Heating design
Construction of a country house is a serious and difficult matter. There is a lot of hassle, a lot of time is wasted, a lot of money is spent, but we strive, even outside the city, far from the fruits of civilization, to live in dignity, comfortably, without considering ourselves deprived. Therefore, not only the house itself, its volume, the shape of the structure, the number of rooms and utility rooms have great importance. It is necessary to take into account all known engineering structures. Therefore, the question of how to properly install heating in a private home sounds very relevant today.
It should be noted right away that heating is a fairly expensive part of the budget allocated for building a house. Practice shows that it requires up to 20% of all money spent, so we can say that this system is not only expensive, but also quite complex.
Of course, you can avoid large financial costs if you manage more in simple ways space heating. And the choice here is quite wide. For example, you can install electric heaters in each room, selecting them according to the power that ensures normal living.
Heating a log house
You can install electric convectors - an excellent option. But keep in mind one point that concerns the supply of electricity to suburban villages. Power outages are common here, especially in winter, so you shouldn't rely on electricity.
There is an option to install a fireplace or stove that can be heated various types fuel. For example, firewood, coal, diesel fuel, gas and electricity. But again, gas is a luxury that not all villages have. There are many problems with diesel fuel, since you will have to organize supply through a pipeline and ensure its reliable storage.
The easiest way is with firewood and coal, but there are also many shortcomings here. To maintain the required temperature in the rooms, you will have to constantly add fuel to the firebox, maintaining the fire, and this is not very convenient.
Therefore, the ideal option is water heating with the installation of radiators and a boiler. And the question immediately arises of how to make water heating so that the house warms up evenly, even if it has several floors.
Heating schemes for a private house
Let's start analyzing water heating with its circuits and immediately determine that there are only two circuits:
- Single-circuit;
- Double circuit.
What are their differences from each other? Firstly, we immediately note that the first option is best used only for one-story buildings. But the second one is suitable for any country houses.
Single-pipe heating circuit
Single-pipe heating circuit The single-pipe heating system is the simplest and least expensive. Everything is very simple here. The pipe through which the coolant will move departs from the heating boiler and connects all heating radiators in series. After this, it returns to the cauldron. The circle is closed, that is, the movement of the coolant occurs in a closed cycle.
A good scheme in which there is one enough important nuance, or rather, minus. In such a system, which is installed in a sequential order, the radiators located closer to the boiler will always have a higher temperature than those located further away. That is, the air in distant rooms will always be cooler. Of course, you can look at this from the other side, because different people live in a family, for whom coolness even in winter is bliss.
Two-pipe heating system
Two-pipe heating system A two-pipe system is more complex, and besides, when constructing it, you will have to fork out money. Two pipes are removed from the boiler at once. One way the coolant rises up to the heating radiators, and the other returns it to the boiler. It seems to be the same as in the first case, only the radiators are not installed in series. But as?
The scheme is as follows. A pipe runs from the boiler through which hot water rises. This pipe is usually led into the attic where the wiring is done. That is, each battery has its own individual pipe. Now it is clear that all radiators will have the same temperature.
Next, a branch is made from each radiator, which is connected to a pipe called “return”. It is through this that the coolant returns back to the boiler. The return flow passes through all rooms where heating radiators are installed. I usually put it under the floor or hide it in the walls. If this is not possible, then you can attach it to the wall surface.
In this scheme, as practice shows, it is necessary to correctly route the heating pipes located in the attic. Therefore, experts recommend installing a heating collector. What it is?
This is a special device that allows you to regulate the flow of coolant to each radiator. It consists of a pipe structure, where the main one is a pipe with a diameter of 50 millimeters, which includes a hot water supply pipe. Must be installed between them locking device, for example, a valve.
Pipes connecting to the radiators extend from this pipe. It is also installed here shut-off valves for each circuit. This system allows you to control and regulate the temperature in each individual room.
Dead end heating system
There is another scheme that experts do not always use. It's called a "dead end". In it, the pipes coming out of the boiler are parallel. From each circuit there are two outlets to the batteries: one to the upper entrance - this is a pipe with hot water, the second to the lower entrance - to the return. A very economical scheme, it works well, but it hasn’t caught on.
Nuances of water heating
What should you pay attention to when installing a heating system? First of all, you will have to decide on the type. There are two types that differ from each other only in the presence of a circulation pump.
If it is not in the heating circuit, then it is a gravity system. How is it beneficial, and what are its disadvantages?
- Firstly, this is a cheap option.
- Secondly, there is no need to use electricity to operate the pump.
- Thirdly, any type of boiler can be used.
But this scheme has a little more disadvantages:
- low efficiency, which means the system’s operating efficiency is lower.
- uneven distribution of coolant.
- more costly, because you will have to install an expansion tank and use metal pipes. And metal is more expensive than plastic, plus gas welding work, which is also not cheap.
Many may ask the question, why are metal pipes necessary? The thing is that with such a system you will have to supply coolant with higher temperature, but plastic may not withstand it. This is especially true for the area near the boiler.
With a circulation pump everything is different. It's more effective method distribution of hot water throughout the heating system. In addition, fuel consumption can be reduced due to uniform heat supply. And this is already savings. Here we can add the fact that the diameter of the pipes used can be reduced. For example, in a system with natural circulation it is necessary to install pipes for distribution with a diameter of 25 millimeters, for a riser of 32 millimeters. IN forced system 20 and 25 respectively. Also savings.
Heating "warm floor"
Can this view be used as the main one? Yes. Today, all experts unanimously say that “warm floors” are a very effective scheme. It is not only low-cost and easy to install and operate, but also economical. In addition, with its help you can create very comfortable indoor conditions that have a good effect on human health and well-being.
No convection, always warm floors on which you can walk barefoot, no need to cover them with expensive carpets and constantly clean them.
In all respects, this is the most efficient type of heating in private homes today. In addition, the “warm floor” system can be installed under almost any floor materials - be it ceramic tile, parquet or laminate.
Here it is important to take into account the thermal transmittance coefficient of the flooring. For example, on tiles it is higher, which means there is no need to use a powerful system. For wooden floors it is less, so it is worth taking this into account and installing more frequent circuits, thereby increasing the heat transfer of the system.
An important condition is to accurately select the diagram and carry out the installation correctly. Any mistake, no matter how small, will lead to the heating working poorly. Therefore, the recommendations of specialists will have to be taken into account if all the work is carried out with your own hands.
Conclusion
We insulate the house So, answering the question of how to properly heat a private home, we can come to the following conclusion. The most important thing is to choose the right scheme when it comes to water heating. But keep in mind that in such a matter as installing a heating system in a country house, there are no trifles. Everything is important here: the type of heating boiler, the type of radiators, the pipes used in the circuit, the shut-off valves, and even the type of fuel on which the boiler will operate. After all, even the budget will depend on this. Why?
Judge for yourself. If liquid fuel is used, then a separate room for storing diesel fuel will have to be arranged for it. And here you need to adhere to fire safety standards. If coal or firewood is used, they will also have to be stored either under a canopy or in a separate room. That is, there are more problems with such types of fuel.
If Vacation home designed not only for the periodic arrival of its owners during the summer season, but for their long-term or even permanent residence in it, then it is impossible to do without a heating system. This issue is always carefully thought out at the design stage of construction or reconstruction, and is taken into account when purchasing ready-made housing.
This question is extremely serious, requiring scrupulous consideration of all existing conditions: periods of future operation of the building, the climate zone of the area, the presence of power supply lines, utilities, design features of the building, the total estimated cost of implementing a particular project. And yet, most often, homeowners come to the conclusion that the optimal solution would be water system closed type heating in a private house.
This publication will discuss basic principles closed system, its differences from a covered one, existing advantages and existing disadvantages. Attention will be drawn to the main elements of such a system with recommendations for their selection, and typical wiring diagrams for an intra-house heating network will be given.
Closed heating system in a private house - main features
A private house can be heated in different ways.
- For a long time, the main source of heat was one or more stoves (fireplaces), each of which heated one or another section of the building. The disadvantages of this approach are obvious - uneven heating, the need to conduct regular fires, monitor the combustion process, etc.
Stove heating- it’s already “yesterday” Currently, this type of heating is used less and less, and, as a rule, when it is absolutely impossible or completely inappropriate to use another, more efficient system.
- System electric heating using convectors or oil radiators - extremely expensive to operate due to the high price of electricity and its high consumption.
True, they appear alternative ways, in the form of film infrared elements, but they have not yet gained widespread popularity.
- Most owners of private houses still opt for water heating. This is a proven efficient system, which, by the way, can operate from almost all energy sources - natural gas, liquid or solid fuel, electricity, which makes it completely universal - the only difference is the type of heating boiler. A well-calculated and correctly installed water heating system ensures uniform heat distribution throughout all rooms and is easy to adjust.
Not so long ago, the main scheme for organizing water heating in a private house was open with the gravitational principle of moving the coolant through pipes and radiators. Compensation for the thermal expansion of water occurred due to the presence of a leaky tank, which was installed at the highest point of the entire circuit of the heating system. The openness of the tank, of course, causes constant evaporation of water, so there is a need to constantly monitor its required level.
The movement of the coolant through the pipes is ensured in this case by the difference in the density of cold and heated water - the denser cold water seems to push the hot water forward. To facilitate this process, an artificial slope of the pipes is created along their entire length, otherwise the effect of hydrostatic pressure may occur.
It is quite possible to install a circulation pump into an open system - this will dramatically increase its efficiency. In this case, a valve system is provided so that it is possible to switch from forced circulation to natural circulation and back if necessary, for example, during power outages.
The closed type system is structured somewhat differently. Instead of an expansion tank, a sealed compensation tank of membrane or balloon type is installed on the pipe. It absorbs all thermal fluctuations in the coolant volume, maintaining one pressure level in a closed system.
The main difference between a closed system is the presence of a sealed expansion tank IN currently this the system is the most popular because it has many significant advantages.
Advantages and disadvantages of a closed heating system
- First of all, the coolant does not evaporate. This gives one important advantage - you can use not only water, but also antifreeze. Therefore, the possibility of the system freezing during forced breaks in its operation is eliminated, for example, if it is necessary to leave the house for a long time in the winter.
- The compensation tank can be located almost anywhere in the system. Usually a place is provided for it right in the boiler room, in close proximity to the heating device. This ensures the compactness of the system. An open-type expansion tank is often located at the highest point - in an unheated attic, which will require its mandatory thermal insulation. In a closed system, this problem does not exist.
- Forced circulation in a closed-type system ensures heating of the premises much faster from the moment the boiler is started. There is no unnecessary loss of thermal energy in the expansion area tank.
- The system is flexible - you can adjust the heating temperature in each specific room, and selectively turn off some sections of the general circuit.
- There is no such significant difference in the temperature of the coolant at the inlet and outlet - and this significantly increases the time of trouble-free operation of the equipment.
- For heating distribution, pipes of a much smaller diameter can be used than in an open system with natural circulation without any loss of heating efficiency. And this is both a significant simplification of installation work and significant savings in material resources.
- The system is sealed, and if it is filled correctly and the valve system is functioning normally, there should simply be no air in it. This will prevent the appearance air jams in pipelines and radiators. In addition, the lack of access to oxygen contained in the air prevents corrosion processes from actively developing.
You can also include “warm floors” in a closed heating system - The system is highly versatile: in addition to conventional heating radiators, it can be connected to water-based “warm floors” or convectors hidden in the floor surface. A water heating circuit for domestic needs is easily connected to such a heating system - through an indirect heating boiler.
There are few disadvantages to a closed heating system:
- The expansion compensation tank must have a volume larger than with an open system - this is due to the peculiarity of its internal design.
- Mandatory installation required so-called "security group"– safety valve systems.
- Correct operation of a closed heating system with forced circulation depends on the continuity of the power supply. It is possible, of course, to provide, as with the open type, a switch to natural circulation, but this will require a completely different arrangement of pipes, which can reduce a number of the main advantages of the system to zero (for example, the use of “warm floors” is completely eliminated). In addition, the heating efficiency will sharply decrease. Therefore, if natural circulation can be considered, it is only as an “emergency” one, but most often a closed system is planned and installed specifically for the use of a circulation pump.
Main elements of a closed heating system
So, in the composition common system Closed heating systems for a private home include:
- heating device - boiler;
- circulation pump;
— pipe distribution system for coolant transfer;
— expansion compensation tank of sealed type;
- heating radiators installed in the premises of the house, or other heat transfer devices (“warm floors” or convectors);
- safety group - valve system and air vents;
— necessary shut-off valves;
- in some cases - additional automatic monitoring and control devices that optimize the operation of the system.
Heating boiler
- The most common are . If a gas main is connected to the house or there is a real possibility of laying one, then most owners have no alternative but to give preference to this method of heating the coolant.
Gas boilers are the optimal solution if it is possible to install them Gas boilers are distinguished by high efficiency, ease of operation, reliability and cost-effectiveness in terms of energy costs. Their disadvantage is the need to coordinate the installation project with the relevant organizations, since such a heating system is subject to very special safety requirements.
The variety of gas boilers is very large - you can choose a floor-standing or wall-mounted model, with one or two circuits, simple in design or rich in electronics, requiring connection to a stationary chimney or equipped with a coaxial combustion product exhaust system.
- They are usually installed in conditions where gas supply to the house is impossible for some reason. Such an installation will not require approval; the main thing is that the requirements for electrical safety and compliance of the boiler power with the capabilities of the electrical network are met. Such heating devices are compact, simple and easy to adjust.
Heating systems with electric boilers have firmly established the reputation of being “uneconomical” due to the relatively high cost of electricity. This is only partly true - modern electric heating devices, thanks to new water heating technologies, have very high efficiency, and with reliable insulation of the house should not burden the budget too much.
In addition to the familiar boilers with heating elements (which are really not very economical), modern developments are actively used.
"Battery" of three electrode boilers For example, they are widely used in which heating is carried out due to the flow alternating current directly through the coolant (however, this will require a specially selected chemical composition water in the system). Such boilers themselves are inexpensive, but there are certain problems with adjustment.
Induction boiler - unpretentious and very economical Any owner of country property sooner or later is faced with the need to create comfortable living conditions. Water heating of a country house is enough simple system, however, there are many different options for its implementation. The reason is that it must not only be reliable and easy to operate, but also economical and efficient. Therefore, when creating it, it is important to choose the right type and all its elements.
Types of heating systems for a private home
The water heating system of a private house can be of two types: open (gravity) and closed.
The open system consists of a heating boiler, radiators and an expansion tank. All elements are connected to each other by pipes. Hot water, heated by the boiler, rises up the riser to the supply pipe and, under the influence of gravity, spreads by gravity over the batteries.
The movement of water is ensured by the difference in density between hot (heated by the boiler) and cold (heat released in the radiators) water. An expansion tank is necessary to compensate for the increase in water volume when heated. In this case, the tank is used as an open type to reduce hydraulic resistance.
Fig.1.
Water heating in a private house without a pump is energy independent. It only needs a source of fuel to run the boiler.
This scheme has many disadvantages and they are all related to the gravitational principle of operation. Here are some of them:
- slow warm-up;
- the need to install an expansion tank in the high point system, the boiler should be at the lowest point;
- constant evaporation of coolant from the expansion tank (since it communicates with the atmosphere);
- difficulty balancing;
- impossibility of installing heated floors, etc.
The disadvantage of high inertia can be eliminated and productivity can be increased by installing a circulation pump. It is connected according to a bypass circuit, which provides two operating modes. Such a heating system at home can operate both with the gravitational principle of coolant circulation and with forced pumping. However, all its other shortcomings remain.
Fig.2.
Despite the energy independence of an open system, they most often choose a closed system. It differs from an open one by the presence of a circulation pump and the use of a sealed expansion tank.
Fig.3.
The coolant circulates using a special pump. Therefore, there are no restrictions on the installation of elements (a certain slope of pipes and arrangement of elements, etc.), it is possible to install water heated floors, the entire wiring becomes more compact and takes up less space.
Heating schemes for a country house
A closed heating system for a private house can be implemented different ways depending on the number of floors and area, as well as on the type of heating devices. The most widely used are single-pipe, double-pipe, beam circuits and their combinations.
Single-pipe heating systems are a scheme in which the supply and return of radiators are connected to one pipe.
Fig.4.
The advantage of this scheme is that it is compact, easy to install and does not require much material consumption. The main disadvantage is that the further the radiator is from the boiler, the less heat it transfers to the room, because more than cold water than in the previous ones.
To eliminate this drawback, an accurate calculation of the heating of the house is required, i.e. pipelines (pipe diameter) and heating devices (number of sections) during design. However, it is often very difficult to balance a single-pipe design.
The two-pipe heating system of a private house has no disadvantages. In this scheme, the coolant is supplied to the radiators from the supply pipe, and the cooled water is drained into the return pipe.
This way, all heaters are connected in parallel, and it is much easier to ensure the same heat transfer from heating devices. Thermostatic valves are used for this purpose.
Fig.5.
Both schemes can be used in houses of different heights. Depending on the number of radiators on the floor, horizontal or vertical wiring can be used.
A two-pipe heating system for a one-story house with a small area must have horizontal wiring. For a multi-story building, you should prefer a vertical layout of risers. This option will allow you to more evenly distribute heat throughout all rooms, thanks to simpler balancing.
Fig.6.
Efficient heating of a house is achieved through the use of a radial (collector) circuit. In it, each radiator is connected individually. Water heated floors work according to the same scheme.
Fig.7.
The collector heating system of a private house is more expensive to install than the previous ones, but they more than pay for themselves in savings in operation. The fact is that you can fine-tune not only the entire system, but also each radiator individually. Thus, it is easy to maintain a low temperature in non-residential premises, thereby significantly reducing fuel consumption for the boiler.
Boiler selection
Heating boilers for a private home can be divided into several groups according to the type of fuel used, power, installation method and functionality. Given their diversity, the choice of one type or another must be made based on the operating characteristics and type of heating system.
Based on the type of fuel consumed, they are divided into electric, diesel, solid fuel and gas. Heating boilers are listed in order of lower energy costs, i.e. gas ones are the most economical. Naturally, the choice in favor of one type or another primarily depends on this characteristic.
Although you can create heating in your home using any energy source, most often you have access to gas. For this reason, the gas heating boiler is most popular. Therefore, we will consider this group in more detail.
Gas boilers for heating can be of two types: floor-mounted and wall-mounted.
Floor-standing ones have great power and are capable of heating a house with an area of more than 150 sq.m. They are simpler in design and can operate in both gravitational and closed systems. Most models are non-volatile, i.e. do not require connection to electricity.
Fig.8.
Wall-mounted heating boilers have lower power and are more compact. They have an aesthetic appearance and can be installed anywhere. They are mainly intended for use in a closed circuit. For this reason, wall gas boilers already equipped with a circulation pump, expansion tank and all the necessary automation. They are energy dependent, but thanks to electronic control they are able to fully automate the heating of a country house.
Fig.9.
They can be of open or closed type. The difference between them is that with an open chamber, air is taken from the room for work. This imposes requirements on ventilation and chimney installation. Boilers with a closed combustion chamber are equipped with a special fan (turbine), thanks to which air is forced in from the street, and exhaust gases are removed through a coaxial chimney, which is very easy to install.
A wall-mounted gas boiler can be single-circuit or double-circuit. Single-circuit only works to heat the room. Double-circuit gas boilers also provide hot water supply. However, they will cope well with the task if there are no more than 2 hot water consumers.
If the number of water points that can be used simultaneously is greater, then it is advisable to choose a single-circuit boiler and install an indirect heating boiler. A boiler is a barrel in which a coil is installed, through which the coolant circulates and thereby heats the water.
Fig. 10.
The most important characteristic of a gas boiler is its power. Designing home heating begins with calculating the boiler power, taking into account many parameters. However, with ceiling heights up to 3 m and good insulation walls and roofs can be guided by a simple rule: 1 kW of power is needed to heat 10 sq.m. area of the house.
Expansion tank and circulation pump
An expansion tank is necessary to compensate for the increase in coolant volume when heated. So for water, when heated to a temperature of 80 degrees, its volume increases by about 5%. Therefore it is necessary to install expansion tank, and different designs are used for open and closed systems.
A tank for an open system is a container, the volume of which is completely used to fill it with coolant when it expands. Therefore, its volume should be approximately 7% of the total coolant volume.
Fig. 11.
The heating system of a private house with a pump involves the use of a sealed tank. Such containers are structurally divided into 2 parts by an elastic membrane, on one side of which there is air under pressure of usually 1.5 atmospheres, and on the other there is a coolant. In this case, a tank with a volume of 10–12% of the total volume is required.
Fig. 12.
The circulation pump is selected based on the calculated flow and pressure values. Flow rate is the volume of liquid per unit of time that the pump must pump. Pressure is hydraulic resistance which the pump must overcome.
Formula for calculating consumption:
Q=0.86 x P / dT,
where Q is the design pressure, P is the thermal power (boiler power), dT is the temperature difference between the supply and return (usually 20 degrees).
Formula for calculating pressure:
H=N x K,
where H is the pressure value, N is the number of floors including the basement, K is the coefficient of average hydraulic losses, accepted 0.7 - 1.1 for two-pipe systems, 1.16 - 1.85 for radial schemes.
The given formulas are an approximate calculation of a heating system for a private house; to accurately calculate the characteristics, it is necessary to use special techniques that allow you to take into account all possible factors and accurately determine operating modes.
Pipes and automation
Heating and water supply systems for cottages and summer cottages have a low coolant temperature, usually up to 90 degrees. Therefore, any type of pipe can be used to connect all heating devices: steel pipes, metal-plastic, polypropylene.
Steel ones are strong and durable. However, their use is associated with installation complexity, which is impossible to perform without welding skills. In addition, so that they do not spoil the appearance of the room, they must be painted periodically.
Metal-plastic pipes are very popular. Installing a country house heating system with their help is very simple, especially if you use threaded fittings. However, as practice shows, due to seasonal temperature changes, the fitting clamp can become loose and cause a coolant leak. Therefore, connections must be regularly checked for leaks.
Polypropylene pipes (reinforced) do not have the disadvantages of steel and metal-plastic ones. They are mounted by welding, which makes the connections very strong and durable, and you can do it yourself even without having experience in this kind of work.
Fig. 13.
The most important element is the air vents. These are simple mechanical devices that allow you to remove air from the system that is blocking its operation. Their other name is Mayevsky crane. These devices must be installed not only at the highest point, but also on distribution manifolds and heating devices.
Fig. 14.
If heating radiators are used to heat the room, then it is advisable to install a thermostatic valve on each one. With its help you can accurately set the required temperature.
Fig. 15.
Heating a private house with heated floors
Radiators or heated floors, as well as a combination of both, can be used as heating elements. Quite often they do combined heating at home, i.e. the first floor is heated warm floors, and the second with batteries.
Underfloor heating has a number of advantages:
- allows you to create more uniform heating of the room, thereby making the climatic conditions more comfortable, and the system becomes simpler;
- radiators must be installed along all external walls, which is not always provided for by the layout, while heated floors are free of this limitation;
- ease of adjustment.
However, despite all the advantages, installation of heated floors is more labor-intensive and expensive. The main contribution is made by the costs of materials and labor.
Fig. 16.
Fundamentally, this system is not very different from the traditional one. The main difference lies in the need to install special mixing and distribution manifolds.
The fact is that the air temperature of a heated floor usually does not exceed 35 degrees, while the boiler produces a coolant temperature of more than 50 degrees. The mixing manifold is designed to solve three problems:
- setting a low temperature of the coolant due to mixing hot with cooled;
- distribution of water along the contours;
- ensuring circulation.
Fig. 17.
The heated floor system is built according to a radial scheme. Thanks to this, it is very easy to set up and adjust, which in turn simplifies the creation of comfortable conditions and at the same time allows you to save on heating.
The considered options for creating a heating system can be used for a house of any size and number of floors. It is important to find a compromise between the required climatic factors, the cost of elements, the complexity of maintenance and energy costs. If you correctly correlate all of the above parameters, then the house will always be warm and cozy, and heating costs will not greatly burden the family budget.
Organizing heating in a house is a difficult and expensive task. With the right skills, costs can be significantly reduced by creating a heating circuit yourself. Of course, in the case of gas, you will have to spend money on the bureaucratic part and specialists, but if you have chosen a different type of fuel, you can do the entire cycle from design to launch yourself.
At first glance, the choice of heating scheme for a private house depends on its characteristics; the larger the house, the more complex the system will be. However, there are a number of misconceptions about the profitability of certain schemes.
Single pipe system
And the most common of those myths is about the single-pipe heating scheme. The coolant is directed to the radiators and back through one pipe, and many people believe that this is an ideal option for a small house, as it is cheaper to maintain than other variations. But that's not true.
Due to the fact that all the batteries are connected to one pipe, the efficiency drops noticeably, and the radiator at the end of the chain differs significantly in temperature from those at the beginning. This leads to a forced increase in boiler power and, as a consequence, to an increase in fuel consumption.
However, this scheme remains popular due to the low cost of the installation itself. A small number of structural elements allows you to save on materials, and in small rooms, temperature losses at the extreme points of the circuit are not so important; they are leveled out by natural air circulation.
Therefore, for small houses and garages this option is most preferable. For those who make a heating system with their own hands, this scheme will be attractive due to its simple installation.
Two-pipe system
In a two-pipe heating scheme, the coolant is supplied and removed from the battery through different pipes. This is more expensive in terms of materials, but this small drawback is more than compensated by the uniform distribution of heat throughout the rooms and the wide possibilities for temperature regulation in individual rooms through thermostats and control devices.
In private homes, this scheme is most often used with lower wiring. For the most part, this is due to aesthetic reasons - the pipes can be partially hidden from view, and if you prudently install them from the floor during the construction of the house, the heating will be practically invisible.
This circumstance makes us close our eyes to the need for a circulation pump to maintain pressure and manual release of air from the pipes. In addition, batteries with bottom connections are much easier to install and maintain.
Ideal for heating a two-story house would be a scheme with overhead wiring. It differs from the previous one in that the coolant is distributed through the pipes from the very top of the circuit - from expansion tank installed on the top floor or attic.
This not only eliminates the need to additionally bleed air (it is removed through the tank), but also ensures more uniform heating of the home.
The disadvantages include the fact that many people sacrifice efficiency in favor of aesthetics - in order to hide the pipes, you will have to sacrifice a useful amount of space, and in some cases this cannot be done at all. If the number of floors is high, a circulation pump may also be required.
There is also the most modern and at the same time the most expensive type of two-pipe circuit - beam (collector). With this approach, each radiator is independent of the others, which provides ample scope for local temperature control.
This method makes possible connection warm floors. However, the need to supply pipes to each battery through supply and exhaust manifolds significantly increases the cost of such systems, which is their main disadvantage. Otherwise, many experts call such schemes the best.
Which scheme to choose
The first thing you need to decide is what is more important to you - efficiency, cheapness, or beauty in the interior of your home.
The single-pipe option will cope well with heating a small and medium-sized house, but if the number of heating elements is 5-6 or more, the last radiators will simply be cold.
But no special skills are required - anyone can do it, armed with photo reports of the installation of heating circuits, and it will not cost much.
If the size of the premises forces a significantly larger number of heating devices in the chain, then your option is a two-pipe circuit; you just need to focus on the wiring method. Not only cosmetic effects depend on it, but also the type of contour - closed or open.
The latter implies the presence of an expansion tank and is used when the coolant flows by gravity, imposing restrictions on the height of heated houses.
With a closed circuit, a special pump is required that will provide circulation, and at the same time increase operating costs; this also needs to be taken into account.
For those whose finances do not sing romances, and whose comfort is above all, the best solution there will be radial wiring.
Installation costs are significant, most likely you cannot do without the services of specialists, but the result will exceed all expectations - your home will receive a universal heating system with wide customization and modification options.
So, by connecting warm floors to the system and additional radiators, you can use all elements of the circuit, even each one separately, by connecting control devices to maintain different set temperatures in individual rooms and much more, which will ensure highest level comfort.
Photos of heating circuits
The design and installation of a heating system in a house can be carried out by the most different ways. Already at the stage of drawing up the project, you should choose the most optimal option, which will help bring all the owner’s ideas into reality, without going beyond the planned budget.
The most financially profitable option is a single-pipe heating system. Two-pipe heating wiring may be somewhat more expensive, but the efficiency of this method is much higher.
Popular heating wiring methods
A fireplace or stove is very often placed in the modern interior of a private house, but they most likely serve a decorative function, emphasizing the individual style of the house, since the main heating load falls on one or two circuit heating boilers. The operating principle of a single-circuit boiler is solely to provide heating for the house, while a double-circuit boiler, in addition to heating the house, can also work as water heating.
Regardless of the type of heating boiler, to set up an individual heating system, you can use either a single-pipe wiring diagram or a two-pipe one. Let's look at their main features and try to figure out what the advantages and disadvantages of each type are.
Single-pipe heating system
The principle of operation of such a system is very simple: when installing heating, only one pipe is installed, which creates a vicious circle. This system is connected to batteries from every room in the house.
There are two ways to set up such a system:
- horizontal;
- vertical.
The horizontal method of arranging a single-pipe heating system with bottom wiring is more popular, as it has a fairly simple design. A special feature is the special installation method, in which the installed pipes must have a slight slope so that the coolant can easily circulate throughout the entire system.
The nuances of installation using the horizontal method arise when heating is installed in a multi-storey building. Then, at the entrance to the initial section of the radiator, located on the ground floor, you need to install a valve, partially closing which you can create the necessary pressure for coolant circulation on the upper floors.
Attention ! When arranging the vertical distribution of heating pipes in a private house, it is very important to take into account the location of the risers. It should only be vertical, and the pipes should have a slightly larger diameter than when installed in a horizontal layout.
One of the advantages of a one-pipe heating system with bottom wiring is the absence of the need for a mandatory connection to a circular pump.
Advantages of single-pipe heating:
- good savings on materials, as fewer pipes are required;
- very simple and clear wiring diagram;
- clear calculation of hydraulic load on pipes.
But, unfortunately, despite all the positive aspects, they are completely negated by one minus. It consists of a significant loss of coolant temperature as it moves away from the heating boiler. This means that the radiators in the farthest rooms will be slightly warm.
This situation can be corrected in the following ways:
- increase the total number of sections in the radiator as it moves away from the boiler;
- install special ones on radiators thermostatic valves, which regulate the coolant supply pressure to each radiator;
- install a circular pump that will maintain the pressure at the required level and facilitate the correct distribution of the coolant throughout the network.
Single-pipe heating distribution in a private house will be optimal for arranging a heating system in a one-story private house with an area of no more than 100 m², and no additional devices such as “warm floors” will be needed.
Two-pipe heating system
The main difference between this type of heating system arrangement and the previous one is that each battery is connected to the main pipe of both forward and reverse current. This feature approximately doubles the pipe consumption. But it is worth noting the positive aspects. The owner of the house can independently regulate the level of heat supply to each radiator. As a result, you can easily create a pleasant atmosphere in every room.
The arrangement of a two-pipe heating system provides for several different wiring methods. Let's look at each of them in more detail.
Vertical scheme with bottom wiring
The technological process of installing a two-pipe heating system with bottom wiring includes the following steps:
- Install on the floor of the first floor or basement main pipeline, which originates from the heating boiler.
- Vertical pipes are carried along the main pipe, which ensure the movement of coolant to the radiators in the rooms.
- Each radiator must have a pipe installed for the return flow of cooled coolant into the heating boiler.
When designing a two-pipe heating system with bottom wiring, you must definitely think about how exactly the need for regular air outlet from the pipeline will be ensured. Usually, this requirement is ensured by the installation of an air pipe, an expansion tank and the installation of Mayevsky cranes on all batteries, which are located on the second and third floors of the building.
Vertical scheme with top wiring
This model provides that the coolant is supplied from the heating device to the attic through a pipeline. From there, the coolant flows through the risers to all the radiators of the house. And the already cooled water returns to the heating boiler through the main pipeline.
Attention ! In order to avoid air congestion in the system, it is important to periodically remove air. To do this, install a special expansion tank.
The presented method of arranging a heating system at home is in many ways more effective than the method with lower wiring, because much greater pressure is supplied through the risers.
Horizontal heating system
Arrangement of horizontal wiring of a heating system with forced circulation is very popular way heating the house.
When installing horizontal heating, several schemes are traditionally used:
- Dead end. The advantage of this option is the economical consumption of pipes. The disadvantage is that the length of the circuit is very long and this makes it very difficult to regulate the operation of the entire system.
- Associated movement of water. All circulation circuits are of equal length, and this helps to adjust the system easily and simply. The disadvantage of this heating layout for a private house is the high consumption of pipes, which, due to their cost, significantly increase the repair budget and also spoil the interior of the premises.
- Collector or radial wiring of the heating system. Thanks to the fact that each battery is connected individually to the central heating distribution manifold, it is very easy to ensure uniform heat distribution. The disadvantage, as in the second case, is the very high consumption of materials. But all pipes are mounted into the wall, which does not spoil the interior of the room. To date this scheme heating wiring for a private home is gaining popularity among developers.
When choosing a wiring diagram, it is important to take into account many factors: area of the building, types of construction materials, etc.
