Soundproofing pipes and heating radiators: how to make your heating system quieter

Whom to entrust the execution of work

Since you still have to pay, it is better to do everything at once. In any case, with all the radiators on the same riser. And then the question arises: who will carry out these works. To get started, you can go to the Housing Office or DEU, ask about their prices. As a rule, the prices there are rather big, and the quality of work is not up to par. To verify this, you can ask your neighbors who have already dealt with them.

You can find a private owner.Only not from ads, but on the recommendations of acquaintances, colleagues, friends. Their rates are rarely higher than those of operators. And the quality is better - this is their bread: if they do a bad job, there will be no customers. Therefore, they try (if they are sane) to do everything honestly.

Choosing an artist is not an easy task.

There is still an opportunity to negotiate with a housing office employee bypassing the cash desk. But this is debatable. Firstly, they tend to ask for a price based on the wealth of the client and it is far from a fact that they will require less than the price list. Rather, more. And why, tell me, for the same quality of work (it is unlikely that they will work more diligently than at their main job) to pay more?

Another option is to contact a specialized organization. And again, it is desirable according to the recommendations. Although, organizations are forced to monitor the quality of work for prosaic reasons: they need customers. If they have a bad reputation, no one will go to them

Therefore, if you do not know the organization, there are no recommendations, you can pay attention to the period of its existence on the market. If it’s not a year or two, then it’s clear that they know how to do something, otherwise they wouldn’t have existed for so long

Naturally, pay attention to the services they provide. Many offer questions with permission and disconnection of risers, coordination with the managing or operating organization to take over. You only stipulate the list of works and time. How much will it cost? Different: organizations, like their leaders, are different. It may be more expensive than the work of a locksmith from the housing office, but at least you will have someone to present claims in case of problems: you sign an agreement that clearly states who does what.

And the most economical option: do everything yourself, with your own hands. It's not easy, but it's not the gods who burn the pots. Only first you need to find out everything to the smallest detail, purchase everything you need, prepare tools and equipment, and only after that write an application to turn off the riser.

It all concerned planned repair or maintenance work. If the radiator or pipe is leaking, you definitely have to act on your own. How to fix a leak radiator, read here.

Types of noise from heating systems

Any heating system creates noise, while they can be divided into operating operational and extraneous, associated with various malfunctions or improper installation. Operational noises include the sounds emitted by a working boiler and a circulating electric pump, the following types of noises are classified as extraneous:

Whistling or hissing. The presence of these sounds indicates fluid or air leaks in the heating circuit, both in the pipeline itself and in heat exchange radiators, underfloor heating branches.

Clicks or knocks. Usually, noisy pipelines are observed when the coolant is heated, the effect is associated with linear temperature expansion of various types of pipe materials, both polymers and metals. With an increase in the linear dimensions of pipes, they can lead to sounds in wall strobes, on clamp fasteners.

Hum. One of the reasons why the heating pipes are buzzing is the incorrect installation of the heat-conducting circuit, associated with the use of pipeline sections of various diameters, its poor-quality fasteners.Also, the buzz can be caused by improper operation of the system, associated with excessive excess pressure in the circuit, too fast rotation of the impeller blades of the circulation electric pump in case of its malfunction or an incorrectly selected model.

The murmur of the coolant. Any murmuring sound is associated with the flow of liquid through the pipes when it fills the free volume. Usually, after filling the empty space in the radiators or pipeline with coolant, the murmuring sounds disappear.

Rice. 2 Types of heating pipelines

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Features of aluminum radiators

Aluminum ranks third in the world in terms of abundance in the earth's crust. Among other industrial metals, it stands out for its strength, low weight and high thermal conductivity. High resistance to corrosion in contact with the environment provides an oxide film.

These qualities have made aluminum indispensable in the manufacture of products with a large area and increased heat transfer. Good plasticity of the material expands the design and technological boundaries in the manufacture of heating radiators. Considering that sections of aluminum batteries are easy to remove or build up, they can be placed in any niche and harmoniously fit into a sophisticated interior.

Aluminum heating batteries will perfectly fit into the interior of any apartment or private house.

Having such positive qualities as fast heat dissipation and attractive design, aluminum radiators still have a significant drawback - sensitivity to quality. water and pressure drops. Because of this, microcracks and fistulas often form on the batteries, provoking the flow of liquid into the room.

When a leak occurs in the battery, it becomes necessary to seal the hole formed. You can fix the problem by soldering or gluing the damaged area. Conventional soldering is not suitable, since the protective film is formed immediately after cleaning the treated area and prevents reliable connection of the solder to the surface of the radiator.

In order to bypass the aluminum oxide film, even when repairing such a hole, fluxes are used.

Causes of Noise in Batteries

To determine the reasons why the batteries are noisy, it is recommended to check the external condition of the devices. In the absence of visual defects and damage to the case, it is necessary to determine the type of extraneous sounds. Often, the sound effect is created in cases where water hisses and makes noise, as well as clogged pipes click and buzz, or the radiator housing knocks. The following factors influence this:

1. Water pipe diameter mismatch. Often the heating system consists of pipes of different diameters, which can cause an unpleasant knock and noise in the battery when the coolant moves. The problem is solved by replacing pipes of the same diameter.
2. Pressure surges within the system. To reduce the pressure limit in an apartment building, a special washer is mounted in front of the inlet pipe of the elevator or a pressure regulator is installed.
3. The appearance of air pockets in the pipeline and heating devices. This leads to the fact that the coolant gurgles in the batteries. Residents of a multi-storey or private house can hear a similar sound with the beginning of the heating season when the system is filled with hot coolant.The elimination of traffic jams is carried out by draining the water with a Mayevsky tap.
4. Incorrect thermostat setting. Sometimes noise in radiators can appear as a result of incorrect connection of the thermostatic valve. In some cases, batteries crackle when thermostats are installed and not adjusted by neighbors in the riser. To solve the problem, it is enough to check the correct installation and adjustment of the valve in your own and neighboring homes.
5. Displacement of the heating battery. When the coolant is heated, the heating circuit may expand, which leads to involuntary friction of the surfaces. If the heating battery clicks, this problem can be eliminated by installing a rubber gasket between the fixing elements and the batteries.
6. Modern multi-storey and private houses are equipped with a circulation pump, the vibration of which reaches the heating circuit. To reduce pump noise, it is recommended to install a special inlet valve on the elevator.
7. Blockages in the heating circuit. If the battery crackles and hisses, this may be due to the ingress of small particles of debris with the coolant into the system when the heating main breaks. To remove the unpleasant consequences of blockages, a complete flushing of the heating system is required.
8. Sharp temperature changes during heating of the coolant. If the heating circuit is filled with hot coolant and then cool, a characteristic sound may occur due to the fact that the battery case clicks. This occurs as a result of thermal expansion of the metal.

Noise, hum, buzz, extraneous sounds

There can be many reasons for constant noise in heating radiators.Let's take them in order:

Wrong pipe diameter

Sometimes heating pipes of different diameters are connected by adapters. Because of this, a pressure drop occurs and turbulences appear in the water or coolant. They lead to vibration and extraneous sounds.

Often a change in diameter occurs due to clogged pipes. Deposits can accumulate on their inner walls. This leads to a decrease in throughput.

The only way to solve the problem is to cut off the old pipes and install new ones.

Pressure drops

Vibrations can occur due to pressure surges in the heating system. The reason for this is the uneven operation of the circulation pump.

If you live in an apartment building, you can install a bypass. It will help compensate for pressure drops. But it's best to contact the utilities.

If you have your own heating system, make diagnostics and preventive maintenance of the circulation pump. And best of all - call a specialist. This can be done using the service for the selection of private specialists.

Flow rate

Some do wrong calculation of the number of radiator sections. Because of this, it is cold in the house or apartment in winter. To compensate for this moment, you can increase the flow rate of water or coolant. But at the same time, unwanted vibrations will occur in the radiators.

Incorrect pipe laying

Many people hide heating pipes in the wall, but they do it wrong. They simply lay them in a strobe, after which they cement or plaster. As a result, the pipe remains rigidly fixed.

Due to heating and cooling, the diameter of the pipe changes. Cracks appear in concrete, cavities form.They work as a resonator and amplify the sound of water or coolant flowing through the heating system. A hum or buzz appears, the source of which is difficult to catch.

The only solution to the problem is to expand the pipes and lay them in soft thermal insulation (see photo). It compensates for expansion and also reduces heat loss.

Thermal insulation for heating pipes.

General system wear

The reason for the appearance of extraneous sounds may be the wear of the elements of the heating system. Noise sources can be faulty or broken:

• Fitting;
• Three-way valve;
• Coolant pressure regulator;
• Radiators;
• Circulation pump;
• Heat source (gas boiler. Boiler, etc.).

It is important to remember that sound is transmitted very well through metal pipes. If your gas boiler is noisy, then this will affect the volume of the entire system.

This option is also worth considering.

Practical advice on soundproofing engineering in-house systems

Before starting work, it is required to check whether the radiators are really the source. For this purpose, they are covered with several layers of strong material, for example, a wadded blanket. In the case where the degree of hum has decreased, the root cause is indeed in the batteries.

Noise vibration also increases due to the low-strength fastening of parts of the sanitary system. In this case, it is necessary:

• Diagnose sound background from radiators;
• examine the quality of fasteners;
• clear the free space around the batteries;
• fill with insulating substance all identified cracks;
• fix loose fasteners;
• perform an audit of the quality of the gaps in the ceilings and putty them.

Difficulties

Heating Batteries in the Apartment Lawful disconnection of the house from the central heating system at first glance may seem simple, especially if it is not about a separate apartment, but about the entrance or the entire building. In practice, however, there are a number of difficulties. The main ones are related to FZ-190 “On heat supply”. In accordance with the provisions of this law, the transition for individual heating prohibited, which often leads to refusal. However, you can still get permission. The law does not prohibit the installation of individual boilers in apartments, but provides a list of them and requirements for them.

When obtaining a permit for conversion, the type and type of boiler equipment is taken into account in the project documentation. As a result, if the project will comply with the law, the regulators will generally not refuse to carry out the conversion. In any case, when starting the procedure for disconnecting from central heating, you should not expect quick results. There are many difficulties in this matter. Since 2011, it has become almost impossible to disconnect one apartment from the central communications.

Vibration compensators for heating

One of the soundproofing solutions for pipes is the installation of a vibration compensator. If there are vibrations, hydraulic shocks in the system, then the installation of special flange elements will solve this problem. They absorb such mechanical overhead and protect the system from unwanted stresses.

In the case of a private house, the device is installed directly near the pump. If the problem is in an apartment building, then vibration compensators are installed near the central riser from where water is supplied and at the wall partitions.Installation is not difficult, many cope on their own. Such soundproofing will absorb the main noise irritants that are transmitted through the pipes.

Batteries gurgling

The next cause of noise in metal heating pipes is air. If something continuously boils and gurgles in the battery, as in the stomach of a sick cow, it is, dear. Sound insulation of heating pipes, even if it were carried out, would not give anything - the sound will be heard through the walls of the radiator.

You are on the top floor bottom pouring houses (when both the supply and return pipelines of the heating system are located in the basement)? Then look on the radiator or jumper between adjacent rooms Mayevsky crane - deviceto help bleed the air.

In all other cases, it is worth looking for a counterslope (of course, if the heating system works normally in all other respects, except for noise). A radiator hanging skewed or a section of the connection to it, which is lower at the riser than near the battery itself - this is what you have to fix, and most likely in the summer - it is hardly possible to stop the heating system in winter for a long time, especially in the harsh climate of Siberia or the Far East would be a good idea.

When you do not need permission from other tenants

You do not need to obtain permission from the owners if if the elements of the central heating was not previously identified as common property of the building. In this case, the approval of other residents of the house is not required. Of course, even here unauthorized shutdown is not implied. You will need to obtain permission from the competent organizations in this matter.

Any intervention in the central engineering networks requires changes to the technical documentation. Section III of the registration certificate of an apartment building should contain detailed data on heating systems. Any intervention in the system - the dismantling of radiators, the installation of additional equipment - requires mandatory changes to the registration certificate, since the law defines such actions as a reorganization.

It is easier to turn off the heating if such a desire is expressed by the residents of the whole house. Then the procedure is carried out by reconstructing the general water circuit of the house. To implement such a project, the consent of the general meeting of homeowners and project documentation that has passed all the necessary approvals will be required.

Repair technology

Before proceeding with the repair, the radiator must be removed, disassembled, drained of residual water and dried.

If the place of the leak is not established, then it is easy to determine with the help of an automobile compressor. Plugs are screwed at the battery outlets, one of which has a nipple. The radiator is lowered into a bath of water and air is pumped into it with a compressor, creating a slight pressure. Bubbles will come through the crack. You can also pour water on the surface of the radiator with washing liquid. Air bubbles will also appear at the site of the fistula.

Before starting the procedure, the radiator is dismantled, washed with running water and dried.

Before repair procedures, it is necessary to prepare the surface. The problem area is cleaned of dirt with a metal brush, the paint is removed and treated with sandpaper. At the end of the preparatory work, the cleaned surface is degreased with any solvent.

Soldering with iron rosin flux

For work you will need:

• Soldering iron ordinary (power more than 100 W);
• File;
• Sandpaper;
• Ceramic crucible;
• Burner, blowtorch, gas or electric stove;
• Rosin;
• Iron shavings (as fine as possible);
• Tin-lead solder (P 150A, P 250A, P 350A, POS 60).

A high-quality flux that can even solder car radiators can be made at home using just two components - rosin and iron filings

Work is carried out in the following sequence:

Clean up the damaged area.
Flux is ready. To do this, the crucible is placed on a stove or heated with a blowtorch or burner. 2 parts of rosin are placed in a hot container and melted. 1 part of metal filings is also poured here. The resulting composition is thoroughly mixed and allowed to cool.
Having previously cleaned the tip of the soldering iron with a file from soot, they warm up the damaged area with it

The flux is applied to the heated surface and spread over it in an even layer.
Here it is important to observe the technology of work. A small amount of solder with a soldering iron is placed under the flux layer

In a circular motion, the treated area is tinned. Flux metal chips act as an abrasive, removing the oxide film, and rosin prevents further oxidation of the aluminum surface.
Gradually adding solder, fill the entire crack with it.

Homemade flux

To repair large damage, use a self-prepared flux. It consists of:

• Potassium chloride - 56%;
• Lithium chloride - 23%;
• Cryolite - 10%;
• Sodium sulfate - 4%;
• Salt - 7%.

1. The ingredients are individually ground in a mortar to a powder, then thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous composition is obtained. The resulting mixture is hygroscopic and easily absorbs moisture, so it is immediately placed in an airtight container. Store flux in a dark and dry place.
2. Next, tin-lead solder is melted in the crucible and bismuth is added to it at the rate of 5% of the total mass. The finished composition can be purchased at the store in the form of wire or rods (POSV-35, POSV-50).
3. The required amount of flux is brought to a liquid state in the crucible and applied to the area preheated with a blowtorch. It is also possible to melt the powder on site with a burner.
4. Solder is added in small portions to the flux and distributed evenly over the entire surface in a circular motion, first tinning it, and then gradually sealing the damage.

Leak test

The quality of the repair can be checked with air or water pumped into the radiator under pressure. The air method has been previously described.

Pressurized water can only be tested during the heating season. To do this, a plug is placed on one side of the battery, the second is connected to the supply through the Mayevsky crane. Having slightly unscrewed the tap and bypass, fill the radiator with water. To facilitate observations, a strip of white paper is placed under the battery.

If after 10-15 minutes the paper remains dry, the leak has been eliminated and the radiator can be connected to a common system.

If it is not possible to create pressure, then the radiator is filled with tinted water and left for several hours. Usually after 3-4 hours the leak manifests itself.

Extraneous sounds in heating boilers

Noises heard in heating boilers arise for the same reasons as in cases with pipes and radiators. Most likely, they appeared as a result of clogging of the heat exchanger due to lime deposits. Not the last role is played by the design feature of the unit. If the problem is a blockage, it needs to be fixed. When cleaning does not help, you should look further for the cause of the malfunction, but calling a specialist is the best solution.

When determining the problem of noise in the boiler, one should independently take into account the peculiarity of its design and the fuel used:

1. Gas unit. Perhaps the whole point is that the burner is functioning unevenly. Such a problem as knocking in the gas pipe appears in already outdated boiler models that lack additional control over the flame. In this case, it is advisable to update the device so that it meets modern standards.
2. The boiler is solid fuel. Extraneous sound can be heard from behind the chimney. As a result of long-term operation, it begins to clog and the traction force decreases. It is necessary to clean the chimney structure.
3. A diesel appliance or apparatus that functions in a working out. A whistling noise is heard from the injector nozzle and should be cleaned.

Noise Elimination Solutions

A set of simple measures will help get rid of some sounds. The investment of serious financial resources and physical effort is not required. The choice of method for eliminating noise depends on their nature. The described symptoms will help solve the problem and get rid of annoying sounds of any origin.

Noise in heating pipes

The dull monotonous noise of the riser is accompanied by a slight vibration in the batteries.The cause of the problem is a banal water leak. The damaged area can be detected visually or aurally. A steam cloud forms at the leaks and a slight whistle or hiss is heard. Leakage can be caused by an insufficiently closed air release valve. Often, damaged areas are hidden under a layer of insulation or in the space of concrete floors. Finding them in such cases is difficult. Leaks in basements create noise throughout the home.

Another reason for the hum is clogged pipes. Over time, a layer of scale and rust forms on the internal walls. The diameter of the elements decreases and the pressure increases. As a result, a noise in radiators. You can flush the system yourself, you should take care of this even before the start of the heating season. A flush valve is installed on the radiators, through which (using a hose) hot water is drained into the toilet. The procedure is performed until a clear liquid flows from the hose. Sometimes such actions are enough to stop the hum, clicks and crackling.

Attention! When draining boiling water from the heating, precautions must be taken. Water above 90°C can be harmful to health and break ceramics

The described method will help to get rid of garbage partially. Hydropneumatic flushing of heating or the use of chemical reagents will help return the pipes to their original properties.

The cause of the hum is the taps responsible for adjusting the flow of the heating fluid. Locking equipment is installed directly in front of the batteries or at other points preceding the radiators. Excessive blocking of the water flow obstructs normal circulation.Under pressure, the heating fluid hums, whistles, etc. Proper adjustment of the taps will help prevent the phenomenon.

Wear and wear of the internal parts of the locking equipment leads to vibration. The resonance of the details creates an unpleasant hum. The solution to the problem is repair or replacement of cranes. The elevator unit of the heating system, which is located in the basement, makes noise as a result of unprofessional intervention. To increase the amount of coolant, the residents themselves take out the washer, which is responsible for the rate of water flow.

Insulation for radiators is rarely used in Russia

Video: how to soundproof heating pipes with your own hands

Thus, in the trading network today there are a lot of proven soundproof materials that can almost completely eliminate noise backgrounds in an apartment from working plumbing fixtures. But still, the most correct thing would be to take care of sound insulation at the time of design, providing for vibration compensator devices.
They not only remove sound vibrations, but are also able to protect the heating system from hydraulic shocks and displacements from elongation of pipes caused by temperature changes.

Monotonous hum in the heating line

The most common cause of hum in the pipeline of the heating system is its airing. In order to check this, it is necessary first of all to check the quality of heating. If some sections of the radiator remain cold or not as warm as the neighboring ones, this is the main sign of air entering the system and the cause of the hum.

To eliminate this problem, as well as for uniform heating, it is necessary to release air from the system.Air enters the heating battery due to the following factors:

• incorrect installation;
• low pressure in places of heat supply;
• corrosion of metal structural elements;
• ingress of debris;
• incorrect installation of individual elements of the heating system;
• high air content in the coolant;
• incorrect start of the heating system;
• no air duct.

To solve this problem, it is necessary to eliminate air from radiators, for this you need a screwdriver or a radiator wrench, as well as a container for water.

In order to solve this problem, you need to do the following:

• find a valve in the battery (older models are equipped with a valve instead);
• unwind it clockwise until a hiss of air is heard;
• air descends until drops of liquid begin to appear;
• wait until the water flows in an even stream;
• turn the valve.

Some radiators are equipped with a special option for automatic venting, which greatly simplifies the task.

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Conclusion

In this article, at the household level, the question is considered: what to do if the heating pipes are noisy? The first and most important step is to locate the source. Then you need to objectively assess your strengths and the possible consequences of trying to eliminate the malfunction in order to decide whether to do troubleshooting immediately or postpone repairs until the end of the heating season.

Some of the problems in the operation of heating can be eliminated with your own hands, but in difficult cases you cannot do without specialists.In apartment buildings, it is better to entrust the solution of the issue to public utilities, while not forgetting to control their actions. Responding to the noise in the pipes in a timely manner, you will save your health and nerves, as well as protect the heating system from more serious damage.

Finally, we conclude

Now it’s probably easier for you to decide which radiator to choose for your apartment - after all, out of the four options considered, only two remain. As it turned out, neither steel nor aluminum radiators will stand the test of either aggressive domestic coolant or pressure drops. So, there are bimetallic and cast-iron devices. What exactly to buy, look at your budget, as well as the characteristics of specific models. However, a couple of tips can be given here.

• In old houses (for example, "Khrushchevs"), it is quite possible to put cast-iron products. If you live in a high-rise building, where the pressure of the heating system is higher, then it is still better to take bimetallic radiators.
• If the predecessors of your future new batteries are made of cast iron, then you can opt for either of the two options. Both bimetal and cast iron will do. If you are going to replace batteries made of another metal, then change them only to bimetallic ones.