Summer is the best time to replace heating radiators. Before you start buying and installing, you should figure out which heating battery is the best to make the right choice. There are several types of devices, each of which has significant advantages over others. However, they have flaws, and they also need to be taken into account. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, several factors should be taken into account: cost, durability, strength and efficiency.
Tubular steel radiators
When choosing which radiators are the best, buyers often look at the cheapest options. It is in this category that tubular steel radiators belong. In their appearance, they look like traditional cast-iron, but more subtle and even elegant. The design consists of two collectors connected vertically by steel tubes, welding is performed by a laser, so the seams are almost invisible. The advantages of tubular steel include resistance to hard water, as well as ease of maintenance: due to the absence of sharp corners and complex bends, it is extremely easy to wipe the dust.
However, the product has significant disadvantages. Compared to other radiators, steel pipes are characterized by the lowest heat transfer, so the cost of heating increases significantly. In the area of welds, leaks form over time, so this type of product cannot be called durable. For this reason, tubular radiators are not recommended for use in apartment buildings: in the event of an accident, the amount of damage can be huge. Also, this system is not able to withstand pressure drops and is therefore unsuitable for modern realities.
Panel Steel Radiators
This type of heating batteries for a house can cope with a pressure of 6-9 atmospheres, therefore it is intended only for private or low-rise buildings with an autonomous heating system. The design includes two steel sheets 1.2-1.5 mm thick, welded together. The shape of the sheets provides for the presence of longitudinal recesses that increase the area of the battery and improve heat transfer performance. Due to this, convection of air masses is greatly enhanced.
Low carbon steel, which is used to produce this type of radiator, is resistant to corrosion. Also, the metal goes through a degreasing process, then phosphating, powder coating and special heat treatment. After such procedures, corrosion resistance increases.
The main advantages of panel steel radiators include: low thermal inertia, low weight and a wide choice of design, and the disadvantages are the inability to tolerate pressure drops and small possibilities for application.
Aluminum radiators
Aluminum radiators are one of the best metal batteries today, due to their high heat transfer rates, beautiful appearance and light weight. This type of device is produced in two ways: by casting and extrusion.
In the first embodiment, a solid block is created without intermediate connections, so the device is reliable. In the second case, individual elements are formed from an aluminum profile, which are then joined into a section by welding. Additional gaskets and seals increase tightness. If the production process was carried out without violations, the weld device is not inferior in reliability to monolithic, however, cast radiators are still more practical. The advantages of the extrusion method include great variability: the buyer has the opportunity to assemble sections and select the desired size. This is especially important when you need to get a radiator of non-standard length.
When choosing which heating battery is better, you should pay attention to the advantages of aluminum. This metal heats up quickly and also quickly gives off heat, therefore it saves up to 35% of fuel compared to other types of radiators. After 10-15 minutes after turning on the heating, the set temperature is set in the room. The minimalistic design makes the batteries almost invisible, so the heating system does not spoil the interior. Aluminum structures equally easily fit into the atmosphere of an office, apartment or private house. Radiators have a compact size and light weight, so the installation of heating batteries is possible on any wall.
Disadvantages are characteristic mainly for welded devices. Rubber seals have a shorter life than metal, so they quickly become unusable and the batteries begin to leak. For the same reason, it is forbidden to add antifreeze and other chemicals to water.
Differential pressure can also destroy welds, so only cast solid blocks can be used in a central heating system. In addition, water contaminated with solid abrasive particles erases a thin protective layer on the inner surface of the metal over time and the corrosion process begins in the batteries. In this case, the service life of aluminum is reduced.
Bimetal radiators
Bimetal radiators are more reliable than aluminum ones, as they are based on strong steel pipes. Steel easily tolerates pressure surges up to 10 atmospheres, as well as the presence of solid particles in water, and aluminum fins quickly heat up and transfer heat to the room. Thus, an ideal balance of structural strength and heating rate is achieved. Bimetallic devices are lightweight, so the installation of radiators does not require the use of special brackets, and the process itself is quite simple. Laconic design allows you to fit bimetal into any interior and not violate the aesthetics of the environment.
However, in addition to advantages, such radiators also have disadvantages. Steel may react chemically with certain other substances. If they fall into the water that fills the pipes, gas will form and the battery may burst. Avoid this outcome will allow the installation of air valves. Another important minus is the cost. Bimetallic radiators are much more expensive than all other options, therefore, despite the excellent consumer properties, they are not leaders in sales.
Cast Iron Radiators
Cast-iron radiators consist of several similar sections, the number of which in one unit may be different. Designs are made section by section, and then connected by nipples and sealed with heat-resistant gaskets. The design can have different widths, heights and depths, so the buyer can choose the option for almost any room.
Positive characteristics include excellent resistance to water quality. Neither the presence of chemicals, nor solid particles are capable of violating the integrity of the inner protective layer. Cast iron is a chemically passive metal, therefore it does not react and is not subject to corrosion. When water is drained from radiators in the summer, they do not rust from the inside. The permissible pressure for cast iron is at least 9 atmospheres, so the batteries are ideally suited for use in urban apartments, and the operation period is at least 50 years. At the same time, the cost of cast-iron heating batteries is approximately comparable to aluminum and significantly lower than the price of bimetallic devices.
The disadvantages of cast iron are its slow heating. However, this metal cools down much more slowly. Cast iron has a large weight, so delivery, skidding and subsequent installation are a rather serious problem: not every installer will take up such a task. Another minus is the appearance: bulky and clumsy metal heating batteries are far from an aesthetic ideal, but the modern design of cast-iron radiators is able to please the eye with a laconic, streamlined shape.
Features of the installation of cast-iron radiators
Since the cast iron battery of the heating system has considerable weight, it is necessary to use strong brackets. Such radiators can only be mounted on sturdy concrete or brick walls. For other situations, a foot mounting system is provided.
Floor convector
A review of radiators would not be complete without floor convectors. This is a relatively new engineering structure that is mounted directly under the floor. The design consists of a heat exchanger, a housing and a protective grill. This type is often used in commercial buildings where panoramic windows are installed that go from the floor, for example, at airports, shopping centers, pools. The pluses include the compact size, and the disadvantages are the relatively low efficiency and high cost of maintenance.
Skirting convectors
The height of this type of convector is only 20-25 cm, and the depth is 10 cm. Due to the small size, skirting batteries have little efficiency and are most often used as auxiliary ones.
Electric heating battery
Such radiators are used in cases where it is impossible to use a centralized or autonomous gas heating system. The cost of operating such devices is quite high, however, they have some undeniable advantages. Electric batteries are characterized by a simple installation process, high fire safety and the possibility of programming. Electric heating batteries can be oil, water and infrared; they are extremely convenient in stand-alone rooms.
Designer radiators in the interior
The heating system can perform not only direct functions, but also decorate the interior. Stylish and unusual batteries can decorate the environment, because they look like real art objects. The size and type of heating batteries in this case can be completely different.
What batteries are better to put in an apartment and a private house
In a private house, where an autonomous system is equipped, it is easier to decide which heating battery is better: both steel and aluminum models are suitable here. In urban apartments, heated centrally, pressure surges in pipes often occur, so it is not recommended to install steel options, as well as aluminum, made by extrusion. Bimetallic and cast iron batteries can be used without restrictions.
It is not easy to decide which heating battery is better. Each species has its advantages, however, and disadvantages should be taken into account.