Criteria for choosing a heating radiator for an apartment

Reliable and high-quality heating is an important component of a comfortable stay in an apartment. Radiators are an indispensable element of the heating system. The best of them are distinguished not only by a high level of strength, but also by an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Their main task is to withstand the required coolant pressure and enable the owners to regulate the temperature in the room. The fire safety of the home also depends on their quality.

Today the choice of radiator models is simply huge. Often consumers have a question: which device for heating is better, more reliable? We have compiled a rating of modern and efficient devices, defining the following as the selection criteria: the material from which they are made, design features, technical characteristics.

Requirements

Before choosing the best heating devices, we will determine what requirements high-quality batteries must meet.

Pressure

The manufacturer's declared pressure at radiator structures must be higher than the operating and test pressure in the system.

So, in old five-story buildings it is 5-8 atmospheres, in modern buildings - 12-15.

Water hammer

Elements of the heating structure must withstand a water hammer, since the system of multi-storey buildings is not immune from pressure surges.

Heat carrier

The water used as a heat carrier in modern apartment buildings is not of the best quality, therefore, devices should not be destroyed under its influence. It is necessary to use models coated on the inside with a special compound or chemically neutral material.

The thickness of the walls should be such that small particles of sand or pebbles do not rub them.

Heat dissipation

The main function of radiators is heating. Therefore, the highest quality ones are those with higher heat transfer.

External attractiveness

The radiator elements of the heating system must have an attractive design that will allow them to perfectly fit into the interior of the home.

Lifetime

Durability is a requirement that needs no comment.

Tinkering with the installation of these large and quite expensive heating devices is often not a pleasant pleasure.

Parameters

The heat transfer of the entire structure, its sensitivity to the composition of the liquid in the system, weight and scope of application depend on the metal from which the radiator elements are made.

Dimensions and design features affect the ability to install batteries in a particular room. Modern heating devices most often consist of several sections (each section is 350-500 mm long). The choice of their number depends on the area of ​​a particular room.

The operating pressure and power parameters determine the possibility of installing batteries within a certain heating system.

Kinds

There are the following types of heating radiators: cast iron, aluminum, steel and bimetallic.

Aluminum models

Aluminum heating devices are characterized by high heat transfer, which makes it easy to adjust the temperature. They heat the premises well (190 W thermal power).

Their light weight makes them easier to ship and install. The design of these structures is quite pleasant, to some extent elegant: they will harmoniously fit into any modern interior.

Caring for such batteries is quite simple: they are washed with a soft cloth. You do not need to paint them additionally.
But they are too susceptible to the composition of the liquid in the system: if it contains chemical impurities or it has high acidity, then the devices will quickly become unusable.

High susceptibility to corrosive processes, fear of water hammer, inability to cope with high pressure (the average is up to 16 atmospheres) are their main disadvantages. Therefore, it is best to choose them for a private house, they are absolutely not suitable for an apartment.

Steel devices are light and thick, which makes them easy to transport and install. They are very economical and efficient due to good heat dissipation and the use of a small volume of water. These designs can be of different colors, which allows them to be used in any interior.

There are two types of steel radiators: panel and tubular. The former are characterized by a high level of heat transfer and a low price. The second ones are more durable and varied in terms of design; this is the choice of residents of expensive cottages and private houses.

Steel heating appliances are afraid of water hammer, are highly susceptible to corrosion and need a high-quality coolant. The scope of their application is buildings with autonomous heating.

Choosing steel batteries for an apartment means dooming yourself to a quick alteration of the heating system, since they are able to withstand a pressure of no more than 6-8 atmospheres.

Cast iron appliances

Good old cast-iron batteries, they have been used in Soviet-built houses for more than a dozen years. And due to their certain advantages, these devices are still popular, especially in the homes of older people. Their advantages:

  • the chemical composition of water is not important (they are not afraid of acidity, various additives in the coolant);
  • corrosive processes are not terrible;
  • durable enough;
  • much less other models are clogged with dirt, rust, so they better let the coolant pass;
  • keep heat for a long time (the residual number of its retention is 30%, for other devices this indicator is 2 times lower), its return is much more efficient, the heat transfer area is larger;
  • practically not afraid of water hammer (they can withstand pressure up to 9-12 atmospheres, at high values ​​they can burst);
  • modern models are made using cast iron, which allows them to fit perfectly into almost any interior style;
  • are cheaper than bimetallic heating devices.

But, unfortunately, compared to radiators made of other materials, cast iron radiators are very heavy, and their transportation and installation is a laborious process. They take a long time to heat up and also cool down for a long time, which makes temperature control impossible. Old structures do not look very attractive, they often have to be painted. Decorative screens will help to solve this problem.

Cast iron heating appliances are the choice of those who are conservative in their habits and do not trust everything new. This is a good option for an apartment, especially in an old house.

Modern manufacturers producing cast iron models in retro style - "Roca" and "Conner".

Bimetal

Our rating is headed by bimetallic radiators. They consist of a steel or copper tube and aluminum panels. Liquid (up to + 130 ° C) under high pressure (30-50 atmospheres) passes through pipes made of steel (copper) and does not come into contact with aluminum, which, when heated, effectively heats the room.

These devices are very durable (the service life is at least 40 years), they are not afraid of water hammer, they are not subject to corrosion (they are treated with a primer from the inside and outside). They have a nice design. Their low weight does not cause any difficulties during transportation and installation.

Disadvantage: their cost is higher than that of other types of radiators. If you see such devices at a reasonable price, do not believe it: this is a fake.

It is worth stopping your choice on proven manufacturers of such radiator designs - Rifar (Russia), Syrah or Global (Italy).

Choosing these devices means forgetting about heating problems for a long time. This is ideal for an apartment.

Manufacturers

Before choosing a heating device, you need to decide how much money you are willing to spend on the system as a whole. Of course, the expensive doesn't always mean the best. But in the case of radiator devices, a rather high price is almost always excellent quality.

Global

One of the world leaders in the manufacture of heating equipment. This Italian manufacturer specializes in the manufacture of aluminum and bimetallic radiator products.

They are distinguished by high heat dissipation, excellent quality, increased durability, ease of installation and elegant design.

"Smart"

The Chinese company is engaged in the manufacture of bimetallic and aluminum batteries of low cost and simple design. This is the choice of those who want to save money, but not lose on quality.

"Rifar"

A domestic manufacturer of bimetallic and aluminum radiator devices produces products with high technical characteristics that meet Russian operating conditions. Working pressure - up to 100 atmospheres. The service life is up to 25 years. Heat dissipation - 104-204 W.
Choosing a radiator from this company means purchasing a product of excellent quality at a reasonable price.

As you can see, of the four types of heating devices for apartment buildings, you can stop at only two: bimetallic and cast iron. It is they who will not let you down during the heating season and will serve their owners for a long time.