Preparing for the autumn-winter period in an apartment or private building is a complex process that must be completed without errors. Correct activation of this system guarantees high-quality heating of the home during the cold season. Before the start of the heating season, it is important to make sure that the equipment is in good working order and operates in accordance with the necessary technical requirements. To do this, you need to know how to properly start the heating system.
Boiler for heating in a private house Source stroi-mario.ru
Typical problems
Some of the most common errors include the following:
- The heating system was started too quickly.
- Drain water from radiators in all living areas of the house.
- An attempt to get rid of air locks by removing coolant from pipes in the basement. This action will not help clear them from the heating system.
- When several buildings need to be connected at the same time, the risers are not checked immediately, relying on the fact that in the event of a malfunction, the residents will signal the presence of problems when starting the heating.
Do not commission the heating system while working alone. It's best to do this with two or three people.
Checking the radiator Source stroi-mario.ru
Why do you need to make adjustments?
The main factors explaining the need to change the heating level of batteries using locking mechanisms and electronics:
- Free movement of hot water through pipes and inside radiators. Air pockets may form in the heating system. For this reason, the coolant stops heating the batteries, as it gradually cools. As a result, the indoor microclimate becomes less comfortable, and over time the room cools down. To maintain heat in the pipes, shut-off mechanisms installed on radiators are used.
- Adjusting the temperature of the batteries makes it possible to reduce the cost of heating your home. If the rooms are too hot, by changing the position of the valves on the radiators you can reduce costs by 25%. Moreover, reducing the heating temperature of the batteries by 1°C provides savings of 6%.
- In cases where radiators heat up the air in the apartment very much, you have to open the windows often. It is not advisable to do this in winter, because you can catch a cold. To avoid having to constantly open windows in order to normalize the microclimate in the room, regulators should be installed on the batteries.
- It becomes possible to change the heating temperature of radiators at your discretion, and individual parameters are set in each room.
Startup procedure
During the warm season, batteries are not used. At this time, it is possible to carry out training to ensure their performance. Before starting the heating system, you need to make sure that all elements are in working order and ready for the onset of the season. Such activities will include the following:
- It is necessary to make sure that there are no mechanical damage to the heating system elements. If their presence is detected, then repairs or replacement will be required.
- If a boiler is to be operated in the house (it is usually used in private houses), it is necessary to ensure that the smoke exhaust system is functioning correctly. It is important not only that it is in good working order, but also provides good traction.
- Before starting the heating system, the ash and combustion chamber in the boiler are cleaned. To do this, remove debris from them and then clean them with a stiff brush.
- If there is an electronic control, it must be tested.
- It is necessary to check the internal cavities and ensure that they are cleaned of soot. If rust is found on galvanized pipes, traces of it must be removed. A visual inspection will help ensure that the chimney is tight and free of damage. If necessary, repair work will need to be carried out before starting the internal heating system.
- The management company of the apartment building must ensure that the internal heating system is pre-started. It will be useful to contact residents to inspect the pipes and radiators in their apartments. You must ensure that devices are not disconnected from the system.
- You need to make sure there are no leaks in advance.
- In order to finally make sure that the heating is working, you need to test run it for about a month or a month and a half. If everything goes well, you can be sure that the system is ready to perform its functions. It is better to carry out this event at a time when residents are at home and can monitor the operation of the heating equipment. During a test run, a higher pressure is set for the coolant than under normal operating conditions. It is 1.2 times higher than usual.
Checking the performance of cast iron radiators Source stroi-mario.ru
To directly start the system, you need to take the following steps:
- When the system is not filled with coolant, it will gradually rust. Therefore, before starting the heating, it is recommended to clean it.
- It is necessary to ensure that the coolant is started at minimum power. Filling must be done from bottom to top. If you act in this way, the air will be gradually displaced until it completely leaves the pipes.
- It is necessary to remove its remains. For this purpose, in the attic in gas collectors it is necessary to open the drain valve. While air is escaping through it, you will hear a characteristic whistle. When it stops, it will be a signal that there is only liquid in the pipes.
- In houses where there is no attic, the coolant can be drained using a Mayevsky tap.
- When you need to prepare several risers, before starting the heating correctly, you need to start with those that are farthest from the heating unit.
It is necessary that the pressure gauge readings comply with technical standards. After this, you can start the heating system.
Solid fuel heating boiler Source stroi-mario.ru
How to regulate heat in batteries
Suppose you put a battery of 10 bends in the room, and you feel good with it when it’s -20 degrees outside. But now, the cold has passed and now it’s been -2 degrees for several days. Hot water, as often happens with us, at the same temperature continues to flow through our pipes in a powerful stream and a gas chamber is formed in the room, from which there is no escape. In this case, the temperature regulator comes to the rescue. There are many of them in nature. In the picture below you see one of them.
What brand of thermostat should be is the topic of a separate article. And now it is important for you and me to understand the principle. The figure shows one of the simplest thermostats. It has a knob on top that you can rotate and set values from 0 to 5:
5 - means that the entire flow of hot water will pass through the battery; 4, 3, 2, 1 - means that the regulator will reduce the diameter of the flow pipe, providing less hot water flow through the battery per unit time. Thus, at 4 the battery will be colder, at 3 even colder, etc.
If you want to disconnect the battery altogether, you can set it to “*” - the water current will be very small. Practically it will not exist:
Or you can simply close the ball valves on the battery. The effect will be approximately the same:
If you have 2 windows in your room and 2 radiators under them, then during installation it is advisable to install them wisely. For example, you need 20 sections for the entire room. Then it is better to put, for example, 12 sections on one battery, and 8 sections on the other. In this case, in addition to the regulator on each battery, you can completely turn off or turn on 8, 12 or all 20 sections at the same time.
Hydrodynamic flushing
If the radiator design allows it, it will be useful to carry out hydrodynamic flushing. To implement this you need to perform the following steps:
- Pipes are connected to the radiator outlets.
- Start the washing procedure. In this case, it is necessary to visually monitor the degree of contamination of the coolant.
- The flushing procedure often needs to be repeated several times to get the water clean.
Then the integrity of the connection between the radiator and the pipes is checked. In some cases, gaskets may need to be replaced to ensure reliability.
Using a gas boiler for heating Source stroi-mario.ru
Three-way valve
An unconventional device for regulating the temperature of heating devices is a three-way valve. It is placed at the connection between the bypass and the supply pipe that goes to the battery. In order for the valve to perform the function of stabilizing the heating level of the radiator, it must have a thermostatic head. If the temperature near the head rises above the required value, the supply of coolant to the battery stops, and the liquid flow moves through the bypass. When cooling occurs, the valve opens again and the radiator heats up. This adjustment method is suitable for single-pipe systems with vertical wiring.
Important! In homes with a central heating system, the coolant usually contains foreign particles that clog thermostats. Therefore, you can safely install manual taps or valves, as well as three-way valves, in your apartment. If you want to install automatic heat regulators, you must install filters in front of them, which will have to be cleaned regularly.
When the heating turns on
Connection occurs due to the onset of certain weather. How to properly start the heating system is indicated in Decree No. 354. This requires the following conditions to be met:
- The average daily temperature is measured. It should be no higher than +8 degrees.
- The condition given here must be met for 5 consecutive days.
The regulations do not indicate specific dates for the start of heating. Thus, the switching time, according to the law, depends only on the average daily temperature. However, residents have the right to enter into an agreement with the management company, which may indicate the exact start date of the heating season. After it is signed, this norm will become mandatory and how to start the heating system on the right day will no longer be a problem.
Before starting the heating, you need to check the serviceability of the equipment Source stroi-mario.ru
Temperature standards
When it is possible to regulate the temperature in the radiators, it is important to be able to correctly determine in what cases and how much it is necessary to reduce or, conversely, increase the temperature in the apartment. The main thing is not to make it too hot or too cold.
You need to learn to determine a comfortable temperature for yourself.
You need to learn how to quickly determine what temperature will be most comfortable for living. SNiP can help in determining the optimal temperature for an apartment. For corner rooms, the best temperature is a little more than +20°C, but for all other rooms, on the contrary, a little less than this value. Knowing this, the owner of the apartment can change the air temperature in his rooms without any problems and feel quite comfortable.
Video description
How is heating supplied in an apartment building...
When filing a complaint with the management company that the connection was not made on time or the coolant temperature was not high enough, this document must be reviewed within a period of no more than ten days.
Single-pipe closed heating system for a private house Source market-crimea.com
If, after starting the heating, the temperature does not meet the standards, then you can achieve a reduction in the monthly payment by 0.15%. This right is another reason for the management company’s interest in solving heating problems in a timely manner.
By watching this video you can see how the heating system is filled with coolant:
Radiator heat transfer - ways to increase
Heat transfer from a heated battery occurs:
- heat exchange;
- convection;
- radiation.
Each radiator model, whether cast iron, aluminum, steel or bimetallic, has a certain rated power. When calculating heating, many factors are taken into account, including climatic conditions, temperature conditions of the room, the location of the room, the type of insulation of walls, ceilings, etc.
Correct calculation ensures effective heating of a house or apartment during the cold season. But if there is not enough radiator power, the room does not warm up well. Also, the cause of cold may be a connection with non-compliance with the circulation regime.
There are radical measures that will help correct the situation:
- increasing the number of sections;
- changing the connection diagram;
- replacing radiators with more efficient ones.
But very often, a lack of heat transfer occurs as a result of less serious reasons and is compensated for in other ways.
Video description
How to supply heating in an apartment building
When the management company's review of claims is unsatisfactory, you can file a complaint with Rospotrebnadzor or the prosecutor's office. It is also possible to defend your rights in court. Residents can not only claim a reduction in heating bills, but also compensation for moral damages.
Using air vents to remove air plugs Source 1-teplodom.ru
Can the heating be turned off?
If there is a claim for non-payment of utilities, it sometimes becomes the reason for disconnection from the system. In this case, the culprit is given a written warning 20 days in advance. If he pays off the debt during this time, the problem will be resolved. If payment is not made in full, the owner is allowed to negotiate a debt restructuring. However, if you do nothing, the shutdown will occur. This measure can also be applied in the following cases:
- If there is a court decision.
- In cases where there is a threat of an emergency and turning off the heating can prevent it.
- Sometimes residents use water from the heating system for their own purposes. This, for example, is possible if the heated coolant is used to warm up a heated floor.
To protect your rights, in some situations it becomes effective to go to court, after which restarting the heating can become a reality. Disconnection is carried out only if there are legal grounds for this. If the consumer believes that this was done incorrectly, he has the right to file a complaint with the management company. In the event that this turns out to be unsuccessful, they contact Rospotrebnadzor or the prosecutor's office.
Pressure testing of the heating system Source stroim-domik.ru
Valves and taps
Such fittings are a heat exchanger of a shut-off device. This means that the radiator is adjusted by turning the tap/valve in the desired direction. If you turn the fittings 90° all the way, the flow of water into the battery will no longer flow. To change the heating level of the heating device, the locking mechanism is set to the half position. However, not every fitting has this opportunity. Some faucets may leak after a short period of use in this position.
Installing shut-off valves allows you to manually regulate the heating system. The valve is inexpensive. This is the main advantage of such fittings. In addition, it is easy to operate, and changing the microclimate does not require special knowledge. However, there are also disadvantages to locking mechanisms, for example, they are characterized by a low level of efficiency. The battery cooling rate is slow.
Stopcocks
A ball design is used. First of all, it is customary to install them on a heating radiator in order to protect housing from coolant leakage. This type of valve has only two positions: open and closed. Its main task is to turn off the battery if such a need arises, for example, if there is a risk of flooding of the apartment. For this reason, shut-off valves are cut into the pipe in front of the radiator.
When is fluid replacement required?
In order to start the heating system, in some cases it is necessary to fill in new coolant. This may be required in the following situations:
- This procedure is desirable at the very beginning of the heating season. It is recommended to do this during the first start of the system.
- If for some reason the drain was performed. After this, you need to ensure that it is filled with new coolant.
- If repair work has been carried out, the water needs to be replaced with new one.
Using cast iron radiators, sometimes leaks appear when the heating is turned off and the water is not drained. In such situations, after the end of the season, the coolant is removed from the system. However, there is then an increased risk of corrosion. Therefore, it is more profitable for the technician to check and fix the problems rather than remove liquid from the pipes and radiator.
If the coolant quickly becomes dirty, it is recommended to replace it regularly at intervals that depend on the severity of the problem.
Before the first start, you need to check the serviceability of the equipment Source stroim-domik.ru
Automatic adjustment
The advantage of this method is that there is no need to constantly change the position of the valve/faucet. The desired temperature will be maintained automatically. Adjusting the heating in this way makes it possible to set the desired parameters once. In the future, the heating level of the battery will be maintained by an automation unit or other device installed at the input of the heating device.
If necessary, individual parameters can be set multiple times, which is influenced by the personal preferences of the residents. The disadvantages of this method include the significant cost of components. The more functional the devices are for controlling the amount of coolant in heating radiators, the higher their price.
Electronic thermostats
These devices superficially resemble a control valve, but there is a significant difference - a display is built into the design. It displays the room temperature that needs to be obtained. Such devices work in conjunction with a remote temperature sensor. It transmits information to the electronic thermostat. To normalize the microclimate in the room, you just need to set the desired temperature value on the device, and the adjustment will be performed automatically. Electronic thermostats are located at the battery input.
Adjusting radiators with thermostats
Devices of this type consist of two units: lower (thermal valve) and upper (thermal head). The first of the elements resembles a manual valve. It is made of durable metal. The advantage of such an element is the ability to install not only an automatic, but also a mechanical valve, it all depends on the needs of the user. To change the heating temperature of the battery, the design of the thermostat provides a bellows, which exerts pressure on the spring-loaded mechanism, and the latter, in turn, changes the flow area.
Using Three-Way Valves
Such devices are made in the form of a tee and are intended for installation at the connection point of the bypass, the inlet pipe to the radiator, or the general riser of the heating system. To increase operating efficiency, the three-way valve is equipped with a thermostatic head, the same as that of the previously discussed thermostat. If the temperature at the valve inlet is higher than the desired value, the coolant does not enter the battery. Hot water is directed through the bypass and passes further along the heating riser.
When the valve cools down, the passage hole opens again and the coolant flows into the battery. It is advisable to install such a device if the heating system is single-pipe and the pipe distribution is vertical.
