Regulatory service life of heating batteries. Chemical inertness to impurities in the coolant - a guarantee of a long service life of cast iron radiators

Normal operation of heating radiators for an apartment in high-rise building depends on a number of important factors, where the duration of use, determined by each specific manufacturer, plays an important role. Based on the material of production, various batteries can last from 15 to 35 years.

In view of the fact that it is an investment in the long term, when choosing devices for equipping an apartment heating system, you should ask how long devices of a certain type last and what can affect their durability!

Service life of heating radiators in residential buildings

The average indicator of the period of stable operation according to GOST, depending on the material of execution, is as follows:

• Steel - 15-20 years;
• Cast iron - 25-35 years;
• Aluminum - 20-25 years;
• Bimetallic - 25-30 years.

However, these characteristics are contrary to the actual data. The stability of the system depends on its real technical parameters and terms of use. Operation of heating radiators in residential buildings depends on:

• working pressure of the coolant;
• the chemical composition of the substance;
• average temperature water in the system;
• the likelihood of water hammer.

Service life of aluminum radiators

The degree of resistance to negative impacts, which can affect the life of the battery, is determined by the metal from which the device is made. Yes, operation aluminum radiators heating is designed for a period of 20-25 years with a warranty period of 5 years from the date of actual installation and inclusion in the system.

At the same time, it should be noted that such a long period work is provided only with proper care and under ideal conditions of use. There are a number of factors that can reduce battery life of this type to zero:

• High working pressure;
• Low resistance to water hammer;
• Susceptibility to corrosion due to high level coolant pH.

Service life of cast iron radiators

Despite the declared service life of up to 35 years, subject to all the rules, the operation of cast-iron radiators can reach more than 50 years. This phenomenon can be explained by the high resistance of cast iron to corrosion processes. For apartments in Moscow, this option is an ideal solution, having a combination of advantages and benefits in comparison with equipment made from other types of metals.

Installation of a heating system is an investment in warmth, comfort and comfortable accommodation. That is why the choice of batteries must be given Special attention. From right choice batteries depends on the longevity of the operation. That is why the main criterion that you should pay attention to before buying is the service life of heating radiators.

What factors affect the durability of radiators?

Before you go to the store for a new battery, you should remember that the life of the product depends on the parameters of the heating system.

In particular, we are talking about:

• Average operating pressure;
• test pressure;
• The chemical composition of water (coolant);
• Temperature limits.

In private houses, the working pressure ranges from 3-5 atmospheres, while in multi-storey residential buildings this figure is 8-16 atm. That is why the declared working pressure of the product must exceed the indicator by at least 2 atmospheres.

An important parameter is the purity of the coolant: antifreeze solutions can be used in mansions and cottages, while high-rise building systems use pre-treated, chemically treated water.

The dependence of the service life of radiators on the material

AT ideal conditions operation, with proper selection and installation, the service life is:

• 15-20 years for steel
• 20-25 years for aluminum;
• 25-30 years for cast iron batteries and bimetal products.

But in any case, given the severe climatic conditions our country, this indicator is only a convention: practice shows that if connected incorrectly, even the highest quality devices and pipes cannot withstand pressure and fail.

Main reasons for failure

There are dozens of reasons why a device might fail unexpectedly. Among the most popular are:

• Incorrect choice of radiator;
• Incorrect installation and connection;
• Increased acidity (pH) and poor quality of the coolant;
• Water hammer at seasonal start.

Lacking proper skills self repair can lead to quite disastrous consequences. That is why, when the first signs of a breakdown are detected, you should not hesitate to call specialists, because heating modern home- this is a complex system requiring a special approach to repair!

When installing new heating systems or upgrading old ones, the right choice of radiators is of no small importance, the reliability of which can become a determining parameter for the durability of the entire system. Therefore, the service life of heating radiators is indicated by manufacturers in the accompanying documentation and on the packaging.

For various types of devices, subject to proper selection and installation, it is:

Factors that determine the life of heating radiators

When buying radiators, it must be taken into account that their actual service life depends on the following options heating system:

• operating pressure in the heating system;
• test pressure;
• chemical purity of the coolant;
• coolant temperature.

The operating pressure is determined by the type of heating systems, and for private houses it is usually 3–5 atmospheres, and for multi-storey buildings it is 8–16 atmospheres. The operating pressure of the radiator, guaranteed by the manufacturer, must be at least 2 atmospheres higher than the operating pressure in the system.

The same variety with heat transfer fluids: antifreeze solutions can be used in cottages, and in district heating water usually undergoes chemical treatment.

Another danger to the functioning of radiators lies during the seasonal start-up of heating systems, when water hammer occurs, and not all materials and structures are able to successfully withstand it.

Therefore, when choosing, it is necessary to take into account the susceptibility of the radiator material to negative influences. For example, cast iron is inert, brittle metal, steel at the welding points quickly corrodes, and aluminum is destroyed when hyperacidity water.

Features of cast iron and steel radiators

These properties of metals explain the fact that classical cast iron radiators immune to water quality, but very sensitive to water hammer and system pressure exceeding 9 atmospheres.

Steel radiators quickly fail in the presence of oxygen in the water and when the operating pressure in the system exceeds the standard for these batteries (8–10 atmospheres). Therefore, they work reliably only in autonomous heating systems.

Acidity and general contamination of the coolant have a critical impact on the service life of aluminum radiators. This type of heating devices appeared relatively recently, but has already gained popularity primarily because of its consumer properties, which are due to the physical and technological characteristics of aluminum:

• ease;
• high thermal conductivity,
• high fluidity,
• plasticity.

Therefore, they have a high rate of heat transfer and are very productive. They are light, reliable and successfully resist water hammer.

However, aluminum radiators, just like steel ones, are sensitive to high pressure and draining the coolant from the system, since in this case the corrosion processes are faster. That's why modern designs provide for the presence of shut-off valves and an automatic gas outlet valve. Manufacturers recommend installing such radiators in private housing construction with controlled water acidity, which will eliminate all risk factors for these aesthetic products.

All the advantages of aluminum radiators, but without their shortcomings, are embodied by the developers in bimetallic radiators. The strength and durability of these products is ensured by the use of steel collector pipes for contact with the coolant, which significantly reduces the destructive effect of water. The optimal combination of the strength of steel and the thermal conductivity of aluminum makes it possible to guarantee a service life of 25 years at the highest working pressure for such devices (up to 24 atmospheres), that is, this is the best choice for multi-storey construction.

This design guarantees their durability under the influence of all adverse factors of domestic centralized heating networks, namely: low level of water treatment, unstable pressure in the systems, seasonal discharge of the coolant.

Maximum term The operation of heating batteries is ensured not only by the high quality of their manufacture, but also by taking into account, when choosing them, all the features (working pressure, water treatment, etc.) of heating systems in private or multi-storey buildings.

1. The radiator warms up unevenly: hot on top and cold on the bottom (and vice versa).
2. The heating system takes longer to warm up than before.
3. The heating batteries are cold, and the pipes connected to it are hot.
4. Energy consumption has increased.

In private houses, especially those located outside the city, the problem of cleaning the heating system is more acute. This is due to the fact that the water circulating in the system is taken from wells and reservoirs where it is not purified. Thus, much more sludge and other fine fractions that pollute the pipeline accumulate in heating radiators. In this case, it is much more expedient to clean the entire heating system, rather than individual radiators.

Flushing of cast iron pipelines is carried out in summer time but not in the heating season! Before cleaning, all valves must be opened to bleed air from the batteries. This procedure is best done by a practicing master plumber. this work requires care so that a flood does not occur and the equipment does not deteriorate.

It is not necessary to let water out of the boiler, the steam line is closed for the duration of cleaning. When the air is released and the corresponding valves are closed, then water is let through the entire heating system. Water must be supplied until clear water flows from the heating pipes.

Thus, the entire system is flushed: both pipelines and radiators.

For better cleaning, cleaning agents can be added to pipelines: soda ash, whey, vinegar. You can use chemical compounds: a means for washing car radiators or concentrated alkali "Mole".

After use chemical compositions pipelines must be thoroughly flushed. To do this, the boiler is heated and allowed through the system hot water, which will wash away the remnants of rust, oil contamination and the remnants of cleaning products.

The procedure for flushing the system must be carried out 1-3 times a year. This will depend on the purity of the water supplied to the pipelines.

It is important to note that after the heating season, it is not necessary to release water from the system. This is due to the fact that empty radiators are more susceptible to corrosion than those filled with water. Per summer period the water in the pipes also rusts and therefore before the next heating season be sure to drain the rusty water and flush the system with the addition of bleach.

Source: http://1poteply.ru/radiatory/promyvka-batarej-otopleniya.html

Service life of cast iron radiators

These are the main characteristics of any heating device, which determine its efficiency and serviced area. Most often, manufacturers indicate the power of one section, and the required number of sections is calculated based on the type and size of the room.

Classic cast iron radiator

Heat dissipation of radiators depends on the materials from which they are made. In this, cast iron, of course, loses to steel and, especially, aluminum.

Its thermal conductivity is about two times worse than that of aluminum. However, this is offset by low inertia. It takes a long time to gain heat and just as long to give it away.

Therefore, the efficiency of an aluminum battery will be higher with an intense coolant flow, for example, in closed systems with forced circulation. AT open systems or with natural circulation, cast iron will have an advantage.

The power of the cast iron radiator section is approximately 160 watts. For comparison, similar characteristics of aluminum and bimetallic batteries are in the region of 200 watts. Therefore, other things being equal, the cast iron product should consist of a larger number of sections.

Technical calculations of radiators can be performed using different methods. There are precise algorithms that take into account many parameters of the material, configuration and location of the room. We will give a simplified formula that allows us to estimate the desired value with sufficient accuracy, and then we will show how to modify the result if the conditions differ from the standard ones.

So, the number of sections can be determined if the area of ​​​​the room is multiplied by 100 and divided by the power of the section in watts.

Now some tips:

• If you get a fractional number, increase it upwards - a heat margin is better than insufficient heating of the room;
• If there are two windows in the room, it is preferable to put two batteries, distributing the resulting number of sections on them. This will increase the service life and maintainability of the heating system. In addition, radiators will create an effective barrier to cold air from windows;
• If the room has two external walls or the height of the ceilings in it is more than 3 m, it is better to add one or two sections to compensate for heat loss. The same can be done if there is an unheated attic upstairs.

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Dimensions, weight and appearance cast-iron radiators are a sore spot for all owners and installers of such devices. Let's see if everything is so terrible, using the example of the most popular domestic radiator - MS-140.

• Radiator height - 59 cm;
• Section depth - 14 cm;
• Section width - 9.3 cm;
• Weight - 7 kg;
• Section capacity - 1.4 l;
• Section power - 160 watts.

Of course, moving and installing 10-section radiators weighing 70 kg is not the greatest pleasure, but this is done only once (technical specialists and installers probably smiled sadly now).

But in terms of the amount of coolant, the cast-iron battery is really not impressive - 14 liters for these 10 sections must be heated and delivered.

In a city apartment, this is not very burdensome, but if thermal energy is taken from the boiler of an autonomous heating system, then extra cubic meters of gas or kilowatts of electricity will have to be paid out of one's own pocket.

Well, now a little about the pleasant: the service life and sensitivity to the quality of the coolant are the characteristics by which cast-iron radiators are ahead of all competitors. This is understandable - cast iron is absolutely resistant to abrasive wear and does not enter into chemical reactions with materials of pipes or elements of boilers. The dimensions of the channels inside the sections are impressive here, so these batteries almost never clog, and, therefore, they do not need engineering works for cleaning.

Many experts claim that the service life of modern cast-iron batteries is 30-40 years. Well, it may very well be, because in many houses old Soviet radiators are still alive.

However, there is also a fly in the ointment here - hydraulic shocks. We will talk about this further. Below we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a video about the advantages and disadvantages of cast iron batteries:

When it comes to the technical characteristics of radiators, pressure indicators are always listed first. The usual working pressure of the coolant is 6-9 atmospheres. Any radiators cope with this pressure; for cast-iron batteries, just 9 atmospheres is considered a regular load.

There is also the concept of "crimping" pressure - this is maximum pressure in the system, which may occur during its initial startup. For the MS-140 model, this is 15 atmospheres.

Various design solutions cast iron radiator designs

According to the regulations, when starting the heating system, it is imperative to check the possibility soft start centrifugal pumps. In a good way, all pumps should be equipped with automation that provides this smooth start. Well, actually...

In fact, most homes either don't have it, or it's in disrepair. But even in such a case, the instructions provide a corresponding paragraph: the initial start-up must be carried out with the valve closed, which can be (smoothly!) Opened only after the pressure in the line has equalized. Given who and how starts the heating in our homes, it is not difficult to imagine the percentage of these instructions being followed.

If the regulations are violated, the same water hammer occurs, in which an instantaneous pressure surge causes an excess of the permissible value, and one of the radiators in the direction of the coolant cannot withstand the load. The further course of events is clear - its service life is not as long as we would like.

We have already noted that cast iron batteries are absolutely insensitive to the quality of the coolant. They do not care about its type, composition, pH and other characteristics. All impurities, stones and other debris, always contained in utility networks, freely pass through the wide channels of the radiator and go further (possibly in order to get stuck in the narrow holes of the steel inserts of the neighbor's bimetallic radiator).

It doesn’t matter for cast iron what kind of coolant you are going to equip the system with if you intend to use it in your home. It can be water, and antifreeze, and any other non-freezing liquid.

Many conclude that when using cast-iron radiators, water treatment is not needed at all. Never follow these tips! There are many other components in your system, first of all, a boiler, which, due to poor quality of the coolant, may lose power, the heat exchanger or hydraulic group may fail.

Discussing the characteristics of cast iron radiators, it is impossible not to mention one more of them. distinguishing feature- They are sold unpainted. Therefore, after the purchase, they need to be covered with a decorative heat-resistant composition, and before that it is necessary to stretch it - the quality of the domestic assembly often leaves much to be desired.

It is probably impossible to give an unambiguous answer to the question whether cast-iron radiators are better or worse than, for example, aluminum or bimetallic ones. Someone scolds newfangled products, someone, on the contrary, is an ardent opponent of rarities. We hope that our series of articles on heating radiators will help you figure out what you need.

The construction market offers users many types of radiators for the heating system.

They are different from each other material of manufacture, appearance and characteristics.

Such a variety of products allows ordinary people to choose suitable option for your home.

Designations of radiators, according to GOST

Battery specifications are as specified state standard.

What is the efficiency of a steel product

The steel radiator is two welded plates of the same size. Inside the structure are copper pipes, which are connected to each other by mesh plates.

Advantages of steel batteries:

​

• structures on the market different sizes , which allows the user to choose a product suitable for the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room;
• do not require special care and easy to wash ordinary detergent;
• possess light weight;
• heat up and cool down short period;
• good heat transfer;
• small internal volume - plate, size 500x500 holds about 4 liters of coolant;
• acceptable price;
• attractive design, which will fit into any interior and will not cause the need to close the radiator with special devices.

Product disadvantages:

1. not water resistant, therefore, in the event of such a problem, swelling and rupture will occur;
2. low pressure;
3. small dimensions passage holes;
4. give flow;
5. Do not drain fluid from radiators for a long time.

Steel batteries are highly efficient. They contain a small amount of coolant and use it with maximum efficiency.

The average operating period of such a battery is 15-20 years old. The short service life is due to the tendency of the material to rust.

Attention! Leads to rapid wear misuse.

The heat dissipation of the device depends on the area of ​​the plate, 1 m² produces 4 kW of heat. If a plate is installed in the room, the size 500x500 mm, then it will produce 1 kW of heat.

Photo 1. Steel panel radiator model VK-Profi 22 with bottom connection, manufacturer - "Buderus Logatrend".

Cast iron material

Cast iron batteries are installed in most cases in apartment buildings.

Advantages of radiators:

Flaws:

1. heat up slowly, therefore, they do not heat the room for a long time, due to which there is an increase in energy consumption;
2. long term use inside dirt accumulates, which leads to a deterioration in the quality of heating and a decrease in service life;
3. large volume of coolant from 4.5 liters per 1 kW;
4. behind the design hard to care for due to the rough surface and for the same reason, dust constantly accumulates on the product;
5. high price;
6. unrepresentable appearance, which does not fit into any design, which makes it necessary to cover the battery with special panels;
7. poor convection and heating due to heat radiation, therefore, for high-quality heating, a battery with large quantity sections, especially when it comes to a room with an impressive area;
8. installation of the device is difficult due to high mass.

For cast iron batteries, efficiency average. Due to slow heating, the consumption of energy carriers (gas, electricity, etc.) increases.

Operating period cast iron radiators 25-35 years old.

This is an average.

Typically, these batteries last much longer because the material is highly susceptible to corrosion.

Battery power depends on the number of sections. One section gives 0.14 kW of heat. The more of them, the better the heating of the room will be.

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Aluminum: service life and power in kW

There are two types of aluminum radiators:

• cast. In such batteries, each section is solid.
• extrusion. This product consists of three hermetically soldered elements.

Aluminum radiators differ from each other also in power and dimensions.

Product advantages:

Flaws:

1. can not use acid coolants;
2. sensitivity to water hammer which destroys the battery;
3. inside the structure arise air locks, which increases the risk of corrosion;
4. risk of leaks between sections.

Batteries possess high efficiency. They use a minimum of coolant to maximize space heating.

Aluminum batteries will last for 20-25 years old. Such a high service life is due to the internal resistance to corrosion.

One section of the battery has a capacity 0.1-0.2 kW. The larger the design, the better heating.

Bimetallic

Such a battery is a structure, inside of which there is a carbon steel element, and aluminum on top.

Advantages of radiators:

• high heat transfer;
• increased strength;
• good speed heating and cooling;
• light the weight;
• products are used in any heating system;
• large dimensions of inlets;
• inside the contour no air pockets;
• attractive design.

Flaws:

1. no rust resistance does not allow to remove the coolant from the structure for a long time;
2. high price.

Bimetal batteries have high efficiency level. Small internal volume in 1.5 liters provides room heating with an average area.

Bimetal radiator will serve 25-35 years old. The metal is not subject to corrosion, so it has a long period of use.

The radiator has good power. She is 1 kW per battery.

Convector

This device is an electric radiator for space heating.

Advantages:

• simplicity in use;
• ecological purity;
• small dimensions;
• simplicity mounting;
• stylish design;
• a light weight.

Flaw - high cost of electricity.

The electric radiator has highest efficiency. He makes up 90%.

Operating period of the device - 5-10 years. Guarantee period - 5 years.

Convector power - 1 kW. One radiator heats the room in 15 m². If the area is larger, several devices are used for heating.

​

Photo 2. Radiator-convector Rondo-150 for 10 sections, power 950 W, manufacturer - Tianrun Group LTD.

What determines the efficiency of the heating battery?

The efficiency of radiators depends on how they are installed:

1. battery case install parallel to the floor so that there are no air pockets at the top of the circuit;
2. the distance between the bottom line of the product and the floor is 10 cm and the same indent is made from the window;
3. you can not install furniture closer, than 60 cm to the device;
4. the distance from the side edge to the wall is 3 cm;
5. must be installed on the circuit Mayevsky crane for air release.

Battery performance is affected metal from which the product is made. The best heat dissipation aluminum. In second place is steel. The thermal conductivity of this metal is increased by increasing the thickness of the radiator walls. The third place is cast iron. It has high thermal inertia and low heat transfer.