As a rule, before the start of the heating season, the owners of industrial enterprises or country houses think about how to choose the right coolants for the heating system and calculate its amount. When using water as a coolant, when cold weather sets in, there is a big risk of damage to pipelines and radiators, as well as defrosting of the system. It is not recommended to fill the autonomous heating system at industrial enterprises with water because of an emergency stop.
How to choose a coolant?
To choose the right anti-freezing fluid, you need to answer a number of the following questions.
- In what conditions is the operation of the heating system planned?
- How often do you manage to refill the heating system with antifreeze?
- What is the temperature limit of the fluid circulating in the system for its normal functioning?
To date, it cannot be argued that there is only one antifreeze that is ideal for all systems, without exception. All known coolants for the heating system have their own advantages and disadvantages and are intended for use in strictly defined conditions.
Basic rules for selection
These rules will help you choose the best quality and safest coolant.
- The coolant must transport the maximum possible amount of heat in a short period of time, so a good coolant must quickly pass the entire working circuit of the system, thereby ensuring quick start-up of the system and, accordingly, heating of the room. One of the main quality criteria is the coolant circulation rate.
- Non-freezing fluid for the heating system must not be toxic, and also does not apply to flammable substances. This will not only ensure your safety, but also protect residents from the troubles associated with the escape or ignition of toxic fumes.
- To increase the efficiency, in other words, the circulation in the coolant system, it is required that the fluid is more viscous.
- In order for the heat carriers for the heating system to be as efficient as possible, they must have good thermal conductivity.
- High-quality non-freezing liquid should not cause corrosion, since not all modern heating devices have sufficient protection against this phenomenon.
- When choosing a coolant, it is necessary to be guided by the principles of reasonable economy and common sense - the optimal combination of cost and quality.
Water
Of all the available liquids on Earth in their natural state, water is characterized by the highest heat capacity - on average, about 1 kcal / (kg × deg). In other words, if one kilogram of water is heated to a temperature of 90ºC, and then cooled to 70ºC in a radiator, then 20 kcal of heat will enter the room that is heated by this device.
Water for the heating system has a high density (917 kg / m 3 ), which decreases with cooling or heating. It is worth paying attention that water is the only natural liquid that can expand both upon cooling and upon heating.
The toxicological and environmental characteristics of water significantly exceed the similar parameters that are characteristic of any synthetic coolant - in case of accidental leakage from the heating system, it will not create problems for the health of households, unless it gets directly on the human body.
With such a leak, the initial volume of water is very simple to restore - just add the required number of liters to the expansion tank of the heating system.
Varieties of Antifreeze
By and large, antifreeze in the home heating system is an all-encompassing name for substances that do not freeze at a certain low temperature. It is also worth noting that non-freezing fluid, which can be used in individual heating systems, appeared not so long ago. However, many owners of apartments and houses with individual heating are already thinking about using a substance with these properties so that the system does not freeze.
Despite the fact that today the market offers a lot of options for anti-freezing fluid for heating systems from various manufacturers, most of these solutions are made of three main substances - propylene glycol, glycerin or ethylene glycol.
Propylene glycol
It is a non-toxic, viscous mixture that has no color. Propylene glycol has a characteristic sweet taste and a pungent odor. This version of antifreeze is the best option, but mixtures based on it are quite expensive.
Glycerol
The heat transfer fluids for the glycerin-based heating system are a viscous liquid that has a slightly sweetish taste but no smell. This substance is non-toxic and cases of poisoning are very rare. In addition, glycerin is highly soluble, and if distilled water is used in the heating system, there will be no precipitate.
Ethylene glycol
This substance is a polyhydric alcohol, has no smell and color, but has a sweetish taste. Ethylene glycol is very toxic and even when used in small quantities can lead to serious poisoning, which in most cases leads to paralysis or death.
Despite the toxicity, the heating system for a private house with this coolant is the cheapest, therefore, it is most in demand. When using this mixture, special care is required, and when installing the system, all requirements must be met to prevent liquid from entering drinking water and possible leaks.
Antifreeze for heating: price
To determine the cost of the heating system using non-freezing fluid, you should know the overall volume of the system, you need to calculate with a margin of 10-15%.
Should be considered:
- meter and number of pipelines, as well as their diameter;
- coolant volume in the main structures (expansion tank, radiators, boiler).
The cost of household non-freezing fluid for heating systems depends on the country of manufacture, the composition of the solution. Concentrated formulations need additional dilution steps, but buying in general will be cheaper.
For example, antifreeze on ethylene glycol can be purchased in two types.
- Warm House -30 is a ready-to-use aqueous solution that can be purchased for 70 rubles per 1 liter.
- Warm House -65 is a concentrate, 1 liter of which costs 85 rubles. When diluting this solution with a freezing temperature of -30 ° C, the cost of 1 liter will be approximately 50 rubles.
Consumer preferences depend on the material and type of elements that make up the circulating heating system. Some note that the use of non-freezing liquids eliminates energy overruns due to the inability to deposit salts on the walls of the boiler and pipelines, and this significantly reduces the cost of repairs and maintenance. According to reviews, this heat carrier is economically justified to use for electric heating of rooms, when a long-term shutdown of electric energy is possible, as well as for country houses and cottages with periodic residence.