Heating radiators: which ones are better - choosing what to install in an apartment or house

Sooner or later, everyone has to change the heating radiators in their apartment. Many people still have Soviet cast-iron batteries in their homes, which are rough in appearance and lack the ability to be adjusted. Others want to replace the construction one with something more elegant that matches the design of the room. Komsomolskaya Pravda studied the best heating radiators available for sale in 2022.

Please note that in our review we tried to select medium-sized radiators. At the same time, most manufacturers have a wide range of models. That is, you can find a similar device with fewer or more sections. This affects the price and degree of heat transfer.

The number of sections you need can be easily determined using the formula:

Number of sections = Room area * Ceiling height * Window coefficient (35 - euro windows, 40 - regular windows) / section heat transfer (indicated in the documentation for each battery).

Features of choosing heating devices

Now people no longer need to hide or decorate radiators, because modern appliances can become a worthy decoration of any interior. Radiators that are sold today may differ in color, size, material of manufacture and general design style, so it will not be difficult to choose the most suitable option.

Heating radiators

Attention! Despite the fact that we are accustomed to light-colored batteries, the heat transfer of black devices is approximately ¼ higher solely due to color. Although when choosing a color, it is better to focus on the design of the home and personal preferences.

Heating radiators
Regarding the shape, it must be streamlined. For safety reasons, it is advisable to avoid sharp corners altogether, especially if children live in the house. Before purchasing, familiarize yourself with the strengths and weaknesses of each of the existing types of radiators to determine which one is best suited for a particular room. The first thing you should pay attention to is the operating pressure of the devices.

Which heating radiators to choose?

Depending on the material, radiators are divided into:

• aluminum;
• bimetallic (from alloys of two metals);
• cast iron;
• steel.

  
  Radiator in the interior

The above-mentioned pressure, heat transfer coefficient, heat capacity, resistance to mechanical and chemical damage, as well as service life depend on the material.

Radiators in the interior

Also pay attention to the method of connection to the heating main. The connection can be side, bottom and universal. It is typical that modern radiators provide all these connection methods.

Radiator connection options

Attention! The environmental friendliness of the material used in the manufacture of heating devices is also very important. There should be no formaldehyde in the internal elements, and high-quality polymer coating on the surface is also welcome.

Now in more detail about each material.

How to calculate power

The power of any radiator for an individual home is calculated based on the fact that to heat an average room with one window, one door and a shelf height of less than three meters, the coolant temperature should be about 70 degrees, and to heat one square meter you need 95-125 kW. The parameters of this scheme are adjusted if real conditions differ from the average: in a room with second light, the battery power should be greater by as many times as the ceiling height is higher than average; if the ceilings are low, the power is reduced.

If the coolant temperature is less than 70 degrees, then the power of the radiators should increase (15-20% for every 10 degrees). In corner rooms with several windows, the average radiator power is increased by one and a half times. It should also be borne in mind that the most effective radiator connection scheme is when the coolant is supplied to it at the upper side inlet, and the return line is connected diagonally to the lower outlet. All other connection schemes slightly, by 5-10%, but reduce the heat transfer of the batteries.

It is impossible to increase the number of radiator sections indefinitely. There should not be more than ten of them; no coolant will warm up such a battery.

Characteristics of aluminum radiators

Aluminum heating radiator cross-section
Heating devices made of aluminum are considered one of the most popular types of radiators. Aluminum is a light and ductile metal, therefore, batteries made from it weigh a little and have increased heat transfer.

The devices consist of sections, each of which is a set of interconnected plates. Thanks to this, heat saving here is also at a fairly high level.

Cast aluminum radiator section

Radiator made by extrusion method

The advantages of such units are as follows:

• fast heating;
• high heat capacity;
• light weight;
• affordable cost (especially when compared with bimetallic units);
• wide model range.

  
  Technical characteristics of aluminum heating radiators

At the same time, after turning off the heating, such radiators cool down quite quickly. Other disadvantages :

• instability to chemical influences (the problem can be solved by polymer coating on the inner surface);
• low strength;
• poor quality of the threaded connection in the top valve for releasing air from the system.

In view of this, before purchasing it is necessary to inquire about the operating pressure of the heating system. The maximum pressure of a particular product must be looked at in the data sheet, since it is different for different models.

But still, according to its characteristics, aluminum is excellent for the manufacture of radiators, and its fusibility has made it possible to significantly expand the model range. Today you can choose exactly the battery that fits perfectly into the interior of your home.

Aluminum radiator assembly

Table 1. Comparison of aluminum batteries from well-known brands

Aluminum radiators from STOUT Bravo are ideal for installation in apartments and houses with individual heating. These heating devices are manufactured at facilities in Italy. Each stage of production is controlled by European specialists. Each section is manufactured by injection molding and is a monolith of two collectors and fins connecting the sections. Available center distance is 350 or 500 mm. Manufacturer's warranty – 10 years.

Aluminum radiators from STOUT Bravo

Follow the link for details: www.stout.ru.

Aluminum radiators from STOUT are covered by a ten-year manufacturer's warranty

Prices for popular models of aluminum heating radiators

Aluminum heating radiators

Thermostat

Thermostat is a device that is installed on the radiator. It is designed to reduce room heating during the heating season.

You may be sure that such an addition is unnecessary. After all, many people think only about how not to freeze, and naively believe that a room that is too well heated can always be ventilated. But, as a person who lives in an apartment where in winter it is always at least 30 degrees, I assure you that this is a bad idea. Keeping the window open all the time means creating a constant flow of icy air, and this is uncomfortable. Moreover, after closing the window, the heat returns very quickly. So my personal requirement No. 2 for new devices, right after the material, is the presence of a thermostat.

But here you need to be more careful in your choice, since there are several regulatory structures. Without delving into technical issues, we can cite the following advantages and disadvantages of different types:

1. Shut-off valves are a simple ball valve, opening and closing which shuts off the flow and limits the supply of coolant. Cons: it has only two positions: “open” and “closed”, and frequent tugging causes leakage. Obviously, using it to adjust heating is not the best solution.
2. Shut-off and control valves are valves that can be manually opened and closed, thus regulating the flow force. But it is necessary to manually monitor changes in indoor climate.
3. The control device is a needle valve with a thermostatic head that automatically maintains the set temperature. However, their reliability often leaves much to be desired, since the disadvantages of heat supply, which we have already mentioned, do not allow them to work correctly: instability of water heating and many impurities lead to incorrect settings and blockages.

Characteristics of bimetallic batteries

Bimetallic radiator
The main difference between bimetallic radiators is the use of two different metals in the manufacturing process - steel to create the core and aluminum to assemble the body. Thanks to this, the rod is very strong. Another advantage of such products is their high working pressure, which can reach 50 (!) atmospheres. Moreover, steel works well even with water that contains various impurities, while aluminum heats up quickly and gives off maximum heat.

Technical characteristics of bimetallic heating batteries

The main advantages of bimetallic radiators

In short, the use of two metals at once made it possible to obtain radiators that have the advantages of each of them. Therefore, it is quite obvious that the cost of these devices is the highest among all possible options.

Bimetallic radiator in section

Attention! Bimetallic batteries are used primarily for heating industrial and public facilities. In residential buildings they are rare due to their high cost.

The service life is 20-25 years, which is quite normal.

Bimetallic radiator Rifar Base Ventil 500 5 sections (bottom connection)

Table 2. Comparison of bimetallic radiators

All the advantages of using bimetallic radiators are clearly expressed in the design of STOUT Space heating devices. These radiators are easy to install, they are suitable for rooms of any design and have a reliable design. The maximum pressure that a heating device can withstand is 100 atmospheres. Production is Russian, the largest in the country. Service life - 25 years, warranty from the manufacturer - 10 years. The number of sections is available from 4 to 14 - you can complete any object and select a radiator for a room of any size.

Bimetallic radiators STOUT Space

Prices for bimetallic batteries

Bimetallic batteries

Installation method

This parameter depends not only on the personal taste of the owners, but also on the characteristics of the wall. After all, there are structures (for example, made of plasterboard) on which heavy metal samples simply cannot be hung. There are also special models of cast iron products, which initially have a floor arrangement.

In this case, they are mounted on special brackets that are attached to the floor, and a radiator is placed on top. The leg can have a fixed or adjustable height.

If a wall connection is used, then it is necessary to install four fasteners, so that two of them hold the upper part, and two hold the lower part. To save money, some people use only top holders, and this causes the battery to wobble. In this case, the main load falls on the upper brackets, so they should be given special attention. The lower ones perform supporting and fixing functions.

Characteristics of cast iron radiators

Cast iron heating radiators

Technical characteristics of RETRO cast iron radiators
Such batteries are the most common and well-known option for everyone, since they are installed in most standard apartments. Agree, old cast iron appliances can hardly be considered stylish and attractive. New models look better, but in terms of aesthetic indicators they are still significantly inferior to devices made from other materials.

Radiators ChM2

As you know, cast iron is very heavy. Batteries made from it weigh a lot, which cannot but affect the complexity of transportation and installation.

Let's look at their main advantages.

1. Cast iron radiators are reliable and durable. They can last up to 40 years without repair, which cannot be said about batteries made from other materials.
2. Cast iron cools slowly, although it warms up just as slowly, and is also resistant to corrosion.
3. This metal has a high heat capacity. Heating occurs through convection.
4. Such batteries can be operated even with low-quality coolant containing foreign impurities and suspensions.
5. Cast iron batteries are relatively cheap (the only exception is designer models from foreign class=”aligncenter” width=”850″ height=”549″[/img] Color range of GuRaTec cast iron radiators

But cast iron also has disadvantages , including:

• significant weight;
• slow heating;
• unaesthetic.

Attention! Despite the abundance of more modern analogues, many prefer to install cast iron batteries, trusting what has been tested for decades.

Fastening cast iron radiators to walls made of various materials
Table 3. Comparison of cast iron radiators from the most well-known manufacturers

Prices for popular models of cast iron radiators

Cast iron radiators

Aluminum

Structures made of this metal have an even more aesthetic appearance. But if you choose pipes for central heating, then you should immediately make a reservation that ordinary aluminum radiators are not the best option for this. Most often, their advantages are used when installing autonomous heating in apartments. The advantages include an elegant appearance and excellent heat dissipation. But the disadvantages are the formation of hydrogen in the system during the reaction of aluminum with a heated coolant, as well as the inability to withstand water hammer in a central heating system.

However, if you purchase radiators made of anodized aluminum, all the disadvantages disappear, and the advantages only increase. This option is generally considered almost the most optimal for heating an apartment, but many are stopped by the high cost of such devices.

Characteristics of steel radiators

Characteristics of steel radiators
Low carbon steel is used in the manufacture of these devices. For protection purposes, the surface is coated with special enamel. If steel radiators are of good quality, then they have excellent performance parameters, including:

• strength;
• reliability;
• corrosion resistance;
• durability;
• resistance to various types of aggressive substances.

Such batteries can be tubular or panel.

Tubular devices

Steel radiators of tubular design.
For their assembly, steel pipes with high quality polymer coating are used. The maximum load that the devices can handle depends solely on the thickness of the pipe walls. It is desirable that the pipes are made of stainless steel.

Steel tubular radiators

The service life of tubular devices significantly exceeds that of panel devices and is about 30 years. It is possible to connect using all the methods described above. The operating pressure is 10-16 atmospheres; more detailed data should be clarified in the product data sheet.

Loten tubular radiators as a design element in the interior

Prominent representatives of tubular radiators are models produced by Loten:

• vertical LotenGrey V;
• horizontal LotenGrey Z.

These radiators are made of steel profile pipes with a rectangular cross-section. In addition to providing comfortable heating, the presented radiators demonstrate the latest trends in the design of heating devices, fitting perfectly into the interior of any home.

When creating Loten tubular radiators there were two main ideas:

• create high-quality heating equipment: for the manufacture of radiators, high-strength metal with a wall thickness of 2.5 mm is used, due to which these heating devices have an operating pressure of 16 atm. Radiators withstand test pressure of 25 atm;
• at the same time turn the battery into a stylish element of the interior of a home, office space, public location, etc.

Horizontal tubular radiators Loten
The presented heater models can have a different number of sections, from 4 to 12. The length of the sections varies from 750 to 2000 mm. The price of each heating element is directly dependent on the following parameters:

• number and length of sections;
• connection type (side/bottom).

At no extra charge, you can purchase radiator models painted in colors that are at the peak of popularity in relation to interior design:

• matte black;
• classic white;
• soft beige;
• concrete gray.

However, lovers of bright furnishings can order any other colors and shades.

The presented radiator models are suitable for connection to central as well as autonomous heating systems. The range of sizes is really wide; you can equip the presented radiators with both a cozy small one-room apartment and a spacious country mansion.

Connecting batteries is equally easy to both autonomous and central heating systems

Each model can be with side or bottom connection. Heating systems that are suitable for this battery can be:

• single-pipe;
• two-pipe.

The high quality of the material and the laconic style of the products will allow them to take a place not only in the apartment, but also in the list of your preferred interior items for many years. Their peculiarity is that they have a long service life (warranty - 5 years, service life - 30 years), so you won’t have to think about changing batteries soon. This means you can confidently trust the manufacturer and make a choice in favor of the devices reviewed.

Panel instruments

Steel panel radiators
As the name suggests, such radiators are made in the form of panels. To do this, a certain number of steel plates are connected to each other. Thanks to this assembly, high heat capacity is achieved, while the thickness of each individual plate is insignificant. In addition, panel radiators weigh a little and provide the ability to connect in all available ways.

Steel panel radiators Purmo

Steel panel radiator type 33 double row with two convectors

Attention! Before purchasing new heating devices, look at how your old ones are connected. It is advisable that new batteries be connected in the same way.

Panel steel radiators manufactured by Kermi
The cost of panel radiators is slightly higher than average, the operating pressure is 10 atmospheres. According to experts, such units are best used in autonomous heating systems. As for city apartments, the use of such batteries is unacceptable due to too high pressure in the central system.

Table 4. Comparison of steel radiators with dimensions of 50x50 cm from the most famous manufacturers

Prices for steel radiators

Steel radiators

​The difference between an autonomous heating system and a central one

In 2022, GOST 31311-2005 Heating appliances was adopted. From this document it follows that radiators cannot be sold without their laboratory confirmed compliance with the declared characteristics. Therefore, the first thing you need to do when choosing a device is to find out whether there is mandatory certification.

The document defines a radiator as a heating device that releases heat by convection and radiation. This definition is suitable for devices in both city apartments and private houses: they perform the same functions. But the requirements for them are different, because in individual houses radiators are part of an autonomous heating system, and it differs from central heating in almost every way.

Compared to a central heating system, an autonomous one:

• The operating pressure on the entire system is much lower, the load on the radiators will be gentle, their very thick walls will not be a big advantage here;
• There can be no water hammer in an autonomous heating system;
• In an autonomous heating system, heat loss is much lower than in a central heating system, they are somewhere around zero, so the coolant always heats up much more;
• But the owner of the house can set the temperature of the coolant himself, and not exceed the required maximum that is set for this type of heater;
• The coolant in an autonomous heating system can be antifreeze - non-freezing liquids. They are especially often used in those houses that may not be heated for a long time in winter. When freezing, antifreeze, unlike water, will not rupture radiators.
• The autonomous heating system is calculated taking into account the area of ​​the house. A small building is one thing, but a huge cottage is quite another.

Manufacturers

Here the advantage of domestic companies is clear: products are adjusted to Russian realities. These products have a safety margin, are not sensitive to low-quality coolant and are cheaper than foreign ones. There are four popular manufacturers:

• Rifar;
• “Thermal”;
• RoyalThermo;
• Oasis.

Products from neighboring Belarus, the “Lideya” and “MZOO” brands, are worthy of praise.

A good sign would be to have as long a warranty period as possible. This means that if a pipe leaks and damages your property or your neighbors’ homes, the company will cover all costs. Of course, only a qualified plumber should install the device, otherwise this option will not work.

The leading brand among European companies is the Italian brand Global. There are other manufacturers from Italy that supply quality products: SIRA, Fondital.

Finnish Purmo, German Kermi and Buderus have positive reviews. Chinese products from Smart performed well.

Prices: summary table

A comparative analysis of the characteristics of flat steel radiators with a height of 500 mm and a length of 1000 mm is presented in the form of a table.