One of the important links in any heating system is a radiator installed in a heated room. This device is responsible for comfortable living conditions in an apartment or a private house. Therefore, many consumers are wondering how to choose a heating radiator for an apartment. When solving this problem, it is necessary to take into account many nuances.
Radiator compatibility with heating system
The modern market offers for sale a huge range of radiators, among them:
- aluminum;
- cast iron;
- bimetallic;
- copper.
It is important to decide which battery will fit better into this or that heating system. It is important to consider technical parameters, including:
- heat transfer;
- permissible coolant temperature;
- inertia;
- pressure.
For reference
When buying, consumers pay attention to the durability, cost and appearance of the heating device. It is important to consider in which system the battery will be installed. If we are talking about an apartment building, the system is open, while individual houses are heated using closed systems. If the radiator performance does not match the characteristics of the heating system, the device may fail, as it will wear out quickly.
Battery Selection by Technical Parameters
If you are faced with the question of how to choose a heating radiator for an apartment, then remember: the operational and technical characteristics of the device should be taken into account. Not every battery will be able to endure the operating conditions of the heating network. If we are talking about a centralized heating system, then it will be peculiar to:
- poor heat carrier quality;
- fluctuations in temperature and pressure.
The design temperature for an open single pipe system in high-rise buildings is 105 ° C, while the pressure is 10 atmospheres. These parameters sometimes turn out to be larger, which is especially true when the system starts after the end of the summer period. Such conditions lead to water hammer, which some heating appliances are not designed for. Before choosing heating radiators for an apartment, it is important to find out what pressure and temperature of the coolant the device is designed for.
Heat transfer selection
Another important factor is heat transfer. This characteristic affects the efficiency of heating the air and depends on the material of the structure. Choosing a steel device, you can get less heat transfer compared to aluminum batteries. As for copper, it surpasses cast iron in this matter. However, you should not rely solely on this parameter.
What do the reviews say
If you are at a crossroads and do not know which radiator to choose for an apartment with a central heating system, pay attention first of all to what others say in their reviews of these systems.
So, for example, many are confident that, by acquiring steel radiators, they acquire devices that are notable for their low thickness and weight. These batteries are efficient and economical, have good heat dissipation and a small amount of water. According to consumers, they are inexpensive, but they’ve let us down on the issue of pressure. Steel radiators will be able to withstand only 8 atmospheres, which means they are not suitable for apartments.
Aluminum batteries look attractive, they have a thermal power of 190 watts, which pleases consumers. As buyers emphasize, hot water with harmful impurities and high acidity can eat batteries from the inside, since aluminum is too active. In addition, this material will not cope with high pressure. Its average figure is 16 atmospheres, but if a water hammer occurs, then even a new aluminum radiator will fail.
If you have no idea how to choose a heating radiator for an apartment, then listen to the advice of those property owners who claim that you should pay attention to bimetal models. This development is one of the latest in the field of heating appliances. In the manufacture of aluminum and steel or copper. Such devices are ready to last 40 years or more. For the heating system, which is installed in an apartment building, such devices are perfectly suited. They are able to withstand 130 ° C, and the operating pressure is declared at 50 atmospheres.
By installing such devices, you can no longer be afraid of water hammer. The internal and external anti-corrosion primer makes the units durable and resistant to destruction. If you still cannot decide which radiators to choose for heating your apartment, then it is worth buying bimetallic ones - they are lightweight, provide easy installation, transportation and transportation. However, not every consumer can afford, unfortunately, to buy such an expensive device. If you are offered something like this at an affordable cost, you should not trust, because the market is flooded with fakes. If you purchase a bimetallic product, you should pay attention to the models of trusted brands, including:
Cast iron radiators for an apartment
Such heating radiators are ready to last more than 50 years. Some manufacturers urge to forget about such batteries, but in vain. Indeed, such devices in contact with dirty water will behave properly. This metal is chemically passive, it is not afraid of high acidity and the presence of chemical additives in the coolant. In addition, the abrasive will not be able to damage thick walls. That is why cast iron is perfect for the apartment heating system.
Such products hold heat for a rather long time; the residual number of its storage is 30%. If we compare cast-iron batteries with other radiators according to this criterion, the first win. If you were wondering about which radiators to choose for heating an apartment, then perhaps you really should pay special attention to cast-iron, because they work on the principle of a radiant heat distribution method. It is much more effective than convection.
Cast iron does not rust when water needs to be drained from batteries in the summer. This feature is a significant plus. The heat transfer of such devices is quite large. With the pressure drops that occur during the operation of central heating, cast iron behaves quite adequately. However, the material is not always able to withstand high-power hydroshocks - in this case, it can bring down the fragility of the walls.
The determining factor is sometimes the cost, which is much lower in the case of the described models. However, the installation of cast-iron radiators is heavy. It is worth mentioning that the weight is due to the impressive wall thickness, which provides the necessary strength to the products. If you install cast-iron radiators once, you can forget about replacing them for many years.
Conclusions regarding the choice of radiator for an apartment
In conclusion, we can conclude which heating radiator is better to choose for an apartment. As practice shows, aluminum and steel models are not able to withstand the tests that accompany operation in domestic heating systems. Such batteries are not able to withstand pressure and temperature changes. Only cast-iron and bimetallic devices are left to choose.
What to buy - you can decide by evaluating the budget, as well as the characteristics of the models. However, you can take a few tips. If you still do not know which heating radiator is better to choose for the apartment, then you need to evaluate how old the house in which you live is. If we are talking about the "Khrushchev", it is best to use cast iron products. For residents of high-rise buildings, where the pressure is higher, it is recommended to purchase bimetal radiators. If earlier in the apartment batteries from cast iron were installed, then the choice can be stopped on any of two options. However, those who are going to replace the battery from another metal should buy bimetal models.
Choosing a battery for a private home
One of the important advantages of the heating system of a private house is low pressure, which is favorable for radiators. Water hammering is practically excluded here, and subject to the technical conditions of water balance, the list of battery options becomes quite extensive.
The cheapest radiators are sectional and panel steel batteries. They have pretty good heat transfer characteristics, fit perfectly into the interior and are compact. At the price of tubular radiators are more expensive than sectional and panel. According to the characteristics, they are approximately equal, and the extra charge is due to the sophisticated look.
Tubular radiators are convenient for drying things, which is important for families with children. Now you know how to choose the right radiator for your apartment. But if you live in a house, then you should pay special attention to steel radiators, which are characterized by low oxidizability from low quality water, as well as light weight and convenient dimensions. The life of such devices is quite long. But steel radiators also have disadvantages. They are expressed in a not too attractive design, the need for flushing, as well as the requirements for constant filling. The last recommendation is due to the fact that the inner walls in the absence of water will rust, and this can "kill" the radiator in just a few years.
Aluminum radiators for a private home
Aluminum radiators are quite common among consumers who live in private homes. The popularity of such devices is expressed in high thermal power and modern design. The price depends on the manufacturer. The cheapest models are products of Russian suppliers. But it should be remembered that aluminum radiators are sensitive to fluid parameters. In addition, the batteries have a fairly impressive thermal power, which can cause a temperature difference in the room. For heating a private house, such appliances are well suited. They will last a long time and will provide good heat dissipation if you operate the equipment under special conditions.
Features of the choice of bimetallic radiators
Quite often, modern consumers are wondering how to choose bimetal heating radiators for an apartment correctly. Similar devices are offered for sale in two varieties. The first is made on the basis of a steel frame, while the second has channels reinforced with steel.
Better quality are radiators with a steel frame. They do not have hot water in contact with the aluminum alloy, which eliminates corrosion. Such products will not leak. When choosing a specific model, it is important to pay attention to its cost and weight. The heavier the battery, the more expensive it will be. If you are in search of an answer to the question of how to choose bimetal heating radiators for an apartment, then you should pay attention to operating conditions. For an apartment of a multi-storey building with a central heating system, a radiator based on a steel frame is better. Now you know which bimetal heating radiators to choose in your apartment. As for the recommendation for the frame, it is especially relevant for a heating system with old pipes.
How to choose an aluminum radiator
A higher cost will have to pay for the cast aluminum radiator. All connections in this case are performed by welding in an inert gas medium. The advantages of such devices are tightness, reliability and the possibility of modification. If you have a question about how to choose an aluminum heating radiator for an apartment, then it is worth paying attention also to extrusion models. They are cheaper. Among their advantages should be highlighted:
- higher heat dissipation;
- smaller internal volume of one section;
- low price;
- less weight.
How to choose a cast iron radiator
Not all modern consumers know how to choose cast-iron heating radiators for an apartment. Imported models are more durable and practical compared to domestic production options. However, the cost of the latter is much lower. You can compare such heating devices also in terms of the year of manufacture. On sale you can find used batteries. They are cheaper, but sometimes require cleaning, which entails additional costs.
Instead of a conclusion: which company to prefer
If you are concerned about the question of which company to choose heating radiators for an apartment, then it is worth paying attention, as already mentioned, to such suppliers as Rifar, Global, Sira.
One section of Rifar will cost the consumer 400 rubles. As for the Italian brands, the batteries of their production will be more expensive - here you will have to pay 500 rubles. You can decide on the spot, because firms produce sections with different heat output, construction and design. Now you know which radiators to choose for heating the apartment. The reviews that we provided in the article should help you learn more about the existing heating appliances on the market.