manufacturer also produces bimetallic and aluminum batteries of various modifications.

• GuRaTec - German cast iron batteries, which due to their perfect appearance are often called a real work of art. High performance is achieved through the use of the latest engineering developments and impeccable workmanship. The devices are produced in a retro style, have many modifications, the maximum height is 970 mm.
• Roca is one of the most famous Italian manufacturers of plumbing and heating systems. The company has no subsidiaries outside of Spain, which guarantees the original quality of products and their compliance with European quality and safety standards.

• Buderus is a company that has a solid history (founded in 1731), so its products are of the highest quality. For a long time, the manufacturer produced cast-iron heaters, but today the range also includes 2 types of steel radiators. A feature of the product is the complete set of batteries with systems for quick installation.
• Kermi is another German manufacturer that has received positive feedback from a domestic buyer. The range is represented by steel radiators. In addition to high quality, they are distinguished by a wide variety of shapes and designs. These can be vertical panel radiators of any size, design radiators and even entire wall radiators.

Products are manufactured exclusively in Germany, which guarantees strict quality control of radiators.

Korado is a Czech manufacturer, one of the world leaders in the production of heating appliances. Vertical radiators can be found in the RADIK VERTIKAL range. These are steel products, standard white. However, at the request of the client, they can be painted in one of the shades of the catalog, which has 21 colors.

Style Retro - Russian-made cast-iron batteries that imitate old (19th-early 20th century) heating appliances. In addition to functionality, they also have an aesthetic appearance and often become a decorative element of the interior. Patterns on the surface are made by the method of artistic casting in accordance with the chosen style of radiators.

Admiration is caused by painted batteries, which can be made using the Gzhel technique, have a gold pattern on red or black. The company is also engaged in the manufacture and painting of batteries to order. Products have high performance characteristics, while they are characterized by a lower cost than Western counterparts.

A few buying tips

Buying Tips

In order not to be disappointed in your choice, we suggest paying attention to several features of choosing and purchasing such radiators:

• If you choose tubular, it is better if the steel from which it is made is of high quality. Then the strength will be higher, and the service life will please.
• The number of sections should correspond to the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. Usually the rule is: 1,000 watts for every 10 square meters. If the room is angular, then add a few more sections to the resulting number of sections. High ceilings are also a reason to increase the design power.

The most popular manufacturers

The brand of the manufacturer plays a significant role in the choice of radiators. In this area, as in any other, there are leaders. It is impossible not to mention them:

1. Zehnder - universal forms, excellent solutions for color shades, heat transfer at the level, maximum temperature - 120 degrees Celsius, standard pressure - 13 atmospheres. The most popular series are Charleston (equipped with a thermostat) and Completto. Price - from 500 to 1900 rubles for 1 section.
2. Its peculiarity is that water of any hardness can be added to it, and it will withstand everything. The Decor model is the most popular, and inside it there are several modifications:

• D - they like to replace the old cast-iron options. Such a radiator will cost 5100 rubles.
• V is a great package. In its design there is a level responsible for power. The price is even higher - 14,000 rubles.
• S - ideal for those rooms where side mounting is indispensable. Will cost the future owner 4900 rubles.

1. Their main area of ​​application is bathrooms. The following series are distinguished:

• Comfort - high power of generated heat, good design (5500 rubles);
• Classic - according to price and quality, ideal for apartments and houses (5000 rubles);
• Standard - if your bathroom is small, then this model will be what you need (2000 rubles);

Vertical and horizontal models

Depending on the location of the tubes and dimensions, tubular radiators are divided into vertical and horizontal models.

Photo 2. Tubular horizontal type radiator. It has a fairly modern design, goes well with the interior.

Vertical models are characterized by a height of 1-3 m with a small width. In the prevailing majority of units, the tubes are also located vertically. They are more often used in conditions of lack of space - on flights of stairs, next to balcony doors, as well as in rooms with stained glass windows.

Horizontal counterparts are characterized by a small height with an increased width compared to vertical models. Depending on the design of a particular model, the tubes are arranged horizontally or vertically. Horizontal models are cheaper compared to vertical counterparts, and are also easier to connect to the heating system in a lateral way.