How to choose and install a thermostat on a heating battery

Device and purpose

If a water temperature regulator is installed in the heating system, it adjusts to the created need, the rate of passage of the coolant to the radiator. By mounting such a device together with a heat meter, you can save and reduce wasteful energy consumption. Depending on the needs and capabilities of the residents, it is worth buying models with manual temperature programming for the day and night, or with pre-planned microclimate parameters for specific days. These functions can be combined with each other.Then it will be possible both to exclude unnecessary warming up during warm hours, and to quickly prepare for the approaching frosts or thaws.

Differences are expressed largely in the way in which the thermal sensor is implemented, what is its basic principle of operation. Some models measure the air temperature in the rooms, while others are guided by the heating of water in the line. This does not affect the measurement accuracy and adjustment to the real need. The main thing is that all the nuances and subtleties are taken into account. Too precise equipment in most cases is not needed, since it only burdens the personal budget.

Each room can be equipped with its own thermostat, even the use of devices of different brands and models is allowed. The signal to the control relay can come from a sensor that measures the temperature of the coolant in the radiators. But such a scheme is considered obsolete and does not meet the latest technical requirements. The thermostat is fundamentally incompatible with cast iron batteries. Only if more modern radiators are installed in the room, it is allowed to use it.

You need to understand that thermostats are not some kind of "magic" tool; with their help, it is impossible to extract more energy from the heating system than it can supply. But they are quite capable of reducing heat consumption or increasing it to the maximum as needed. A typical design includes more than just a valve and a block that receives signals from the control panel. The thermal valve and thermal head are very important elements. The selection of parts is made according to the size of the pipeline and the type of heating system.

In addition to the components already mentioned, the thermostat may include:

• collapsible connection;
• spool;
• compensating block;
• slip nut;
• fixing ring;
• scale to set the temperature.

Why do you need a thermostat?

The temperature regulator, installed on radiators, allows you to control the amount of heat entering a particular room by increasing or decreasing the flow of the liquid coolant. With it, you can not only set a comfortable temperature in each room, but also save money if the apartment is equipped with a heat meter.

The position of owners of autonomous heating systems is more advantageous. They can regulate the heat supply to the apartment at the exit from the boiler. But without the use of thermostats, it will not be possible to ensure a comfortable temperature regime in all rooms.

Production material

The valve body is made of corrosion-resistant metal, nickel-plated or chrome-plated on top.

Valves are made from the following materials:

• bronze plated with nickel or chromium;
• brass with a nickel layer;
• from stainless steel.

Stainless steel valves are the best. They are chemically neutral, not subject to corrosion, do not react with other metals. Their price is higher than that of nickel-plated or chrome-plated. Stainless steel valves are not often on sale, so most often in houses or apartments you can see bronze or brass products.

Valves made of bronze or brass do not differ in terms of service life. It all depends on how well the alloy is made. As for the products of well-known manufacturers, the question of quality does not arise. To trust or not to unknown manufacturers is a moot point

However, when buying, you need to pay attention to the fact that the flux vector is depicted on the case. Without this arrow, the product is not of high quality.

Rules for installing a control valve

As mentioned above, the greatest efficiency is achieved when the thermocock is installed horizontally on the radiator.

The thermal head is installed according to special rules, according to which adjustment is necessary only for powerful radiators. Therefore, you should not equip every battery in the living area with this device. The greatest efficiency can be achieved if the thermostat is installed on the most powerful heating element in the room.

It is not recommended to install a faucet with a thermal head for a radiator on cast iron radiators, this will not give the desired effect. The reason for this is the inertia of cast iron batteries, resulting in a large adjustment delay. Therefore, the installation of a thermal head in this case makes no sense.

The best option is to install a valve on the supply pipe when connecting the battery to the system. Otherwise, it is necessary to insert the device into the finished system. For this purpose, the individual elements of the heating circuit are dismantled and the pipes are cut, after closing the tap. It is quite problematic to make a tie-in into metal pipes, so you need to study the instructions, how to install a thermostat to the heating radiator.

After completing the installation of the thermostat, it is necessary to fix the thermal head. This process is not particularly difficult and is as follows:

• On the body of both elements there are corresponding marks that must be combined.
• To fix the thermal head, you need to lightly press the device.
• A deaf click will tell you about the correct position and installation.

Anti-vandal thermostats are more difficult to install. In this case, to solve the problem of how to install the thermal head on the radiator, you need a 2 mm hex key.

The work proceeds in the following order:

• With the help of dowels, a plate is attached to the wall.
• The body of the device is fixed on the plate.
• By means of clamps on the wall fix the capillary tube.
• Install a valve with a thermal head for radiators, aligning the marks, and press it to the main body.
• Tighten the fixing bolt with a hex wrench.

With the help of thermostats, you can not only regulate the temperature, limiting pins on the back wall. Devices allow you to set the smallest and largest value. At the same time, beyond the established limits, the wheel will no longer turn

Choosing the best option for a thermostatic head for a radiator is not particularly difficult. The main condition is that the option must correspond to the heating system, regardless of whether it is at the design stage or already presented in assembled form. In addition, the features of the installation of each type of thermostat should be taken into account. According to masters with many years of experience, programmable devices allow you to get the maximum benefit and savings.

Do I need a thermostat in the heating system

Thermostat in the heating system

The use of temperature control is caused by the need to provide comfortable conditions in the premises according to individual requests.Temperature control directly affects fuel consumption in autonomous heating. In the absence of regulation and monitoring, the room will be hot, and there will be a need for constant ventilation. High temperatures increase humidity and cause fungal diseases.

There are several levels of temperature control:

1. Boiler control (in autonomous heating version);
2. Control on the distribution manifold or individual branches of the heating system;
3. Adjustment on heating devices.

The first type is of a qualitative nature - a general temperature level for all consumers is set on the heat source. This process is carried out manually on the boiler panel or by installing a weather-compensated automation system to control the operation of the boiler in automatic mode, depending on environmental conditions. The inconvenience of this method lies in the general temperature regime for all rooms. Even the normative documentation speaks of the difference in the values ​​of the temperature background for premises for various purposes.

Control on distribution manifolds, heating branches is a quantitative regulation - in this case, a change in the value of the mass flow rate of the coolant occurs. Branch adjustment is also of a general nature. The regulation on the collector is effective in the case of the layout of the heating system according to the collector-beam scheme.

The last step of control is adjustment on heating devices. It is the most efficient and accurate. On each device, you can set an individual mode for each room.

These methods are based on manual adjustment by the operation of the equipment and can be time consuming and general in nature.In these cases, the control mechanisms are boiler control units, manual shut-off and control valves (control valves, ball valves, special connection units for radiators and convectors).

Installing a thermostat on the battery allows you to automate the control of the temperature regime of the device. The use of thermostats is possible on factory-made heating devices and distribution manifolds.

What is needed for installation

Installation of heating radiators of any type requires devices and consumables. The set of necessary materials is almost the same, but for cast-iron batteries, for example, the plugs are large, and the Mayevsky tap is not installed, but, somewhere at the highest point of the system, an automatic air vent is installed. But the installation of aluminum and bimetallic heating radiators is absolutely the same.

Steel panel ones also have some differences, but only in terms of hanging - brackets are included with them, and on the back panel there are special metal-cast shackles with which the heater clings to the hooks of the brackets.

Here for these bows they wind up hooks

Mayevsky crane or automatic air vent

This is a small device for venting air that can accumulate in the radiator. It is placed on a free upper outlet (collector). Must be on every heater when installing aluminum and bimetallic radiators. The size of this device is much smaller than the diameter of the manifold, so another adapter is required, but Mayevsky taps usually come with adapters, you just need to know the diameter of the manifold (connecting dimensions).

Mayevsky crane and method of its installation

In addition to the Mayevsky tap, there are also automatic air vents. They can also be placed on radiators, but they are slightly larger and for some reason are only available in a brass or nickel-plated case. Not in white enamel. In general, the picture is unattractive and, although they deflate automatically, they are rarely installed.

This is what a compact automatic air vent looks like (there are bulkier models)

Stub

There are four outlets for the radiator with lateral connection. Two of them are occupied by the supply and return pipelines, on the third they put a Mayevsky crane. The fourth entrance is closed with a plug. It, like most modern batteries, is most often painted with white enamel and does not spoil the appearance at all.

Where to put the plug and the Mayevsky tap with different connection methods

Shut-off valves

You will need two more ball valves or shut-off valves with the ability to adjust. They are placed on each battery at the input and output. If these are ordinary ball valves, they are needed so that, if necessary, you can turn off the radiator and remove it (emergency repair, replacement during the heating season). In this case, even if something happened to the radiator, you will cut it off, and the rest of the system will work. The advantage of this solution is the low price of ball valves, the minus is the impossibility of adjusting heat transfer.

Taps for heating radiator

Almost the same tasks, but with the ability to change the intensity of the coolant flow, are performed by shut-off control valves. They are more expensive, but they also allow you to adjust the heat transfer (make it smaller), and they look better outwardly, they are available in straight and angular versions, so the strapping itself is more accurate.

If desired, you can put a thermostat on the coolant supply after the ball valve. This is a relatively small device that allows you to change the heat output of the heater. If the radiator does not heat well, they cannot be installed - it will be even worse, since they can only reduce the flow. There are different temperature controllers for batteries - automatic electronic, but more often they use the simplest one - mechanical.

Related materials and tools

You will also need hooks or brackets to hang on the walls. Their number depends on the size of the batteries:

• if the sections are not more than 8 or the length of the radiator is not more than 1.2 m, two attachment points from above and one from below are sufficient;
• for every next 50 cm or 5-6 sections, add one fastener from above and below.

Takde need a fum tape or linen winding, plumbing paste to seal the joints. You will also need a drill with drills, a level (a level is better, but a regular bubble one is also suitable), a certain number of dowels. You will also need equipment for connecting pipes and fittings, but it depends on the type of pipes. That's all.

Pipe layouts

Single-pipe and two-pipe wiring is typical for private houses. What is their difference?

Single pipe wiring

It is the most economical option. The schema should look like this:

• A pipe is drawn along the bottom of the floor from the heating boiler, passing through the entire room and returning back to the boiler.
• Radiators are installed on top of the pipe, and the connection is made through the lower branch pipes. At the same time, hot water enters the heater from the pipe, which completely fills it.The part of the coolant that has given up heat begins to sink down and exits through the second branch pipe, again entering the pipe.

As a result, there is a phased connection of radiators with a lower battery connection.

In this case, it is worth paying attention to one negative point that affects the efficiency of heat transfer. As a result of such a serial connection of single-pipe wiring, a gradual decrease in the temperature of the coolant in each subsequent heating element occurs. Because of this, the last room will be the coldest.

Because of this, the last room will be the coldest.

This problem is solved in two ways:

• a circulation pump is connected to the system, which evenly distributes hot water to all heating devices;
• in the last room, you can build up radiators, as a result, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bheat transfer will increase.

This scheme has such advantages as:

• ease of connection;
• high hydrodynamic stability;
• low costs for equipment and materials;
• different types of coolant can be used.

Two-pipe wiring

For a private house, such a heating scheme is considered the most effective. However, it is worth considering the fact that at first the costs will be considerable, because it will be necessary to lay out two pipes for the supply and removal of hot water. But still, such a scheme has certain advantages over a single-pipe one:

• the coolant is evenly distributed throughout the room;
• you can control and regulate a certain temperature mode in each room;
• repair of any element of the heating system is possible without turning it off;
• very little fuel is consumed.

Rules for adjusting the operation of the device

After installation, you need to adjust the operation of the device. To do this, first close the windows and doors - isolate the room to prevent heat leakage.

Then we proceed like this:

1. We turn on the heating.
2. We set the valve to the position of maximum heat transfer, measure the temperature.
3. We are waiting for the temperature in the room to rise by 5 degrees and become constant.
4. Close the valve and wait for a comfortable temperature.
5. Then we open the thermostat a little bit until we hear the sound of passing water. The case of the device itself should warm up.
6. The last position must be remembered.

In a private house, air must be bled from the batteries before adjustment. In this case, maximum care must be taken so that there is no release of hot steam.

Adjustment starts from the coldest room. It needs to be warmed up well to move on to other rooms.

Advantages of the device

The use of thermostats has several benefits:

• With its help, you can maintain comfort and the required temperature conditions, significantly save thermal energy. This is noticeable in apartments with district heating, where there are heat meters. It is estimated that when using the device in an individual heating system, the savings are up to 25 percent.
• With the help of a thermostat, the microclimate in the room improves, since the air does not dry out from excessively high temperatures.
• You can set different temperature conditions for the rooms of the house or apartment.

It's never too late to embed a thermostat in radiators

The current system or just starting up - it doesn’t matter, the installation is not complicated.
When using the device, no additional maintenance costs are required.
Modern design solutions for thermostats are suitable for any room interior.
Long service life with proper installation.
The thermostat allows you to set the temperature mode with an accuracy of 1 degree.
The device helps to evenly distribute the coolant along the water circuit.

Device Mounting Recommendations

As a rule, the radiator thermostat is mounted on the radiator inlet in accordance with the heating scheme developed earlier, however, some homeowners install devices at the outlet, trying to reduce the effect of the outflow of cool liquid on the operation of the regulator.

The installation process itself is quite simple and does not require special practical skills. The work of installing regulators is not much different from the process of installing any connecting fittings used in a heating system, therefore, if you have basic equipment and basic skills in handling them, installation of regulators can be done quite quickly.

Thus, using accessible and functional regulators in the heating system, it is possible to achieve significant results in matters of energy saving and to achieve a smooth distribution of heat from heaters in a house or apartment.

Kinds

According to the method of signal transmission to the thermal element, it can come from the coolant, indoor air. The valve in different species can be almost identical. They will differ in thermal head. To date, all existing varieties can be divided into 2 types: mechanical and electronic.Devices have their own characteristics, which are reflected in their performance.

Devices differ not only in the type of material, but also in the method of installation. They can be angular or straight (through) type, depending on the type of connection. For example, if the line is connected to the side, a direct type valve is mounted. The angular method is used when making a connection from below. The valve option is chosen the one that becomes better in the system.

The choice between them depends on the preferences of the buyer and his financial capabilities. Products can be calculated for a specific type of thermoelement. To understand what the differences between thermostats are, it is necessary to briefly note their main nuances.

Mechanical

Mechanical thermostats are characterized by ease of operation, clarity and consistency in use. They don't need a network connection. Handmade products are different from electronic counterparts. They work on the principle of a conventional tap: the regulator is turned in the right direction, passing the required amount of coolant. The devices are cheap, but not the most convenient, since in order to change the heat transfer, it is necessary to manually turn the valve each time.

If you install them torus instead of ball valves, you can use to adjust any of them. The devices are technologically advanced and do not require preventive maintenance. However, often at the inlet and outlet of the radiators of this design there are no markings for adjusting the heating temperature. Almost always it is necessary to expose it empirically.

Before installing such structures, it is necessary to adjust them, as well as to set the hydraulic resistance.Smooth adjustment is carried out due to the throttle mechanism, which is located inside the device. This can be done on one of the valves (inlet or return). The operation of a mechanical type thermostat depends on the points of cold and heat inside the room, as well as the direction of air movement in the room. The disadvantage is the fact that they react to the operation of household appliances with their own thermal circuits (for example, refrigerators, electric heaters, as well as hot water pipes).

Electronic

Such modifications are more complex in terms of design in comparison with manual counterparts. With their help, you can make the heating system flexible. They not only allow you to control the temperature of a separate radiator, but also provide for the control of the main components of the system, including the pump and mixers. Depending on the model, programmable devices are equipped with different types of sensors.

An electronic mechanism can measure the ambient temperature of a particular space (the place where it is installed). Due to the software, the analysis of the received data is carried out, a decision is made to reduce or increase the temperature. This mechanism can be analog or digital. The digital version has 2 modifications: its logic is open or closed.

The difference between the categories is that products with closed logic are not able to change the functioning algorithm. They remember the level of the initially set temperature and maintain it. Analogues of open logic are able to independently select the desired control program.However, they are rarely used in domestic settings, as it will be difficult for the average buyer to initially program them, choosing the desired options from the many built-in functions.

Criterias of choice

A radiator faucet is usually a ball-type device that regulates the flow of water and connects pipes to a radiator. It is installed on the bypass, risers, at the top of the battery, in places where air accumulates to bleed it.

Choosing the right faucet is not difficult, it is enough to know a few nuances:

• the diameter of the pipes to which it will be connected (DN, in millimeters or inches);
• working pressure (PN, in the range of 15–40 and higher);
• type of connection, the presence of a thread inside or outside, American.

The choice should take into account the purpose of the reinforcement, its localization, the properties of the medium

It is also important the ratio of the inlet and outlet of the valve in the radiator, their relative position

When choosing, consider the characteristics of cranes:

• ball valves, although the most common and affordable, are not very effective. It has only two modes: closing/opening;
• a cone valve is a more acceptable option due to the possibility of an intermediate position. Disadvantage: the crane must be returned to its original position and constantly monitored;
• an automatic thermostat is the most efficient, reliable, but also much more expensive than others. When it is installed on a one-pipe system, a bypass must be present.

Mounting the device

The process of installing equipment is simple, but if you do not want to carry it out yourself, you can always turn to professionals.

Correct instrument position

Instruction:

• Disconnect the battery from the system. To do this, close the ball valve or shut-off valve.Then drain the water from the battery, blow out the radiator.
• Remove the adapter. Before doing this, lay on the floor a lot of rags that absorb liquid. Secure the valve body with an adjustable wrench, and with the other remove the nut from the adapter tube. Next, remove the adapter from the instrument case.

Place for installation

• Installing the adapter. Screw on the union nut and collar. At the same time, pre-clean the thread, and wrap it with a locking tape. Wrap should be clockwise, doing 3-5 times, then smooth the tape. Assemble adapter, heatsink and angle nuts together.
• Mount the new collar. Install the collar and cap nut on the pipe. All actions are performed with a screwdriver.
• Installation of a thermostat. Fasten the device in the direction of the arrows. Shade the nut between the regulator and the valve, fixing is done with an adjustable wrench. Tighten the nut at the same time. Do all actions carefully. After installation, make sure the fastening is secure.
• Fill the battery with water.

Fixing the thermostat

Control valves for radiators

To manually adjust the operation of heating devices, use special valves. Such cranes are sold with direct or angular connection. The procedure for regulating heating batteries using these devices in manual mode is as follows.

Turning the valve lowers or raises the stopper cone. In the closed position, the coolant flow is completely blocked. Moving up or down, the cone regulates to a greater or lesser extent the amount of circulating water.

Due to this principle of operation, such valves are also called "mechanical temperature controllers".They are installed on threaded batteries, and connected to pipes with fittings, most often of a crimp type.

The control valve used for heating appliances has the following advantages:

• the device is reliable, it is not dangerous for blockages and fine abrasive particles present in the coolant - this applies only to high-quality products in which the valve cone is made of metal and carefully processed;
• the product is affordable.

The control valves also have disadvantages - every time you use the device, you have to change its position manually and for this reason it is rather problematic to maintain a stable temperature regime.

For someone who is not satisfied with this order, and he thinks about how to regulate the temperature of the heating battery by another method, the use of automatic products is more suitable, which allows you to control the degree of heating of the radiators.

How to increase the heat dissipation of batteries

Whether it is possible to increase the heat transfer of the radiator depends on how it was calculated, and whether there is a power reserve. If the radiator simply cannot produce more heat, then any means of adjustment will not help here. But you can try to change the situation in one of the following ways:

• First of all, check for clogged filters and pipes. Blockages are not only found in old houses. They are more often observed in new ones: during installation, various kinds of construction debris enter the system, which, when the system starts up, clogs the devices. If the cleaning did not give results, we proceed to drastic measures.
• Increase the coolant temperature.This is possible in individual heating, but it is very difficult, rather impossible, with centralized heating.
• Change connection. Not all types of radiator connections are equally effective, for example, a reverse side connection gives a power reduction of 20-25%, and the installation location of the heater also affects. Read more about battery connection types here.
• Increase the number of sections. If the connection and installation are optimal, and the room is still not warm enough, it means that the heat output of the heater is not enough. Then you need to grow a few sections. How to do it, read here.

Adjusting the temperature of the radiator does not raise

The main disadvantage of regulated systems is that they require a certain power reserve for all devices. And these are additional funds: each section costs money. But it's not a pity to pay for comfort. If your room is hot, life is not a joy, just like in a cold one. And control valves are a universal way out.

There are many devices that can change the amount of coolant flowing through the heater (radiator, register). There are very inexpensive options, there are those that have a decent cost. Available with manual adjustment, automatic or electronic. Let's start with the cheapest.