Why are thermostats needed for heating radiators? How do they work? How to properly install a temperature controller heating device? In the article, we, together with the reader, will have to find answers to these and some other questions.

One of the first thermostats was a three-way tap on the connection to the battery in the Khrushchev building.

Why adjustment is needed

1. Why do you need a thermostat for a heating radiator?

The answer is not as obvious as it might seem.

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Yes, of course, most often it is used to reduce the air temperature in the room when the coolant temperature is excessively high.

Adjustment is necessary in the following cases:

• If thermal power the device is selected with a reserve in case of extreme cold;

• If there is a thaw outside;
• In addition, the regulator for the heating radiator is useful when testing the heating main for temperature. They are held annually shortly before the end heating season and are necessary to identify defects in heating mains and heating circuits that make them sensitive to extreme high temperatures winter temperature chart.

During testing, the hot water supply is turned off, and central heating continues to operate as normal. It is with these tests that a significant part of the complaints against evil homeowners is associated: “it’s warm outside, but the radiators are heating up with all their might.”

Heating system

Adjusting the temperature of individual devices is also useful for autonomous heating systems. It would seem that it is easier to maneuver the heating boiler mode: after all, as the outside temperature increases, the need for heat at home decreases. But no: in some cases it is more convenient to configure the operating mode of a very specific battery.

The most obvious scenario is limiting the temperature in unused rooms. A complete shutdown of heating will lead to freezing of corners and window slopes, which will inevitably be followed by the appearance of fungus, but lowering the room temperature to minimum values ​​(16-18 degrees) will avoid possible troubles.

Heating radiators with a temperature controller can significantly reduce heat consumption and, accordingly, heating costs. Savings reach 30-40%.

In addition, thermostats are needed for balancing dead-end heating systems. A small lyrical digression is necessary here.

Two-pipe heating systems (with separate supply and return bottlings) are divided into dead-end (in which the coolant, when moving from the supply to the return line, changes the direction of movement by 180 degrees) and associated (in which it continues to move in the same direction).

A dead-end circuit is needed if the circuit is broken panoramic window or a high doorway.

The associated circuit, or Tichelman loop, consists of several parallel small circuits of the same length. Thanks to this feature, all heating systems connected to it have approximately the same temperature.

In a dead-end scheme, small contours have different lengths, due to which the house owner is faced with a couple of unpleasant problems:

• The radiators closest to the boiler are always noticeably hotter than those further away;
• In severe frosts, it is possible to stop circulation through distant heating devices with their subsequent defrosting. There have been precedents in my memory, more than once.

To solve these problems, balancing the heating system is used - artificially limiting the passage of the connections of the batteries closest to the boiler. In this case, the coolant is distributed more evenly across sections of the circuit, the temperature of the radiators is equalized, and stopping circulation through distant devices becomes impossible.

Balancing is an artificial limitation of the permeability of the connections of heating devices closest to the heat source.

Shut-off and control valves

Varieties

1. What shut-off and control valves can be used to regulate the temperature of a heating battery?

For this purpose, the following are routinely used:

• Chokes;
• Thermal heads.

The needle throttle is a screw valve with a conical metal valve. The adjustment is extremely simple: the stem with the valve is screwed in and out, while limiting the flow of coolant through the hole in the seat.

The thermal head is an automatic regulator that allows you to focus not on the permeability of the line, but on the air temperature in the room.

The operating principle of inexpensive thermostatic heads uses the expansion of solids, gases and liquids when heated:

• When the target temperature is reached, the expanding working fluid of the thermal head pushes the valve towards the seat and blocks the coolant flow;
• When cooling, the valve is moved away from the seat by a return spring, and the heater begins to heat up.

Rough adjustment of the response temperature is carried out by a conventional screw mechanism that moves the valve closer or further from the seat.

In addition, on sale you can find electronic thermal heads with a temperature sensor and a servo drive powered by a galvanic element. They are easily recognized by the screen, which shows the set or current temperature in the room.

Prices

1. How much do chokes and thermal heads cost?

Here approximate prices at the end of 2016 for Valtec products:

Alternatives

1. How else can you regulate the permeability of the supply line to the heating device or heating circuit??

To adjust the permeability of individual sections of the circuit in the heating system, the following can be used abnormally:

• Screw valves;
• Ball and plug valves;

• Valves.

Let me emphasize again: use as chokes for all of the listed elements shut-off valves is an emergency mode.

What does it threaten?

• With a screw valve, the half-open valve will continuously move in the turbulent coolant flow, since it is movably attached to the stem. As a rule, throttling with a screw valve ends with the valve breaking off, after which the valve stops closing or opening;

• According to the manufacturers, the half-open position of the valve on a ball valve usually leads to wear of the fluoroplastic or Teflon rings that ensure tightness in the closed position - with quite predictable consequences. Less often, scale that gets between the valve and the body simply prevents the valve from closing;

However, the ball valves I use to limit water flow on the water supply connections have been working in a half-open position for the last four years and still show no signs of malfunction.

• Semi-closed valves are characterized by falling cheeks, completely blocking the coolant passage.

To prevent the cheeks from falling in the half-open position of the valve, first close it completely, and then slowly unscrew the rod while continuously monitoring the pressure difference using a pressure gauge.

Installation

1. Is it difficult to install a thermostat on a heating radiator yourself?

It is no more difficult than installing a conventional valve with threaded connections. External thread on the liner (angle, tee, etc.) it is wrapped with plumbing flax or a polymer thread-sealant (for example, Tangit Unilok), after which the thermostat is screwed onto it with an open-end, adjustable or pipe wrench.

Tangit Unilok is an ideal winding for heating threads.

A few nuances:

• Do not use FUM tape to wind metal threads. The instruction is due to the fact that it leaks with minimal thread reverse;
• Apply a little of any quick-drying organic solvent to the threaded plumbing linen. The paint, having impregnated the organic fiber, will prevent it from rotting when the heating is turned off and from burning out when the heating is on;

• When assembling the threaded connection, do not use excessive force. Brass valve bodies are not durable and crack easily;

• For an aluminum or bimetallic battery, it is better to buy an angular thermostat with an American one (a union nut with a rubber or silicone gasket). The American will significantly simplify and speed up the dismantling of the radiator during repairs in the room or if it malfunctions;

The photo shows an angle control valve with an American one.

• When mounting the thermal head, place it outside the flow of rising air from the radiator and the hose. Heating by an external heat source will reduce the accuracy of indoor temperature control.

Conclusion

As you can see, thermostats are easy to install and are quite capable of providing significant savings on your money. The video in this article will help you learn more about them. I look forward to your comments. Good luck, comrades!

If the individual heating system is designed correctly, no regulators will be needed: a stable temperature will be maintained in each room. But in multi-storey buildings After a total heating overhaul, regulators can become very useful.

It is necessary to regulate the heat transfer of heating radiators for several reasons. First: it allows you to save on heating costs. In apartments multi-storey buildings Payment bills will be reduced only if a common house heat meter is installed. In private homes, if you have an automated boiler that itself maintains a stable temperature, you are unlikely to need regulators for radiators. Unless you have old equipment. Then the savings will be quite significant.

The second reason why regulators are installed on heating radiators is the ability to maintain the temperature regime in the room you want. You need +17 o C in one room, and +26 o C in the other, set the appropriate values ​​on the thermal head or close the valve, and you have as warm air as you want. It doesn’t matter whether you have radiators in your apartment, whether the coolant is supplied centrally, or whether the heating is individual. And it doesn’t matter at all what type of boiler is in the system. Radiator regulators are not connected in any way to boilers. They work on their own

How to regulate radiators

To understand how temperature regulation occurs, let’s remember how a heating radiator works. It is a labyrinth of pipes with different types ribs to increase heat transfer. Hot water enters the radiator inlet, passing through the labyrinth, it heats the metal. This, in turn, heats the air around it. Due to the fact that modern radiators have specially shaped fins that improve air movement (convection), hot air spreads very quickly. During active heating, there is a noticeable flow of heat from the radiators.

This battery is very hot. In this case, the regulator needs to be installed

From all this it follows that by changing the amount of coolant passing through the battery, you can change the temperature in the room (within certain limits). This is what the corresponding fittings do - control valves and thermostats.

Let's say right away that no regulators can increase heat transfer. They only lower it. If the room is hot, install it; if it’s cold, this is not your option.

How effectively the temperature of the batteries changes depends, firstly, on how the system is designed, whether there is a reserve power of the heating devices, and secondly, on how correctly the regulators themselves are selected and installed. The inertia of the system as a whole, and the heating devices themselves, plays a significant role. For example, aluminum heats up and cools quickly, and cast iron, which has large mass, changes temperature very slowly. So there is no point in changing anything with cast iron: it takes too long to wait for the result.

Options for connecting and installing control valves. But to be able to repair the radiator without stopping the system, you need to install a ball valve before the regulator (click on the picture to enlarge its size)

How to increase the heat dissipation of batteries

Whether it is possible to increase the heat transfer of a radiator depends on how it was calculated and whether there is a power reserve. If the radiator just can't produce more heat, then any means of adjustment will not help here. But you can try to change the situation in one of the following ways:

Main disadvantage regulated systems is that they need a certain power reserve of all devices. And these are additional funds: each section costs money. But I don’t mind paying for comfort. If your room is hot, life is not a joy, just like if it is cold. And control valves are a universal way out of the situation.

There are many devices that can change the amount of coolant flowing through a heating device (radiator, register). There are very inexpensive options, and there are decent ones. Available with manual, automatic or electronic adjustment. Let's start with the cheapest ones.

Valves or taps

These are the most cost-effective, but, unfortunately, the most ineffective radiator adjustment devices.

Ball Valves

Ball valves are often installed at the entrance to the battery and with their help they regulate the flow of coolant. But this equipment has a different purpose: it is a shut-off valve. They are needed in the system, but to completely shut off the coolant flow. In the event, for example, if the heating device leaks. Then the ball valves located at the inlet and outlet of the heating radiator will allow it to be repaired or replaced without stopping the system and draining the coolant.

Ball valves are not intended for adjustment. They have only two operating states: completely “closed” and completely “open”. All intermediate positions cause harm.

Ball valves are shut-off valves and are not suitable for radiator adjustment

What harm? Inside this faucet there is a ball with a hole (hence the name - ball). In standard positions (open or closed), he is in no danger. But in other cases, the solid particles contained in the coolant (especially there are a lot of them in centralized heating systems) gradually grind down and break off pieces. As a result, the tap becomes leaky. Then, even if it is in the “closed” position, the coolant continues to flow into the radiator. And it’s good if an accident doesn’t happen at this time and you don’t need to turn off the water. But if this suddenly happens, repairs cannot be avoided. At a minimum, you will have to change flooring, and what will need to be repaired in the lower room depends on how quickly the workers close the riser utilities(or you, if you have own house). Yes, a ball valve can work in abnormal mode for some time, but it still breaks. And sooner rather than later.

For those who still decide to adjust the radiator in this way, it is worth keeping in mind that they also need to be installed correctly, otherwise “pleasant” conversations with the management company cannot be avoided. Since this method is most often used in apartment buildings, we will tell you how to connect them with vertical wiring. Most often, the wiring is single-pipe vertical. This is when a pipe enters the room through the ceiling. A radiator is connected to it. The pipe leaves the second radiator inlet and goes through the floor to the lower room.

This is where you need to install the taps correctly: the mandatory installation of a bypass - a bypass pipe. It is needed so that when the flow to the radiators in the apartment is closed (the tap is closed completely or partially), water circulates in the general house system.

Sometimes the ball valve is placed on the bypass. By changing the amount of coolant passing through it, you can also change the heat transfer of the heating battery. In this case, for greater system reliability and the ability to turn off the taps, there should be three: two cut-off taps on the radiators, which will operate in normal modes, and a third one, which will be regulating. But there is one pitfall here: sometimes you can forget what position the taps are in, or the children will play. Result: the entire riser is blocked, cold in the apartments, unpleasant conversations with neighbors and the manager.

So It is better not to use ball valves for adjusting radiators. There are other devices designed specifically to change the amount of coolant flowing through the battery.

Needle valve

This device is usually installed in the heating system in front of the pressure gauge. In other places it does more harm than good. It's all about the structure. The device itself effectively and smoothly changes the flow of coolant, gradually blocking it.

But the thing is that due to the design features, The width of the passage for the coolant in them is half as large. For example, you have installed inch pipes, and they have a needle tap of the same size. But its capacity is half as much: the saddle is only ½ inch. That is, each needle valve installed in the system reduces the throughput of the system. Somewhat consistently installed devices, for example, in a one-pipe system will lead to the fact that the last heating devices either will not heat up at all, or will be barely warm. Therefore, the often recommended single-pipe circuit with needle valves in practice leads to the fact that most radiators either do not heat at all or heat very weakly.

• removing the needle valve;
• doubling the number of sections,
• by installing a device that has twice as large couplings (on inch pipes you will need to install a two-inch valve, which is unlikely to suit anyone).

Radiator control valves

Especially for manual adjustment of radiators intended radiator valves (taps). They come with corner or direct connection. The working principle of this manual temperature controller is as follows. By turning the valve, you lower or raise the shut-off cone. In the closed position, the cone completely blocks the flow. Moving up/down, it blocks the coolant flow to a greater or lesser extent. Because of this principle of operation, these devices are also called “mechanical temperature controllers”. It is installed on radiators with threads and connected to pipes using fittings, usually crimp fittings, but there are different types compatible with different types pipes

What is good about a radiator control valve? It is reliable, it is not afraid of blockages and small abrasive particles that are in the coolant. This applies to high-quality products whose valve cone is made of metal and carefully processed. Their prices are not very high, which is important for a large heating system. What's the disadvantage? Each time you have to change the position manually, which makes maintaining a stable temperature problematic. Some people are happy with this, others are not. For those who want a constant or strictly set temperature, they are more suitable

Automatic adjustment

Automatic maintenance of room temperature is good because once you set the control knob to the desired position, you will get rid of the need to twist and change something for a long time. The temperature of the heating radiators is adjusted constantly and continuously. The disadvantage of such systems is their significant cost, and the more functionality, the more expensive the device will be. There are some other features and subtleties, but more on them below.

Adjusting radiators with thermostats

For maintaining a constant set temperature in the room (premises) use thermostats or thermostats for heating radiators. Sometimes this device may be called a “thermostatic valve”, “thermostatic valve”, etc. There are many names, but one device is meant. To make it clearer, it is necessary to explain that the thermal valve and thermal valve are the lower part of the device, and the thermal head and thermoelement are the upper. And the entire device is a radiator thermostat or thermostat.

Most of these devices do not require any power source. The exception is models with a digital screen: batteries are inserted into the thermostatic head. But their replacement period is quite long, the current consumption is low.

Structurally, the radiator thermostat consists of two parts:

• thermostatic valve (sometimes called “housing”, “thermal valve”, “thermal valve”);
• thermostatic head (also called “thermostatic element”, “thermoelement”, “thermal head”).

The valve itself (body) is made of metal, usually brass or bronze. Its design is similar to that of a manual valve. Most companies make the lower part of the radiator thermostat unified. That is, heads of any type and any manufacturer can be installed on one body. Let us clarify: you can install a manual, mechanical, or automatic thermocouple on one thermal valve. It is very comfortable. If you want to change the adjustment method, you do not need to buy the entire device. They installed another thermostatic element and that was it.

IN automatic regulators The principle of influencing the shut-off valve is different. In a manual regulator, its position is changed by turning the handle; in automatic models there is usually a bellows that presses on the spring-loaded mechanism. In electronic devices, everything is controlled by the processor.

The bellows is the main part of the thermal head (thermoelement). It is a small sealed cylinder containing liquid or gas. Both liquid and gas have one thing in common: their volume is highly dependent on temperature. When heated, they significantly increase their volume, stretching the bellows cylinder. It puts pressure on the spring, blocking the flow of coolant more strongly. As it cools, the volume of gas/liquid decreases, the spring rises, the coolant flow increases, and heating occurs again. This mechanism, depending on the calibration, allows you to maintain the set temperature with an accuracy of 1 o C.

How the thermostat works, watch the video.

The radiator thermostat can be:

• with manual temperature control;
• with automatic;
  • with built-in temperature sensor;
  • with remote (wired).

There are also special models for one-pipe and two-pipe systems, housings made of different metals.

Using Three-Way Valves

A three-way valve is rarely used to regulate battery temperature. He has a slightly different task. But in principle, it is possible.

A three-way valve is installed at the junction of the bypass and the supply pipe going to the radiator. To stabilize the temperature of the coolant, it must be equipped with a thermostatic head (of the type described above). If the temperature near the three-way valve head rises above the set value, the flow of coolant to the radiator is blocked. It all rushes through the bypass. After cooling, the valve operates in the opposite direction and the radiator heats up again. This connection method is implemented for, and more often with vertical wiring.

Results

Adjusting heating radiators is possible using different devices, but this must be done correctly using special control valves. These are manual regulators (taps) and automated ones - thermostats; in some versions it is possible to use a three-way valve with a thermal head.

In what case should I use what? IN multi-storey apartments With centralized heating Three-way valve and control valves are preferred. And all because the gap in thermostats for the coolant is not very wide, and if there are foreign particles in the coolant, it quickly becomes clogged. Therefore, they are recommended for use in individual heating systems.

If you really want it in the apartment automatic adjustment radiator, you can put a filter before the thermostat. It will retain most of the impurities, but you will have to wash it regularly. When you feel that the radiator has become too cold, check the filter.

In private houses, with battery regulation, everything is simple: what suits you best, then install it.

Thermostatic equipment allows a person to influence the microclimate in the house, setting an acceptable range of day and night air temperatures. In addition to maintaining the temperature balance in a living space, heating thermostats allow you to optimize the cost of paying for housing and communal services. Many residents apartment buildings V winter time forced to constantly keep the windows open, trying to escape from the heat-breathing radiators. This situation can be tolerated if payments for heating are carried out according to standards. If heat meters are installed in an apartment or house, then it becomes completely unprofitable for the owners to endure the inconvenience while “heating” the street.

After watching the video, you will learn how to install a heating temperature controller and configure it.

Most of all, rooms in which temperatures fluctuate significantly during the day (kitchens and rooms oriented to the sunny side) need the installation of thermostats. It is important to regulate the temperature level in the bedrooms, since proper sleep is only possible at 18-19°C.

Where are thermostats usually installed?

The optimal place to place the thermostat is the heating device itself (radiator), provided that it is not covered with curtains, decorative grilles or other interior items. Violation of this rule leads to an inadequate assessment of the temperature level in the room.

You can bypass this rule using thermostatic element with a remote sensor located from the valve at a distance of 2 to 8 meters. In this case, the temperature level will be controlled at the location of the sensor. Also, temperature controllers for radiators can be installed on a horizontal section of the pipeline near the point of entry into the heating device.

When the manual thermostat completely blocks the flow of coolant into the radiator, its circulation in the system will continue through the jumper pipe

If the installation of equipment is carried out in accordance with the instructions and compliance with all building codes and regulations, then temperature control can be made in the range from 5°C to 30°C in increments of one degree. This range may vary on some models, so please check this information before purchasing.

Installation procedure for thermostat

To install a thermostat for heating radiators, first turn off the supply riser. Then drain the water from the heating system and begin installation work, which are executed in the following order:

• cut off horizontal pipe lines at some distance from the radiator;
• disconnect the cut pipeline, as well as the tap, if it was installed previously, from the radiator;
• disconnect the shanks together with the nuts from the shut-off valve and the thermostat valve; they are wrapped in radiator plugs;
• then assemble the piping and install it in the chosen location;
• then the installed piping is connected to horizontally located supply pipes coming from the riser.

Heating systems are divided into two types: single-pipe and double-pipe. In a one-pipe heating system, when connecting a thermostat, it is necessary to change the radiator connection diagram by installing a jumper connecting the direct and return connections of the device.

This jumper pipe, otherwise called a bypass, allows the coolant to circulate when the heating battery is closed by a thermostatic device. When implementing such a connection diagram, it is convenient to dismantle the device by first closing the valves shown in the figure as numbers 3 and 4.

Connection diagram for a heating radiator thermostat in a one-pipe system

Connection diagram for a radiator temperature controller in a two-pipe heating system

Legend to the diagrams:

1. heating system supply riser;
2. Radiator;
3. thermostat (automatic or manual);
4. bottom valve;
5. manual or automatic air vent;
6. jumper;
7. reverse riser;
8. stub.

In a two-pipe heating system, the flow of coolant into the radiator can be controlled using a radiator temperature controller installed on the top supply.

How to set the temperature controller correctly?

To set the thermostat correctly, you need to minimize heat leakage from the room by closing windows and doors. A room thermometer is placed where there should be a constant temperature. Then open the valve completely, turning the thermostat head to the left until it stops. In this position, the radiator provides the maximum level of heat transfer, so the air in the room will begin to heat up.

After the thermometer readings increase by 5–6°C compared to the initial value, the valve is closed. To do this, turn the head to the right as far as it will go. At the same time, the air temperature in the room will begin to gradually decrease. When the temperature reaches the desired value, begin to slowly open the valve.

As soon as the sound of water in the thermostat is heard and a sharp heating of the valve body is felt, the rotation of the head is stopped, remembering its position. At this point, setting up the thermostat is considered complete.

To install thermostats for heating radiators, it is best to invite professional plumbers

It is better to entrust the selection and installation of thermostats to specialists who will connect the equipment in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. A properly installed thermostat will ensure a comfortable temperature level in the room and help save heat consumption, which will have a positive impact on the family budget.

To ensure the most efficient use of energy and subsequently reduce billing costs, heating systems are, among other things, equipped with special controls known as thermostats. The devices in question have enough simple design and can be installed and connected with your own hands without any problems.

The design of a standard thermostat for a heating radiator consists of valve and special thermostatic head. In the device under consideration, the valve is the so-called executive device. The thermostatic head includes a special cylinder with a working substance. This substance is sensitive to temperature changes and it is thanks to it that the thermostat can perform its main function.

With increasing temperature, the volume of the substance in question increases. Reducing the temperature leads to the opposite reaction. With such changes in the volume of the substance, the pressure rod associated with the cylinder moves.

The thermostat head is mounted on the valve. With constant expansion and compression of the substance, the rod compresses or releases a special locking spring-loaded cone, which opens or closes the passage hole, controlling the supply of the main coolant.

The radiator thermostat can operate using gas and liquid working substances. In accordance with this parameter, existing devices are divided into gas-filled and liquid. Thermostats with gas working fluid respond more quickly to temperature changes. Liquid ones react more accurately to pressure differences in the cylinder, which allows for the most accurate temperature control.

The thermostat operates on the same principle in both simple one-pipe and two-pipe heating systems. The difference lies only in the value of the valve resistance: in one-pipe heating systems this parameter is noticeably lower than in two-pipe heating.

A suitable thermostat should be selected at the design and development stage engineering systems. If the device is installed on already installed and connected heating batteries, its operating efficiency will be significantly reduced.

Thermostats with manual and automatic program control are available for sale. Software models are more convenient. Their design is such that they allow you to control the temperature in the heated room, adjusting to a variety of additional factors, for example, the time of day. Electromechanical devices are only capable of maintaining the temperature at one set level.

A mechanical thermostat works on the principle of an iron: after heating the room to a set temperature, the device turns off, and as soon as the air cools a couple of degrees, it turns on again.

Thermostats are a large group of devices designed to maintain temperature at a certain constant level. There are several types of thermostats, classified according to their operating principle, namely:

• passive. Such devices operate in isolated conditions. For protection from environment special materials are used;
• active . Automatically maintain the temperature at a given level;
• phase transition. The operating principle of such devices is based on the property of the working substance to change its physical state, for example, from liquid to gaseous.

The most popular in everyday life active thermostats. It is they who are usually called thermostats and. Most existing devices designed for temperature control are equipped with a suitable thermostat at the stage of their factory assembly. You just need to carefully read the instructions for the device before using it.

There are also remote thermostats. They are made in the form of a separate block. The connection to the radiator is carried out in accordance with a certain technology, without compliance with the requirements of which one cannot count on efficient, economical, safe and durable operation of the installation.

Modern thermostats have many advantages. One of them is extreme ease of use. Such devices are easy to install and further use, and it’s not difficult to understand. Modern devices help create the most favorable and comfortable indoor environment. They allow you to significantly save on heating and use resources as rationally as possible.

In addition to maintaining the required temperature and creating a comfortable microclimate, saving thermal energy is very important. So, for example, in apartments that are heated by centralized heating, for additional savings it is necessary to install thermostats and a heat energy meter, and in the case of individual heating all savings come down to a reduction in the amount of energy consumed, which is achieved with the help of thermostats.

If heating is only at the planning and development stage, it is best to buy radiators with already built-in thermostats and. However, installing a thermostat will not cause any difficulties in the case of already ready-made systems. You just need to get ready for work and prepare the necessary tools for this.

Thermostat connection kit

1. Grinder, hacksaw or jigsaw.
2. Set of wrenches.
3. Pipe clamps.
4. Plumbing paste.

Prepare everything you need in advance so as not to be distracted by searching for missing elements in the future.

Step-by-step guide to installing a thermostat

Thermostat installation technology extremely simple in its implementation. The device connects in just 4 basic steps. Complete each of them sequentially.

The first step is preparation heating radiator to install a thermostat. Disconnect the battery and drain the remaining water. Remove the valve if present. A single-pipe heating system must be equipped with a bypass. This simplest jumper will allow coolant to circulate in the system even if a separate radiator is turned off. That is, you will not cause inconvenience to your neighbors and will not disrupt heating in other rooms of your home.

The second step is installing a thermostat. When installing the device in question, a threaded connection is used. The thread must be sealed with plumbing flax, pre-impregnated with some kind of paint. Screw the regulator into the hole in the battery intended for coolant inlet. Do this without much effort, otherwise you risk damaging the body of the product. The valve is marked with an arrow. It is important that its direction is the same as the direction of movement of the coolant.

The third step is to install the thermostatic element. This device is designed to determine the temperature in a room. It is also responsible for controlling the locking mechanism. Installed in a horizontal position. The element includes a temperature sensor. It is important to install in such a way that heat from the radiator does not directly affect this sensor.

If for some reason you cannot install the device horizontally, it is strongly recommended not to leave everything as is, but to buy a model with a convenient remote sensor. It can be installed at a distance of 2 m from the battery or even more.

The installation of a temperature sensor must be carried out in accordance with certain rules, namely:

• the device must be located at a height of at least 80 cm from the floor surface. Cold air, in accordance with the laws of physics, collects below. Contact of the temperature sensor with such air will reduce the accuracy and efficiency of the system;
• The temperature sensor must not be exposed to direct flows warm air. Keep in mind that it can come not only from the radiator, but also from a variety of household appliances;
• the device should not be exposed to direct sunlight;
• The sensor must not be covered with furniture, curtains or other similar objects.

Brackets are used to attach the remote temperature sensor. Pick up appropriate place for installation and install the device in question.

The fourth step is setting up the thermostat and preparing for use. When you turn it on for the first time heating system The thermostat should be calibrated and adjusted. Set up in accordance with the instructions that come specifically with your device, because... For different models The order of this procedure may vary. General rule There is only one thing - you can start setting up only after complete and uniform heating of all heating devices in the home.

Thus, in self-installation There is nothing complicated about a thermostat for a heating radiator. Having understood this work and step-by-step completing all the required operations, you will be able to conveniently regulate the level of heating of the premises, ensuring the most efficient use of energy, which will significantly reduce the final heating costs.

Thermostats for heating

Good luck!

Adjusting heating radiators in an apartment allows you to simultaneously solve several problems, the main one of which is to reduce the cost of paying for certain utilities.

This possibility is being realized different ways: mechanically and automatically. However, when changing the heating system parameters, the average room temperature does not increase. You can only reduce it to the desired level by adjusting the position of the fittings. It is advisable to install such devices on batteries in houses where it is cool in winter.

The main factors explaining the need to change the heating level of batteries using locking mechanisms and electronics:

1. Free movement hot water through pipes and inside radiators. The heating system may form air jams. For this reason, the coolant stops heating the batteries, as it gradually cools. As a result, the indoor microclimate becomes less comfortable, and over time the room cools down. To maintain heat in the pipes, shut-off mechanisms installed on radiators are used.
2. Adjusting the temperature of the batteries makes it possible to reduce the cost of heating your home. If the rooms are too hot, by changing the position of the valves on the radiators you can reduce costs by 25%. Moreover, reducing the heating temperature of the batteries by 1°C provides savings of 6%.
3. When radiators heat up the air in the apartment very much, you have to open the windows often. It is not advisable to do this in winter, because you can catch a cold. To avoid having to constantly open windows in order to normalize the microclimate in the room, regulators should be installed on the batteries.
4. It becomes possible to change the heating temperature of radiators at your discretion, and individual parameters are set in each room.

How to regulate radiators

To influence the microclimate in the apartment, you need to reduce the volume of coolant passing through the heating device. In this case, it is only possible to reduce the temperature value. The heating system is adjusted by turning the valve/faucet or changing the parameters of the automation unit. The amount of hot water passing through the pipes and sections is reduced, and at the same time the battery heats up less intensely.

To understand how these phenomena are interconnected, you need to learn more about the operating principle of the heating system, in particular, radiators: hot water entering the heating device heats the metal, which, in turn, releases heat into the air. However, the intensity of heating the room depends not only on the volume of hot water in the battery. The type of metal from which the heating device is made also plays an important role.

Cast iron has a significant mass and releases heat slowly. For this reason, it is not advisable to install regulators on such radiators, since the device will take a long time to cool. Aluminum, steel, copper - all these metals instantly heat up and cool down relatively quickly. Work on installing regulators should be carried out before the start of the heating season, when there is no coolant in the system.

IN apartment building there is no way to change the average water temperature in the heating system pipes. For this reason, it is better to install regulators that allow you to influence the microclimate in the room in a different way. However, this cannot be realized if the coolant is supplied from top to bottom. In a private house there is access and the ability to change individual equipment parameters and coolant temperature. So, in in this case It is often impractical to mount regulators on batteries.

Valves and taps

Such fittings are a heat exchanger of a shut-off device. This means that the radiator is adjusted by turning the tap/valve in the desired direction. If you turn the fittings 90° all the way, the flow of water into the battery will no longer flow. To change the heating level of the heating device, the locking mechanism is set to the half position. However, not every fitting has this opportunity. Some faucets may leak after a short period of use in this position.

Installing shut-off valves allows you to manually regulate the heating system. The valve is inexpensive. This is the main advantage of such fittings. In addition, it is easy to operate, and changing the microclimate does not require special knowledge. However, there are also disadvantages to locking mechanisms, for example, they are characterized by low level efficiency. The battery cooling rate is slow.

Stopcocks

A ball design is used. First of all, it is customary to install them on a heating radiator in order to protect housing from coolant leakage. This type of valve has only two positions: open and closed. Its main task is to turn off the battery if such a need arises, for example, if there is a risk of flooding of the apartment. For this reason, shut-off valves are cut into the pipe in front of the radiator.

If the valve is in the open position, the coolant circulates freely throughout the heating system and inside the battery. Such taps are used if the room is hot. The batteries can be turned off periodically, which will reduce the air temperature in the room.

However, ball locking mechanisms must not be installed in the half position. With prolonged use, the risk of leakage in the area where the ball valve is located increases. This is due to gradual damage to the locking element in the form of a ball, which is located inside the mechanism.

Manual valves

This group includes two types of fittings:

1. Needle valve. Its advantage is the possibility of half installation. Such fittings can be located in any convenient position: completely opens/closes the access of coolant to the radiator, significantly or slightly reduces the volume of water in heating devices. However, there is also a drawback to needle valves. Thus, they are characterized by reduced throughput. This means that after installing such fittings, even in a fully open position, the amount of coolant in the pipe at the battery inlet will be significantly reduced.
2. Control valves. They are designed specifically to change the heating temperature of batteries. The advantages include the ability to change the position at the user’s discretion. In addition, such fittings are reliable. There is no need to frequently repair the valve if the structural elements are made of durable metal. There is a shut-off cone inside the valve. When you turn the handle in different directions, it rises or falls, which helps to increase/decrease the flow area.

Automatic adjustment

The advantage of this method is that there is no need to constantly change the position of the valve/faucet. Required temperature will be supported automatically. Adjusting the heating in this way makes it possible to set the desired parameters once. In the future, the heating level of the battery will be maintained by an automation unit or other device installed at the input of the heating device.

If necessary, individual parameters can be set multiple times, which is influenced by the personal preferences of the residents. The disadvantages of this method include the significant cost of components. The more functional the devices are for controlling the amount of coolant in heating radiators, the higher their price.

Electronic thermostats

These devices superficially resemble a control valve, but there is a significant difference - a display is built into the design. It displays the room temperature that needs to be obtained. Such devices work in conjunction with a remote temperature sensor. It transmits information to the electronic thermostat. To normalize the microclimate in the room, you just need to set the desired temperature value on the device, and the adjustment will be performed automatically. Electronic thermostats are located at the battery input.

Adjusting radiators with thermostats

Devices of this type consist of two units: lower (thermal valve) and upper (thermal head). The first of the elements resembles a manual valve. It is made of durable metal. The advantage of such an element is the ability to install not only an automatic, but also a mechanical valve, it all depends on the needs of the user. To change the heating temperature of the battery, the design of the thermostat includes a bellows, which exerts pressure on the spring-loaded mechanism, and the latter, in turn, changes the flow area.

Using Three-Way Valves

Such devices are made in the form of a tee and are intended for installation at the connection point of the bypass, the inlet pipe to the radiator, or the general riser of the heating system. To increase operating efficiency, the three-way valve is equipped with a thermostatic head, the same as that of the previously discussed thermostat. If the temperature at the valve inlet is higher than the desired value, the coolant does not enter the battery. Hot water is directed through the bypass and passes further along the heating riser.

When the valve cools down, the passage hole opens again and the coolant flows into the battery. It is advisable to install such a device if the heating system is single-pipe and the pipe distribution is vertical.

To be able to regulate the temperature of the battery in the apartment, consider any type of valve: they can be straight or angular. The installation principle of such a device is simple; the main thing is to correctly determine its position. Thus, the direction of coolant flow is indicated on the valve body. It must correspond to the direction of water movement inside the battery.

Place valves/thermostats at the inlet of the heating device; if necessary, install a tap at the outlet as well. This is done so that in the future it will be possible to independently drain the coolant. Regulating devices are installed on radiators, provided that the user knows exactly which pipe is the supply pipe, since a tap is made into it. In this case, the direction of movement of hot water in the riser is taken into account: from top to bottom or from bottom to top.

Compression fittings are more reliable, which is why they are used more often. The connection to the pipes is threaded. Thermostats can be equipped with a union nut. To seal the threaded connection, use FUM tape or flax.