During the professional design of a heating system, three main factors must be taken into account: the nominal power, the installation scheme of the devices and their adjustment. To solve the last problem, it is necessary to use special fittings, as well as devices for changing the temperature regime in a specific section of the circuit. How is the adjustment of the heating system of houses and apartments carried out correctly: taps, radiators, batteries?
Heating system adjustment methods
There are several ways to change the characteristics of the heat supply. Timely hydraulic adjustment of the heating system is necessary to stabilize the pressure in certain areas and the entire circuit as a whole. Temperature correction serves as a tool for changing the degree of heating of the air in a particular room. Most often, a tap is used for this to adjust the heating temperature.
All of the above characteristics largely depend on the operation of the boiler. However, to normalize system parameters, additional components must be installed. Depending on the function, they are divided into the following types:
- Temperature... They are used to partially or completely shut off the coolant flow in radiators or in a separate circuit. With the help of taps, a thermostat or mixing units, the heating batteries in the apartment are adjusted;
- Pressure... Temperature differences between flow and return can cause pressure surges. This will imbalance the system, which will impair its performance. To eliminate this problem, hydraulic switches are mounted, as they do collector piping.
In practice, timely adjustment of valves on radiators reduces energy costs. Also, using the adjusting fittings, you can change the degree of heating of the air in the room.
The actual performance of the heating system must match the calculated one. In this way, the number of adjusting elements can be reduced.
Types of regulators
Heating control in an apartment building or private cottage is carried out using special devices. They are installed in certain areas of the system and can operate in automatic or manual mode. They are installed on radiators, mixing units and manifolds.
Before choosing a specific model, it is necessary to find out the optimal way to change the temperature regime for the pressure in the system. Depending on the internal device, heating radiators in an apartment can be adjusted in two ways:
- Partial overlap of the coolant volume into the battery. For this, taps and thermostats are installed;
- Mixing streams of hot and cooled water to form a heat carrier with the desired temperature. This is done using mixing units in which two and three-way valves are mounted.
A full adjustment of the heating system of a private house can be carried out only after a careful study of the devices of these components.
Heating control valves
The easiest way to change the temperature regime of the batteries is to install shut-off valves. With its help, the heating taps in the apartment or house are adjusted. Depending on the design, they can perform two functions - the operative shutdown of the coolant flow during repair work or the regulation of hot water into the battery.
Ball valves are not designed to change the flow volume of the coolant. Therefore, it is not possible to adjust the temperature of the radiator with their help. To do this, it is necessary to use another crane model - a cone valve. In it, with the help of a rod, the bore diameter on the line section is changed.
Installing a cone valve is a cheap mechanism for changing the temperature in a radiator. However, along with this, its operation has several disadvantages:
- Manual mode of operation. When changing the degree of water heating in the pipes, in order to decrease or increase the flow of heat for the radiator, it is necessary to independently adjust the position of the rod;
- It is recommended to install a thermometer to take temperature readings in the radiator;
- Over time, the rubber pad will become thinner, resulting in breakage.
Currently, it is not practiced to adjust the temperature of a heating radiator using taps. To do this, use other mechanisms with a significantly larger set of functions.
A so-called servo drive can be mounted on an already installed cone valve. It will change the position of the stem automatically depending on the temperature in the room or in the heating system.
Heating thermostats
It is best if the temperature of the heating radiator is regulated in automatic and semi-automatic modes. This function is performed by thermostats - devices for changing the volume of water flow into the battery.
Most often, direct-acting thermostats are used to strap a radiator. Structurally, they are similar to the above taps with one exception - the position of the stem changes automatically depending on the temperature of hot water.
This heating temperature control system consists of a mechanical part and a sensing element. The functions of the latter can be performed by paraffin or any liquid with a high degree of thermal expansion. As the temperature rises, the sensing block pushes against the valve seat, thereby initiating stem lowering. The response temperature is regulated by a spring connected to the thermostatic element.
The advantage of such an adjustment of the heating batteries in the apartment lies in the automatic operation of the device. The user just needs to set the required level of heating of the radiator on the thermostat. But besides this, you need to know the specifics of adjusting apartment heating radiators:
- In the overwhelming case, thermostats do not have the function of connecting to external temperature sensors. Their work does not depend on the degree of heating of the air in the room, which can cause certain discomfort;
- After long periods of inactivity, the valve seat is fixed in the body. To eliminate it, you must manually lower and raise the stem;
- Each model of the thermostat is designed for a specific temperature mode of operation.
Despite the apparent advantages of thermostats over adjusting taps on heating radiators, they cannot greatly affect the change in the degree of heating of the batteries. Other devices perform this function.
For full operation, the radiators in its piping, in addition to the thermostat, must have a Mayevsky crane to eliminate air congestion.
Heating control actuators
Another type of thermostat has great functionality - a servo drive.It can be installed to regulate heating taps in an apartment with already installed fittings. In fact, the servo drive performs the functions of changing the position of the stem on the valve depending on external factors - the temperature of the coolant or the degree of heating of the air in the room.
Unlike a thermostat, most servo models have a built-in temperature sensor. But this is not a disadvantage, since for a comprehensive regulation of heating in an apartment building, several devices can be connected to one thermometer. Thus, the flow control of the coolant volume will be carried out in all radiators at once. Additionally, servo drives are used to complete the following heating components:
- In the collector group of a warm floor. They are part of a heating temperature control system in a private house, complete with a two or three-way valve;
- Connecting to a daily or weekly programmer will make it possible to automate the heating operation.
In addition, servo drives are installed in any areas of the heating system, where it is necessary to automatically regulate the volume of the coolant inflow.
To regulate the temperature in the radiator using servo drives, an additional temperature sensor must be installed. Therefore, most often, preference is given to thermostats.
Features of installation and maintenance of regulators
After choosing the optimal model of the thermostat or valve for adjusting the heating temperature, they should be correctly installed. The location of the reinforcement directly depends on its function and design.
Most often, the regulation components are mounted in the piping of a specific heating radiator. They are installed on the supply pipe or on the bypass. At the same time, for comfortable regulation of the temperature of the heating batteries, it is recommended to adhere to the following rules:
- The device should not be covered with decorative panels or other interior items;
- The service life of thermostats largely depends on the quality of the coolant. Therefore, a mesh filter should be installed in front of it, which will protect the valve seat from limescale;
- When installing the heating temperature control valve, follow the installation diagram. On the body of the device, arrows show the direction of movement of the coolant;
- Many thermostats and servos are connected to the mains. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a power supply to them.
Before installing and further adjusting heating batteries in an apartment, you must read the manufacturer's instructions. It prescribes the installation conditions for the operation of a specific control element.
One of the important indicators of apartment heating control valves is the maximum and minimum throughput. They must correspond to the current parameters of the system.
Maintenance of regulators and valves
After installation, preliminary adjustment of the valves on the heating radiators should be carried out. For this, the temperature mode of operation and the pressure in the system must be normal. Then, by changing the degree of heating of the coolant, the operation of the control valves is checked. The system is tested in several modes. Alas, it will not work to independently adjust heating in an apartment-type house according to this scheme, since consumers do not have the opportunity to change the degree of heating of the coolant.
In fact, the operability of a particular element can be checked only when the district heating is started. Those. correct adjustment of heating radiators in the apartment is carried out during the heating season.
During the start-up of the heat supply system, the heating system of a private house must be completely adjusted. It should include the following steps:
- Checking the performance of taps and thermostats;
- Compliance of their actual parameters with passport data;
- If, during the control adjustment of the heating degree of the heating batteries, a faulty element is detected, it must be replaced.
In addition, it must be remembered that a number of external factors affect the operation of the system: the degree of thermal insulation of the house, the climatic characteristics of a particular region. This must also be taken into account when adjusting the temperature of the radiator.
The video material shows an example of organizing the regulation of heating radiators in a house:
