To create a comfortable microclimate in the room, thermostats are used. They are able to automatically regulate the temperature. Sometimes tenants in their apartments slightly open balconies or windows in winter. This is explained by the fact that they cannot otherwise regulate the heat transfer of heating radiators. To reduce excessive heat in the room, they have to open access to cold air from outside. In order not to engage in constant ventilation, automatic thermostats were created that are installed on heating batteries.
The use of temperature controllers, firstly, allows you to control the flow of coolant into the radiators, and secondly, shut off the batteries in case of an emergency. The price of thermostats forradiators is quite affordable, and the benefits are very significant.
What are they for?
Be sure to install these controls:
- For savings. When some rooms in the house are not used, the heating in them is reduced to a minimum. 16-18 degrees in such a situation is quite enough. To return to the previous heating mode, it is enough to open the tap again. It is impossible to turn off the heating completely, since the system may be frozen, and in addition, condensation from moisture on cold surfaces is inevitable - on external walls and window slopes. After the appearance of such dampness, a fungus comes. Getting rid of him is not so easy, and besides, he is able to destroy surfaces.
- To equalize the temperature balance between heating radiators located at different distances from the boiler in two-pipe dead-end heating systems.
Selection of shut-off and control valves
To achieve proper control over the flow of coolant into radiators use:
- ball valve;
- cone valve;
- regulator automatic.
Ball valves are able to operate in two states - closed and open. If you set an intermediate state, then there will be no tightness, since the ball part will begin to collapse with the coolant.
A cone valve is the most acceptable way to control the room temperature. It can be left half closed. However, you should always remember that in the end it must be returned to its original position. This andlabor-intensive and inconvenient.
The best and most convenient way to control is to install an automatic thermostat. They are located next to radiators and are called thermostats for heating radiators.
Screw valves
The screw valve works as follows:
- The rod moves along the thread in the direction that corresponds to the required temperature regime.
- Fixed movably on the stem, the valve, together with the gasket, closes the seat, in which there is a hole through which the coolant enters the radiator.
- The O-ring or stuffing box is responsible for the tightness of the stem moving along the thread.
With the help of a washer made of brass, the gland packing is pressed in from the bottom of the body.
If the valve is left half open to limit the supply range, then with even a small output, the stuffing box will leak. The rod, which is movably fixed, will begin to dangle in a strong stream of water and break after some time, as a result of which it will cease to fulfill its purpose. The valve will have to be repaired, and this will require a reset of the circuit.
Ball valves
The ball valve consists of a body, a spherical valve, a handle and two PTFE rings (seats). The seats are responsible for creating a tight seal between the body and the bolt. When the valve is open, the coolant moves freely through the valve opening. When the valve is closed, the seats are static.
If the tap is not completely closed and is in a half-closedposition, then the coolant will begin to seep between the seat and the shutter. This causes erosion of the sealing polymer ring from the rust, sand and other small particles in it. If too much of this debris accumulates, then when you try to close the valve, you can damage the saddle.
The principle of operation of the regulator
A bellows or temperature controller is an insulated chamber filled with a medium that expands and straightens the bellows when heated, and the opposite happens when it cools - the bellows contracts. The result is the passage or blocking of the movement of the heated or cooled coolant to the radiator, and as a result, automatic control of the temperature in the room.
Manual temperature controller. The temperature can be manually adjusted using the manual thermostat. It is inexpensive, but has a number of disadvantages that play a decisive role in the choice of buyers. The most significant disadvantage is that you have to turn it yourself, and this often breaks the protective cap on it.
Automatic temperature controller. In order not to turn the regulator manually, thermostats are installed on heating radiators, which automatically regulate the temperature regime, and they are able to record even temperature changes of just a few degrees. This device has a similar principle - expansion and contraction of the environment. When heated, the device protrudes and blocks the coolant from flowing freely through the radiator, and when cooled -retracts, allowing hot liquid to flow freely through the pipe.
Disadvantages of mechanical regulators
Of course, you can maintain the desired temperature with the help of a classic shut-off and control valve, but this increases the risk of blocking the entire riser due to airing, and there is a high probability of permanent malfunctions of taps that cannot withstand regular closing and opening for a long time. In addition, using a conventional valve will not be able to fine-tune the temperature in the room.
Benefits of using thermostats
You can easily get rid of all the inconveniences associated with manually maintaining the temperature regime by installing thermostats on radiators. This will help create comfortable living conditions in the home, and in each room you can set your own program. Electronic or mechanical thermostats are especially convenient in the kitchen, in rooms with windows located on the sunny side, since when installing heating in such rooms, it is necessary to take into account temperature fluctuations not only at night (cold), but also in the daytime (when the sun warms through the window).). For example, if you buy a radiator thermostat in St. Petersburg, then since "white nights" are often observed in this region, you can set it so that the temperature is regulated depending on the illumination. Electronic thermostats perfectly feel even slight temperature changes, respectively, there will be no excessive heat consumption, and hence unnecessary financialexpenses.
Single-pipe heating system
With a one-pipe heating system, all heating radiators are connected in series, one after the other. Turning off any of them inevitably leads to the termination of the circulation of the coolant. Therefore, in modern buildings, where radiators can be turned off with ball valves, as well as when replacing old batteries, a bypass is installed in front of such valves. The bypass is a pipe that connects the supply pipe to the coolant return circulation pipe. In this case, when one of the radiators is turned off, circulation will not be disturbed, and heat will remain in other rooms.
Of course, you need to remember that the resistance of such a thermostat should be small so that the coolant passes freely through the radiators, and does not go first into the wide bypass hole. Otherwise, the radiators will remain cold. A wide range of thermostats for the Danfoss radiator is available.
Two-pipe system
With a two-pipe heating system, the radiators are connected not one after the other, but in parallel. In this case, the operation of the entire system is not affected by the shutdown of any one of the heaters.
The bypass is not used with this system, so you can install thermostats on heating radiators with any hydraulic resistance.
Two-pipe dead-end heating system
Such a heating system has the form of several circuits connected in parallel,which may vary in length. In this case, the coolant will, of course, circulate only through those radiators that are located closer to the elevator or boiler, and you cannot do without thermostats for heating radiators.
At the time of launching such a system, it is necessary to balance - that is, throttling of heating devices. As a result, part of the coolant volume will be redirected to distant radiators. Danfoss thermostats for heating radiators in such systems are more often used to fine-tune the comfortable temperature regime in individual rooms.
Rules for the use of thermostats
- Only valves specifically designed for throttling should be used.
- A bypass must be installed between the throttled lines. This applies without fail to multi-apartment buildings. If the bypass is not installed, then the use of a thermostat on heating devices will lead to throttling of the entire heating riser. Such activities in common residences are strictly prohibited. In such situations, it is easier to install a heating element for a radiator with a thermostat, especially since such models are on sale.
- Thermal heads are much more convenient to operate than chokes.
- External heat sources, the installed thermal head must not heat up in any case.
If representatives of maintenance housing companies detect violations in the heating system, they:
- They go around apartments that are located on a problematic riser.
- Draw up an appropriate act on illegal changes to equipment owned by the company (risers refer to this).
- Recalculate the payment for heating services for the entire period during which the rest of the tenants did not receive legal heat.
When installing a throttling device, it is necessary to place it on the side of the radiator on the inlet. If the throttle is closed, the coolant will be able to flow through the bypass. It is permissible to neglect this recommendation only in apartments and houses owned by private owners and having two-pipe heating systems, where thermostats for aluminum radiators are often installed. In such cases, disconnecting one battery will increase the amount of coolant passing through it, and not restrict its circulation through other batteries.
Often the jumper is installed in conjunction with a tap, which allows you to completely shut it off. In this case, the air temperature can be slightly raised in a separate room, since the entire coolant goes into the battery and warms up even remote sections. With closed throttles or taps on the inlets, the tap on the jumper must be fully open.
Heater thermostat can be:
- Three-way plug valve. They were used earlier in the construction of heating systems. They were installed at the crosshairs of one of the eyeliners with a jumper. With its help, it was possible to direct the coolant into the jumper, into the radiator, or completely shut it off.
- Resembling a screw valve needle throttle. Features a conical valve shape that forms part of the stem.
- Heat-carrier regulating circulation. The control is carried out by expanding the solid or liquid working medium depending on its temperature. When cooling, the bellows hides the stem with the help of a spring, and the coolant passes freely through the liner, and when heated, it lengthens and, pushing the stem, blocks its path.
Three-way plug faucets are long gone and only found in homes that were built before the 60s.
Throtches have the disadvantage that the room temperature starts to change only after one or two hours after adjustment. This is due to the fact that at first some time is required to stabilize the coolant flow through the piping, and only then the temperature of the radiator begins to change.
But the thermal head works absolutely automatically and requires only an initial one-time adjustment. The cost of a set for one radiator thermostat "Danfoss" is from 1500 to 5000 rubles.
Devices, especially electronic ones, that are able to maintain the microclimate in the room in automatic mode and allow you to do this with high accuracy, as well as program temperature regime cycles, are more expensive.
Adequate operation of the installed thermostat for the radiator depends on the correct installation.
Often instead of "American" and choke,the radiator is connected using an angle battery valve - a fitting. It combines a thermostat and an "American".
The thermal head is easy to install by yourself. The main thing is to follow the following simple rules. It should NOT be located:
- In a well-lit area.
- In the rising flow of warm air from the battery or its eyeliner.
- Close to other heating appliances (convectors, oil heaters, infrared heaters).
Regulator installation recommendations
- Use the instructions supplied with the appliance sold.
- The thermostat is installed at least 80 centimeters from the floor.
- The thermostat must not be exposed to sunlight.
- The regulator must not be exposed to warm air currents from other heaters.
- The thermostat sensor should be firmly fixed to the wall with brackets.
- It is not recommended to cover the thermostat with curtains, furniture, any screens and other interior items.
Installation of thermostats
After choosing a place for mounting the thermostat for the radiator, you need to carefully consider how exactly you need to connect the thermostat to the heating battery. This device should always be positioned, taking into account in which direction the coolant flow is moving. On the body of the device, you need to find an arrow in the direction of which the flow of heated coolant should move. This means that the regulator should be installed in this position.
Another important point is the positionthermostat. It should be located strictly parallel to the floor structure. If you install the device vertically, like a conventional tap or valve with the handwheel pointing upwards, then the correct response of the regulator to changes in ambient temperature will be prevented by heated air flow from the valve (more precisely, from its body) and from the return pipes of the system.
In addition, thermostats are not used on cast-iron heating radiators due to inefficiency. Cast iron radiators are excessively inertial and heat the air for a very long time after being turned off. Temperature regulators for oil coolers behave a little better, but they are most effective on bimetallic or aluminum radiators.
Thermostat calibration
You can only adjust the temperature controller after installation is completed, and also after the heating system is completely filled with coolant. Radiators should be preheated evenly. Then proceed to the calibration.
When performing this operation, you must strictly follow all the requirements of the instructions for the thermostat for the radiator. In addition, for each specific radiator, you need to choose the mode that is needed in the room.
Regulator setting:
- Close all windows and doors in the room to minimize heat loss.
- Open the valve fully by turning its head to the leftmost position.
- Wait until the coolant starts heating the battery.
- When the temperature rises by5-6 degrees, the head turns to the right until it stops, closing the valve.
- After the air begins to cool, the head is smoothly turned to the left until a sharp heating of the radiator is felt and a noise is heard flowing through the coolant battery.
- This position is stored on the graduated scale on the regulator.
After completing these steps, the calibration of the thermostat for the radiator is considered complete and the system is completely ready for operation.
