Which radiator is better - aluminum or bimetallic?

The problem that arises with maintaining the temperature in an apartment or a country house, today, is solved very simply. Often, to solve it, a system is used using a coolant supplied to radiators that heat the room by convection. A lot depends on the competent choice of radiators, which is why everyone who wants to buy a radiator should know all the subtleties of his choice. Which radiator is better than aluminum or bimetallic?

Aluminum or bimetallic? Which is better?

It is rather difficult to give an unambiguous answer to the above question. Each type of radiator has its own advantages and disadvantages, therefore, initially it is necessary to consider each type of radiator, and then compare them with each other, in fact, which is what we will do in this article.

Today, aluminum radiators are considered to be more efficient in terms of heat transfer. They began their existence quite a long time ago, somewhere from the middle of the 80s of the last millennium, and during this period of time they showed all their advantages and disadvantages.

The most attractive for buyers in these radiators is their appearance and relatively low weight.

Specifications

Currently, the manufacture of aluminum radiators is carried out in 2 ways:

Method using extrusion technology. The use of a profile made of aluminum will be used. With the help of a press under a certain pressure, separate components of the radiators are formed from it, which later form a section. Further, the sections are interconnected using a variety of gaskets and seals.
Casting method. A one-piece construction is produced, without any connections, which gives the finished product greater strength and reliability.

Important! When buying radiators, remember that the latter are much more reliable than the former, but they are much more expensive. They are also easier to maintain and do not require service.

Aluminum is a fairly soft material that heats up quickly and gives off heat well. The design features of aluminum radiators make it possible to transfer heat in two ways: the panels send a strong heat wave directed by the air flow to the highest point of the room - the ceiling.

Each separately taken aluminum radiator section has a thermal power of 120 watts. Its weight is about two kilograms, the depth is 70-100 mm. In order to fill its cavity, you will need 400 ml of coolant. It perfectly tolerates temperature conditions, up to 90 degrees.

Varieties of aluminum radiators

Installed aluminum radiator

More recently, aluminum sections have only been used with. This was primarily due to the fact that they were designed for European standards, the working pressure of which is 6 atmospheres. Today, there are reinforced version heating devices on sale that can withstand a pressure of 16 atmospheres.

Important! When buying radiators, be sure to take this factor into account, otherwise they will need to be changed, and not every seller will replace them.

The connection schemes used are different, but with all this, they have certain rules:

When choosing a one-way connection, in no case use more sections than is prescribed in the proposed papers.
In case of forced circulation of the coolant and the number of sections used is exceeded by more than 24 pieces, the radiator is connected from both sides.
With free (natural) circulation of the coolant, the number of sections is halved.

Important! When calculating the power, be sure to take into account the applied wiring diagram, as it may have significant differences from the one indicated by the manufacturer.

Pros of aluminum radiators

The advantages of aluminum radiators are as follows:

A high percentage of heat transfer when using a minimum amount of heat carrier.
Aluminum batteries conduct heat very well, therefore they quickly heat up and cool down, which allows you to both warm up the room and make it cooler in 10-15 minutes.
The devices are equipped with thermal valves that allow adjusting the supplied flow, thereby regulating the temperature in the room.
Unique design that allows you to easily fit into any room.
The ability to independently select the number of required sections by using the extrusion method.
Compactness of products. They are much smaller and lighter than cast iron batteries, making them much easier to install.

Cons of aluminum radiators

The disadvantages include:

Prefabricated aluminum radiators are equipped with rubber seals, which quite often bring a lot of trouble in the form of leaks. Therefore, they must not be used in systems where all kinds of antifreeze or chemical solutions are used instead of ordinary hot water.
Weak resistance to corrosion. If the water is quite hard and contains a large amount of iron, then soon it will be deposited on the inner surface of the device, as a result of which, after a certain period of time, the batteries will become unusable.
Air congestion. The installation of a Mayevsky crane is mandatory, as there will be a need to bleed air.
Increased perception of water hammer with special models. In the event of a sharp drop in pressure, the tightness of the device in the system is broken and leakage begins.

Bimetallic radiators

Bimetal radiator

Which radiator is better bimetal or aluminum? - a rather difficult question that requires reading the following information. Of course, aluminum radiators are quite good, but they are of little use in heating systems of the USSR times, which today most residential buildings are equipped with. Aluminum does not come into contact well with other metals, and products made from it are highly sensitive to water. Also, to use them, you need a reliable system, without a variety of pressure jumps. All of the above parameters can be maintained only in autonomous heating systems.

Steel is a fairly strong material that can withstand any pressure and resist the additives and impurities in the coolant.

As for bimetallic radiators, they do not have any of the above drawbacks, since they consist of steel pipes covered with aluminum plates.

The manufacturing process of a bimetallic radiator is quite laborious and complicated. For its production, injection molding is used.

Radiators of this type have high strength, allowing them to work quietly at a pressure of 10 atmospheres and a high threshold of chemical resistance. They fit perfectly into any interior, they are lighter than their cast iron counterparts and easier to install. If we compare aluminum batteries and bimetallic radiators in terms of their power, then the second is much stronger. The power of one bimetallic section ranges from 170-190 W. The maximum temperature that the described system can withstand is 100 degrees. In the event that the core is made of stainless steel, the resistance to corrosion processes increases tenfold.

Important! Do not overdo it when calculating the required number of sections, as hot is also bad. The increased temperature in the room will require frequent ventilation, which can negatively affect the health of its residents. Better to be a little cooler than hot

Pros of bimetallic radiators

Bimetal radiator

Bimetallic radiators have a number of advantages. Let's consider them:

Quite a long service life, achieved through high-quality assembly and combination of different materials. Due to this, their service life is 20-25 years.
High strength limit. This indicator is achieved through the use of a steel core that resists high pressure in the system and is not susceptible to water hammer (pressure drops).
High level of heat transfer. The external casing of the radiator is made of aluminum, which allows you to quickly warm up the room
Corrosion resistance. The liquid in the system only comes into contact with steel. Radiators of this kind do not undergo corrosive processes, which is very important when used in central systems.
Fast response to commands given by the thermostat. Due to the fact that bimetallic radiators have a much smaller volume of coolant than other radiators, the reaction to the commands given by the thermostat is simply lightning fast, which significantly increases the comfort of its use.
Nice appearance. Aluminum lends itself well to casting, which makes it possible to make a radiator suitable for any room design. Dividing the radiator into completely equal sections allows you to select the required power, as well as the height and width of the equipment to be mounted.

Cons of bimetallic radiators

The disadvantages include:

Quite a high price compared to other analogues. It should be noted that such radiators will last quite a long time and their uninterrupted operation and quality fully cover these costs.
This disadvantage applies only to the cheapest models that are not protected from rust and corrosion processes. That is why, if you are hesitating between ordinary cheap traditional radiators and bimetallic ones, then of course it is better to choose the latter.

Important! When buying a radiator, do not reach for money, so that later you do not have to change the entire system as a whole, which will force you to spend an order of magnitude more money than you need to pay in addition initially.

How do you choose?

The above analysis of all the characteristics of the above options allows you to get a general idea of the features of using these devices. In order to figure out which heating radiator is better, aluminum or bimetallic, let's make a comparison between them:

The aluminum radiator has a high thermal power, which cannot be said about the bimetallic battery. The maximum working pressure of the radiator is 16 atmospheres, of the battery - 20 atmospheres. Pressing pressure of bimetal - 45 atmospheres, aluminum - 24 atmospheres. Corrosion resistance is the same in both materials.
The cross-section of bimetallic devices is narrower than that of supply pipes, and for aluminum ones it is quite larger.
The warranty period for both devices is approximately the same and is 20-25 years.
Both options have the option of self-assembly.
Bimetallic radiators are more expensive than aluminum ones.

Radiator Comparison Chart

Taking into account all the information written above, it is rather difficult to say which radiator is worse and which is better. Outwardly, they are quite similar and both effectively heat the room. Therefore, when choosing heating elements, it is necessary to build on the system in which they will be used. For stand-alone systems, lightweight aluminum radiators are most suitable. They always have a stable working pressure that can be controlled.