Installing the regulator on the heating battery. Thermostat for heating boiler (temperature regulator)

landscaping 26.10.2023
landscaping

Thermostats are small in size, but very practical devices for controlling heat transfer in everyday life. Depending on the actual need, temperature regulators for radiators increase or reduce the volume of coolant. Agree, this is useful both for the well-being of the owners of the house/apartment and for their wallets.

For those wishing to purchase thermostats to equip radiators, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with a detailed description of the types of heat transfer control devices. We have presented and compared their control methods, operating principles, cost, and installation specifics. Our recommendations will help you choose the optimal variety.

We supplemented the information presented for consideration, collected and systematized for future buyers of heat regulators, with visual photo collections, diagrams, regulatory tables, and videos.

It is known that the temperature in different rooms of the house cannot be the same. It is also not necessary to constantly maintain one or another temperature regime.

For example, in the bedroom at night it is necessary to lower the temperature to 17-18 o C. This has a positive effect on sleep and allows you to get rid of headaches.

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If the radiator is connected to a working heating system, then the water should be drained from it. This can be done using a ball valve, shut-off valve or any other device that blocks the flow of water from the common riser.

After this, open the battery valve, located in the area where water enters the system, and turn off all taps.

After the water has been removed from the battery, it must be purged to remove air. This can also be done using a Mayevsky crane

The next step is to remove the adapter. Before the procedure, the floor is covered with material that absorbs moisture well (napkins, towels, soft paper, etc.).

A thermometer is placed in the room, then the valve is turned off until it stops. In this position, the coolant will fill the radiator completely, which means that the heat transfer of the device will be maximum. After some time, it is necessary to record the resulting temperature.

Next, you need to turn the head all the way in the opposite direction. The temperature will begin to drop. When the thermometer shows optimal values ​​for the room, the valve begins to open until the sound of water is heard and sudden heating occurs. In this case, the rotation of the head is stopped, fixing its position.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video clearly shows how to set up a thermostat and implement it into the heating system. As an example, take the Living Eco automatic electronic controller from the Danfoss brand:

You can choose a thermostat based on your own wishes and financial capabilities. For domestic purposes, a mechanical and semi-electronic unit is ideal. Fans of smart technology may prefer functional electronic modifications. It is also possible to install devices without the involvement of specialists.

Thermostatic equipment allows a person to influence the microclimate in the house, setting an acceptable range of day and night air temperatures. In addition to maintaining the temperature balance in a living space, heating thermostats allow you to optimize the cost of paying for housing and communal services. In winter, many residents of apartment buildings are forced to constantly keep their windows open, trying to escape from the heat-breathing radiators. This situation can be tolerated if payments for heating are carried out according to standards. If heat meters are installed in an apartment or house, then it becomes completely unprofitable for the owners to endure the inconvenience while “heating” the street.

After watching the video, you will learn how to install a heating temperature controller and configure it.

Most of all, rooms in which temperatures fluctuate significantly during the day (kitchens and rooms oriented to the sunny side) need the installation of thermostats. It is important to regulate the temperature level in the bedrooms, since proper sleep is only possible at 18-19°C.

Where are thermostats usually installed?

The optimal place to place the thermostat is the heating device itself (radiator), provided that it is not covered with curtains, decorative grilles or other interior items. Violation of this rule leads to an inadequate assessment of the temperature level in the room.

You can get around this rule by using a thermostatic element with a remote sensor located from the valve at a distance of 2 to 8 meters. In this case, the temperature level will be controlled at the location of the sensor. Also, temperature controllers for radiators can be installed on a horizontal section of the pipeline near the point of entry into the heating device.

When the manual thermostat completely blocks the flow of coolant into the radiator, its circulation in the system will continue through the jumper pipe

If the installation of equipment is carried out in accordance with the instructions and compliance with all building codes and regulations, then temperature control can be made in the range from 5°C to 30°C in increments of one degree. This range may vary on some models, so please check this information before purchasing.

Installation procedure for thermostat

To install a thermostat for heating radiators, first turn off the supply riser. Then drain the water from the heating system and begin installation work, which is performed in the following order:

  • cut off horizontal pipe lines at some distance from the radiator;
  • disconnect the cut pipeline, as well as the tap, if it was installed previously, from the radiator;
  • disconnect the shanks together with the nuts from the shut-off valve and the thermostat valve; they are wrapped in radiator plugs;
  • then assemble the piping and install it in the chosen location;
  • then the installed piping is connected to horizontally located supply pipes coming from the riser.

Heating systems are divided into two types: single-pipe and double-pipe. In a one-pipe heating system, when connecting a thermostat, it is necessary to change the radiator connection diagram by installing a jumper connecting the direct and return connections of the device.

This jumper pipe, otherwise called a bypass, allows the coolant to circulate when the heating battery is closed by a thermostatic device. When implementing such a connection diagram, it is convenient to dismantle the device by first closing the valves shown in the figure as numbers 3 and 4.

Connection diagram for a heating radiator thermostat in a one-pipe system

Connection diagram for a radiator temperature controller in a two-pipe heating system

Legend to the diagrams:

  1. heating system supply riser;
  2. Radiator;
  3. thermostat (automatic or manual);
  4. bottom valve;
  5. manual or automatic air vent;
  6. jumper;
  7. reverse riser;
  8. stub.

In a two-pipe heating system, the flow of coolant into the radiator can be controlled using a radiator temperature regulator installed on the top supply.

How to set the temperature controller correctly?

To set the thermostat correctly, you need to minimize heat leakage from the room by closing windows and doors. A room thermometer is placed where there should be a constant temperature. Then open the valve completely, turning the thermostat head to the left until it stops. In this position, the radiator provides the maximum level of heat transfer, so the air in the room will begin to heat up.

After the thermometer readings increase by 5–6°C compared to the initial value, the valve is closed. To do this, turn the head to the right as far as it will go. At the same time, the air temperature in the room will begin to gradually decrease. When the temperature reaches the desired value, begin to slowly open the valve.

As soon as the sound of water in the thermostat is heard and a sharp heating of the valve body is felt, the rotation of the head is stopped, remembering its position. At this point, setting up the thermostat is considered complete.

To install thermostats for heating radiators, it is best to invite professional plumbers

It is better to entrust the selection and installation of thermostats to specialists who will connect the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. A properly installed thermostat will ensure a comfortable temperature level in the room and help save heat consumption, which will have a positive impact on the family budget.

The saying “Everything is good in moderation” takes on particular relevance when talking about heating in winter. If you can fry eggs on your batteries, then you have two options: open the window ( and catch a cold :)) or install temperature regulators on the batteries. What are they and how to make a choice?

What is a thermostat for a radiator?

Heating temperature regulators have been actively used in the West since the middle of the last century. Initially, they were intended to save heating costs. European manufacturers still focus on this function, developing the direction of electronic thermostats and thermostats for heating with economical operating modes. However, in Russia, heat regulators are often purchased for another – secondary – purpose: reducing the heating temperature of the room. Some apartments are heated so intensely that their owners have to open the windows even in thirty-degree frost. In such cases, the main task is to normalize the temperature regime and create a comfortable living environment for humans. However, in recent years, the issue of saving resources has gradually come to the fore, and devices that help are becoming increasingly in demand.

Types of thermostats for radiators

Ball valve for radiator. Strictly speaking, this is not a thermostat at all, but a locking mechanism. But it would be wrong not to mention it: in some cases, this is the only option to reduce the heating intensity. For example, for cast iron radiators, which take a long time to cool down and take a long time to heat up, automatic thermostats for the radiator are not suitable, but a ball valve allows you to shut off the flow of coolant (hot water in the heating radiator) and thereby reduce the temperature in the room.

Cost: from 200 rub.

Battery thermostats, unlike ball valves, do not need to be controlled manually; they work “by themselves” - of course, after adjustment. Any thermostat for heating radiators consists of two parts: a valve and a control element. A valve is, roughly speaking, a piece of pipe with a shut-off mechanism (working cone). It cuts directly into the heating radiator. But the control element is attached to the valve. It acts on the shut-off mechanism, forcing it to lower or rise, thereby partially closing and opening the overflow channel.

Types of control elements:

1. Thermal head. Does not have a power source. It reacts to the ambient temperature. Below we will analyze its device in detail.

Cost: from 1,000 rub.

Thermostats on the battery reduce the heating intensity by reducing the amount of incoming coolant. They have no effect on heating pipes!

2. Electronic regulator, or thermostat. Thermostats are equipped with a temperature sensor and a processor. Coolant flow control is based on sensor readings. And the processor allows you to program the thermostat for the radiator to an operating mode suitable for your home. For example, you can set the heating power to a minimum during the week when everyone in your family is busy outside the home, and raise the temperature in the evening to return to warm rooms.

Electronic thermostats require power from the mains or batteries. The most modern models allow you to control the process via the Internet or a mobile application.

Using electronic thermostats, you can reduce heating costs by 20-30%. It is estimated that when using a thermostat in houses with an individual heating boiler, the cost of the thermostat pays off in 1 year.

Cost: from 2,000 rub.

Regulator design with thermal head

Regulators with a thermal head are the most common temperature controllers for a radiator. Let's talk about how they work.

Inside the thermal head there is a bellows with a heat-sensitive composition (liquid or gaseous). The bellows is a sealed chamber, the corrugated walls of which can stretch when heated and return to their original shape when cooled.

Passing through the radiator pipe, the coolant heats the composition inside the bellows. Increasing in volume, the bellows presses on the rod, which, in turn, presses on the working cone. The flow of coolant to the radiator is partially or completely blocked. Gradually the bellows cools and contracts. The cone rises and opens a passage for coolant.

The composition inside the bellows (working medium) can be liquid or gaseous. Liquid bellows tend to cost less because they respond more slowly to temperature changes. Gas is more sensitive and therefore allows you to regulate the heating intensity more accurately. If you are dealing with large areas, want to equip several radiators with thermostats and strive to save resources, then give preference to gas bellows. If you purchase a regulator for one battery, then the speed of response of the working environment will not be of fundamental importance to you.

Installation of thermostats for a radiator consists of two parts: installation of the valve and installation of the control element.

The thermostat valve fits directly into the battery supply pipe. First of all, you need to shut off the flow of coolant and drain the water from the radiator. Next, you need to cut out a fragment of the supply pipeline and install a valve in this place. For single-pipe heating systems, you will also have to install a bypass - a bypass, a jumper between the supply and discharge pipelines. The bypass will allow the coolant to circulate without obstacles through the heating system of the house, even if you turn off the heat supply in your apartment.

As you can see, installing a radiator valve requires certain skills or the involvement of a specialist. But with the control element, be it a thermal head or a thermostat, everything is much simpler: it is simply screwed to the valve with a thread or inserted into special grooves and snaps into place. The first method is much more widespread, so if you want to be able to choose from a larger range of control elements and not be limited to one manufacturer, choose a threaded valve.

Some manufacturers of heating batteries equip their products with factory valves, to which you can purchase any thermal head suitable for the thread. If you have recently moved into a new building, examine your batteries; it may well turn out that this is exactly your case.

Installing regulators on heating radiators has several more subtleties. Here are the most important of them:

  1. Choose thermostats with the ability to completely block the coolant flow: this may be needed for radiator maintenance. Another option: install a mechanical regulator - a ball valve - in front of the valve.

The thermostat for a heating radiator has another name - thermal head. The main function of this unit is to change the intensity of coolant movement in the pipes; this task is implemented in different ways, it all depends on the type of device. The thermostat is installed directly on the heating radiator. If such a need arises, it can be easily dismantled. However, it is important to adhere to the rules, in particular, all repair work is carried out before the start of the heating season.

The benefits of heating thermostats

The coolant temperature cannot always be adjusted. For example, in apartment buildings the heating system operates on a different principle, and it is not possible to set the required hot water parameters in each apartment. In such cases, the problem is solved by installing a device that is simple in its operating principle - a thermostat on the battery. With its help, the volume of coolant in the pipes changes, which leads to a decrease in the air temperature in the room. The advantages of such devices:

  • all processes are performed automatically, the user does not have to constantly be near the heating radiator;
  • zonal change of environmental parameters: in some rooms you can turn off the radiator, in others the desired temperature is maintained;
  • reducing the volume of consumed heat source, which allows reducing heating costs;
  • in the event of a breakdown of the heating device, you do not have to wait for the entire riser of the heating system of an apartment building to be turned off, for which the utility service is responsible; it is enough to turn off the radiator.

In addition, if you install more functional thermostats, it will be possible to turn off the heating device on site when the set air temperature is reached. The process involves a built-in or remote thermostat for the radiator; it transmits data on environmental parameters. This feature allows you to further reduce heating costs.

Device and principle of operation

The devices offered on the market have the same design. They also function according to the same principle. Main nodes:

  • valve;
  • thermal head with rod and bellows.

The last of the elements is removable. You can connect different thermal heads to one valve. The device of the electronic analogue is somewhat more complicated: the design includes a microprocessor responsible for regulating the temperature in the room. The operating principle of the thermostat is based on changing the cross-section of the valve lumen. To normalize the indoor microclimate, you need to reduce the volume of coolant that enters the radiator from the pipe.

The thermal valve is connected to the head via a union nut and a rod. The last of the elements moves inside the structure under the influence of the load exerted by the medium in the bellows (gas, liquid). When heated, the substance expands. The pressure inside the head increases. As a result, the rod lowers, partially or completely blocking the gap in the valve.

When the air in the room cools, the thermostat settings are changed manually or automatically. If a device equipped with a bellows is installed, the stem returns to its original position after the characteristics of the working environment change. Electronic devices interact with the thermostat. This element is often built into the design of the thermostat. There is another option: install a thermostat on the radiator.

The market also offers simpler thermostats - mechanical ones. They are equipped with valves and taps. Such devices are distinguished by their primitive design. They contain a valve, valve. There is no bellows inside the structure. All actions to adjust the parameters of the coolant and the environment are performed by a person: if necessary, the valve partially blocks the gap inside the valve, which leads to a decrease in the volume of the coolant. When the air in the room cools down, it is necessary to return the device to its original position.

Selecting a thermostat

Before purchasing, study the characteristics of devices of different types and compare their functionality. Heating thermostats are selected taking into account the following criteria:

  1. Design type: mechanical, electronic, electromechanical.
  2. Matching pipe and valve size.
  3. Cross-sectional area of ​​the internal lumen. In some models, the value of this parameter is initially small. As a result of the adjustment, the cross-sectional area is further reduced. This leads to significant cooling of the radiators. It is better not to use such a regulator for a battery, since the air parameters in the room will vary greatly.
  4. Temperature sensor location. It can be built-in or remote. In the first case, data on the air temperature in the room will be more accurate, since the device is located at some distance from the radiator, and therefore is not exposed to direct heat. A remote sensor is purchased when the radiator is recessed into a niche or located close to the window sill, provided that the thermostatic element is located in a vertical plane.
  5. For two-pipe and one-pipe heating systems, different thermostats are chosen.
  6. Device adjustment accuracy. The mechanical version of the design is simple, and a person is responsible for changing the parameters of the coolant, since all manipulations are performed manually. When choosing electronic regulators, the sensitivity level of the automation is taken into account. Information about the measurement error should be requested from the manufacturer.
  7. Appearance of the device. Gas-filled, liquid and electronic thermostats are attractive. Automatic models of such devices are equipped with displays.
  8. Price category. Equipment for the heating system must be certified and have a guarantee. Manufacturers that have won the trust of users: Danfoss, Royal Thermo, Oventrop, Teplokontrol.

Types of thermostats

Such devices are divided into 2 main groups:

  • mechanical;
  • automatic (electronic).

The filling of the bellows also differs: gas, liquid. Each option has its own advantages. The devices operate on a similar principle, but differ in the level of sensitivity to changes in environmental parameters. The method of adjusting the mechanical device is manual. Electronic analogues do not require human intervention.

The thermostatic element is divided into types taking into account the difference in valve configuration:

  • straight;
  • corner (for vertical, horizontal installation);
  • a device that has 3 pipes for connecting to the radiator, supply pipe and bypass, it is called a three-way valve.

The thermostat for the heating battery is also selected taking into account the working environment. There are 2 types:

  • gas-filled;
  • liquid.

The working medium fills the bellows, which is located inside the thermal head. Under the same conditions, liquid and gas behave differently, which determines the level of efficiency of the device.

Mechanical

Such devices are represented by the following options:

  • valve with valve;
  • devices equipped with a tap.

The last option is less preferable, since it is intended for other tasks, but can also be used to change the volume of coolant in the radiator. This is a manual thermostat. You need to turn the tap all the way. If you regularly leave it in the half position, the internal valve will become deformed over time.

Valve devices are offered in two versions:

  • needle type;
  • mechanical thermostat, specially designed for installation on a radiator.

The first one is controlled manually. To change the volume of coolant, you need to turn the valve. The disadvantage of such devices is the reduced cross-sectional area of ​​the internal lumen. Because of this, the level of efficiency of the regulator is significantly reduced. The advantages include the possibility of installation in a half position; if such a need arises, the valve can completely close the gap inside the valve.

Special mechanical thermostats, designed for installation on a radiator, have an improved design. They do not require direct human participation in the process of changing coolant parameters. However, such devices operate without being connected to a power source.

Positive traits:

  • reasonable cost;
  • autonomy: the devices do not require connection to a power source, which means they can operate in any conditions;
  • simple process of operation and management.

Such devices have lower accuracy than their automatic counterparts.

Electronic

Temperature regulators of this type are programmable devices. The design provides the ability to change and control environmental parameters. The automatic thermostat is equipped with a screen that displays the air temperature. The user can set the required value for this parameter. Throughout the heating season, the thermostat will maintain this temperature by opening and closing the valve. This feature is provided by a built-in microprocessor.

There are models of regulators that control the operation of the entire heating system: pumps, boiler. To ensure the ability to change the parameters of the coolant automatically, a thermostat is used. It transmits the temperature value to the thermostat. There are the following types of electronic devices:

  • with open logic;
  • with closed logic;
  • simple models, similar to mechanical counterparts, but equipped with a display.

In the first case, the device can be reprogrammed. Thanks to this, it is possible to configure the regulator in accordance with the characteristics of any heating system. Analogs with closed logic cannot be reprogrammed. However, it remains possible to change the main parameters. These types of thermostats represent a group of digital technology. Their cost is higher than simple electronic analogues with reduced functionality.

The main disadvantage of automatic regulators is the need to connect to an energy source. The power supply can act in this capacity. The thermostat consumes a minimal amount of energy. This allows you to operate it for a long period without the need to replace the power supply.

Liquid and gas-filled

Their design has already been discussed above. Such devices represent a group of mechanical regulators; they consist of a valve, a spring-loaded rod, and a bellows, which contains gas or liquid inside. The substance must certainly be able to expand under the influence of high temperatures. Due to this property, the pressure inside the head increases. Paraffin is often used as a liquid medium.

Gas-filled and liquid devices are similar in terms of efficiency. The advantage of the first of the regulators for radiators is a faster response to fluctuations in room temperature. The advantage of a liquid-filled device is its high accuracy in transferring the pressure that has increased inside the bellows to the spring-loaded rod. This means that both types of devices implement their main function quite effectively.

DIY thermostat installation

The recommended mounting location is at the radiator inlet. The installation diagram of the regulator is determined by the type of heating system: one- or two-pipe. In the first case, an important condition is the installation of a bypass. It is placed in front of the thermostat. Thanks to this, it becomes possible to turn off the heating device, then the coolant will flow through the bypass and further along the communications.

The heating temperature regulator inside the radiator must be embedded in the supply pipe. When choosing an installation location, the direction of movement of hot water is taken into account. In most cases, the thermostat is built into a pipe that is connected to the radiator from above. Additionally, a valve with a valve is mounted in the lower part, which makes it possible to drain the coolant in the event of a breakdown of the heating device.

Installation of the device

Installation of a thermostat on heating radiators is carried out during a period when the communication system is not filled with coolant. The sequence of actions when installing the control device on a pipe:

  • it is necessary to remove the battery, it is important to leave small sections of pipes at the entrance to the heating device;
  • connect the regulator valve to the radiator plugs;
  • fix the second pipe on the supply pipe.

Flax or FUM tape is used for compaction. You can install the thermostat yourself if you have the appropriate tools and equipment. A grinder is used for cutting metal. When connecting communications, do not apply excessive force, as the thread may be stripped. Always place the temperature regulator in a horizontal position, which will avoid additional exposure to heat emanating from the radiator, since heated air flows always rise to the ceiling.

Settings

The valve handle must be turned until the required operating mode is set. The thermostat on the battery is adjusted according to personal preferences. The valve has a pointer and a scale. The adjustment is stopped when the pointer is positioned opposite the number corresponding to the desired mode.

How to remove the thermostat from the battery?

To do this, repeat the instructions given above. Considering that such actions are in most cases carried out during repairs in the cold season, it may be necessary to turn off the heating system. Then the coolant is drained. All that remains is to dismantle the thermostat for heating; to do this, unscrew the fasteners.

Adjusting heating radiators in an apartment allows you to simultaneously solve several problems, the main one of which is to reduce the cost of paying for certain utilities.

This possibility is realized in different ways: mechanically and automatically. However, when changing the heating system parameters, the average room temperature does not increase. You can only reduce it to the desired level by adjusting the position of the fittings. It is advisable to install such devices on batteries in houses where it is cool in winter.

Why do you need to make adjustments?

The main factors explaining the need to change the heating level of batteries using locking mechanisms and electronics:

  1. Free movement of hot water through pipes and inside radiators. Air pockets may form in the heating system. For this reason, the coolant stops heating the batteries, as it gradually cools. As a result, the indoor microclimate becomes less comfortable, and over time the room cools down. To maintain heat in the pipes, shut-off mechanisms installed on radiators are used.
  2. Adjusting the temperature of the batteries makes it possible to reduce the cost of heating your home. If the rooms are too hot, by changing the position of the valves on the radiators you can reduce costs by 25%. Moreover, reducing the heating temperature of the batteries by 1°C provides savings of 6%.
  3. In cases where radiators heat up the air in the apartment very much, you have to open the windows often. It is not advisable to do this in winter, because you can catch a cold. To avoid having to constantly open windows in order to normalize the microclimate in the room, regulators should be installed on the batteries.
  4. It becomes possible to change the heating temperature of radiators at your discretion, and individual parameters are set in each room.

How to regulate radiators

To influence the microclimate in the apartment, you need to reduce the volume of coolant passing through the heating device. In this case, it is only possible to reduce the temperature value. The heating system is adjusted by turning the valve/faucet or changing the parameters of the automation unit. The amount of hot water passing through the pipes and sections is reduced, and at the same time the battery heats up less intensely.

To understand how these phenomena are interconnected, you need to learn more about the operating principle of the heating system, in particular, radiators: hot water entering the heating device heats the metal, which, in turn, releases heat into the air. However, the intensity of heating the room depends not only on the volume of hot water in the battery. The type of metal from which the heating device is made also plays an important role.

Cast iron has a significant mass and releases heat slowly. For this reason, it is not advisable to install regulators on such radiators, since the device will take a long time to cool. Aluminum, steel, copper - all these metals instantly heat up and cool down relatively quickly. Work on installing regulators should be carried out before the start of the heating season, when there is no coolant in the system.

In an apartment building, there is no way to change the average water temperature in the heating system pipes. For this reason, it is better to install regulators that allow you to influence the microclimate in the room in a different way. However, this cannot be realized if the coolant is supplied from top to bottom. In a private house there is access and the ability to change individual equipment parameters and coolant temperature. This means that in this case it is often impractical to mount regulators on batteries.

Valves and taps

Such fittings are a heat exchanger of a shut-off device. This means that the radiator is adjusted by turning the tap/valve in the desired direction. If you turn the fittings 90° all the way, the flow of water into the battery will no longer flow. To change the heating level of the heating device, the locking mechanism is set to the half position. However, not every fitting has this opportunity. Some faucets may leak after a short period of use in this position.

Installing shut-off valves allows you to manually regulate the heating system. The valve is inexpensive. This is the main advantage of such fittings. In addition, it is easy to operate, and changing the microclimate does not require special knowledge. However, there are also disadvantages to locking mechanisms, for example, they are characterized by a low level of efficiency. The battery cooling rate is slow.

Stopcocks

A ball design is used. First of all, it is customary to install them on a heating radiator in order to protect housing from coolant leakage. This type of valve has only two positions: open and closed. Its main task is to turn off the battery if such a need arises, for example, if there is a risk of flooding in the apartment. For this reason, shut-off valves are cut into the pipe in front of the radiator.

If the valve is in the open position, the coolant circulates freely throughout the heating system and inside the battery. Such taps are used if the room is hot. The batteries can be turned off periodically, which will reduce the air temperature in the room.

However, ball locking mechanisms must not be installed in the half position. With prolonged use, the risk of leakage in the area where the ball valve is located increases. This is due to gradual damage to the locking element in the form of a ball, which is located inside the mechanism.

Manual valves

This group includes two types of fittings:

  1. Needle valve. Its advantage is the possibility of half installation. Such fittings can be located in any convenient position: completely opens/closes the access of coolant to the radiator, significantly or slightly reduces the volume of water in heating devices. However, there is a drawback to needle valves. Thus, they are characterized by reduced throughput. This means that after installing such fittings, even in a fully open position, the amount of coolant in the pipe at the battery inlet will be significantly reduced.
  2. Control valves. They are designed specifically to change the heating temperature of batteries. The advantages include the ability to change position at the user’s discretion. In addition, such fittings are reliable. There is no need to frequently repair the valve if the structural elements are made of durable metal. There is a shut-off cone inside the valve. When you turn the handle in different directions, it rises or falls, which helps to increase/decrease the flow area.

Automatic adjustment

The advantage of this method is that there is no need to constantly change the position of the valve/faucet. The desired temperature will be maintained automatically. Adjusting the heating in this way makes it possible to set the desired parameters once. In the future, the heating level of the battery will be maintained by an automation unit or other device installed at the input of the heating device.

If necessary, individual parameters can be set multiple times, which is influenced by the personal preferences of the residents. The disadvantages of this method include the significant cost of components. The more functional the devices are for controlling the amount of coolant in heating radiators, the higher their price.

Electronic thermostats

These devices superficially resemble a control valve, but there is a significant difference - a display is built into the design. It displays the room temperature that needs to be obtained. Such devices work in conjunction with a remote temperature sensor. It transmits information to the electronic thermostat. To normalize the microclimate in the room, you just need to set the desired temperature value on the device, and the adjustment will be performed automatically. Electronic thermostats are located at the battery input.

Adjusting radiators with thermostats

Devices of this type consist of two units: lower (thermal valve) and upper (thermal head). The first of the elements resembles a manual valve. It is made of durable metal. The advantage of such an element is the ability to install not only an automatic, but also a mechanical valve, it all depends on the needs of the user. To change the heating temperature of the battery, the design of the thermostat includes a bellows, which exerts pressure on the spring-loaded mechanism, and the latter, in turn, changes the flow area.

Using Three-Way Valves

Such devices are made in the form of a tee and are intended for installation at the connection point of the bypass, the inlet pipe to the radiator, or the general riser of the heating system. To increase operating efficiency, the three-way valve is equipped with a thermostatic head, the same as that of the previously discussed thermostat. If the temperature at the valve inlet is higher than the desired value, the coolant does not enter the battery. Hot water is directed through the bypass and passes further along the heating riser.

When the valve cools down, the passage hole opens again and the coolant flows into the battery. It is advisable to install such a device if the heating system is single-pipe and the pipe distribution is vertical.

To be able to regulate the temperature of the battery in the apartment, consider any type of valve: they can be straight or angular. The installation principle of such a device is simple; the main thing is to correctly determine its position. Thus, the direction of coolant flow is indicated on the valve body. It must correspond to the direction of water movement inside the battery.

Place valves/thermostats at the inlet of the heating device; if necessary, install a tap at the outlet as well. This is done so that in the future it will be possible to independently drain the coolant. Regulating devices are installed on heating radiators, provided that the user knows exactly which pipe is the supply pipe, since a tap is made into it. In this case, the direction of movement of hot water in the riser is taken into account: from top to bottom or from bottom to top.

Compression fittings are more reliable, which is why they are used more often. The connection to the pipes is threaded. Thermostats can be equipped with a union nut. To seal the threaded connection, use FUM tape or flax.

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