Is it possible to use antifreeze for a home heating system?

Our topic today is quite controversial and is widely discussed on forums. We will talk about the use of antifreeze for heating a house. When we talk about antifreeze, we most likely mean coolant for car radiators. But first of all, antifreeze is a liquid that does not freeze. The same can be said about antifreeze. Is there a difference between them and what is it? Why does everyone keep saying that you can’t pour antifreeze into the circuit, but in practice people still pour it? Or maybe this is another advertising ploy? We will help you figure out whether it is possible to pour antifreeze into the heating system “from A to Z” and untangle this tangle.

Heating maintenance, antifreeze replacement

What is antifreeze replacement?

Replacing antifreeze involves a lot of actions related to heating maintenance. The main effect of this concept is the replacement of water with antifreeze in heating an apartment. This change of water allows you to avoid defrosting the heating system as a whole during the winter season. In another way, changing water can be called introducing a substance into the heating equipment that is not capable of freezing. After the introduction of such a substance, the treated material must be replaced with an updated one. All these actions can only be carried out by an experienced specialist, because replacing heating material is a labor-intensive task that can be performed with dexterity, certain skills and professional training. Antifreezes are considered harmful substances containing toxins. Toxins require careful use because they can expand more than water.

How to protect your car from freezing water in the engine. Useful tips

Unfortunately, not every car enthusiast can afford to keep their car in a warm garage. If you have to leave your vehicle in an open place, you should follow certain instructions to protect the car from hypothermia:

By draining the water after turning off the engine, you can protect yourself from freezing. However, there are some difficulties here, such as the impossibility of completely removing all the fluid from the engine, caused by the technical features of the car. Freezing, the remaining water forms impassable plugs, making it difficult to subsequently refill the cooling system; A heat insulator attached to the back of the hood reduces the possibility of damage to the unit. Protecting the radiator with a special apron will also help. You can protect the engine from freezing during minor frosts during a short overnight stop by insulating it with old blankets or jackets

However, it should be remembered that the described precaution lasts only for a short time, and after a few days you risk losing the motor; When choosing a parking spot, try to consider the direction of the wind. By protecting the radiator from direct air flow, you can minimize the risk of engine freezing; It is not recommended to show inappropriate savings

Just one liter of antifreeze added to the cooling system will help avoid problems associated with major overhauls of the power unit; Periodic warming up of the engine will protect against the appearance of ice even at −10 0 C. This method causes great inconvenience, since it requires visiting the car every hour.

Antifreeze volume calculation

When purchasing expensive anti-freeze units, in order not to overpay, before filling the heating system, you should know the required volume of coolant. The easiest way to accurately determine it is to pump water into the main line with a pressure of 1 - 1.5 bar, and then drain it and measure the resulting amount. You can add 10% to the mass of the liquid for airing and evaporation of the coolant.

V (system) = V (boiler) + V (cistern) + V (batteries) + V (pipes)

The working volume of the boiler and expansion tank is determined from the passport data for the equipment provided by the manufacturer. In the same way, the capacity of radiators is determined from the operating instructions by multiplying the indicators of one section by their number. In the absence or loss of passports for the boiler, hydraulic accumulator or radiator heat exchangers, the necessary information is obtained from Internet sources.

The volume of the working fluid in the pipeline is determined by multiplying its cross-sectional area by its length according to the well-known formula:

V (volume) = S (area) x L (length), where

S (area) = 3.14 (pi) x R2 (radius squared).

Rice. 9 Example of calculated data for finding volume

Antifreeze and water can be mixed

Antifreeze contains the same elements: water and ethylene glycol. Antifreeze was invented in the USSR in 1971.

Classification of antifreeze by type:

1. A - ready to be poured into the car’s cooling system.
2. M - modernized, that is, it contains additional components.
3. K is a highly concentrated liquid, it will have to be diluted.

After the letters, which are divided by type, write 2 numbers - subzero temperature, at which the antifreeze will not freeze. For example, M40, or M65.

The color of good antifreeze is between blue and light blue; there is also a greenish color. Antifreeze brand A65 is red. Legal in Russia, GOST 28084-89 distributes three types of OZh-K, OZh-40, OZh-65. If there are no coolant (coolant) designations, there is only a GOST number, then it is a fake.

Antifreeze replacement algorithm

Replacing antifreeze material includes the following procedures:

-getting rid of outdated anti-freeze filler;

- complete washing of heating equipment with deep cleaning solutions;

- infusion of new frost-resistant filler into the equipment.

It doesn’t matter at all where the antifreeze is replaced - in the country heating system, in the garage heating system - everywhere you need to follow the above algorithm. Antifreeze must be replaced at regular intervals, since any non-freezing substance can wear out and lose its functions after a certain period, which lasts 5-6 years.

How to distinguish antifreeze from antifreeze

How to distinguish antifreeze from antifreeze

In order to continue this topic, it is necessary to take a deeper look at these two liquids and what they are. Initially, antifreeze is divided into two types: mineral and organic. The first is used for old, domestic cars, the engines of which were made of cast iron. This type is antifreeze. In fact, antifreeze is antifreeze due to its identical purpose. But there are still differences. The difference between antifreeze and antifreeze is primarily the freezing temperature. Antifreeze freezes at lower temperatures, which is why it is used in areas where the thermometer may show 20 degrees below zero.

With the advent of engines made of light alloy materials, additives that cause corrosion were removed from antifreeze, and since then it has become an organic antifreeze. Antifreeze and antifreeze consist of alcohol, distilled water and additives that have different purposes. Starting from sealing the holes in the cooling system pipes from the inside, to cleaning the system. But all the consequences of the “work” of these additives remain within the system, so their usefulness can still be debated for a very long time. Also, these additives are different in both antifreeze and antifreeze. How to determine antifreeze or antifreeze? And it's very simple. Antifreeze tastes sweet. But there is one thing! This liquid is very poisonous and tasting it is strictly prohibited! Do not rely on the color of the liquid to tell you about its quality. The purpose of using the dye is certainly not to lower the freezing point, or increase the boiling and evaporation temperature, but it serves to make it easier to check the coolant level in the expansion tank.

Based on this, if you have a question about whether it is possible to mix antifreeze and green antifreeze or whether it is possible to mix antifreeze and red antifreeze, know that the color does not matter. What matters is the package of additives that are found in one or another type of liquid.

What is used for electrode boilers

In houses where this type of heating equipment is installed, a special type of antifreeze is used. This is due to the fact that alternating current passes through the coolant and ionization of the solution occurs. This puts forward certain requirements for the chemical composition of the product. Appropriate ionization, electrical thermal conductivity, and electrical resistance must be ensured. Usually the boiler manufacturer himself makes recommendations about which product is best to use. And often, depending on the implementation of the recommendation, the warranty on the equipment is maintained.

Antifreeze is an excellent tool for extending the life of a heating system, especially if it is preserved for some time. However, this product must be used correctly. Before use, you should read all operating instructions from the heating equipment manufacturer, as well as the instructions for use of the products. Only in this case will success be guaranteed; radiators and pipes will last for many decades.

Antifreeze production technology

Shampoos, glass cleaners and coolants are produced on the same equipment. This is due to the fact that their production is identical. It consists of mixing all components in certain quantities. Therefore, along with antifreeze, other automotive chemicals can be produced.

Antifreeze production technology consists of the following stages:

1. Preparation of concentrate from glycols and additives.
2. Purification of the resulting mixture.
3. Diluting the solution with demineralized water.

All ingredients are taken in the quantities required by the technology. Otherwise, the finished product will be unusable. After all stages have been completed, the resulting material is sent for sampling, where it is tested before sale.

Liquid that meets all requirements and standards is bottled in plastic bottles. If an organization carries out wholesale sales, then antifreeze can be placed in barrels containing compressed nitrogen.

Staff

The number of employees depends on the volume of production, area and financial capabilities of the owner. This could be three people or more. It is advisable to select candidates for work in the workshop who have a technical education. They will be able to understand the technology for producing antifreeze fluid for cars.

If a worker without experience and qualifications does not understand the technological process and follow GOST instructions, the finished product will be of poor quality. Therefore, it will not pass the test and will not be suitable for sale.

Separately, you will need to hire personnel who will pour the finished material into containers. But with a large production volume, it is better to buy a specialized line that bottles liquids (up to 2000 liters per hour) into bottles up to 10 liters.

Heating with antifreeze or water

After reading this section, you will most likely refuse antifreeze in your heating system. The main advantage of antifreeze - the safety of the system at subzero temperatures - is completely negated by its disadvantages.

Low heat capacity of antifreeze. Increasing the size of radiators by 20-23% The heat capacity of antifreeze is significantly lower than the heat capacity of water. By diluting water with 35% antifreeze, we lose approximately 200 W per 1 kW of thermal energy. This means that the size of pipes, radiators and boiler must be increased by 20%. In terms of a country house of 300 m2, we lose approximately 60 thousand rubles by increasing the size of the system.

• The service life of antifreeze is from 5 to 10 years. Over the years, antifreeze oxidizes and successfully destroys brass connections. After 5 - 10 years, ethylene glycol and propylene glycol must be drained, disposed of and replaced with a new one. You will not only have to buy new antifreeze, but also pay to dispose of the old one. Unfortunately, in our country there is no service for recycling ethylene glycol in small volumes, so finding someone to hand over this chemical to will be difficult. I won’t consider the idea of ​​dumping antifreeze on my neighbor’s property.

• The use of sectional radiators in systems with antifreeze is unacceptable. Rubber sectional gaskets quickly oxidize, and the radiators leak. We use only steel panels. The use of galvanized pipes is also unacceptable. Antifreeze safely washes away the zinc, and the pipe remains bare.

• Why is antifreeze useless for a country house? Antifreeze will successfully cope with the task - the heating system will not freeze in winter in your absence, but what to do with the water supply system? At subzero temperatures, water supply pipes will freeze faster and with worse consequences, because... laid not only in the floor, but also in the walls. You will have to remove the tiles, beat the screed and change the pipes in the bathrooms, showers, kitchen, and replace the entire water supply system of the boiler room. Of course, it will not be possible to pump antifreeze into the water supply system, nor will it be possible to lay all the pipes with heating cables.

Conclusion: Antifreezes are suitable either for heating small country houses for temporary residence, or large warehouses, workshops and enterprises. In the heating system of a full-fledged country house, antifreeze is useless.

Antifreeze for the heating system of a country house is needed if: you do not plan to live in the house in winter; the house has 1-2 bathrooms with a tee water supply system (without a collector), which can be drained before the onset of cold weather.

It is impossible to leave a full-fledged country house in winter without heating on duty. In winter, it is necessary to maintain constant standby heating +10-12°C. Heating a full-fledged country house for permanent residence with antifreeze is the same losing option as heating a house with heated floors, which is applicable only in the southern regions of our country.

This way your engineering systems will be truly protected without antifreeze.

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Differences between antifreeze and antifreeze

Today, three types of coolants for internal combustion engines are used: water (distilled or pure rainwater), antifreeze and antifreeze.

Antifreeze is the name of the liquid (translated as “anti-freeze”) for the engine cooling system, which does not freeze and can withstand high temperatures.

Differences:

• antifreeze was invented later than antifreeze;
• Antifreeze is better in terms of environmental friendliness;
• The boiling point of antifreeze is higher;
• The freezing point of antifreeze is lower;
• Antifreeze provides better protection against corrosion.
• Antifreeze forms a protective film, but antifreeze does not, and therefore antifreeze cools much more efficiently.
• The service life for which antifreeze is designed is 6 times less than that of antifreeze.
• antifreeze protects engine cylinder liners from cavitation (air bubbles).
• The service life of the pump (pump) is significantly reduced if antifreeze is used.
• antifreeze does not clog radiators, and various types of deposits do not form.

The main disadvantage of antifreeze is that when heated to 105 degrees, its properties deteriorate.

Antifreeze boils when heated to 115 degrees and does not leave sediment in the channels and can be used for up to 250,000 km.

The confusion about the colors of antifreeze and antifreeze infuriates any motorist. During the 2 years that the cooler is in operation and the driver does not bother replacing it, resilient manufacturers come up with new standards and variations of their products, which only plays into the hands of marketers, but not the consumer.

You also can’t stock up on coolant for future use due to the limited shelf life. Try to choose one manufacturer, find an intelligent seller who will explain in detail what the difference between the compositions is. And you yourself will learn to read the list of ingredients in order to significantly save on the service in the future.

Starting the heating of an apartment building

In a multi-storey building with bottom filling, the heating system is started as follows:

• When the supply is closed and the return is closed, the discharge of the supply pipeline opens;
• The return valve opens very smoothly. A sudden opening of the valve will most likely lead to water hammer, which can seriously damage the radiators, even to the point of rupture;
• After some time, water without air will come out of the discharge. When this happens, the discharge closes and the supply pipeline valve opens;
• All that remains is to bleed the air from all parts of the system where this is possible.

Solid fuel boiler

The fuel used in this installation is firewood, coal, coke, and peat briquettes. Heating using a solid fuel boiler (Fig. 4) is autonomous heating for a summer house. The advantage of this equipment is the low cost and distribution of fuel. This is a way out of a situation when the village has problems with electricity and there is no gas supply.

Rice. 4 Installation of a solid fuel unit at the dacha

New models of solid fuel autonomous boilers have many advantages. They work with any coolant (antifreeze, water) and maintain the temperature in the house for a long time thanks to a special valve and sensor. This boiler has more time between fuel loads. Heating a dacha with wood is a cheap and effective option.

Replacing water with antifreeze

If the system has already used water, and you want to switch to antifreeze, then two circumstances should be taken into account.

Secondly

, it is never possible to completely remove water from the heating system. Some of the water remains. If you simply pour prepared diluted antifreeze, its concentration will be insufficient for reliable protection against freezing. Thus, a concentrate must be used. I usually mix concentrate with diluted antifreeze in a 1:1 ratio. After filling the system, you need to start the circulation pump (for a system with forced circulation) or turn on the boiler (for a system with natural circulation) so that the coolant is thoroughly mixed. Then you need to pour a little coolant and measure its density. There is a device for measuring density that is sold in most car dealerships. This device is used to prepare a car for winter (checking the properties of antifreeze in the engine cooling system), but it is also perfect for our purposes. If the device shows a freezing temperature lower than necessary, for example -50 degrees, it’s okay, but if the temperature is higher than we need, then we will have to drain part of the coolant and replace it with concentrate. The drained coolant must be disposed of carefully; it is poisonous and should not be poured into septic tanks or ditches.

I would also like to draw your attention to the fact that different antifreezes may be incompatible with each other. There is an opinion that red composition should not be mixed with a composition of another color.

This is true, but in fact there are other undesirable combinations. Supplements from different brands may react with each other or simply reduce each other's effectiveness. Unfortunately, manufacturers do not indicate what other antifreezes their product can be mixed with. My advice is to pick one brand and stick with it. If you still need to mix, then mix liquids of the same color and before pouring, pour out a little coolant from the heating system, mix it in a jar with a new composition and see if a sediment forms, if the liquid becomes cloudy, or loses its homogeneity.

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It is convenient to fill the system through the water drain tap - it is located at the lowest point of the system. With this method, airing is practically eliminated, since the coolant enters from below, gradually squeezing out all the air into the expander. Read the answer.

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How to do this correctly?

First, you should remove the old antifreeze from the tank - it is located in the radiator and also in the cylinder block. When carrying out work, the car should be placed on a hill - this way much more of the cooling mixture will drain out. The system should be flushed with distilled water; It’s also worth adding special. means for carrying out work.

Antifreeze should not be poured into the car to the brim, the lid should be open, then the car engine is turned on again and the air is released into the space. Afterwards the neck should be screwed on. Prepare and place a container under the cooling drain points in advance. mixtures in cars. Next, you should unscrew the drain valve on the cooling system. You need to open it as carefully as possible, and do this while pouring antifreeze. Perform the draining itself slowly. After you have drained the main part of the coolant

mixture, unscrew the lid. It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the pipe systems and tap can be located at different points, since much depends on the design solutions of the car. After draining the car's coolant, you should seal the cooling system by turning off the pipes and the valve. After that you can start filling in a new portion of antifreeze. To prevent the mixture from spilling, it is worth placing the watering can in a special expansion tank or insert it into the radiator

It is usually located under the hood; Next, take a container and fill it with antifreeze. This should be done gradually, while trying not to pour all of your antifreeze into the tank in one fell swoop. It is worth remembering that if the pressure is too high, a water plug may appear. It is also worth noting that the extension. The tank usually has a maximum fill mark and a minimum fill mark. That is why it is recommended to pour no more cooling mixture than the set level. When pouring antifreeze or antifreeze, it is worth screwing the cap of the expansion tank tighter.

This is essentially almost all actions. Now you understand how to properly fill in antifreeze (you can understand in more detail in the video below). After all these procedures, it is better to play it safe and start your car, allowing it to reach the required temperature.

Also check how the car's cooling system works and what condition it is in. Check the antifreeze level in it.

How to replace antifreeze in a home heating system step by step instructions

Before draining the antifreeze, warm up the heating boiler, even if the replacement is carried out in the summer. All batteries are opened, the system is switched to gravity mode. Immediately before draining, turn off the boiler and disconnect other devices involved in the system from power sources. You should also prepare a sufficient amount of containers for used antifreeze.

Then proceed in the following order:

Step 1. Insert the hose into the prepared container.

Step 2. Open the drain valve.

Step 3. Fill the containers one by one.

Step 4. If a tap is not provided for a particular riser, it is released from the coolant through the Mayevsky tap using an attached hose.

Step 5. Antifreeze is diluted in a large container according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Step 6. Connect the “Baby” pump to the hole for injection into the heating system and fill the pipes with fresh coolant.

Step 7. When filling the system, periodically bleed air, pumping in antifreeze until the required pressure in the system is achieved.

How to change the coolant in a car yourself at home?

Most drivers never change the coolant in their cars, and some are not even aware of its purpose. For those, let's reveal a little secret: coolant (antifreeze, coolant, etc.) is a substance that helps prevent your car's engine from overheating. If the coolant does not cope with the task, then your car will overheat and the engine will be damaged. And all this is due to untimely vehicle maintenance! In addition, old coolant can create corrosion in the car's radiator system, which again means extra costs for vehicle repairs. To prevent the troubles described above, you should change the coolant approximately every two years. Experts from our online service Zap will tell you how to do this at home, on your own.

Pouring the finished mixture

When pouring the finished mixture from the concentrate, you must remember that it is carried out only with a cold engine. In addition, the fluid level should be monitored. After filling the liquid, you need to release any air pockets formed during the process. To do this, remove the filler cap and start the engine. In this position, it should work until all air bubbles disappear.

Making coolant from concentrate is not a complicated procedure. The main thing is to follow safety precautions, the recommendations indicated by the manufacturer on the canister, and the proportions.

Comparison of water and antifreeze

Filling the heating system with water is the most popular method for the following reasons:

• Water is a generally accessible and inexpensive type of heat carrier; it is a natural source, so its use is environmentally friendly and safe.
• The highest heat capacity of water, 4200 J/kg∙K, means that it takes a long time to heat up and release thermal energy. This property allows it to be transported over long distances with low thermal energy losses.
• In comparison with other heat-transferring liquids, the viscosity of water at 1.006 m2/s∙10-6 at 20 °C is the lowest and falls with increasing heating temperature. This factor leads to a decrease in hydraulic resistance when it moves through the pipeline and, accordingly, to an increase in heating efficiency.
• The temperature coefficient of linear expansion of water is quite low; relative to a temperature of 0 ° C at +80 ° C, it increases in volume by only 2.8%.
• Water is neutral in chemical composition and does not have a destructive effect on pipelines made of thermoplastics widely used in household communications - ordinary, cross-linked, heat-resistant polyethylene, polypropylene or their varieties with an aluminum shell - metal plastics.
• The disadvantages of water include the corrosive effect on metals and the presence of salts in the composition, which, when heated, form scale, which reduces the efficiency of equipment and leads to blockages and failure of heat transfer elements (heating elements). To avoid the negative effects of scale, the circuit is filled with distilled water instead of the usual one.
• The main disadvantage of water, in which antifreeze is poured into the heating system of a house instead, is its high crystallization temperature of 0 ° C. With strong cooling of the aquatic environment, ice with low density is formed, growing in volume by approximately 10%. This leads to rupture of ice-frozen pipes, heat exchange batteries, and boiler equipment components.

Rice. 4 Crystallization temperatures of aqueous solutions of non-freezing liquids

To avoid freezing of water in emergency situations, antifreezes are added to it, which have the following distinctive features:

• Anti-freezes have a 10% lower thermal capacity, so their use leads to a decrease in heating efficiency.
• The viscosity of antifreeze is 5 - 7 times greater than that of water, which means that to push them through pipes, more power of the electric pump will be required, and the hydraulic resistance will increase.
• Anti-freeze agents have a higher fluidity than water, so during their operation it may be necessary to replace gaskets or seals at the joints of pipelines and connected fittings with other denser materials.
• The thermal expansion of glycols is 1.5 times higher than water, so a hydraulic accumulator with a larger working chamber capacity may be needed.
• Factory antifreezes are usually designed to last 5 years (heating seasons), after which their composition is subject to decomposition with sedimentation. If the coolant in the heating system is not replaced in time (the disposal time is determined by the change in the color of the glycol), a poorly soluble sediment may appear in the circuit along with the pipes, boiler and radiators.
• Most glycols function up to +115 °C, but it is not recommended to increase the operating temperature above +70 °C. When overheated, their composition decomposes with the formation of a sparingly soluble precipitate.
• A significant advantage of glycols relative to water is the absence of expansion of the material during crystallization; the drug turns into a mobile slush of the same volume, which, when heated, again turns into a liquid state.
• Many antifreezes contain additives that reduce foaming and their corrosiveness - this significantly reduces the amount of rust when they are in lines with metal pipes and fittings.
• After draining used antifreezes, one of the problems is their disposal.
• One of the main disadvantages of antifreeze is the refusal of warranty service by many boiler manufacturers when any type of antifreeze is poured into their equipment.

Rice. 5 Table of dependence of crystallization temperature on ethylene glycol concentration

Preparing the solution and pouring it

In order to add antifreeze to your home heating system, you need to choose the right composition. All manufacturers produce ready-to-fill liquids. The temperature at which crystallization occurs is indicated in the name. For example - A40-M (-40°C). It is important to know that ready-made antifreeze cannot be diluted with water. To do this, you need to use special concentrates consisting of 95% ethylene glycol.

Preparing antifreeze solution for heating

To properly fill antifreeze into the heating system, it is best to use concentrate. This provides additional benefits, since you can independently choose the ratio of antifreeze to distilled water. In addition, it is more common to find counterfeits of a ready-made solution than of a concentrate.

First you need to determine the minimum temperature at which the effect of crystallization of the coolant will not be observed. To do this, you need to know the ratio of antifreeze for heating a house to water. They are presented in the table.

But first you need to check whether this antifreeze can be poured into the heating system. To do this, make a solution in a small transparent container (glass) and leave it for several days at room temperature. After this period, no sediment or foam formation should be observed in the liquid. If this is present, the quality of the concentrate is very low.

If there is a leak of antifreeze from the heating system, you must first ventilate the room, eliminate the accident and thoroughly wash the places where it got in.

Pouring antifreeze into the heating system

Having decided that this particular brand of antifreeze can be poured into the heating, we begin to prepare the system. First, all the coolant is drained. If antifreeze was previously poured into the pipeline, under no circumstances should it be mixed with the new solution.

Calculation of coolant volume

Residents of apartment buildings do not need to know about the volume of coolant in the system, but in private houses this knowledge is very important:

1. Firstly, the expansion tank is selected depending on the volume of the heating system. Exceeding the required dimensions does not threaten anything special, but a tank that is too small will lead to constant overflow of coolant, and it will have to be topped up regularly.
2. Secondly, in country houses it is very difficult to maintain a stable heating temperature, and when using solid fuel boilers it is impossible. It is impossible to leave the heating system in a full state during frosts, so the only solution to the problem will be non-freezing coolants. Since their cost directly depends on the volume of coolant, you also need to know the volume of the system.

There are two ways to determine the volume of the heating system without using complex calculation methods and regulatory documents:

1. The first method is possible if, before refueling a closed-type heating system, a connection to the water supply is established through a jumper. A completely empty circuit (without coolant and air) is filled with water with the taps and valves closed. The amount of water spent on filling the heating system can be determined by a meter installed on the water supply system.
2. The second method is to reset the system through the appropriate valve and place any container whose volume is known under the spilling water. When measuring the coolant volume in this way, you need to open the vents on each heating device so that water does not remain in them and lead to measurement errors.

Antifreeze - we destroy myths, clarify and find out everything about this composition + video

The “old guard” of motorists knows well what antifreeze is for and how it differs from imported antifreeze, but the younger generation will be curious to know about this coolant. In addition to these questions, we will also consider the rules for replacing it.

This product is a liquid that circulates in the cooling system. It is also one of the varieties of antifreeze based on ethylene glycol, but only domestically produced. Its main tasks are to cool the engine in warm weather and prevent freezing of the working fluid in winter, as well as to protect the internal container from corrosion.

Depending on the labeling, the composition of the antifreeze, its density and, accordingly, its properties will vary. The following indices are used in the classification: A, M, K, 30, 40, 65. The letters indicate the type and are deciphered accordingly - automobile, modernized and concentrate. The numbers are the freezing temperature of this model of domestic antifreeze. The markings may also contain abbreviations for the names of manufacturers.

There are no coolants with a freezing point below 65 degrees Celsius, and it is the concentration of a substance such as ethylene glycol that provides different crystallization conditions. In addition to it, any, even domestic, antifreeze includes a set of additives, usually about 8–15, their purpose is to protect all pipes and components of the system from corrosion.

Antifreeze - technical specifications and purchase rules

Once at the counter in an auto store, most are perplexed as to which color of antifreeze is better, because they were not prepared for such variety. The answer is not that complicated! This parameter does not affect any quality characteristics; it is just a dye added by the manufacturer. Its main purpose is to differentiate brands and allow them to be mixed, for example, in model “40” the liquid is often blue, and “65” is red. It is also used for safety, since without dye, antifreeze has a transparent white color.

The boiling point of antifreeze usually lies in the range of 104–112 degrees Celsius; as for imported antifreeze manufacturers, it reaches 120–130. When purchasing, one of the ways to check quality is to measure the density; a good indicator is the limit from 1.060 to 1.090 g/cm3. Before going to the store, you need to determine what brand of coolant is in your car, and to do this, you should refer to the owner's manual. You can also find application rules there.

Typically the composition is designed for 3 years of use or approximately 80 thousand kilometers. Also, do not waste money on cheap homemade liquid; choose familiar logos on the packaging.

We will replace the coolant yourself

Despite numerous warnings, antifreeze and antifreeze can be mixed, but some details need to be taken into account. It is best if the liquids are the same color and from the same manufacturer; you can also merge different colors, although the probability of success here is small, but still possible. So, you need to mix them together and wait for some time. If sediment appears in the new mixture, then you risk ruining the system, and if there is none, you can pour it all into the tank.

The appearance of sediment is a signal that the compounds are incompatible, and their mixture may have dangerous properties for your car. Now about the replacement process itself. Under no circumstances should you open the radiator cap when the engine is hot. Park your car in a place where there is no slope, this will ensure 100% drainage of the waste fluid. To remove the old compound, in addition to the top one, you also need to unscrew the bottom cap on the radiator. Do not forget to first place a sufficient container under it for waste.

After flushing the entire cooling system and tightly screwing the lower outlet plug, the long-awaited replacement occurs, where antifreeze is poured in in this case, it’s easy to guess - this is the upper hole. We fill the system with liquid as much as possible, and then seal it. To do this, start the car and monitor the temperature sensor, it should show normal, after that we top up the composition again, and the process is completed

After all the operations performed, it is important to monitor the heating of the engine for some time; it should not exceed the permissible values

Filling and starting a closed heating system

A heating system with forced circulation of coolant has a couple of key features:

When operating a system equipped with a heating boiler and a circulation pump, a pressure exceeding atmospheric pressure always occurs. Before putting the system into operation, the system undergoes pressure testing, at which the pressure value exceeds the operating pressure by one and a half times. Pressure testing is especially important for heated floors that are laid in a screed

It is important that the pressure testing of the heated floor is carried out by a specialist.

Before pouring coolant into a closed heating system, you need to take these factors into account and consider the technology for carrying out the work.

In buildings with central water supply, the problem with pressure testing is solved in a very simple way. To do this, the heating is connected to the water supply via a jumper and is filled with constant monitoring of the pressure using a pressure gauge. When the system is pressurized and checked for leaks, excess water is drained through a valve or air valve.

It’s a completely different matter if water is poured into the heating circuit manually, or if various types of antifreeze compounds are used as a coolant. Before pouring coolant into a closed heating system, in most cases it is enough to take a pump that allows you to fill the coolant and pressurize the circuit. The pump is connected via a valve, which closes when the required pressure is reached.

However, the system can be filled without a pump. To pump 1.5 atmospheres into the system, you can take advantage of the fact that this value corresponds to 15 meters of water column. Given this knowledge, before filling a closed heating system with coolant, you can solve the problem in the simplest way - connect a reinforced hose to the discharge valve, raise it to a height of 15 meters and fill it with water.

Replacing the coolant in the heating system of a country house can be done using an expansion tank. This element is designed to receive excess liquid during thermal expansion. A membrane tank is a structure in which there are two cavities separated by a movable membrane. One part of the tank receives the coolant, and the second contains air. Also, any tank is equipped with a nipple, with which you can increase or decrease the air pressure.

Filling the heating system with water using a tank is carried out as follows:

1. First, all air is completely removed from the tank, for which you simply need to unscrew the nipple. The pressure in standard tanks is 1.5 atmospheres.
2. Water is poured into the system. It is not necessary to completely fill the tank - the volume of air should be about 1/10 of the total volume of coolant in the system.
3. Air is pumped into the tank using any hand pump. The pressure is constantly monitored by a pressure gauge.

What does antifreeze contain?

When developing antifreeze, we used the recommendations of Italian developers, and even acquired a license for the production of coolants. But the very first tests showed that the Italian recipe does not work in Russian conditions. Even in the Central region, frosts down to -40...-43 ⁰С are possible, and the imported coolant was designed for -25 ⁰С. Therefore, composition adjustments were required.

The main component is ethylene glycol (C₂H₄(OH)₂). This is a high-boiling alcohol, the share of which in antifreeze can range from 40 to 65%. The second component of the coolant for cars is distilled water.

With regular use of ordinary liquid, the thickness of the scale layer can reach several millimeters. Heat transfer will be disrupted to such an extent that the performance of the cooling system will be extremely low.

When creating antifreeze, we noticed that the mechanical mixture of the main liquids is quite aggressive towards some types of plastics and rubber. C₂H₄(OH)₂ dissolves certain types of plastics and also reacts with sulfur used in the vulcanization process of natural rubber

Therefore, detergent additives were added to the composition. Their number is less than 1%. Practice has proven that even a minimal amount of such substances prevents contact between polymers and alcohols.

Another disadvantage of the usual mixture of water and ethylene glycol is the formation of foam when circulated intensively. Anti-foam additives began to be added to antifreeze in 1979 after motorists had complaints about the operation of the cooling system: foam began to release from the expansion tank of cars operated in the summer. This is the result of the interaction of alcohol (C₂H₄(OH)₂) with aluminum alloys.

Coolant under the brand “Tosol A40M” is produced at several enterprises in Russia and neighboring countries. The composition has not changed for 40 years.

Safety rules when working with antifreeze

It is not recommended to mix products from different brands. If such a need arises, first check for compatibility. In addition, not all manufacturers use the same additives. These components can mutually neutralize. Then the anti-corrosion properties of the coolant are lost.

Experts do not recommend pouring antifreeze into an open system. The reason is an open expansion tank. Through it, harmful substances can enter the atmosphere. Therefore, when using “anti-freeze” it is recommended to make the system closed.

The home owner does not always know which product was used to fill the heating system last time. In this case, the pipes are completely freed from the previous product, and only then the system is filled.

Distilled water is used to dilute the concentrate. It should not contain calcium and magnesium salts. If you use tap water with a hardness higher than 5 mg-equivalent, there is a possibility of sedimentation.

If it is assumed that antifreeze will be used in the heating system, then you should pay attention to the characteristics of the radiators. Preference is given to models with higher heat transfer rates, internal volume and diameter

The pump power should be 60% higher than that of equipment working with water.

Automatic air exhaust devices are not designed to work with such coolants. To make it possible to free the system from air, Mayevsky taps are installed on the radiators.

In the system, it is better to use inserts made of materials resistant to glycol media - paronite, Teflon, etc. Threaded connections are laid with flax tow, and a special sealing paste is used as a lubricant. Oil paint is not suitable. The active components of the coolant are good solvents for paintwork materials, as a result of which the system begins to leak.

The antiphysis concentrate is mixed with water in a separate container, and only in this form is the system filled. If you first add coolant and then water, the system may fail. Consequences of ignoring this rule:

• uneven heating of the system, and some radiators may be completely cold due to uneven distribution of the product;
• failure of the circulation pump;
• foaming, which makes it necessary to repeatedly empty and refill the system.

If by mistake you add concentrate and water separately, the circulation pump should not be turned on at full power. Take a wait-and-see attitude and periodically bleed air from the system through the radiators. After some time, more or less uniform mixing of water and antifreeze will occur. If the heating system is gravitational with a gravity function, then this process lasts longer.

Video - Disadvantages of using antifreeze in heating systems

Antifreeze should not be used in systems that do not have an accurate temperature controller. When the temperature rises to 70 °C and above, the coolant disintegrates, which is dangerous for the heating system.

After draining the antifreeze and before filling a new portion, the system is washed with clean water or special solutions.

What happens when you mix different colors?

Hands down, nothing will happen if you mix formulations from different manufacturers, although there are certain conditions. Situations can be different, including force majeure, so read the ingredients first. If green G11 is mixed with green, but from a different manufacturer, with the most similar parameters, the engine will not be damaged. This also applies to other standards. Only coolant products of the same color and additives can be mixed with each other.

Now about the “traffic light”. As mentioned above, the same G11/12/13 can have a wide palette of shades. Antifreeze of different colors with an identical formula will interact perfectly with each other. The main headache for motorists is the G13 in purple and yellow. Many are afraid that they are completely different, although this is fundamentally false. Let's start with the fact that this antifreeze is universal in nature and has a double portion of additives that get along with each other without any special consequences. You will just get a new shade, nothing more.

Antifreezes for heating and their features

Currently, several types of anti-freeze products are most popular among the average consumer; they are usually sold in plastic canisters with a capacity of 10, 20 or 50 liters. The maximum negative temperature of the solution is indicated on the packaging; it can be used in finished form or before use water is added to it, guided by special tables (the dependence of the crystallization temperature on the volume of antifreeze in the liquid is nonlinear).

Any antifreeze contains an active substance with varying percentages (usually about 60 - 65%), distilled or deionized water (30 - 35%), additives, corrosion inhibitors (3 - 4%).

Rice. 6 Cost of 10 liters of ethylene glycol packaging

Ethylene glycol

The retail chain sells red ethylene glycol in canisters of 10 and 20 liters with a freezing point of -30 or -65 °C. The drug has a sweet taste, is poisonous if it enters the human body, and prolonged inhalation of ethylene glycol vapor can also cause short-term health problems.

Poisonous ethylene glycol can be used in closed circuits, where it cannot have a harmful effect on human health upon evaporation. The service life of ethylene glycol is 5 years; before use, the drug is diluted with water to a concentration that requires obtaining the desired freezing point.

Propylene glycol

Anti-freeze made of green polypropylene with the additional commercial name ECO, unlike its ethylene glycol analogue, is not only non-toxic, but also serves as an additive to food products. Propylene glycol is produced in the same containers as ethylene glycol with a freezing point of -20, -30 or -40 ° C, its price is almost 2 times higher than its ethylene glycol analogue.

In terms of its physical parameters (fluidity, thermal expansion, crystallization point), propylene glycol is close to ethylene glycols, with the exception of viscosity, which is 2 times greater. Propylene glycol can be safely used in both open and closed heating circuits.

Rice. 7 Propylene glycols in 10 kg packaging and their price

Glycerol

• Glycerin is harmless and is used in closed and open systems.
• When the temperature limit of 115 °C is exceeded, glycerin decomposes, releasing toxic gas.
• If the content of the water component in the solution decreases, glycerin begins to burn and decompose.
• Has high viscosity.
• It has a less corrosive effect on metal parts than water due to the inclusion of rust inhibitors.
• Subject to foaming, which is removed by introducing a composition of special additives.
• The glycerin solution has increased fluidity and requires the use of dense paronite or Teflon seals.
• Its temperature instability makes it difficult to adjust the boiler.
• Decomposes over time with the formation of a sparingly soluble precipitate and chemically active components that have a negative effect on metals.
• The drug is prohibited for use in the European Union.

Taking into account the above-mentioned features of glycerin, it is not recommended to use it in heating circuits - this will not bring significant financial savings, and eliminating the problems that arise with its use can result in a much larger sum.

Rice. 8 Glycerin anti-freeze

How to determine what is flooded?

It will not be possible to check and recognize using color what is in the car. Antifreeze is always colored blue. But modern antifreezes are also available in blue.

If you don’t know what’s in the car, you can determine the type of consumables based on several factors:

1. Smell and taste. Antifreezes are usually odorless, and if you touch the liquid, it will be more oily, unlike traditional antifreeze.
2. Determining the type of liquid can be done by diagnosing the compatibility of the refrigerant with ordinary water. You need to take a little substance from the expansion tank and mix it with tap water in a 1:1 ratio. Afterwards, the container with the refrigerant is placed in the freezer for about one hour. If, as a result, the liquids separate, the mixed substance becomes cloudy and sediment forms at the bottom, then you use Antifreeze. If high-quality antifreeze is poured into the cooling system of your car, then such problems will not arise.
3. Another factor is resistance to negative low temperatures. Pour a small amount of refrigerant into a separate bottle and place it in the freezer. When using Antifreeze, the liquid will quickly freeze, but if a good refrigerant is added, this will not happen.
4. Using a hydrometer, you can diagnose the density indicator of a substance. The test should be carried out at an air temperature of 20 degrees. With this condition, the refrigerant density parameter should be about 1.073-1.079 g/cm3. If so, then you are using antifreeze.

For diagnosis, you can resort to the old “old-fashioned” method:

1. You will need a plate or other metal device. You will also need a rubber product, for example, a piece of hose from the cooling system.
2. Take some fluid from the reservoir under the hood of your car. You need to pour it into a jar or bottle, where you should also place a plate and a piece of hose.
3. After 20 minutes, look at the result. Russian-made consumables create a protective layer on all components of the cooling system. Accordingly, you will see a barely noticeable film on both the plate and the piece of hose. If the metal is corroded, and a film has formed only where rust is present, then you use antifreeze. Remove the products from the container and check them by touch.

How can you tell what kind of antifreeze is in your car from the factory?

To understand what brand of refrigerant to add to the refrigeration system, you need to know what is initially added from the factory. You won't be able to determine this on your own. An accurate conclusion can only be given by the results of laboratory tests. Alternatively, you can contact your dealer or read the service manual. It indicates which standard of refrigerant should be used.

You can learn about mixing refrigerants and the results from the video filmed by the Avto-Blogger.ru channel.

Is it possible to fill something in if you don’t know?

If the situation is urgent, for example, while driving you had to stop because the engine overheated, then you can also pour water into the cooling system. If this happens during the cold season, we recommend that you do not ride on water for a long time, but rather drive to the nearest service station or garage to solve the problem. Even when adding fluid in the warm season, after using the car, the cooling system is flushed. In cold weather, water will quickly freeze, and it has the property of expansion, so freezing will damage the expansion tank and pipes.

It is possible to mix only those refrigerants that correspond to each other in composition and standard. Mixing antifreeze and antifreeze is not allowed. This will lead to a chemical reaction, as a result of which the liquid will lose its properties and will not be able to perform its duties. Precipitates form in the cooling system, which prevents the normal circulation of consumables through the lines. Due to the loss of properties, corrosion will appear on the internal parts of the radiator device, which over time will lead to serious damage to the unit.

If you had to mix Antifreeze with antifreeze, then do not delay the replacement process. It is necessary to drain consumables. When changing, the engine is flushed, and the procedure is repeated several times. This is done until clean water without deposits or traces of scale begins to come out of the cooling system. Then we can assume that the cleaning was completed successfully. For washing it is allowed to use special means. When filling, take into account the engine specifications and the manufacturer's recommendations for the use of antifreeze.

Diesel boiler

Diesel units are autonomous equipment that runs on diesel fuel - diesel fuel. This boiler requires electricity to operate. The diesel boiler is equipped with a fan burner, which functions so that when fuel is atomized, it mixes with air and combustion becomes more intense.

Diesel boilers from modern manufacturers have a removable burner design and the equipment can be converted to gas. To do this, install a gas burner. For a dacha, this is quite convenient, since if a gas main appears in the village, you can easily redo the system. A diesel autonomous boiler operates with a water system, during the installation of which it is better to rely on a coolant in the form of antifreeze.

But the disadvantages of this equipment include the high cost of fuel. Considering the option of heating a dacha, we can conclude that the boiler will not burn constantly, and accordingly the costs will be small. If necessary, its installation is carried out by specialists on a turnkey basis.

If you are planning to equip your dacha not only as a place for a seasonal stay, but also for living in the winter, one fireplace as a heating source is not enough. But how to choose heating for a country house so that it is as efficient as possible and at the same time affordable? Next, we will try to answer this question and consider possible options for heating a country house.

For year-round living in a country house, a high-quality heating system is necessary.

Types of heating

All existing types of heating primarily differ in the type of energy carrier on which they can operate.

The most common options for heating a country house are:

• On gas;
• Electricity;
• Solid fuel;
• Liquid fuel.

In addition, there are several types of heating methods for a country house:

Air heating circuit

In many ways, the choice of heating type depends on the following factors:

When deciding how to heat a country house in winter, you should familiarize yourself with the features of each system.

In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to such aspects as:

• The price of the fuel on which the system operates;
• Cost of system elements;
• Installation cost or option to install yourself.

Next, we will take a closer look at the features of different types of heating.

Heating a country house using solid fuel using a stove is a fairly common option. If the dacha is used in late autumn and early spring, then it can be heated with a stove.

However, such heating cannot be called ideal, as it has quite a few disadvantages:

• The oven takes up a lot of space;
• It is necessary to ensure a supply of fuel;
• It is very difficult to install a stove with your own hands; moreover, this procedure requires serious reconstruction of the house.
• The house warms up unevenly; remote rooms are much colder than those close to the stove.

Boiler for water heating using solid fuel

Water heating

Perhaps water heating for a country house is the most common. Its principle is based on the fact that a heat source heats a liquid, which distributes heat throughout the system.

Most often, water is used as a coolant, however, in some cases, a country house is heated with antifreeze. The main advantage of water heating is the ability to maintain optimal temperature in the premises.

The simplest water heating scheme consists of the following elements:

• Fuel boiler;
• Heat transfer batteries;
• Expansion tank.

Another advantage of such a system is the ability to heat the house with any energy source, for example, wood or gas. The power of the heat supply source is selected in accordance with the area of ​​the house.

Water circulation in the system can be carried out in two ways:

• Natural - circulation is carried out due to the difference in density of cold and heated liquid. Water or antifreeze is heated in the boiler, after which it moves through pipes to the heating radiators. Here the coolant is cooled and returned to the heat source via return lines.

A gas boiler

Today, the most comfortable way to heat a dacha in winter is autonomous heating with a gas boiler (Fig. 5). But the main problem is that not all dacha cooperatives have a central gas pipeline. Then you can use liquefied gas. For gas boilers, the ideal option is to install a water system.

For an autonomous system with a gas appliance, you will need the following elements:

• boiler;
• heating radiators;
• gas pipeline;
• shut-off valves and automation;
• Coolant in the form of antifreeze.

In the case of heating a dacha with liquefied gas, you need cylinders or a gas holder (a liquefied gas installation that is buried in the ground) connected to the system by a gas pipeline. Heating with liquefied gas is autonomous.

Rice. 5 Gas wall unit

As for the gas boiler, it is better to entrust this installation to qualified gas workers who will install heating in the dacha on a turnkey basis. For a summer residence, it is better to choose a gas boiler that is resistant to pressure changes; such models are produced by domestic manufacturers.

Electric boiler

An electric boiler is a device that only needs electricity to heat a house. Both water and antifreeze can act as a coolant. But for country heating, antifreeze is better suited. The water system is heated using heating elements. Care must be taken to ensure that there is no leakage of antifreeze, as the device may burn out.

Specialists install such a boiler on a turnkey basis, and a two-tariff meter is also installed, since electricity tariffs at night are significantly lower than during the day. Often such an autonomous installation is used in winter as additional heating equipment, turning it on at night.