Steam heating

Heating in the house is a very complex communication, usually done by professionals, but with all the necessary tools, equipment and skills, you can do it all yourself.

Steam heating: system design

This system in its composition contains a special steam boiler, pipes and radiators. As the heat carrier in this version, heated steam is used. During operation of the entire system, condensation forms in the heat exchangers, and it returns to the boiler. Due to this, there is no need to install a surge tank, which is so necessary when using a water system. From the boiler comes preheated steam, which moves through the pipes and moves to the radiators, and they are usually mounted under the windows in the rooms. If steam heating is arranged in a private house, the boiler is usually located in the basement or on the ground floor, the room must necessarily be equipped with a ventilation system. The number of radiators and their size are determined depending on what the area of heated rooms, and the power of the boiler should be selected depending on the required load. If you have a big house, it is advisable to carry out a two-pipe system consisting of a lower and upper thread, so that the necessary level of heat and comfort in the house will be provided.

Steam heating: choice of equipment

In the process of choosing radiators and pipes it is worth considering that the material from which they are made must have sufficient strength. Only in this way will the system be able to withstand the severe loads generated during the movement of hot water or steam. In specialized stores there is a wide choice of radiators, so you can take into account not only their convenience, but also the durability and reliability, as well as the design of your home, which will allow you to make the most correct choice.

Using traditional cast iron radiators can significantly reduce fuel costs for the boiler. At the moment, these models are used very rarely, since they can not fit organically into the modern interior because of their low aesthetic performance. Nowadays, steam heating is often organized using other types of radiators. Steel models, which are made in the form of panels or pipes, are able to last very long, and the degree of heat transfer is quite high. Tubular radiators are excellent for the home, but because of the high cost they are not available for everyone.

Aluminum radiators have a much shorter service life than other models. However, their advantage has always been excellent design, compactness, as well as the possibility of replacing the damaged section if necessary. Such radiators should be suitable for the materials from which the pipes are made. You can organize steam heating using bimetallic radiators made of steel covered with a layer of aluminum. They are more expensive than the previous version, but they have a high degree of resistance to corrosion, strength and can serve you for many years.

Steam heating: choice of pipes

In this issue, it is worthwhile to focus on such indicators as durability, reliability, as well as the possibility of securing invisibility. If you plan to hide your pipes in the walls, then copper is best suited. At the moment the most popular option is metal-plastic pipes. In the process of their production, the steel pipe is coated with plastic from the outside and from the inside. So they become resistant to corrosion and easy to install. This is very important for those who carry out steam heating with their own hands.

Before you start this difficult task yourself, you need to familiarize yourself with the requirements that are imposed on the installation.