What battery costs. Overview of heating radiators: which batteries are better to put? Characteristics of aluminum radiators

An important link in any heating system is a radiator, which is installed in each of the heated rooms. It is this device that is responsible for how comfortable living conditions will be created in your apartment or private house.

Unfortunately, not every sales assistant will provide you with adequate assistance in choosing, so let's understand it sequentially: how to choose the right heating battery so that it warms well, looks beautiful and does not “bite” at a price? So it is not easy to answer this question right away - it is necessary to take into account many nuances. We will tell you how to avoid common mistakes.

Comparative characteristics of heating radiators

In the heating equipment market, heating radiators are represented by products that differ from each other both structurally and in manufacturing materials. When choosing them, you can use the table of comparative characteristics of the most popular heaters. The manufacturer indicates the data for a specific model in the technical data sheet.

Comparative table of modern heating radiators

Very often, when choosing, the main criterion is price and appearance. Undoubtedly, these moments are very important. And yet, they should not be decisive. First of all, you should pay attention to compatibility with the heating system in terms of such parameters as the type of coolant. Equally important is the corrosion resistance and durability of the radiator. In the end, making the right choice will save you money, time and nerves. Next, consider the features of each type.

Aluminum radiators stand out with a stylish, interesting design, and do not require special care during operation.

High heat dissipation is combined with low weight, convenient sectional design and excellent performance. When you consider that these factors are complemented by ease of installation and elegant design, it is not difficult to understand the reasons for the popularity of aluminum alloy products in the arrangement of individual heating systems.

Comparative table of aluminum heating radiators of the most popular brands

When choosing an aluminum radiator, one should not forget that such equipment puts forward higher requirements for the quality of the coolant (water). Water with a high alkali content causes corrosion of the metal, and the chemical reactions that occur during this process lead to gas formation. As a result, the service life of radiators is reduced and the risk of intersections increases. For this reason, cheap Chinese-made products should be abandoned in favor of products from well-known European manufacturers.

The probability of intersectional leaks is actually reduced to zero in the design of aluminum radiators from the STOUT brand. The equipment is manufactured at the Italian plant GLOBAL, the heaters are adapted for the operating conditions in Russia. The working pressure of each radiator is 16 atmospheres, they are suitable for working with antifreeze and have a 10-year manufacturer's warranty. Modern design in the Italian tradition will fit into any interior, and the increased heat radiation area will increase comfort in the room.

According to statistics, aluminum radiators have almost the same service life as steel ones - no more than 25 years, while bimetallic batteries can be operated for 30-35 years, and cast iron products easily survive half a century.

The destruction of aluminum radiators most often occurs due to poor water quality and excess pressure in the system.

Steel radiators

Like other heating equipment with open welds, they require a stable coolant pressure. For this reason, they are most often used for installation in private houses and other buildings with autonomous heating. In this case, a closed heating circuit helps to slow down oxidative processes, moreover, it does not suffer from constant contamination of the coolant with alkali and other aggressive impurities. When using purified water and regularly monitoring the pressure, steel radiators do not require replacement for 20 years or more.

Technical characteristics of steel radiators of well-known European manufacturers

When installing steel radiators in buildings with central heating, one should be aware of the danger of water hammer and the low quality of the coolant. Sudden pressure drops and water with impurities of salts and alkalis reduce battery life by more than half. In this case, you should not count on the service life of the equipment for more than 10 years.

Such deposits in the central heating pipe indicate a strong contamination of the coolant with impurities - in this case it is better not to use steel radiators.

On sale you can find steel radiators of two types:

tubular,
panel.

The advantages of the former stem from a simple and reliable design, which resembles a ladder of parallel vertical tubes.

Tubular radiators are experiencing a second youth, being the object of attention of designers and lovers of modern trends in the interior.

Tubular radiators are more resistant to water hammer than panel radiators. Their design allows you to implement any scheme of eyeliner and arbitrary placement in space. In the range of tubular batteries, there are both monolithic and sectional models, from which you can easily assemble a battery of the required power. A simple manufacturing technology is reflected in an affordable price, and the appearance of the radiator from a variety of vertical elements provides a wide field for design research. Unpretentious at first glance, tubular radiators are not so bad in practice, if you write your opinion about it in the comments, we will discuss it with pleasure?

Flat, even surfaces of panel radiators make maintenance much easier. That is why housewives love them so much.

For the manufacture of panel radiators, steel zigzag plates are used, which are welded to each other by spot welding. The cavities formed in this case serve as channels through which the coolant circulates. To increase heat transfer, manufacturers complicate the design by assembling a radiator from three panels. The reverse side of this improvement is the weight of the structure - the weight of multilayer steel heat exchangers is close to cast iron.

For the manufacture of a panel radiator, profiled steel plates are used, the space between which acts as a water circuit of the heat exchanger

As you can see for yourself, such advantages of panel radiators as low price and attractive appearance overshadow the disadvantages in the form of low performance. Most often, these heaters are chosen for undemanding heating systems of the budget category.

The appearance of copper radiators is suitable only for fans of industrial design, so manufacturers complete thermal appliances with decorative screens made of wood and other materials.

A pipe with a diameter of up to 28 mm is complemented by copper or aluminum fins and decorative protection made of solid wood, thermoplastics or composite materials. This option provides efficient heating of the room due to the unique heat transfer of non-ferrous metals. By the way, in terms of thermal conductivity, copper is more than 2 times ahead of aluminum, and steel and cast iron - 5-6 times. With a low inertia, a copper battery provides a quick warm-up of the room and allows the use of temperature control equipment.

In terms of its thermal conductivity, copper is second only to silver, with a significant margin ahead of other metals.

The plasticity inherent in copper, corrosion resistance and the ability to contact polluted coolant without harm make it possible to use copper batteries in apartments in high-rise buildings. It is noteworthy that after 90 hours of operation, the inner surface of the copper radiator is covered with an oxide film, which further protects the heater from interaction with aggressive substances. There is only one disadvantage of copper radiators - the cost is too high.

Comparative table of technical characteristics of copper and copper-aluminum radiators

Plastic radiators

At the moment, heating radiators are made entirely of plastic, a kind of know-how. Including Russian engineers in Skolkovo are also working on this type of heater. Contrary to popular belief, in terms of reliability, plastic radiators are close to metal products, and in terms of such an indicator as corrosion resistance, they are completely unmatched. Thermoplastic products have high mechanical strength, good thermal conductivity and wear resistance. Plastic radiators are not very heavy, so they are easy to transport and install.

For those who doubt the thermophysical properties of plastic, we recommend recalling the contours of water-heated floors made of cross-linked polypropylene. Its thermal conductivity is lower than that of rigid thermoplastics, and yet this does not prevent the use of plastic pipes to build reliable and efficient underfloor heating systems.

Ease of manufacture and, as a result, low cost make thermoplastic batteries an excellent proposition for those who have set themselves the task of saving money. A significant disadvantage of plastic heat exchangers is that they can only be used in systems with a stable pressure of up to 3 atm and a coolant temperature not higher than 80 ° C. For this reason, the promotion of plastic batteries in our market is difficult.

Electric radiators

In addition to the heating devices discussed above, there are others - those that do not require connection to the heating system. You probably already guessed what we are talking about.

Modern electric radiators combine high efficiency, reliability and safety.

Depending on the design, several types of heat exchangers operating from the electrical network can be distinguished:

oil coolers;
convectors;
infrared devices.

The design of the oil cooler most of all resembles a traditional heating battery. Mineral oil is used as a heat carrier, and heating is carried out by a tubular electric heater (TEH). The closed design contributes to the fire safety and mobility of the device, in addition, the oil heater does not burn oxygen and dust. The disadvantages include bulkiness, low efficiency and the possibility of getting burned when touching a metal surface.

Oil radiators differ from traditional radiators in mobility - if necessary, they can be easily moved from place to place

Electric convectors also use heating due to ohmic losses, only their design uses not a liquid, but an air heating element. Due to the closed design, this type of heaters have the same advantages as oil coolers. As for the design, it is optimized in such a way that the device uses convection as efficiently as possible. The disadvantages of the convector include only low mobility - most often such devices are intended for stationary use.

Simple design and heat transfer by convection contribute to the reliability and efficiency of electric convectors

Infrared radiators are the most modern type of heating equipment. Unlike any other equipment, their design is based on the principle of heat transfer by radiation.

The principle of operation of infrared radiators is borrowed from the Sun - it is not the air in the room that heats up, but reflecting objects

By heating not the air, but the surrounding objects, IR heaters are highly efficient and at the same time have the highest efficiency. Only relatively high cost can be attributed to the disadvantages of devices operating similarly to the Sun.

Unlike other radiators, infrared devices work most effectively on the ceiling - in this case, the radiation penetrates into the most remote corners of the room

How to determine the optimal size of the radiator

The dimensions of the radiator affect not only whether the heating device can heat the room to a comfortable temperature, but also the efficiency of the heating system.

When determining the size of the radiator, among other factors, the width of the window opening and the height of the window sill should be taken into account

The dimensions of the battery are directly dependent on its thermal power, so the first step is to calculate the heat loss of the room. To do this, the volume in cubic meters is multiplied by 41 W - the amount of heat required to heat 1 cubic meter. m of a structure located in the middle latitudes. 20% should be added to the desired value - this reserve will not be superfluous when extremely low temperatures occur. Knowing the cost of heat that will be needed to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room, you can choose a monolithic battery of the right size or calculate the number of modular radiator sections. In the latter case, the resulting figure should be divided by the power of one section.

When determining the number of sections of heating radiators, you can use a special table.

For rooms with non-standard ceilings, an oversized heating battery will be required. In this case, a table that takes into account the height of the ceilings will help determine the number of radiator sections.

The table is enlarged on click.

It must be remembered that the radiator installed under the window should cover ¾ of the length of the window opening. In this case, the glasses will not accumulate cold air, and they will not fog up.

For those who do not want to deal with the calculation of power, there is a convenient one on our website. All that is needed in this case is to enter the parameters of the room and the heat transfer of one section of the selected radiator. The program will do all the necessary calculations for you.

Summing up the comparative characteristics of various types of heating devices, we can distinguish the following main points:

For a centralized open heating network, present in high-rise buildings, as many years ago, a cast-iron radiator remains the best option. It is resistant to the poor quality water circulating through our pipelines and will last for many years. "Accordion" will withstand pressure drops and water hammer, while effectively heating the air in the room. The low price of this type of heater makes it quite affordable for everyone. However, the high inertness of cast iron will not allow such a radiator to be combined with a thermostat.
A good alternative to a cast-iron battery in an apartment building is a bimetallic steel-based battery with aluminum or copper. Steel has sufficient rigidity and corrosion resistance to withstand water hammer and unfavorable chemical composition of water in the central system, while aluminum or copper compensate for steel's less than outstanding heat transfer. However, the high cost does not allow us to say that this will be the best option.
For closed heating systems present in private homes, it is usually easier to choose batteries - there is no overpressure in the heating system, and water is being prepared before it enters the pipeline. Therefore, the optimal type of heating device for the home is aluminum. Its price is affordable, the design is good, and the heat dissipation is high. The low inertness of this will allow it to be used in conjunction with a thermoregulation system.
A good alternative to aluminum batteries in conditions of autonomous heat supply is steel radiators. Having a lower heat output than aluminum, steel heating appliances have many advantages - light weight, low inertia, nice design, attractive price.
Steel and aluminum batteries are produced primed on the inner plane of the heating element to prevent corrosion from the aggressive environment of the coolant. Scale and rust particles present in the coolant of open heating systems lead to mechanical destruction of the primer layer inside the devices, so manufacturers recommend that they be used in closed heating systems of private houses. A good option for open centralized systems can be a copper radiator, but not everyone will be pleased with its cost.

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The radiator is an important part of the home heating system. Its thermal conductivity and aesthetics affect the appearance of the room and comfort. Price is also an important factor. This is especially true for apartments. We will try to tell you in this article how to make the right choice of a heating radiator for an apartment.

Heating system and radiator compatibility

There is a wide range of heating radiators on the market:

steel;
aluminum;
cast iron;
Copper;
bimetallic devices.

The choice of a particular radiator depends on various parameters of the entire heating system. The allowable temperature, pressure in the system and the composition of the coolant are taken into account, as well as heat transfer and inertia, which must correspond to the indicators of the heating system of an apartment building.

Popular life hacks for home and summer cottages on the portal https://build-experts.ru, building tricks and recommendations from experienced foremen.

Important! Heating radiators for open systems of apartment buildings differ from those designed for closed heating systems of private (individual) houses. If the radiator does not match your heating system, not only rapid wear is possible, but also a complete failure of the radiator.

How to choose a radiator?

First of all, when buying a battery, you should pay attention to its technical and operational characteristics, and only then to the cost or appearance.

Regardless of the country of manufacture, it must be clearly understood that not every battery can withstand the operating conditions of our heating networks: fluctuations in pressure and temperature, poor quality of water supplied to the pipes (coolant) and others. For example, in high-rise buildings for a single-pipe open heating system, the design temperature is 105 ° C, and the pressure is 10 atmospheres. But, despite this, the limits of these parameters can go off scale, and heating radiators of foreign manufacturers that do not have the necessary margin of safety may simply not withstand a water hammer.

Note! Before buying a radiator, it is necessary to take into account the allowable temperature and pressure of the coolant in the heating system. These data are indicated in the passport of the heating device.

The heat dissipation of the heating battery is also important. The efficiency of air heating depends on this indicator, which is also determined by the design of the radiator. For example, the heat transfer of aluminum is higher than that of steel, and copper gives off heat better than cast iron. However, relying only on these technical parameters is also not entirely correct. It is necessary to comprehensively evaluate all the advantages and disadvantages of each element of the heating system before buying the best heating radiators for the apartment in which you live.

Heating radiator options

Consider the most common types of heating batteries on the market

Cast iron radiators

Cast iron batteries have been used in domestic heating systems for over a hundred years. They have shown excellent resistance to corrosion, are sufficiently durable, have good heat dissipation and are able to withstand pressure and temperature drops in the system. Almost ideal option for operation in the territory of the countries of the former USSR.

Cast iron radiators are able to retain heat for a long time, even after an emergency shutdown of the system. These batteries withstand both poor water quality in the system and water hammer. They are not affected by rust or air pockets, compared to appliances made from other materials. All these advantages make cast-iron radiators an ideal option for a heating battery for an apartment.

The disadvantages of cast-iron radiators include high inertia, unsightly design and bulkiness. The inertia makes these batteries unsuitable for heating systems with thermoregulation.

The exception is modern models in retro style, with monograms, patinated, painted to look like copper, bronze or brass, which fit perfectly into the interior, being both a heating device and an art object.

Aluminum radiators

Sectional radiators made of aluminum are very popular today. Light weight, aesthetic appearance, high heat dissipation, these batteries are good for arranging heating systems in apartments and houses.

Thanks to the sections, you can dial any length of the radiator, and ease of installation is another indisputable plus. This type of batteries is not inertial, which makes it possible to install them in systems with temperature controllers. In addition, a large amount of coolant (water) is not required.

A significant disadvantage of aluminum batteries, experts consider susceptibility to corrosion at high concentrations of alkali in water, as well as a tendency to form air bubbles inside the structure and the risk of leakage between sections.

Steel radiators

In the heating systems of houses and offices, you can often find batteries made of steel. They may look different:

Type-setting panel from separate sections;
One-piece rectangular construction;
tubular construction.

The advantages of steel batteries are in an affordable price, inertia, attractive appearance, excellent heat dissipation and corrosion resistance.

However, steel batteries are not capable of withstanding water hammer in excess of 25 atmospheres, which makes them unacceptable for use in high-rise apartment buildings. In addition, steel is quite sensitive to the presence of oxygen in the coolant.

The optimal pressure for the normal operation of steel batteries ranges from 6 to 16 atmospheres and depends on the thickness of the steel and the design of the device. The operating temperature must not exceed 110°C. Heat transfer is carried out by convection and radiation through the walls of the device and the grate located in the upper part of the radiator.

Bimetallic radiators

Bimetal radiator consists of aluminum fins and steel piping. This type of battery is optimally suited for operation with our city district heating networks. In this design, hot water circulates through seamless steel pipes, welded together by a method that prevents corrosion and destruction of the metal. And aluminum, in turn, due to its high thermal conductivity, perfectly transfers heat from the core to the room.

The radiator is able to withstand pressure in the system up to 40-50 atmospheres. Modern designs have a fairly attractive appearance. Thus, in a bimetallic radiator, the properties of steel and aluminum are combined in the best way as heating devices.

Among the advantages, one can also point out that bimetallic batteries contribute to the turbulent distribution of air masses (with eddies). Thus, there is no local overheating of the air, the formation of a positive ionization field in the heater zone. Bimetallic heaters can serve for about 20 years and come to the retail network already painted, which simplifies their maintenance.

The disadvantages of bimetallic heating devices include their rather high cost, as well as the tendency to accumulate slag deposits along the inner walls over time and sensitivity to the presence of oxygen in the coolant. They also distinguish the resistance that occurs at the interface between the two metals, which reduces the efficiency of heat transfer as a whole.

Copper radiators

Copper heating radiators are made of seamless copper pipe. The design consists of a pipe with a diameter of about 28 mm, complemented by copper fins and a wooden casing. The efficiency of air heating is achieved due to the high thermal conductivity of copper, which is 2 times higher than that of aluminum and 5-6 times higher than that of steel and cast iron. Copper has a low inertia and can be used in systems equipped with thermostats.

Despite the fact that copper batteries require less coolant, they heat up in 3 minutes. In this case, there is no need to drive large masses of hot water through copper batteries (for example, as is the case with cast iron appliances).

The advantages of copper are undeniable:

Corrosion resistance;
Plastic;
It is not subject to wear when exposed to an aggressive environment;
Plastic;
High efficiency at low coolant temperature;
Suitable for installation in apartments of multi-storey buildings.

Interesting! After the first 90 hours of operation of copper radiators, an oxide layer forms on the inner surface, which subsequently protects the battery from mechanical and chemical damage from poor quality hot water.

Almost the only drawback is the high price of copper heating appliances.

Calculation of the power of heating radiators for an apartment

For a normal microclimate in a living room, the heating radiator should not overlap 70-75% of the width of the window opening. Then the cold air from the window and the warm air from the battery mix freely and move around the room, without fogging the windows. Therefore, instead of 5-6 powerful sections, it is better to put 8-10 sections with less power, but occupying the required area under the window.

To find out the required power of the radiator, it is necessary to multiply the area of \u200b\u200bthe room by 100 watts. If:

If the room has 1 window or outside door and 2 outside walls, then the battery power is increased by 20%;
2 windows and 2 external walls - by 30%;
The window faces north or northeast - by 10%;
Battery in a niche - by 5%;
The radiator is closed by a panel with slots - by 15%.

Replacing batteries that have ceased to perform their functions is an important part of repairing the heating system. Therefore, their choice should be taken with all seriousness and responsibility. And in order not to make a mistake when buying and choose the option that best suits the individual characteristics of your home, you need to determine for yourself which heating radiators are best for an apartment. Moreover, the range of products of this type, presented in specialized stores, is quite wide.

Modern industry produces several types of heating batteries made of various materials and having a specific set of characteristics. These include:

Cast iron sectional radiators

Their advantages:

Reliability and durability. The average life of radiators is about 50 years.
Undemanding to the quality of the coolant. Therefore, until now they are installed in buildings with a gravitational heating system (acting on the principle of natural circulation).
Sufficient thermal conductivity and high inertia. They do not warm up very quickly, but retain heat well (for systems with automatic control, high inertia is a disadvantage and for this reason cast-iron radiators are not used in this case).
Relatively low price, averaging 2000-3500 rubles for 4-7 sections (with the exception of design options, the cost of which starts at 5000 rubles).

Read in a separate article: and his example.

Disadvantages of cast iron radiators:

Fragility, insufficient resistance to powerful.
The need for periodic touch-up.
Due to the roughness of the inner walls of the radiator sections, impurities can linger in them, clogging the coolant channels, which can lead to a decrease in heat transfer.
Large weight and large required volume of coolant.

Steel radiators

Although this type of heating batteries is also found in our country, many residents of the United States, in response to the question: “Which heating radiators are better to install in an apartment?” they will answer without the slightest hesitation: "Only steel panel." And in some ways they will be right.

The design of these heaters consists of two sheets of high-carbon steel with stamped channels designed for the movement of the coolant. To provide additional resistance to corrosion, the outer surface of the batteries is degreased and coated with a phosphate compound. The coating material is powder enamel.

Advantages of steel radiators:

Diverse range of sizes.
Good heat dissipation.
Ability to work with a small amount of coolant.

Flaws:

Low operating pressure (no more than 6-10 atm.). With a hydraulic shock with a force of 13 atm. sections may break.
The lack of protection of the inner walls from the effects of water, leading to the gradual destruction of devices.
The need to use shut-off valves on the supply and return pipelines.
The need to remove dust from the back of the device.
The operating period is on average about 10 years.

Please note: Tubular steel radiators are of better quality and reliability compared to panel ones. The range of their working pressure can be from 10 to 15 atm. In addition, they have a more spectacular, original design and more durable painting.

If you are thinking about which radiators to give preference to - steel tubular or panel, feel free to choose the first option.

Aluminum radiators

Another popular answer to the question: “Which radiators are better to choose for an apartment?” are, which are sectional-type structures that can be independently assembled, taking into account the characteristics and area of \u200b\u200bthe heated room, with the aim of its efficient and high-quality heating.

Advantages:

The ability of such radiators to quickly take heat from the coolant and heat the premises as quickly as possible.
Light weight and compact dimensions.
High thermal power (about 190 W).
Attractive and discreet design.
Working pressure of modern aluminum radiators: 16-20 atmospheres.
Low cost (the price of one section - starting from 120 rubles).

Disadvantages of aluminum radiators:

Rapid cooling when the system is turned off.
Susceptibility to corrosion and exactingness to the pH of the coolant (the maximum allowable indicator is up to 7.5 units).

Important: When using aluminum radiators, it is strictly forbidden to install copper or brass fittings together with them, which are antagonists of this metal. As a result of the resulting reaction, the batteries will begin to corrode from the inside, which will lead to their rapid deterioration.

Bimetal radiators

Heating devices of this type consist of a steel pipeline and aluminum fins. Bimetal radiators are often used in apartments connected to central heating systems.

Their advantages:

High heat transfer coefficient of radiators.
The unique margin of safety of radiators, which guarantees reliable protection against water hammer. (functional pressure in such a device is 35 atm., test - up to 52.5 atm.).
Inertness to the composition of the coolant.
Sufficiently long service life (about 20-25 years).
Ability to work with a small amount of coolant.

Disadvantages of bimetallic radiators:

Susceptibility to clogging of the collectors due to the narrow cross-section of the inter-collector tubes.
Sensitivity to an increase in the amount of oxygen in the composition of the coolant.
The rather high cost of radiators (the price of one section is about 450 rubles).

Criteria for choosing radiators

To decide which heating radiator to choose for an apartment, it is necessary to take into account a number of factors that have a direct impact on the efficiency of these devices in the future. This:

Functional pressure declared by the manufacturer. This indicator must necessarily exceed the working and test pressure in the system. Example: In houses of the old layout, consisting of five floors, the average operating pressure in the heating system is about 5-8 atm. However, new skyscrapers are heated under a pressure of 10-12 atm.
The ability of radiators to withstand water hammer. The problems that have arisen in the heating system may be indicated by clicks and buzzing in the batteries. In this case, it is better to contact the utility company to check the pressure level in the system.
Resistance to low quality coolant. For multi-apartment houses, it is better to use batteries with a special protective layer in their inner part. In addition, their walls must be of sufficient thickness so that the particles of sand and pebbles present in the coolants do not rub them during use.
Heat transfer level. This indicator will determine how quickly and efficiently the radiators used will heat the rooms.
Design solution. The times of ugly cast-iron "monsters" remained in the Soviet past. Modern heating radiators are distinguished by external attractiveness and ergonomics. So, when deciding which heating radiators to install at home, choosing the option that best fits into the architecture of any room is not difficult at all.
Life time. One of the main criteria when choosing radiators.

Calculation of power, number of sections

Before choosing a heating battery for an apartment, it is necessary to calculate how many sections should be installed in each particular room and determine the power and pressure indicator of this device. This is done as follows:

Choosing the power of the radiator

In this case, the following points must be taken into account:

Type of building (brick or panel).
The area of the heated room.
number of windows.
The presence of external walls.
Type of glazing in the apartment (double-glazed windows or wooden windows).

According to the standard, in a room with a ceiling height of 3 m, which has one window with a wooden frame and one door, a radiator with a power of 90-125 W per 1 m 2 is usually placed.

Useful information: To choose the battery of optimal power for the room for ease of calculation, you need to multiply its area by 100 watts.

If there is one window and two external walls, this figure should be increased by 20%.

In the presence of two windows and two external walls - by 30%.

If the window is located on the north or northeast side: + 10%.

When placing a radiator in a niche: + 5%.

With a solid screen on the battery: + 15%.

Decide on the number of sections

The average power of a section of radiators of various types:

There is another option for calculating how to choose the number of sections of the heating battery so that it is comfortable in the heated room, which is considered more accurate. This calculation is also made taking into account their heat transfer. At the same time, not the area of \u200b\u200bthe room, but its “cubic capacity”, that is, the volume of air mass to be heated, is used as a unit of space. Each room is calculated separately: first, the power of the heater is selected, and then the number of its sections is calculated.

Practical example:

Considering that 39-41 W of energy is needed to heat 1 m 3 of the air space of a living room, in order to heat a room with an area of 10 m 2, with a ceiling height of 3.0 m, 1230 W is needed.

Decryption:

We calculate the cubic capacity: 3 x 10 \u003d 30 m 3.
We determine the energy consumption: 41 x 30 \u003d 1230 watts.

Let's agree that each section of a modern heating battery produces approximately 200 W of energy. That is, to calculate the optimal number of sections, you need 1230:200 = 6.15 sections. Rounding up. It turns out that in a room with a cubic capacity of 30 m 3 you need to install a radiator with 7 sections.

Useful information: When installing a battery in a corner-type room, the heat loss coefficient (1.1-1.3) is added to the formula for calculating the number of sections, the value of which must correspond to the climatic zone. The result will be: 1230 1.3: 200 = 7.995. That is, a radiator of 8 sections is suitable for such a room.

Dealing with working pressure

When purchasing heating radiators, you need to take into account the indicator of their working pressure, which should be higher than the pressure of the heating system at home. This is especially important when conducting hydraulic tests, when the load on the system is particularly intense..html

Features of central and autonomous heating systems

To figure out how to choose the right heating batteries for an apartment, it is important to take into account the features of the central heating system and its differences from an autonomous heating system operating in a private house.

Aluminum

With centralized heating, heat from the coolant through the pipeline enters the apartment from an external heat source (boiler or local thermal power plant).

The advantages of this type of heating system:

Low cost of installation and maintenance.
The ability to work on inexpensive fuel (for this purpose, coal, gas, wood waste, etc. can be used in boiler rooms).
The absence of harmful combustion products during the operation of the system.

Flaws:

The presence of chemically active impurities in the coolant, leading to corrosion of pipes and radiators.
The presence of small pebbles and grains of sand in the circulating fluid, contributing to the abrasion of the working elements of the battery.
Instability of operating temperature (it may fluctuate during the heating season).
Fairly high pressure.
The possibility of water hammer - powerful pressure surges in the system.

Benefits of an autonomous system:

Independence.
Possibility of regulation of heating.
Possibility of year-round provision of hot water at home (when using a double-circuit heating boiler).
Payment savings.
Low pressure in the system and the absence of water hammer.
Higher quality of the heat carrier in comparison with the centralized system.

Flaws:

Difficulty in installation.
Additional costs for repairs and maintenance.
The need for permits when installing such a system in an urban-type apartment.

Thus, the main factors based on which it is possible to answer the question of which heating radiators are best for an apartment are the price, power and reliability of these devices, as well as their compliance with the requirements in each specific case. And speaking of which manufacturer of heating radiators is the best, we recommend paying attention to well-established manufacturers such as Sira, Global (Italy), Rifar (Russia).

Therefore, for an apartment in a multi-storey building, it is recommended to choose batteries that can withstand high pressure, water hammer and aggressive coolant - bimetallic radiators meet all these criteria. For houses of an old building with a small number of storeys, where the pressure is not so high, cast-iron radiators are also suitable.

And for a private house, you can consider installing aluminum batteries, since their cost is quite acceptable, heat transfer is high, the design is modern, plus, they can be used for systems with temperature control.

When you are going to buy heating radiators, you need to prepare in advance. Just wanting to buy appliances is not enough. You need to study the technical characteristics and parameters of the radiators in order to find out which heating radiators are better - just for your heating system.

You can compare completely identical battery models in appearance, but in terms of heat transfer, power - they can differ markedly. Here everything will depend on the material of manufacture of the radiator and its design features, the internal capacity of the batteries, and the way they are connected. That is why, when you choose which heating batteries are better, you need to prepare and have some knowledge.

What are the requirements for installing radiators?

If you believe the standard calculations, then the consumption is 90-125 W per 1 sq.m of the room that is heated. In this case, the presence of a window, a door in the room, a ceiling height of no more than 3 meters, and a coolant temperature of 70 degrees Celsius are also taken into account.

If such standards are violated, for example, the height of the ceilings is greater, then the power of the radiators should be increased by the same amount. And if you have windows with double-glazed windows, then they have low heat transfer, respectively, as reviews show, the power can be reduced by 10 percent.

If the coolant temperature drops, then this will require an increase in battery power, or you can increase the number of sections. Every time the temperature drops by 10 degrees, this is compensated by an increase in power by 15-18%.

When calculations are carried out, no matter what the best heating radiators are, it is imperative to take into account the design features of your heating system. And if the heat carrier is supplied through the lower hole, and the return stroke is through the upper one, then in this case each radiator will not add up to 10 percent of its power. If the coolant is supplied only from one side, then it will be pointless to install more than 10 sections - after all, the last sections will heat quite weakly.

Comparison of heating batteries

First of all, we note that it is quite difficult to answer the question of which heating batteries are better without special knowledge. Note panel steel radiators. Such heaters are highly efficient - their working pressure is 9 atmospheres, they are able to withstand 13 atmospheres of pressure testing. As the rating of heating radiators shows, they are in great demand when an individual heating system is installed and when multi-storey buildings have their own heating point.

Such high-quality heating radiators are made of steel sheets with special recesses for the passage of the coolant, and in order to increase the heat transfer of the devices, protruding ribs are welded on the reverse side, which will further increase the convection air flow. Radiators are made of low carbon steel, which has increased corrosion resistance. They are covered with powder enamel.

The next type we will look at is cast iron radiators. Of course, this option will not be the answer to the question of what are the best heating radiators.

Cast iron batteries are a classic that Soviet consumers used in the past for lack of anything else.

These are really high-quality products, the main advantage of which is cast iron. This material has excellent thermal conductivity, it is resistant to any coolant. The share of the radiant flow includes 70% heat and 30% convective - this will warm the lower and upper zones of the room. It is worth noting that the service life of a cast-iron radiator can be up to 50 years. To date, such radiators can be bought relatively cheaply, there are different models on the market, as can be seen in the photo.

Cast iron radiators

In a superficial comparison, aluminum radiators will seem lighter, more elegant. But then you will find out that such best heating batteries also have improved heat dissipation. Such radiators are produced by casting or extrusion. Each section has collectors, as well as a connecting vertical channel, fins to accelerate the flow of air and remove heat from the plane, which is why the heat in the room will be distributed in an optimal way.

Such radiators are assembled with steel nipples, special gaskets made of waterproof material are placed between the sections. There are fins on the front surface, this forms a continuous surface, as well as air vent windows on top. It is necessary to select the thermal power of such radiators by a set of the required number of sections, as well as their height. You can easily assemble a radiator with the right height and length to fit well into the architectural features of your room.

As for the disadvantages of this type of batteries, these are high requirements for the chemical parameters of water. In addition, the composition of heat exchangers, brass and copper fittings, steel connecting pipes - all this increases the corrosion process. And the more copper there is, the stronger this process will be. To offset this shortcoming, manufacturers use alloys that will protect batteries from the inside.

According to experts, bimetallic radiators are the most efficient heating batteries.

Steel channels that conduct the coolant will ensure the strength of the entire structure. They are also covered with aluminum fins, so water comes into contact only with metal. There are several different versions of such batteries. They can be made by coating the steel frame with aluminum - so the water will only come into contact with the steel. Steel can also reinforce vertical channels so that their thickness can withstand high pressure.

The best bimetallic heating batteries can withstand high pressure and long-term load, they are resistant to hydraulic shocks and have a high level of heat transfer. The working pressure is 35 atmospheres, and the crimping pressure is almost 52. And due to the fact that the capacity of the bimetallic sections will be less than that of aluminum, this has a positive effect on thermal inertia. As the test shows, the most efficient heating radiators are reliable in multi-storey buildings. After assembly, such best heating radiators are painted with enamel powder, for curing they are heated and maintained at 180 degrees Celsius. With a maximum coolant temperature of 110 degrees, this will be enough.

We propose to study the comparison of heating radiators, the table (Table 1) will show all the strengths and weaknesses of various types of radiators.

After all, the question of which heating radiators are better can be relevant for a long time, and only a specialist who is familiar with your heating system can fully answer it correctly.

In more detail about the choice of bimetallic heating radiators in the material -