Leningrad heating system diagram

The Leningradka heating system is a popular, economical and uncomplicated way of heating small areas. This method has been known since the times of the USSR and is still used today. Suitable for installation in buildings with one or two floors. You can make a one-pipe heating scheme yourself. To do this, you need to understand the principles of operation, basic technical characteristics and installation technology.

Operating principle

The classic system "Leningradka" is a set of heating devices that are connected by a single pipeline. A coolant circulates along the entire circuit, in the role of which water or antifreeze acts. When new heating equipment appeared, the system was improved, made manageable and expanded its functionality.

Depending on how the pipeline is located, the heating circuit is divided into two groups:

• horizontal;
• vertical.

The arrangement of pipes can be upper and lower. In the first case, the heat transfer efficiency is higher, but installation is more difficult. It is easier to install the system at the bottom, and it is imperative to install the pump.

The circulation of the heat carrier in the circuit can be carried out in two ways - natural and forced with the help of a pump. Also, systems are closed and open.

The recommended number of heating devices when installing the Leningradka system is 5. This value can be increased to 6-7, having previously performed the appropriate calculations. Installing more radiators will not be effective and the cost will be unreasonably high.

You can make heating in a private house "Leningradka" with your own hands. The assembly scheme, the choice of the type of circulation depend on the individual characteristics of the structure.

Advantages and disadvantages

The heating system "Leningradka" has its positive and negative sides. The pluses include:

• Simplicity of wiring diagram and installation. The volume of installation work has been significantly reduced. Installation can be done without the help of specialists.
• High efficiency.
• Profitability. The pipe consumption is 30% lower than that of other heating systems. In addition, there is no need to purchase expensive equipment.
• The introduction of adjusting elements (bypasses, ball valves) made it possible to improve the circuit and adjust the temperature regime in different rooms.
• The addition of new elements makes it easier to repair and replace without shutting down the entire heating system in the house.
• Versatility. The system can be used in one- and two-story houses. The difference in the schemes will be small.
• Reliability. The heating system will function smoothly.
• In a lower location in a building with one floor, pipes can be hidden in the floor. It is important to observe the measures of thermal insulation and tightness of the joints.

"Leningradka" has proven itself well in one-story buildings with a small area.

The main disadvantages include the complexity of the calculations. The number of sections, pipe diameters depend on many parameters, including the individual characteristics of the house, so there may be problems with the correct determination of the parameters. Difficulties also arise when balancing the system.To complete it, additional equipment and repair work may be required. The system cannot be installed in large apartment buildings due to its inefficiency.

It is important to take into account that the horizontal "Leningradka" does not provide an opportunity to connect underfloor heating or towel dryers.

Features of each scheme

Horizontal and vertical heating systems have their own characteristics and are used in different types of buildings. You need to familiarize yourself with them before choosing the right one.

Horizontal layout

In small one-storey houses, it is advisable to put exactly the horizontal scheme of "Leningradka". It is necessary to take into account in advance that all heating devices must be at the same level.

The simplest circuit consists of the following components:

• Heating boiler. It connects to the water supply and sewerage system. Gas, wood or electric can be used.
• Expanded tank with branch pipe. Required for an open system. Excess liquid flows out of the pipe, appearing when boiling in the boiler.
• Pump. Responsible for the circulation of the coolant along the circuit.
• Piping for hot water and removal of the cooled heat carrier.
• Radiators with Mayevsky taps. Needed to release excess air.
• Water filter. It allows you to collect small sharp particles that can damage the pipeline from the inside.
• Ball valves and bypasses. When one is opened, the circuit is filled with water, the second is a secret one for draining the water.

All batteries can be connected from below or diagonally connected. It is characterized by increased efficiency. The coolant enters from the top and exits from the back at the bottom.

This scheme has disadvantages. If repairs are necessary, you will have to completely turn off the entire heating system and drain the water. Also in the above diagram there is no possibility of adjusting the heat transfer of the batteries.

The above problems can be solved by applying an improved scheme with ball valves placed in the pipeline and bypasses with needle valves in the down pipe. These mechanisms make it possible to stop the supply of coolant to the radiator battery. If dismantling is required, it is not required to shut off the entire circuit, it is enough just to shut off the taps. The bypasses will circulate water through the down pipe. They also serve to regulate the amount of coolant in the radiator.

The closed horizontal system "Leningradka" with forced circulation works according to a different principle. Here, hot water or antifreeze is supplied through the collector pipe. She collects the cooled liquid and transfers it to the boiler for processing. With this arrangement, the entire system is under pressure due to the closed tank. In addition, there are controls and controls:

• Fuse. It is selected according to the technical characteristics of the boiler - pressure.
• Air outlet. Discharges excess air masses from the system.
• Pressure gauge. Allows you to regulate and measure the pressure in the circuit. The optimal value is 1.5 atmospheres, the figure may vary depending on the model. All data is written in the documentation for the system.

When using a horizontal system, it is possible to control and adjust parameters through automation.

Vertical layout

Vertical systems "Leningradka" are installed in two-storey houses with a small area. They are also open and closed with two types of circulation. Heating with a circulation pump works according to a similar algorithm.

The closed-type vertical circuit with natural circulation works as follows:

• The piping is installed at the top of the wall at a certain slope.
• The heat carrier is transferred from the boiler to the tank.
• From it, the floor by pressure moves water into pipes and radiators.

In this case, the boiler must be mounted below the level of the radiators, then the efficiency will be higher.

Natural and forced circulation

There are two systems for the movement of the coolant in the circuit - gravity and using a pump. They have a different principle of action, positive and negative features.

To organize the natural movement of water in the circuit, you need to do a difficult job of calculating the angles of inclination, the diameter of the pipes, the length of the water supply. The system must operate smoothly and efficiently in a one-story house. In buildings with a large number of floors, the scheme will be ineffective.

A system with natural circulation looks less aesthetically pleasing, since the dimensions of the pipes for its implementation are larger than when operating from a pump. In a room with a gravity circuit, there must be a basement in which the boiler will be installed. The tank is placed in a well-insulated attic.

Disadvantages of natural circulation:

• When installed in two-story houses, the batteries above heat better than on the lower floors. To partially eliminate the problem, taps and bypasses are installed. Radiators with an increased number of sections are also installed on the ground floor.
• Increase in the cost of the system. It is associated with an increase in the amount of consumables.
• Instability of work. The quality depends on the water pressure and other factors that do not affect the use of a circulation pump.
• Complexity of calculations. The smallest deviation from the norm can spoil the functionality of the entire system.

The gravity system is not suitable for installation in mansard-type houses. This is due to the impossibility of even positioning the pipe in the absence of a full-fledged roof.

The pump system is reliable and stable. Installation of such a scheme is easier, since it does not require precise calculations of the pipeline slope angles.

Installation features

Arrangement of the one-pipe system "Leningradka" requires careful calculation and execution. For its implementation, it is necessary to calculate in advance the dimensions of the pipes, the number of sections in the radiator, prepare the premises and do a number of other works.

The system consists of the following mandatory elements:

• boiler;
• pipeline;
• sections of heating batteries;
• expansion barrel;
• tees.

If the heating system "Leningradka" with forced circulation is organized, another pump will be required. To improve the possibilities, ball valves (2 pieces per one battery) and bypasses with a needle valve are used.

The main line can be mounted in the plane of the wall or along its surface. When you are inside walls, floors or ceilings, it is important to make high-quality thermal insulation. Otherwise, heat losses will increase and the temperature in the radiators will be lower. This is due to microcracks that form in the process of wall chasing.

The place of installation of the expansion tank and the boiler is selected in advance. The tank should be placed above the level of the radiators - for example, in the attic. The boiler is usually installed in the basement.

Choice of materials

The amount of heat in the radiator depends on the material of the pipes. Usually polypropylene or metal products are used.

Heating in a private house from polypropylene pipes "Leningradka" is easy to do with your own hands. It is important to consider that such pipes are not suitable for installation in houses located in the northern regions. This is due to the properties of the material. Polypropylene melts when it reaches + 95 ° C, which increases the risk of pipe rupture at maximum heat transfer from the system.

Metal products are more difficult to assemble, since components are required to be welded, but their quality and reliability are at a high level. They are ways to withstand high temperatures. They are distinguished by their durability.

The pipe diameter depends on the number of heaters. If 4-5 radiators are installed in the house, pipes with a diameter of 25 mm and a bypass of 20 mm are needed.With the number of batteries equal to 6-8, a 32 mm line and a 25 mm bypass are selected. In the case of creating a gravity system, pipes with a diameter of 40 mm or more are purchased. The size also depends on the number of batteries in the circuit.

When choosing the number of radiator sections, it is necessary to take into account how much heat this or that heating device will receive. The maximum efficiency will be noted in the first battery. In it, the water temperature drops by at least 20 ° C. The second radiator gets colder water, which lowers the efficiency. To compensate for heat losses, the number of radiator sections should be increased. For the first, 100% of the total capacity is taken into account, for the next already 110%, 120% and more.

Connecting elements and pipes to each other

Bypasses are built into the assembled line. They are manufactured separately with taps, the distance between which is calculated with an error of 2 mm. The backlash is allowed for trimming 1-2 mm. If this distance increases, the system may leak. To determine the exact dimensions in the radiator, the angle valves are turned out, the distance between the centers of the couplings is measured.

Tees need to be welded or connected to the branches. One hole must be provided for bypasses. The second is selected by the distance between the central axes of the bends.

Welding parts

Metal pipes are connected by welding. For this, the master must have special equipment and skills to work with it. Otherwise, the installation should be entrusted to professionals.

When welding, it is important to ensure that no internal bead is formed. This will lead to a decrease in the amount of coolant that enters the radiator. If sagging occurs, the work should be redone.

After all parts have been welded, the radiators are placed on the wall using angle valves and couplings. Bypasses with outlets are placed in the grooves. Their length is measured, the excess is cut off.

Final work

Remove excess air before starting the heating system. To do this, open the taps of Mayevsky. It is important to visually inspect all connections.

After that, the assembled circuit is tested and balancing is performed. The temperature should be equalized in all radiators using a needle valve.