Typically, the bathroom is a small room, but this does not lose its importance. It is here that people take a shower, small children bathe, so a comfortable microclimate is required. In addition, clothes are washed and dried here. This means that the room must be provided with a source of dry heat. You can install batteries in the bathroom. It is about radiators that we will talk about in our today's article.
Types of bathroom radiators
The room is a room with high humidity, which means that not every heating radiator will be able to work in it without fail. In order for the heating battery you have chosen in the bathroom to work flawlessly, you first need to understand what are the main technical characteristics of different types of radiators. There are several of them: cast iron, steel, aluminum and bimetallic. Let's dwell on each type in more detail.
Cast iron radiators for the bathroom
These are bulky heatsinks that have some advantages: they have good heat dissipation, have a long service life, and their price is more acceptable. The best option is the presence of powder coating, which performs a protective function. The paint consists of polymer particles, ceramics and metal chips. The dispersion, which is applied at the factory, wraps the surface of the battery in a uniform, ultra-strong layer.
Steel radiators - is it worth the risk?
This option is definitely a losing one, this is noted in the reviews. Steel in the extreme conditions of the bathroom will rust faster, and leaks will soon begin to appear, and at the time of seasonal crimping, trouble will come at all - strong water pressure will definitely find a weak spot and break through the radiator. Therefore, this option does not suit us.
Aluminum
Aluminum batteries in the bathroom are a light and compact option that will fit perfectly into the interior of a house with individual heating. For centralized networks, it is necessary to choose a reinforced model, because a standard battery cannot withstand water hammer. Also detrimental to such batteries is the constant exposure to low-quality coolant. And if an aluminum radiator is directly connected to a cast-iron pipeline, then the process of accelerated aluminum corrosion is inevitable. The battery life is rather short.
Bimetal radiators
This option takes into account the main factors of domestic heating systems. Steel radiator, "dressed" in an aluminum jacket. This is the most suitable option forwill last at least 15-20 years.
Water heated towel rail
This invention can hardly be called innovative, because such coils were used in the days of developed socialism. However, their appearance was not a standard of attractiveness. Modern water heated towel rails are elegant chrome-plated devices that are connected to a heating system or hot water supply. The principle of operation of this unit is to circulate hot water through its tubes. The main advantage is cost-effectiveness, and the only disadvantage is the complexity of the first installation.
Electric clothes dryer
If for some reason there is no water heating or hot water supply, an electric dryer battery can act as a wall-mounted battery in the bathroom. In order for it to function, it is enough to plug it into a power outlet. The principle of operation of an electric heated towel rail is to heat the heat carrier with a heating element. There is no point in worrying about the high consumption of electricity, because this device consumes it no more than an ordinary incandescent lamp.
Connection Methods
Depending on what needs are pursued, the heated towel rail is connected to the pipes of the water supply system using the upper or lower nozzles. But you need to remember about the loss of power (by 10 percent) if the connection is made through the lower pipes. In case of replacing the old coil with a battery-ladder, it is better to use a model with side connection, center distancewhich is 50 centimeters. Each type of battery in the bathroom is equipped with brackets for wall mounting. They are needed to adjust the hanging depth and align the installation with the wall surface.
Electric wall-mounted bathroom battery should not be placed closer than 60 centimeters from the toilet, sink, bathtub. The socket must be equipped with an O-ring and the plug must be well insulated. This type of battery should only be installed by a professional.
General Installation Requirements
Installation of the battery in the bathroom of the water principle of operation is carried out with the fulfillment of the basic requirements:
- The diameter of the dryer tubes should be equal to the diameter of the riser - no narrowing or widening.
- It is necessary to install a jumper between the taps of the heated towel rail.
- It is impossible to mount stop valves on the lintel. This also applies to the pipeline section up to the bypass.
- The dryer must be installed at a height of at least 120 centimeters from the floor.
- The distance between the wall and the heated towel rail with a tube diameter of up to 2.5 centimeters should be 3-4 centimeters. With a diameter of more than 2.5 - 6-7 centimeters.
Universal tie-in method
The serpentine works on the principle of a gravity pump. If you embed it correctly, then natural circulation and proper operation of the radiator are guaranteed. It is necessary to develop an installation scheme, clearly following the instructions.models, as well as taking into account the location in the bathroom riser.
For most models, the best tie-in option is the coolant supply through the upper outlets (and the outlet is made from below). It is achieved using universal connections for the battery in the bathroom (there is a photo of examples of work in our article). This type of tie-in has a number of advantages:
- the direction and speed of water supply in the riser in no way affect the performance of the battery;
- no need to bleed air after circulation is turned off.
Another important advantage is the independence of the installation from the location of the riser.
Battery installation step by step
The first step is to prepare materials and tools. The tool is selected depending on the type of water pipes in the room. If the installation is made through PP pipes, then it is necessary to provide ball valves, mounting brackets, polypropylene pipes, a soldering iron and a knife for PP pipes.
The next step is to dismantle the old equipment. Here it will be necessary to carry out some preparatory work - to coordinate, if necessary, with the house management company the possibility of disconnecting the riser from the water. Well, then - according to the situation. If the coil is welded to the riser, you just need to cut it off with a grinder, if it is screwed on, unscrew it and dismantle it.
Step three. Install bypass and ball valves. Of course, the battery mount can be installed without a bypass, but following the recommendationsspecialists, it is better to install it. Ball valves must be installed at the ends of the dryer. This will allow you to turn off the water without turning off the riser.
And the final step is to install the dryer coil. Here the process is the same as with nailing the shelves to the wall. The only condition is that the serpentine is vertically aligned and the allowable distance from the wall is maintained.
How to hide the battery in the bathroom?
How to make the radiator not so noticeable? There are four ways to disguise bathroom batteries:
- Construction of a drywall box. To do this, you need to use moisture-resistant drywall sheets, because ordinary ones will not cope with extreme temperature conditions. The structure is constructed in the simplest way: a box is made of profiles, sheets cut to shape are superimposed on it. In the top sheet, you need to make several holes so that warm air enters the room.
- Decor with tiles. This method is similar to the previous one, but it differs by an increased level of energy consumption.
- Disguise behind plastic panels. This method is the simplest and relatively cheap. The low level of fire resistance is the main disadvantage of this method.
- Disguise with blinds. This method is suitable for those who value the usable area of the bathroom. Blinds allow you to have constant access to communications.
In addition to these four methods, there is also a radical one - mounting the battery directly into the bathroom wallrooms. However, due to the laboriousness and impossibility of maintenance during an unusual situation, it is better not to tempt fate and not make rash acts.
