How often can you observe a situation when in some apartments the inhabitants freeze and buy heaters, while in others they have to hang up the radiators and open the windows in order to somehow escape the heat!

Often, residents are not to blame for such unevenness, such volumes of heat are supplied by heating plants. However, it is the apartment owners who have to pay.

And not only with unpleasant sensations, but also with real means, because the heat that we release through the window is also calculated for us as a delivered service and is reflected in receipts.

It's the same with private houses. Here every calorie counts and heat regulation directly affects the fuel consumption in the boiler. There are also situations when it is necessary to lower temperatures in certain rooms, for example, to make the air in the bedroom cooler.

Adjusting the temperature of the heating batteries will help improve the microclimate in the apartment.

There are several ways to regulate radiator heating. Some can only improve the microclimate in the house, others make it possible to save:

• taps and valves;
• mechanical thermostats;
• electronic and programmable thermostats.

In order to feel not only a comfortable temperature in the house, but also not to overpay for excess heat, in addition to the thermostat, it is necessary to draw up an apartment heat meter.

Valves or taps

it the simplest way adjustments that can only reduce the temperature in the room if necessary (although their main purpose is to cut off the heater in case of repair).

If there is a ball valve at the entrance to the radiator, you can simply shut off the flow of hot coolant into it.

The adjustment is coarse, because the ball valves only have an on / off position. and trying to put them in the middle position is to reduce its resource at times (over time, they lose their tightness, and they will drip when the radiator is removed).

In addition, the adjustment can only be made in manual mode, constantly monitoring the temperature on the home thermometer. After the temperature has dropped, the taps will have to be reopened each time. In addition, frequent use of the crane is fraught with airing the riser.

A cone valve is a more convenient shut-off valve, since it can be slightly opened so that a certain amount of hot water passes through. Although, again, the adjustment turns out to be rather rough and in manual mode.

In a single-pipe riser, thermoregulation can only be connected with a bypass (a jumper connecting the input and output and providing an alternative current when the radiator is turned off).

Automatic adjustment

Thermoregulators work without human intervention. There are two constructive types:

1. Mechanical.
2. Electronic.

Both options adjust the size of the lumen and thus reduce or increase the flow.

The person sets the desired power, temperature on the thermal head (or on the buttons in the electronic version), and the device adheres to the selected settings.

Having once set a comfortable indicator, you can not return to the settings for months, no matter how the supply from the heating plant and the weather outside the window change.

By the way, the thermostat performs, among other things, the function of shut-off valves. They can completely disconnect the battery from the riser if repair is required.

Thermostat device

Mechanical

The kit consists of two elements - a valve that cuts into the supply pipe in front of the radiator, and a thermostat (this is an elegant white handle that can be put on the valve with a simple movement).

The mechanical device is based on the laws of physics. Inside the thermostatic mechanism there is a stem associated with a valve that blocks the flow. The stem is movable and its position is regulated by the volumes of the chamber (Bellow) filled with:

• gas;
• liquid.

The increase in gas volume inside the bellows is due to thermal expansion.

Mechanical thermostat device

There is a slight difference between liquid and gas bellows. Gas ones are more reliable, react faster to climate changes, but their temperature balancing capabilities are not so accurate. Liquid ones are a little inert, but they keep the set temperature exactly. Most often, you can find them on sale.

Features of the mechanical device:

• inexpensive;
• easy to install and use;
• energy from the outside is not required;
• impossibility of regulation in the absence of the owner.

Electronic

Such a device has a display and a keypad on the handle (or instead of it).

The device comes with a temperature sensor, which is sometimes placed far from the radiator and remotely transmits temperature signals to the radiator regulator (the sensor can also be built-in).

Features of automation:

• Regulation without human intervention and adjustments.
• Possibility of programming for hours and days.
• In the absence of the owner, reduce the temperature and raise it again before the arrival of the owner.
• Works on batteries that need to be charged periodically (charger is usually included).
• Costs more.

Since a cast iron battery is very heavy, you need to know to correct installation fastenings.

You will find various schemes for connecting heating radiators.

Specifications aluminum radiators are presented. This information will help you make a choice for or against this type of battery.

The choice of the thermostat

Regulators may differ depending on how and where temperature readings are taken:

• air in the room;
• coolant inside the system;
• air outside the room.

The most popular and convenient ones are regulators that read the temperature in the room. Such devices will react if the room is heated by sunlight. They will even out the jumps in the kitchen during the moments of active cooking.

Mechanical thermostat

Place of installation:

• one-pipe system;
• two-pipe.

The packaging for the device indicates which wiring they are intended for. In a two-pipe system, the load is higher, which means that a safety margin is required.

You also need to pay attention to the diameter of the pipe into which the device will be installed (must match the diameter of the device); and whether it is designed to work with a circulation pump.

Installation

Care must be taken to correctly position the thermostat. On its body, arrows indicate the direction of flow, which cannot be confused.

In a one-pipe system, the thermostat is installed in the flow pipe.

It can be with a straight-through or three-way valve. The latter cuts in at the junction of the supply pipe and bypass. The checkpoint is installed after the bypass, before the radiator.

The joints of the valve with the pipe are carefully sealed with flax or fum tape. They must be tightened properly with an adjustable wrench. The installation procedure itself is quite simple, since the valve is equipped with a union nut.

They are best combined with thermostats and respond quickly to changes, aluminum, steel, bimetallic radiators. Cast iron ones are somewhat inert and the temperature in them changes slowly.

Setting the manual radiator thermostat

In different homes, the comfort temperature may vary. Thorough, accurate calculations can be carried out by a heating engineer.

Approximate positions on the regulator:

• The snowflake icon * is a function of maintaining the minimum temperature so that the heating does not freeze in the absence of the owner. Useful for country houseswhose owners are not there all the time.
• 1 - we can say that this is a living wage, it will keep the temperature by about 15 ° C.
• 2 - bedroom, 18 ° C, at which it is comfortable to sleep.
• 3 - the most popular indicator is about 21 ° C, a comfortable temperature for life.
• 4 - warm 24 ° C.
• 5 - hot 27 ° C.

How to increase the heat dissipation of batteries

No thermostat is capable of adding heat to a battery. It only lowers the temperature. If the problem is a lack of heat, completely different principles of adjustments are connected:

1. Increase in the number of sections.
2. Improving the quality of the existing radiator.
3. Replacement for a more efficient one.

You can calculate how many sections are required in a particular room if you multiply its area by 100 and divide by the heat transfer of one section that you have installed. For a cast iron radiator, this is 155 W / m2. This is despite the fact that the coolant is supplied at least 70 ° C, the radiator is not too old, and the apartment has a normal degree of insulation.

Additional sections may be required if:

• corner apartment;
• on the first and last floors;
• windows without double-glazed windows;
• new ventilation was installed;
• in a room with a large balcony door.

Low heat dissipation may be due to airiness in the battery. Before going to extreme measures, you need to try to bleed the air.

Installation of additional sections to the aluminum battery

The connection method also affects the efficiency of the heater. The best option is diagonal. If the side connection is mounted, the long radiator simply will not warm up. Output - install a flow extension (the simplest device in the form of a tube, inserted into the radiator supply).

Old radiators are susceptible to scale and dirt build-up from the inside. Their characteristics are also reduced. Flushing will help improve the situation. You can independently remove a separate radiator and rinse with water under pressure. There are firms involved in flushing the system as a whole.

Well, if the air is bled, the connection is correct, but it does not heat well, you can replace the old device with a newer one with better characteristics. Today, bimetallic radiators are considered to be the focus of maximum positive qualities.

Did you know that with the help of a special device you can regulate the temperature of the radiator? will help create a comfortable microclimate in the house.

You will find out which cast iron heating radiator is better to choose.

Conclusion

It remains to add that, unlike private houses, where everything is in the hands of the owner, intervention in the city heating system is fraught with an imbalance in it and negative consequences for the whole house. There are legal levers and organizations to ensure the comfort of citizens.

So, when overheating, you can contact the housing inspectorate with a written complaint. Management companies should also establish relationships between the heat supplier and residents.

Video on the topic

To create comfortable conditions in an apartment, it is often necessary to change the temperature of heating radiators. How can you do this? The fact is that the heating of the batteries occurs due to the passage of the coolant through them. The intensity of heating depends not only on the temperature of the hot liquid, but also on the volume that enters the battery. Since it is impossible to independently influence the temperature of the coolant in a centralized heating system, the heating batteries are adjusted due to a change in the volume of liquid passing through the radiator.

With the help of special regulating devices installed on radiators, you can:

• save on heating (if there are individual heat meters in the apartment);
• maintain its own temperature regime in each room;
• avoid drafts from open vents and abandon blankets on batteries if too high temperature heating.

Attention! Not all types of central heating systems provide the ability to regulate radiators. It is impossible to adjust batteries in multi-storey buildings in which the supply of heat-carrying fluid occurs vertically from top to bottom. Changing the temperature of the batteries using a control valve is possible in buildings with a single-pipe and.

Types of temperature regulators for batteries

Devices that allow you to adjust the temperature of the heating batteries can be divided into several groups depending on their design and principle of operation.

Shut-off valves

The simplest device that can change the temperature of radiators is a shut-off valve. He can at the most primitive level control the supply of hot water from the heating system of the house. The shut-off valve looks like a ball valve, which has only two positions:

• “Closed” - the movement of hot liquid is stopped, the battery is cooling down;
• "Open" - the maximum volume of the coolant passes through the radiator.

A significant disadvantage of adjusting the heating of the battery using a shut-off valve is the need for constant manipulations. It is impossible to create a constant temperature regime with a tap.

Important! The ball valve must not be left in an intermediate position, as the shut-off ball is damaged by solid particles in the heating water.

Manual valves

Manual valves allow you to change the volume of the coolant entering the radiator by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the passage hole.

The valve includes a valve with a shut-off head. This, in turn, is associated with a handle on which a graduated scale can be applied. Turning the handle causes the shut-off head to move and change the volume of the incoming heat carrier to a smaller or larger side. Marks on the scale allow you to set the required battery temperature.

Manual valves are simple, reliable and inexpensive, but require regular monitoring.

Automatic thermostats

There is a more advanced type of battery temperature regulator that can react to the room temperature and automatically change the degree of heating of the radiator. In this case, the change in the diameter of the flow area of \u200b\u200bthe valve dosing the volume of the incoming liquid occurs according to the signal from the temperature sensor.

Automatic heat regulators are divided into two types:

• thermostatic;
• electronic.

By its design, the thermostatic regulator resembles a manual valve, while a thermostatic head is installed on its valve, which controls its operation. The thermal head includes:

• a temperature sensor that responds to air temperature and is associated with the valve shutoff head;
• adjustment mechanism with a control handle and a setting scale.

You can select the room temperature, which will be maintained at a constant level without your further participation, by turning the knob in accordance with the required value on the scale.

Electronic thermostats

Electronic adjustment devices equipped with a control unit have maximum functionality. In addition to an electronic temperature sensor, it includes a microprocessor circuit and a control panel equipped with buttons and a display. The locking head is moved by an electromechanical relay on a signal from the control circuit.

Electronic allow not only to maintain the required temperature with maximum accuracy, but also make it possible to program their work. For example, every day on weekdays during the absence of residents in the apartment, the degree of heating of the devices will automatically decrease, and before the arrival of the owners, the rooms will again warm up to the optimum temperature.

Tip: You do not need to buy a new thermostat to change the way the batteries are regulated. One valve can usually be equipped with any type of thermocouple: manual or automatic.

An unconventional device for temperature control heating appliances is a three-way valve. It is placed at the junction of the bypass and the supply pipe that goes to the battery. In order for the valve to perform the function of stabilizing the heating level of the radiator, it must have a thermostatic head. If the temperature near the head rises above the required supply of the coolant to the battery, the flow of liquid moves through the bypass. When cooling occurs, the valve opens again and the radiator heats up. This method of regulation is suitable for vertical single-pipe systems.

Important! In homes with a centralized heating system, the coolant usually contains foreign particles that clog the thermostats. Therefore, in the apartment, you can safely install manual taps or valves, as well as three-way valves. If you want to install automatic heat regulators, you must definitely put filters in front of them, which will have to be cleaned regularly.

Increased heat transfer from batteries

We figured out how to regulate the temperature of the radiator using thermostats. However, it should be borne in mind that all adjustment devices are able to reduce the degree of heating of the heater, but are not able to make it give off large quantity heat.

If the radiators in your apartment do not need to decrease, but to increase the temperature, you can resort to some measures that can change the situation.

In modern heating systems that involve underfloor heating, special heating temperature controllers for radiators are installed. The main function of these devices is to change the degree of room heating by changing the volume of the coolant that passes through the radiators. Properly used and installed regulators can increase the efficiency of the heating system.

Structural elements

Outwardly, the regulator resembles the most ordinary valve installed at the inlet or outlet of pipelines from radiators, however, instead of the classic valve, these devices are equipped with a quick-release nut, with which a thermocouple is attached to the body.

Radiator heaters and similar control devices for radiators generally consist of two main systems:

A thermostatic valve is required to effectively control the transfer of heat from the heating appliance. Moreover, its amount that passes through the radiator must constantly change depending on the room temperature.

Features of regulators

Temperature regulators for radiators operate in automatic mode. At first, it is only necessary to determine the required degree of heating of the heater by means of a graduated scale located on the thermal head.

Modern regulators function in such a way that they never cut off the supply of coolant to the radiators, but only decrease or increase it depending on the room temperature.

The valve is a device that provides fine control over the heating of the heater. When determining the temperature regime in the room, the error will be minimal. How to regulate the temperature of the heating battery correctly will be discussed below.

Principle of operation

One of the key parts of the thermostatic valve is the stem, which is equipped with a rubber gasket. This rod is movable, it can rise and fall, while the diameter of the hole through which the coolant enters the radiator changes.

When the valves are opened, a large volume of liquid will start circulating in the heaters, and they will heat more. The radiator temperature regulator with a lowered stem will reduce the amount of heat carrier passing through. For a heater, this means less intense heating.

Main types

Temperature regulators for heating batteries can be of the following types:

1. Devices with mechanical adjustment of the flow rate of the liquid passing through the valve.
2. Devices with a thermostatic head that is controlled by a bellows.
3. Devices with a thermostatic head, which is controlled by an external thermostatic sensor.

All three types of this equipment can be combined on one basis - the presence of a thermostatic valve. It is located at the bottom of the structure. The main difference lies in the thermal head.

There is a special scale on the valve head. Thanks to these numbers, you can set the required temperature.

Basic types

Today, heating temperature regulators are used for the following types of radiators:

The regulator, which is installed in a two-pipe system, as a rule, is designed in such a way that it does not go out of operation in case of pressure drops. This is because balancing is done through losses near the valve. To overcome this problem, the radiator temperature regulator of the heating batteries is equipped with a small flow area and a large hydraulic resistance.

Installation features

It is worth noting that heating devices controlled by thermostats are capable of creating completely new conditions for the heating system. For example, after long-term cold weather, the temperature finally became several degrees higher. Accordingly, there are less heat losses in the room.

Heating temperature regulators for radiators take this information unambiguously as a signal to shut off the coolant. In this case, its consumption falls, and then gradually tends to zero. Accordingly, the pressure in the heat pipe begins to gradually increase. In order to prevent feelings of discomfort, in such situations, designers install it in the system immediately after the circulation pump.

Temperature in heating batteries: norms

The heating system must work in such a way that the rooms are comfortable. As a rule, the temperature regime is regulated For example, in kindergartens and hospitals it is 21 degrees Celsius, in residential buildings - 18 degrees Celsius. However, depending on the temperature outside, the room loses with air currents during ventilation and through different amounts of heat. Heating of the coolant in the heating system, depending on external factors, can vary over a fairly wide range. The temperature in radiators (norms prohibit 90 due to the decomposition of paint and varnish coatings and dust) can be from 30 to 90 degrees Celsius.

It is necessary to use graphics designed specifically for each building. They express the dependence of the outside air temperature on the parameters of the coolant. Also, automatic regulation is applied according to the readings of the sensor.

In order for the temperature of the radiators to be optimal, and the regulation is correct, you should use high-quality equipment and have information on how to do it correctly.

Regulation instruction

The heating adjustment procedure is carried out during the installation of thermostats and radiators. However, not everyone knows how to regulate the temperature of the radiator.

So, self-regulation of heating devices is as follows:

1. A crane is attached to each device, allowing precise and at the same time smooth adjustment. In this case, the use of ball valves is not allowed.
2. First of all, it is necessary to open all available locking devices and select the coldest room. In the selected room, you will need to continue all further actions.
3. After that, the tap opens completely.
4. To simplify the temperature control procedure for each individual room, you should purchase a separate thermometer (heat sensor) and install it.
5. With the help of a thermostat, the boiler is heated to the required temperature. You also need to pay attention to the aspect that cold rooms need to be warmed up somewhat more than others.
6. As soon as the temperature in the coldest rooms is normalized, it will be possible to move to other rooms and perform similar actions using the regulator. To do this, screw the taps on the heating devices so that the air can be heated further. As soon as the required thermal mode is created, it is necessary to set the temperature on the boiler.

Conclusion

So, now you know how to regulate the temperature of the radiator correctly. However, in order for the regulation to really be of high quality, it is necessary to purchase good temperature controllers from well-known manufacturers. Then the heating system will serve for many years.

To install a thermostat, it is preferable to seek help from qualified specialists who have been professionally engaged in this business for a long time in order to prevent serious troubles in the future. You can get advice on the equipment you have chosen in any specialized store.

When designing heating systems, professional craftsmen necessarily provide them with special technical means that in the future will allow you to control the pressure and temperature in the network. Shut-off valves and other devices act as such means. We will talk about the rules and features of adjusting heat supply systems in this article.

Heat supply regulation - what methods to use?

During heating operation, the coolant in the system heats up and expands, that is, it increases in volume. That is why the owner sometimes needs to adjust the heating batteries in his private house, thereby controlling the operation of the heat supply. There are several types of devices that can do this job. All devices are usually divided into two categories:

1. 1.regulatory;
2. 2. controlling.

The former allow you to regulate the pressure and temperature in the system, to reduce these parameters up or down. They can be installed on separate sections of the pipeline and used to regulate individual parts of the network, or regulate the operation of the entire system as a whole. Control devices are all kinds of thermometers and manometers installed separately from the control means in the systems or together with them. They allow at any time to receive information about the operation of the heat supply and make a decision on the need to adjust it.

So that during the operation of heating with its regulation there are no difficulties, when designing an engineering it is necessary to provide:

• installation of thermometers and manometers before and after the heating boiler, in the distribution manifolds (in the lowest and highest part of the network);
• installation of a pressure gauge before the circulation pump, if available in the system;
• mounting expansion tank: leaky - in open networks and membrane - in closed ones;
• installation of safety valves and air vents necessary to prevent the pressure in the pipes from rising to critical values.

During normal operation of the system, the water temperature in the pipes should not exceed 90 degrees, and the pressure should be within 1.5-3 atmospheres. Some heating networks can function at higher temperature and pressure characteristics, but they use special elements that are not available in standard domestic heating. Failure to adjust the battery with a conventional thermostat may indicate the formation of an air lock. To eliminate it, you will have to use the Mayevsky crane.

How to set up heating in a private house - features and nuances

The heating networks of private houses and dwellings in apartment buildings differ greatly. In a detached residential building, only internal factors can affect the operation of heat supply - problems of autonomous heating, but not breakdowns in the general system. Most often, overlays arise due to the boiler, the operation of which is affected by its power and the type of fuel used.

Heating setting

The possibilities and methods of adjusting home heating depend on several factors, the most significant of which are the following:

1. 1. Material and diameter of pipes. The larger the cross-section of the pipeline, the faster the heating and expansion of the coolant occurs.
2. 2. Features of radiators. It is possible to regulate radiators normally only if they are correctly connected to the pipes. If properly installed, during operation of the system, it will be possible to control the speed and volume of water passing through the device.
3. 3. The presence of mixing units. Mixing units in two-pipe systemsah allow you to reduce the temperature of the coolant by mixing cold and hot water streams.

The installation of mechanisms that allow comfortable and sensitive regulation of pressure and temperature in the system should be foreseen at the design stages of a new autonomous communication. If you install such equipment without preliminary calculations in an already functioning system, its efficiency can be significantly reduced.

Ways to stabilize the pressure in the home system

When the coolant heats up, it significantly increases in volume, however, because of this, the pressure in the network can jump dramatically, exceeding all possible critical values, which leads to the most unpleasant consequences. Expansion vessels are often used to regulate the pressure in systems. A tank is a container divided into two chambers, one of which is filled with water from the heating network, and air is pumped into the other. In the air chamber, the air pressure is equal to the normal pressure in the heating pipes, therefore, if the pressure in the system rises above the norm, a special membrane increases the volume of the water chamber, compensating for the expansion of the liquid in the pipes.

Before adjusting the pressure, it is necessary to check the settings and the general condition of the expansion vessel. You can simply change the pressure if your system has a tank that allows you to set the pressure in the air chamber. To make it easier to monitor pressure, you can also install a pressure gauge. However, in the event of a sharp jump in pressure in the network, one expansion tank will not be enough to stabilize it, therefore experts recommend using additional devices.

To regulate the pressure in the heating network at any, even critical values, a special safety group can be used. It includes a whole set of useful tools:

1. 1. A pressure gauge that allows you to visually monitor the network.
2. 2. Air vent with a valve through which excess air leaves the pipes when the temperature of the coolant reaches 100 degrees.
3. 3. A safety valve, which, when the system reaches the critical characteristics of the automatic, will drain excess water from the pipes.

The safety unit is needed to prevent accidents in the system as a whole; it cannot be used to regulate individual elements (radiators) of the heat supply of an apartment or a private house. To regulate the state of the batteries, it is necessary to use another device, namely, the Mayevsky crane. By its design, such a valve is very similar to a safety valve, but it is small in size and can be installed on a radiator pipe of even a small diameter. Mayevsky's crane can be used in the following cases:

1. 1. If air locks appear in the batteries. By opening the tap, you can slowly release excess air from the radiator and close the valve as soon as water begins to flow from the tap.
2. 2. At high pressure in the radiator. In the event of an emergency expansion of the heating medium due to high pressure, the valve can be opened and the pressure in the system can be stabilized.

Despite the possibility of using a Mayevsky crane to stabilize pressure, it is used very rarely for these purposes. It is much easier and more efficient to use a dedicated security group, but if you don't have one, you can use this simple tool as well.

Heating problems - we control the temperature of the water in the network

An equally important characteristic of the operation of the heating network is the temperature of the coolant. In two-pipe systems, the optimal temperature characteristics of the hot and cooled coolant are 75/50 degrees or 80/60 degrees. To easily adjust the temperature, you will have to install in the system special equipment and elements.

The easiest way is to create mixing units in the network. An obligatory element of such assemblies is two- and three-way valves. One branch pipe of the mixing unit is connected to the hot water pipe, and the other to the cold water pipe. The third branch pipe is installed on the section of the line in which it is required to ensure a decrease in the temperature of the liquid, if such a need arises.

To simplify the use of mixing units, they are equipped with temperature sensors and a special thermostatic control unit. The sensor can signal the temperature of the heating medium and, based on the temperature level, close or open the mixing valve to regulate the heating. Typically, such equipment is mounted in underfloor heating collectors. To effectively adjust the water temperature in heating an apartment building, it is necessary to take into account the temperature regime in the pipes, usually the temperature of the pipes in the premises of the apartment does not exceed 45 degrees.

To reduce the temperature of the water in the pipes of an apartment building, you can use a special shut-off valve. Sometimes it is enough to install simple taps that regulate the flow of coolant into the batteries, but in this case you will have to control the heating of the room yourself. It is much easier to regulate the heat supply using servo drives.

Servo drive is a device that includes a drive control unit and a thermostat. In order for the temperature in the rooms to always be maintained at the same level, it is necessary to set the desired value on the thermostat, and the servo drive will automatically open and close the flow of coolant into the radiator. To reduce repair costs, you can simply purchase a model with a thermostat only. But in this case, the adjustment will not be as accurate.

For temperature control in apartments with old heating systems and cast iron radiators it is necessary to use special thermostats. These devices, however, do not allow changing the pressure in the pipes; for this, specialized means must be used.

The devices and methods for adjusting the heating system described above significantly increase the efficiency and safety of its operation. The owner will not be superfluous to know the rules for installing some individual elements of the network, which directly affect the quality of its functioning. Battery regulation begins at the design stages of a new communication and during the installation process. It is important to choose the right method of connecting radiators, since the type of installation directly affects the efficiency of the device and the further possibility of installing special thermostats.

If you want to control and regulate the operation of the equipment, you must take into account the pipe layout. In one-pipe systems, there is always a jumper or bypass necessary to redirect the flow of hot water in the event of a radiator or other replacement renovation works... In two-pipe networks, heating elements are connected in parallel to each other, therefore it is much easier to regulate the temperature of the batteries in them.

In a private house, for any work with heating, it is necessary to take into account the characteristics and individual characteristics of the installed boiler. Efficiency depends on it engineering system... In order for the network to work correctly and it can be easily regulated, choose a boiler taking into account:

1. 1. Rated power. For 10 m2 of area, about 1 kW of boiler power is required with minimal heat losses.
2. 2. The ratio of the power of the heating boiler to the volume of water. To heat 15 liters of coolant, 1 kW of power is needed.
3. 3. Admissibility of smooth regulation of the boiler. Usually, gas boilers have this function.

If you and the hired designers manage to correctly calculate the necessary boiler parameters, during the operation of the heating network, it will be possible to regulate the water temperature in the radiators as simply and accurately as possible. A good boiler increases the safety of the engineering work at home, makes the network more reliable and functional. Do not forget to take into account the climatic conditions in your region when calculating. In the northern regions of Russia, more powerful boilers are required, and in the southern regions, less powerful ones, which allow spending much less money and resources to maintain comfortable temperature conditions in the rooms.

To constantly maintain a comfortable temperature in the rooms, each radiator must be equipped with a regulation system. As a rule, it is possible to adjust the heating batteries at the stage of installing the system itself. However, on this stage it will be only initial, and after connecting you will have to reconfigure and adjust the system operation in accordance with the requirements for the desired temperature several times. This article will tell you how to avoid mistakes when adjusting the heat transfer of central heating radiators.

Heating radiator temperature

Very often, residents of apartment buildings and country houses ask themselves about what temperature, according to the standard, the heaters themselves in the room should be and how to properly adjust the heating batteries. In fact, there is no such norm for the temperature of radiators. There is only such a thing as heat transfer. It depends entirely on what material the radiator is made of. The most effective for quickly warming up a room are aluminum radiators, bimetallic ones transfer heat a little worse, and cast iron ones are in last place. (See also: Steel radiators heating)

Instead of norms for the temperature of heating units, there are norms for the level of air heat in the premises. According to these regulations, in living rooms the temperature must be between 18C and 24C. In other rooms (toilet, bathroom, kitchen, hallway, pantry), it should be from 14 to 22C. The ideal temperature is 21C. if you manage to achieve an even distribution of heat over the entire area of \u200b\u200ban apartment or house, this will be the most the best option of all possible.

Factors affecting room temperature

Remember that the temperature level in the room depends not only on the radiators themselves and their type, but also on many other conditions:

• ventilation frequency;
• number of windows;
• thermal insulation of windows;
• location of the room (in the middle of the house, on the corner, top or bottom floor).

Therefore, before adjusting the temperature of the radiator, try to take into account all the above factors and, on the basis of their analysis, adjust the heat of the air. Painstaking adjustment of each heating element will be completely inappropriate if there is a draft in the rooms or windows or vents are constantly open. In fact, by increasing the temperature in the radiators, you will "heat the street". (See also: How to calculate the number of radiators)

It is hardly possible to create an ideal and comfortable system that meets the requirements of each tenant without regulating the radiators.

Battery adjustment process

Often, at the beginning of construction, the heating system is set up by simply routing pipes of various thicknesses from the boiler to the radiators. However, this approach is not enough to effectively manage the heating system.

Even if the boiler is programmed for a certain temperature, the batteries may be colder than required. This is due to the fact that there is a large amount of air in the pipes. If it is lowered, water can flow more freely through the pipes. Consequently, the room will begin to warm up more quickly and with increased efficiency... Therefore, when adjusting the batteries, the first thing to do is to bleed the air from the radiators. (See also: Heating radiator piping)

Directly for these purposes, absolutely on each battery on one side there is a special tap, by turning which you can release unnecessary air. However, be careful when doing this and open it slowly to avoid a sudden burst of hot steam as it is under high pressure.

To properly regulate radiators, just opening and closing a special control valve on the radiator is, of course, not enough. Depending on how many batteries are connected to the boiler, open them by a certain number of turns. For example, you have three radiators connected to a boiler. In order for the pressure to be evenly distributed throughout the entire heating system, open the first battery by a couple of turns, the second by three, and the third by four. Such an adjustment of the heating batteries in the apartment will allow the rooms to be heated in a shorter time.

In the event that your system has the function of forced pumping of water, it becomes possible to install so-called three-way taps on each radiator. If there is sufficient power in the boiler, it will not be difficult to adjust the temperature of the heating battery. In general, in order to simplify the process of setting the required temperature, each radiator should have special valves. (See also: Heating radiator connection diagram)

Their presence will allow you to control the flow of heat and rational use of power heating equipment... For example, if the room has become too hot, or it is not used and is closed, then the flow of hot water into the radiator can be reduced or completely blocked with the help of such a tap.

Differences in heating systems

According to their location, there are three types of heating systems:

1. systems through which water moves from top to bottom;
2. one-pipe system;
3. two-pipe system.

If your house has a system of the first type, then it will be simply impossible to adjust the temperature of the heating battery. On the upper floors, the radiators will be constantly hot, but on the lower ones they will be colder.

If you have a flow-through one-pipe system, then to adjust the heating batteries, it will be enough to install an additional valve on the pipe that supplies hot water to a separate radiator. In a flow system, water moves along the riser, passes through the battery and returns to it again. (See also: What good heating radiators can be used to heat living spaces)

In the presence of a two-pipe system, both manual valves and special automated devices can be installed on the line. They help to regulate not only the temperature, but also the volume of the incoming water. Which device to choose - manual or automatic - is up to you.

• To install regulators on radiators, use only special taps and valves.
• In order for the batteries to give off heat to the maximum, try to optimally correlate the number of corners, slopes and turns of pipes during the installation process. With an excessive number of bends, the performance of the entire system will be ineffective, but at the same time, the pressure in the pipes and batteries will decrease.
• Insulate radiators and pipes carefully in rooms where heating is not so important. For example, in a closet, garage, etc. Insulation will prevent the waste of heat in those sections of the path where its supply, in general, is not so important.
• At the time of adjusting the heating batteries, the rooms must be fully used for their intended purpose. This approach will make it clear what the optimal temperature is required for comfortable room operation.
• To avoid wasting heat, take into account all additional sources of heating in the room, as well as factors that contribute to cooling the air and the appearance of drafts: air conditioners, open windows, etc.
• Start adjusting the temperature of the radiators by determining the coldest room. As a rule, this is the largest and non-residential premises in home. To do this, close all taps and measure the temperature in the rooms. Once the coldest room has been identified, start tuning the batteries from that room by fully opening the shut-off valve there. The room will warm up more efficiently, but the flow of hot water itself will not decrease.

• In order not to guess about the temperature by personal feelings, hang thermometers in the rooms. They do not have to be in a conspicuous place and look like a thermometer (if you are worried about breaking the harmony in the interior). Moreover, for example, at + 20C, one person may feel quite comfortable, while to another such a temperature will seem somewhat low.
• To bring the temperature in the rooms to the most comfortable value, adjust the regulator on the boiler. In this case, in warmer rooms, the temperature will slightly exceed the required value.
• Remember that heated rooms cool rather slowly. Therefore, if the temperature in the room seemed to you a little too high, do not close the tap completely, but only slightly lower it. To adjust the temperature of the radiators as efficiently as possible, screw on the taps in turn in each room.

Why do you need to regulate heating batteries

First, setting the temperature helps to create the most comfortable indoor environment.

Secondly, this reduces the cost of heat consumption. If we calculate the efficiency of heating control systems, then on average, costs are reduced by 25%.

Thirdly, if you have heat consumption meters, you can control the cost of heating the room.

Fourthly, there is no need for constantly open windows. Of course, fresh air is useful, but if there are small children or sick people in the room, the draft can only damage them.

Start adjusting the batteries in advance, before the start of the new heating season, and then in the cold season you will not have to freeze and try frantically to adjust the central heating system. However, you should not do this in the summer either - while it is hot outside, you will not be able to fully appreciate the comfort of the artificially heated air and set the required temperature correctly.

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We figure out how to regulate the temperature of the heating battery

System diagram with regulators

Each heating season brings its own surprises with the difficulties of heating the premises, as for residents multi-storey buildingsand private cottages. The quality of uniform heating of all rooms of the house depends on how the temperature of the radiators is adjusted.

Why do you need to adjust

Setting the optimal temperature of the radiators allows you to create the most comfortable living conditions inside the room. In addition, the adjustment allows:

1. To remove the effect of airing in the batteries, to allow the coolant to move freely through the pipeline of the heating system, effectively giving off its heat to the interior space of the room.
2. Reduce heat consumption costs by up to 25%.
3. Do not keep the windows open all the time if the room air overheats.

Setting up heating and regulating batteries, it is advisable to do it before the start of the heating season. This is necessary in order not to experience discomfort in the apartment later and not to adjust the heating temperature of the batteries in emergency mode. Before setting up and adjusting the radiators, it is necessary to insulate all windows initially in the summer. In addition, you need to take into account the peculiarities of the location of the apartment:

• In the middle or corner of the house.
• Lower or upper floor.

After analyzing the situation, it is advisable to use energy-saving technologies to maximize heat preservation inside the apartment:

• Insulate walls, corners, floors.
• Carry out hydro and thermal insulation of the joints between the concrete joints of the panel house.

Without these works, it will be useless to regulate the temperature of the radiators, since the lion's share of the heat will heat the street.

Types of heating systems and the principle of regulating radiators

Valve handle

To correctly adjust the temperature of the radiators, you need to know the general structure of the heating system and the layout of the coolant pipes.

• In the case of individual heating, regulation is easier when:

1. The system is powered by a powerful boiler.
2. Each battery is equipped with a three-way tap.
3. Forced pumping of the coolant was installed.

At the stage installation works individual heating must take into account the minimum number of bends in the system. This is necessary in order to reduce heat loss and not reduce the pressure of the coolant supplied to the radiators.

For uniform heating and rational use of heat, a valve is mounted on each battery. With it, you can reduce the water supply or disconnect it from the general heating system in an unused room.

• It is impossible to adjust the radiators in the central heating system of multi-storey buildings equipped with a coolant supply through a pipeline from top to bottom. In this situation upper floors windows are opened because of the heat, and it is cold in the rooms of the lower floors, since the batteries are barely warm there.
• More perfect one-pipe network. Here, the coolant is supplied to each battery with its subsequent return to the central riser. Therefore, there is no noticeable temperature difference in the apartments of the upper and lower floors of these houses. In this case, the supply pipe of each radiator is equipped with a control valve.
• A two-pipe system, where two risers are mounted, provides a coolant supply to the heating radiator and vice versa. To increase or decrease the coolant flow, each battery is equipped with a separate valve with a manual or automatic thermostat.

Types of control valves

Existing modern technologies heat supply allows installing a special tap on each radiator, which controls the quality of heat. This control valve is a shut-off valve heat exchanger that is piped to the radiator.

According to the principle of their work, these cranes are:

• Ball, which primarily serve as 100% protection against emergency situations. These shut-off devices are a design that can be rotated 90 degrees and can let water through or impede the passage of the coolant.

The ball valve must not be left in a half-open state, as in this case it may be damaged sealing ring and form to flow.

• Standard, where there is no temperature scale. They are represented by traditional budget valves. They do not give absolute control accuracy. Partially blocking the access of the coolant to the radiator, they change the temperature in the apartment by an undefined value.
• With a thermal head, which allow you to adjust and monitor the parameters of the heating system. Such thermostats are automatic and mechanical.

Conventional direct-acting thermostat

A direct-acting thermostat is a simple device for controlling the temperature in a heating radiator, which is installed near it. By its design, it is a sealed cylinder in which a siphon with a special liquid or gas is inserted, which clearly reacts to changes in the temperature of the coolant.

When it rises, the liquid or gas expands. This leads to an increase in pressure on the stem in the thermostat valve. He, in turn, moving, blocks the flow of the coolant. When the radiator cools down, the reverse process takes place.

Temperature controller with electronic sensor

The principle of operation of this device does not differ from the previous version, the only difference is in the settings. If they are performed manually in a conventional thermostat, then the electronic sensor does not need this.

Here the temperature is preset, and the sensor monitors its maintenance within the specified limits. The electronic thermostatic sensor regulates the control parameters of the air temperature in the range from 6 to 26 degrees.

Step by step instructions for adjusting the temperature

To ensure a comfortable stay in the room, you need to perform some basic steps.

1. Initially, on each battery, it is necessary to bleed air before water flows out of the tap in a trickle.
2. Then it is necessary to adjust the pressure in the batteries.
3. To do this, in the first battery from the boiler, you need to open the valve by two turns, on the second - by three, and then in the same way, increasing the number of turns of the valve to be opened on each radiator. Thus, the coolant pressure will be evenly distributed over all radiators. This will provide it with normal passage through the pipes and better heating of the batteries.
4. In a forced heating system, the pumping of the coolant, the control of rational heat consumption will be helped by control valves.
5. In a flow-through system, the temperature is well regulated, thermostats built into each battery.
6. In a two-pipe heating system, it is possible to control not only the temperature of the coolant, but also its amount in the batteries using both manual and automatic control systems.

Conclusion

Today, to maintain a comfortable temperature in an apartment, each radiator of the heating system must be equipped with a control system.

Modern thermostats help not only maintain the thermal balance inside the room, but also save energy costs for heating the coolant.

Methods for adjusting heating system radiators using taps, thermostats and servo drives

During the professional design of a heating system, three main factors must be taken into account: the nominal power, the installation scheme of the devices and their adjustment. To solve the last problem, it is necessary to use special fittings, as well as devices for changing the temperature regime in a specific section of the circuit. How is the adjustment of the heating system of houses and apartments carried out correctly: taps, radiators, batteries?

Heating system adjustment methods

Heating system with control valves

There are several ways to change the characteristics of heat supply. Timely hydraulic adjustment of the heating system is necessary to stabilize the pressure in certain areas and the entire circuit as a whole. Temperature correction serves as a tool for changing the degree of heating of the air in a particular room. Most often, a tap is used for this to adjust the heating temperature.

All of the above characteristics largely depend on the operation of the boiler. However, to normalize the system parameters, additional components must be installed. Depending on the function, they are divided into the following types:

• Temperature... They are used to partially or completely shut off the coolant flow in radiators or in a separate circuit. With the help of taps, a thermostat or mixing units, the heating batteries in the apartment are adjusted;
• Pressure... Temperature differences between flow and return can cause pressure surges. This will imbalance the system, which will impair its performance. To eliminate this problem, hydraulic arrows are mounted, as they do the collector piping.

In practice, timely adjustment of valves on radiators reduces energy costs. Also, using the adjusting fittings, you can change the degree of heating of the air in the room.

The actual performance of the heating system must match the calculated one. In this way, the number of adjusting elements can be reduced.

Types of regulators

Heating radiator piping

Heating regulation in apartment building or a private cottage is performed using special devices. They are installed in certain areas of the system and can operate in automatic or manual mode. They are installed on radiators, mixing units and manifolds.

Before choosing a specific model, it is necessary to find out the optimal way to change the temperature regime for the pressure in the system. Depending on the internal device regulation of heating radiators in an apartment can be carried out in two ways:

• Partial overlap of the coolant volume into the battery. For this, taps and thermostats are installed;
• Mixing streams of hot and cooled water to form a heat carrier with the desired temperature. This is done by mixing units in which two and three-way valves are mounted.

A full adjustment of the heating system of a private house can be carried out only after a careful study of the devices of these components.

Heating control valves

Cone valve design

The easiest way to change the temperature regime of the batteries is to install shutoff valves. With its help, the heating taps in the apartment or house are adjusted. Depending on the design, they can perform two functions - the operative shutdown of the coolant flow during repair work or the regulation of hot water into the battery.

Ball valves are not designed to change the flow of the coolant volume. Therefore, it is not possible to adjust the temperature of the radiator with their help. To do this, it is necessary to use another crane model - a cone valve. In it, with the help of a rod, the bore diameter on the line section is changed.

Installing a cone valve is a cheap mechanism for changing the temperature in a radiator. However, along with this, its operation has several disadvantages:

• Manual operating mode. When changing the degree of water heating in the pipes, in order to reduce or increase the flow of heat for the radiator, it is necessary to independently adjust the position of the rod;
• It is recommended to install a thermometer to take temperature readings in the radiator;
• Over time, the rubber pad will become thinner, resulting in breakage.

Currently, it is not practiced to adjust the temperature of a heating radiator using taps. For this, other mechanisms are used with a significantly larger set of functions.

A so-called servo drive can be mounted on an already installed cone valve. It will change the position of the rod automatically depending on the temperature in the room or in the heating system.

Heating thermostats

Heating radiator thermostat

It is best if the temperature of the heating radiator is regulated in automatic and semi-automatic modes. This function is performed by thermostats - devices for changing the volume of water flow into the battery.

Most often, direct-acting thermostats are used to strap the radiator. Structurally, they are similar to the above-considered taps with one exception - the position of the stem changes automatically depending on the temperature of hot water.

This heating temperature control system consists of a mechanical part and a sensing element. The functions of the latter can be performed by paraffin or any liquid with a high degree of thermal expansion. As the temperature rises, the sensing block pushes against the valve seat, thereby initiating stem lowering. The response temperature is adjusted using a spring connected to the thermostatic element.

The advantage of such an adjustment of the heating batteries in the apartment lies in the automatic operation of the device. The user just needs to set the required level of heating of the radiator on the thermostat. But besides this, you need to know the specifics of adjusting apartment heating radiators:

• In the overwhelming case, thermostats do not have the function of connecting to external temperature sensors. Their work does not depend on the degree of heating of the air in the room, which can cause some discomfort;
• After long periods of inactivity, the valve seat is fixed in the body. To eliminate it, manually lower and raise the stem;
• Each thermostat model is designed for a specific temperature mode of operation.

Despite the apparent advantages of thermostats over adjusting taps on heating radiators, they cannot greatly affect the change in the degree of heating of the batteries. Other devices perform this function.

For full operation, the radiators in its piping, in addition to the thermostat, must have a Mayevsky crane to eliminate air jams.

Heating control actuators

Heating servos

Another type of thermostat has great functionality - a servo drive. It can be mounted to regulate heating taps in an apartment with an already installed fittings... In fact, the servo drive performs the functions of changing the position of the stem on the valve depending on external factors - the temperature of the coolant or the degree of heating of the air in the room.

Unlike a thermostat, most servo models have a built-in temperature sensor. But this is not a disadvantage, since for the complex regulation of heating in an apartment building, several devices can be connected to one thermometer. Thus, the flow control of the coolant volume will be performed in all radiators at once. Additionally, servo drives are used to complete the following heating components:

• In the collector group of the warm floor. They are part of a heating temperature control system in a private house, complete with a two or three-way valve;
• Connecting to a daily or weekly programmer will make it possible to automate the heating operation.

In addition, servos are installed in any areas of the heating system, where it is necessary to automatically regulate the volume of the coolant inflow.

To regulate the temperature in the heating coil using servo drives, an additional temperature sensor must be installed. Therefore, most often, preference is given to thermostats.

Features of installation and maintenance of regulators

Thermoregulator installation diagram

After selection optimal model a thermostat or a tap to adjust the heating temperature must be correctly set. The location of the reinforcement directly depends on its function and design.

Most often, adjustment components are mounted in the piping of a specific heating radiator. They are installed on the supply pipe or on the bypass. At the same time, for comfortable regulation of the temperature of the heating batteries, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:

• The device must not be closed decorative panels or other interior items;
• The service life of thermostats largely depends on the quality of the coolant. Therefore, a mesh filter should be installed in front of it, which will protect the valve seat from limescale;
• When installing the heating temperature control valve, follow the installation diagram. On the body of the device arrows show the direction of movement of the coolant;
• Many thermostats and servos are connected to the mains. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a power supply to them.

Before installing and further adjusting heating batteries in an apartment, you must read the manufacturer's instructions. It prescribes the installation conditions for the operation of a specific control element.

One of the important indicators of apartment heating control valves is the maximum and minimum throughput. They must match the current system parameters.

Maintenance of regulators and valves

Pressure testing is carried out only after installing the control valves

After installation, preliminary adjustment of the valves on the heating radiators should be carried out. For this, the operating temperature and pressure in the system must be normal. Then, by changing the degree of heating of the coolant, the operation of the control valves is checked. The system is tested in several modes. Alas, it will not be possible to independently adjust heating in an apartment-type house using this scheme, since consumers do not have the opportunity to change the degree of heating of the coolant.

In fact, it is possible to check the performance of a particular element only when starting the district heating. Those. correct adjustment of heating radiators in the apartment is carried out during the heating season.

During the start-up of the heating system, the heating system of a private house must be fully adjusted. It should include the following steps:

• Checking the performance of taps and thermostats;
• Compliance of their actual parameters with passport data;
• If, during the control adjustment of the heating degree of the heating batteries, a faulty element is detected, it must be replaced.

In addition, it must be remembered that a number of external factors affect the operation of the system: the degree of thermal insulation of the house, the climatic characteristics of a particular region. This must also be taken into account when adjusting the temperature of the radiator.

The video shows an example of organizing the regulation of heating radiators in a house:

How to regulate radiators

If the individual heating system is calculated correctly, no regulators are needed: a stable temperature will be maintained in each room. But in multi-storey buildings after total heating alterations, regulators can become very useful.

It is necessary to regulate the heat transfer of heating radiators for several reasons. First, it saves on heating costs. In apartments of multi-storey buildings, bills for payment will be reduced only if a common house heat meter is installed. In private houses, if you have an automated boiler that maintains a stable temperature itself, you are unlikely to need regulators for radiators. Unless you have old equipment. Then the savings will be quite substantial.

Manual controls on radiators

The second reason why regulators are installed on heating radiators is the ability to maintain the temperature regime in the room that you want. You need +17 o C in one room, and +26 o C in another, set the appropriate values \u200b\u200bon the thermal head or close the valve, and you have as warm air as you want. And it doesn't matter if you have batteries in your apartment, and the coolant is supplied centrally, or the heating is individual. And it does not matter at all how much the boiler costs in the system. Radiator regulators have nothing to do with boilers. They work on their own

How to regulate radiators

To understand how the temperature is regulated, let's remember how a heating radiator works. It is a labyrinth of pipes with different types of fins to increase heat transfer. Hot water enters the radiator inlet, passing through the labyrinth, it heats the metal. It in turn heats up the air around it. Due to the fact that on modern radiators, the fins have a special shape that improves air movement (convection), hot air spreads very quickly. With active heating, there is a noticeable flow of heat from the radiators.

This battery is very hot. In this case, the regulator must be installed

It follows from all this that by changing the amount of coolant passing through the battery, you can change the temperature in the room (within certain limits). This is what the corresponding fittings do - control valves and thermostats.

Let's say right away that no regulators can increase heat transfer. They only lower it. If the room is hot - put it, if it's cold - this is not your option.

How effectively the temperature of the batteries changes depends, firstly, on how the system is designed, whether there is a power reserve for heating devices, and secondly, on how correctly the regulators themselves are selected and installed. A significant role is played by the inertia of the system as a whole, and the heating devices themselves. For example, aluminum quickly heats up and cools down, while cast iron, which has a large mass, changes temperature very slowly. So there is no point in changing something with cast iron: it takes too long to wait for the result.

Connection and installation options for control valves. But to be able to repair the radiator without stopping the system, you need to put a ball valve up to the regulator (click on the picture to enlarge its size)

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 clogging of filters and pipes. Blockages are not only found in older homes. They are more often observed in new ones: during installation, all kinds of construction waste gets into the system, which clogs the devices when the system starts up. If the cleaning has not yielded results, proceed to drastic measures.
• Increase the temperature of the heating medium. This is possible with individual heating, but very difficult, rather impossible, with centralized heating.
• Change connection. Not all types of radiator connections are equally effective, for example, reverse lateral gives a power reduction of 20-25%, and the place of installation 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, then the heating power of the heater is not enough. Then you need to grow several sections. Read how to do it here.

Do not raise the radiator temperature by adjusting

The main disadvantage of regulated systems is that they need a certain power reserve of 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, and neither is it cold. And control valves are a universal way out.

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

Valves or taps

These are the most inexpensive, but, unfortunately, the least effective radiator control devices.

Ball Valves

Ball valves are often installed at the entrance to the battery and with their help the flow of the coolant is regulated. But this equipment has a different purpose: it is a shut-off valve. They are needed in the system, but to completely shut off the coolant flow. In that case, for example, if the heater is leaking. Then the ball valves standing at the inlet and outlet of the heating radiator will allow repair or replacement of the system without stopping the system and draining the coolant.

Ball valves are not intended for adjustment. They have only two operating states: fully "closed" and completely "open". All intermediate positionsharm .

Ball valves - shut-off valves are not suitable for radiator adjustment

What harm? Inside this tap is a ball with a hole (hence the name - ball). In regular positions (open or closed), nothing threatens him. But in other cases, the solid particles contained in the coolant (there are especially a lot of them in centralized heating systems) gradually grind and chunk off pieces. As a result, the valve becomes leaky. Then, even if it is in the "closed" position, the coolant continues to flow into the radiator. And it is good if an accident does not occur at this time, and it is not necessary to turn off the water. But if, suddenly this happens, repairs cannot be avoided. At least you will have to change flooring, and what needs to be repaired in the lower room depends on how quickly the utility workers will close the riser (or you, if you have own house). Yes, the ball valve can work in an abnormal mode for some time, but it still breaks. And sooner rather than later.

For those who still decided to regulate the radiator in this way, it should be borne in mind that they must also be installed correctly, otherwise “pleasant” conversations with the management company cannot be avoided. Since this method is often used in apartment buildings, we will tell you about how to connect them with vertical wiring. Most often, the wiring is single-pipe vertical. This is when a pipe enters the room through the ceiling. A radiator is connected to it. The pipe comes out from the second entrance of the radiator and goes through the floor to the lower room.

How to properly connect a radiator with a vertical single-pipe wiring

Here you need to put the taps correctly: the mandatory installation of a bypass - a bypass pipe. It is needed so that, when the flow to the radiators in the apartment is closed (the tap is fully or partially closed), water circulates in the common house system.

Sometimes the ball valve is placed on the bypass... By changing the amount of coolant passing through it, you can also change the heat transfer of the heating battery. In this case, for greater reliability of the system and the possibility of turning off the taps, there should be three: two shut-off on the radiators, which will work in normal modes, and the third, which will be regulating. But there is one pitfall here: sometimes you can forget what position the cranes are in, or the children will play. Result: the entire riser is blocked, apartments are cold, unpleasant conversations with neighbors and the manager.

So that it is better not to use ball valves for regulating radiators. There are other devices designed specifically to change the amount of coolant flowing through the battery.

Needle valve

The needle valve greatly reduces throughput systems

This device in the heating system is usually installed in front of the pressure gauge. Elsewhere, it does more harm than good. It's all about the structure. The device itself effectively and smoothly changes the flow of the coolant, gradually blocking it.

But the thing is that due to the design features, the width of the passage for the coolant in them is two times less... For example, you have installed inch pipes, and they have the same size needle valve. But its carrying capacity is half the size: the saddle is only ½ inch. That is, each needle valve installed in the system reduces the throughput of the system. Several devices installed in series, for example, in a one-pipe system, will lead to the fact that the last heating devices either do not heat up at all, or will be barely warm. Therefore, the often recommended one-pipe scheme with needle valves in practice leads to the fact that most of the radiators either do not heat at all, or heat very weakly.

• removing the needle valve;
• doubling the number of sections,
• by installing a device that has two times large couplings (a two-inch valve will need to be installed on inch pipes, which is unlikely to suit anyone).

Radiator control valves

Especially for manual adjustment of radiatorsintendedradiator valves (taps)... They are available with angled or direct connection. The principle of operation of this manual temperature controller is as follows. By turning the valve, you lower or raise the shut-off cone. In the closed position, the cone completely blocks the flow. Moving up / down, it more or less blocks the flow of the coolant. Because of this principle of operation, these devices are also called "mechanical temperature controller". It is installed on threaded radiators, connected to pipes using fittings, more often crimped, but there are different types that are compatible with different types pipes.

The control valve can only reduce the temperature

Why is a radiator control valve good? It is reliable, it is not afraid of blockages and small abrasive particles that are in the coolant. This applies to quality products, the valve cone of which is made of metal and carefully processed. Their prices are not very high, which is important with a large heating system. What is the disadvantage? Each time you have to change the position manually, which makes maintaining a stable temperature problematic. Someone is happy with it, someone is not. For those who want a constant or strictly set temperature, automatic devices for adjusting the temperature of the radiators are more suitable.

Automatic adjustment

Automatic maintenance of the temperature in the room is good because once you set the knob to the desired position, you will get rid of the need to twist and change something for a long time. The temperature of the heating radiators is controlled continuously and continuously. The disadvantage of such systems is a significant cost, and the more functionality, the more expensive the device will cost. There are some more features and subtleties, but more about them below.

Radiator control with thermostats

For maintaining a constant set temperature in the room (room) usethermostats or thermostats for heating radiators... Sometimes this device may be called "thermostatic valve", "thermostatic valve", etc. There are many names, but one device is meant. To make it clearer, it is necessary to explain that the thermo-valve and thermo-valve are the lower part of the device, and the thermo-head and thermo-element are the upper part. And the whole device is a radiator thermostat or thermostat.

It looks like a thermostat on a radiator

Most of these devices do not require any power source. The exception is models with a digital display: batteries are inserted into the thermostatic head. But the period of their replacement is quite long, the consumed currents are small.

The radiator thermostat consists of two parts:

• thermostatic valve (sometimes called "body", "thermo valve", "thermal valve");
• thermostatic head (also called "thermostatic element", "thermoelement", "thermal head").

The valve itself (body) is made of metal, usually brass or bronze. Its design is similar to that of a manual valve. Most firms make the lower part of the radiator thermostat unified. That is, heads of any type and any manufacturer can be installed on one body. Let's clarify: one thermo-valve can be equipped with a thermoelement of both manual, mechanical and automatic type. It is very comfortable. If you want to change the adjustment method, you do not need to buy the entire device. We put in another thermostatic element and that's it.

The difference between a manual radiator regulator and an automatic one is only in the installed thermal head

In automatic regulators, the principle of influencing the shut-off is different. In a manual regulator, its position is changed by turning the handle; in automatic models, there is usually a bellows that presses on a spring-loaded mechanism. In electronic devices, everything is controlled by a processor.

The bellows is the main part of the thermal head (thermoelement). It is a small sealed cylinder containing a liquid or gas. Both liquid and gas have one thing in common: their volume is highly dependent on temperature. When heated, they significantly increase their volume, stretching the cylinder-bellows. It presses on the spring, more strongly blocking the flow of the coolant. As it cools down, the gas / liquid volume decreases, the spring rises, the coolant flow increases, and heating occurs again. Such a mechanism, depending on the calibration, allows you to maintain the set temperature with an accuracy of 1 o C.

How the thermostat works, see the video.

The radiator thermostat can be:

• with manual temperature control;
• with automatic;
  • with built-in temperature sensor;
  • with remote (wired).

There are also special models for one-pipe and two-pipe systems, bodies made of different metals. Read more about radiator thermostats here.

Using three-way valves

A three-way valve is rarely used to regulate the temperature of batteries. He has a slightly different task. But in principle, it is possible.

By placing a three-way valve on the supply side, you can also regulate the temperature of the coolant

The three-way valve is installed at the junction of the bypass and the supply pipe to the radiator. To stabilize the temperature of the coolant, it must be equipped with a thermostatic head (of the type described above). If the temperature near the head of the three-way valve rises above the set one, the flow of the coolant to the radiator is shut off. He rushes all through the bypass. After cooling down, the valve works in the opposite direction, and the radiator heats up again. This connection method is implemented for one-pipe systems. more often with vertical wiring.

Adjustment of heating batteries is possible using different devices, but this must be done correctly with the help of special control valves. These are manual regulators (taps) and automated ones - thermostats, in some versions it is possible to use a three-way valve with a thermal head.

When to use which? In multi-storey apartments with centralized heating three-way valve and control valves are preferred. And all because the gap in the thermostats for the coolant is not very wide, and if there are foreign particles in the coolant, it quickly clogs up. Therefore, they are recommended for use in individual heating systems.

If the apartment really wants to automatically adjust the radiator, you can put a filter before the thermostat. It will retain most of the impurities, but it will have to be washed regularly. If you feel that the radiator has become too cold, check the filter.

In private houses with battery regulation, everything is simple: what suits you best, then put it.

How can the temperature of the radiator be regulated?

In private houses and apartments, quite often there is such a phenomenon as a difference in the level of heating of radiators connected to the heating system. Therefore, residents are forced to put up with uncomfortable living conditions, because the temperature in the bathroom can differ significantly from that in the bedroom or living room. This problem is especially typical for owners who use heating system in houses and apartments.

Avoiding common problems with the heating system will help homeowners to correctly install a device such as a radiator regulator, which is designed to control the temperature of the radiator. Modern temperature regulators for radiators are represented by a wide range of models and can be used by homeowners to optimize the heating system, reduce energy costs and maintain optimal temperature conditions in every room of the house.

The main types of regulators

To increase the efficiency of the radiator, a temperature regulator for a radiator can be used, which works according to various principles. Currently, there are four main groups of regulators that combine devices with a similar principle of operation.

Regulators with locking mechanism

When deciding how to regulate heating batteries, homeowners often pay attention to overhead taps. They differ in affordable cost, acceptable service life provided they are used correctly, and at the same time have an elementary design. The shut-off regulator of the heating battery is installed on the radiator and is used to control the amount of the coolant entering the circuit.

The simple design of the device allows you to easily control the supply of heat carrier from the heating system.

There are only two working positions for the shut-off valves. The first position provides for the free flow of coolant from the system, and the second position completely blocks the flow of water, as a result of which the circulation stops, the radiator cools down and ceases to participate in the process of heating the house.

Some homeowners, using a manual heating temperature controller per mcd, try to leave the shut-off valve lever in an intermediate state in order to forcibly reduce the circulation of the coolant, but experts are against conducting such experiments. Improper operation of the shut-off valve will quickly lead to the failure of the device, and the heating system itself will need complex and time-consuming repairs.

With the use of shut-off valves, the regulation of heating batteries in an apartment can be carried out at a rather primitive level, since it requires continuous monitoring by the owners and provides for manual control of the lever positions. Therefore, at the moment, stopcocks are rarely used, and homeowners pay attention to more advanced models of regulators.

Manual valves

Smooth regulation of heating in an apartment building is possible with the use of manual valves, the improved design of which implies subtlety in the settings. Unlike stopcocks, which have two positions - "Open" / "Closed", the valve has the ability to flexibly regulate the amount of coolant entering the circuit. This is done by changing the internal diameter of the section in the flow channel of the valve.

Manual valves used to regulate the heating of the batteries are available in a wide range of models differing in appearance, material of manufacture and design. However, most have similar design solutions. Thus, the basic valve is a valve with two nozzles and a shut-off head. These components are united by a handle, which is engraved with a scale for the convenience of users to indicate changes in the diameter of the bore.

By turning the knob, the user can change the amount of coolant and the level of heating of a particular radiator. Although a valve is more expensive than a shut-off regulator for a radiator, it is more profitable in the long term, as it allows homeowners to save money on heating bills. The advantages of this type of device lie in the simple design and elementary use, and the disadvantage lies in the need for manual adjustments and periodic monitoring of the regulator's operation.

Thermostats with automatic settings

The third group of devices includes an automatic heating control valve used in modern systems heating. This device has a number of significant advantages and greatly simplifies users' responsibilities related to controlling the temperature in the house, because the regulator automatically sets the operating mode of heating devices depending on external conditions.

In order for the regulation of the heating system of an apartment building with an automatic device to be possible, an external temperature sensor must be integrated into the heating system of the house. It is he who will send signals to the regulator, which will automatically change the internal diameter of the flow area. A thermostatic thermostatic valve for heating works according to this principle, but more advanced models are also available on the market.

Among them, an electronic thermostat for a heating battery, the price of which is slightly higher than an analog device. It is equipped with a built-in temperature sensor, a microprocessor for setting tasks, an electromechanical relay and a control panel. The principle of operation by which the heating system is adjusted using an automatic thermostat is that, according to the signal of the control circuit, the locking head moves with the help of the core.

The advantages of automatic devices are considered to be that they can be used to quite accurately and conveniently adjust the operation of radiators, and therefore the question of how to regulate the temperature of the heating battery for homeowners becomes resolved.

Radiator thermostats

Those wishing to learn how to regulate heating batteries using radiator thermostats should focus on the features of these devices. If the devices discussed above worked on the principle of changing the amount of coolant supplied to the radiator, then the radiator temperature controller of the heating battery with a thermostat does not change the volume of water, but its temperature.

To integrate this device into a heating system circuit, certain materials and skills are required. In particular, homeowners will need additional pieces of pipes and connecting fittings. After the radiator thermostat is installed, you need to know how to regulate the heating batteries in the apartment using it.

To do this, it is worth studying the principle of operation of the device. Its design is quite simple and is represented by a valve with three nozzles and a sensing element located inside. The inner thermosensitive element is connected to the locking head, and the outer casing of the device is equipped with a handle for making adjustments.

The thermosensitive element, responding to the action of water in the system, can change its volume, thereby adjusting the position of the stem of the shut-off head. In this case, if it is necessary to cool the water in the radiator, the return channel opens, and when the coolant must be heated, on the contrary, the water supply channel from the return line is closed.

Features of using regulators

Some experts recommend equipping all batteries in your home with shut-off valves. This step will allow homeowners to repair the heating system with minimal effort and time, besides, if a certain radiator leaks in the system, there will be no need to drain the coolant from the entire circuit. However, at the request of homeowners, a radiator temperature controller for radiators can be installed in certain rooms.

Most often, devices are installed in internal rooms, in which constant control over the temperature level is needed.

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

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

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

How to properly connect heating radiators? How to calculate heating batteries for an area? How to effectively increase the heat transfer of a central heating battery? Which heating batteries are better for technical parameters?

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