The diameter of the pipe for heating a private house. Calculation of diameter of heat supply pipes

Comfortable existence of tenants of a modern country house provides a powerful network of various engineering communications, among which one of the main places is occupied by the system responsible for heat. Planning to mount it on its own, almost every owner asks about the diameter of the pipe for heating a private house to choose. For many, this becomes a real problem, since it is the size of the pipes that determines the final cost and the efficiency of the heating system.

Factors affecting the choice of pipes

Choosing the diameter of the pipes for heating a private house plays a really important role, since this parameter will determine the throughput of the heat system, as well as its thermal and hydraulic losses. In addition, it is necessary to take into account the scale of the installed system, namely the number of radiators and rooms that require heating. Many people think that the larger the diameter of a pipe for heating a private house, the greater its throughput, which means that the number of radiators can be increased.

However, it is unlikely to improve efficiency in this way. Not only that the purchase of pipes with an unnecessarily large cross section will entail additional costs, so also there is a risk of pressure drop in the system to a critical value and, as a consequence, a decrease in efficiency.

Thermotechnical calculation

Calculation of the diameter of heat supply pipes is performed taking into account the material from which they are made, the length of the circuit, the wiring diagram and the principle of circulation of the heat carrier. It is quite difficult to perform the calculation correctly, especially if there is no experience in such cases. It is best to contact a specialist who will be able to develop a competent project for heating a private home.

When compiling it, the following parameters of the future heating system must be taken into account:

• A wiring diagram based on which the total length of the pipes is calculated;
• Coefficient of resistance of the pipe for the heating system to the flow of liquid (this figure is affected by the size, material and smoothness of the inner surface of the product);
• Sections of the output and inlet connections of the boiler (they are usually identical);
• Internal diameter of the pipe for heating the private house (the internal section is indicated in millimeters or inches, 1 inch = 25.4 mm);
• Coolant coolant level;
• The maximum rate of flow of the coolant;
• The amount of heat that must be transferred from the boiler to all radiators.

Principle of calculations

Making up the project of heating a private house, a specialist is guided by the optimal indicators that must be achieved when creating a new system. For example:

• The speed of water movement in the system should not exceed 1.5 m / sec. The optimum option is from 0.3 to 0.7 m / s.
• The degree of cooling of the water coolant (the temperature difference in the water entering and leaving the boiler) must be in the range of 15-20 degrees.
• The amount of heat required by the system must equal the total power of all radiators (the maximum indicator is taken from the passport). For heating 10 square meters. Meters of the area of the insulated room requires 1 kW plus a margin of 15-20%.

Systems with natural circulation

The maximum diameter of the pipe for heating a private house equipped with a heating system with natural or combined circulation should correspond to the size of the boiler inlet and outlet (most often they are the same). Pipes of this section will be needed to complete the initial and final sections of the circuit.

If we talk about which pipe for heating a private house is better, then we must take into account the type of boiler. So for solid fuel boilers it is recommended to use metal products. If you plan to use polymer pipes, then for installation of the first couple of meters, you should still use a metal pipe.

The starting diameter is the largest. It is maintained until the first branch. Further the wiring is performed with a gradual decrease in the diameter of the pipes after each branching. At the last point, the diameter should be ½ inch (12.7 mm) or ¾ inch (19 mm). When installing the "reverse" the same principle applies.

Systems with forced circulation

Such systems usually operate on gas or electric boilers. The diameter of the pipes for them should be chosen the smallest, as the forced circulation provides the pump. The feasibility of small diameter pipes is explained by the following factors:

• The smaller cross-section (most often these are polymer or metal-plastic pipes) allows to minimize the volume of water in the system and, consequently, to accelerate its heating (the inertness of the system decreases);
• Installation of thin pipes is much easier, especially if they need to be hidden in the walls (making strobes in the floor or walls requires less labor);
• Pipes of small diameters and connecting fittings to them are cheaper, therefore, the total cost of installing the heating system is reduced.

In this case, the pipe size should optimally correspond to the indices provided by technological calculations. If these recommendations are not followed, the efficiency of the heating system will decrease and its noise will increase.

Connection of radiators

In the collector scheme, the wiring, boiler and manifolds are connected with pipes of a larger cross-section (from 19 to 25 mm). Wiring from the collectors is carried out using thin pipes, whose internal diameter is 12.7 mm (1/2 inch).

Radiators, as well as additional equipment, in particular, the safety unit, pumped storage tank, etc., are also connected by half-inch pipes.

Types of radiators

Regarding what heating is better for a private home, the owners' feedback is quite diverse, but as for radiators, many prefer aluminum models. The fact is that the power of the heating batteries depends on the material. They are bimetallic, cast iron and aluminum.

One section of the bimetallic radiator has a standard power of 100-180 W, a cast iron - 120-160 W, and an aluminum one - 180-205 W.

When buying radiators, it is necessary to find out exactly what material they are made of, since this indicator is required for correct calculation of power.

Types of pipes for heating

Heated water is transported from the boiler to the radiators through pipes, so their quality directly affects the level of heat loss. In the market of building materials, there are now three types of pipes:

• Metal;
• Copper;
• Metal-plastic.

Each species has its own characteristics, which will be discussed below.

Metal pipes

This option was previously used throughout the heating systems of multi-storey and private houses. Metal pipes are gradually disappearing into the past, as they are not characterized from the best side. Their shortcomings include:

• Heavy weight;
• Problematic installation (requires professional equipment);
• The ability to store static electricity;
• Limited service life due to inability to resist rust.

Copper pipes

Such products have several advantages, for example:

• Ability to withstand high temperatures (within 200 degrees);
• High strength (maximum pressure - 200 atmospheres);
• Durability (not subject to corrosion).

However, copper pipe is not popular with the popularity, and the reasons are as follows:

• Complexity of installation (requires silver solder, professional equipment and special skills);
• For the installation of copper pipes, special brackets are required;
• High price (copper is expensive material);
• The high cost of work due to their labor intensity.

Metal-Plastic Pipes

This type of pipe is the most in demand among consumers. Such products are available in a wide range of sizes and are ideal for installation of heating systems. They have the following advantages:

• Increased strength and durability (aluminum or fiberglass base covered with plastic, as a whole, creates a high-strength structure that does not deteriorate with time and is resistant to mechanical damage);
• Resistance to corrosion processes (the hermetic external coating does not allow air to pass through);
• Minimum hydraulic resistance (such pipes are ideal for heating systems with natural and forced circulation of water);
• Have antistatic properties;
• Simplicity and high speed of installation (installation does not require professional knowledge, it is enough to familiarize yourself with the installation technique on the Internet and purchase a special soldering iron);
• Low cost of pipes of any diameters and accessories to them.

A reliable connection of the elements is provided by special elements - fittings. If metal-plastic pipes need to be connected to metal or shut-off valves, flanges or adapters for threaded connections are used.

When installing a heating system of pipes and fittings reinforced with fiberglass, the operation to clean these elements is not required, which greatly speeds up and simplifies the work.

Thus, metal-plastic pipes are the best option for self-installation of the heating system. The main thing is to choose the right number and diameter of pipes and accessories (fittings).