What are the heating radiators for the apartment: the main varieties of products

The main element of a centralized heating system in a residential building is a metal radiator. Heated water or steam passes through it, giving off the bulk of the heat. This scheme of maintaining a comfortable temperature in urban high-rise buildings remains a classic. But it is worthwhile to understand in detail what heating radiators are for an apartment. This information is needed to replace leaky batteries and increase the efficiency of the heating system.

Classification of heating appliances in an apartment and a private house by type of metal

Eyes run up with all the variety of types of water heating batteries, which are presented in specialized catalogs and shop windows of thermal equipment stores. And the main criterion should not be the price tag, not the design, but the total indicator of their properties, including heat transfer.

An effective heater is not only a guarantee of comfort in the room, but also one of the elements of the interior. Nowadays, the design and color of the battery is taken into account when summing up the characteristics when it comes to repair and replacement with new devices. Modern cast-iron batteries compete with the design models of steel, aluminum and copper. In the ratings of the best radiators, bimetallic and panel steel blocks for heating rooms are the leaders.

Joint strength, excellent aesthetics and high rates of thermal return are the main qualities of modern heating appliances. Most of them have a valve to adjust the temperature or the ability to install it at the inlet of the battery from the pipe to reduce the volume and speed of passage of hot water.

An adjustment valve is an additional resource for saving heat, but it is usually used in private homes. In a closed scheme of the private sector, pressure is not as high as in urban heating plants. It is possible to use radiators of any type:

• steel;
• aluminum
• copper;
• from cast iron;
• bimetallic models (steel + aluminum or copper + aluminum casing).

Important! Each metal has its own unique properties and heat transfer coefficient. Their weight in kg and the type of installation, their susceptibility to the chemical parameters of the coolant and the duration of operation without cleaning depends on the material of manufacture. Many parameters are indicated in the technical description for the model.

Heating schemes are thought out to the smallest detail in order to achieve maximum efficiency with a minimum of structural elements. Copper is recognized as the best material, since it has maximum thermal efficiency. Heavier (thick-walled products) keep heat for a long time.

Metalloplastik (other polymers) are used only as pipes that conduct coolant. Plus fasteners for connecting radiators - couplings and fittings. Polymers have much lower heat loss, but this has its plus - the coolant gives it as much as possible after passing through the batteries.

Differences between heating radiators for urban systems

When replacing old heating batteries in the apartment, many questions arise regarding a rational choice. It is important to pay attention to the shape of the batteries:

• tubular;
• panel (1- and 2-sided);
• sectional (with the possibility of building);
• convector type (with a casing of plates of a special shape to accelerate the movement of heated air).

Radiators are also structurally different in all dimensions parameters - depending on what height, depth and width the window sill is and whether it exists at all. Today they build houses according to different architectural ideas, and often the design of the room is such that there is nowhere to put traditional batteries. In specialized stores you can find:

• wall-mounted products of small format and impressive length;
• floor or built-in convectors for water heating;
• floor models (on legs or side supports).

Important information! A variety of streamlined wooden panels and shields make batteries more attractive and safe in children's rooms. However, wood and colored plastic absorb some of the heat.

Stylistically, a wide selection is also offered:

• modern design or modern;
• retro, vintage or antique;
• classic form;
• unusual designer batteries.

There are painted metal products (using heat-resistant enamels) or polished. They can be repainted on their own, changing the color. Smooth tubular copper batteries look very elegant. Cast iron "accordions" in retro style have good design - on legs and with patterned soldering.

When buying heating radiators, it is important to pay attention to the location of the collectors or inlets (where the pipes are connected). They must match the type of connection:

• lower (more common in private homes when the pipes are hidden under the floor);
• diagonal
• lateral or sickle-shaped (typical for urban apartments).

There are heating devices for a two-pipe (for 4 holes) and one-pipe (2-3 collectors) circuits.

What determines the cost of batteries for urban heating systems

Heating devices differ not only in the indicators listed above, but also in thermal return (power). The wall thickness and material determine the pressure indicators - working and maximum. In urban systems, water hammer, test and emergency pressure surges are not uncommon. Workload depends on height or number of storeys.

Note! Budget aluminum and steel models may warp or burst at maximum load.

Price tags can also say a lot:

1. There are budget economy-class models; they do not differ in long service life and high quality standards.
2. The middle price segment is something that most potential buyers should focus on. There is a slight difference in cost between these and low-cost batteries, but the quality guarantee meets European and international standards.
3. Premium radiators are most often made of copper, which is not susceptible to corrosion, like steel, and deformations, like aluminum. The premium class also includes decorative heating panels and art cast iron.

Bimetallic products are in every price niche. This classification is rather arbitrary, since high-quality batteries of domestic production are comparable with budget models from Europe.

Helpful advice! It is prudent to compare the selected model with a sufficient wall thickness (greater battery weight) with similar types, given the authority of the country of manufacture and brand. 

Cast iron appliances for residential heating

Cast iron ribbed batteries are a “classic” of urban heating systems. Despite the huge variety of alternative offers of both domestic and foreign manufacturers, many houses of the old layout are still heated with cast-iron "accordions". The main disadvantages are heavy weight, large size and the need for periodic painting.

Old batteries had a rough inner surface. As a result, they quickly became clogged with rust from pipes, organic mud deposits and calcium sediment. This reduced their heat capacity, so often they were colder, the pipes conducting the coolant. The need for purging or cleaning was extremely rare, so they were partially cold or “accelerated” for several days when the system was launched at the beginning of the season.

On the other hand, cast-iron “classics” had a number of advantages due to which this kind of heating radiators has been in demand for decades. One and a half centuries have passed since the practice of steam heating for urban apartments began. This type of battery still leads in the percentage of products from other metals.

New products have a number of positive properties, so they are quite in demand:

• inertness to the chemical composition of water;
• resistance to corrosion processes;
• one-piece construction - a guarantee of reliability, but the sectional form does not exclude the possibility of building;
• cast iron retains heat well, although it takes time to warm it up;
• if necessary, adjust the temperature in the apartment at the entrance to the heater, you can install a valve;
• Design flaws can be compensated for with an aesthetic protective screen
• there are designer models using art casting;
• modern "accordions" have an impressive service life of up to 50 years, they withstand pressure within 20 atmospheres;
• resistant to water hammer and pressure drops in the system;
• relate to the budget segment, respectively, these models are available to most consumers.

Important! Before installing new models, it is not recommended to mount them to old rusty pipes.

Manufacturers recommend changing the entire heating circuit in an apartment or house, put filters at the entrance to clean the coolant. It is advisable to equip the circuit with control valves and Mayevsky taps (to avoid airing) - this is work for experienced plumbers. This is true in relation to products from any metal.

Bimetal heating radiators for urban apartments

Bimetal is a product of two types of metal. In this case, the tubular base of the batteries is made of a more resistant material, copper or steel. External parts, casing or panels - lighter aluminum or thin sheet steel. Usually the outer “shell” is painted, but polished models can also be found. If we talk about what bimetal heating radiators are for an apartment at an affordable price, the most popular are steel + aluminum. They are reliable enough, the steel tube has a smooth base, so that calcium scale and organic sediments settle on it less.

Rust does not immediately form in them; it is gradually applied with coolant from the common system and old pipes. Therefore, over time, cleaning or purging the batteries is recommended. In a case made of aluminum, heat is better retained, so they are most effective at lowering the temperature in the urban system.

Aluminum is a good heat conductor, which the steel tubular base transfers to the external component.Therefore, when water hammer or when testing the heating system up to 30 atmospheres, more ductile metal is not subjected to critical load. This is a great advantage of bimetallic models over purely aluminum radiators having the same dimensions. This explains their growing popularity in the heating equipment market.

The price of such products is higher than that of models of any one metal (except copper), since it involves high-tech manufacturing. It can be argued that this is their only drawback with a lot of advantages.

Bimetallic products with a copper pipe inside are much more expensive, since it is more resistant to corrosion and pollution. Although copper and aluminum are antagonistic (soft metal crumbles upon contact with copper ions), everything is structurally thought out so that the outer casing does not come into contact with the coolant.

Aluminum room heating appliances

The modern market for heating equipment is replete with offers from various manufacturers, including European aluminum models. All of them are quite high quality, if you do not take into account the properties of the lightest metal. It is advisable to install a bypass (jumper) and valves at the bottom and top during installation, but they must not be blocked at the same time so as not to “break” the radiators from excessive pressure.

Important! Products from this metal are the best choice for the private sector, where it is undesirable to use heavy cast-iron "accordions" due to the possible movement of soils and uneven shrinkage of the walls of the building. In this case, an aluminum alternative will help lighten the overall weight of the house.

Among modern radiators, aluminum products are considered quite high-quality. But it is not typical for them to withstand the extreme loads of district heating systems. If there is no problem with this, then buying stylish appliances for heating from the lightest and most heat-consuming metal will be the best choice.

Specialists recommend inexpensive products from Nova Florida and Tianrun, as well as the elite European segment - brands Fondital and Global.

Aluminum batteries can be made in two ways:

• solid (technology involves pressure);
• according to the extrusion method (a special method of heat treatment for welding sections), seals provide tightness and reliability of the connection.

Note! Cast products are considered more durable, but the joints are their vulnerabilities. In practice, the second variety is not inferior to integral in all respects.

Among the disadvantages of this variety can be called susceptibility to destruction from the acidic medium of the coolant. Although high-quality aluminum batteries have a protective coating on the inner surface, over time it is wiped away from abrasive particles carried by water. After that, small destructive foci appear, which eventually turn into vulnerable areas, especially at joints with pipes and fittings.

Important! In the closed-loop private sector where antifreeze is used, aluminum models are not subjected to such tests.

The popularity of aluminum radiators is due to the stylish design and affordable price. Light and heat-intensive models (up to 210 W.), produced by extrusion, withstand pressure within 16 atmospheres, some cast ones - up to 24 atmospheres (should be indicated in the technical parameters).

Estimated term of perfect operation - from 25 years (enough for a whole generation). They are used both in water and steam heating - designed for temperatures up to 110 ° C. But the optimal load for most types of aluminum containers is within 75 ° C.

Steel panel blocks and tubular models for space heating

After cast-iron and bimetallic products, steel radiators are considered the third most popular.Due to the affordable price and modern design, they are increasingly crowding out their "competitors" from residential premises and public institutions - during the repair of heating systems. They are preferred by construction companies, equipping schools and kindergartens, beauty salons and gyms, shopping centers and public receptions.

The most common release format:

1. Steel tubular radiators.
2. Panel batteries made of sheet steel on a tubular basis.
3. Floor convectors of steam heating from a steel tube in the casing of convector plates.

Note! All structural elements are made of one metal. But, depending on the functionality, steel of different grades and thicknesses is used.

The coolant quickly passes through the tubular channels, giving off heat to all structural parts. The panels are used not only for decorative purposes, but also to increase the area of ​​heat transfer. In addition, such a constructive form is practical - they are easy to wash, and if necessary, repaint. Convector plates quickly displace warmed air than is the case with conventional heating of smooth sections and tubes.

Tubular steel models have excellent design and longest life. Most often they are purchased for the private sector, but they can be recommended to those who are interested in what steel radiators for apartments are.

They are available in stainless steel. But with a long absence of water (frequent draining of the coolant or system run), their inner surface is gradually subjected to corrosion processes.

In urban multi-storey buildings, hydraulic shocks are possible, in which there is a possibility of destruction of the joints. Moreover, they have a number of indisputable advantages:

• Attractive modern design
• a rather high indicator of efficiency (excellent heat transfer);
• relate to energy-saving technologies - when installing valves in rooms, the temperature is regulated (in the expensive segment this option is provided constructively);
• equipping with convectors accelerates space heating;
• a wide selection of constructive, overall and color solutions;
• it is possible to choose a different type of installation (wall, floor and steel convectors embedded in the floor);
• safe operation (closed streamlined panels are recommended for children's rooms);
• Pleasant value for money.

Steel products fit perfectly into any interior design. They are painted with harmless heat-resistant enamels, and it is possible to change color or order any shade when buying a wholesale batch directly from the manufacturer.

Varieties of copper heating radiators for apartments

Non-ferrous metals are not afraid of corrosion, although oxidative processes are also inherent in them, but to a lesser extent. Many people know from the school curriculum that copper does not react with most chemicals soluble in water. Therefore, it is an excellent material for modern heating appliances. The only drawback of such products is the high price, these are the most expensive radiators.

From copper are issued:

• Art Nouveau tubular batteries;
• copper convectors in an aluminum casing;
• designer copper radiators;
• heated towel rails made of copper or with a copper coating (used for the comprehensive replacement of all pipes and radiators with a single sample).

In addition to the properties of the “red” metal, passive to chemical reactions, premium products have additional protection. The inner surface of the radiators is covered with a protective layer, which is designed to minimize the impact of abrasive particles of the coolant. At the same time, copper does not lose its excellent qualities - in terms of thermal conductivity and durability of operation of products from this metal.

Important! Installing copper batteries involves tin soldering and the use of special fittings - this should be done by specialists.

The surface of copper heating appliances looks great from the outside, fitting into any interior. Smooth pipes inside do not allow impurities to settle in the form of calcium, fine sand and organic suspended matter. They are less likely to need cleaning than analogues of other metals. There are no restrictions on the use of copper batteries in urban heating systems.

The most popular products remain in the closed loop of private houses and cottages, equipped with boilers with a copper heating element, which is incompatible with aluminum. However, sales of copper products are the lowest due to impressive price tags.

The use of all types of antifreeze as a coolant is also unlimited. Most models are adapted to high temperatures (up to 150 ° C) and pressure drops in the system up to 16 Atm. Plastic metal and at the same time resistant to various kinds of deformations, if the wall thickness corresponds to GOST and SNiP. These radiators are usually available in smoothly polished form, but if desired, they can also be painted with heat-resistant enamels.

Expert advice on manufacturers and brands

The market for thermal equipment today does not need to expand the range. In each line of products from different metals there are tens, hundreds and even thousands of articles.

Helpful advice! It is impossible to show the entire range of heating appliances in one store. Therefore, it is better to browse the catalogs, having previously studied the offers, go to the store for more detailed information from consultants.

Which brand is better? Modern radiators, regardless of the manufacturer, are rigorously tested for standardization before advancing to sales areas. All characteristics, including thermal power, are indicated in the technical description for the model - can be found on the websites of official representations.

There are many worthy competitors in the global thermal equipment market who periodically lead in ratings. Here are standard products in alphabetical order with price:

• Arbonia (7,258 p.);
• GuRaTec Apollo (75 322 p.);
• Kermi FKO (5,916 p.);
• Konner Modern (8 509 p.);
• Lammin Eco AL-500-80 (3,337 p.);
• Rifar Monolit (3,480 p.);
• Royal Thermo Indigo (5,490 p.);
• ROMMER Al Optima 500 (1,431 p.);
• Sira RS Bimetal 300 (880 p.).

Examples of products from a different price segment are given, so each buyer should focus on their financial capabilities.

Studying forums and websites of online stores, it can be noted that in the Moscow region the general trend at the beginning of 2019 is approximately the following:

Aluminum radiators are available at a price of 1210 rubles. for the minimum format (6 sections).

Bimetallic batteries offer from 1510 rubles.

From cast iron - at least 750 rubles.

Steel (panel) comes from 2300 rubles, tubular - from 2700 rubles. Price tags on copper batteries start at 3,500 rubles.

It is worth paying attention to the configuration. For imported premium products and mid-range models, the price includes fasteners. When purchasing domestic or Chinese "accordions", most likely, buyers pay only for the battery case, nothing else is attached to it.

Helpful advice! It is better to offer the replacement of heating radiators to public utilities or other specialists (from specialized and construction companies).

Dimensions are a significant indicator - it is impossible to place a large-format battery in a small window sill. Compact batteries, as a rule, have a small heat dissipation, so long convectors are preferable in apartments on the lower and upper floors.

Having found out what kind of heating radiators are for an apartment, we recall that everyone selects a model for himself according to the totality of characteristics. The price tag, the authority of the producing country and the design of the battery are secondary factors, although inexperienced customers pay attention to this.