10 best models of steel panel and tubular heating radiators

Just a few decades ago, the only option for heating city apartments or office premises were heavy cast iron radiators. Today they have been almost completely replaced by functional steel products. We included the best models in the rating of steel radiators for 2022.

Expert's choice:

Mini rating

Steel radiator - general information

Steel radiator
Steel radiators are modern heating devices designed for heating rooms when operating in autonomous or centralized heating systems, including those with a low coolant temperature (+55...+70 degrees). The cost of this equipment is lower than aluminum or bimetallic analogues. Steel batteries heat up quickly, transfer heat to the room, but also cool down quickly.

The products are characterized by improved protection against physical and chemical factors and can withstand pressure drops in the network. Resistant to water hammer. Operate effectively at any coolant temperature. They have an attractive design that matches any decor. They can be horizontal or vertical. They differ in connection type and center distance.

What to look for when choosing a steel radiator

When purchasing batteries for an apartment or country house, you must take into account the technical parameters of these products.

Radiator type

By design, steel heating radiators are panel, sectional or tubular.

Panel

They look like two flat plates made of perforated steel, connected to each other by spot welding. This connection method ensures high quality seams and ensures a long service life of the products. Panel thickness – from 1.2 to 2 mm.

To improve heat transfer, panel models are equipped with U-shaped ribs made of thin sheet steel installed in the rear part. These structural elements perform the function of convectors that move heated air masses to the upper part of the room.

Please note: according to manufacturers, the average service life of such batteries can reach 25 years. But most often this period is shortened due to the poor quality of the coolant, which contains aggressive impurities that lead to corrosion of products.

Based on the number of convectors and panels, steel panel radiators are divided into several types, which have their own markings corresponding to the number of panels and “coil” convectors in the system. In everyday life, the most popular products are type 22, equipped with two panels, the same number of convectors and an upper bar. Or 33, with three panels, convector fins and a top grille.

Products with parameters 20 or 21 are not used for heating residential premises.

The main characteristics of these batteries include power and heat dissipation. The first indicator is determined taking into account the heat loss of the building in use, approved in the regulatory documentation. The material of the house, the type of its roof, the number of rooms and windows are also taken into account. Heat transfer is calculated based on the area of ​​the heated surface and the number of heating sources.

Advantages and disadvantages

Improved heat transfer with compact dimensions due to the combination of the functions of a heater with a convector.

Resistance to mechanical damage and abrasive substances.

Variety of models in a wide size range.

Easy installation and maintenance.

Requires a small amount of coolant.

Weak resistance to water hammer;

Development of corrosion upon contact with impurities in the coolant.

Tubular

Steel tubular radiators in appearance resemble traditional cast iron models. They consist of vertical tubes connected to each other using an upper and lower manifold, ensuring efficient circulation of coolant in the device.

The level of heat transfer of this equipment is affected by the size, number of tubes located in one row, and their thickness. For Russian-made products it is 2 mm with a diameter of 25 mm. For Europeans it is 1.5 mm. Due to their greater thickness, Russian tubular batteries can withstand pressures of up to 22.5 atmospheres. European-made analogues can operate in a network with a pressure of up to 15 atmospheres. The number of tubes in a row for different models ranges from 1 to 6 units. Depth - up to 22.5 cm. Height of steel tubular radiators: from 30 to 300 cm.

Advantages and disadvantages

Resistant to pressure changes.

Antistatic properties (dust does not accumulate on them, falling down the smooth steel tubes).

Attractive appearance due to the smoothed internal and external surfaces (a model with certain parameters, shape, and dimensions can be made to order).

Easy to maintain due to the absence of ribs.

Tightness, high level of reliability.

Tendency to develop corrosion;

High price.

Products with laser welding are considered more durable in operation.

Connection type

Type of connection of devices
Devices are connected to the heating system in a side, bottom or diagonal way. The lower connection option is used when laying pipes under the floor or in walls, if it is not possible to lay them in grooved channels. The side type is more often used in apartments. In this case, the supply pipe is connected to the upper branch pipe of the battery, and the return pipe to the lower branch pipe. Both of these holes are on the same side of the radiator.

The diagonal method provides improved heat transfer. In this case, the pipe through which the coolant is supplied is connected to the upper branch pipe on one side, and the second, outlet pipe, to the lower branch pipe on the opposite side. When connecting in reverse, the supply pipe is located at the bottom and the outlet pipe is at the bottom.

It is advantageous to use a diagonal circuit for batteries with an increased number of sections (1 or more).

Heat dissipation

Power and heat transfer level are key indicators on which the operating efficiency of the radiator depends. If the battery is too hot, which means you have to ventilate the room all the time, this will create an unfavorable microclimate in the room and lead to excessive consumption of energy resources, that is, additional heating costs. If the heating is not enough, the room will not warm up as it should, which will also cause discomfort.

The heat transfer of a steel battery depends on the temperature of the carrier in the system, the size of the radiator and the thermal conductivity of the material from which it is made (steel). According to experts’ calculations, for normal heating of 1 m³ of room volume, 40 watts of thermal energy from the device is required. If there are windows, add 100 W to each of them. For each door - 150 W.

It is convenient to determine the required power of a steel radiator using the formula: Power = Room volume * 40 W + heat loss from windows + heat loss from doors. For different manufacturers, the power of these devices is 1200 - 1800 W.

Installation method

Methods for installing these heating devices depend on the type of connection, which can be:

• diagonal;
• bottom;
• lateral.

Important: When installing the battery, you must leave a gap of at least 25 mm between its back wall and the wall of the room. Otherwise, the heat transfer from the radiator will decrease. You should not use various decorative elements such as screens or curtains to disguise heating devices, since their presence will also reduce heat transfer and disrupt the operation of the temperature sensor.

The connection option is selected based on the type of battery, as well as the characteristics of the heating system. In apartments with centralized heating, it is better not to change the connection method, but to choose a suitable radiator model for it.

Pressure level

This indicator is influenced by the type of radiator battery. The standard pressure for operating plate models is considered to be 6–10 atmospheres, for tubular models – up to 15 atmospheres.

Metal radiators

As a rule, radiators are made of metals. This material has two great advantages : high thermal conductivity and mechanical strength.

It is easy to industrially give metal any shape by casting or stamping; it is durable and easy to use.

Based on their operating principle, batteries are divided into two groups:

1. Convectors. The principle of operation is heat transfer directly to the air circulating in the channels. Air currents circulate inside the convector, cold air is sucked in from below and rises, heating, upward. Such heaters are effective, but the indoor microclimate is not the most pleasant. A feature of convectors is the presence of ribs and channels to increase the air exchange area.
2. Emitters. The principle of operation is the emission of infrared rays; heating of the air from such radiators is secondary. This type is characterized by massiveness, large area of ​​front panels, and high comfort.

Most heaters use both principles , however, when designing heating in a house, it is worth taking into account the predominant type of action, skillfully managing the flow of warm air and radiant heat.

Performance characteristics of steel heating radiators

The founder of the tubular radiator is Robert Zehnder, and it is not surprising that the first company to produce such radiators was called Zehnder. Initially, a tubular radiator was not used for the heating system at all, but for cooling the motorcycle engine. After some time, such radiators found application in the industrial sector.

Among the operating parameters and characteristics of steel radiators, the following can be distinguished:

• Since high-quality metal is used for the manufacture of such heating devices, they are able to withstand fairly high operating pressure. These stainless steel heating radiators are best suited for individual buildings. In an individual heating system, pressure is not as high as in multi-storey buildings, so steel radiators can last for quite a long time. In addition, such radiators will be able to work without any interruptions.
• For the manufacture of such radiators, simple technologies are used, so their retail price is relatively low. Based on this indicator, you can choose the radiator most suitable for a particular room.

Manufacturing of steel heating radiators

• Steel radiators have fairly good resistance to hydraulic shocks. Sections of such radiators are welded without the use of various gaskets, which is why they are so highly resistant to mechanical damage.
• Appearance is the most important advantage of such radiators. Iron radiators can be painted in any color that you like best. They can be placed horizontally, at an angle or vertically. You can also add more sections to such radiators. Using steel heating radiators you can heat a room of any size.
• Steel radiators are quite versatile devices. They can be used with almost any fastening materials. Steel radiators are usually sold complete with fasteners. Thanks to this, their installation can be carried out quite accurately and quickly.

Popular manufacturers of steel radiators

Zehnder (Germany)

Zehnder (
The largest manufacturer of tubular products, which is a constant leader in the European market. The brand’s radiators inside have a special protective coating that prevents the development of corrosion. Adapted for the Russian market.

Kermi (Germany)

Kermi
Batteries of the German brand operate with pressure up to 13 atmospheres at a maximum temperature of up to +110 degrees. Average heat output of brand devices: about 1158 W. Manufactured from reliable sheet steel 1 mm thick.

Purmo (Finland)

Purmo
The main advantage of the company's products is the increased level of heat transfer, which, depending on the model, is up to 3500 W. The brand's batteries are high-quality, durable, but expensive.

Kimry Thermal Equipment Plant (KZTO/KZTO) (Russia)

Kimry Heating Equipment Plant
The founder of the Russian heating equipment market. The company produces two series of tubular radiators: with a square (PC) or round manifold, as well as productive, powerful panel models with improved heat transfer and a modern, ergonomic design.

Elsen (Russia)

Elsen
The company specializes in the production of modern and functional panel heating radiators, whose technical parameters are not inferior to their European counterparts. For the production of equipment, high-quality cold-rolled low-carbon steel with a thickness of 1.25 mm is used. The panels are welded together using a continuous roller seam, ensuring their tightness and durability. Available in various sizes, with bottom or side connection.

Concern "Lidselmash" (Republic of Belarus)

Concern "Lidselmash"

Specializes in the production of flat steel heating radiators under the Lideya brand. For the manufacture of brand models, high-quality cold-rolled steel with a thickness of 1.2 mm is used. Lideya heating devices are designed for autonomous heating systems of residential or industrial buildings. Available in various lengths and heights.

Comparison table of characteristics

To compare the models presented in the article, we suggest studying the table below.

You will be interested in: TOP 7 best gasoline generators: which one to buy, reviews, characteristics, price, pros and cons

Which radiators are best to buy for a private house and for an apartment?

Which radiators are best to buy for a private home
? For an apartment with a centralized heating system, it is better to choose sectional models. When purchasing, it is advisable to know the operating pressure in the system and the approximate composition of the coolant, since these are the factors that usually damage practical and functional steel models. If possible, it is better to purchase bimetallic heating equipment for a city apartment with a ribbed body made of lightweight, durable aluminum and an interior made of copper or hardened steel. Or made of reliable cast iron.

Both panel and tubular models of steel radiators are suitable for a private house with an autonomous heating system.

Please note: if you are looking for inexpensive batteries with a high level of heat transfer, you can choose products with a panel design.

Tubular radiators differ little in characteristics from panel radiators. Their main advantages: attractive design and hygiene. If you wish, you can order a model for your home based on your own individual sketch. The disadvantage of such products: high price.

Equipment and installation methods

Panel batteries with a side connection do not require any configuration; they already have an internal thread into which a pipe or tap can be installed. But, despite this, as a rule, I sell them with plugs and a Mayevsky tap.

Bottom-connected radiators have two pipes and a socket in their design, so no additional equipment is needed for their installation

As for standard devices with basic installation, when purchasing them it is important to check that the box contains floor mounting, a manual air vent and a plug. Regardless of the type of radiator, when connecting it you cannot do without ball valves and special control valves

Thanks to these parts, the flow is adjusted.

When installing batteries with bottom connections, multiflexes or separate locking units are also used.

Multipleflexes can be either angular or straight. They are directly connected to the radiator and pipeline made of various materials. Thanks to these accessories, the device can be removed while leaving the station in working order. As for installation methods, they are determined individually, taking into account the material of the pipes. Ball valves are well suited for polypropylene pipes, and fastening is carried out by welding. If the pipeline is made of metal-plastic, then you need to take into account that it may contain press or fitting pipes.

The first type is simply twisted with nuts, and the second is squeezed with special pliers. In addition, the radiator can also be connected using valves with a Euro cone. Usually the installation process does not take much time. First, the tap is disassembled, then the fitting with the union nut is screwed into the battery and joined. To get the job done efficiently, you need to have a special key for an American on hand. Upon completion of installation, all threaded connections must be sealed with a gasket.

Which steel radiator is best to buy?

When buying steel radiators for a house or apartment, you first need to decide on the type of equipment. Panel models are simple and compact in design. The heat from them is transferred to the room using the conventional method. Tubular batteries are aesthetically pleasing, have an original design, but are more expensive than panel ones. The heat in them circulates between the steel tubes included in their design, quickly warming up the space.

Another important parameter: height. The universal height of the batteries is 500 mm, suitable for any type of window sill. Also on sale you can find products with a height of 30, 40, 45, 50, 60 or 90 cm.

Convector size . We are talking about a curved serpentine plate that gives off heat. With a radiator height of 50 cm, the size of the convector should be 40 cm, with 5 cm gaps in the upper and lower parts.

Pressure level . This indicator, which can be found in the technical documentation for the device, must correspond to the network parameters. Otherwise the battery will simply burst.

Weight . For a standard model measuring 500 by 1000 mm, it should be at least 24 kilograms. If this parameter is less, this indicates insufficient thickness of the steel sheet, which can negatively affect the thermal parameters of the model. The thickness of the steel of the device must be at least 1.15 mm. This indicator is especially important for systems prone to water hammer.

Calculation of the minimum required thermal power

Heat transfer is the main criterion for choosing heating radiators. You can calculate the minimum required thermal power by area. For this, a ratio of 1 kW of thermal power is used for every 10 m2 of heated room area. To create a power reserve, we recommend increasing the resulting figure by 15%, that is, multiplying by a factor of 1.15.

For example , to heat a room with an area of ​​34.5 m2, 3.45 * 1.15 = 3.97 or 4 kW of heat transfer is required. This can be either one large radiator or 2 x 2000 Watts. This simple calculation method is sufficient to create comfortable heating conditions.

There is a more complex method that takes into account all the nuances, which is used by specialists. For convenience and speed of calculations, we recommend using our calculator.

Customer Reviews

Eli Welbeck

Axis Classic 22

An ordinary radiator, connected diagonally, heats up in 30 seconds. Overall, everything is great, reliable and easy to install. Heavy, high quality and good heat dissipation (I chose the product based on this criterion) There is only one drawback and it is not significant. There are paint scratches on the front side. It is possible that this happened during transportation, but the fact itself is not pleasant. The packaging is very simple and cheap. This is what causes the scratches.

Sergey

Arbonia 2180

For me, it’s just a radiator, an interior radiator... Due to its shortcomings, it gives off heat worse than its relatives, we bought this company before, of a different model. there the heat transfer is approximately 95%. in this model I think 85% no more (. There is no need to write about the price, since it is always high in this segment of the product... We took it for the interior of the room, perhaps knowing that the heat transfer would be worse, I would have looked at another model... There is a built-in thermostat .but according to the description it is not always convenient to use, so we can do without it.

Sofia Gromova

Irsap Tesi2 1800

Fits very well into the interior, it is heated throughout its entire height. At first there were doubts, since there were no obligations between the seller and the buyer. There was contact with the consultant at any time, which is good news. The prices are decent, the lowest we found. Delivery within the specified time. One hour before arrival you will be notified of departure. The product arrived intact. Promptly and efficiently. I liked everything very much.

Vyacheslav Podlesnov

Purmo Compact 22

The radiator itself is excellent, no complaints. Disadvantages: Such a product should be packaged from cardboard. It could have been easier. I took it through the “Beru” service, they sent it for delivery through Dpd, they, in turn, were two days late, they scratched the paint on the top of the radiator, plus the courier refused to deliver to the door and did not even help remove the goods from the car, delivery to the door was registered in I ordered on the Dpd website, the radiator weight is 36 kg, I specially went out to help lift it.

Dmitriy

Royal Thermo Compact C22

Easy to attach. Looks stylish. It warms well. The price corresponds to the quality, no worse than average imported products. Fast delivery, good packaging. Installed in the heating system of a private house, of different sizes and two types 21 and 22, no problems in two winters, they work as expected. Very neat appearance. Please indicate in the product description that nothing except the radiator is included in the kit. I had to drive all over the city and look for brackets

David O.

Buderus Logatrend K-Profil 22

Buderus Logatrend K-Profil 22 radiators were installed not so long ago, this fall. Our house is compact with its own autonomous boiler room. The coolant is purified water, so I am not afraid that the radiators will suffer from corrosion over time. The whole family enjoys the cozy atmosphere, because any room is pleasantly warm. Heat begins to flow quickly from the radiators, literally 10 minutes after turning on the heating. Of course, this is also facilitated by the fact that our system has a circulation pump. It accelerates hot water, and radiators quickly respond to this and transfer heat to the surrounding space. On top of that, the radiators have a nice, very modern design. It is noticeable that they are well painted. We are pleased with these products.

Basil

Arbonia 2180

Of those available at the time of purchase, it is the most original in design. Loten would have to wait 8 weeks Disadvantages: Look carefully at prices online. Too often the prices are the same. Some sellers “seem to give a discount for paying in cash.” There is a suspicion that the manufacturer regulates retail prices. Is this allowed on the territory of the Russian Federation? All components - connections, plugs and fasteners must be purchased separately. If the radiators are white, there are no problems. And I took it in black. I had to look.

Denis Alexandrov

ELSEN ERK 11

Subjectively, there is a feeling that the heat transfer is overestimated by the manufacturer, that is, it heats better but not significantly, although according to the numbers the difference should have been an order of magnitude greater. Its sound conductivity is clearly high, the audibility of neighbors has increased significantly, sometimes you even get the feeling that the neighbors are very close... in the radiator) I have a side connection, so not all sections warm up equally. The temperature difference between the outer sections is about 10 degrees. Overall the impression is good, not a bad radiator for the money. I recommend hanging it on a larger number of fasteners (3-4 pieces) than the manufacturer advises. The radiator is useful. I can’t say anything about reliability - it takes more time.

Gregory

Kermi FKO 11

They dissipate heat well, look great, 3/4 connection. This is the second one I have at home. Previously there were inexpensive aluminum batteries. The difference is huge in terms of heat transfer and workmanship. I bought the first one in the store, the second one in the Yandex market. After delivery by courier and unpacking, there were three minor damages under the cardboard on the outer sections. Not significantly, but still not pleasant. A question arises for the seller - don’t you have 50 rubles for a double layer of bubble wrap? Well, add them to the price of the battery, otherwise how are you going to work for a long time? Well, I can’t advise my acquaintances and friends to buy a battery, and anyone on the Yandex market for this reason. Or are they initially shipped from the warehouse in poor condition, with problematic radiators that were not delivered to stores due to problems? Disadvantages - there is no packaging to protect the radiator during transportation. Two layers of regular film and thin cardboard on the outer sections is not serious. The Chinese buy cheap goods with delivery from China, and it’s better to pack them several times over. But here the radiator costs money. There is another radiator on the way, I took it because of the discount, and it was interesting to compare.

Anfisa

Axis Classic 22

I live in an old-style apartment (Khrushchev), and all my neighbors have a real problem with radiators. Everyone changes them every now and then, suffers and changes again. Last year, I also couldn’t stand it and decided to replace the conventional sectional ones with innovative bimetallic ones. I liked the Akhis advertisement, so I ordered from them. Managers recommended the Classic 22 model. Visually, I liked it. And then, when the delivery arrived and the installation was done, I liked the way it did its job. The battery is good, there were no problems with it during the winter. I don't know how long it will last, but so far so good.

Edik G.

Royal Thermo Compact C22

On its own merits it is worth the money. I found no defects. Heat dissipation is superb, especially in contrast to the old radiator, which was almost always half cold. I’m not ready to recommend it with 100% confidence yet, because I’ve only been using it for 2 heating seasons, but so far I’m happy with everything. Next in line is the bedroom (I’ll be doing renovations there too), I think I’ll order a couple more radiators. By the way, the design of the radiator is excellent - it fits easily into any interior. Very neat, nothing superfluous, looks elegant.

Makarov D.

Kermi FKO 22

For 5 years now, 3 batteries of 8 sections of Kermi FKO 22 have been installed in the apartment. I decided to write a review with the new heating season and anniversary date, so to speak. At the time I purchased them, there were somehow mixed opinions about kermi, but I relied on common sense and the advice of not the last people in this field, who have been in the subject for 10-15 years already. They made it clear that competition is such a thing... some respect their colleagues in the shop, so to speak, and others not so much. Batteries. The batteries perform their function - they heat the entire apartment and do it very well. Neat, outwardly attractive and silent, which is also important. Nothing has happened to the coating (paint) in 5 years, and in general they look like new. No children have been noticed, I check every heating season. So I can advise. The only thing is that they were probably more expensive then (5 years ago), but I think it’s better to overpay and not think about them for a long time.