Antifreeze liquid for heating systems of private houses. Which anti-freeze liquid for a heating system is better - advantages and disadvantages, selection rules Anti-freeze for heating boilers

Modern heating systems can use various principles for the transfer of thermal energy from the source to the end points of heat exchange. However, there is no full-fledged alternative to using a liquid medium as a heat storage and transmission link, and, apparently, it is not expected in the near future. "Water" heating systems in terms of the breadth of their use, of course, occupy a leading position.

The word "water" in the previous sentence is enclosed in quotation marks intentionally. It’s easier to understand, and besides, in fact, most often in domestic conditions, heating systems are “refueled” with water. But in a number of cases, such an approach becomes either extremely inconvenient, risky, or even simply impossible - simply because of the specific physical and chemical qualities of water. It doesn't matter - there are other types of liquids that can cope with this task. Let's consider which coolant for the heating system of a country house will be optimal in one case or another.

Basic requirements for heat transfer fluids

To begin with, it seems to make sense to formulate the criteria that an “ideal” coolant for an autonomous heating system must meet.

• First of all, the liquid must be able to perform its main task - the accumulation and transfer of thermal energy. And this means that it should have the highest possible heat capacity.
• The heat carrier must have a chemical composition that does not cause active corrosion processes in boilers, pipes, heating radiators, in shut-off and control devices and other elements of the heating system. In addition, the environment must be neutral for the sealing materials used in the connecting nodes of the circuit.

• The most important requirement is a wide temperature range of the working state of the coolant - from the crystallization temperature to the threshold of boiling and transition to a gaseous state.
• The coolant must be “clean”, that is, it must not contain salts that can cause solid deposits to clog the pipe lumen or, even more dangerous, the boiler heat exchanger.

• The very chemical composition of the liquid used to fill the system must be stable. A high-quality coolant will not decompose, split into other chemical components, either under the influence of constantly changing temperatures, or by itself - from time to time. For the normal operation of the heating system, it is important that the main characteristics of the medium are preserved - its density, fluidity, heat capacity, chemical inertness.
• Finally, the liquid "working" as a coolant should not pose any threat to the people living in the house. This means that toxic fumes are unacceptable, the possibility of its ignition or the formation of an explosive mixture must be completely excluded.
• For the vast majority of homeowners, the issue of the cost of the coolant is also a very important criterion, especially since a considerable amount of it may be required to fill the heating system.

The requirements are logical and understandable, and, it would seem, all that remains is to compare them with the physico-chemical characteristics of the “candidates” for the role of a coolant in order to choose the optimally suitable option.

Prices for different types of coolants

coolant

And here an unpleasant surprise awaits us - a liquid that would fully meet all the listed criteria and be an ideal “standard” simply does not exist. Different compositions may have more pronounced certain necessary characteristics, but this is always achieved by worsening other parameters. Therefore, the choice of coolant is not as simple a task as it might seem at first glance.

What does it say? The choice of the optimal heat carrier should be closely linked to the design features of the heating system and the specifics of the planned modes of its operation. As a rule, the decision on the choice of composition is made at the planning stage of the system. This means that it is necessary to choose one or another priority parameter, which will become the main determining factor.

Let's try to explain the previous, perhaps somewhat difficult, from the point of view of quick perception, paragraph with several examples.

• The country house is used all year round, and is not left unattended for a single day. It is clear that the optimal solution, both from the point of view of operational characteristics and from the point of view of cost savings, will be the use of water as a heat carrier.
• The same situation, but used as a generator of thermal energy, and local power grids are "famous" for the instability of their work. Here, you can already think about the admissibility of clean water - in a cold winter, even a few hours of downtime is enough for the liquid to begin freezing in the pipes. And this, of course, may well entail a violation of the integrity of the pipes and devices installed in the system. The option no longer seems optimal - you should either change the boiler, or use a different coolant.

• And here is another case. A country house is used in winter, but only by “arrivals” on weekends or holidays. Another option - the work or the established way of life of the owners involves frequent trips, during which the building is empty and left without the necessary supervision. Of course, in such cases, the priority should be to use an antifreeze liquid as a coolant. True, this already entails the design features of the system itself, since many antifreezes are unsafe, and exceptionally reliable sealing of all circuits and heating devices is required.
• Not a single coolant can be considered "eternal", that is, sooner or later the moment comes when the filling of the heating system must be changed. This for many owners highlights the issues of "accounting", that is, the cost of the required volume of liquid.
• Finally, another consideration may be important. Some manufacturers of boiler equipment in their product manuals directly indicate the type, and sometimes even the brand of the recommended coolant. Failure to comply with these recommendations may lead to the termination of the warranty on the boiler - this should also be taken into account.

All this suggests that the choice of the optimal coolant should be made not on a whim, but after a comprehensive assessment of the possible options. For this, you should take a closer look at the characteristics of various types.

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Advantages and disadvantages of water as a coolant

According to unofficial statistics, more than two-thirds of all heating systems use water as a heat carrier. Such wide popularity is easily explained:

• First of all, of course, this is the widespread availability of water and its cheapness (very often we can even talk about complete free of charge). In any case, in most regions of Russia there are no problems with such a “refueling” of the heating system. This allows you to regularly replace the coolant at any convenient time, fearlessly empty the system for certain repair or maintenance work - bringing the heating back into standby mode will not entail any significant costs.
• It is very important that of all the liquids available for such applications, water has practically no equal in terms of thermal performance. These indicators include a very impressive heat capacity at high density. So, if we take the tabular value of the heat capacity, approximately equal to 4200 J / kg × ºС or 1 cal / g × ºС, then with a typical temperature difference for the heating system of 20 ºС, one liter of water, cooling down, is able to transfer 20 kcal = through heat exchange devices 83.43 kJ or about 23.26 Watts of thermal energy. None of the other coolants can come close to such significant indicators.
• Finally, water is an absolutely safe substance for humans and the environment. Whatever leakage occurs in the heating circuits, it will, of course, entail certain household consequences, albeit unpleasant, but not fatal. It will never be associated with the risk of chemical poisoning, the creation of preconditions for fire or the occurrence of explosive concentrations of vapors.

And now - about those shortcomings that either limit the use of water as a coolant, or require some preparation for its use.

• In the first place, of course, there is a too “high” level of temperature for the transition of water to a crystalline state. In the conditions of the Russian climate, with widespread and very considerable negative temperatures in the winter, leaving water in the heating system turned off even for a short time is a direct path to a major accident, up to the complete destruction of the system.
• The second disadvantage is the corrosive aggressiveness of water for ferrous and some non-ferrous metals. Water itself is a fairly powerful oxidizing agent, and besides, dissolved oxygen is always present in it.
• The chemical composition, unfortunately, is not limited to the well-known formula H2O - water from the usual natural or municipal sources usually contains a considerable concentration of salts, dissolved iron, hydrogen sulfide and other compounds. Some of them can turn into an insoluble fraction capable of silting up and clogging passages in pipes. Others are able to build up hard deposits on the walls, narrowing the nominal diameter, reducing the conductivity of heating circuits and sharply reducing the thermal conductivity of radiators. In addition, heat exchangers or heating elements of boilers suffer, which in total gives an extra consumption of energy carriers with a decrease in the efficiency of boiler equipment, and in the future - equipment failure.

With the main drawback, that is, with a high freezing point, it is impossible to cope just like that. But with other "cons" it is quite possible to fight.

It is desirable to subject the water poured into the heating system to a softening procedure, that is, to remove salts from its composition or reduce their concentration to non-hazardous values. Various methods are used for this.

The simplest is boiling water. True, such a measure contributes to the removal of only unstable carbonate salts - but this is already something. As a result of thermal exposure (it is better to do this in a vessel with the maximum possible area of ​​\u200b\u200bcontact of water with a metal bottom), dissolved carbonates are converted into an insoluble precipitate (which is then easy to filter out) and carbon dioxide escaping into the atmosphere.

The disadvantage of this approach is the difficulty in organizing the boiling of large volumes of water and incomplete purification from salts. More effective will be the use of special filters-softeners operating on the reagent, ion-exchange or electromagnetic principles of action. Such products are sold in specialized stores, and many of them are designed specifically for cleaning boiler water.

It is practiced to add special reagents to water to soften it, for example, soda ash or sodium orthophosphate. True, in such cases it is necessary to observe the dosage very accurately, since supersaturation of the liquid with additives of this kind can even have the opposite effect - a decrease in thermal performance with an increase in the corrosivity of the solution.

In any case, mud filters should be provided in the system, which will remove insoluble precipitation from the water - it is necessary to periodically monitor their cleanliness and carry out timely cleaning.

Another approach could be the use of distilled water - it is easy to purchase in hardware stores, in a variety of packaging. If the price suits you (and for large volumes, considerable wholesale discounts are quite possible), then after such a refueling of a well-washed heating system, you don’t have to worry at all about the likelihood of scale or silt deposits.

Finally, many owners of their own houses organize rainwater collection on their site. Of course, it is far from "laboratory purity", but it has already passed a certain natural distillation and purification. In any case, in terms of the content of heavy salts that can cause overgrowth of pipes, rainwater is much better than collected from the cleanest well or well. After settling and filtering, it can be used in the heating system.

Special additives - inhibitors help to reduce or even almost completely nullify the oxidizing properties of water. Their correct use will exclude corrosion damage to metal parts and components of the heating system.

Finally, special surface-active additives (surfactants) are also added to the water. Such substances contribute to the removal of old layers of scale and rust, preventing the formation of new ones. Surfactants give surfaces specific hydrophobic qualities, reduce hydraulic resistance in pipes, which affects the efficiency of energy consumption for heating. Dramatically increases the durability of the seals used in the system.

Distilled water with inhibitors and surfactants added at the right concentration can also be found commercially. For example, a barrel with a volume of 220 liters of water fully prepared for a coolant mission will cost about 6,500 rubles, that is, about 30 rubles per liter. Expensive or not - everyone decides for himself.

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Non-freezing heat carriers

General advantages and disadvantages of non-freezing coolants

Water, purified and enriched with useful additives, becomes an excellent heat carrier, but its main drawback is not overcome by this. At negative temperatures without an influx of heat from the outside, it begins to freeze quickly, while greatly expanding in volume. It will not work to use water in systems where uninterrupted operation of boiler equipment during the winter season is not guaranteed, and it is necessary to use liquids whose freezing threshold is much lower. Such compounds are called antifreezes. Car owners are well aware of what it is - similar liquids are used in engine cooling systems and for refueling glass washer reservoirs. In everyday life, such compositions are often referred to as "non-freezing", which, in principle, literally repeats in Russian the English term mentioned above.

• Not only that, the transition temperature to another state of aggregation for antifreezes is much lower. Even during crystallization, these liquids do not become solid, like ice, and do not expand in volume. Yes, the resulting gel-like substance will lose fluidity, and the heating system is unlikely to be able to work, while there is no risk of rupture of pipes, heat exchangers or radiators. And when the temperature rises above the crystallization limit, this gel liquefies again, returns to its original “working” state, without any loss of its performance characteristics.
• In a concentrated state, such coolants can easily withstand cooling down to -60 ÷ -65 ºС. It is clear that such extreme temperatures are extremely rare in nature, therefore, in most regions, concentrates are diluted with distilled water to obtain antifreeze with a lower limit of -30 ÷ - 35 ºС. Practice shows that this, most often, is enough.

The table below gives an idea of ​​the dependence of the crystallization onset temperature on the concentration of the non-freezing component (using ethylene glycol as an example). By the way, pay attention to a very interesting feature - the solution reaches its maximum "antifreeze" capabilities at a concentration of about 65%. And then, with a further increase in concentration, the picture changes to the opposite.

Percentage of ethylene glycol (of total volume)	Temperature limit of fluidity retention (beginning of crystallization), °С
10%	- 3,5
20%	-8,0
25%	-11,0
30%	-15,0
35%	-18,5
40%	-24,0
50%	-34,0
55%	-41,0
60%	-55,0
64%	-65,0
80%	-47,0
85%	-40,0
90%	-30,0
95%	-19,0
100%	-13,0

• Modern antifreezes have good indicators of chemical stability - despite the very amplitude temperature drops in the operating range, a high-quality coolant can last up to 5 years without requiring replacement. However, there always comes a time for its complete renewal.

However, not everything is so "rosy" - it has already been said that giving coolants some important qualities, unfortunately, is accompanied by negative aspects.

• The viscosity of non-freezing heat transfer fluids is always higher than that of water, which means that more powerful pumps are needed to ensure circulation through the heating circuit. If a heating system with natural circulation is installed in the house, then antifreeze can not even be considered as an alternative to water - its normal movement along the contour cannot be achieved.
• According to the main parameter - heat capacity, any antifreeze significantly, up to 15%, loses to water. On the scale of a home heating system, such a lag can result in very serious consequences - efficiency decreases, energy consumption increases, more powerful or more radiators are required.
• A paradoxical fact is that the viscosity of antifreezes is higher, but the ability to penetrate seals is such that those connecting nodes that were always dry when working with water suddenly begin to “cry” for no reason. Often, changing the coolant to antifreeze forces you to “repack” the fittings and threaded connections, and completely replace the gaskets. Moreover, given the fact that many "non-freezing" are very aggressive liquids, not all seals are also suitable. All this, of course, additional costs of both time and money.
• Another negative property is that many antifreezes are based on chemical compounds that are extremely toxic to all living things. The ingress of such liquids into the human body can cause severe poisoning, and it is unacceptable to leave even the slightest chance of their leakage or evaporation. Their use in double-circuit boilers is completely excluded, where the penetration of the coolant into the hot water supply system is not excluded.
• The heat capacity of antifreezes is lower, which cannot be said about thermal expansion - it significantly exceeds that of water. This entails the need to install a larger expansion membrane tank.

And at the same time, there is no way to get by with a cheaper option - an open-type expansion tank. Firstly, the coolant will evaporate, but it is not cheap. And secondly, the danger of toxic fumes has already been mentioned above.

What volume of expansion tank is required for the heating system?

The calculation of the required volume is quite possible to carry out independently. The calculation algorithm with the application of a convenient calculator is available in a special article of our portal dedicated to

The existing non-freezing coolants for autonomous heating systems can be divided into three main groups according to their chemical composition - based on ethylene glycol, propylene glycol and glycerin.

Heat transfer fluids based on ethylene glycol

This group is perhaps the most common of all the rest, perhaps due to the ease of their industrial production and relatively low cost. In stores, you can find two options for such products - in concentrated form and in the form of a ready-to-use solution, usually with a lower crystallization limit of -30 ºС. If desired, in accordance with the climatic characteristics of the region of residence, it is quite possible to bring the coolant to the required concentration by diluting its distilled water - the data were given in the table above.

• The chemical features of ethylene glycol require the introduction of special additives into the composition that increase the performance of such a coolant. The catch is that at high temperatures it tends to foam, creating gas locks. Additives reduce foaming, and in addition, they give the composition inhibitory qualities, that is, they prevent corrosion of the metal parts of the circuit. However, this does not affect all metals - in any case, the galvanized coating remains extremely vulnerable to ethylene glycol, and it is forbidden to use such parts in combination with such a coolant.
• Another extremely negative feature of ethylene glycol antifreeze is its “fear” of elevated temperatures. The heating system must be precisely adjusted, otherwise, if the temperature in the boiler even for a very short time approaches the boiling point of such antifreeze, an irreversible process of its decomposition will begin. In this case, a solid insoluble precipitate forms that can clog narrow channels in pipes or heat exchangers, and the liquid phase turns into very aggressive acids that trigger the corrosion mechanism. All modifying additives lose their qualities, rapid foaming of the coolant begins - with all the ensuing consequences.

In a word, if the boiler equipment is not equipped with a system for precisely adjusting and maintaining the heating temperature of the coolant, using ethylene glycol antifreeze is very risky.

• Ethylene glycol is the strongest poison, so the heating system must have an ultra-reliable seal. Any ingress of this compound into the room (in a liquid or vapor state) can lead to very serious poisoning, with the most unfortunate consequences. The danger is even the ingress of the solution onto unprotected areas of the skin, therefore, all work on filling the system with such a coolant must be carried out in compliance with the strictest security measures.

As you can see, there are more than enough shortcomings, and very serious ones. Only the price attracts - the average cost of such compositions fluctuates around 50 ÷ 60 rubles per liter (ready-made solutions), and 70 ÷ 90 rubles - for the concentrate.

Ethylene glycol heat transfer fluids usually have a pronounced red tint, as if additionally warning the user of the need for special precautions.

Heat transfer fluids based on propylene glycol

Such compounds often have the “ECO” logo on the packaging label, and, in principle, there are certain reasons for this. With a roughly equal temperature range of use, propylene glycol antifreezes are completely non-toxic. They can be used in double-circuit boilers - even if a small amount seeps into hot water, it will not cause even a slight eating disorder. By the way, one of the types of propylene glycol is even a raw material for the production of containers for the food industry.

It should be noted that the heat capacity of such antifreezes is higher than that of ethylene glycol.

Propylene glycol solutions have an interesting "lubricating" effect on the pipe walls - this reduces the overall hydraulic resistance, which, accordingly, reduces unnecessary energy losses and increases the efficiency of the heating system.

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But the “dislike” for zinc is the same as for ethylene glycol, that is, galvanized elements in the heating system are simply unacceptable.

The cost of propylene-glycol coolants (usually they go on sale in a ready-to-use form) is already 100 or more rubles (for some brands it can reach up to 250 ÷ 300 rubles (depending on the presence of special additives that increase the durability of the composition, sometimes even up to 10 years!).

Glycerin coolants

There is no unity of opinion about this group - you can find opinions about the best compositions, and sometimes there is criticism that “stone on stone” does not leave the reputation of such antifreeze.

The author of this article in his daily practice has not yet reached the point of experimenting with this type of coolant, and therefore will not act as an "arbitrator". It is more reasonable to simply give arguments of both supporters and opponents of glycerin coolants. As usual, the truth usually lies somewhere in between.

So, the camp of supporters of this type of antifreeze makes the following arguments:

• Glycerin is a completely harmless substance both for living organisms and for the environment.
• There is a very wide operating temperature range. With a lower crystallization limit of about -30 ºС, the boiling point is comparable to water, and sometimes even higher, in the region of +110 ºС. During crystallization, there is no expansion, and after liquefaction with an increase in temperature, all qualities are completely restored.
• The only non-freezing coolant considered above is completely “indifferent” to zinc.
• Does not decompose the seal material and does not cause leaks in the joints.
• Absolutely non-flammable, absolutely explosion-proof.
• The system, after using other compositions as heat carriers, when replaced with glycerin, does not require thorough cleaning and washing.
• The durability of the coolant: they talk about guaranteed 7 ÷ 10 years, subject to the requirements of operation.
• In terms of heat engineering qualities, it is practically not inferior to propylene glycol, but the cost of glycerin coolants is 20–25 percent lower.

And now let's listen. what they say about the shortcomings of such antifreezes:

• First of all, it is very difficult to call glycerin antifreeze any kind of innovation. Rather, on the contrary - it was they who were the "pioneers" among heat and coolants, even at the dawn of the appearance of the corresponding technology in the first half of the last century. And they were forced out of the "arena" by glycol antifreezes, as more efficient and reliable. So glycerin compounds are not an indicator of development, but rather a rollback.
• Glycerin antifreezes are characterized by increased density, which creates unnecessary, often completely undesirable loads on the heating system equipment.
• High density is also accompanied by increased viscosity, that is, it is more difficult for pumping equipment to “push” such a coolant along the heating circuits, and it wears out faster.
• The heat capacity indicators are not only lower than those of water, but even inferior to propylene glycol.
• Whatever they say about the high heat resistance of glycerin and its complete environmental safety, one can argue with these statements. Begin:

- Firstly, at temperatures above 90 degrees, there is a tendency to strong foaming. Partly this problem is solved by special additives.

- Secondly, under the same temperature conditions, the probability of the beginning of the chemical decomposition of glycerin increases. Moreover, the solid sediment contributes to the overgrowth of the channels, and the emitted gaseous substance - acrolein, has a very unpleasant odor and, moreover, refers to, if not strongly pronounced, but still carcinogenic substances.

- And thirdly, if as a result of overheating of the coolant, water began to evaporate from it, then glycerin thickens and quickly loses its qualities. As a result, the “reborn” substance begins to take on a jelly-like consistency at positive temperatures, about +15 ºС. Naturally, there is no question of any normal operation of the heating system with such a coolant - a complete replacement is required.

• The production of such heat transfer fluids based on glycerin is not standardized by any GOSTs at all. Everything, as they say, is in the hands of manufacturers who set their own technical specifications (TU). It is inappropriate to talk about any guarantees of quality.

By the way, the ongoing monitoring of the market for such products showed that it is glycerin that is most often used to make fakes. At a cost, it is significantly cheaper than propylene glycol, so it occurred to unscrupulous manufacturers to replace these components, passing off their products as high-quality, environmentally friendly propylene glycol antifreezes. So when choosing, be careful and do not hesitate to demand certification documentation.

You can add one more touch - again about the lack of standards. In the EU countries, the production and use of ethylene glycol coolants is generally prohibited. But at the same time, no one is in a hurry to return to glycerin - apparently, this path has been recognized as a dead end and ineffective.

Heat transfer fluids for electrode boilers

Another group of coolants stands somewhat apart. These are compositions specially designed for use in heating systems with installed electrode (ion) boilers. In such systems, the chemical composition of the liquid is of great importance, since the principle of its rapid heating implies the flow of an alternating electric current through the coolant.

This means that the optimal composition should not only have non-freezing properties and high thermal performance, but also have a certain concentration of selected salts - to ensure ionization and electrical conductivity with a verified resistance.

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As a rule, companies that have mastered the production of such equipment accompany their products with carefully selected, ideally adapted compositions of coolants. It is hardly appropriate to conduct experiments in these matters - it is better to purchase a truly branded antifreeze than to select the optimal chemical composition by trial and error, without being sure that the electrode boiler will work fully correctly. In addition, almost certainly such "amateur activity" will lead to the manufacturer's refusal to fulfill its warranty obligations if necessary.

Some useful recommendations for the selection and use of coolants

In order to bring final clarity to the issues of choosing a coolant, we summarize and formulate the main recommendations.

When and which one is better to use, what requirements must be met for this

Probably, no one will argue with the fact that if the owners can guarantee the constant operation of the heating system during the winter frosts, then water will become the optimal heat carrier. Ideally, a special distilled one with modifying additives, which were mentioned in the article. If this approach seems unnecessarily expensive, then it is necessary to at least carry out a water treatment cycle - to ensure that the required amount of water is filtered and softened.

In cases where the use of non-freezing coolants becomes mandatory, it is necessary to exclude the conditions under which the use of antifreezes is excluded:

• It is unacceptable to use an open type heating system.
• It makes no sense to use antifreeze in natural circulation circuits - it will not work.
• In the heating system, there should not be pipes or other devices in contact with the liquid medium that have a galvanized surface.
• If in the connecting nodes were previously used as seals, windings from tow with oil paint - all this is subject to reassembly. Any glycol base will gobble up such a seal in record time, and leaks will begin, which are already unpleasant in themselves, and with ethylene glycol they are also extremely dangerous to health.

To “repack” threaded connections, it is best to use the same tow, but only with a special sealing paste “Unipak”

• Do not use antifreeze if the boiler equipment is not equipped with a system for accurately maintaining the temperature of the coolant. Heating, critical for glycol antifreezes, begins already from the threshold of 70-75 ºС, moreover, the processes are irreversible and fraught with the most unpleasant consequences.

If a decision is made in favor of antifreeze, a number of nuances should be foreseen:

• It is possible that it will be necessary to increase the power of the circulation pump, install a more capacious expansion tank, increase the number of radiator sections, and sometimes the diameter of the pipes of the circuit.
• Automatic air vents with antifreeze may not work correctly - it is better to replace them with Mayevsky manual taps.
• The heating system needs to be cleaned and flushed before filling with antifreeze. For these purposes, it is best to use formulations specially designed for this purpose.

• The antifreeze concentrate is brought to the required percentage with only distilled water. In this case, even purified and softened water will not help.
• One of the main requirements is the correct concentration of the resulting coolant. Do not rely on the traditionally mild winters in the region of residence and over-dilute antifreeze. An indicator of -30ºС is probably the optimal threshold, which should be followed. Not only is the risk of freezing during abnormal frosts eliminated, the excessive water content also negatively affects the effectiveness of inhibitors and surfactants.
• A filled heating system is never immediately brought to full power - it needs to be started stepwise to adapt the coolant with all elements of the heating circuit.
• It is probably clear from the presentation that propylene glycol is the optimal antifreeze. Ethylene glycol is fraught with too many dangers, and glycerin, to be honest, is a “dark horse”. It is clear that such antifreeze will be expensive, but it hardly makes sense to save on the health of households.

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How much coolant will be needed?

Not an idle question, given the considerable cost of high-quality coolants.

If the heating system is only planned to be created, then the volume of its filling will lie in close relationship with other characteristics that take into account the characteristics of the building and the equipment planned for purchase. In a word, this calculation should be carried out by specialist designers.

• Turn on the completely empty system for filling, and at the same time detect the readings of the water meter at the beginning and at the end of this process.
• The opposite option is to carefully drain the water from a completely filled system. Using measured containers (for example, a bucket or tank with a known volume).
• Finally, carry out an independent simple calculation, taking into account the volumes of the boiler heat exchanger, all radiators or converters, underfloor heating circuits (if any), pipe circuit (supply + return), expansion tank, other possible equipment (for example, a hydraulic arrow, a buffer tank, a boiler and so on.)

Ask, why is it simple, because the calculations are quite cumbersome? And because below is a convenient calculator, the algorithm of which takes into account most of the possible options, and it remains only to indicate the requested values ​​​​in the input fields. The result will be given in liters. The interface of the program is quite understandable, and probably does not require any explanation. When choosing one or another calculation option, the corresponding fields for entering data will appear.

Boilers are heating devices in which, using a burner and a heat exchanger, the water circulating through the heating circuit is heated. These devices can operate on various fuels. At the moment, heating boilers for diesel fuel, wood, coal, wood briquettes and gas are in demand. Gas, solid fuel and liquid heating boilers integrated into the circuit, with proper operation and timely maintenance, will last a long period of time without interruption and become a reliable and stable source of heat in the house.

In most cases, boilers are the only source of heating in the house, therefore, when the circuit is stopped, the temperature of the coolant in the radiators decreases and there is a risk of freezing of the entire system. To prevent accidents and protect pipelines and batteries from freezing, owners can use heating fluid for boilers that does not freeze during freezing temperatures.

The process of adding antifreeze to a boiler is very similar to adding antifreeze to a car, however, the scale of this activity is much larger. The owner needs not only to fill the liquid for the house heating system into the circuit, but to perform a number of activities and clarify some points. If all stages of work are carried out correctly, the homeowner will be able to use the heating circuit even in the most severe frosts and not worry about the depressurization of the system as a result of emergency freezing of batteries and pipelines.

Today, hundreds of product options are presented on the market for heating appliances and consumables for them. It is rather difficult to choose among them high-quality and safe antifreeze, because each brand uses all kinds of marketing tricks to attract the attention of the buyer to their product. In order not to fall for the fishing rods placed by advertisers, the homeowner needs to understand what requirements the liquid for heating boilers poured into the circuit must meet.

Before buying, the owner needs to find out some technical characteristics of the boilers, as well as familiarize himself with the list of antifreezes compatible with radiators and pipelines connected to the circuit. In addition, it is necessary to clarify the operating parameters of the heating system and the features of operation.
Next, you should study the specific requirements that specialists place on antifreezes that can make the heating system productive, stable and safe.

Pay attention to the following parameters:

Functional liquid fuel, gas and solid fuel heating boilers will last much longer if they are filled with antifreeze with a maximum operating temperature range, a stable chemical composition and acceptable performance characteristics that guarantee the protection of heating devices from corrosion, scale and solid deposits. You can buy such a liquid only from a trusted manufacturer. But the use of inappropriate antifreeze can lead to a number of undesirable effects.

Negative effects that may appear:

By what criteria is the type of coolant selected?

The question of which antifreeze to give preference to begins to bother property owners long before the first start-up of the boiler. The fact is that antifreeze is selected for specific models of heating equipment used in the house. The owner also starts from other parameters - the type of housing, the features of the heating system in it, their financial capabilities, etc.

The main guarantee of the right antifreeze is well-placed priorities. For example, if the house is designed for year-round use, and the owners do not plan to leave it during the winter and stop the heating circuit, then ordinary water can be used instead of antifreeze in the system. In other cases, when the priority is placed on the reliability and stability of the heating circuit, the owner must choose an all-weather antifreeze that will protect expensive heating equipment from accidents and protect the house from freezing. It is also important to take into account the criteria for the cost of antifreeze, its toxicity, flammability, etc.

Types of heating fluid

In addition to water, an oil, gas or solid fuel heating boiler can also heat various types of liquids in its heat exchanger.

The liquid used for heating a house should not impair the performance of the system, but on the contrary, it should contribute to the reliable protection of heating appliances.

To meet these requirements, when developing boiler fluid manufacturing technologies, manufacturers pay special attention to the composition. The main component used in the production of heating fluid affects its properties, characteristics and compatibility with various types of heating appliances.

The most common liquids based on the following components:

• ethylene glycol;
• propylene glycol;
• glycerol.

Ethylene Glycol Fluid Properties

This type of antifreeze should be used only if the owner is sure that the circuit is completely tight. Ethylene glycol is a caustic and rather toxic substance that, if used improperly, can cause a serious threat to the health of households. This element is safe in the liquid state, but when it goes into the gaseous state, it is toxic. Additional attention should be paid to the fact that pouring ethylene glycol into the circuit is complex and laborious, so owners should explore other options for antifreeze.

Propylene Glycol Antifreeze

Any fuel for heating boilers during combustion heats up the coolant in the heat exchanger. If at this moment there is a propylene glycol-based coolant in the heating element of the boiler, then the owner may not worry about his safety and the safety of his family members. This antifreeze is harmless, therefore it is recommended for use in. This type of antifreeze has a crystallization temperature of 80 degrees Celsius. A high value of the indicator indicates the compatibility of antifreeze with high-temperature boilers. Among the shortcomings of the liquid, it is worth pointing out its high cost.

As an example, consider the heating fluid Warm House, which protects the circuit from freezing at temperatures up to -30 degrees. For one liter, about 65 rubles for this heating liquid, the price of a warm house is, according to this indicator, a rather costly antifreeze. Despite this, picky buyers who choose quality rather than cheapness prefer to buy Warm House heating fluid.

Liquid based on glycerin

This type of antifreeze is used in circuits with paronite gaskets, since the high fluidity of the liquid provokes the destruction of rubber gaskets. If you do not take this point into account, then you can call glycerin-based antifreeze an inexpensive, safe and quite practical liquid for heating. It is used in various types of heating systems, however, the composition has proven itself best when used in circuits with.

Overview of products from popular brands

The responsible consumer is interested not only in comparing heating fuels and choosing the most economical option, but also in analyzing the available types of antifreeze from various manufacturers. Today, the market is in active demand for non-freezing liquid for heating systems Warm House, which is compatible with open and closed heating systems. Choosing the Russian brand Teply Dom heating fluid from which is sold in specialized stores, buyers can be sure of the safety of antifreeze.

In the domestic market, products from other brands are in demand, among them:

Features of pouring antifreeze into the system

If the house uses heating boilers for liquid fuel, gas or coal, then before proceeding with the first filling of antifreeze, the owner should perform a number of preparatory work. To begin with, it is worth reading the instructions for heating appliances, since a liquid fuel heating boiler can operate with a completely different type of antifreeze than a gaseous fuel boiler. Then the owner will have to drain all the water from the system, and assess the degree of contamination of the pipes based on its composition.

If the test run was successful, the owner can begin the full operation of the system. If the house is equipped with liquid fuel heating boilers, the price of which starts from four hundred dollars, then after confirming the tightness of all elements of the circuit, the owner can turn on the boilers at full capacity and use the heating systems at their discretion.

Despite the excellent consumer characteristics, an improperly selected heating fluid can damage the boiler and disable expensive heating appliances.

The key to a reliable, stable and durable circuit is the compatibility of all main and consumable elements, so the fluid for the boiler must be selected responsibly and correctly.

With the right choice of antifreeze, the owner will increase the performance of the system, protect the internal elements of the boiler from corrosion and scale, and also protect the radiators from loss of tightness as a result of freezing.

During operation of the heating system, the coolant may freeze. This leads to emergency situations. They can be avoided only by replacing the water in the mains with a special composition, the freezing point of which is well below 0°C. Is it possible to make a similar non-freezing liquid for home heating systems with your own hands?

Making your own antifreeze

It should immediately be noted that ordinary water is the best type of coolant. It has sufficient heat capacity, has an optimal density, affordable cost. Therefore, if the likelihood of negative temperatures affecting the heat supply is minimal, it is best to use distilled water.

But if it is impossible to comply with this condition, a special non-freezing liquid for heating boilers will be required. It is a solution in which water occupies up to 70% of the total volume. The rest is additives that reduce the crystallization threshold to -60°C. They include:

• Main component- ethylene glycol, propylene glycol or glycerin. This non-freezing liquid for the home heating system has a high viscosity coefficient, which leads to the desired effect;
• Additives. It is thanks to them that the non-freezing liquid for water heating does not foam, and when the temperature rises, it does not form a crystalline precipitate.

The problem of self-production of such a composition lies in the correct selection of the last component. All manufacturers do not disclose the complete list of components. But even knowing how to make the right composition, it is impossible to do this at home - this will require special equipment and compliance with manufacturing technology.

How to make a non-freezing liquid for heating yourself, and what consequences can its use lead to?

• An increase in the level of foam during heating of the coolant will entail the rapid formation of sediment on the walls of pipes and radiators;
• Reducing the heat transfer of a home-made antifreeze liquid. This will cause a significant reduction in heating efficiency;
• Do-it-yourself non-freezing liquid for heating can adversely affect the steel elements of the system due to the high oxygen content. Corrosion processes will accelerate.

Any non-freezing liquid for furnace heating or solid fuel boilers should not cause these undesirable effects. Therefore, to maintain the safety of the system, it is recommended to use only high-quality anti-freeze liquid for water heating from a reliable manufacturer.

Before using antifreeze, you should not only familiarize yourself with its composition and recommendations for use, but also carefully study the instructions for the heating boiler. It must indicate the types of coolant that can be filled.

Types of antifreeze liquid for heating

Having decided that non-freezing coolants for the heating system should only be of factory quality, you can start choosing a specific composition. It must be adapted to a specific heat supply scheme, and its performance cannot degrade the system parameters.

Before pouring anti-freeze liquid into the heating system, you need to find out whether it will negatively affect the heating components. To do this, read the instructions for use, which must be attached. It is also important to pay attention to the main component of the antifreeze liquid for heating boilers. Not only the condition of the heat supply components depends on this, but also the operating conditions:

• ethylene glycol. It is characterized by high toxicity. Therefore, it can only be used in closed circuits. Difficulties may arise when pouring this type of freezing liquid into the heating system. In the vapor state, it is dangerous to human health;
• propylene glycol. In fact, it is a food additive, therefore, it can be used both in open and closed heating systems. Unlike ethylene glycol, the crystallization temperature is at the level of +80°C, which makes it possible to use it for the operation of solid fuel high-temperature boilers. The only drawback is the high cost;
• Glycerol. The most popular type of non-freezing liquid for stove heating. Its performance is somewhat lower than that of propylene glycol. However, along with this, the cost of glycerin antifreezes is an order of magnitude less. The disadvantages include high fluidity. This may affect the tightness of the pipelines. The way out is to replace the rubber gaskets with paronite ones.

Currently, the use of non-freezing liquid for a home heating system based on glycerin is the best option.

Manufacturers offer 2 types of non-freezing coolants for the heating system - ready-to-use and concentrate. For large heat supply schemes, it is more profitable to purchase a concentrate. However, this complicates the process of filling the system.

When purchasing a ready-to-use liquid, you need to pay attention to the lower critical level of the freezing point. It can be from -25°C to -65°C.

Features of pouring antifreeze into the heating system

In order not to make the non-freezing liquid for heating yourself and at the same time risk the performance of the entire system, you need to purchase a ready-made composition. However, in addition to this, you should familiarize yourself with the filling technology.

If there is an old coolant in the system, it should be drained. In this case, it is recommended to check its status. The degree of contamination will indicate the relevance of complex cleaning. It is performed before pouring antifreeze into the heating system. The next stages of work are the following items:

• If antifreeze was used before– Be sure to flush the system completely. Otherwise, mixing two different antifreeze fluids for furnace heating may lead to undesirable chemical reactions;
• closed system. In it, the filling point should be below all other heating devices. With the help of pumping equipment, the heating system of a private house is filled with non-freezing liquid. It is important that the pressure in the pipes does not exceed 3 atm;
• open system. For her, the use of antifreeze liquid for water heating is not recommended. Constant contact with air can lead to a significant increase in foaming. Filling is carried out through the upper expansion tank;
• Heating testing. The temperature in the system rises gradually. At the same time, the tightness of all nodes is checked, as well as the absence of extraneous noise during the circulation of the coolant.

During operation, you will need to add anti-freeze heating fluid yourself. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase it with a margin - 15-20% more than the calculated volume of the system.

You can’t make your own non-freezing liquid for heat supply. Also, the use of automotive antifreeze is not recommended, since in most cases they are made on the basis of unsafe propylene glycol.

Restrictions on the use of antifreeze in heat supply

Despite all its positive aspects, not every non-freezing liquid is suitable for heating boilers. Improper use can lead to the gradual destruction of the heat exchanger and the rapid failure of expensive equipment.

In addition, there are a number of other restrictions that must be taken into account when using a non-freezing coolant for heating systems:

• Many models of double-circuit boilers are not designed for antifreeze. It can get into the DHW system, which is an undesirable factor;
• Anti-freeze liquid negatively affects the galvanized surface. There is a rapid destruction of the protective layer and, as a result, the failure of the heating element;
• Since the viscosity of antifreeze is much higher than that of water, it is necessary to equip the heating with powerful circulation pumps. The lower the critical level of the freezing temperature, the greater the performance of the pumps should be;
• Antifreeze replacement should be carried out strictly according to the manufacturer's recommendations. It loses its properties over time, which directly affects the performance of the heating system.

How to choose an anti-freeze

Modern heating systems can work according to different principles of heat transfer to heat exchange points. Traditional water without an influx of heat from the outside begins to freeze, expanding significantly with volume. It is being replaced by special compounds - antifreezes for heating, which have a much lower freezing threshold.

The choice of antifreeze fluid should be based on the following criteria:

• human safety (Warm House ECO-30);
• harmlessness to the system;
• long service life;
• heat capacity.

But, the chemical base raw materials remain the key factor of choice.

Traditionally used as a basis:

• propylene glycol - non-toxic, acceptable for use in the food industry;
• ethylene glycol is a toxic dihydric alcohol.

Additives

An important selection criterion is the additives added to the coolant. It is customary to distinguish between organic and inorganic additives. The type of substance affects the life and quality of operation. Organic guarantees the best performance, plus it protects the system from corrosion.

Anti-freeze compatibility with heating systems

It would be nice to evaluate how manufacturers of heating equipment relate to the product.

In this context, the following can be said:

• propylene glycol based product with organic additives- shows a wide range of indicators. These are safety, environmental friendliness, versatility of application, excellent physical and chemical properties. Permissible use in food production, kindergartens, for home heating;
• formulations based on ethylene glycol with organic additives(DIXIS) - we can talk about some limitations in the application. This is a solution for industrial facilities and systems isolated from human activity;
• propylene glycol with inorganic additives– safe for people and animals, but has a shorter service life;
• ethylene glycol with inorganic additives- shows a short period of service, poisonous. But this is the most budget option. It is quite logical for a system that is well isolated from contact with human life.

How to calculate the required volume

Calculating the quantity is not too difficult. When the system is fully assembled and commissioning has been carried out, you can look at the results of the control pressure test. The water drawn from the system will indicate the exact amount of fluid.

Dilution with water

Manufacturers of heating systems stand up for efficient and safe operation by setting their own requirements. Users, on the contrary, tend to save money. Antifreeze companies offer coolants at -30, -65 degrees. These are the most popular samples that are guaranteed not to freeze at the time of sale. When choosing, it is recommended to look at the density.

For example, for non-freezing -25 degrees - this is 1.03 g / cm3, -30 degrees - 1.04 g / cm3. There is not too much deviation in the concentration of the main substance. But, keep in mind that all the water may not be drained from the system, the circuit itself can be recharged. A certain margin of concentration is still needed.

On the other side, diluting antifreeze from -30 degrees to -25 degrees will not give significant savings. But, at the same time, you can lose some of the useful properties. It is much more efficient to take the product at -65 (Warm House 65) and dilute it, in this case, the savings can result in 20%.

Life time

The longest-lasting antifreezes with organic additives. The service life reaches 10 years (10 seasons). Silicate additives provide a service life of 5 years. I advise you to check the composition after each heating season.

It is enough to drain a small amount of the substance and inspect it for impurities, transparency, color. If there are grains, crumbs, the product must be drained, washed, filtered. Clots, flakes speak of traces of chemical changes, which should be addressed to specialists.

• COMFORT TECHNOLOGY- under this trademark high-quality, modern, highly efficient heat-cooling agents from the Russian company "Obninskorgsintez" are hidden. This is a world-class manufacturer that produces auto chemicals and other products for the industrial and domestic sectors. Antifreezes for autonomous heating systems are in high demand due to low cost, multifunctionality, quality;
• THERMAGENT is another brand of Obninskorgsintez. These are high quality products based on polypropylene glycol or monoethylene glycol, based on the best German raw materials. The company's product range includes four types of coolants;
• Warm House 65- the owner of the trademark of the Himavto group of companies. The holding specializes in the production of coolants for heating systems for industrial and residential premises. In its niche, the products are the standard of quality and ensure uninterrupted operation of heating during harsh winters;
• DIXIS- the brand produces antifreezes based on propylene glycol and ethylene glycol using a patented additive package. All formulations and technologies of process fluids are developed by highly qualified specialists. This is one of the best solutions on the market today;
• Thermotrust, Aquatrust Both antifreezes are manufactured by Thermotrust. This Russian brand specializes in the production of instantaneous water heaters, electric boilers and a wide range of antifreezes. All produced antifreeze liquids comply with the requirements of GOST.

Antifreeze liquid for heating systems

Non-freezing liquid for heating "TECHNOLOGY COMFORT-65"

The low-freezing coolant works successfully in closed heating systems and friendly with any type of heating boilers - electric, gas, diesel. The only limitation is that the liquid is not used in boilers in which heating is due to the electric current passing through the coolant.

I will add a few words about the pipes. The liquid is compatible with polypropylene, aluminum pipelines. But, her cannot be poured into galvanized pipes. Antifreeze "Technology of comfort-65" provokes peeling of zinc and its sediment eventually remains on the boiler heaters.

The basis of the product is ethylene glycol (65%) with silicate additives. It gives antibacterial, antifoaming and anticorrosive properties. In operation, the anti-freeze behaves stably and works for 5 years (in other words, enough for 10 heating seasons).

Crystallization begins at -65 degrees, even at such a low temperature, the non-freezing liquid will not turn into ice. In general, an option for the Far North and other harsh conditions. A significant plus is the exclusion of destruction and damage to the system, since the tool does not expand. Weight - 20 kg. Price - from 1.8 tr.

Pros:

• optimally suited for a wide range of consumers;
• can be diluted with ordinary tap water;
• does not contain amines and nitrates;
• works against corrosion;
• service life 5 years.

Minuses:

• not suitable for electrolysis boilers;
• toxic, contact with drinking water must be excluded;
• requires special disposal.

Antifreeze liquid for heating "TERMAGENT-65"

The manufacturer produces antifreeze, which can be used as a heat carrier in closed heating systems with hot water heating, solar energy, heat pumps. In industry, the agent works in refrigeration equipment. The composition is based on highly purified monoethylene glycol.

This is a dihydric alcohol, to which anti-corrosion organic additives (carboxylate inhibitors from European manufacturers) are added. They work to protect the system from the formation of corrosion, scale, bacteria, foam.

The operating temperature range is from -65 degrees to +112 degrees. The composition is compatible with pipes based on elastomers and plastics. Antifreeze is supplied in 20 liter plastic cans. Antifreeze is characterized by a high viscosity, therefore it requires dilution. To do this, use distilled water. The minimum concentration allowed for use is 20% of the total volume of the system. This non-freezing liquid for the heating system can be bought at a price of 2.2 tr.

Pros:

• the presence of additives against corrosion;
• wide temperature range;
• works on plastic pipes;
• complies with sanitary and hygienic standards;
• does not expand when frozen;
• blocks the formation of scale, foam, corrosion.

Minuses:

• separately you will have to purchase distilled water;
• overheating must be completely excluded (continuous circulation of liquid, complete immersion of heaters in antifreeze, etc.);
• does not work with zinc-containing elements.

Antifreeze liquid for heating "Teply Dom-65"

Before us is a concentrated coolant, the basis of which is high-quality Russian-made ethylene glycol (red). It is designed to work in various heating systems. Dilution with water is carried out based on the required temperature. As a rule, this is from -20 to -30 degrees, although the allowable range is much wider: from -65 to 112 degrees.

Antifreeze contains a package of additives. These are 10 active components that work to stabilize the thermophysical characteristics over the entire temperature range, anti-foam, anti-corrosion properties. The result is an aqueous solution with a much lower crystallization temperature.

Reducing the concentration when diluting ethylene glycol with water reduces the freezing point, increases the thermal conductivity and heat capacity of the solution. At the same time, viscosity is reduced, which gives improved antifreeze performance in the system. At the output, we have excellent heat transfer without consequences. Volume - canister 20 l. Price - from 1.7 tr.

Pros:

• optimal thermophysical characteristics;
• 10 additives in the composition;
• service life - 5 years, while the liquid retains non-freezing properties, but loses the effectiveness of additives;
• explosion, fireproof;
• affordable cost.

Minuses:

• does not work in systems with galvanized pipes, on electrolysis boilers;
• mixing with other antifreezes is undesirable;
• ethylene glycol is poisonous.

Antifreeze for the heating system of a private house

Antifreeze for the heating system of a private house DIXIS-65 with ethylene glycol

Before us concentrated aqueous antifreeze based on monoethylene glycol. The manufacturer did not forget to add unique additives with which the antifreeze acquired heat-stabilizing, anti-foaming, antioxidant properties and the ability to protect the system from corrosion.

In addition, the inertness of the liquid to sealing materials has increased significantly. The composition is completely ready for use and does not require dilution with water. However, manufacturer allows dual use: undiluted and diluted.

Among the obvious advantages of anti-freeze over competitors, I note a long service life - the liquid can work up to 10 years (!). The product is characterized by high frost resistance, works to remove deposits on the inner surfaces of pipes. Antifreeze does not cause degradation of paronite, rubber, Teflon seals.

The operating temperature range of the non-freezing liquid is simply gorgeous - from -65 to +95 degrees. Crystallization will begin at -66 degrees, boiling - from 111 degrees. Volume - canister 20 l. This anti-freeze for the heating system of a private house has a price of 1.8 tr.

Pros:

• fireproof;
• effective additive package;
• wide operating temperature range;
• long service life - 10 years.

There are no cons.

Antifreeze liquid for the DIXIS TOP system on propylene glycol

It is a safe antifreeze based on propylene glycol. which favorably distinguishes it from traditional analogues based on ethylene glycol in terms of toxicological properties. The composition is intended for use as a working fluid in heat exchange systems in industry and residential buildings. It successfully eliminates "defrosting" under the action of negative temperatures.

The complex of additives protects the equipment from the development of microorganisms, the formation of corrosion. The liquid is compatible with metal-plastic, plastic pipes and seals, works in double-circuit boilers, in open systems, allows commissioning at low temperatures. Crystallization starts from -31 degrees, freezing - at -40 degrees.

Due to the fact that antifreeze is prepared on the basis of food grade propylene glycol, it can be safely used even in food industry systems, not to mention residential buildings. The drug gives excellent frost resistance and prevents the destruction of elements of heat exchange systems during freezing, corrosion of cast iron, steel, brass, aluminum and solder. Plus, it prevents the accumulation of scale and, in principle, does not allow its formation. Volume - canister 20 kg. Price - from 1.9 tr.

Pros:

• eliminates the destruction of the system;
• fireproof;
• favorable cost;
• 100% output quality control;
• complete set of additives.

Minuses:

• not suitable for the harsh Yakut winters.

Antifreeze liquid for home heating system Thermotrust antifreeze

Antifreeze Thermotrust used in the form of aqueous solutions or in the original version. It can be safely launched into autonomous heating systems of residential buildings to prevent defrosting at low temperatures. The additive package is optimally balanced and provides protection against microorganisms, corrosion, scale.

The composition is inert to sealing materials, contains heat-stabilizing, antioxidant, anti-foam components. Does not destroy cast iron, steel, copper, aluminum, brass and solder, compatible with metal-plastic and plastic pipes.

The basis of the liquid is monoethylene glycol, it is homogeneous, red in color, does not contain mechanical impurities. In regions with a temperate climate, it can be diluted with water; in the regions of the Far North, it is used in its pure form. The crystallization temperature is -66 degrees, the boiling point is 111 degrees. The price of a 20 l canister is from 1.8 tr.

Pros:

• high frost resistance;
• blocks the degradation of elements of heat exchange systems during freezing;
• works in the range of -65 - +90 degrees;
• diluted with plain tap water;
• made on the basis of high-quality raw materials;
• service life of 5 years.

Minuses:

• does not work with galvanized systems and electrode type boilers.

Non-freezing liquid for the heating system of a private house on propylene glycol

Non-freezing liquid for heating the house "Teply Dom ECO-30" eco-friendly

Antifreeze is environmentally friendly and ready to use. The base is propylene glycol (green). The composition can be diluted with plain tap water up to -20 degrees. If you have a double-circuit or heating element boiler, dilution is a must.

It is better to use propylene glycol anti-freeze liquid where there are increased requirements for environmental safety (heat pumps, double-circuit boilers), but it is excellent friends with any heating systems.

The liquid has a good temperature range from -30 to +104 degrees. The composition includes a special set of additives. This gives protection against corrosion, foaming, scale. Antifreeze is not aggressive to metal-plastic and plastic, paronite, rubber, flax. With these characteristics, the possibility of leaks is excluded. The price of a canister for 20 liters is from 1.6 tr.

Pros:

• environmental friendliness;
• explosion and fire safety;
• works in any systems;
• excellent set of additives;

Minuses:

• does not work with galvanized systems.

Antifreeze liquid for heating and air conditioning Antifreeze Aquatrust

This is another safe antifreeze in our rating. The composition is based on high-quality propylene glycol, corrosion inhibitors, demineralized water, dyes. It successfully works in heating and air conditioning systems of residential buildings.

It is a homogeneous chemical liquid without green mechanical impurities. The beginning of crystallization falls at a temperature of minus 31 degrees, the boiling point is plus 107 degrees.

Thanks to the latest formula, the composition prevents corrosion of copper, cast iron, brass, steel and solder. There is no aggressiveness towards seals, plastic and metal-plastic pipes.

Pros:

• environmentally friendly;
• good working range;
• excellent protection against corrosion;
• does not affect plumbing rubber, gaskets, plastic and metal pipes.

Minuses:

• does not work with galvanized surfaces;
• not suitable for areas of the Far North.

An overview of non-freezing liquids for heating systems (heat carriers) from a professional is shown in the video:

There is no limit to perfection - this hackneyed expression applies not only to the world of high fashion or luxury cars. It is quite suitable for more prosaic areas of our lives, for example, for arranging our own home. And in particular to the creation of a heating system. Sometimes, to make it absolutely functional and reliable, homeowners bring innovations, sometimes quite risky. And this applies not only to innovative technologies and developments, but also to very familiar things. Tell me, which heating system is the most common today? Of course, water heating - everything seems to be clear and simple. But in fact, they also constantly experiment with it, for example, they change the liquid for heating.

Ordinary water: it is she who is flooded in most heating mains for communal use, and it is she who is most often used to heat their homes by private homeowners. But this state of affairs has recently begun to change. More and more people are opting for alternative coolants, although it is believed that this will entail large financial costs. Anti-freeze liquid for heating systems is very expensive! Is it really? To do this, it is worth considering in a complex the negative and positive aspects of using water as a coolant, as well as an antifreeze liquid.

Attention! Antifreeze liquid for heating from different manufacturers may have a different component composition. So, on the market you can find "antifreeze" based on such substances: glycerin, propylene glycol, saline and bischofite brine.

Benefits of water

Water is a cheap and readily available coolant. Most heating boilers, fittings and other heating elements are designed just for water circulation. In addition, in the event of a leakage of the heating system, there will be a strait of ordinary water, which is environmentally friendly for human health.

Traditionally, water plays the role of a heat carrier in heating systems.

Water Disadvantages

• If frosts came suddenly, and the heating system was not running, then this is fraught with rupture of pipes, and sometimes the heating boiler. In this case, the damage will be enormous.

• The constant use of water in the heating pipeline over time leads to the formation of scale, which in turn entails an overspending of energy by 25-30%. As a result, heating costs at home increase significantly.
• When using water instead of a special liquid for heating, scale forms in the pipes over time, which accumulates and leads to energy overruns of up to 30%. This significantly increases the cost of heating a house, given the considerable cost of fuel.
• If we talk about metal pipelines, then the water coolant will sooner or later provoke the manifestation of corrosive processes.

Benefits of antifreeze

• "Non-freezing" does not need to be drained from the heating system - the functional characteristics of equipment, components and pipelines will be fully preserved even at extremely low outdoor air temperatures.
• Thanks to special additives, such a coolant does not foam, does not cause corrosion and scale on the inner shells of heating elements, does not cause swelling or dissolution of seals.

"Nezamerzayka" as an alternative to water coolant

Disadvantages of antifreeze

• Non-freezing liquid for heating, made on the basis of propylene glycol, when leaking, releases harmful fumes into the air.
• Such a coolant is characterized by increased aggressiveness to pipes, fittings, taps, etc.
• The viscosity of antifreeze is about 20% higher than that of water. This entails additional hydraulic loads on the pumps. For this reason, when choosing a circulation pump, it is worth choosing models with a power reserve.

Important! To reduce the load and increase heat transfer, the antifreeze liquid can be diluted with water, but always distilled. In ordinary water, a high percentage of calcium salts, which provoke the appearance of deposits on the inner walls of pipes, pumps and heat exchangers.

What antifreeze to give preference?

The market offer of these specific products is extensive and varied. But there are some clear favorites as well. Very popular among consumers is the liquid for heating "Warm House". These are Russian-made products. It has been poured into heating for more than one year and, as they say, it has passed the test of time. Antifreeze does not lose its high performance over 5 years or 10 heating seasons, as indicated in the manufacturer's recommendations for use. And this, you see, is the best proof of quality.

"Warm House" - a popular non-freezing liquid for heating

Since the demand for heating antifreeze is constantly growing, Russian manufacturers are expanding the range of anti-freeze products produced on the basis of environmentally friendly raw materials - food grade propylene glycol.

Very important! It is unacceptable to pour automobile antifreeze into the heating system. Its formulation contains additives, the use of which is unacceptable in residential premises.

Why is the question posed in this way? Everything is very simple - you can easily get acquainted with the specific positive qualities of antifreeze of any brand. Such information is actively distributed by manufacturers. For our part, we want to present those features of this technical fluid that they are trying to keep silent about:

1. Antifreeze cannot be used in double-circuit boilers - it is possible to mix the coolant from the heating circuit into the water supply circuit. As you know, non-freezing liquid is poisonous in its physico-chemical properties.
2. It cannot be used in open systems either - evaporation of the coolant is possible.
3. It is unacceptable to use antifreeze in a system with a galvanized pipeline - it is fraught with chemical changes and loss of its original properties.
4. The heat capacity of the non-freezing liquid is lower than that of water, which means that more powerful radiator batteries will be required.
5. The viscosity of antifreeze is also higher - more powerful circulation pumps are needed.

The capacity for antifreeze must be of sufficient volume, and correctly calculated according to the project

Of course, in this case, as in many others, the final choice remains with the consumer. It is impossible to say unequivocally what is good and what is bad water or non-freezing liquid. It all depends on the specific heating parameters, but before making a final decision regarding the choice of the type of coolant, it is better to consult with a specialist.