Heating with polypropylene pipes in a private house and apartment

The heating of private houses and city apartments has always received increased attention, since the health and well-being of people living in them depends on the room temperature. When preparing the part of the project concerning the characteristics and material of heating pipes, the possibility of choosing the optimal solution that meets the requirements of the standards is taken into account. Polypropylene pipes for heating are one of the options for arranging piping, which in modern conditions is preferred by many users.

Pros and cons of polypropylene pipes

Household systems that use polypropylene (PP) heating pipes have a number of advantages:

• reliability of the connection formed during installation;
• the use of the thermal welding method makes it possible to make a solid monolithic joint, which does not differ in its structure from the material of the product;
• for welding, a typical welding machine (soldering iron) is used, which anyone can learn to work with;
• the whole welding procedure takes a few minutes;
• the material is highly resistant to freezing of the carrier.

The advantages include low cost and resistance to corrosive destruction. PP will be distinguished by ease and simplicity of installation.

Polypropylene for heating has a number of disadvantages, which are manifested in the following:

• the linear expansion index is 2.5 mm per unit of length (running meter);
• installation of pipes is allowed only in an open way in order to be able to control the condition of the joints;
• brazing of propylene pipes (PPT), despite its seeming simplicity, is a very important operation, leading to rejects at the slightest deviation from technology.

When choosing this material, it is important to take into account all the features of its application and correctly plan further actions.

Varieties of PPT

PPTs reinforced with special aluminum foil were the first to use for heating, which caused a rise in the cost of the finished product. Over time, pipes reinforced with fiberglass appeared, gradually replacing analogs with aluminum.

Aluminum reinforcement

Aluminum foil in tubular products is used as a compensator for expansion during heating, and also acts as a diffusion barrier. Usually it is located closer to the surface, but in some models, the protective layer is arranged in the depths of the walls. Before proceeding with the formation of a joint in the joint zone, it will be necessary to thoroughly clean the pipe blank.

In products where aluminum foil is located closer to the middle of the wall, after stripping it becomes so thin that the connection is of poor quality. Therefore, when choosing PPR pipes for heating a house, equipped with aluminum foil, it is preferable to have a sample in which the reinforcing layer is located closer to the front surface.

Glass fiber reinforcement

When using fiberglass-reinforced polypropylene pipe blanks, it is important to take into account some of the nuances. Fiberglass, as a rather unstable material, has the property of breaking under load. Sometimes it is enough to drop the workpiece on the concrete floor to permanently damage its protective layer.

It is not recommended to use such pipes in places where the temperature drops to very low values. Under such conditions, the fiber becomes brittle and easily breaks with minor deformations.

Fiberglass is a good option, but you should be very careful when using it, both during soldering and when laying the material.

Criteria for choosing pipes for heating

Before you equip heating in a private house with your own hands from polypropylene, you should understand the rules and criteria for choosing suitable pipeline elements for this. When choosing the right sample, the following factors are taken into account:

• the standard size of the pipe (its diameter);
• power of the heating boiler and the class of fuel used;
• volumes of heated premises (their exact dimensions).

It is also important to determine which heating system is used and the method of laying the circuits: open or closed. For each of these options, a specific type of pipe is selected. The closed version is most often found when installing the underfloor heating system on a screed. At the same time, ordinary heating pipes are often reliably hidden in the wall so as not to disrupt the appearance of the rooms. When choosing pipeline elements, the type of coolant circulation is also taken into account. The differences are expressed in their ability to withstand additional pressure with a pump. With the natural movement of the carrier, less attention is paid to the wall thickness of the tubular products.

DIY heating from PPT

To equip heating in private houses from polypropylene pipes with your own hands, you will first need to prepare consumables and tools, including a soldering iron and connecting fittings. To get a reliable system in operation, a number of conditions will need to be met before installation:

• the main attention during the work is paid to the laying of the thermal circuit;
• previously prepared fittings and a set of tees should be selected by size;
• the welding machine must have a nozzle corresponding to the diameter of the working pipes and fittings.

Before starting the fusion of the base contour, it is recommended to practice on unnecessary workpieces.

In a one-story private house, it is recommended to install heating based on polypropylene pipes yourself in the following sequence:

1. A diagram or drawing of the pipeline layout is being prepared.
2. The footage is calculated for one-pipe or two-pipe wiring, and then fittings of the required size are selected.
3. The pipes selected in accordance with the parameters and scheme are cut using special scissors.
4. The soldering iron is placed on a horizontal plane, after which its working head heats up to 260 degrees.

The working parts of the fitting and pipes are degreased with white spirit, and then put on the heating element of the soldering iron, followed by melting the tips. After some exposure, the parts are removed from the heater head, two mating elements are inserted into one another. After about 10-15 seconds, the weld point turns into a solid and completely sealed monolith.

The heating time of pipe billets and fittings depends on their thickness, as well as on the presence or absence of metal and fiberglass protective coatings and a number of other factors. All the necessary data on the order of soldering PP products are given in the instruction manual for the soldering machine. Here you can also find the heating time of the products. To do this, you will need to pay attention to the brand markings. In order for the resulting joint to be of high quality, you need to familiarize yourself with the technical characteristics.

Connection diagram

Before proceeding with the arrangement of the polypropylene heating system in the house with your own hands, you will need to decide on a wiring diagram, which can be single-circuit or double-circuit. Since in a private building there are no conditions for the natural movement of the carrier, the injection pump will have to be turned on in the system. In this case, you will need to select the appropriate type of PP pipes that can withstand the increased pressure in a double-circuit wiring with forced circulation.

In the diagram, you need to indicate the position of the individual elements of the control and measuring equipment serving the heating.

It will be possible to obtain an effective and reliably operating system made on the basis of polypropylene pipes only if all the requirements and rules for installation and operation are met.