In apartments of the housing stock created several decades ago, and in many private houses, there are batteries manufactured in the same years. Over such a period of operation, their characteristics have deteriorated and one should not expect complete heat transfer from them. While it is easy to update the appearance of radiators, restoring normal operation is sometimes impossible. When planning repairs, it is worth understanding whether the old heating batteries will continue to serve or whether it is better to replace them.
You can try to restore old heating batteries
Coloring
The easiest way to transform a battery is to paint it. However, not everyone will like the boring look of a white radiator. It’s worth showing a little imagination and making the batteries a decorative element. In a children's room, the radiator can be painted in the form of colored pencils; in the living room, it can be transformed to match the tone of the wall decoration. The idea of applying a thematic design to the radiator is interesting. For the kitchen, this could be a pattern of berries, fruits and herbs. Thus, the old radiator will become a full-fledged participant in the interior.
radiator
Protective screen
A nondescript looking battery can be hidden behind a protective screen. It does not interfere with air circulation and fits perfectly into the interior. Thermal glass screens are available for sale. These are quite spectacular items with paintings on them. In a children's room it is better to use plastic protection. The baby will not get burned from a hot radiator and will not be injured if he falls.
Where to return your old battery
If flushing does not produce results, then the battery only needs to be replaced with a new one. You can try to assemble one working radiator from several disassembled radiators, removing sections that cannot be repaired. If you decide to change heating structures, then you should understand what the modern market offers:
- Copper radiators.
- Aluminum.
- Cast iron.
- Steel.
- Bimetallic.
Batteries that cannot be repaired are best sold for scrap.
Which option to choose depends on many factors, but most often bimetallic models are chosen for typical apartments with a standard heating system. And it’s not so important which type the owners give preference; in any case, they will heat the room much more efficiently.
You can get a certain amount of money for old-style batteries if you take them to a scrap metal collection point. For a cast iron radiator you can get about 1000 rubles. depending on the number of sections in it and the total weight. Of course, you will have to use transport, since carrying a 12-cell cast iron battery in your hands is quite problematic. Some collection points also offer pick-up in their own vehicles.
Note! To sell an old battery for money, it is better to use the services of mid-level buyers, since large companies do not accept such products individually; they purchase scrap metal in tons.
Decoupage
Handicraft lovers will appreciate the idea of using decoupage to decorate a radiator. To do this, you need to first wash the battery and remove any irregularities using sandpaper. Paint the radiator with white paint and let dry. After a day you can start decorating. To do this, the selected pattern is applied using PVA glue diluted in half with water. After drying, it is recommended to coat the radiator with heat-resistant varnish.
decoupage
What can you do with old batteries?
There are only two options - repair and restoration or replacement. To understand which way to go, you need to conduct a complete and thorough inspection of the radiator. To do this, it is best to remove it from the mounts, having first disconnected it from the pipes. If it is not possible to unscrew the nuts, you will have to cut them off with a grinder. It is realistic to try to bring into working condition only a radiator that does not have cracks, dents, or through areas of corrosion.
If the radiator heats up unevenly, you can try flushing it
If during the heating season the battery warms up only in parts, it makes sense to try to wash it. To do this you can use:
- compressor;
- a regular water hose;
- rust removal products.
The algorithm is like this:
- A compressor hose or a regular water hose is connected to the hole in the upper part and water with chemicals dissolved in it is poured in. You can use “Mole”, caustic soda, or, if these are not available, use simple citric acid or vinegar essence.
- After pouring the solution, you need to give it time to react with the deposits inside the housing.
- The dirty water is drained and the battery is washed several times with water until the liquid coming out is clean.
Rinse until the water runs clear
It is best to carry out this procedure with the battery removed and outside. If this is not possible, the radiator should be taken to the bathroom.
Important! It is necessary to pour water into the battery after the chemical solution several times to completely wash it off. Otherwise, it will provoke the appearance of a new layer of rust.
Some experts recommend disassembling a cast iron battery into sections to make it easier to remove dirt from it. But such a procedure is not always possible due to several layers of paint and stuck fasteners. You can try to heat the structure with a blowtorch, on a stove burner, or in any other way. Such actions lead to expansion of the metal, burning out of the tow, and then it will be easier to unscrew the nuts. But it is important to remember that by applying excessive force or using an impact tool, you can damage the body, because cast iron is fragile. This also applies to tapping on joints.
After successful washing, you should think about tidying up the appearance of the heating device. For painting, you can choose any type of composition - acrylic, alkyd, oil, in a regular can or in the form of an aerosol. It is best to choose odorless paint, especially for residential premises; the substance should also be heat-resistant.
By painting you can give an old battery a modern look
An obligatory step is surface preparation. To do this you need:
- remove the old decorative coating or at least thoroughly clean the areas where the coating is cracked, swollen or missing altogether. There are several ways to remove old paint from radiators: you can use a grinding wheel, a stiff wire brush or chemical solvents;
- clean the surface from dust, treat it with a corrosion-preventing agent;
- apply a primer to the metal (if necessary);
- start painting. The composition can be applied with a brush, roller or spray bottle.
Note! Not every battery is suitable for chemistry. Some alloys may be damaged by it after the paint has dissolved.
It is not necessary to re-coat the radiator with the same color as before. You can show your imagination and turn it into an exclusive piece of furniture. Cast iron structures of an unusual shade will look especially advantageous.
After the paint has dried, you can start installing new Mayevsky taps on the radiators (screw them in instead of the foot nuts on one side, if they were not provided). Such an element is necessary to bleed air from the battery sections. If this is not done, air pockets inside will interfere with the uniform distribution of the coolant among the sections, as a result of which the battery will not heat well, and the empty areas will simply rust and accumulate debris.
Mayevsky valves are necessary for releasing air from the radiator and draining the coolant
After this, you can begin installing the radiator in place. All connection points should be well sealed and all gaskets should be completely replaced so that there are no leaks when the fluid is supplied.
If you don’t want to bother with painting the battery, you can simply purchase a screen for it. Such a metal, wooden or plastic decorative element is quite easy to buy in a store or make with your own hands.
Curtain
The simplest decor option for an old battery is sewing curtains. Usually it is made of the same material as the main one. In this case, you can use tulle together with thick curtain fabric. Velcro is used for fastening. They must be fixed with glue at the bottom of the window sill and on the curtain. This decor is easy to change according to your mood and can be removed for washing.
curtains
Life time
The first mention of a cast iron battery dates back to 1857, when the famous Russian engineer Franz Sangalli made the first cast iron radiator from a piece of pipe. A special feature of his invention were protruding fins, which were used to remove accumulated heat. After some time, the appearance of the cast iron radiator changed, it took on the appearance of an accordion.
For a long time, heating devices made of cast iron were the main ones in civil and industrial buildings in Russia. One of the advantages of cast iron radiators is their long service life. According to experts, such a battery can be used for 50 years, but this requires periodic maintenance of the system. It consists of washing the sections and replacing the gaskets between the blocks.
Plywood
You can disguise the radiator using a curved sheet of plywood. Screw hooks are used for wall mounting. They should be placed at a distance of 5 cm from the bottom edge of the window sill. This is necessary for the normal operation of the heating system. If you make it higher, warm air will have difficulty penetrating into the room. A sheet of plywood will be required twice as long as the radiator. In this case, the bend will be beautiful. Additionally, you can use furniture film.
The initial stage of replacing heating radiators
If your house is connected to central heating, then first of all you will have to go to the maintenance service, where you need to coordinate the upcoming work on replacing the batteries in the apartment.
Here, specialists will give you all the calculations and be able to name the required number of sections specifically for your apartment. Although you can also do the calculations yourself.
Before making calculations, you need to collect some information:
- Determine the type of boiler room used. This may be a central or individual system.
- Two- or one-pipe heating system.
- Characteristics of supply pipes and coolant.
The most common radiator models are bimetallic or aluminum, which is explained by their reliability and long service life. Before making calculations, you need to decide on the type of battery.
You should also take into account the maximum pressure, temperature and heat output specified in the radiator specifications.
If you are going to change not only batteries, but also pipes, you will have to take care of additional materials. This mainly includes steel, metal-plastic or polypropylene. Most experts recommend using steel pipes. Along with this, you will also need equipment for welding work.
The main thing is to pay enough attention to the connections. These places are the most problematic and if the work is done poorly, there may be leaks in the future.
The most popular are MP pipes; they have an excellent price/quality ratio.
Another criterion that you will need during installation work is fasteners. Select them specifically for your heating radiator. Usually two brackets are used (bottom and top). To avoid possible distortion, use a level. Although some batteries are specially mounted with a slight slope, which will create air removal. If your battery has more than 12 sections, you will have to take another additional bracket.
