Consequences of air jams
Possible consequences depend on the object of installation, as well as the design features of the heating system.
- Heated floors from a centralized source of heat supply: partial or complete cessation of heating, freezing of pipelines in corner rooms is possible;
- Houses with underfloor heating and heating appliances from a centralized source of heat supply: partial or complete cessation of floor heating;
- Heated floors from an individual heating source: partial or complete cessation of heating, an emergency stop of the boiler and freezing of the heating system is possible;
- Houses with underfloor heating and heating devices from an individual heating source: partial or complete cessation of floor heating, frequent boiler stops.
Given the specific design of the "warm floor" heating system, namely: the presence, depending on the area, of one or more water circuits per room and a separate wiring for each room, a complete cessation of circulation is almost impossible.
Only in the event of air jams immediately on all horizontal branches in all rooms, the movement of the coolant and the functioning of the system will stop.
Reasons for the formation of air congestion
As a preventive measure, it is recommended to remove air pockets before starting the heating system. Bubbles accumulate, as a rule, at the highest points of the system, which are the distribution manifolds. Removing air pockets from them will not be difficult.
For the success of the operation, it is necessary to show patience, sometimes up to several days, especially in the case of air penetration into the pipes of the circuits, and therefore it is necessary to carry out de-airing at least a week - four days before the planned launch of the warm floor. It is also recommended that at the end of the system operation, before shutting it down for the summer period, switch to the minimum mode for several days, and then bleed the air.
In order to know how to expel air from a warm water floor, it is necessary to consider the common causes of its penetration into the system.
Penetration can be caused by a number of factors, among which the following are the most common:
- a sharp decrease in pressure in a particular heating circuit or too much heating of the coolant;
- technological reasons, which consist in reducing the degree of tightness of the joints and the formation of leaks, which, in turn, leads to the formation of air pockets; this may be a violation of the installation technology of the warm water floor system (slope at the location of the pipes, uneven surface on which the pipes are laid, errors in the installation of the collector, lack of taps on the distribution manifold for automatic pressure relief;
- the first start of heating, produced without preliminary pumping of air.
Before airing the warm water floor at the first start of the system, the coolant should not be heated, since this state of affairs will flow into the formation of many small bubbles from the spread throughout the system.
We expel the air
It is a well-known fact that air in heating systems accumulates at the upper points of the system. For underfloor heating systems, this is a collector comb, where devices for air discharge are installed (Maevsky taps, automatic air vents or conventional ball valves).
Mayevsky crane installed on the underfloor heating collector.
To remove air from the underfloor heating system, it is necessary to perform the following steps in a certain sequence:
- Block off all horizontal branches on the collector.
- Remove air from the circulation pump housing.
- Open the Mayevsky valve or a ball valve on the comb (in the absence of automatic devices).
- Open the first water circuit, start the pump, setting the minimum capacity on the regulator.
- After waiting for the appearance of water from the air outlet device of the pumped branch, turn off the tap and turn off the pump.
- With an interval of 5 - 6 minutes, repeat the operation several times until the air is completely removed.
- Similarly, do all the operations with the rest of the contours.
- Then, switching the pump to maximum performance, pump the entire system as a whole, periodically releasing air.
- Given the likelihood of the formation of new plugs during the subsequent heating of the system, it is necessary to bleed the air again.
When using automatic gas vents or separators as venting equipment, no additional means are needed. It must be remembered that with an increase in the complexity and amount of equipment used, the cost increases, and the reliability of the system as a whole also decreases.
The lower the degree of automation of the process, the higher the efficiency of underfloor heating. Adjustable mechanically operated manifold valves, Mayevsky taps are easy to maintain or replace with your own hands.
Repair of more complex equipment with servo drives and automation units requires the participation of specialists. In addition, automatic air vents, while effectively removing air pockets, do not always make it possible to immediately detect violations of the system tightness.
Mistakes when installing a water heated floor. Myths.
The most common myth is that it is impossible to heat a building only with warm floors - you must install radiators. Because warm floors are not able to warm the building.
Mistake number 1.
In my opinion, the most gross mistake during the installation of any heating system is the lack of calculation of the heat loss of the building. When heat losses are not considered, it can be said that the heating system is done by eye.
Radiators are selected by eye, usually they are selected according to the size of the window or at the rate of 1 section per 10 square meters, if sectional radiators are used. Heated floors are made by eye. Or they mold radiators in rooms with warm floors “just in case”.
If you communicate with such an installer, drive him in the neck. As a result, you will either get a non-working system, or spend extra money on the construction of a heating system. Because the installer insured for your money and stuffed extra heating appliances.
Or vice versa - installed low-power thermal appliances. Either way, it's a loss.
