Even at the stages of designing a heating system at home, it is necessary to take into account the fact that such a liquid for a heating system as water is not always ideal for the weather conditions of your particular area. This is especially true for residents of the northern parts of Russia, where winter lasts for 5-6 months. In such latitudes, experts categorically do not recommend using ordinary water as a liquid for the heating system. Why? The fact is that with a long cooling of the boiler (and this takes only a few hours of time), with a big frost, the system simply begins to freeze. As a result, water at sub-zero temperatures will turn into ice, and soon what is indicated in our first photo will happen to the heating complex.
Why can't I use it?
From physics we know that the volume of water in a solid state of aggregation(in other words, ice) is much larger than the volume of a simple liquid with a temperature of +10 to +90 degrees. And therefore, it simply breaks the walls of the pipeline, thereby forming a large gap or hole. It is almost impossible to restore such a system. In order for it to be functional again, in such cases, the damaged section of the pipeline is completely replaced.
Thus, water is not the most suitable liquid for a heating system. The opinions of experts especially emphasize the fact that in the conditions of the Russian climate the risk of freezing of the pipeline inside the heated room increases significantly. But how then to be and what to pour into the system?
Antifreeze
Using antifreeze is the smartest way out of this situation. The antifreeze used in piping and communications systems is practically no different from that which is poured into the expansion tank of a car. This fluid for the heating system (including Dixis) is of the non-freezing type and is specially designed for such operating conditions. Depending on the quality characteristics, it may not lose its viscosity properties at temperatures from minus 40 to plus 115 degrees Celsius. At the same time, water can be in a liquid state only at 0 and +99 degrees Celsius, while already at the last values it simply turns into steam. Therefore, roughly speaking, in a liquid state, it is at a temperature of +10 to +900С.
Composition of antifreeze
This fluid for the heating system may have a different composition, which is determined by the presence of one or another additive. For example, antifreeze may contain agents such as monoethylene glycol or propylene glycol. Both substances impart viscosity and thermal conductivity to the liquid. But compared with the properties of water, the characteristics of antifreeze are several times superior to its qualities, and regardless of which mixture was added to its composition. It should also be remembered that due to its main advantages (preservation of properties at a temperature of -40 … +115 degrees Celsius) and due to its viscosity, this liquid for the heating system has a “habit” to flow into all cracks and cracks. Therefore, before using antifreeze, carefully check your system for leaks, otherwise no one will save you from leaks.
