What to fill in aluminum radiators

Every owner who has installed aluminum radiators in a house or apartment is concerned about extending their “life,” the efficiency and safety of their operation. Often the answers lie in the quality of the coolant.

In apartment buildings connected to a centralized heating system, there is no need to talk about the composition and Ph level of the water, since after it runs under pressure through the numerous pipes of the heating main, suspensions and dirt are constantly present in it, which affect it.

It’s a different matter when it comes to an autonomous heating system, which gives a person the right to choose what to use, water or special antifreeze for aluminum radiators.

Antifreeze properties

Consumers are so accustomed to using water as a coolant that they do not even suspect that there are liquids of better quality. Water's biggest advantage is its cost and non-toxicity, but otherwise it can be an enemy for a heating system. Its ability to cause corrosion in metals has “ruined” more than one generation of radiators.

In addition, in the event of an accident on the heating main in winter, when the heating is forced to not work, it can freeze in the pipes even at zero temperature. Its ability to expand, both when frozen and heated, causes them to rupture.

Antifreeze, enriched with special additives for use in heating systems, has some advantages next to water, but it also has negative qualities:

This coolant freezes at -70 degrees.
It does not harm aluminum, which is very important for such a “sensitive” metal.
It has a good level of thermal conductivity, although it takes a little longer to heat up than water.

These were the positive qualities of antifreeze. Among its disadvantages:

It has a higher viscosity, so to move it through the heating system you need a fairly powerful boiler.
The fluidity of antifreeze poses a threat if the integrity of the joints or elements of the heating network is compromised.
Antifreeze is toxic, so precautions should be taken when using it.

Many consumers wonder, knowing about these shortcomings, whether it is possible to use antifreeze in aluminum radiators. In this case, it is even preferable when it comes to an autonomous heating system. The durability of this coolant is enough to heat a house for 10 winters, which in itself is good news. During this period, aluminum batteries do not change at all under its influence, which also has a positive effect on their service life.

Let's look at antifreeze: advantages, disadvantages and features of the most popular ones

It can be very easy to get confused among the large number of antifreezes. Some people pour red, some green, and some prefer blue. So how are they different and which one is the best?

What is antifreeze?

First of all, it is important to understand what antifreeze is. The name is translated from English as “non-freezing”

This is a special liquid designed to cool the engine and protect it from overheating, because the boiling point in the engine can reach 150 degrees. Antifreeze will not freeze, so it is simply necessary if the air temperature drops below zero. In addition, antifreeze contains special additives that protect pipes, hoses and other components from rust and cracking. Antifreeze allows the engine to operate at any time of the year.

In stores you can now find the three most common types of antifreeze, which differ in color:

There are other shades, but they are much less common and less commonly used.

What does it contain?

Regardless of color, the main active component of all antifreezes is ethylene glycol (propylene glycol or ethanediol, as well as other bases, are found). These alcohol bases are diluted with distilled water. What is it for? The fact is that in its pure form the alcohol base does not withstand too low temperatures. When diluted with water, the antifreeze threshold increases significantly. The alcohol base mixed with purified water occupies approximately 80% of the total volume of the liquid. The remaining 20% comes from various additives. The color of the antifreeze itself depends on the type of additive added.

What are additives and why are they needed?

Due to inexperience, it seems that all additives in antifreeze are an extra component. Many drivers think that alcohol diluted with water will do an excellent job of cooling. This is true, but it is impossible to do without additives. If the composition contains only an alcohol base, it will quickly destroy all hoses, pipes, radiator and even the engine block. Alcohol will simply corrode all components of the engine, so additives protect the engine from such aggressive effects of the alcohol base.

There are various additives with different properties. The goal of the manufacturer is always the same - to find an effective and at the same time inexpensive one. For convenience, additives with different properties are painted in generally accepted colors. It is necessary to dwell on each of them in more detail.

Blue antifreeze or TOSOL

Blue antifreeze is the most common and has been used since Soviet times. This is a Russian invention, which in our country is called TOSOL. But, by the way, not all TOSOL is blue; now you can also see its red variations. The blue variety can withstand temperatures from -30 to -40 degrees. Red works at temperatures from -50 to -65.

TOSOL uses traditional additives dating back to the very first generation. They are made from silicates, phosphates and other chemicals. TOSOL forms a thin film on parts of the automotive cooling system. It used to be considered an innovative technology, but now it is a bit outdated.

Types of antifreeze

Depending on what substance is added to distilled water, the technical characteristics of antifreeze change.

Glycerin works well as an additive; it is non-toxic and highly soluble, which allows it to be used in the system for a long time without fear of precipitation.
Ethylene glycol-based antifreeze is the cheapest and most toxic. The second indicator concerns its ingestion, when it can lead to death. If you handle it carefully and check the system for integrity, it will not cause harm and will serve for a long time inside aluminum radiators.
Propylene glycol is the best addition to distilled water in the production of antifreeze. It is non-toxic, does not produce residue, and its only drawback is its rather high price.

Since ethylene glycol-based antifreezes are very popular due to their cost, before purchasing such a product, you need to check its compatibility with the heating system. Such a carrier is used exclusively in autonomous systems with a single-circuit boiler, since if it gets into water, it can cause serious poisoning, even death.

Antifreeze containing ethylene glycol cannot be used in open heating systems. In the case of fumes, the damage can be equally irreparable.

On the other hand, coolants that include propylene glycol or glycerin are completely safe and can be used in all types of individual heating systems.

How to choose the right antifreeze

In order for the coolant to be truly effective, you should know which antifreeze for aluminum radiators is optimal.

Any type of antifreeze has a heat capacity lower than water, so more radiator sections will be required.
The battery size should also be different. Since this coolant expands greatly when heated, it needs 50% more capacity than water.
You should make sure that the boiler in the heating system is suitable for working with antifreeze.
All joints need to be checked and made sure that the seal is not broken. If flax fiber is used as additional gaskets in the heating network, it will have to be replaced with rubber analogues.
Antifreeze is not friendly with zinc, so you need to check all fittings and pipes to ensure that there are no products made of this metal among them.

How to pour antifreeze into the heating system

As professionals advise, a heating system using antifreeze should be planned before installing it. It must take into account such nuances as the power of the boiler, the material of the pipes and shut-off devices, the presence of an expansion tank through which the coolant is supplied to the system.

If the product is introduced into a system that previously operated on water, then a lot of work will have to be done to recalculate the power and size of its radiators, thoroughly rinse or replace the pipes.

If you need to add coolant to the heating system, you can only use the same brand as when filling it for the first time. Different types of antifreeze enter into a chemical reaction, causing the formation of sediment, and the additional additives they contain will be neutralized.

To summarize, we can say that non-freezing coolant has a number of advantages that attract many consumers. Thanks to antifreeze, aluminum radiators last much longer. It is important to follow safety rules and not use the product without protective gloves, and in the case of an ethylene glycol-based carrier, also a mask.

Until recently, all houses were heated using conventional cast iron radiators. Today the situation has changed and they have been replaced by aluminum, steel and bimetallic heating radiators, i.e. there was a choice.

Let's look at the advantages and disadvantages of each type, try to determine which one is better suited for an apartment or a country house and calculate the heating radiators.

Advantages of radiators with antifreeze

If you fulfill all the above requirements, then:

A radiator with antifreeze will last 10 years or more.
It is environmentally friendly and harmless to human health.
A huge selection of aluminum radiators suitable for filling with antifreeze.
High-quality antifreeze from the manufacturer (well-known brands), in a large assortment.
Indispensable in schools, hospitals and residential premises in case of a sudden power outage or gas supply.

Bimetallic heating radiators Flat heating radiators Heating radiators or heated floors Heating radiators with bottom connection

Cast iron heating radiators

Cast iron batteries were installed in all standard apartments. Now they are also in demand, although to a lesser extent, mainly for apartment buildings.

Cast iron heating radiators are highly inert, i.e. They take a long time to warm up when heat is applied and take just as long to cool down. It is necessary to take into account that one such cast iron section has a volume of 1.45 liters, which is a disadvantage, especially for suburban buildings.

A significant drawback is that water hammer is dangerous for such batteries, because cast iron itself is a rather fragile material. The average pressure that cast iron batteries can withstand is 9 kg/cm2 at a temperature of 130 0 C.

The appearance leaves much to be desired, so they are often covered with special screens for a more aesthetic appearance. They require constant painting, because... The cast iron on the outside is constantly rusting. They are heavy and inconvenient to use.

Positive properties include the price and the ability to expand additional sections.

Cast iron radiators are resistant to corrosion and have high thermal conductivity. One cast iron section produces 160 W of heat.

Comparison of working environment parameters of different types

Characteristics	Unit change	Water	Antifreeze
Heat capacity	kJ/(kg*K)	4,19	3,5-3,7
Thermal conductivity at 20 °C	W/m*K	0,605	0,433
Density	g/cm3	0,998	1,04-1,075
Prone to corrosion	There is activity	No activity
Hazard Class	5 safe	3-4 moderately hazardous substance
Viscosity	mm2/s	1,002	5,8-7,1
Freezing point	°C	0	-35…-65
Boiling temperature	°C	100	104-108
pH level	7	7,5-9

Aluminum heating radiators

Aluminum batteries have good heat dissipation, about 190 W, and low inertia, i.e. able to heat up quickly when heat is applied. They can withstand operating pressure of about 20 atmospheres, so they can be installed with centralized heating. It is possible to expand individual sections if necessary.

For a private developer, it is important that one aluminum section has a volume of about 0.37 liters, which allows saving on heating water or antifreeze in the heating system.

Aluminum is a soft metal in properties, so it is sensitive to various solid and debris particles. This is mainly true for houses with central heating. For a private developer this is not particularly important. But still, if you have chosen aluminum radiators, it is recommended to install additional filters along with them to collect various dirt in the system.

Aluminum radiators differ in the manufacturing process. There are cast and stamped. Stamped batteries are not recommended for installation in houses with central heating because... they are sensitive to the quality of the coolant.

Aluminum is a reactive metal, which means it has some disadvantages. When in contact with other metals, a so-called galvanic couple can form at the junction. This is where metal corrosion occurs. To do this, the various parts of the heating system are connected to each other using adapters, which prevent the metals from coming into direct contact, and therefore prevent the corrosion process.

If you use antifreeze as a coolant, then there is a high probability of corrosion inside the battery because... it reacts with aluminum, which reduces efficiency. Therefore, it is better to use such radiators in a country cottage, where the coolant is water.

When heated, the inside of aluminum radiators reacts with the coolant and, over time, hydrogen begins to be released and accumulates. To ensure that hydrogen does not linger in the pipes, a special valve is installed that slowly releases it. Aluminum heating radiators have an aesthetic appearance and do not require additional painting.

high efficiency;
elegant design;
withstands high pressure;
light section weight.

possible corrosion due to low-quality antifreeze;
it is necessary to remove air using a valve.

Types of coolant

Water is the most popular and accessible coolant for water heating circuits. However, due to its use as a coolant for aluminum heating radiators, the metal begins to rust, and scale and deposits appear inside the pipes. Therefore, such systems require periodic flushing and cleaning. Also, during winter shutdowns, there is a real danger of freezing: in such cases, it is necessary to drain the water. If this is not done, freezing of the liquid will certainly lead to rupture of pipes and batteries.

All this indicates that, in addition to correctly calculating the power of the batteries for the room, it is important to use exactly the coolant that is not afraid of freezing and chemical interaction with metal walls. It is important to keep in mind that such special solutions do not have a negative impact on human health when the circuit leaks. We are talking about antifreeze: this coolant is not afraid of low temperatures, which is facilitated by additives and additives dissolved in the liquid, which act as inhibitors of corrosion and mineral deposits.

Bimetallic heating radiators

Bimetallic heating radiators, as the name implies, consist of two metals and combine their best properties.

As a rule, they have a steel core, which allows them to withstand high pressure, as well as an aluminum shell, which has high heat transfer.

Can be installed in a central heating system.

Such bimetallic batteries have a modern design, quickly heat up and cool down, and have high efficiency.

In appearance they are not much different from aluminum radiators.

Advantages of bimetallic radiators:

high heat transfer;
withstands high pressure;
modern design;
greater reliability;

Calculation of heating radiators

In order to correctly calculate the number of required sections, you need to know some reference data. These data show how much heat needs to be spent to keep the room warm. All values are given for an area of 10 m2.

For a panel house you need 1.7 kW;
For a brick house 1 kW;
For corner rooms, we multiply this data by a factor of 1.2.

Now you can easily calculate the required number of heating radiator sections.

Example: Room 15 m2, corner, brick house. We divide the area of 15 m2 by the estimated area of 10 m2 and multiply by 1 kW.

15m 2 /10m 2 *1kW=1.5 kW.

Because We have a corner room, then this value must be multiplied by a factor of 1.2. We find that to heat such a room, 1.8 kW of heat is needed. Then you need to select the required heating radiator. This data must be contained in the battery data sheet. Here are just some approximate capacities for various radiators.

cast iron - 160 W one section;
aluminum - 190 W one section;
steel - 450-5700 W for the entire panel;
bimetallic - 200 W one section.

It turns out that if you decided on bimetallic heating radiators, then you will need 1.8 kW/0.2 kW=9 sections. Take more stock in one section because... It is easier to reduce the temperature in the room than to install an additional section.

What to put in the heating system

This question arises only for private developers, because only they have a choice. What is better to fill with water or antifreeze depends on the boiler and pumping equipment, heat exchangers, heating pipes, etc.

Water is the cheapest and most accessible liquid. It is used for heating in private and multi-storey construction, but it has a number of disadvantages.

It must be operated at positive temperatures. When freezing, a breakdown of pipes, boiler, etc. may occur, which will lead to failure of the entire heating system. Therefore, if you turn off the heating of the house, you will have to drain all the water from the system.

The water used for heating is usually not distilled and has many different impurities. When heated, various chemical reactions occur, which leads to the appearance of salts on the inner surface of pipes and heating radiators. As a result, efficiency is lost and efficiency decreases.

In heating where water is used, any type of radiator can be installed : cast iron, aluminum, steel, bimetallic .

The main property of antifreeze is freezing at lower temperatures compared to water. The service life is about 10 heating seasons, after which it is better to replace it.

With such heating, elements containing zinc cannot be used, because it will disintegrate and settle on the inner walls of pipes, boilers, batteries, etc.

Let us remind you once again that if you use antifreeze, it is better not to install aluminum heating radiators, but instead purchase steel or bimetallic heating radiators; you can, of course, use cast iron ones, but they are increasingly becoming a thing of the past.

Quite often, many owners of autonomous aluminum radiators use ordinary water to fill them. This negatively affects the operation of the heating circuit, reduces its service life, promotes corrosion, and ultimately disables the system. Today, you can use many other liquids designed specifically for use in radiators. The most common of these is antifreeze.

Water and its properties

The popularity of using water in heating networks is due to the technical parameters and consumer properties of the liquid. It is accessible, safe to use and has a low price and good thermal conductivity and heat transfer. When the water level in the system decreases, its volume is easily replenished, and eliminating leaks does not require special skills. Among the disadvantages are:

Tendency to scale. It forms on the inner surface of heating devices due to salts dissolved in water and leads to a decrease in the flow diameter. As a result, circulation in the network deteriorates and heat transfer decreases.
Possibility of freezing. At temperatures below 0 °C, water becomes solid and expands, causing damage to batteries and pipelines.

What should a heating system be like, where the functions of the working medium are performed by water? Firstly, it cannot be left filled and disconnected from the heat source. This situation can arise in a private home due to a breakdown of the heating boiler, or in a central network due to a major accident at a heat distribution point. In addition, it is necessary to ensure that the water is prepared before filling the system, during which the chemical composition of the liquid is changed.

Advantages and disadvantages

When choosing antifreeze to fill into a radiator, you should select a special composition intended for these purposes. Antifreeze refers to a special liquid that does not freeze at low temperatures. Special solutions for heating circuits contain special impurities and additives that do not harm the radiator and maintain its stable operation.

Antifreeze is very durable, so this coolant can be used for quite a long time.

Among the negative aspects of antifreeze, several factors can be noted.

The thermal capacity of antifreeze is low. Such liquids are 115% inferior to water in this indicator.
To use this coolant in a radiator, a special pump is required to start the entire system, since fluids for heating circuits have a high viscosity. Therefore, they must be accelerated by a pump for the system to start working.
Antifreeze has high fluidity. For this reason, special attention should be paid to welds and connections on the radiator.
Some compounds are extremely toxic and harmful to human health.

Such toxic antifreezes should never be used in conjunction with hot water supply.

But despite the above-mentioned disadvantages of this type of coolant, it is perfect for use in aluminum circuits with an autonomous heating system.

The most popular brands of refrigerants

Today there are several brands that deserve attention from drivers. The following companies produce good auto chemicals for aluminum engines:

"Tosol-Sintez" A Russian company that produces antifreezes of the popular Felix line. There are four types of compounds that have different properties.
Liqui Moly. German manufacturer. The compositions from this company are very high quality and today are among the leaders in sales.
Motul. A French company that pays special attention to the biological safety of materials and the complete safety of users.
"Obninskorgsintez" A Russian brand engaged in the development and production of Sintec antifreeze.

Various antifreezes are popular in Russia. In addition to these, we can also highlight Long Life and Nord.

Types of antifreeze

Antifreeze has different properties depending on the content of various impurities in it.

Let's look at some of the most commonly used types of coolant.

Glycerol. This composition is practically non-toxic and harmless. It dissolves well and has a long service life in radiators. This composition does not cause harmful precipitation in the system.
Ethylene glycol compounds. This radiator filler should be handled with extreme caution, as it is very harmful and toxic. The advantage of this type of coolant is its low cost. Otherwise, this coolant is suitable for use in heating circuits. Such an admixture is usually used as a base for coolant.
Propylene glycol. Unlike the previous coolant, this type of radiator fluid has a fairly high cost. But otherwise, it has the most positive qualities - harmlessness to health, long service life, prevention of precipitation in the radiator.

In some situations, a simple radiator coolant can be made on your own. To do this, you need to mix distilled water with 40% ethyl alcohol. This composition is less viscous and is quite suitable for use in contours. But it is worth remembering the proportions. When temperatures drop to -10 degrees, you need to use about 20% ethyl alcohol in the total volume of the solution. At lower temperatures, for example, -23 degrees, you need to use a little more than 30% alcohol in the composition.

At such low temperatures, it is common to mix one liter of alcohol with three liters of water.

When should you not use antifreeze?

It is not possible to use a special coolant in all cases.

There are restrictions on the use of such formulations.

Antifreeze cannot be used in the heating circuit of electrolysis boilers.
The use of these coolants in open heating systems is strictly prohibited, since many compounds are toxic. This mainly applies to those compositions based on ethylene glycol, but glycerin or propylene glycol can be used in open systems.

What proportions to use

It is important to understand that to lower the freezing point it is necessary to increase the percentage of ethanol in the solution:

When the indicator drops to -10.6 degrees, ethyl alcohol must be present in an amount of at least 20.3%.
When the temperature drops to -23.6 ᶷ degrees, the share of ethanol increases to 33.8%.
At a temperature of -28.7 degrees, alcohol is added in a volume of 39% alcohol.
At a temperature of -34 degrees - 46.3%.

There are certain restrictions on the use of homemade and factory-made non-freezing coolants for bimetallic radiators:

It is strictly forbidden to use antifreeze in heating circuits with electrolysis boilers.
Antifreeze cannot be used in open heating systems. We are talking primarily about toxic ethylene glycol compounds.
It is not advisable to allow the liquid temperature to drop below -20 ᶷC. This significantly deteriorates the quality of the additives used, which provokes the formation of scale on the internal walls.
In systems with antifreeze, it is prohibited to use flax tow placed on the paint. Under the influence of ethyl alcohol, it quickly disintegrates, which leads to depressurization of the connection. It is best to use Unipak plumbing paste in such cases.
Antifreeze liquids have a destructive effect on galvanized elements.

How to fill coolant into an aluminum radiator?

Typically, many heating systems are made specifically taking into account the further use of antifreeze in them. The power of the boilers and the materials used in the system itself are planned. But this doesn't always happen. A situation often arises when you need to pour a special coolant into a radiator that previously used water. In this case, some recalculations related to the boiler power should be made.

And it is also strongly recommended that the pipes be thoroughly cleaned or completely replaced.