High-quality installation of heating from polypropylene pipes: technology features

Main advantages of PP pipes

Among the advantages of this material are the following:

• do not react with the coolant and do not form oxides on the internal walls;
• a properly installed system can be operated without failure for many years;
• easy to repair and upgrade;
• Even a novice master can handle the installation of a heating system made of polypropylene pipes;
• the cost of PP pipes is lower than metal ones;
• installation does not require complex devices and components.

No special skills or abilities are needed to lay heating pipes.

Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

1. Plastic pipes do not collapse when exposed to moisture for a long time.
2. The material is environmentally friendly. It does not emit harmful substances when heated.
3. Due to low thermal conductivity, water reaches the heat exchangers without cooling.
4. The average service life under normal operating conditions without overload is 50 years.
5. Thanks to the high sound insulation of the material, the sound of water flowing through the pipes is not heard in the rooms.
6. Plastic parts are easy to transport and assemble together without the help of others.
7. Plastic does not deform when exposed to chemicals that may be contained in pipeline water.
8. Plastic tubes have smooth inner walls. Thanks to this, plaque does not accumulate on them.

Flaws:

1. High coefficient of linear expansion. It must be taken into account when connecting individual pipeline elements.
2. Low heat resistance. Therefore, when installing a pipeline outdoors, you need to use additional insulation.
3. The material ages faster when exposed to ultraviolet rays.

If pipes are mounted on vertical surfaces, more fasteners must be used to prevent individual pipeline elements from sagging.

Easy pipe installation

Stages of preparatory work

Before starting work on arranging a heating system based on polypropylene pipes with your own hands, you need to draw up an accurate project plan.

Important! Not only the total length of the heating system pipes is taken into account, but also its configuration.

The following points must be taken into account:

• what type of connecting elements will be used to connect to the coolant circulation circuit - welded-in PP elements, or combined ones, with the possibility of threaded connection with metal pipes;
• the presence of hard-to-reach places in which it will be impossible to solder pipes. In this case, pre-joined elements of the future heating system are used;
• the type of system is determined: gravity circulation, or with forced convection of the coolant. Different installation rules apply for different systems;
• calculate the expected pressure in the circuit and the temperature of the coolant. This data is necessary for the correct selection of the type of polypropylene pipe;
• Installation of heating from polypropylene pipes in cold rooms is not allowed, due to the risk of thermal deformation of the pipe.

In order to save money, it is quite possible to install a heating system from PP pipes yourself. Minimal skills in handling the tool and strict adherence to all stages of assembly will help create a durable and reliable system.

Performance characteristics

Plastic pipes connected in a permanent way (gluing, welding) have a very high resistance to pressure, including water hammer.

Temporary pressure increases of more than 40 bar are not dangerous for PVC pipes.

• Over time, this resistance decreases due to the aging of the material, so a reliable indicator of the strength of pipes is their pressure range, for example, PN 10, PN 20.
• This index indicates the minimum strength of cables during continuous operation at 20°C after 50 years in bars.
• The temperature limit for plastics with thermal stabilizers, at which they retain the continuity of their properties, is a temperature of 70-95 ° C. At temperatures above +95 ° C, resistance to pressure or water hammer drops disproportionately (strength diagrams for most plastics are violated).

Pipe manufacturers always indicate the temperature limit for the use of this material. This temperature can even be >100°C.

However, remember that the material can only perform under such adverse conditions for a short period of time, usually no more than a few hours or even a few minutes.

Therefore, such temperatures should be considered as random emergency situations. Safety regulations allow emergency temperatures to occur in plastic installations for a short period of time, and their height cannot exceed the maximum values ​​​​specified by the pipe manufacturer.

The total time of occurrence of such temperatures over 50 years of operation of the installation should be less than 100 hours.

Equipment used for installation

A soldering iron for polypropylene pipes – or an “iron”, as it is sometimes called – is perfect for installing a do-it-yourself heating system from polypropylene pipes. When choosing a manual machine for welding PP pipes, you need to take into account a number of nuances:

• An inexpensive pipe soldering iron is equipped with only the most common nozzles. As a rule, these are metal elements coated with a protective layer of Teflon. More expensive models are equipped with copper alloy nozzles;
• The wider the temperature range and the higher the power, the more convenient this “iron” will be to use. High-quality installation of a heating system with polypropylene pipes is ensured by compliance with the temperature-time parameters of soldering;
• a cheap soldering iron for PP pipes will not work for long;
• The shape of the soldering iron is important. A tube-shaped soldering iron for polypropylene pipes is more expensive than a hammer-shaped soldering iron. But it is much more convenient for them to make counter joints and weld pipes with fittings – corners in hard-to-reach places – with their own hands.

A rich set of professional equipment is not yet a reason to purchase it. There are additional attachments for sale for a hand-held soldering iron for PP pipes.

The rules for installing heating from polypropylene pipes predetermine the exact correspondence of the diameter of the nozzle and the elements to be welded.

Soldering irons in the form of a pipe use nozzles of a different type; a standard “iron”, accordingly, will not be able to work with nozzles from a tubular welding unit for soldering PP pipes.

Professional installation teams use mechanical welding machines. To combine joints of large diameter pipes that are difficult to hold in your hands, a special hydraulic drive is used.

It makes it possible to comfortably work with polypropylene pipes with a diameter of over 4 cm. This device is characterized by a small temperature error coefficient and high reliability.

But installing heating from polypropylene pipes using a mechanical device will require certain operating skills from the operator.

Helpful advice! Any type of welding equipment for polypropylene pipes is prohibited from being used without a reliable stand, which is usually included in the kit. It is unacceptable to weld PP pipes that are damp, wet or dirty on the inside; in this case, there can be no question of the tightness of the seam.

Circuit mounting options

The main pipeline transporting the coolant can not only have different configurations, called wiring, but also be installed differently.

When choosing an installation option, you should take into account aesthetic, energy and economic feasibility.

The installation of the highway can be done in two ways: open or hidden:

• The open installation method is simpler and cheaper - the circuit is laid in accordance with the selected wiring diagram, and the only additional work required is to secure the pipes to prevent their deformation. In addition, in this case, the main line, in addition to transporting the coolant, also performs a heat transfer function, that is, it additionally heats the premises. At the same time, a pipeline left in sight spoils the interior, it is not protected from external damage and is itself a source of danger: you can get burned on it, flammable materials left nearby can ignite, and if the pipeline ruptures, not only damage to the external and internal decoration of the room, but also there is a risk of injury.
• Installing a pipeline in a hidden way involves laying pipes in channels made in the wall, floor, under the baseboard or behind the suspended ceiling. A simplified option is to make a false wall or use boxes and various pipe covers. Concealed installation ensures safety and looks more aesthetically pleasing.

We recommend that you read: Features and types of pipes for round air ducts

Important! Pipes hidden from view increase energy costs. In addition, the labor costs for equipping such a highway and the consumption of materials increase, and when using false walls and overlays, the usable space of the premises decreases.

Types of polypropylene pipes

PP pipes are divided into two main types:

• reinforced;
• unreinforced.

The former are used where high pressure and temperature are expected. Such pipes are classified as “stabilized”; they have a minimum coefficient of thermal deformation.

Unreinforced pipes are used in technical systems for circulating liquids without heating. Such PP pipes are also used for cold water supply systems, which are also easy to install with your own hands.

Table 1

The thickness of polypropylene pipes also matters. The value ranges from 1.9 to 18.4 mm depending on the type and purpose of the pipe.

It is important to know! Pipes with the PPR index are used only for industrial purposes; their use for supplying drinking water is not recommended by the manufacturer. The standard size of a polypropylene pipe of any diameter is 6 meters.

For the installation of “warm floor” systems, specialized polypropylene pipes are used. Such pipes for heated floors are supplied in a coil, and most often they are not welded together, but are attached at the junction with the coolant manifold with crimp couplings.

The heated floor circuit is a seamless system. Various types of heated floor installation are used. The geometry of any of the selected methods - “snail” or “along the contour” - determines the ability of the pipe to bend along the smallest radius. Excessive bending leads to irreversible deformation of the pipe.

The PP pipe for underfloor heating is laid on the prepared base. Most often this is a heat insulator in the form of a polyurethane foam layer, supplemented with heat-reflecting foil.

Good to know! The crimp couplings are securely fixed with special pliers; the kit also includes a template for checking the correct installation. Crimping pliers are quite expensive; it is more profitable to rent them for the period of final assembly and commissioning of the system.

Classification and design parameters

Existing GOST standards (ISO10508) establish a classification of polypropylene hoses, based on which this material can be used under certain operating conditions.

The marking of PP pipes clearly indicates the operating parameters. Taking this designation into account, it is easy and simple to select a material for a specific heating system configuration

Long polypropylene products are divided into 4 classes (1.2, 4.5) according to typical areas of application and operating pressure values ​​(4,6,8,10 ATI):

• class 1 (hot water systems up to 60°);
• class 2 (hot water systems up to 70°C);
• class 4 (underfloor heating and radiator systems up to 70°C);
• class 5 (radiator systems up to 90°C).

For example, polypropylene pipes are required to make a low-temperature heating system. Then, by the designation on the outer surface of the pipes, you can determine the appropriate material.

For this case, hoses with the designation Class 4/10 are quite suitable, which corresponds to the limiting temperature parameter of 70ºС and the permissible operating pressure limit of 10 ATI.

Industry, as a rule, produces products for universal use. The manufactured products support an extensive classification. In the documentation for such material, the marking of PP pipes is indicated by a standard listing of acceptable parameters (Class 1/10, 2/10, 4/10, 5/8 bar).

Each branded product has an application class designation on its external surface, which actually determines the operational parameters of the future home heating design

Thus, when planning to make heating in a polypropylene house with your own hands, the main material is usually chosen by the master in direct proportion to:

• from planned operating parameters;
• on methods of heating the coolant;
• on the applied regulatory system.

It is also advisable to calculate the service life of the future heating system using the following parameters:

• upper values ​​Trab and Prab;
• pipe wall thickness;
• outside diameter;
• safety factor;
• duration of the heating season.

On average, the service life of polypropylene should be at least 40 years.

Welding polypropylene pipes - basic rules

The initial stage includes preparing the tools that will be needed during installation. In addition to the soldering iron itself, you will need special scissors for cutting polypropylene pipes that were chosen for the heating system.

Such scissors consist of a concave cradle, where the pipe is laid directly, and a guillotine knife with a stepwise force transmission unit.

Professional scissors for PP pipes are easy to distinguish from cheap fakes: they are massive, have a sliding spring and open wider than amateur ones. High-quality factory sharpening of the knife allows you to work with such scissors for a long time without much effort.

It is customary to cut the PP pipe exclusively at a right angle, this will simplify the welding process in the future. Aluminum-reinforced pipes should be cleaned; this will ensure a technologically correct flow of pipe soldering processes in heating areas.

To strip the pipe, use a special device, which is included in the set of professional equipment.

Degrease pipes using isobutyl or isopropyl alcohols, and nothing else. A surface that is not degreased will make itself felt during soldering - the seam will lose its tightness.

The attachments of amateur, and especially professional, welding equipment must be thoroughly cleaned. Adhered polypropylene fibers should be removed.

The easiest way to do this with your own hands is to heat the nozzle and carefully clean it with a thick cotton cloth or a wooden sliver.

System diagrams by type of coolant supply

The main problem of the correct functioning of the radiator is the need to organize uniform distribution of coolant throughout all its sections. Warm water has a lower density, so it tends to rise in the battery, displaced by cold water - with a higher density.

The coolant supply can be carried out in many ways.

Common options:

• bottom eyeliner;
• top;
• diagonal;
• lateral.

Visually, everything looks as it is called: with a bottom connection, the pipes are connected to the radiator from below, with a top connection - from above, and so on.

However, everything is not so obvious in the design of the radiator itself. To control the movement of hot water along the required route, various types of jumpers are used.

Different connection methods also involve the use of design solutions for the entire heating system. In some cases, an expansion tank is needed, in others - a circulation pump, in others - both. Depending on the vertical or horizontal system, the technical room must be equipped above or below the heated room.

With top liner

The radiator has upper and lower horizontal collectors and vertical channels that connect them.

When connecting pipes at the top of the radiators, there is a danger that warm water will only heat the upper collector. In order to avoid this, a jumper is placed in front of the last rib. Thus, the coolant, before entering the return, is forced to pass through all sections. Essentially, this jumper transforms the top connection into a diagonal one, which increases heat transfer.

If there is no jumper, diagonal piping is practiced: the coolant supply pipe is connected at the top, and the return pipe at the bottom.

With bottom liner

The bottom harness is considered the simplest scheme. The boiler is installed in the basement or basement, the main supply pipe goes up to the expansion tank, from which the booster or starting section is built. The height of this section of the pipe should be located at a distance of at least one and a half meters above the first radiator. The supply pipe is connected at the bottom of the battery, and the return pipe is connected on the opposite side. The remaining radiators are connected in series in the same way.

If natural circulation is assumed, a slope must be ensured when laying pipes. The last radiator in the chain should be higher than the boiler, but no more than three meters.

It is optimal to install a circulation pump, as well as the use of bypasses and shut-off valves on each battery.

It is worth considering that in the event of a power outage, the pump will be turned off, and a complete exchange of coolant will be ensured through natural circulation, and in this case, the slope of the pipes is intended to improve it.

Bypasses and a valve system will allow you to avoid shutting down the entire system if one of the radiators fails. In this case, only the emergency section will be disabled.

In addition, it is worth remembering the need to install Mayevsky taps or automatic air vents.

Heating time, weld width and cooling time

There is no linear dependence of the heating time of PP pipes during welding of heating system elements. Equipment manufacturers supplement the package with an approximate table, which indicates the temperature conditions of the welding machine for PP pipes and the time for fixing the pipes in the soldering iron nozzle.

You should try to heat the elements being welded at the same time, this will ensure the best quality of the weld.

If simultaneous heating is impossible - for example, it is necessary to solder the pipe to the embedded element - use the separate soldering method - each element is heated separately, and the first heated element is heated slightly longer than recommended in the table.

table 2

An ordinary construction tape measure will help you measure the required length of the pipe; even a novice craftsman can check the correct installation using a level. It is convenient to make marks for cutting pipes with a marker.

Helpful advice! Novice craftsmen often mark the cutting line without taking into account the fact that part of the polypropylene pipe will be hidden in the coupling or fitting. Make sure that further installation is carried out by a more experienced technician if you find three couplings on a two-meter straight section of pipe.

Due to the fact that PP pipes are inexpensive, it is possible to correct errors if they arise when installing heating with your own hands from polypropylene pipes. The accumulated experience will help you in the further arrangement of plumbing and heating systems.

Work on installing the heating system should be carried out in a ventilated area. Accuracy and attentiveness will help to avoid burns and injuries, and careful calculation of components will save you from exceeding the original cost of the heating system.

Source: trubamaster.ru/dlya-otopleniya/kachestvennyj-montazh-otopleniya-iz-polipropilenovyx-trub-osobennosti-texnologii.html

Heating system diagrams

The scheme option depends on the technical characteristics of the object, as well as the financial capabilities of the owner. The same object can be equipped in any of the ways.

Three heating schemes are most commonly used:

• single-pipe;
• two-pipe;
• collector

The first is the simplest, the second is more complex, but also more effective, the third is used for large installations, for example, for arranging heated floors or walls.

Single-pipe

Initially, if it was necessary to provide large residential areas with centralized heat, then this type of piping was used in order to save materials and simplify installation.

Such a system has one riser and one circuit, and the coolant supply is a closed system in which all technical components are connected in series. It can be vertical or horizontal. The first is used in multi-apartment buildings, the second is suitable for private houses.

Previously, the main problem with such a scheme for the consumer was that the further the radiator is from the source, the colder it is, since heat is wasted as it is delivered. The accompanying difficulties in regulating and distributing temperature also did not add to its popularity.

The single-pipe system did not take into account many factors of loss of both heat and resources, the costs required to deliver it to the consumer. In apartment buildings, such arrangement does not allow to control and maintain equal pressure in all elements of the system. A pump is needed, however, it cannot provide consistency, which leads to water hammer and leaks.

In the event of a breakthrough, the coolant must be replenished, which also leads to additional costs.

If one battery fails without a valve system, the supply of coolant to all radiators of the system is stopped for the period of repair.

For normal operation in a private home, an expansion tank is required, which performs the functions of stable temperature balancing. The technical room and this container are located in the attic.

Positive aspects:

1. New technologies have eliminated the problem of uneven temperature distribution. Modern radiators are equipped with thermostats and thermostatic valves, which significantly eliminates heat loss from delivery to distant radiators.
2. The use of valves, ball valves and bypasses allows you to repair an individual radiator without shutting down the entire circuit as a whole.
3. Installation of such a scheme is simpler and less expensive, moreover, it requires half as many pipes, and accordingly the number of fittings is reduced. Using modern innovations, you can eliminate most of the disadvantages and save a lot, which makes this option extremely attractive in private housing construction.

Two-pipe

Unlike a single-pipe system, in a two-pipe system the coolant is supplied to each radiator separately through one riser, and through the second it returns back to the heating boiler. That is, the battery is served by two pipes - supply and return.

The disadvantage of such piping is a doubling of the number of pipes, as well as a significantly larger number of fasteners, fittings, and valves. Which naturally affects the costs of both materials and installation.

Now to the pros:

1. Ensures uniform heat supply to all radiators.
2. Allows you to avoid pressure losses. If a less powerful pump is required, the water can circulate by gravity.
3. If necessary, it is possible to repair a separate radiator without damaging the heating.

It is possible to use associated and dead-end water movement in the system. The first involves installing radiators of the same power, otherwise it is necessary to install thermostatic valves. It is used in long-distance pipelines and provides ideal hydraulic balancing. The second, accordingly, is used in short harnesses.

It can be vertical or horizontal. The first is more often used in multi-apartment buildings, the second - in private houses (like a single-pipe system).

In private buildings, when using horizontal wiring, it is recommended to install a Mayevsky valve in each radiator, which is necessary for bleeding air.

In addition, a two-pipe system can have an upper and lower piping, respectively, the first involves placing a hot water supply riser on the ground floor, in the basement, the second requires placing the distribution line in the attic.

Collector

A metal comb with leads for connecting pipes and devices is called a manifold. Such a system, in fact, is also a two-pipe system; the supply to the comb is carried out from one common pipe, as is the return of the cooled coolant through the return manifold. The difference is that here the coolant is supplied through a separate pipe to each radiator or to floor and wall heating.

This scheme requires an expansion tank with a volume of at least 10% of the total volume of all heating devices and a circulation pump.

The manifold cabinet should be located at approximately equal distances from each radiator.

Both bottom and top feed are also possible here. The first is more preferable, as it allows you to hide the pipes in the floor.

Each circuit is an independent hydraulic system with its own shut-off valves, which allows you to turn off each of them without damaging the rest of the network.

Advantages:

1. Uniform heat distribution, the ability to adjust the temperature of each radiator without compromising the others.
2. The efficiency of the system is higher, since the coolant is supplied directly to each individual heating device.
3. High efficiency makes it possible to use pipes of smaller diameter and a boiler of lower power, which reduces both one-time costs for the purchase of materials and equipment, and constant costs for heating and purchasing fuel.
4. The possibility of using heated floors makes it possible to heat without the use of traditional radiators, which is practical and aesthetically pleasing.
5. Allows you to repair each individual element without reducing the efficiency of the rest of the system.
6. Ease of design: no need to make complex calculations.

Disadvantages can be divided into two categories: cost and practical. The construction of a collector is significantly more expensive than other options.

You will need:

• fitting;
• combs;
• shut-off valves;
• circulation pump;
• expansion tank;
• collector cabinet;
• a large number of pipes.

In addition to cost, there are other disadvantages that you should be aware of, but which, nevertheless, are not critical.

Practical disadvantages:

1. All radiators must be equipped with Mayevsky taps, since airing of the collector system is a common phenomenon.
2. Despite the simplicity of the project, installation of such a system is labor-intensive and costly.
3. Space is required for the manifold cabinet, which should ideally be located in the center of the entire system (in a spatial sense).

Which polypropylene pipes cannot be used for heating installation?

Now let's look at the polypropylene pipes themselves.
Pipes differ in pressure and operating temperature.

The simplest, cheapest pipes (designated PN-10 - designed for operating pressure up to 10 atm).

They are thin-walled (wall thickness 2.5...2.8 mm). Installation of heating from polypropylene pipes of this type is NOT done. And they are used only for cold water supply.

There are also polypropylene pipes designated PN-16, designed for operating pressures up to 16 atm and operating temperatures up to 80 degrees. Such pipes have a wall thickness of 3...3.2 mm.

Next come the pipes designated PN-20. They are designed for operating pressures up to 20 atm and operating temperatures of 80...85 degrees. These pipes are thick-walled (wall thickness up to 4 mm).

All of the pipes listed are used mainly for water supply (thin-walled for cold water, thick-walled for hot water supply). These pipes are not used in heating systems. Why?

Because their linear expansion is too large. Because of this, straight sections of pipelines will bend after heating.

Marking

There are several types of plastic used to make pipelines:

• PVC pipes;
• polypropylene products;
• polyethylene parts.

A separate group includes tubes, during the manufacture of which a reinforcing layer of aluminum foil or fiberglass is placed between layers of plastic.

The marking varies depending on the type of polymer. There is no point in describing the designations on PVC, since this material is not used for the manufacture of water supply and heating pipelines. This type of polymer releases harmful substances when heated and has low performance characteristics.

Polyethylene marking:

1. PE 32 is a type of polyethylene with the lowest density. It is rarely used for making pipes.
2. PE 63 - used for assembling non-pressure systems. This could be sewer drains, an outdoor shower. This type of polyethylene cannot withstand high pressure and is destroyed by water hammer.
3. PE 80 is a type of polyethylene with a high strength index. Used for assembling cold water supply systems. If the pipeline is laid outside buildings, additional insulation must be used.
4. PE 100 - pipes made from this type of polyethylene have the highest strength index. They are used for the manufacture of industrial pipelines, hot and cold water supply systems, heating circuits.

The marking of polyethylene tubes contains the abbreviation SDR, followed by numbers. The lower this indicator, the stronger the product.

Marking of polypropylene tubes:

1. PN10. Products with this designation can withstand pressure up to 1 MPa. The permissible liquid temperature is 45 degrees Celsius. Due to their low strength and heat resistance, such tubes are used for assembling sewage drains and cold water supply pipelines.
2. PN16. The maximum permissible pressure level is 1.5 MPa. The coolant temperature should not exceed 60 degrees. Popular for the manufacture of cold water supply systems. Rarely used for assembling hot water circuits.
3. PN20. Tubes made of this type of polypropylene can withstand pressure up to 2 MPa. The maximum permissible coolant temperature is 80 degrees. Used for assembling hot and cold water supply systems, heating circuits.
4. PN25 is the most durable type of polypropylene. This material can withstand pressure up to 2.5 MPa. The coolant temperature can rise to 95 degrees. Withstands temperature surges - up to 110 degrees.

Marking of multilayer products:

1. PPR - the outer layer of the tubes is covered with polypropylene;
2. AL - has a reinforcing layer of aluminum foil;
3. PP-RCT is a designation for modified polypropylene, which has increased thermostatic properties.

If there is a layer of fiberglass inside the pipe, the marking will contain the letters FG, FR.

Heating pipes made of polypropylene

What polypropylene pipes can be used for heating installation?

Heating installation is carried out from reinforced polypropylene pipes.

The reinforced pipe looks (when viewed in section) as shown in the photo:

There are layers of polypropylene inside and outside the pipe, between them there is a layer of reinforcing material (foil, fiberglass). Between the layers of polypropylene and the reinforcing layer there is glue. That is, the reinforced polypropylene pipe is five-layer.

The photo above shows a pipe reinforced with aluminum foil. The following figure is also a polypropylene pipe, but reinforced with fiberglass:

Such pipes are designed for operating pressures up to 25 atm and temperatures up to 90 degrees. The linear expansion of a pipe with fiberglass is greater than that of a pipe with foil, but, nevertheless, such a pipe is also often used in heating systems.

Especially where it is not visible that it bends. However, even with noticeable bends, such a pipe will not break; it’s just that some bends somewhat spoil the design look.

The next photo shows a pipe, also reinforced with fiberglass. But this is a pipe “for cleaning”:

That is, the outer layer of polypropylene is peeled off, and then the pipe is soldered to the fitting. Such a pipe is the most ideal option; it best withstands linear expansion. Disadvantage: due to the need for stripping, installation takes longer.

This is what a fiberglass pipe looks like (photo below). Such a pipe is soldered without stripping.

Connecting the pipe to the batteries

We continue to talk about connecting the installed pipes to the batteries:

• It is recommended to install a tap at each radiator input and output. If one radiator breaks down, you can turn it off without stopping the others;
• When installing taps, a seal is made on the thread using FUM tape. A fitting is screwed into the faucet to transition from thread to plastic and soldered to the general pipeline system. But this type of connection will not be a dismountable product. To change the radiator, you will have to cut the pipe and solder it again. To prevent such difficulties, a detachable connection - American - is installed between the tap and the fitting;
• The completely prepared heating system should be purged with air from the compressor, the air flow is directed into the upper pipe - the supply. Air should flow freely throughout the entire pipeline and batteries and exit through the lower, return pipe. When air does not pass through, this means that the pipe is sealed somewhere and will have to be cut off in pieces, looking for and eliminating this place;
• After successful testing, the pipes are connected to the pump and heating boiler. The boiler should be located at the lowest point of the entire pipe system and in a separate room. The connection is made with the same fittings with the thread transitioning to plastic;
• Water is pumped into the system, air is bled from the batteries, and all connections are checked.

Now the heating system is ready for operation, you can start the pump and ignite the boiler. The use of polypropylene pipes provides a guarantee for the quality of work for up to 50 years.

How to install heating from polypropylene pipes?

Let's look at several practical examples of soldering a pipeline from a polypropylene pipe.

Soldering is done with a special soldering iron:

Each soldering iron has a temperature regulator (1). The temperature for soldering polypropylene is set to 270 degrees. The pipe is heated with a soldering iron for no more than 5 seconds.

The following must be taken into account. If the work takes place outside in cold weather, or in a cold room, the soldering time increases, because the soldering iron cools down quickly.

In this case, you need to either increase the heating temperature of the soldering iron or increase the heating time. The heating time also increases when soldering pipes of larger diameter, as illustrated by the following table:

Actually soldering. The soldering iron has two nozzles: one for heating the inner diameter, the other for the outer diameter. At the same time, both parts that are supposed to be connected are heated:

We press evenly on both parts, as if towards each other - in the direction of the red arrows in the photo:

Attention: under no circumstances should you rotate the parts, this will damage the layer! We just press them evenly towards each other.

As it heats up, the coupling reaches the side, and a flange also appears on the pipe. After heating, remove the parts from the nozzles and dock them with each other:

After connecting the heated parts, they need to be fixed for a while

Important! In this case, just as when heating, no rotational movements should be allowed!

After joining, hold the parts for up to 30 seconds - so that they cool down and the connection hardens. The flange on the pipe must be uniform around the entire circumference of the connection.

This is how all polypropylene is soldered, regardless of the pipe diameter and purpose, be it a heating or water supply system. The only difference, as mentioned above, is the soldering time: the larger the diameter of the tube, the longer it takes to heat and fix after connection.

Important: it is not advisable to heat the parts for a long time, because the material begins to burn (this can be determined by the brown color of the polypropylene). The negative side of overheating the material is that if it is very melted, it can block the internal passage of the pipe:

A soldering iron attachment was developed to make the already simple life of the installer even easier.

The nozzle allows you to accurately determine the time when the parts to be soldered are already sufficiently heated. This nozzle has a special hole:

• through which molten polypropylene comes out. Once it appears in the hole:
• This is a signal: we remove and join the parts. There is no need to time the clock or count the seconds yourself.

There is also a ceramic nozzle that will prevent this type of melted pipe:

The advantage of such a connection (without the use of metal) is that, due to the absence of metal connections, hardness salts do not build up in such areas. And also after soldering, a monolithic connection is obtained.

During the soldering process, a bead should form at the joints of the parts being soldered. It is necessary to ensure that this edge is uniform around the entire circumference of the joint.

When working with polypropylene, you need to take into account all the steps in advance - in order to avoid getting into some inconvenient moments. Such “moments” can occur when, for example, you need to solder in some limited space, etc.

Therefore, before soldering, it is better to draw a pipeline diagram on a piece of paper (starting from the boiler) and write down the sequence of steps.

Disadvantages of plastic pipes

The disadvantages of plastic pipes include their tendency to age and low resistance to low temperatures. Under the influence of UV rays, pipes negatively change their properties: their strength deteriorates, which means their susceptibility to damage increases.

They are also observed to be permeable to gases from the external environment. Low temperatures make pipes brittle and less mechanically strong.

Therefore, pipes cannot be stored without protection in the air; already laid pipes should be protected from direct sunlight and installation at sub-zero temperatures (necessary for particularly sensitive PVC).

Selecting the diameter of a heating pipe using tables and online calculators

In Internet resources you can find tables of the dependence of the pipe diameter on the speed parameters of the medium V and the heat output Q. Usually the speed does not go beyond 0.2 - 0.7 m/s, and the power of boiler equipment is in the range of 3000 - 40000 W.

To approximately determine the size of PP pipes based on Q and V, one is guided by the following considerations:

• For an individual house, the power of a thermal boiler is calculated based on the consumption of 100 W of thermal power per 1 square meter of heated area. For example, if a house has a total heated area of ​​100 square meters, then a 10,000 W boiler will be needed for heating.
• The speed of the coolant in gravity systems is assumed to be minimum of about 2 - 3 m/s, with forced supply by a circular pump - 4 - 7 m/s.

As a result, according to the table in Fig. 10 we find that to supply heat with a power of 10,000 Watts at an average speed of movement of the medium along the pipeline line of 5 m/s, PP heating pipes with a circumference of 25 mm should be used.

It is worth noting that a more accurate result can be obtained from tables that take into account the temperature difference between supply and return, as well as their readings (80/60, 75/60).

When calculating pipe diameters using online calculators, the following information is usually entered:

• area of ​​the heated room;
• ceiling height;
• maximum outdoor temperature;
• the number of walls facing the street, sometimes their orientation to the cardinal points and relative to the wind load;
• the degree of thermal insulation of external walls or its numerical coefficient;
• thermal parameters of the flooring;
• thermal characteristics of attic rooms;
• number of windows, their dimensional parameters in height and width;
• type of glazing (sheet or chamber), number of sheets in packages;
• the presence of doors to the street, balconies and loggias, the degree of thermal protection of the latter (cold, warm).

Rice. 11 Table of the relationship between heat flow and coolant pumping volume with its movement speed and pipe diameter

It may be useful to read about Connecting the boiler to the heating system

Advantages of polypropylene products in the heating system

• Very easy installation. You can lay such a network on your own, but for steel analogues you need to use a professional welder.
• Polypropylene products do not corrode, and this significantly increases the service life of the network.
• Deposits do not form inside the billets, and they do not clog like their steel pipe counterparts.
• Polypropylene products are very flexible, but at the same time they have a high level of mechanical stability; they operate at high temperatures and pressures.
• The liquid circulates better in such a line, and this increases the heat transfer of the network.
• The costs of such a network are significantly lower when compared with other materials.

All these characteristics have led to the fact that these pipe materials are used more and more often.

Zoning

Thanks to the thoughtful distribution of thermal energy, you can not only create a comfortable atmosphere in your home, but also significantly save money.

List of recommended temperatures for different rooms:

• Average level of comfortable temperature: + 20-24 degrees.
• It is advisable to increase the temperature level in the bedroom slightly to + 22-25 degrees.
• The bathroom, toilet, living room and other rooms where apartment residents visit most often should be heated within the range of + 21 to + 24 degrees.
• In the dining room, kitchen and office, the temperature is reduced to +18-22 degrees.
• The hallway, garage and passage rooms should be heated within + 12 degrees.