Connect the heating battery from below. Possible schemes for connecting heating radiators

Without quality heating system no home will be as comfortable and cozy as possible. Especially if it is located in Russia - after all, our country does not have a mild climate. When planning the heating system in our own house and what the system for connecting heating radiators will be, we try to make sure that it heats the house or apartment well, is of high quality and works without failures.

But many owners add another requirement, which, it should be noted, is quite logical. The heating system must also be economical. That is, its purchase, and installation, and further operation, and which connection of heating radiators is better, should not cost the owner a pretty penny, as they say.

One of the most common ways to save on a heating system is to purchase and install it without involving specialists.

And it should be noted that even those who have never dealt with heating systems before do an excellent job with this task. Of course, in order to do everything right, you need to familiarize yourself with some information, including wiring diagrams for heating radiators. Consider the ways of connecting heating radiators and how best to connect a heating radiator for you.

The principle of connecting radiators

Heating appliances can be connected to the system different ways. Consider examples of connecting heating radiators. In many ways, the choice of type of radiator depends on its size and location relative to other radiators in the system, as well as the type of the system itself.

There are such ways of connecting heating radiators: side, diagonal, heating radiators with a lower connection, series connection of heating radiators and parallel.

The most common include side connection and heating radiators with a bottom connection. Let's take a closer look at these types:

• side connection. This method is characterized by connecting the inlet pipe to the upper branch pipe, and the outlet pipe to the lower one. That is, both pipes - both the supply and the outflow of the coolant - are located on one side of the radiator. This method is quite common for the reason that it allows you to achieve maximum heating of the radiator, and, accordingly, maximum heat transfer. However, side-connected heating radiators should not be used for a large number of sections - in this case, the latter may not be warm enough. However, if there is no other way to connect, then to fix the problem, you should use an extension of the water flow.
• heating batteries with bottom connection. This option is used if heating batteries with lower wiring run under skirting boards or floors. The lower connection is called the most beautiful - heating batteries with a lower connection and coolant supply and outflow are hidden under the floor and connected to the radiator using pipes directed to the floor.

Types of heating systems

Today there are enough a large number of types of heating systems. Each of them has its own characteristics of connecting radiators. Undoubtedly, if you decide to involve a master to install batteries, he knows all this. But if you plan to install radiators yourself, then you need to distinguish between the types of connection for heating radiators - because you need to know which system will function in your home.

Single pipe system

This type of heating is common in high-rise buildings. The ease of planning and installation, as well as the minimum amount of materials used, make it very profitable.

But the one-pipe connection of heating radiators has a significant drawback - there is no possibility of adjusting the heat supply (the degree of heating of the batteries). And in some cases, this is a significant disadvantage.

At the same time, the heat transfer of the system is calculated even when creating a heating project, and subsequently fully complies with the specified parameter.

The principle of operation of this heating system is simple - a heated coolant is supplied to the battery through one circuit. And the outflow of the cooled coolant is carried out along a different circuit. All heating devices in the system are connected in parallel. A significant advantage of a two-pipe heating system is that it is possible to control and, if necessary, adjust the heating level. To do this, special valves are placed on a two-pipe connection of heating radiators - special valves are placed on a separate radiator. It is important to remember that when connecting radiators, it is necessary to strictly follow all the rules specified in SNiP 3.05.01-85.

Where is the best place to install a radiator?

Heating radiators installed in any room, in addition to the heating function, have another, no less important - protective function. That is, the flow of warm air coming from the heater creates a kind of shield that protects the room from the penetration of cold air. And, in this case, it does not matter how the radiators are connected - parallel connection of heating radiators or is it a series connection of heating radiators.

It is the creation of such a barrier against the cold that makes us install radiators where cold air can seep in - in a niche under the windows.

Therefore - parallel or series connection of heating batteries will be in this case - it does not matter.

In order for the room to be as protected from the cold as possible, before proceeding directly with the installation of radiators, it is necessary to correctly determine the places where they will be located. This is not an extra precaution - after all, there will be no possibility to change anything in the future.

Another important feature - you should not only know exactly where to place the batteries, but also how to do it correctly, and in the future - what will be the connection scheme for heating radiators.

In particular, there are several rules regarding how far from the surfaces the heater should be installed:

• from the bottom point of the window sill to the top point of the radiator must be at least 10 cm;
• from the floor surface to the lowest point of the radiator must be at least 12 cm;
• from the rear wall of the radiator to the wall must be at least 2 cm.

Types of coolant circulation and connection options

The coolant, which in most cases is water, can circulate in the heating system in two ways - forcibly and naturally. Forced circulation implies the presence of a special pump in the heating system, through which the coolant is moved. The pump can be an element of the heating boiler (that is, it is built in) or it can be installed directly in front of the heating boiler - on the return pipe. When developing a connection diagram for heating batteries, it must correctly determine the place for the pump in advance.

A natural carrier circulation system is a great solution for those homes that experience frequent power outages. The movement of the coolant is based on the elementary laws of physics. In such a system, the boiler is non-volatile.

In many ways, the types of connection of heating radiators depend not only on the type of coolant circulation. In addition, it is also necessary to take into account the duration of the pipes of the system and the peculiarity of their location.

This type of radiator connection assumes that both the hot coolant supply pipe and the return pipe will be connected to one side of the battery. Using this connection principle is the most rational for one-story houses. It is especially suitable if it is planned to connect sufficiently long radiators - up to 14-15 sections. However, if the number of sections is more than 15, the heating efficiency may decrease - that is, the last sections of the radiator will be colder than those closer to the pipes. Therefore, in this case, you should choose other options for connecting heating radiators.

Saddle and bottom connection

Such a connection is suitable for those systems whose pipes are mounted under the floor surface. In this case, there will be only a small piece of pipe above the surface, which is connected to the lower branch pipe. In this case, the inlet pipe is mounted on one side of the radiator, and the outlet pipe on the other. The disadvantage of this connection method is a significant (up to 15%) heat loss. In the upper part, the radiator may not warm up completely.

Diagonal connection of heating radiators is best used for radiators with a large number of sections. The design of the radiator allows the heat carrier to be distributed within the sections as evenly as possible - this makes it possible to obtain maximum heat transfer. The essence of the connection is simple - a pipe for supplying a heated coolant is connected to the upper branch pipe. And a return pipe is connected to the lower pipe on the other side of the radiator. The advantage of this type of connection is the minimum heat loss - it is only 2%.

The quality of space heating will depend on how correctly you determine the methods of connecting heating batteries to your heating system. The proposed options for connecting heating batteries are extremely simple and of the highest quality.

You can purchase an arbitrarily powerful heating boiler, but not achieve the expected warmth and comfort in the house. The reason for this may well be improperly selected final heat exchange devices. indoors, as which traditionally most often act as radiators. But even the assessments that seem to be quite suitable according to all criteria sometimes do not justify the hopes of their owners. Why?

And the reason may lie in the fact that the radiators are connected according to a scheme that is very far from optimal. And this circumstance simply does not allow them to show those heat transfer output parameters that are announced by manufacturers. Therefore, let's take a closer look at the question: what are the possible schemes for connecting heating radiators in a private house. Let's see what are the advantages and disadvantages of these or those options. Let's see what technological methods are used to optimize some circuits.

Necessary information for the correct choice of the radiator connection scheme

In order for further explanations to become more understandable to an inexperienced reader, it makes sense to first consider what, in principle, is standard radiator heating. The term “standard” is used because there are also completely “exotic” batteries, but their consideration is not included in the plans of this publication.

The basic device of a heating radiator

So, if you depict a conventional heating radiator schematically, you might get something like this:

From the layout point of view, this is usually a set of heat exchange sections (item 1). The number of these sections can vary over a fairly wide range. Many battery models allow you to vary this amount, adding and decreasing, depending on the required thermal total power or based on the maximum allowable assembly dimensions. To do this, between the sections provides threaded connection using special couplings (nipples) with the necessary seal. Other radiators of this possibility do not imply their sections are connected “tightly” or even represent a single metal structure. But in the light of our topic, this difference is of fundamental importance.

But what is important is, so to speak, the hydraulic part of the battery. All sections are united by common manifolds located horizontally at the top (pos. 2) and below (pos. 3). And at the same time, in each of the sections, these collectors are connected by a vertical channel (pos. 4) for the movement of the coolant.

Each of the collectors has two inputs, respectively. In the diagram, they are designated G1 and G2 for the upper manifold, G3 and G4 for the lower one.

In the vast majority of connection schemes used in the heating systems of private houses, only these two inputs are always involved. One is connected to the supply pipe (that is, coming from the boiler). The second - to the "return", that is, to the pipe through which the coolant returns from the radiator to the boiler room. The remaining two entrances are blocked by plugs or other locking devices.

And here's what's important - the efficiency of the expected heat transfer of the heating radiator largely depends on how these two inputs, supply and return, are mutually located.

Note : Of course, the scheme is given with a significant simplification, and in many types of radiators it may have its own characteristics. So, for example, in cast-iron batteries of the MS-140 type, familiar to everyone, each section has two vertical channels connecting the collectors. And in steel radiators there are no sections at all - but the system of internal channels, in principle, repeats the hydraulic scheme shown. So everything that will be said below applies equally to them.

Where is the supply pipe, and where is the "return"?

It is quite clear that in order to correctly optimally position the inlet and outlet to the radiator, it is necessary at least to know in which direction the coolant is moving. In other words, where is the supply, and where is the “return”. And the fundamental difference can already be hidden in the very type of heating system - it can be single-pipe or

Features of a one-pipe system

This heating system is especially common in high-rise buildings, it is quite popular in single-story individual construction. Its wide demand is primarily based on the fact that much fewer pipes are required during production, volumes are reduced installation work.

If explained as simply as possible, then this system is a single pipe passing from the supply pipe to the boiler inlet pipe (as an option - from the supply to the return manifold), on which the series-connected heating radiators seem to be “strung”.

On the scale of one level (floor), it might look something like this:

It is quite obvious that the "return" of the first radiator in the "chain" becomes the supply of the next one - and so on, until the end of this closed circuit. It is clear that from the beginning to the end of a single-pipe circuit, the temperature of the coolant is steadily decreasing, and this is one of the most significant drawbacks of such a system.

It is also possible the location of a single-pipe circuit, which is typical for buildings with several floors. This approach was usually practiced in the construction of urban apartment buildings. However, it can also be found in private houses with several floors. This, too, should not be forgotten if, say, the house went to the owners from the old owners, that is, with the wiring of the heating circuits already installed.

Two options are possible here, shown below in the diagram, respectively, under the letters "a" and "b".

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• Option "a" is called a riser with an upper coolant supply. That is, from the supply manifold (boiler) the pipe rises freely to the high point riser, and then sequentially passes down through all the radiators. That is, the hot coolant is supplied directly to the batteries in the direction from top to bottom.
• Option "b" - single-pipe wiring with bottom feed. Already on the way up, along the ascending pipe, the coolant passes a series of radiators. Then the direction of the flow changes to the opposite, the coolant passes through another string of batteries until it enters the "return" collector.

The second option is used for reasons of saving pipes, but it is obvious that the disadvantage of a single-pipe system, that is, the temperature drop from radiator to radiator along the coolant, is even more pronounced.

Thus, if you have a single-pipe system installed in your house or apartment, then in order to select the optimal scheme for connecting radiators, it is imperative to clarify in which direction the coolant is supplied.

The secrets of the popularity of the heating system "Leningradka"

Despite the rather significant shortcomings, single-pipe systems still remain quite popular. An example of this - which is described in detail in a separate article of our portal. And one more publication is devoted to that element, without which single-pipe systems are not able to work normally.

What if the system is two-pipe?

A two-pipe heating system is considered more advanced. It is easier to manage, better amenable to fine adjustments. But this is against the background of the fact that more material is required to create it, and installation work is becoming larger.

As can be seen from the illustration, both the supply pipe and the return pipe are essentially manifolds to which the corresponding pipes of each of the radiators are connected. The obvious advantage is that the temperature in the supply pipe-collector is maintained almost the same for all heat exchange points, that is, it almost does not depend on the location of a particular battery in relation to the heat source (boiler).

This scheme is also used in systems for houses with several floors. An example is shown in the diagram below:

In this case, the supply riser is muffled from above, as is the "return" pipe, that is, they are turned into two parallel vertical collectors.

Here it is important to understand one nuance correctly. The presence of two pipes near the radiator does not mean at all that the system itself is a two-pipe system. For example, with vertical wiring, there may be such a picture:

Such an arrangement can mislead an inexperienced owner in these matters. Despite the presence of two risers, the system is still single-pipe, since the heating radiator is connected to only one of them. And the second is a riser that provides the upper supply of coolant.

aluminum radiator prices

aluminum radiator

It's different if the connection looks like this:

The difference is obvious: the battery is embedded in two different pipes - supply and return. That is why there is no bypass jumper between the inputs - it is completely unnecessary with such a scheme.

There are other two-pipe connection schemes. For example, the so-called collector (it is also called "beam" or "star"). This principle is often resorted to when they try to place all the pipes of the circuit wiring secretly, for example, under the floor covering.

In such cases, a collector node is placed in a certain place, and from it already has separate supply and return pipes for each of the radiators. But at its core, it's still a two-pipe system.

Why is all this being told? And to the fact that if the system is two-pipe, then in order to select the radiator connection scheme, it is important to clearly know which of the pipes is the supply manifold, and which is connected to the "return".

But the direction of flow through the pipes themselves, which was decisive for a single-pipe system, does not play a role here. The movement of the coolant directly through the radiator will depend solely on the relative position of the tie-in pipes into the supply and into the "return".

By the way, even in the conditions of a not very large house, a combination of both schemes may well be used. For example, a two-pipe was used, however, in a separate area, say, in one of the spacious rooms or in an extension, several radiators are located, connected according to a single-pipe principle. And this means that in order to choose a connection scheme, it is important not to get confused, and to individually evaluate each heat exchange point: what will be decisive for it - the direction of the flow in the pipe or the relative position of the pipes-collectors of the supply and "return".

If such clarity is achieved, it is possible to select the optimal scheme for connecting radiators to the circuits.

Schemes for connecting radiators to the circuit and evaluating their effectiveness

All of the above was a kind of "prelude" to this section. Now we will get acquainted with how radiators can be connected to the pipes of the circuit, and which method gives the maximum heat transfer efficiency.

As we have already seen, two radiator inputs are activated, and two more are muffled. What direction of movement of the coolant through the battery will be optimal?

A few more preliminary words. What are the "motivating reasons" for the movement of the coolant through the channels of the radiator.

• This is, firstly, the dynamic pressure of the liquid created in the heating circuit. The liquid tends to fill the entire volume if conditions are created for this (there are no air locks). But it is quite clear that, like any stream, it will tend to flow along the path of least resistance.
• Secondly, the temperature difference (and, accordingly, the density) of the coolant in the radiator cavity itself also becomes the “driving force”. Hotter streams tend to rise, trying to displace the cooled ones.

The combination of these forces ensures the flow of coolant through the radiator channels. But depending on the connection scheme, the overall picture can vary quite a lot.

Prices for cast iron radiators

cast iron radiator

Diagonal connection, infeed from above

Such a scheme is considered to be the most effective. Radiators with such a connection show their capabilities to the fullest. Usually, when calculating a heating system, it is she who is taken as a “unit”, and one or another correction factor will be introduced for all the others.

It is quite obvious that a priori, the coolant cannot meet any obstacles with such a connection. The liquid completely fills the volume of the pipe of the upper manifold, flows evenly through the vertical channels from the upper manifold to the lower one. As a result, the entire heat exchange area of ​​the radiator is heated evenly, and the maximum heat transfer of the battery is achieved.

One-way connection, feed from above

Very common scheme - this is how radiators are usually mounted in a single-pipe system in the risers of high-rise buildings with an upper supply, or on descending branches - with a lower supply.

In principle, the circuit is quite effective, especially if the radiator itself is not too long. But if there are a lot of sections in the battery, then the appearance of negative moments is not excluded.

It is quite likely that the kinetic energy of the coolant will be insufficient for the flow to fully pass through the upper collector to the very end. The liquid is looking for "easy ways", and the bulk of the flow begins to pass through the vertical internal channels of the sections, which are located closer to the inlet pipe. Thus, it is impossible to completely exclude the formation of a stagnation area in the “peripheral zone”, the temperature of which will be lower than in the region adjacent to the side of the tie-in.

Even with normal dimensions of radiators along the length, one usually has to put up with a loss of thermal power of about 3÷5%. Well, if the batteries are long, then the efficiency can be even lower. In this case, it is better to apply either the first scheme, or use special methods for optimizing the connection - a separate section of the publication will be devoted to this.

One-way connection, infeed from below

The scheme cannot be called effective in any way, although, by the way, it is used quite often when installing single-pipe heating systems in multi-storey buildings, if the supply is from below. On the ascending branch, all the batteries in the riser are most often built in this way. and, probably, this is the only slightly justified case of its use.

For all, it seems, the similarity with the previous one, the shortcomings here are only exacerbated. In particular, the occurrence stagnant zone on the side of the radiator farthest from the inlet becomes even more likely. This is easily explained. Not only will the coolant look for the shortest and freest path, the difference in density will also contribute to its upward trend. And the periphery can either “freeze” or the circulation in it will be insufficient. That is, the far edge of the radiator will become noticeably colder.

The loss of heat transfer efficiency with such a connection can reach 20÷22%. That is, unless absolutely necessary, it is not recommended to resort to it. And if circumstances leave no other choice, then it is recommended to resort to one of the optimization methods.

Bidirectional bottom connection

Such a scheme is used quite often, usually for reasons of hiding the supply pipe from visibility as much as possible. However, its effectiveness is still far from optimal.

It is quite obvious that the easiest way for the coolant is the lower collector. Its upward propagation along vertical channels occurs solely due to the difference in density. But this flow becomes a "brake" oncoming flows of the cooled liquid. As a result, the upper part of the radiator can warm up much more slowly and not as intensively as we would like.

Losses in the overall heat exchange efficiency with such a connection can reach up to 10÷15%. True, such a scheme is also easy to optimize.

Diagonal connection from below

It is difficult to think of a situation in which one would have to resort to such a connection. However, consider this scheme.

Prices for bimetallic radiators

bimetal radiators

The direct flow entering the radiator gradually wastes its kinetic energy, and may simply “not finish off” along the entire length of the lower collector. This is facilitated by the fact that the flows in the initial section rush upwards, both along the shortest path and due to the temperature difference. As a result, on a battery with a large comic section, it is quite likely that a stagnant area with a low temperature will appear under the return pipe.

Approximate loss of efficiency, despite the apparent similarity with the most optimal option, with this connection are estimated at 20%.

Bilateral top connection

Let's be honest - this is more of an example, since putting such a scheme into practice would be the height of illiteracy.

Judge for yourself - a direct passage through the upper manifold is open for liquid. And in general, there are no other incentives for distribution throughout the rest of the radiator volume. That is, only the area along the upper collector will really warm up - the rest of it turns out to be “outside the game”. It is hardly worth evaluating the loss of efficiency in this case - the radiator itself turns into a clearly inefficient one.

The top two-way connection is rarely used. Nevertheless, there are also such radiators - pronouncedly high, often simultaneously acting as dryers. And if you have to bring the pipes in this way, then without fail, various methods are used to turn such a connection into an optimal scheme. Very often this is already incorporated in the design of the radiators themselves, that is, the upper one-way connection remains such only visually.

How can you optimize the radiator connection scheme?

It is quite clear that any owners want their heating system to show maximum efficiency with minimal energy consumption. And for this we must try to apply the most optimal tie-in schemes. But often the piping is already there and you don’t want to redo it. Or, initially, the owners plan to lay pipes so that they become almost invisible. How to be in such cases?

On the Internet, you can find a lot of photos when they try to optimize the tie-in by changing the configuration of the pipes suitable for the battery. The effect of increasing heat transfer in this case must be achieved, but outwardly some works of such “art” look, frankly, “not very good”.

There are other methods to solve this problem.

• You can purchase batteries that, outwardly no different from ordinary ones, still have a feature in their design that turns one or another possible connection method as close to optimal as possible. In the right place between the sections, a partition is installed in them, which radically changes the direction of movement of the coolant.

In particular, the radiator can be designed for bottom two-way connection:

All the "wisdom" is in the presence of a partition (plug) in the lower manifold between the first and second sections of the battery. The coolant has nowhere to go, and it rises up vertical channel of the first section up. And then, from this high point, further distribution, quite obviously, is already underway, as in the most optimal diagram with a diagonal connection with a feed from above.

Or, for example, the case mentioned above when it is required to bring both pipes from above:

In this example, the baffle is installed on the upper manifold, between the penultimate and last sections of the radiator. It turns out that there is only one way left for the entire volume of the coolant - through the lower entrance of the last section, vertically along it - and further into the return pipe. Eventually " traffic route» fluid through the channels of the battery again becomes diagonal from top to bottom.

Many radiator manufacturers think over this issue in advance - whole series go on sale in which the same model can be designed for different tie-in schemes, but in the end an optimal “diagonal” is obtained. This is indicated in the product data sheets. At the same time, it is also important to take into account the direction of the insertion - if you change the flow vector, then the entire effect is lost.

• There is another possibility to increase the efficiency of the radiator according to this principle. To do this, in specialized stores you should find special valves.

They must match their dimensions to the selected battery model. When such a valve is screwed in, it closes the adapter nipple between the sections, and then in its internal thread the supply or "return" pipe is packed, depending on the scheme.

• shown above internal partitions are intended at least to improve heat transfer when batteries are connected on both sides. But there are ways for one-sided tie-in - we are talking about the so-called flow extensions.

Such an extension is a pipe, usually with a nominal diameter of 16 mm, which is connected to the radiator through-hole plug and, during assembly, ends up in the collector cavity, along its axis. On sale you can find such extensions for the required type of thread and the required length. Or, a special coupling is simply purchased, and the tube of the required length is selected separately for it.

Prices for metal-plastic pipes

metal-plastic pipes

What is achieved by this? Let's look at the diagram:

The coolant entering the radiator cavity, through the flow extension, enters the far upper corner, that is, to the opposite edge of the upper collector. And from here, its movement to the outlet pipe will already be carried out again according to the optimal "diagonal from top to bottom" scheme.

Many masters practice and independent production of such extension cords. If you figure it out, then nothing is impossible in this.

As the extension itself, it is quite possible to use a metal-plastic pipe for hot water, with a diameter of 15 mm. Will only be left with inside pack a fitting for metal-plastic into the battery passage plug. After assembling the battery, the extension cord of the desired length is in place.

As can be seen from the foregoing, it is almost always possible to find a solution on how to turn an inefficient battery insertion scheme into an optimal one.

And what about a one-way bottom connection?

They may ask in bewilderment - why is the scheme of the lower connection of the radiator on one side not mentioned in the article yet? After all, it is quite popular, as it allows you to carry out a hidden pipe connection to the maximum extent.

But the fact is that possible schemes were considered above, so to speak, from a hydraulic point of view. And in their one-way bottom connection there is simply no place - if at one point both the coolant is supplied and the coolant is taken away, then no flow through the radiator will happen at all.

What is commonly understood under bottom one-way connection in fact, it involves only the supply of pipes to one edge of the radiator. But the further movement of the coolant through the internal channels, as a rule, is organized according to one of the optimal schemes discussed above. This is achieved either by the features of the device of the battery itself, or by special adapters.

Here is just one example of radiators specially designed for pipe connections. On the one side bottom:

If you understand the scheme, it immediately becomes clear that the system of internal channels, partitions and valves organizes the movement of the coolant according to the principle already known to us “one-way with supply from above”, which can be considered one of the best options. There are similar schemes, which are also supplemented with a flow extension, and then the most effective "diagonal from top to bottom" pattern is generally achieved.

Even an ordinary radiator can be easily converted into a model with a bottom connection. To do this, a special kit is purchased - a remote adapter, which, as a rule, is immediately equipped with thermal valves for thermostatic adjustment of the radiator.

The upper and lower pipes of such a device are packed into the sockets of a conventional radiator without any modifications. The result is a finished battery with a lower one-way connection, and even with a thermal control and balancing device.

So, we figured out the connection diagrams. But what else can affect the heat transfer efficiency of a heating radiator?

How does the location of the radiator on the wall affect the efficiency of the radiator?

You can purchase a very high-quality radiator, apply the optimal scheme for its connection, but in the end you will not achieve the expected heat transfer, if you do not take into account a number of other important nuances its installation.

There are several generally accepted rules for the location of batteries in a room relative to the wall, floor, window sills, and other interior items.

• Most often, radiators are located under window openings. This place is still unclaimed for other objects, and besides this, the streams of heated air become like a thermal curtain, which largely limits the free distribution of cold from the window surface.

Of course, this is just one of the installation options, and radiators can also be mounted on walls, regardless of the presence on those window openings- it all depends on the required number of such heat exchange devices.

• If the radiator is installed under the window, then they try to adhere to the rule that its length should be about ¾ of the width of the window. This way, optimal indicators of heat transfer and protection against the penetration of cold air from the window will be obtained. The battery is installed in the center, with a possible tolerance in one direction or another up to 20 mm.
• You should not install the battery too high - the window sill hanging over it can turn into a formidable barrier to ascending convection air flows, which leads to a decrease in the overall heat transfer efficiency. They try to maintain a clearance of about 100 mm (from the upper edge of the battery to the lower surface of the "visor"). If it is impossible to set all 100 mm, then at least ¾ of the thickness of the radiator.
• There is a certain regulation and clearance from below, between the radiator and the floor surface. Too high an arrangement (more than 150 mm) can lead to the formation of a layer of air along the floor covering that is not involved in convection, that is, a noticeably cold layer. Too low height, less than 100 mm, will bring unnecessary difficulties when cleaning, the space under the battery can turn into dust accumulation, which, by the way, will also negatively affect the efficiency of heat transfer. Optimal Height– within 100÷120 mm.
• The optimal location from the load-bearing wall should also be maintained. Even when installing the brackets for the battery canopy, it is taken into account that there must be a free clearance of at least 20 mm between the wall and the sections. Otherwise, deposits of dust may accumulate there, and normal convection will be disturbed.

These rules can be considered indicative. If the manufacturer of radiators does not give other recommendations, then they should be guided by them. But very often in the passports of specific battery models there are diagrams that specify the recommended installation parameters. Of course, then they are taken as the basis for the installation work.

The next nuance is how open the installed battery is for full heat transfer. Of course, the maximum performance will be at absolutely open installation on a flat vertical wall surface. But, quite understandably, this method is not used so often.

If the battery is under the window, then the window sill may interfere with the convection air flow. The same, even to a greater extent, applies to niches in the wall. In addition, they often try to cover radiators, or even completely closed (with the exception of the front grille) casings. If these nuances are not taken into account when choosing the required heating power, that is, the thermal output of the battery, then it is quite possible to encounter the sad fact that the expected comfortable temperature- does not work.

The table below shows the main possible options installation of radiators on the wall according to their "degrees of freedom". Each of the cases is characterized by its own indicator of the loss of efficiency of the overall heat transfer.

Illustration	Operational features of the installation option
	The radiator is installed in such a way that it does not overlap with anything from above, or the window sill (shelf) protrudes no more than ¾ of the battery thickness. In principle, there are no barriers to normal air convection. If the battery is not closed with thick curtains, then there is no interference for direct thermal radiation. In calculations, such an installation scheme is taken as a unit.
	The horizontal "visor" of the window sill or shelf completely covers the radiator from above. That is, a rather significant obstacle appears for the upward convection flow. With a normal clearance (which was already mentioned above - about 100 mm), the obstacle does not become "fatal", but certain efficiency losses are still observed. The infrared radiation from the battery remains in full. The final loss of efficiency can be estimated at about 3÷5%.
	A similar situation, but only not a visor is located on top, but a horizontal wall of a niche. Here, the losses are already somewhat greater - in addition to simply having an obstacle to the air flow, some of the heat will be spent on unproductive heating of the wall, which usually has a very impressive heat capacity. Therefore, it is quite possible to expect heat losses of approximately 7 - 8%.
	The radiator is installed as in the first option, that is, there are no obstacles to convection flows. Nose front side over its entire area is covered with a decorative lattice or screen. The intensity of the infrared heat flux is significantly reduced, which, by the way, is the determining principle of heat transfer for cast iron or bimetallic batteries. The total loss of heating efficiency can reach 10÷12%.
	The decorative casing covers the radiator from all sides. Despite the presence of slots or gratings to ensure heat exchange with the air in the room, the indicators of both thermal radiation and convection are sharply reduced. Therefore, we have to talk about the loss of efficiency, reaching up to 20÷25%.

So, we have considered the main schemes for connecting radiators to the heating circuit, analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of each of them. Information has been obtained on the applied methods for optimizing circuits, if for some reason it is impossible to change them in other ways. Finally, recommendations are given for placing batteries directly on the wall - indicating the risks of loss of efficiency that accompany selected installation options.

Presumably, this theoretical knowledge will help the reader to choose the correct scheme based on from the specific conditions for creating a heating system. But it would probably be logical to complete the article by providing our visitor with the opportunity to independently evaluate the necessary heating battery, so to speak, in in numerical terms, with reference to a specific room and taking into account all the nuances discussed above.

There is no need to be afraid - all this will be easy if you use the proposed online calculator. And below will be given the necessary brief explanations for working with the program.

How to calculate which radiator is needed for a particular room?

Everything is quite simple.

• First, the amount of thermal energy that is needed to heat the room, depending on its volume, and to compensate for possible heat losses is calculated. And, a rather impressive list of versatile criteria is taken into account.
• Then the obtained value is adjusted depending on the planned radiator tie-in scheme and the features of its location on the wall.
• The final value will show how much power a radiator needs to fully heat a particular room. If a collapsible model is purchased, then you can at the same time

The efficient operation of the heating system is a guarantee of comfortable living in a private house. It is great if such a system is already connected to the central heating networks. Otherwise, it becomes necessary to use autonomous heating, which should also provide residents comfortable conditions for living. In this case, the most important point is the choice of a scheme for connecting heating radiators in a private house.

Many do not even realize that such a connection scheme significantly affects the heat transfer of the heating device, the circulation of the coolant inside it and the intensity of the movement of hot water. These are the moments that affect the efficiency of the heating system as a whole.

Pipe layouts

First you need to understand the piping layout. This is relevant because the residents of private houses at the stage of its construction or during the overhaul cannot correctly calculate the costs incurred for the construction of the heating system. Therefore, it is often necessary to save directly on materials.

For private houses is typical one-pipe and two-pipe wiring. What is their difference?

Single pipe wiring

It is the most economical option. The schema should look like this:

• A pipe is drawn along the bottom of the floor from the heating boiler, passing through the entire room and returning back to the boiler.
• Radiators are installed on top of the pipe, and the connection is made through the lower branch pipes. At the same time, hot water enters the heater from the pipe, which completely fills it. The part of the coolant that has given up heat begins to sink down and exits through the second branch pipe, again entering the pipe.

As a result, there phased connection of radiators with bottom battery connection. In this case, it is worth paying attention to one negative point that affects the efficiency of heat transfer. As a result of such a serial connection of single-pipe wiring, a gradual decrease in the temperature of the coolant in each subsequent heating element occurs. Because of this, the last room will be the coldest.

This problem is solved in two ways:

• a circulation pump is connected to the system, which evenly distributes hot water to all heating devices;
• in the last room, you can build up radiators, as a result, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bheat transfer will increase.

This scheme has such advantages as:

• ease of connection;
• high hydrodynamic stability;
• low costs for equipment and materials;
• can be used different kinds coolant.

Two-pipe wiring

For a private house, such a heating scheme is considered the most effective. However, it is worth considering the fact that at first the costs will be considerable, because it will be necessary to lay out two pipes for the supply and removal of hot water. But still the scheme has certain advantages over single-pipe:

• the coolant is evenly distributed throughout the room;
• you can control and regulate a certain temperature mode in each room;
• repair of any element of the heating system is possible without turning it off;
• very little fuel is consumed.

Heating radiator connection diagrams

After we figured out the piping, we should move on to the main point - the connection diagram for heating radiators.

Side connection radiators is the most common with regards to the heating system in a city apartment. For the correct connection of the batteries according to this scheme in a private house, the pipes are brought out on the side along the wall and connected to the two battery nozzles from above and below. A pipe is usually connected to the upper pipe, which supplies the coolant, and a return circuit is connected to the lower pipe. Often they do the opposite, however, the heat transfer efficiency of the device decreases by 7%.

Diagonal battery connection is considered the most efficient. To connect the batteries according to this scheme, perform the following steps: first, the coolant supply is connected to the upper pipe, and the return pipe is connected to the lower pipe, which is located on the other side of the device. Thus, the coolant inside the battery begins to move diagonally, hence the name of the circuit. Its effectiveness depends on how evenly the water is distributed inside the radiator. Very rarely, several battery sections may remain cold. This happens if the head or throughput is too weak.

Bottom radiator connection can occur not only in single-pipe schemes. In two-pipe, this is also used, but only in private buildings with one or two floors. Such a scheme for connecting heating radiators is considered insufficiently effective. According to experts, such wiring helps to reduce the heat transfer of heating radiators by 20-30%. In this case, you will need to install circulation pump, which leads to an increase in the cost of all processes, as well as additional costs for electricity spent during the operation of such a pump. To calculate the required power of radiators, a large number of a wide variety of coefficients will be required.

Errors that occur when installing radiators

Often when connecting heating radiators the following errors occur:

Conclusion

Thus, the installation of heating radiators in a private house is carried out on the basis of their connection scheme. One should be grateful to the specialists who have developed these methods down to the smallest detail. With a careful study of this scheme and its use in practice, it is possible to qualitatively connect heating radiators.

Incorrect inclusion of heating radiators - factor that most often causes problems during operation.

Errors in the installation of other components and the wrong choice of system type also have Negative influence for the use of heaters.

How to properly connect batteries in an apartment building

Connection options depend on the number of pipes used to connect the boiler to the radiators. There are two methods:

• One pipe comes out of the boiler, makes a circle along the harness, simultaneously entering the batteries, and returns to the starting point. This installation method is easy to implement.
• The first half of the system exits the heater, visits all radiators, connecting with them only once. At the extreme, the most distant, it stops and the second part begins. The latter also passes through all the batteries, connecting on the other side. Its end point is the cauldron.

The choice will depend on the budget, as both options have advantages over the other. Single-pipe is easier to install and cheaper, which is why it is used in apartment buildings. Two-pipe is more complicated and more expensive, but more reliable, therefore it is recommended for private buildings.

Schemes for the correct connection of radiators to the heating system

Pipes leading to radiators in three ways:

1. Diagonal variant implies a supply connection with the upper axis on one side of the battery, and a return connection with the lower one on the other. This type is characterized by high efficiency and fast heating of sections, regardless of their number and distance from the boiler.

Photo 1. Scheme of diagonal connection of a heating radiator. The supply circuit is on the top left, the return circuit is on the bottom right.

1. lower connection is made along one axis. To do this, the supply is cut from one end of the radiator, and the return from the other. This method is used less frequently than others due to poor performance.

Photo 2

1. Lateral also known as unilateral. Pipes are fed from one side in a vertical plane. This method is in great demand in small spaces and apartments.

Each type of connection can be used because they independent of the heating system. But in the work of different combinations there are nuances that it is desirable to observe.

Reference. Single-pipe wiring is better combined with bottom and side connections, and two-pipe - with diagonal.

Wrong connection methods

Radiators are usually mounted without problems, but the same cannot be said about some components of the system.

Thermostat head

Errors during installation of the device lead to a drop in performance. The most common problems are:

• Vertical head placement make sure that it does not stick out to the side, interfering with walking or cleaning. This causes the bellows to heat up as the coolant rises up from the valve. To correct it, it is necessary to stop operation, dismantle the device, then reinstall it, placing it horizontally.

Photo 3. Incorrect vertical connection of the thermal head to the battery (left), correct horizontal placement (right).

• Placing the thermal head in a niche or similar confined spaces. This leads to a decrease in convection: heat settles in a closed volume, accumulates and is incorrectly reflected from the surrounding walls. Thus, the heating efficiency is reduced.
• Installing curtains so that they cover the thermal head. This factor leads to an incorrect determination of the temperature in the room by the device. The bellows stops working when it is needed. Solution to this problem — removal of the sensor on the wall, not covered by unnecessary objects. Most thermal heads are allowed to be mounted at a distance of up to two meters from pipes.
• An important role is also played by the quality setting of the device. It is recommended to invite a specialist who will check the correct operation and, if necessary, change the characteristics.

You will also be interested in:

bypass

Problems with the device usually arise when radiators are replaced by an unskilled person. This is especially true in cases in which cast iron is exchanged for another material.

The two most common mistakes are:

• Mounting on the supply bypass pipe of the ball valve designed to let water into the system. The entire coolant should not pass through the device: only a small part, which is enough for operation.
• The bypass is connected to the piping through a mixer with a three-way valve. Theoretically, this allows you to regulate the heat transfer of the boiler, but in practice it leads to damage to the device.

Both errors are easy enough to fix by changing the principle of connecting the bypass. There are also a few rules to note:

1. It is forbidden to install a bypass on a free pipe in apartment buildings.
2. Forbidden installation of stop valves and valves.
3. Allowed reduction of pipes by one typical size.
4. In a non-volatile gravitational system pump needed, and it is connected exclusively to the bypass.

Attention! These problems relate exclusively to apartment buildings, in which they lead to imbalance of the whole system. The consequence of such errors is a decrease in the amount of heat that neighbors receive along the highway.

What to do when the heating system spoils the view of the room? If you can still hide cast-iron batteries behind the screen or install more modern ones - bimetallic or steel instead, then what about pipes? Some people cover them with curtains and curtains, while others make the lower connection of heating radiators, as a result of which the battery piping is practically invisible.

Features of the bottom connection

Three ways to connect:

1. Connection of ordinary radiators through the bottom holes.
2. With the help of a set of accessories from below steel or bimetallic radiators.
3. Purchase batteries that are designed for such a connection.

Now consider the methods, pros and cons various ways bottom connection.

Connection with side outlets

The connection itself is not very difficult. Pipes are located below - above the floor or hidden in the floor. A radiator is attached to the wall, and a pipeline is connected to the lower holes. So that the battery can be removed without stopping the heating process, it is necessary to install shut-off valves on both sides. An air vent is installed in the upper hole (no matter which side).

Connecting with an adapter

Sometimes it is not possible to connect an ordinary radiator by connecting a pipeline to it from two sides. In this case, you can use an adapter. It is screwed into the lower hole, and a stainless steel tube is connected to the upper one from it. The heating pipes are connected to the adapter itself from below.

You can get more information about this type of connection by watching the video attached at the end of the article.

Bottom connection with flow extension

The bottom connection can be made with a flow extension. The device is screwed into the bottom hole and has no taps to the top one. The circulation of the coolant occurs due to the fact that the water, passing through the tube in the middle of the radiator, leaves it at the end of the heater, rises, squeezing cold water through the outlet in the device.

For gravity systems, this type of connection is not suitable.

Connecting batteries with a bottom connection

Now let's dwell on the more efficient and most aesthetically acceptable method of bottom connection - from below, describing its advantages and disadvantages along the way.

Advantages

• It is possible to install a flow direction adapter.
• Both pipes go directly from the battery into the floor or into the wall (or into pipes located above the floor).
• When buying radiators with a bottom connection, you do not need to worry about purchasing a suitable thermostat, since it is already installed there.

Flaws

• An air vent must be installed on each battery.
• Heating is less uniform and not as efficient.
• Cannot be used for gravity heating systems.
• It is necessary to constantly use the circulation pump.

Radiators Location Norms

Regardless of the chosen method of connecting the radiator, it must be at some distance from:

• walls - 5 cm;
• floor - 10 cm (deviation in any direction is not more than 2 cm);
• window sill - 10 cm (a minimum distance of 5 cm is allowed).

When purchasing a mount, it is important to take into account the thickness of the installed thermal insulation with a reflective layer (if any). In this case, hooks-clamps of a slightly longer length will be needed.

Installation of a heating system with a bottom connection

Depending on the selected scheme, the installation of the pipeline is carried out. It can be laid:

1. In the floor
2. In the wall.
3. Between the floor and the battery.

The location of the pipes does not affect the efficiency of the heating system - they are hidden for aesthetic reasons.

It is important to first install the batteries, calculating their number for each room, and then bring pipes to them.

Video

See how sectional radiators can be connected from below:

This video explains the advantages of a bottom connection radiator: