How to choose a high-quality heating battery. Which heating radiators are best to choose for a private home. Such radiators are manufactured using three methods

In our educational program for you, we tried to cover in as much detail as possible one of the fundamental issues in the design of water heating systems. What types of radiators are there, what are their fundamental differences and what type is right for you, what to look for when purchasing.

Fundamentals of Thermal Physics

To understand how a particular type of radiator will behave in a particular heating system, you need to understand a number of aspects of the operation of liquid heating. In particular, the heat conversion chain from the heating source to the direct air in the room is important.

Heat transfer occurs the faster, the higher the contact area of ​​two bodies with different temperatures and the greater the difference between these temperatures. Therefore, the optimal option is when water of extremely low temperature enters the boiler heat exchanger, so that most of the heat from the combustion products will be literally “absorbed” into the coolant.

In reality, this approach is used only in those systems where the power of the heating unit is not regulated, as is the case with solid fuel boilers. Most modern heating equipment has a fairly flexible automation system, which allows you to quickly reach a balanced operating mode. In this case, the boiler delivers exactly as much energy as the system’s radiators are capable of dissipating.

This is the main misconception of novice designers: it is most obvious that the radiator should heat the air, although in fact its main task is to cool the coolant. The heat transfer rate can be easily adjusted by forced convection and its local adjustment. Therefore, when choosing and calculating the number of heating radiators, the main task is to compensate for heat loss in the premises, and not to struggle with balancing the heat exchange circuit.

Convection component of the structure

The high efficiency of modern radiators is due to the first factor influencing the rate of heat transfer - surface area. Numerous fins made of thermally conductive material provide very rapid cooling of the coolant, the effect is enhanced by the high speed of air flow passing through the radiator.

The undisputed leader in this regard is bimetallic and aluminum radiators. In addition to numerous channels for air flow, they have a bend at the top of the ribs, which allows you to effectively redirect the air flow to the center of the room and loop it around. Therefore, this type of radiator is installed mainly under windows with wide sills or inside technological niches.

Panel steel radiators have a slightly less efficient convection ability. From one to three ribbed panels provide high-quality heat transfer, but the heated air is directed predominantly vertically. Cast iron radiators have the lowest heat transfer. Among old-style batteries, the best performance in this regard is characterized by sections with oblique internal inserts; modern cast-iron radiators are slightly superior to them. But as you will see later, cast iron has other advantages.

Materials and their thermal capacity

Let us consider in more detail the option of operating the system at average temperatures of the coolant, when it does not have time to cool down to the level of the air in the room. In this case, both the upper and lower parts of the radiator will have a small temperature difference, and the boiler will only slightly heat the coolant.

The massiveness of cast iron radiators allows operation in this mode. Heated to 50-60 ºС, they manage to give off enough heat to the room air and at the same time provide stable heating without noticeable changes. This is the main difference from the operating mode of aluminum radiators: they operate in a cyclic mode, either warming up the room at maximum power, then quickly cooling down.

Cast iron and steel radiators have another interesting feature: they transfer heat not only by convection, but also by direct radiation. However, to heat such a mass of metal takes time, sometimes quite a long time. In terms of speed at which they reach operating mode and the amount of heat released per unit of time, cast iron radiators are inferior to other types. It is beneficial to install them in a private house with good insulation, but when connected to a centralized heating system, cast iron will not provide any tangible benefit. Considering the fact that in apartments the number of sections and the space for their installation are very limited, it is better to give preference to steel or metal.

Design pressure, internal coating

An additional limitation when choosing heating radiators is always the quality of the coolant and the technical parameters of the system. Aluminum ones are not suitable for replacing old radiators in an apartment; they are simply not designed for pressures above 6-8 atm. At least bimetallic ones are suitable as a replacement, but it is better to give preference to steel ones. They can be confidently called the most unpretentious among other varieties.

The quality of water or other coolant also greatly limits the use of aluminum radiators. You must be sure that the water does not contain high concentrations of dissolved ions. It is also important to exclude any manifestation of electrical emissions, which is possible when grounding/zeroing the metal elements of the heating water supply. Under such conditions, aluminum corrodes extremely quickly, which is accompanied by pronounced gas formation and airing of the system.

Cast iron batteries are not at all sensitive to aggressive substances, and fairly wide flow channels allow a significant content of mechanical impurities. Steel radiators can be somewhat susceptible to the deposition of undissolved particles on the internal walls, so the water for them must be filtered and softened.

Displacement, conventional thermal power

The heat transfer and the potential ability to regulate the flow locally depend on how much volume passes through the radiator per unit time. Cast iron radiators require a slightly larger pipeline capacity than steel and aluminum ones. And this means deliberately overestimating the boiler power and the size of the expansion tank.

Large displacement and power reserves remain a reasonable investment until a certain time. In this mode, the heating system consumes its operating resource much more slowly, there is a slight increase in the efficiency of the heating unit, and the high intrinsic heat capacity smoothes out temperature differences. However, it is not worth increasing the internal volume of the system indefinitely, at least because of the unwanted inertia of the system; moreover, the ultimate task remains to heat the air in the room, and not the water in the pipes.

The modern method of calculating a heating system involves the reverse order of calculations. First, it is determined how many radiators need to be installed to replenish heat loss, and then a heating boiler is selected for a certain total power. In this case, the calculation in each room should be carried out using a redundancy coefficient from 1.1 to 1.5, depending on climatic conditions, insulation features and radiator placement density.

Note that power dissipation values ​​are entirely relative. This is how the manufacturer indicates how much heat the radiator is capable of dissipating in principle, as if it were connected to an ideal heating system. In fact, operating modes always differ from ideal ones and therefore special corrections should be taken, noting the actual temperature level from the design one. The indicated values ​​for the heated area also take into account the convection capacity of the radiators.

dimensions

When choosing radiators, it is also necessary to take into account the installation conditions: whether it will be possible to fit a heat exchanger with the required dissipation power into the available space. For convenience, here we can introduce the concept of energy density: it will be highest for aluminum radiators, followed by bimetal, then steel, and cast iron batteries are the least profitable. Assessing the possibility of placing a certain type of radiator is quite simple, since they are well standardized.

The task is easiest with bimetallic and aluminum radiators. They are assembled from sections, each of which has a set indicator of power dissipation, displacement and heated area. The standard section width is 80 mm, the height can vary from 13.5 to 117.5 cm in increments of about 10 cm. There are six types of sections depending on the number of flow channels (columns). There is a directly proportional relationship between the size of the section, its thermal and convection efficiency.

In addition to dimensions, steel radiators have an additional two-digit marking. The first is the number of dissipating panels, the second is the number of heat exchange coils. Depending on this, the depth of the radiator changes: from 47 to 155 mm. Steel radiators are not assembled from sections, and therefore their length is determined individually for each product in the range from 40 cm to 3 meters. The height of steel radiators can be either 300mm or 500mm, with rare exceptions.

Cast iron radiators have the least clear standardization in terms of dimensions. Some manufacturers adhere to the dimensions generally accepted for aluminum and bimetallic radiators; some products correspond to the dimensions of sections of old cast iron batteries: 90x580 mm with a depth of 90 or 140 mm.

To choose the right heating radiators, you need to know about their basic technical parameters. Otherwise, the result may not meet expectations. There are not many really important parameters for radiators, so even a non-professional can easily figure them out.

Features of choosing heating devices

Now people no longer need to hide or, because modern devices can become a worthy decoration of any interior. Radiators that are sold today may differ in color, size, material of manufacture and general design style, so it will not be difficult to choose the most suitable option.

Attention! Despite the fact that we are accustomed to light-colored batteries, the heat transfer of black devices is approximately ¼ higher solely due to color. Although when choosing a color, it is better to focus on the design of the home and personal preferences.

Regarding the shape, it must be streamlined. For safety reasons, it is advisable to avoid sharp corners altogether, especially if children live in the house. Before purchasing, familiarize yourself with the strengths and weaknesses of each of the existing types of radiators to determine which one is best suited for a particular room. The first thing you should pay attention to is the operating pressure of the devices.

Depending on the material, radiators are divided into:

The above-mentioned pressure, heat transfer coefficient, heat capacity, resistance to mechanical and chemical damage, as well as service life depend on the material.

Also pay attention to the method of connection to the heating main. The connection can be side, bottom and universal. It is typical that modern radiators provide all these connection methods.

Attention! The environmental friendliness of the material used in the manufacture of heating devices is also very important. There should be no formaldehyde in the internal elements, and high-quality polymer coating on the surface is also welcome.

Now in more detail about each material.

Characteristics of aluminum radiators

Heating devices made from are considered one of the most popular types of radiators. Aluminum is a light and ductile metal, therefore, batteries made from it weigh a little and have increased heat transfer.

The devices consist of sections, each of which is a set of interconnected plates. Thanks to this, heat saving here is also at a fairly high level.

Advantages similar units are as follows:

At the same time, after turning off the heating, such radiators cool down quite quickly. Among the others shortcomings worth highlighting:

• instability to chemical influences (the problem can be solved by polymer coating on the inner surface);
• low strength;
• poor quality of the threaded connection in the top valve for releasing air from the system.

In view of this, before purchasing it is necessary to inquire about the operating pressure of the heating system. The maximum pressure of a particular product must be looked at in the data sheet, since it is different for different models.

But still, according to its characteristics, aluminum is excellent for the manufacture of radiators, and its fusibility has made it possible to significantly expand the model range. Today you can choose exactly the battery that fits perfectly into the interior of your home.

Table 1. Comparison of aluminum batteries from well-known brands

Aluminum radiators from STOUT Bravo are ideal for installation in apartments and houses with individual heating. These heating devices are manufactured at the GLOBAL plant, Italy. Each stage of production is controlled by European specialists. Each section is manufactured by injection molding and is a monolith of two collectors and fins connecting the sections. Available center distance is 350 or 500 mm. Manufacturer's warranty – 10 years.

Prices for popular models of aluminum heating radiators

Aluminum heating radiators

Characteristics of bimetallic batteries

The main difference between bimetallic radiators is the use of two different metals in the manufacturing process - steel to create the core and aluminum to assemble the body. Thanks to this, the rod is very durable. Another advantage of such products is their high working pressure, which can reach 50 (!) atmospheres. Moreover, steel works well even with water that contains various impurities, while aluminum heats up quickly and gives off maximum heat.

In short, the use of two metals at once made it possible to obtain radiators that have the advantages of each of them. Therefore, it is quite obvious that the cost of these devices is the highest among all possible options.

Attention! are used primarily for heating industrial and public facilities. In residential buildings they are rare due to their high cost.

The service life is 20-25 years, which is quite normal.

Table 2. Comparison of bimetallic radiators

All the advantages of using bimetallic radiators are clearly expressed in the design of STOUT Space heating devices. These radiators are easy to install, they are suitable for rooms of any design and have a reliable design. The maximum pressure that a heating device can withstand is 100 atmospheres. Production - Russian plant "RIFAR", the largest in the country. Service life - 25 years, warranty from the manufacturer - 10 years. available from 4 to 14 - you can complete any object and select a radiator for a room of any size.

Prices for bimetallic batteries

Bimetallic batteries

Characteristics of cast iron radiators

Such batteries are the most common and well-known option for everyone, since they are installed in most standard apartments. Agree, old cast iron appliances can hardly be considered stylish and attractive. New models look better, but in terms of aesthetic indicators they are still significantly inferior to devices made from other materials.

As you know, cast iron is very heavy. Batteries made from it weigh a lot, which cannot but affect the complexity of transportation and installation.

Let's consider their main advantages.

But cast iron also has flaws, among which:

• significant weight;
• slow heating;
• unaesthetic.

Attention! Despite the abundance of more modern analogues, many prefer to install cast iron batteries, trusting what has been tested for decades.

Table 3. Comparison of cast iron batteries from the most famous manufacturers

Prices for popular models of cast iron radiators

Cast iron radiators

Low carbon steel is used in the manufacture of these devices. For protection purposes, the surface is coated with special enamel. If they are of good quality, then they have excellent performance parameters, including:

• strength;
• reliability;
• corrosion resistance;
• durability;
• resistance to various types of aggressive substances.

Such batteries can be tubular or panel.

Tubular devices

For their assembly, high-quality polymer-coated steel pipes are used. The maximum load that the devices can handle depends solely on the thickness of the pipe walls. It is desirable that the pipes are made of stainless steel.

The service life of tubular devices significantly exceeds that of panel devices and is about 30 years. It is possible to connect using all the methods described above. The operating pressure is 10-16 atmospheres; more detailed data should be clarified in the product data sheet.

Prominent representatives of tubular radiators are models produced by Loten:

• Loten Gray V;
• horizontal LotenGrey Z.

These radiators are made of steel profile pipes with a rectangular cross-section. In addition to providing comfortable heating, the presented radiators demonstrate the latest trends in the design of heating devices, fitting perfectly into the interior of any home.

When creating Loten tubular radiators there were two main ideas:

• create high-quality heating equipment: for the manufacture of radiators, high-strength metal with a wall thickness of 2.5 mm is used, due to which these heating devices have an operating pressure of 16 atm. Radiators withstand test pressure of 25 atm;
• at the same time turn the battery into a stylish element of the interior of a home, office space, public location, etc.

The presented heater models can have a different number of sections, from 4 to 12. The length of the sections varies from 750 to 2000 mm. The price of each heating element is directly dependent on the following parameters:

• number and length of sections;
• connection type (side/bottom).

At no extra charge, you can purchase radiator models painted in colors that are at the peak of popularity in relation to interior design:

• matte black;
• classic white;
• soft beige;
• concrete gray.

However, lovers of bright furnishings can order any other colors and shades.

The presented radiator models are suitable for connection to a central as well as an autonomous system. The range of sizes is really wide; you can equip the presented radiators with both a cozy small one-room apartment and a spacious country mansion.

Each model can be with side or bottom connection. Heating systems that are suitable for this battery can be:

• single-pipe;
• two-pipe.

The high quality of the material and the laconic style of the products will allow them to take a place not only in the apartment, but also in the list of your preferred interior items for many years. Their peculiarity is that they have a long service life (warranty - 5 years, service life - 30 years), so you won’t have to think about changing batteries soon. This means you can confidently trust the manufacturer and make a choice in favor of the devices reviewed.

Panel instruments

As the name suggests, such radiators are made in the form of panels. To do this, a certain number of steel plates are connected to each other. Thanks to this assembly, high heat capacity is achieved, while the thickness of each individual plate is insignificant. In addition, they weigh a little and provide the ability to connect in all available ways.

Attention! Before purchasing new heating devices, look at how your old ones are connected. It is advisable that new batteries do the same.

The cost of panel radiators is slightly higher than average; the operating pressure is 10 atmospheres. According to experts, such units are best used in autonomous heating systems. As for city apartments, the use of such batteries is unacceptable due to too high pressure in the central system.

Table 4. Comparison of steel radiators with dimensions of 50x50 cm from the most famous manufacturers

Prices for steel radiators

Steel radiators

As a conclusion

It is worth noting that any of the described types of batteries can be used for heating systems in residential premises. Although the purchase of bimetallic devices is often impractical, because their advantages are almost the same as those of aluminum, and the cost is several times higher. Therefore, it is better to let them continue to remain in industrial and public facilities.

It is undesirable to install aluminum appliances in apartments due to pressure drops in the system, which negatively affect the metal. The optimal and proven option for apartments over the years is cast iron batteries. One way or another, you need to focus on financial capabilities and personal wishes.

For those who do not want to dive into independent calculations, we recommend using a special calculator for calculations, which takes into account almost all the nuances that affect the efficiency of heating a room.

The issue of choosing a suitable radiator for heating a house or apartment plays an important role. After all, safety, the possibility of saving on energy resources, compliance with interior design, warmth, and therefore a feeling of comfort in the home depend on this. To answer the question for central heating, you first need to establish the technical characteristics and operating features of each type of modern battery.

Choosing a heating radiator must take into account many factors.

When purchasing a radiator, the following aspects are important:

• Operational efficiency, that is, the ability to heat the room.
• Safety and durability.
• Availability in terms of price.

Also, the choice of heating radiators is largely determined by the system in which they will be installed - central or autonomous.

The centralized system used in apartment buildings has the following features:

1. Typically, the operating pressure in this system at supply is around 4-5 kgf/cm 2 and slightly less at the outlet. In private homes, the maximum pressure is only 2 kgf/cm2.
2. In central systems there is a much higher probability of unforeseen circumstances associated with water hammer, the use of coolants with a temperature higher than permissible, etc.

The choice of radiator is also directly influenced by the technical characteristics of the heating system, which are determined by:

• The magnitude of the working pressure.
  The basic rule: the pressure of heating batteries is greater than in the room in which they are installed. Otherwise, a leak will soon appear. The choice of radiator is also directly influenced by the technical characteristics of the heating system, which are determined by:
• The type of heating system is one- or two-pipe.
• Radiator power. The most important quantity that indicates the efficiency of heat transfer from the source to the consumer, that is, how well the radiator heats the house. The power indicator is influenced by the presence of windows and the material from which they are made (wood or plastic), the type of house (panel or brick), the number of external walls, and the area of ​​the room. The required value is determined by multiplying the area of ​​the room by 100 W and increases by a certain percentage depending on various factors:
  • if there are 2 external walls and 2 windows - by 30%;
  • when windows face north - by 10%.

• Radiator sizes. The dimensions of the device must correspond to the location intended for installation. The optimal distance between the window and the radiator is 10 cm or more, the floor and the radiator is 6 cm. The width of the radiator must exceed 50% of the width of the window under which it is installed.

The main types of radiators have the following characteristics:

Also, do not forget about such nuances as the presence of a thermostat, pipe diameter, window width.

Main types of radiators for central heating, their disadvantages and advantages

Cast iron radiators. The leading type of radiator in terms of popularity for several decades. Only the appearance has changed significantly - there are models that are real designer samples (their cost is appropriate). Good for use in residential and industrial multi-storey buildings.

Advantages:

• high heat transfer;
• strength and durability;
• unpretentiousness and endurance;
• large flow area, allowing you to maintain throughput even with the accumulation of deposits.

Flaws:

• the need for washing 2-3 times a year;
• vulnerability to strong mechanical stress (the battery may crack);
• high price.

Aluminum radiators. Currently very popular among Russians. They consist of sections, the number of which depends on the area of ​​the heated room. It is this type that is characterized by the highest degree of heating, achieved due to the high thermal conductivity of the metal itself and an increase in the thermal conductivity area, thanks to the developed finning system. Based on their design, there are sectional and solid models.

For centralized heating systems, aluminum radiators are not recommended for use. Because in the presence of oxygen in the coolant, this metal oxidizes, and “airing” of the sections occurs due to the release of hydrogen. To avoid this, the device requires regular maintenance and air pumping.

Advantages:

• ease;
• external attractiveness;
• strength and reliability;
• excellent heat dissipation.

Flaws:

• susceptibility to corrosion;
• the need to regularly bleed air from the radiator through the vent valve;
• deformation of aluminum during water hammer;
• solid particles present in coolants contribute to the destruction of the walls of the device from the inside, which reduces the service life of the device (this problem can be solved by equipping the radiator with mud traps and additional filters that require regular cleaning);
• when connecting aluminum pipes to copper pipes, the aluminum quickly deteriorates.

Steel radiators. A common type in low-rise private construction. Not the best option for centralized heating because:

• usually the operating pressure in the heating system exceeds the permissible limit;
• With water hammer, the service life is significantly reduced and amounts to only a few months.

Advantages:

• attractive design;
• occupying a small space indoors.

Flaws:

• susceptibility to corrosion;
• The average service life, subject to operating rules, is no more than 7 years.

Bimetallic radiators. They combine the advantages of the two previous types of radiators due to a special design - an aluminum shell and a steel core. They are used for any type of heating, but have proven themselves especially well in high-rise buildings with central heating.

Advantages:

• ability to withstand significant loads and hydraulic shocks, strength;
• high heat transfer;
• light weight and well-thought-out shape, contributing to efficient heating of the room.

Flaws:

• high price due to the complexity of the design.

conclusions

So, it is not possible to give an unambiguous answer to the question of which heating radiators are better for central heating, since each specific situation is individual and the choice depends on the characteristics of living conditions and the price range. But in general, expert opinions boil down to the following:

1. Due to the unpredictability of central heating, the best ones today are those that combine mechanical strength, high heat transfer and aesthetic appearance. The main disadvantage is the high cost.
2. Cast iron radiators also deserve attention, but require more care.
3. It is better to avoid steel and aluminum radiators in houses with central heating, due to the characteristics of these metals - susceptibility to corrosion, interaction with other metals, etc.

In the current market, which is saturated with varieties of heating devices from many manufacturers, it is sometimes very difficult for the average homeowner who has decided to replace batteries to choose suitable products for their home. Our goal is to help solve this problem and figure out which batteries are best installed in an apartment or in a private house.

Overview of heating radiators

Walking into a large heating equipment store, you get the feeling that there are countless types of heating batteries. In fact, there are only five of them:

• cast iron products;
• steel heaters;
• aluminum radiators;
• bimetallic batteries;
• electric heating devices.

All these types of heating radiators have different technical characteristics, as well as their advantages and disadvantages, which determine their scope of application. Let's take a closer look at each of them, and clearly determine which type of device is best placed where.

Cast iron radiators

This type of water heater, familiar to us from childhood, is still used to this day, despite the emergence of many modern competitors whose technical characteristics are much better. This is due to several reasons, for example, the high corrosion resistance of cast iron and the ability to work in systems with high coolant pressure. In addition, for many people, tribute to tradition is important and, despite any explanations, they are still convinced that cast iron batteries are the best.

This opinion has a basis, since these devices are very reliable and durable; according to these criteria, they have no equal, since they last from 30 to 50 years. In addition, cast iron heaters retain heat for a long time, having great massiveness and inertia. This advantage is also a disadvantage: cast iron batteries take a long time to heat up and take just as long to cool down, so it is very difficult to organize automatic climate control in the room where such devices are installed.

If previously the appearance of cast iron batteries left much to be desired, now many companies offer cast iron heating radiators with various powder coatings or decorative casting.

True, this improvement has taken traditionally cheap heaters out of the budget category, since such products are much more expensive. Their other disadvantages are well known: large weight and water capacity, although recently these have been reduced to a minimum.

What’s good about cast iron batteries is that they can be installed everywhere: in an apartment, house, or cottage. But it is best to use them for heating a private house where a gravity system is organized. It itself is inertial and has a large volume of coolant flowing at a low speed. This is exactly what a massive cast iron appliance needs.

Steel batteries

This type of heaters is divided into two types

• panel;
• tubular.

Panel radiators are good radiators for a private home, where the operating pressure of the coolant does not exceed 3 Bar. The fact is that their design and manufacturing technology provide for operation in a system with a maximum pressure of up to 15 Bar. This is often not enough in conditions of centralized heating, especially in high-rise buildings.

The panels have good heat transfer, relatively light weight and size, and are also distinguished by their aesthetic appearance. There are also steel radiators with bottom connections, which makes it possible to install them in apartments with individual heating and piping hidden in the floor.

In addition, among all heating devices, steel panels have the lowest cost, so they often remain the only acceptable option. Disadvantages include sensitivity to corrosion and a relatively short service life (up to 15 years).

When you need to install a steel radiator in a central heating system, it is better to choose a tubular type device that has thick, massive walls that can withstand high pressure and water hammer. Therefore, such batteries can be installed anywhere, they are reliable and durable.

Another thing is that the cost of tubular devices is quite high, and there are disadvantages similar to cast iron batteries: inertia, large capacity and considerable weight. Because of this, they are rarely installed in country houses and other buildings with an individual heating system, preferring the same heaters made of cast iron or aluminum.

Aluminum radiators

One of the most popular heating devices - sectional aluminum batteries - are distinguished by the best degree of heat transfer, fast heating and cooling, low weight and remarkable appearance.

All these advantages are realized thanks to the device body made of aluminum alloy. It contains vertical channels with a cross-section close to circular, and on the outside these ducts are equipped with many ribs that intensively transfer the energy of the coolant to the air in the room. In turn, the flat surfaces of the aluminum battery produce a uniform flow of radiant heat. The physical properties of aluminum make it possible to organize automatic control of heating power, since inertia in this case is practically absent. A small capacity (up to 0.25 liters of water in each section) also contributes to rapid heating.

Aluminum radiators for the home are easy to assemble and install due to their simple design and low weight of the products. They can be attached to any building structures, even plasterboard partitions. You just need to correctly calculate the required number of sections for heating the room; sales representatives or online consultants of online stores will always help you with this.

As for the shortcomings, there are only two. The first is similar to steel panels: a low threshold for maximum operating pressure (up to 16 Bar), which makes the installation of aluminum batteries in centralized heating systems risky. The second is ordinary and electrochemical corrosion of the alloy due to exposure to low-quality coolant from central heating networks. Therefore, aluminum ones are the best radiators for any individual heating systems, where the quality of the coolant is controlled by the homeowner himself, and the pressure in the system is controlled by the boiler automation. But in apartments with central heating it is better to install bimetal.

Bimetallic radiators

In fact, bimetallic batteries are the same products made of aluminum, inside of which there is a welded frame made of steel pipes with thick walls. As a result of this modernization, the shortcomings associated with the quality of the coolant and its pressure were successfully eliminated.

At the same time, the heaters have slightly less heat output than purely aluminum ones, but much more than those of steel or cast iron appliances. Therefore, in the case of centralized heat supply systems for heating, it is better to install bimetal radiators; they will serve for a long time and reliably, while releasing heat much more intensely than other types of devices. But it should be said that the cost of bimetallic batteries is significantly higher than aluminum ones.

Conclusion

Before we draw the line, it’s worth saying a few words about products such as electric heating radiators. They are very effective and easy to install, all they need is a 220 V outlet. Another thing is that the cost of electric heating is quite high, so heaters are often used as additional heat sources.

From the above we can conclude that the choice of batteries largely depends on the type of heating system. If you have the financial opportunity, it is better to install aluminum appliances in a private home as they are the most economical. When this is not possible, then steel panels will do, and with a gravity system - cast iron heating devices. The same applies to apartments with an individual heat source. But in centralized networks, cast iron or bimetallic batteries, as well as tubular steel ones, would be appropriate. The choice largely depends on the homeowner's budget.