Water heating in a private house: rules, regulations and organization options

Here you will learn:

• Single pipe systems
• Single-pipe horizontal
• Single-pipe vertical
• Scheme "Leningradka"
• Two-pipe system with bottom wiring
• Two-pipe system with top wiring
• Beam system with collectors
• With forced and natural circulation

One of the stages of building a private house is the design and creation of a heating system. This is a difficult stage, since you need to not only design the heating, but also save on materials. An important factor is that the heating created must be efficient and economical. We create heating for a private house with our own hands - you can find wiring diagrams (the most basic) in our review.

There are many schemes for laying heating pipes in private households. Some of them are combined, which allows you to increase the efficiency of the system and achieve more uniform heating throughout the house. In our review we will consider only the most basic schemes:

• single-pipe horizontal circuit;
• single-pipe vertical design;
• "Leningradka" scheme;
• two-pipe system with bottom wiring;
• two-pipe system with top wiring;
• beam system with collectors;
• schemes with forced and natural circulation.

Let's look at the features of the presented schemes, and also discuss their advantages, disadvantages and installation features.

Single pipe systems

In single-pipe heating systems, the coolant passes sequentially through all radiators.

When creating heating for a private house with your own hands, the easiest way is to equip a single-pipe heating system. It has many advantages, such as cost-effective use of materials. Here we can save a lot on pipes and achieve heat delivery to every room. A single-pipe heating system provides for sequential delivery of coolant to each battery. That is, the coolant leaves the boiler, enters one battery, then another, then a third, and so on .

What happens in the last battery? Having reached the end of the heating system, the coolant turns around and is sent back to the boiler through a single pipe. What are the main advantages of such a scheme?

• Easy to install - you need to sequentially pass the coolant through the batteries and return it back.
• Minimum consumption of materials is the simplest and cheapest scheme.
• Low location of heating pipes - they can be mounted at floor level or completely lowered under the floors (this can increase the hydraulic resistance and require the use of a circulation pump).

There are also some disadvantages that you have to put up with:

• limited length of the horizontal section - no more than 30 meters;
• The farther from the boiler, the colder the radiators.

However, there are some technical tricks that can mitigate these shortcomings. For example, the length of horizontal sections can be dealt with by installing a circulation pump. It will also help make the last radiators warmer. Bypass jumpers on each radiator will also help compensate for the temperature drop. Let's now discuss certain types of single-pipe systems.

Air type heating

The basis of such heating is a boiler; unlike water heating, it heats the air. Thus, the convector acts as a heat source. Air ducts are drawn from it, so heat penetrates into the room. To heat a small house of 2 rooms, the heat of a generator is sufficient, without any additional additions.

The downside is the inconsistent heat and dry air.

Single-pipe horizontal

The simplest version of a single-pipe horizontal heating system with a bottom connection.

When creating a heating system for a private house with your own hands, a single-pipe wiring diagram may turn out to be the most profitable and cheapest. It is equally suitable for both one-story and two-story houses. In the case of a one-story house, it looks very simple - the radiators are connected in series - in order to ensure consistent flow of coolant . After the last radiator, the coolant is sent through a solid return pipe to the boiler.

Advantages and disadvantages of the scheme

First, we will look at the main advantages of the scheme:

• ease of implementation;
• excellent option for small houses;
• saving of materials.

A single-pipe horizontal heating circuit is an excellent option for small spaces with a minimum number of rooms.

The scheme is really very simple and understandable, so even a beginner can handle its implementation. It provides for a serial connection of all installed radiators. This is an ideal heating layout for a small private house . For example, if this is a one-room or two-room house, then “fencing” a more complex two-pipe system does not make much sense.

Looking at the photo of such a circuit, we can note that the return pipe here is solid, it does not pass through the radiators. Therefore, this scheme is more economical in terms of material consumption. If you don’t have extra money, this type of wiring will be the most optimal for you - it will save money and allow you to provide heat to your home.

As for the shortcomings, there are few of them. The main disadvantage is that the last radiator in the house will be colder than the very first one. This is due to the sequential passage of the coolant through the batteries, where it releases the accumulated heat into the atmosphere. Another disadvantage of a single-pipe horizontal circuit is that if one battery fails, the entire system will have to be turned off at once.

Despite certain disadvantages, this heating scheme continues to be used in many small private houses.

Features of installation of a single-pipe horizontal system

When creating water heating for a private house with your own hands, the scheme with single-pipe horizontal wiring will be the easiest to implement. During the installation process, it is necessary to mount the heating radiators, and then connect them with pipe sections. After connecting the very last radiator, it is necessary to turn the system in the opposite direction - it is advisable that the outlet pipe runs along the opposite wall.

A single-pipe horizontal heating circuit can also be used in two-story houses; each floor here is connected in parallel.

The larger your home, the more windows it has and the more radiators it has. Accordingly, heat losses also increase, as a result of which the last rooms become noticeably cooler. You can compensate for the temperature drop by increasing the number of sections on the latest radiators . But it is best to install a system with bypasses or with forced circulation of the coolant - we will talk about this a little later.

A similar heating scheme can be used to heat two-story houses. To do this, two chains of radiators are created (on the first and second floors), which are connected in parallel to each other. There is only one return pipe in this battery connection diagram; it starts from the last radiator on the first floor. The return pipe coming down from the second floor is also connected there.

About the heating system of a multi-storey building

Home heating system. as a rule, it is single-pipe; the spill is either upper or lower. As for the return and supply, they can be located in the basement, but it is possible that the return is in the basement and the supply is located in the attic. The movement of water in the risers can be parallel and go from top to bottom, or counter-movement and go from bottom to top (in this regard, what matters is what heating scheme was used in the house).

There are risers that are used with a counter coolant; they can also be a passing one. If the heating scheme of the house is exactly like this, then in any system there is a functioning heated towel rail riser (in this case, the system can have either an open water intake or a closed one).

The number of sections and size of heating radiators are very important. Such parameters must be determined through calculations as the water in the coolant cools

In this regard, there is one good piece of advice: if you want to replace the radiators with newer and more modern ones, then you should not use the services of friends, since you need to take into account the progress and cooling of the coolant. In this case, it is recommended to use the services of a house maintenance company, and you should not throw away the jumpers, since the company is interested in restoring them

Thus, it becomes clear that a multi-storey building is heated using a rather simple, but very effective system. However, if any failures occur, you should not carry out repairs yourself (especially if you do not have the appropriate training). In any case, you must definitely call the technicians from the service company, who, as a rule, fix all problems in the shortest possible time. Masters use the following tools:

• pipe (gas) wrench;
• adjustable wrench;
• pipe bender;
• crimping pliers.

With such tools, all problems are quickly eliminated.

Single-pipe vertical

How else can you heat two-story households with a single-pipe system? There really is an alternative - this is a single-pipe vertical heating system, which is used by many people who are looking for a suitable steam heating scheme in a private home. There are no difficulties in such a scheme; you just need to bring the supply pipe with the coolant to the second floor and connect the batteries located there, and then make branches down to the first floor .

Advantages and disadvantages of a single-pipe vertical scheme

As usual, let's start with the positive features:

In single-pipe vertical heating systems, the coolant flows from the radiator on the top floor to the lower floors.

• greater savings on materials;
• relatively equal air temperature on the first and second floors;
• ease of implementation.

The list of disadvantages is the same as the previous scheme. It included heat losses on the last radiators. And since our coolant is supplied through the upper floor, it can be cooler on the first floor than on the second .

The savings on materials are more than substantial. We only have one pipe going upstairs, from which the coolant is distributed to all the radiators on the second floor (not sequentially). From each upper radiator, pipes go down to the radiators on the ground floor, after which they end up in one common return pipe. Thus, this scheme involves minimal use of materials.

Features of installation of a single-pipe vertical system

When installing a vertical single-pipe system, you will receive as many chains as there are radiators on each floor.

In the previous gas heating scheme in a private house, the pipes sequentially bypassed the radiators on the first and second floors. That is, we got two parallel chains, each of which included several radiators . In the current scheme we also have chains, but they are vertical. For example, if there are four radiators on each floor, then we get four chains connected in parallel.

This scheme assumes one solid supply pipe passing along the top floor. Branches are made from it to each radiator. After passing through the upper radiators, the coolant flows to the lower radiators, and only after that into the return pipe passing along the first floor.

If in the first case the greatest heat losses were observed in the distant radiators of the first and second floors, then in this scheme it will be cooler on the first floor, since part of the heat will be consumed on the second floor.

A single-pipe vertical heating scheme for a private house with a gas boiler can be implemented without forced circulation of the coolant. The thing is that the temperature of the coolant supplied to the radiators on the second floor is the same. A drop in temperature is observed only on the first floor. But if we supplement the radiators with bypass jumpers, then the temperature change will be minimal - it can be neglected.

Thus, this circuit, supplemented by bypass jumpers, will become the most economical and inexpensive among any other circuits. Instead of a gas boiler, any other boiler can be used. The electric heating circuit of a private house is no different from gas heating (except in the type of boiler).

Features of heating an apartment in a multi-storey building

By carefully reading the instructions for the heating scheme of a multi-storey building, you can make sure that all norms and requirements must be observed.

Any apartment must have adequate heating, raising the air temperature to 22 degrees and maintaining indoor humidity within 40%.

The layout of the heating system of an apartment building provides for its proper installation, thanks to which it is possible to achieve such temperatures and humidity.

In the process of designing such a heating scheme, you should invite highly qualified specialists who will be able to accurately calculate all the necessary aspects for the work. They must ensure that uniform coolant pressure is maintained in the pipes. This pressure should be the same on both the first and last floors.

The main feature of a modern heating system for a multi-storey building is that it operates on superheated water. This coolant comes from the thermal power plant and has a very high temperature - 150C with a pressure of up to 10 atmospheres. Steam is generated in the pipes due to the fact that the pressure in them increases greatly, which also contributes to the transfer of heated water to the last houses of the high-rise building. Also, the heating scheme of a panel house assumes a considerable return temperature of 70C. During warm and cold seasons, water temperatures can vary greatly, so the exact values ​​will depend solely on the characteristics of the environment.

As you know, the temperature of the coolant in pipes installed in a multi-story building reaches 130C. But such hot batteries simply do not exist in modern apartments, and all because there is a supply line through which heated water passes, and the line is connected to the return line using a special jumper called an “elevator unit.”

The heating system of a multi-storey building, which is the most efficient, in any case should include the presence of an elevator unit.

This scheme has many features, since such a node is designed to perform certain functions. The high-temperature coolant must enter the elevator unit, which performs the main function of heat exchange. The water reaches a high temperature and, using high pressure, passes through the elevator to inject coolant from the return. In parallel, water from the pipeline is also supplied to recirculation, which occurs in the heating system.

This heating scheme for a 5-storey building is the most effective, therefore it is actively installed in modern multi-storey buildings.

This is what heating looks like in an apartment building, the scheme of which provides for the presence of an elevator unit. On it you can see many valves, which play an important role in heating and uniform heat supply.

As a rule, such valves can be adjusted manually without any problems. But valve adjustment, as a rule, is carried out only by highly qualified specialists who work in government services.

When installing heating in an apartment building, the scheme should also provide for the presence of such valves at all possible points so that in the event of an emergency it is possible to shut off the flow of hot water or reduce the pressure. This is also facilitated by various collectors and other equipment that operates automatically. Therefore, this technique provides greater heating performance and efficiency of its supply to the top floors.

A large number of multi-storey buildings have single-pipe heating systems that require bottom wiring. It is worth noting that the design of the high-rise building itself and many other aspects that may affect the heating scheme are also taken into account.

Depending on these aspects, the coolant can be supplied either from top to bottom or from bottom to top. Some houses have special risers that act as a supplier of hot water up and cold water down. Therefore, in many apartments, cast iron batteries are installed, which are very resistant to temperature changes.

Scheme "Leningradka"

The Leningradka heating system is an improved single-pipe system.

Both considered schemes have one common drawback - a drop in temperature in the last radiators. In the case of a horizontal circuit, we have cold radiators in horizontal chains, and in the case of a vertical circuit, in vertical chains. That is, in the latter case it is the entire first floor.

The Leningradka heating circuit in a private house allows you to compensate for the cooling of the coolant when passing through the next radiator . How is it implemented? This circuit provides bypass jumpers located under the batteries. What do they give? The jumpers allow you to direct part of the coolant bypassing the radiators, so the coolant at the outlet is as warm as at the inlet (minor deviations can be neglected).

Advantages and disadvantages of the Leningradka scheme

Leningradka promotes more uniform heating of rooms.

Each scheme has its own advantages and disadvantages. What are the advantages of the Leningradka scheme?

• More even heat distribution throughout the house.
• Relatively simple upgrade.
• Possibility of adjusting the temperature in individual rooms (as in two-pipe systems).

Single-pipe heating is not perfect, so the Leningradka scheme allows you to compensate for some of its shortcomings. But she has negative features:

• limited length of the line - if there are many radiators in a horizontal chain, then there will still be losses ;
• the need to use large diameter pipes for more uniform heat distribution.

The last drawback can be eliminated by installing a circulation pump in the system.

Features of installation of "Leningradka"

Connection options for Leningradka in a single-pipe vertical circuit.

When creating heating systems for private houses with their own hands, many people actively use the Leningradka scheme. How is it laid? To create a circuit, it is necessary to place radiators and lay a pipe under them, from which branches are made to the inlets and outlets of the radiators. That is, a jumper is formed under each radiator. In addition, we can install three taps on each radiator - the first two taps are installed at the inputs and outputs, and the third is installed on the jumper itself. What does this give?

• Taps can be used to regulate the temperature in individual rooms.
• The ability to exclude any radiator without shutting down the entire system (for example, if one radiator is leaking and needs to be replaced).

Thus, the “Leningradka” scheme is the optimal scheme for small one-story and two-story houses - you can save on materials and achieve uniform heat distribution throughout the rooms.

Criteria for choosing boilers: what to look for

The main criterion for choosing a heater is the type of fuel on which the boiler will operate. There are several options:

1. Gas equipment – ​​classic or condensing boiler.
2. Electrical – heating element or electrode.
3. Solid fuel – Classic (wood, coal, briquettes), pyrolysis, long-burning boiler.
4. Diesel - classic, condensing (like gas).

A gas boiler

Electric boiler

Solid fuel heater

Diesel equipment
It is necessary to clearly calculate the area of ​​the heated premises to calculate the required power. If there is a large amount of space, it is better to choose a boiler with two circuits - this will allow you to evenly distribute the load on the heater and ultimately obtain uniform heat distribution.

Two-pipe system with bottom wiring

Next, we will consider two-pipe systems, characterized by the fact that they ensure uniform heat distribution even throughout the largest households with many rooms. It is the two-pipe system that is used for heating multi-storey buildings, in which there are a lot of apartments and non-residential premises - here this scheme works great . We will consider schemes for private houses.

Two-pipe heating system with bottom wiring.

A two-pipe heating system consists of supply and return pipes. Radiators are installed between them - the radiator inlet is connected to the supply pipe, and the outlet is connected to the return pipe. What does this give?

• Uniform heat distribution throughout the rooms.
• Possibility of adjusting the temperature in the rooms by completely or partially closing individual radiators.
• Possibility of heating multi-storey private houses.

There are two main types of two-pipe systems - with bottom and top wiring. First, we will look at a two-pipe system with bottom wiring.

Bottom wiring is used in many private homes, as it makes heating less visible. The supply and return pipes pass here next to each other, under the radiators or even in the floors. Air is removed through special Mayevsky taps. Heating schemes in a private house made of polypropylene most often provide for just such wiring.

Advantages and disadvantages of a two-pipe system with bottom wiring

When installing heating with bottom wiring, we can hide the pipes in the floor.

Let's see what positive features two-pipe systems with bottom wiring have.

• Possibility of masking pipes.
• The ability to use radiators with bottom connections makes installation somewhat easier.
• Heat losses are minimized.

The opportunity to at least partially make heating less visible attracts many people. In the case of bottom wiring, we get two parallel pipes running flush with the floor . If desired, they can be placed under the floors, having provided for this possibility at the stage of designing the heating system and developing a project for the construction of a private house.

If you use radiators with bottom connections, it becomes possible to almost completely hide all the pipes in the floors - the radiators are connected here using special units.

As for the disadvantages, they are the need for regular manual removal of air and the need to use a circulation pump.

Features of installing a two-pipe system with bottom wiring

Plastic fasteners for heating pipes of different diameters.

In order to install a heating system according to this scheme, it is necessary to lay supply and return pipes throughout the house. For these purposes, there is a special plastic fastener on sale. If radiators with a side connection are used, we make a branch from the supply pipe to the upper side hole, and take the coolant through the lower side hole, directing it to the return pipe. We install air vents next to each radiator. The boiler in this scheme is installed at the lowest point.

It uses a diagonal connection of radiators, which increases their heat transfer. Bottom connection of radiators reduces thermal output.

This circuit is most often made closed, using a sealed expansion tank . The pressure in the system is created using a circulation pump. If you need to heat a two-story private house, we lay pipes on the upper and lower floors, after which we create a parallel connection of both floors to the heating boiler.

The optimal location for installing the circulation pump

Although the Internet is replete with a lot of information on this topic, the average user is not always able to decide on the optimal scheme for connecting the circulation pump to the heating system. The reason is the contradictory nature of the information provided, which is why heated discussions constantly arise on thematic forums.

Proponents of installing the device exclusively on the return pipeline cite the following arguments in defense of their position:

• A higher temperature of the coolant in the supply compared to the return provokes a significant reduction in the service life of the pump.
• The hot water inside the supply line is less dense, which creates additional difficulties in pumping it.
• In the return pipeline, the coolant has a high static pressure, which facilitates the operation of the pump.

Often, such a conviction also comes from accidentally seeing where the circulation pump for heating is installed in traditional boiler houses: there the pumps are, indeed, sometimes connected to the return line. At the same time, in other boiler houses, centrifugal pumps can be installed on supply pipes.

The arguments against each of the above arguments in favor of installation on the return pipe are as follows:

1. The resistance of household circulation pumps to coolant temperature usually reaches +110 degrees, while inside autonomous heating systems the water rarely heats up above +70 degrees. As for boilers, they output a coolant temperature of approximately +90 degrees.
2. Water at a temperature of +50 degrees has a density of 988 kg/m³, and at +70 degrees – 977.8 kg/m³. For devices that create a pressure of 4-6 m of water column and are capable of pumping approximately a ton of coolant in 1 hour, such a tiny difference in density of 10 kg/m³ (capacity of a 10-liter canister) does not play a significant role.
3. The actual difference in the static pressure of the coolant inside the supply and return is also minimal.

As a conclusion, we can say that the connection diagram for the circulation pump may involve its installation on both the return and supply pipes of the heating circuit. This or that option of where to install the circulation pump in the heating system does not have a significant impact on its level of performance and efficiency. The exception is the use of inexpensive solid fuel direct combustion boilers, which do not have automation. Since burning fuel in such heaters cannot be quickly extinguished, this often provokes boiling of the coolant. If the heating pump was connected to the supply pipe, this allows the resulting steam, along with hot water, to enter the housing with the impeller.

Further events unfold as follows:

• The device sharply reduces its productivity, since its impeller is not able to move gases. This provokes a decrease in the coolant circulation rate.
• There is a decrease in the cooling water entering the boiler tank. As a result, the device overheats even more, and steam production increases.
• After the volume of steam reaches critical values, it enters the impeller. After this, the circulation of the coolant completely stops: an emergency situation occurs. The pressure in the system increases, causing the activated safety valve to release clouds of steam inside the boiler room.
• If you do not extinguish the firewood, then at some stage the valve will not cope with the increasing pressure. As a result, there is a real danger of a boiler explosion.

Cheap heat generators made of thin metal are usually equipped with safety valves with a response threshold of 2 bar. Better quality boilers can withstand pressure surges of up to 3 bar. Based on experience, it can be said that between the onset of overheating and the time when the valve operates, approximately 5 minutes pass.

If the installation scheme of the circulation pump in the heating system involves its installation on the return pipe, then this protects the device from direct exposure to water vapor. As a result, the period of time before an accident increases (by almost 15 minutes). That is, this does not prevent an explosion, but only gives additional time to take emergency measures to eliminate the resulting system overload. Therefore, when looking for a place to install a heating pump, in cases with the simplest wood-burning boilers, it is better to choose a return pipeline for this. Modern automated pellet heaters can be installed in any convenient area.

Two-pipe system with top wiring

In a two-pipe heating system with overhead wiring, the expansion tank is placed at the highest point.

This two-pipe scheme is very similar to the previous one, only here it is provided for the installation of an expansion tank at the very top of the system, for example, in an insulated attic or under the ceiling . From there, the coolant goes down to the radiators, gives them part of its heat, and then is sent through the return pipe to the heating boiler.

Why is such a scheme needed? It is optimal in multi-storey buildings with a large number of radiators. Thanks to this, more uniform heating is achieved, and there is no need to install a large number of air vents - the air will be removed through the expansion tank or through a separate bleeder that is part of the safety group.

Advantages and disadvantages of a two-pipe system with top wiring

There are a lot of positive features:

• it is possible to heat multi-storey buildings;
• saving on air vents;
• you can create a system with natural coolant circulation.

There are also some disadvantages:

Using vertical wiring will lead to additional difficulties when installing hidden heating.

• pipes are visible everywhere - this scheme is not suitable for interiors with expensive finishing, where elements of heating systems are usually hidden ;
• in tall buildings it is necessary to resort to forced circulation of the coolant.

Despite the disadvantages, the scheme remains quite popular and widespread.

Features of installation of two-pipe systems with top wiring

This scheme eliminates the need to locate the heating boiler at the lowest point. Immediately after the boiler, the supply pipe is diverted upward, and an expansion tank is installed at the highest point. Coolant is supplied to the radiators from above, so a lateral or diagonal radiator connection scheme is used here. After this, the cooled coolant is sent to the return pipe.

Boiler installation instructions

Strict requirements are put forward only for the installation of gas-powered heaters. But we recommend following these rules when installing any heat generators:

1. Equipment with a power of up to 60 kW can be placed in a kitchen with ceilings of 2.5 m (minimum). More powerful units are moved to a technical room - internal, attached or free-standing.
2. The requirement for furnace ventilation is threefold air exchange, that is, the amount of supply and exhaust air is equal to three volumes of the room in 1 hour. The kitchen window is equipped with a window.
3. When placing a floor-standing boiler, observe the minimum technological passages - 1.25 m in front, 60 cm on the side, 250 mm in the back from the nearest building structure, as shown in the photo.

   

4. The distances from the wall-mounted heat generator to the walls or cabinets are 20 cm on the side, 45 cm on the top, 300 mm on the bottom. Before hanging, a protective sheet of roofing steel is laid on the wooden wall.

   

5. The height of the chimney is 5 m, calculated from the grate or gas burner, not from the ground. The head of the pipe should not fall into the wind support zone of the roof.
6. The maximum number of turns of the chimney is 3, the distance from the chimney to combustible structures is 0.5 m.

Clarification. Double-walled sandwich-type chimneys can be placed at a distance of 38 cm from wooden walls and ceilings.

The heat generator piping depends on the fuel consumed. High efficiency boilers - gas, diesel - are connected to the system directly through shut-off valves. Floor-standing versions are additionally equipped with an external expansion tank and pump.

Typical wiring diagram for a double-circuit wall-mounted heat generator

Solid fuel units must be protected from cold return flow and condensation; accordingly, a small boiler circuit with a three-way mixing valve is provided. Please note: the pump is always installed inside the circuit, on the supply or return line - it makes no difference. Detailed wiring diagrams are shown in the instructions for connecting TT boilers.

Important! In a closed system operating under pressure, there is always a safety group - a pressure gauge, an automatic air vent and a safety valve. The installation point is the supply pipe at the boiler outlet. To prevent dirt and sand from getting inside the heat exchanger, a filter - a mud filter - is placed on the return line in front of the heater.

Beam system with collectors

Radiant heating system using a collector.

This is one of the most modern schemes, which involves laying an individual line to each heating device . To do this, collectors are installed in the system - one collector is the supply, and the other is the return. Separate straight pipes diverge from the collectors to the batteries. This scheme allows for flexible adjustment of heating system parameters. It also makes it possible to connect heated floors to the system.

The radial wiring diagram is actively used in modern homes. The supply and return pipes here can be laid in any way - most often they go in the floors, after which they are suitable for one or another heating device. To regulate the temperature and turn on/off heating appliances, small distribution cabinets are installed in the house.

According to heating engineers, this scheme is ideal, since each heating device operates from its own mains and is almost independent of other heating devices.

Advantages and disadvantages of beam systems

There are many positive qualities:

• the ability to completely hide all pipes in the walls and floors;
• convenient system setup;
• possibility of creating remote separate adjustment;
• minimum number of connections - they are grouped in distribution cabinets;
• it is convenient to repair individual elements without interrupting the operation of the entire system;
• almost perfect heat distribution.

When installing a radiant heating system, all pipes are hidden in the floor, and the collectors are hidden in a special cabinet.

There are also a couple of disadvantages:

• high cost of the system - this includes the costs of equipment and installation costs;
• difficulty in implementing the scheme in an already built house - usually this scheme is laid out at the stage of creating a home ownership project .

If you still have to put up with the first drawback, then there is no escape from the second.

Features of installation of radiant heating systems

At the project creation stage, niches are provided for laying heating pipes, and installation points for distribution cabinets are indicated. At a certain stage of construction, pipes are laid, cabinets with collectors are installed, heating devices and boilers are installed, a test run of the system is carried out and it is checked for leaks. It is best to entrust all this work to professionals, since this scheme is the most complex.

Despite its complexity, a radiant heating system with collectors is one of the most convenient and efficient. It is used not only in private homes, but also in other buildings, for example, in offices.

What are the requirements for autonomous heating?

There are few requirements for autonomous water heating systems. We note the availability of the fuel used, economical operation and reliability of the system. Compactness is also not in last place. Heating must perform functions with a high percentage of efficiency.

A properly installed circuit will ensure a comfortable temperature in the home.

Let's translate it into simple language. The fuel used to heat the coolant (water) should be cheaper than other types. It is different for each region. In one village firewood is more accessible, in another there is coal, and in a third there is natural gas. What nuances should be taken into account:

1. Economical to operate. Let's return to insulating the walls of the house: there are no heat leaks - fuel savings are evident.
2. Reliability of the heating system. If circulation stops, it takes time to restart it. The coolant cools down, and heating leads to excessive consumption of firewood, gas, and coal.
3. Compactness. When installing water heating, the “golden mean” is calculated. There is too little coolant - the system will not warm the house. Otherwise, there will be excessive fuel consumption and slow heating.

Piping heating systems can be quite complex

With forced and natural circulation

All the schemes presented above can be created on the basis of heating boilers of any type. For example, a stove heating scheme for a private house is built on the basis of a wood or coal stove, and pipe routing can be carried out according to almost any of the schemes described above. True, it would not hurt to add forced circulation to many of them. What is it for?

The main difference between a system with forced circulation of coolant and a system with natural circulation is the circulation pump.

As we remember, single-pipe heating systems are characterized by a decrease in coolant temperature as it moves away from the boiler - part of the heat remains in the radiators. These losses are partially compensated by the Leningradka scheme, but in some cases this is not enough. In order to correct the situation, a circulation pump is installed in the heating system, providing forced circulation of the coolant .

Forced circulation is also necessary in many other schemes, including two-pipe ones. The thing is that the small diameter of modern polypropylene pipes, numerous connections and turns create hydraulic resistance. In addition, the use of forced ventilation allows for faster heating of households.

Advantages and disadvantages of forced and natural circulation

Each system has its own advantages and disadvantages:

When heating a room with a large number of radiators, a circulation pump is simply necessary.

• natural circulation is simpler and cheaper - there are no costs for circulation pumps;
• forced circulation makes it possible to improve heating performance in large buildings - in some cases you can get by with natural circulation, but then the system warm-up time increases;
• forced circulation is characterized by a slight hum – natural circulation is completely silent.

That is, everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

Types of boilers and other water heating devices

The efficiency of heating in a private house depends on the installation that heats the working fluid (water). A correctly selected unit generates the amount of heat required for radiators and an indirect heating boiler (if available), economically consuming energy.

An autonomous water system can be powered by:

• a hot water boiler that uses a specific fuel - natural gas, firewood, coal, diesel fuel;
• electric boiler;
• wood-burning stoves with a water circuit (metal or brick);
• heat pump.

Addition. There are combined types of heaters that simultaneously combine 2-3 energy carriers, for example, coal - natural gas, wood - electricity (one copy is shown below in the photo). There are also universal boilers where you can install a diesel nozzle, gas or pellet burner - your choice.

Most often, boilers - gas, electric and solid fuel - are used to organize heating in cottages. The latter are manufactured only in floor-standing versions, the rest of the heat generators are wall-mounted and stationary. Diesel units are used less frequently, the reason being the high price of fuel. How to choose the right domestic hot water boiler is discussed in a detailed guide.

Stove heating combined with water registers or modern radiators is a good solution for heating a summer house, garage and small residential house with an area of ​​50-100 m². The disadvantage is that the heat exchanger placed inside the stove heats the water uncontrollably. To avoid boiling, it is important to ensure forced circulation in the system.

Reference. Previously, such schemes were made by gravity - without a pump, with an open expansion tank. Registers and mains were welded from steel pipes with a diameter of 40...80 mm (internal), laid with a slope of 3-5 mm per 1 m for better gravity flow. The heating was called steam because the system was not afraid of boiling.

A modern gravity system without a pumping unit, powered by the water circuit of a brick kiln.
Heat pumps are not widespread in the countries of the former Union. Causes:

• the main problem is the high cost of equipment;
• due to the cold climate, air-water devices are simply ineffective;
• geothermal systems "earth - water" are difficult to install;
• electronic units and compressors of heat pumps are very expensive to repair and maintain.

Due to the high price, the payback period for the units exceeds 15 years. But the efficiency of the installations (3-4 kW of heat per 1 kilowatt of electricity expended) attracts craftsmen who are trying to assemble home-made analogues from old air conditioners.

How to make the simplest version of a heat pump with your own hands, watch the video: