Adjusting heating radiators in an apartment - how to adjust the temperature

The design of heating systems in multi-storey and multi-apartment buildings is carried out by special design organizations, which in their design work are guided by such regulatory documents as GOSTs, OST, TU, SNIPs and sanitary standards.

According to the requirements of some of them, the temperature in residential premises should be stable within twenty to twenty-two degrees Celsius. And the relative air humidity is 40-30%. Only if such parameters are observed can comfortable living conditions for people be ensured.

The design of the heating system and regulation is based on the choice of coolant, which is determined by a number of factors, including accessibility and the ability to connect to it the heating system of the housing construction in the area where the facility is located.

How to properly regulate the temperature of a radiator, manually or automatically

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 realized in 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.

Why do you need to make adjustments?

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

Free movement of hot water through pipes and inside radiators. Air pockets may form in the heating system. 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.
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%.
In cases where 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.
It becomes possible to change the heating temperature of radiators at your discretion, and individual parameters are set in each room.

The concept of balancing

For a heating system to operate as efficiently as possible, it is important that it releases heat in such a way that it warms all rooms evenly. This will not only provide warmth and comfort in the house, but will also help reduce heating costs.

Heating systems can be divided into two types:

Single-pipe or double-pipe. In them, the heated coolant moves through pipes from the heating boiler, giving off some of the heat to each radiator. Then the liquid that has lost heat enters the boiler again. After this, the cycle described here is repeated again.
System with manifold connection. It has a distribution device, from which pipes go separately to each radiator. The adjustment occurs for each of them independently.

The last category includes heating systems that use not only radiators, but also heated floors.

The general principle of balancing is similar in different cases. Each radiator has an inlet valve. If they are all fully deployed, then the greatest heat loss in the first category of systems will occur in the first device. Further, increasingly cooled water will flow. To prevent this from happening, a valve is tightened in the initial batteries. Thus, the heat consumption will decrease and it will be enough for other heating devices.

Two-pipe system with heated floors Source eurosantehnik.ru

This procedure must be done in several steps to achieve the desired result. Between attempts, the batteries are given time to warm up properly.

For heating systems, regulation occurs by regulating the volume of incoming heated liquid. There should be so much of it that it is enough to heat each room.

The floors are adjusted in the same way, increasing or decreasing the heat supply. If the floors use heating based on the use of electrical energy, adjustment is made according to different rules, simply changing the settings.

Flow regulators, bypass valves, control valves, and pressure regulators are used to carry out adjustments. The layout of their installation depends on the specific type of heating system.

Thermostats occupy a special place. They have the most complete functionality. The device contains an electronic temperature sensor. The work takes place under the control of an electronic circuit. There is a simple and intuitive control panel.

The use of such electronic devices allows adjustments to be made at minimal cost. If necessary, it is possible to program the heating operation. For example, it is possible to reduce the heating temperature if the family is absent from the house for several days.

Water heated floors Source teplyiypol.ru

Adjusting heating appliances depending on the type of heating system

Before regulating the heating in an apartment, it is necessary to determine the type of heating system used.

Individual heating

In this case, the procedure is much simpler, since in most cases the systems are powered by a powerful heating boiler, in addition, a circulation pump is installed, and each heating device has a three-way valve.

The presence of valves on radiators allows rational use of heat by reducing the water supply to the radiator or completely disconnecting it from the system.

Central heating

In a central heating system, the question of how to adjust the heating battery in an apartment is decided depending on the pipe layout:

With a two-pipe wiring diagram, two risers are installed, which ensure the supply of coolant to the heating devices and its return. The flow of hot water in the radiator is regulated by means of a separate valve and a manual or automatic thermostat, which is equipped with each heating device.
The operating principle of a single-pipe system is to supply coolant to each radiator and return it to the main riser. Thanks to this scheme, the water temperature in heating devices on any floor is almost the same. Each heating device has a control valve on the supply side.
Most multi-storey buildings have a heating system with vertical supply of coolant, which completely eliminates the possibility of adjusting the temperature in heating devices. With this scheme, the radiators on the lower floors heat up very poorly, so the apartments are always cold. The rooms on the upper floors, on the contrary, suffer from the heat.

Video description

How to reduce battery heat dissipation

Contact utility companies

Problems in high-rise buildings are resolved by the management company. According to the rules, residents should not directly contact workers servicing the heating network. It is better for the inhabitants of the problem apartment to write a statement to the Criminal Code. If the complaint is not considered, then they further contact Rospotrebnadzor and the housing inspectorate.

The appeal will be investigated if the problem of too high a temperature is observed in other residents. In high-rise buildings, people on the lower floors often suffer from the heat, while those on the upper floors freeze. Utility workers turn up the heating as much as possible, which leads to discomfort.

The management company must carry out balancing. After correction, the temperature of all residents should return to normal. If the weather forecast predicts a sharp cold snap in the coming days, workers may ignore the request.

Ball valve

This is the most famous type of shut-off valve. Inside it there is a smooth ball that has a through hole and is capable of rotating 90°C, thus regulating the flow of water in the pipe, closing or opening it. The design of the mechanism provides it with minimal resistance to flow when open. It is designed to operate in the fully open or fully closed position to quickly shut off the water or, in some cases, drain it. Intermediate provisions are possible, but prohibited.

The materials for these mechanisms will be nickel-plated brass and stainless steel; for metal-plastic systems, polymer materials are also used. There are expensive and high-quality cranes from the Danfoss, Giacomini, and Bugatti brands on the market. For limited financial capabilities, Chinese and Turkish Valtec and Fado are offered. Good quality at a low price is offered by the Chinese AGUA-WORID.

The most common type of tap is a valve. Allows you to regulate the pressure. The flow channel inside it is perpendicular to the flow of liquid in the supply pipes. Installation must be carried out with careful attention to the markings so that water flows only in one direction.

For heating systems there are valves with a conical valve. They are most effective for such conditions. Fully open, it allows the maximum amount of liquid to pass through, which makes the thermal output of the battery more efficient. The mechanism allows you to reduce the flow of coolant and reduce heat transfer if the room is too hot and, thus, control the temperature.

There are these types:

adjusting (straight and angular). They have manual control. Used in autonomous heating. They cannot accurately adjust heat transfer due to the lack of a scale and temperature sensor;
equipped with a thermal head. Their design allows the temperature rise to be blocked or limited through manual or automatic control. Installed on two- and one-pipe systems. Adjustment is simple - the required temperature is set manually using a limit ring;
with thermostat. Installed in front of the battery. The flow of coolant is controlled by a tap mounted in front of the thermostat.

There are no valve taps made of plastic; they are made from brass, steel or a combination of these materials.

Heating temperature control

An important parameter of any heating system is the optimal temperature regime for its operation. A ratio of hot and cooled coolant of 75/50 or 80/60 is considered suitable. However, this value is not always acceptable for certain parts of the network. How to properly adjust the heating in the house in this case? Installation of special equipment is required. Some of them are designed for adjusting heating radiators.

Mixing units

Their main element is a two or three-way valve. One of the pipes is connected to the heating pipe with hot water, the second to the return pipe. The third is mounted on a section of the main line where it is necessary to ensure a lower level of coolant temperature.

As additional options, the mixing units are equipped with a temperature sensor and a thermostatic control unit. A signal is received from the sensor about the heating level of the coolant and it opens or closes the mixing valve, thereby regulating the two-pipe heating system. Most often, such mechanisms are installed in water-heated floor collectors.

If you need to adjust the heating of a water heated floor in an apartment building, you need to take into account the temperature conditions of the pipes. Most often it does not exceed 45 degrees.

Servo drives

Servo drive for radiators

How to adjust the heating in an apartment building if it is not possible to independently change the temperature of the water in the pipes? This requires the installation of special shut-off valves. You can limit yourself to installing simple taps - with their help, the flow of coolant into the radiators is regulated. However, in this case, the adjustment will have to be done independently each time. The best option would be to install servos.

The design of this device includes a thermostat and a servo drive. To work, you must perform the following steps.

Set the desired temperature value on the thermostat.
The servo drive will automatically open or close the flow of coolant into the radiator.

In addition to similar models, you can purchase an economy version that includes only a thermostat. In this case, the level of adjustment will not be as accurate. But how to adjust the heating system in an apartment building if old radiators are installed? There are models of thermostats that are designed for installation in cast iron radiators. This measure will make the temperature settings for the apartment more accurate.

Thermostats cannot be used to regulate the pressure drop in the heating system. They will only limit the flow of coolant into the radiator without affecting the temperature regime of the entire system.

Regulation of heat supply in an apartment building

The most common way to provide thermal energy to apartment buildings is central heating. The coolant is supplied through heating mains from central boiler houses or thermal power plants. The heated liquid is received by the heating point.

It performs primary heat metering, ensures supply regulation, and distributes it to consumers. There are other options for heating apartments.

Among the most common: individual heating of an apartment building, heating of a separate apartment.

Each scheme has advantages and disadvantages; the choice of the most convenient one depends on a number of factors: the proximity of highways, their condition, the feasibility of using energy from remote boiler houses. In any case, the design of new communications and the reconstruction of old networks should include the development of mechanisms for regulating the supply of heat to apartment buildings. This is not so much a question of comfort as of saving energy resources.

Automation of the heat supply control process

The existing system of transportation and distribution of thermal energy is far from ideal. Its imperfection is especially acute during the off-season. It often happens that the weather outside is consistently warm, and the radiators stubbornly heat the already warm rooms.

This situation is due to the fact that the only link in the chain of enterprises, communications and coolant supply devices that has the ability to influence the heat supply process is the boiler house or thermal power plant.

But even they do not have the possibility of flexible regulation; they do not have mechanisms that allow them to instantly respond to weather changes.

The ideal option for regulating the heat supply in an apartment building would be a project in which, when implemented, it becomes possible to regulate the temperature of each room separately. This solution allows for individual metering of heat supply, which in turn allows residents not to pay for heat that simply escapes through open vents.

Individual metering of heat supply allows the consumer to independently regulate the amount of thermal energy consumed. This can be achieved by setting the temperature of rooms that are not in use lower, raising it as needed.

Heat supply can be regulated by turning off the taps on the radiators. In addition, you can entrust the regulation process to automation. Modern industry offers various devices that allow you to regulate the room temperature.

Locking devices

The taps used for installation in the room heating system should be divided into two groups - shut-off and control. This division is largely arbitrary, since shut-off valves also allow you to regulate the movement of the coolant. Naturally, in this case the adjustment accuracy is quite low, but it is possible to cut off the battery from the water source.

Ball design diagram

The simplest and most commonly used type of valves are ball valves:

The ball valve is designed to shut off the radiator. Its design allows the device to be installed in either an open or closed position, so that the adjustment is carried out quite according to the principle “there is heat - there is no heat.”

Ball valves for heating radiators provide two-position adjustment

Note! In principle, it is possible to fix the valve in an intermediate position, but then the rate of its wear will increase many times due to the friction of particles suspended in water against the shut-off element. So it's better not to do this unless absolutely necessary.

The coolant flow is blocked by the movement of a metal ball with a hole coaxial with the pipe clearance. When you turn the faucet handle, the rod comes into action, which rotates the sphere inside the body, aligning the hole in it with the lumen of the pipe.
As a rule, faucet parts are made of steel, bronze or brass. PTFE gaskets are responsible for sealing the connections and the locking part, which, if necessary, can be replaced with your own hands.
Connection to the radiator is carried out either using a regular nut or using an “American” one.

Ball design with American

Unlike ball valves, cone valves make it possible to regulate the coolant flow more smoothly. This is ensured by the features of their design:

Sectional view of the device

The locking element is a conical rod, on the surface of which a thread is applied.
When we rotate the flywheel, the rod moves along the thread, moving in a vertical plane.
In the lowest position, the pipe lumen is completely blocked. The tightness of the overlap is ensured by elastic gaskets that fit onto the annular grooves of the rod.
By lifting the locking part, we open the gap slightly, and the coolant begins to flow into the radiator.

Note! The microclimate in the room can be adjusted only approximately by decreasing or increasing the amount of hot water in each battery

Model in polypropylene case

In practice, bronze or brass cone valves for heating radiators are most often used: only systems are equipped with polypropylene, some of the pipes in which are also made of plastic. This is explained by the relatively low strength and wear resistance of polymers compared to sanitary alloys.

On the other hand, polypropylene taps for heating radiators are somewhat cheaper, so in conditions of budget deficit they can be used.

Mayevsky crane

When you pour coolant into the heating system, air gets inside along with water or antifreeze.

To remove it, special devices are used - the so-called Mayevsky taps:

Air release device

The design of such a product is quite simple: it is based on a shut-off rod installed in a housing with a thread for the radiator plug.
The rod is driven either by a screwdriver or a special wrench, opening the lumen of the pipe in the saddle.

Note! If possible, buy valves for a screwdriver, since you will regularly lose the key, which is not surprising - you will have to use it once or twice a year. You need to keep in mind that the throughput of such a faucet is small, so, for example, you shouldn’t install it on an expansion tank: it will take about an hour to bleed off excess air

In such a situation, a regular valve or a water tap installed with the spout facing up is more suitable.

You need to keep in mind that the throughput of such a faucet is small, so, for example, you shouldn’t install it on an expansion tank: it will take about an hour to bleed off excess air. In such a situation, a regular valve or a water tap installed with the spout facing up is more suitable.

Photo of the installed valve

Types, device and methods of adjustment

Before we find out how a battery-powered thermostat works, let’s remember the principle of operation of a heating radiator. Structurally, it consists of pipes through which the coolant moves, and metal sections that give off heat as it heats up. The sections are specially shaped, which improves air convection, making room heating efficient.

General scheme of work

The greater the power of the heating boiler, the more it heats the coolant, the higher the temperature in the building. By reducing the volume of water passing through the radiator, we can reduce it.

For this purpose, special thermostats and valves are used. Here you need to understand that in this way we can only reduce the temperature in the home, and thermostats will not be able to increase it. If you need a higher temperature in the room, then it is more effective to increase the power of the heating device or increase the number of radiator sections.

Important! The material of the radiator, on which the inertia of the heating system depends, is also important. If the batteries are cast iron, then there is no point in having a thermostat. Since cast iron, having a large mass, changes temperature too slowly and the result of the adjustment will have to wait a long time. But aluminum heats up quickly and cools down quickly.

How to increase the heat of batteries?

If a powerful radiator does not produce enough thermal energy, then you can try the following measures. Check if the pipes and filter are clogged. Construction waste often gets into the heating system. Moreover, this can be both in the old system and in a new building.

Dirt and rust in radiators

If cleaning does not help, then drastic measures remain to be taken:

Increase the number of sections.
Increase the temperature of the water that goes into the batteries. This is only possible in an autonomous heating system.
Check the connection type and replace it if necessary.
The installation location of radiators also affects heat transfer. It may be advisable to move the radiators.

If the heating system contains radiators with temperature control, then they must have a power reserve, although this may lead to an increase in its cost during arrangement and installation.

Types of control valves

Modern heating radiators allow the installation of special taps on them, which are installed using pipes. According to the principle of action they are:

Ball. Used to completely block the flow of water into the battery. This valve has positions: open and closed. It makes it possible to carry out repairs without stopping the operation of the entire heating system. Refers to cheap fittings and is not used to regulate temperature.
Needle valve. A special feature is that it blocks the coolant passage 2 times. Mounted in front of the monometer, it is used mainly during its maintenance and repair, as well as to avoid water hammer when opening the shut-off valves too quickly.
Standard. These are simple budget control valves. They do not have any scale for setting the temperature. By turning the valve you can reduce the temperature by an indefinite number of degrees. But, nevertheless, they allow some kind of adjustment.
Three way valve. It has a T-shape with an adjustable locking mechanism. Used to regulate coolant in single-pipe heating systems. There are connecting and separating types. Depending on this, it can have 2 inputs and 1 output or 2 outputs and 1 input. A three-way valve is installed on the bypass.
With thermal head. You can more accurately regulate the temperature of the batteries. There are mechanical and automatic regulators.

Three way valve

For manual adjustment, special valves with direct or angular connections are used. By turning the tap, the amount of coolant in the battery is adjusted. In the closed position, the lock is lowered and the water is completely shut off.

Having a mechanical valve is quite difficult to maintain a constant temperature in the building, but for all their simplicity, such valves have their advantages:

Reliability, small debris that gets into the heating system cannot damage them.
Low price.

Of course, few people are satisfied with such a primitive temperature setting. Most people living in heated buildings are interested in how to regulate the temperature of a heating radiator using taps with thermal heads. They are called thermostats.

Mechanical valves

How does a thermostat work and how does it work?

The thermostat or thermostat can be functionally divided into 2 parts. Thermal valve is its lower part, usually metal or brass. The thermal head is the upper part that fits onto the thermal valve.

Thermostat device

Manufacturers often make a thermal valve unified so that different types of thermal heads can be used with it, with different controls, which can be mechanical or automatic. Thus, you can always change the temperature control method.

The thermal head is structurally a bellows with a liquid or gas filler, inserted into a cylindrical base, capable of responding to fluctuations in coolant temperature. The operating principle of the battery thermostat is as follows. As the temperature increases, the liquid or gas expands, which leads to a change in pressure on the shut-off rod (which is a spring), which moves and blocks part of the coolant flow.

When cooling, the spring contracts and opens up space for hot water, which begins to heat the radiator more strongly. Using a control valve with a thermal head, you can regulate the temperature in the room with an accuracy of 1 C.

Thermal head device

Thermal heads come in different types:

With built-in thermocouple. They have become the most widespread, since mainly heat consumers have the opportunity to install them parallel to the floor so that the air in the room envelops them unhindered.
With remote temperature sensor. It happens that the radiator is located behind curtains made of thick material, under a wide window sill, or close to a heat source. Then it is not possible to install the thermal head freely and it is made with a sensor, which is connected through tubes from 2 to 10 meters long.
With external regulator. It happens that access to the radiator is difficult due to decorative elements, such as grilles. Then it is convenient to place the temperature regulator on the wall.
Electronic programmable. Its circuit contains a temperature sensor, which is triggered by temperature fluctuations every 1-2 minutes and instantly sends a signal to the electric motor, which moves the rod of the thermal valve, which regulates the volume of coolant. Temperature adjustment is quick and precise. A big advantage is the ability to program the temperature by day and time interval. For example, you can set specific values for the weekend, morning, afternoon or evening.

Electronic thermostat with remote sensor

Thus, it is most convenient to adjust the room temperature using a thermostat with an electronic sensor. You only need to set the desired room temperature, and the sensor makes sure that it is maintained. The temperature can be adjusted from 6 to 26 C.

With the help of thermal heads, precise temperature control is achieved, saving coolants up to 40-50% and maximum thermal comfort.

Sequence of work for adjusting batteries

Adjustments must be made before the start of the heating season. First of all, air is released on each heating radiator until water starts running. To do this, air drain valves, such as the Mayevsky valve, are installed on the battery during installation. Sometimes automatic air vents are installed.

The Mayevsky tap has a recess for a screwdriver or key, where they are inserted to open a cone-shaped hole, which is closed by a shut-off cone. One turn is enough to bleed air. As soon as water comes out, the hole must be closed.

Important! Do not unscrew the shut-off cone completely, otherwise the pressure in the system will not allow it to be screwed back on.

The next step is to adjust the pressure in the radiators. On the battery closest to the boiler, you need to open the shut-off valve by 2 turns, on the 2nd radiator - by 3, etc. This way, the pressure in the system will be divided evenly among the batteries, ensuring the free passage of coolant. Next, you can adjust the room temperature using the thermostat.

Setting up thermostats

Manual regulators

Manual adjustment is made by a valve installed on the pipes supplying or discharging the coolant from the battery. The diagram, depending on the type of heating system (two-pipe or single-pipe), is slightly different:

Everything is simple here, it gets hot - close the valve, cold - open it.

The radiator is additionally equipped with another valve so that if a leak appears on the radiator, it can be repaired or the radiator can be replaced without shutting down the entire system.

How not to regulate the radiator temperature

Perhaps we need to focus your attention on one important thing. That to adjust radiators you need to install valves, not ball valves

Often, two ball valves are installed on radiators in case of emergency situations when this area requires urgent repairs. These taps make it possible to carry out repairs without draining the heating system or shutting off the common riser of the house. Some regulate batteries with them. This is not worth doing.

Ball valves are shut-off valves; they have only two operating positions, open or closed. It does not have any intermediate working positions. Yes, it will reduce the rate of coolant passing through the radiator as much as you need it. But his days will be numbered. The fact is that when the position of this tap is between “open” and “closed”, the ball, covered with a protective layer, begins to be destroyed by small particles in the form of sand, scale, rust, located in the coolant. Especially in central heating coolant. In places where the layer is damaged, lime deposits, rust, etc. begin to be deposited.

As a result, the faucet handle and the ball first stop spinning, and then begin to leak altogether. Which will lead to a situation where it will be necessary to drain all the water from the heating system and shut off the riser of the house, because the tap that was designed for this no longer works.

Which valves to use for adjustment

To regulate the temperature of heating radiators, special radiator control valves are used. They are specifically designed for use in heating systems, both individual and central. They are resistant to coolant containing solid particles and are also capable of high throughput. They exist with both direct and angular connections.

These valves are reliable, durable, affordable, and effectively cope with their intended purpose. The only disadvantage of manual regulators is periodic monitoring and adjustment. You have to tighten it from time to time, sometimes to a greater or lesser degree, depending on the climate outside, the temperature of the coolant and the room.

Why do you need a meter?

It is immediately necessary to clarify that information about devices that provide accounting for energy consumption is collected in Article No. 13 of the above-mentioned Federal Law. This section of the document also specifies some exceptions to the general rules. That is, those multi-apartment buildings are listed in which the installation of meters is not mandatory.

In principle, little depends on the wishes of the residents of an apartment building - federal law obliges them to have a common building meter.

So, these exceptions include:

Residential buildings that are in disrepair and are subject to resettlement, or in which major repairs are planned in the near future.
Small houses in which the joint payment from all apartments for heating for a six-month period is less than the cost of a heat meter.

The concerns of residents of houses in which it will be necessary to install communal meters are understandable. This is largely due to the fact that the purchase and installation of metering devices must be carried out at their expense. And the total costs can be quite impressive.

Now it’s worth defining the functions of these devices so that it becomes more clear why the requirements for their installation are put forward.

You should not think that thanks to the installation of meters for consumed thermal energy, savings in material terms will be immediately felt. No, such devices are intended solely for metering heat consumption. And real savings can only be achieved through high-quality thermal insulation - cladding the walls of the house with insulating materials, installing high-quality window systems with double-glazed windows. Much also depends on compliance with the general “heat saving discipline” by all owners of apartments in the entrance. This means that the front door is well fitted and kept closed at all times, there are no drafts on the landings from broken or poorly fitted windows, etc. After all, the entrance is also considered a common house sealed room, and everyone also has to pay for its heating.

In this way, through combined efforts, it is possible to minimize heat losses, and therefore significantly reduce heating bills. Otherwise, if even individual residents do not fit into this saving regime and ignore the comments of their neighbors, the cost of heating may increase significantly, since the total consumption of heat consumed will be reflected on the common building meter.

If residents indifferently pass by such “beauty” in their entrance, then they should not expect a reduction in their bills after installing a building-wide heat meter. Rather, it will turn out the other way around...

So why was this law developed, and who benefits from installing communal meters?

An obvious benefit for residents of houses who have invested in home improvement. Using a heat meter, calculations will be made objectively, that is, not according to the average tariffs established in a particular region, but according to specific consumption indicators. Indeed, it is unfair if residents who take good care of their home and those who are apathetic about preserving heat pay the same rates for heating.
Incentives for owners of apartments in multi-apartment buildings to take an active part in preserving heat in their hallways. When residents know that an open driveway door or broken window will affect their heating bills, doors are more likely to close carefully and window glass will be more intact. The economic argument is usually more effective, weeks of endless persuasion, scandals, swearing at meetings and calls for consciousness.
However, one cannot help but pay attention to the fact that the developed law places guardianship of the house in this regard on its residents, removing it from public utilities. This is the most unpleasant thing for apartment owners, who already pay considerable sums for utilities, as well as for repairs to entrances and the house as a whole. Unfortunately, not all management companies honestly spend the material resources received for their intended purpose. Therefore, it often turns out that residents have to not only pay the monthly fee imposed on them by the management company, but also independently repair and insulate their entrances. This means that the only thing left to do is either put up with this state of affairs, or try to find a compromise that suits everyone with the employees of the management companies.

Some owners solve the issue differently - by installing autonomous gas heating in the apartment.
By the way, after the development of this law, many apartment owners, some of whom were simply tired of the constant “fight” with negligent neighbors, began to become much more active in switching their homes to autonomous heating. This does not completely relieve them of the obligation to pay for the heat consumed by the house. But, at least, maintaining the optimal thermal regime throughout their apartment is in their hands, and the overall savings in monetary terms often become very noticeable.

Advantages and pitfalls of an autonomous heating system for an apartment in a multi-storey building
It must be said that this approach also hides many nuances and considerable difficulties in implementation. In some cases, the applicant may be completely denied this. more about how to approach the implementation of the idea of autonomous heating in an apartment building in a special publication on our portal.

What problems may arise with the installation of a common house heat meter?

When implementing this law, residents of apartment buildings encounter many problematic situations, which include the following points:

The first unpleasant news, which was already mentioned above, which will not please apartment owners, is that the purchase and the entire installation process of equipment is carried out at the expense of the residents of the house. Moreover, we are talking about quite impressive amounts - for example, compliance with the law sometimes costs an amount exceeding 150 thousand rubles. It won’t be difficult to recalculate expenses for each apartment.
Metering devices require periodic maintenance, which consists of cleaning filters, carrying out verifications and other preventive actions. After the end of the manufacturer’s warranty, which is usually provided for a year, payment for further maintenance of the heat meter is entirely borne by the residents of the house. Moreover, even if the device is in good working order, the management company will most likely begin to collect a monthly fee to maintain it in good condition.
The management company must pay the heat supplier monthly, according to the readings taken from the general building meter, otherwise the supplier may simply interrupt the heat supply to a particular house. However, debtors are always found among the tenants. Therefore, the accounting department of the management company most often solves this problem by distributing debts to “solvent” apartments. That is, conscientious residents, those who carefully pay for utilities, have to take the rap for those who do not want or cannot pay off their debts.

Quite often, there is such a “black sheep” (or even several) at the entrance, for which everyone else has to pay together.

The law does not clearly regulate the situation related to possible malfunctions of the heat meter. Thus, there have already been cases where, when the meter failed, residents subsequently had to pay heating bills that were even several times higher than adequate amounts. And no one then wrote off these debts from the residents - it’s just that sometimes the management company, seemingly meeting the apartment owners halfway, provided a certain installment plan to pay off the debt in installments.
But there is good news for residents of non-privatized apartments. They are not required to participate in the payment for the purchase and installation of the metering device. According to the law, their costs must be borne by the owner of the building - the municipal government or one or another organization, if the house is departmental.

Differences in heating systems

Depending on their location, there are three types of heating systems:

systems through which water moves from top to bottom;
single pipe system;
two-pipe system.

If your home has a system of the first type, then it will simply be impossible to adjust the temperature of the heating radiator. On the upper floors the radiators will be constantly hot, but on the lower floors they will be colder.

If you have a flow-through single-pipe system, then to adjust the heating radiators it will be enough to install an additional valve on the pipe that supplies hot water to a separate radiator. In a flow-through system, water moves through the riser, passes through the battery and returns to it again. (See also: What good heating radiators can be used to heat residential premises)

If there is a two-pipe system, both manual valves and special automated devices can be installed on the main line. They help regulate not only the temperature, but also the volume of incoming water. Which device to choose - manual or automatic - is up to you.

Why do you need to regulate heating batteries?

Firstly, adjusting the temperature helps create the most comfortable indoor conditions.

Secondly, this reduces heat consumption costs. If we calculate the efficiency of heating radiator regulation systems, then on average costs are reduced by 25%.

Thirdly, if you have heat consumption meters, you can control the cost of heating the room.

Fourthly, there is no need for constantly open windows. Of course, fresh air is useful, but if there are small children or sick people in the room, a draft can only harm them.

Start adjusting the batteries in advance, before the start of the new heating season, and then during the cold season you will not have to freeze and try to frantically adjust the central heating system. However, you shouldn’t do this in the summer either - while it’s hot outside, you won’t be able to fully appreciate the comfort of artificially heated air and correctly set the required temperature.

The need to adjust the temperature before the start of the season. If the apartment or house is too cold for comfortable living, you will have to change the heating settings. The problem usually concerns both apartment buildings with a centralized heating system, and private ones with an individual heating system.

The temperature can only be reduced compared to the original value, and also carried out separate adjustments for different rooms. For example, if the bedroom is too warm, you need to reduce the setting. Otherwise, you may have problems sleeping. For this reason, it is required during design and calculations. If the system has already been installed, then modifications will need to be made.

Work process

Radiator temperature

Very often, residents of apartment buildings and country houses wonder what temperature the heaters themselves should be in the room according to the standard and how to properly adjust the heating radiators. In fact, there is no such standard for the temperature of radiators. There is only such a thing as heat transfer. It completely depends on what material the radiator is made of. Aluminum radiators are considered the most effective for quickly warming up a room, bimetallic ones transfer heat a little worse, and cast iron ones are in last place. (See also: Steel heating radiators)

Instead of standards for the temperature of heating units, there are standards for the level of air heat in rooms. According to these standards, the temperature in living rooms should be no lower than 18C and no higher than 24C. In other rooms (toilet, bathroom, kitchen, hallway, storage room) it should be from 14 to 22C. The ideal temperature is considered to be 21C. if you manage to achieve uniform heat distribution throughout the entire area of the apartment or house, this will be the best option of all possible.

Calculations of payments for intra-apartment and communal energy consumption

Previously, payment for heating attics and entrances was included in the heating bill for each apartment, and was tied to a certain tariff. Control over the condition of common property was entrusted to the management company, which received a fixed fee from residents for this.

The heating bill will also include the amount for heating common areas of the house - entrances, attics, basements.

Today, in accordance with the Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated 05/06/11 No. 354, clause 40 “On the provision of utility services to owners and users of premises in apartment buildings and residential buildings,” payment for all utilities, including heating, is divided into two points:

Payment for heating a residential premises, that is, an apartment.
Payment for heating non-residential common premises.

Accordingly, in the payment receipts, instead of one line, a line appeared - heating for single use (common house needs).

That is why apartment owners began to worry about the question of how to calculate the cost of heating an apartment and common areas of the house when installing a common building meter.

The procedure for calculating heating costs will directly depend on the presence or absence of individual heat meters in the apartment. There are three options:

The house has a communal energy meter; there are no individual appliances in the apartments.
The house has a communal meter installed, partly or even all apartments are equipped with individual heat consumption metering devices.
There is no communal meter installed in the house (which, as we remember, is already contrary to the current Law).

The first option is that individual heat meters are not installed in the apartments.

This situation is typical for most apartments. Only a few homeowners, in order to independently control the consumption of thermal energy, have installed individual meters for metering the consumed thermal energy.

In some cases, circumstances allow you to independently control the amounts to pay for heating. Often everything turns out very confusing, and the apartment owner simply does not have the necessary information for such calculations.

It should be noted that sometimes their installation is unprofitable, and in some cases it is completely impossible. For example, if the house has an old-style heating circuit installed, that is, it consists of vertical risers that “pierce” the apartments from the first to the top floor. In such systems, individual metering devices have to be installed on each radiator. So, most likely, the costs of purchasing them and installing them will not be justified, or this will not happen very soon.

So, if there are no heating meters in apartments, but a common house heat meter is already installed in the house, then calculations are made for two items - apartment heating and single-room heating. As an example, we can consider the following option with conventionally taken area values and heating prices:

The readings of the general house meter over the past month amounted to 300 gigacalories. The exact readings of the device must be indicated on the receipt or you can find them out from the management company (MC).
Next, you will need to find out the total area of the house, which includes all, without exception, heated premises (apartments, entrance areas, attics, basements, common technical rooms, etc.) For example, it is 7500 m². The exact data is also indicated on the receipt, or you can also find it in the Criminal Code.
The area of the specific apartment for which the calculation is being carried out is 80 m² - this parameter is indicated in the technical passport for the apartment.
And finally, the established tariff for heating - let it be 1350 rubles per 1 Gkl (gigacalorie). The tariff for this service is set by the executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation. It’s easy to find on the pages of local Internet resources.

So, having all the above data, the amount of payment for heating the apartment for the past month is calculated using the following formula:

M = Q × ( Sк / Stotal) × T

Where:

M — accrued amount to be paid for consumed heat;

Q - taken readings of the common house meter for the billing period;

Sк is the area of the apartment for which the calculation is carried out;

Stotal - the total area of all heated premises of an apartment building;

T is the regional tariff per unit of consumed heat.

In our example it turns out:

M = 300 × (80 / 7500) × 1350 = 4320 rubles.

To simplify the task for the reader, below is a calculator, which already contains the above-mentioned formula:

Calculator for calculating the amount of payment for heating in the presence of a common house meter

Go to calculations

The second option is that an individual heat meter is installed in the apartment.

If the apartment has a heat meter installed, payment is made as follows:

Heating of the apartment is paid according to the readings of the individual meter - the difference found during the calculated period is multiplied by the current tariff.
The amount for heating common premises is calculated based on the difference between the readings of individual meters in apartments and the common building meter. In this case, the area of the apartment is again taken into account, and for this a formula similar to that presented above is used. But, without having information about individual heat consumption in other apartments in the house, it will not be possible to calculate the amount for your own. So you have to trust the accounts calculated by the employees of the management company.

The third option – there are no heat meters

According to the law, this should practically never happen anymore. However, this kind of thing still happens. So, if neither the house nor the apartments have heat metering devices installed, then payment is made according to the tariffs established by regional authorities for 1 m² of apartment, plus for heating common premises.

Heating tariffs may vary in different regions of the country. In addition, they can be installed only for the heating season or distributed evenly throughout the entire calendar year. Both cases do not contradict current instructions. Year-round payment, however, allows you to reduce the “financial burden” during the heating season. But on the other hand, paying for heating in the summer months seems extremely opaque and is usually much more difficult to accept psychologically.

At the end of the heating season, in any case, a recalculation is carried out based on the actual temperature conditions of the heating system over the past months. And here it depends. Either residents are refunded the overpaid funds (more precisely, they are offset against future payments), or an invoice is issued for additional payment.

Manual valves

Manually adjustable valves allow you to change the volume of coolant entering the radiator by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the passage hole.

The valve includes a valve with a shut-off head. It, in turn, is connected to a handle, on which a scale with divisions can be applied. Turning the handle causes the shut-off head to move and the volume of incoming coolant to change to a smaller or larger direction. The marks on the scale allow you to set the required battery temperature.

Manual valves are simple, reliable and inexpensive, but require regular monitoring.

Stabilization of pressure in the heating system

Expansion of water as a result of heating is a natural process. In this indicator, the pressure may exceed a critical value, which is unacceptable from the point of view of heating operation. In order to stabilize and reduce pressure on the internal surfaces of pipes and radiators, it is necessary to install several heating elements. Adjusting the heating system in a private home will be much easier and more efficient with their help.

Adjusting the expansion tank

Expansion membrane tank

It is a steel container divided into two chambers. One of them is filled with water from the system, and air is pumped into the second. The air pressure value is equal to normal in heating pipes. If this parameter is exceeded, the elastic membrane increases the volume of the water chamber, thereby compensating for the thermal expansion of water.

Before adjusting the pressure drop in the heating system, you need to check the condition and settings of the expansion tank. You can adjust the pressure in the heating system by purchasing a tank model with the ability to change it in the air chamber. As an additional measure, install a pressure gauge to visually monitor this value.

However, if there is a significant surge in pressure, this measure will not be enough. This way you can adjust the pressure drop in the heating system if it does not exceed a critical value. Therefore, it is recommended to install additional devices.

How to adjust a security group

Heating safety group

This group of devices includes the following elements:

Pressure gauge. Designed for visual monitoring of the heating system operation;
Air vent. If the water temperature exceeds 100 degrees, excess steam acts on the valve seat of the device, releasing air from the pipes;
Safety valve. It works in the same way as a water drain, but is needed to drain excess coolant from the pipes.

How to adjust a heating radiator using this unit? Alas, it is designed to prevent emergency situations throughout the entire system. Batteries require another device to be installed.

Mayevsky crane

Structurally, it is similar to a safety valve. A special feature is its small size and the ability to be mounted on a radiator pipe with a small diameter.

In order to correctly adjust heating radiators, you need to know in what cases the Mayevsky tap is used:

Eliminating air pockets in radiators. By opening the valve, air is released until the coolant flows;
Setting the critical pressure value parameters. If an emergency expansion of water occurs, the valve opens and the pressure in the radiator stabilizes.

Design of the Mayevsky crane

The last function is optional and is most often not used. This task is best handled by the security team. Proper adjustment of heating in the house should include all of the above elements.

When independently regulating a two-pipe heating system while the boiler is running, you need to constantly monitor the readings of thermometers and pressure gauges.

Preparation for the procedure

Before you start balancing, prepare everything you need for it. To get started, you will need the following:

A special contact thermometer with which you can accurately determine the degree of heating at various points.
In order to adjust the balancing valve, you will need a hex wrench.
If it has been preserved, it is advisable to take a heating wiring diagram. It may not exist if the equipment was installed a long time ago or was done without a diagram prepared in advance.
You will need paper, pencil and marker.

Instead of a contact thermometer, you can use other models. Professional specialists often use a specialized thermal imager for this purpose. You can also use a remote pyrometer.

If there is no wiring diagram, then you need to sketch out a plan for the location of its elements yourself. First of all, the sequence of connecting the radiators and their distance from the boiler room are noted. Balancing a two-pipe heating system is similar to what is done for a single-pipe one.

When heating balancing begins, the mud trap at the inlet of the heating boiler is cleaned. Then it is necessary to warm up the heating boiler. This must be done up to maximum operating temperature. It doesn’t matter whether the weather outside is cool or hot.

How to heat a private house Source septik-pro.com

How to increase the output power of a radiator

The output power of radiators can only be increased by increasing the temperature of the coolant. Or changing radiators to more efficient ones (replacing old, clogged, cast-iron ones with modern bimetallic, aluminum, steel, etc.). Replacing the radiator supply pipes with new ones, adding additional sections to the installed batteries and a number of other factors influencing this. Even the way the radiator is connected to the heating system will depend on its temperature.

Therefore, from the above, it becomes clear that, for example, if in your apartment, which has centralized heating, the radiators do not fully cope with their task, then it will not be possible for you to raise the temperature of the coolant, since you are not doing this and cannot do this

Therefore, it is better to pay attention to the quality of the radiators themselves or, for example, to the insulation of windows and the entire apartment as a whole. Perhaps it would be more rational to invest money in, say, new double-glazed windows

In a private house with individual heating, please regulate the water temperature in the system with a heating boiler, but again, the quality of home insulation is a fundamental factor in a warm home. Perhaps your heating system is normal and by adding a boiler, you will spend money on energy resources.

Control valves

Operating principle

A control valve for a heating radiator is a device that allows you to automatically control the movement of the coolant.

The design of such products is quite complex, but they also work much more efficiently than valves for manual adjustment:

The bellows, a container filled with liquid or gas, is responsible for sensing the outside temperature. As the temperature rises, the bellows expands, affecting the control unit.

Note! The price of liquid and gas-filled devices is approximately the same, but the operating features are different. Thus, gas models react faster to temperature changes, while liquid models more accurately convey the impact on the coolant flow

The expanded bellows presses on the valve stem, which lowers and gradually closes the valve saddle, through which hot water enters the battery.
When cooling, the opposite situation is observed: the rod rises and the lumen of the saddle expands.

We set the degree of initial compression of the bellows ourselves, either by setting the temperature value we need on the digital display, or by rotating the mechanical adjustment knob. It is also possible to connect the thermal valve with external sensors - in this case, the movement of the rod is controlled not by a bellows, but by a servo drive under the influence of an electrical or hydraulic system.

Installation of thermostatic tap

Among specialists, the question of whether it is necessary to install taps on heating radiators is practically not discussed. Even installing a simple ball valve provides a number of advantages, and the presence of a high-quality thermostat is even more so. However, the instructions advise following a number of rules when installing such devices:

Example of correct installation of the product

First, you need to select a suitable valve modification. For systems with one pipe we use products of type RTD-G, for two-pipe systems - RTD-N.
Secondly, before installing taps on heating radiators, we check the direction of movement of the coolant (indicated by an arrow on the body). If we mix it up, the device will work any way, just not the way we need it.
Thirdly, we place the thermoregulation head perpendicular to the plane of the battery. so that the heat flow does not affect its operation.

How to regulate heating radiators using taps is also a fairly simple question:

Having installed the valve on the radiator, we check the tightness and supply coolant to the system.
Using the handle or dial, set the average temperature.
After about an hour, we adjust the valve setting according to our feelings and checking the thermometer in the room.
If necessary, repeat the adjustment again. however, this is usually not required.

The system is adjusted by rotating the handle

After this, it is usually necessary to interfere with the operation of the device no more than once a month - in case of sudden changes in external temperature.

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 simply cannot produce more heat, then any means of adjustment will not help. But you can try to change the situation in one of the following ways:

First of all, check for clogging of filters and pipes. Blockages are not only found in old houses. They are more often observed in new ones: during installation, various types of construction debris enter the system, which clogs the devices when the system is started. If cleaning does not produce results, we move on to drastic measures.
Increase the coolant temperature. This is possible with individual heating, but it is very difficult, rather impossible, with centralized heating.
Change connection. Not all types of radiator connections are equally effective, for example, reverse side connection results in a 20-25% reduction in power, and the installation location of the heating device also affects it. Read more about battery connection types here.
Increase the number of sections. If the connection and installation are optimal, but the room is still not warm enough, it means that the heating power of the heating device is not enough. Then you need to grow several sections. Read how to do this here.

Adjusting the radiator temperature will not raise it

The main disadvantage of adjustable systems is that they require 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.

Temperature adjustment method

The temperature adjustment method is similar to the trial and error method, they can even be called analogues. However, there are a number of “buts”. This method is based on the law of conservation of energy and on instrumental measurements of the temperature of the coolant at the inlet and outlet of the heating device. The method is based on the law of conservation of energy, the equation for determining the amount of heat:

When heat Q is transferred from the coolant through a heating device to the room, the temperature of the coolant t2 decreases. We change the flow rate G - heat transfer is regulated.

This method is used in fairly simple systems where balancing valves without fittings are used.

Pros: accessibility. This method can be used in situations where other methods are not available. This method is used when the master is limited in resources (instruments, modern balancing and automatic valves, “intelligence”, etc.).

Disadvantages: this method is inaccurate, especially in situations where the coolant temperature difference is insignificant. That is, the accuracy of the method increases with increasing outdoor temperature. An overestimated area of heating devices also leads to incorrect results.

Stopcocks

The simplest device that can change the temperature of radiators is a shut-off valve. It can, at the most primitive level, control the supply of hot water from the heating system of the house. The shut-off valve has the form of a ball valve, which has only two positions:

“closed” – the movement of hot liquid is stopped, the battery cools down;
“open” – the maximum volume of coolant passes through the radiator.

A significant disadvantage of adjusting the heating of the battery using a shut-off valve is the need for constant manipulation. It is impossible to create a constant temperature regime using a tap.

Important! The ball valve must not be left in an intermediate position, since the shut-off ball is damaged by solid particles in the water of the heating system