Copper pipes for heating

Advantages

A distinctive feature of copper pipes is a very low expansion at high temperatures. This indicator is up to eight times lower than that of any type of polymer pipes. This type of pipe is not susceptible to ultraviolet radiation, which has a detrimental effect on plastic pipes.

Copper pipes have another great feature - a bactericidal property. This factor is not so important for heating circuits, but it is of decisive importance when installing drinking water supply systems. It can also be noted that copper is not subject to corrosion, but only oxidizes in water.

The presented type of pipes is not threatened by freezing of water in the system. Their combination with capillary solder fittings makes them 100% oxygen tight. This type of pipe can be safely used in underfloor heating systems, as well as hidden in the wall behind a layer of plaster, without fear of leakage.

Perhaps the only drawback of this metal is the electrolysis process, which can harm the pipeline. This process proceeds especially rapidly if radiators made of aluminum or its alloys are used in parallel in the heating system.

Insulation of heating pipes is performed solely for the purpose of practicality. This is due to the fact that in the segment from the heating boiler to the client-consumer, there is a significant loss of heat temperature. Sometimes this heat consumption is from five to twenty percent.

Therefore, thermal insulation of heating pipes is simply necessary. In addition, it is necessary to carry out competent insulation work. This, in turn, will affect the efficient functioning of the entire heating system as a whole.

For thermal insulation of heating pipes, several methods are used using various materials. In order for the thermal insulation of heating pipes to function effectively, it is necessary to apply not only the necessary material, but also to perform proper installation in accordance with all technological rules.

Features of the use of copper pipes in heating systems

Copper structures for heating are characterized, as already mentioned, by the relative ease of installation. A wide range of connecting fittings allows you to install heating of any complexity. For heating, thin-walled pipes made of this material can be used, but usually the wall thickness of such round-section reinforcement is about 1 mm with an outer diameter of 3-3.6 mm. If old copper structures are replaced, they can be reused or sold. Even in the case of selling products for scrap, you can return up to 30% of the funds spent.

Among the disadvantages of copper pipes for heating, their relatively high cost can be noted. Although in terms of price, structures made of this material can successfully compete with some metal-plastic ones. If the cost of copper itself is slightly higher than the cost of metal-plastic heating pipes, then all the necessary fittings are much cheaper. In addition, connections made by soldering are much more reliable than metal-plastic collet and pressed joints.

If you decide to install such heating structures, it is best to buy pipes with a diameter of 3.05 cm (1.2 inches). This size is the most optimal for heating.

High quality characteristics and thin walls allow even an inexperienced master to install copper heating, it is enough just to be attentive to work and strictly follow all the rules. Specialists install structures made of this material using the method of hard and soft soldering, which makes the process much more reliable and faster than using threaded connections and welding.

Copper products have many positive characteristics.They protect the heating system from air ingress, are able to withstand pressure up to 30 atmospheres, the service life of these products is over 60 years, unlike, for example, polymer products for space heating

What is important when organizing a heating structure in a private country house, pipes can be mounted independently using a press tool and press fittings

Capillary method of connecting copper pipes

, which is rightfully considered the most reliable and durable method of connecting copper parts, is performed based on the principles of capillary technology. In accordance with this effect, which is based on the laws of physics, a liquid can rise through a capillary, overcoming gravity, if there is a certain distance between the lower and upper points of its rise.

Solder fittings

This physical effect allows you to solder copper pipes in such a way that the solder melted by a gas burner is evenly distributed over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe connection being created. In order to effectively perform such soldering, pipes can be placed in any spatial position, the main thing is that the molten solder is supplied from the bottom of the joint being formed.

In more detail, the process of performing capillary soldering is as follows:

using a gas burner, the place of the future connection is thoroughly heated;
molten solder is supplied into the gap between the ends of the pipes to be connected or between the pipe and the fitting used, which completely fills it due to the capillary effect;
the resulting compound is allowed to cool completely;
after complete cooling of the formed joint, its elements are thoroughly cleaned using a special cleaning compound.

With the help of soldering based on the capillary effect, pipeline elements are connected not only from copper, but also from ferrous metals. In the event that a steel fitting is used as a connecting element for copper pipes, then a layer of a special flux is applied to the place of the future connection. As a solder, when performing soldering using capillary technology, a very current wire is used, which can be made of tin, copper, and in some cases even silver.

Comparison of copper and steel pipes

Pipes made of copper and steel have comparable characteristics, but copper products, when compared with steel, have a number of undeniable advantages, including:

exceptional resistance to the formation and development of corrosion, high tensile strength and reliability, which significantly increases the service life, which significantly (2–3 times) exceeds the period of operation of similar steel products;
lower material consumption (when using copper pipes, there is no need to choose their wall thickness with a margin, taking into account further corrosion);

lower coefficient of friction compared to steel products, which allows the use of smaller diameter copper products for the installation of water supply systems;
reliability of soldering points and connections with fittings in copper water pipes (in steel systems, such elements require constant attention and regular maintenance);
the possibility of using all known connection methods for the installation of water supply systems from copper pipes;
the possibility of machining even during installation (which is convenient, this does not require the use of complex and bulky equipment).

Heating from copper pipes installation at an affordable price, varnishing from the manufacturer

Copper piping is becoming more and more popular every year.

In order to create heating with copper pipes, they study the technology of connecting products. The connection is made by soft soldering. Solder allows you to connect all the elements of the heating system. Sometimes couplings (fittings) are used.Products for heating or water supply are assembled with each other by means of fittings made of the same material. It is possible to use bronze elements.

Heating on copper pipes cannot be created without compression or solder fittings. Items are made from brass. A crimp ring is placed inside to ensure the impermeability of foreign matter into the mount. You will need a wrench to tighten the ring. Crimp fittings are used for low pressure, unlike solder fittings. They should be systematically tweaked and examined.

Combining steel and plastic products with copper is done using compression fittings. To unite the elements, the fitting is disassembled, the nut is put on the pipe, and then the compression ring. A selection, which consists of a ring, a nut and a pipe, is inserted into the fitting. Tighten the nut by the number of turns determined by the data placed in the passport coupling and pipe diameter.

Methods for obtaining permanent connections for the installation of a water supply system: soldering

Is it necessary to install copper heating pipes with a diameter of more than 11 cm and a wall thickness of 0.16 cm or more?

Use welding

Produced using soft solder soldering copper pipes. This low-temperature technology is applied at temperatures up to 440 degrees. The procedure is performed using fluxes that increase adhesion. Elements are cleaned before soldering.

At extreme temperatures, the metal loses its hardness, so the solder has a lower melting point.

Heating with copper pipes is a popular and long-term option for space heating. Average prices for copper pipes for heating are relatively high and justified. The price tag is formed depending on the diameter and individual indicators. Estimated cost of production:

unfired product with a diameter of 1 cm is 280 r. per meter;
an annealed analogue of 18 mm is sold for 400 rubles.

Such products have high performance properties.

Heating from copper pipes will delight for many years if the products are selected correctly. Quality elements of the system are marked and have the value of EN-1057. Products are manufactured according to DIN standards. They are treated with phosphorus to increase resistance to hard water.

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Copper pipes for heating are used more and more often.

Important criteria when choosing copper pipes

The popularity of copper piping in indoor systems is growing every year. Copper pipes and fittings are a versatile structural material in plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems.

In addition to high quality properties, copper pipes are easy to cut, bend, do not require much space (the outer and inner diameters of copper pipes are significantly smaller compared to plastic and steel pipes). Fittings designed to connect copper pipes to each other, as well as to connect them to products made of other materials, are easy to install and provide complete reliability in the operation of pipes.

Thanks to the use of copper pipes, it became possible to measure the consumption of heating energy for individual consumption objects: for this, a common vertical pipeline is led to the stairwell, and heat is provided to individual rooms through horizontal copper pipelines equipped with heat energy meters.

Copper pipes of the heating system are laid in the floor, under the plinth, in panel walls, as open structures. Insulated pipes are used for heating and hot water supply, which provide an increase in the energy saving of the system, a saving effect for heat users, as its losses are reduced. As a result, the installed pipelines have an aesthetic appearance.

We sell specially designed for a specific area of application and high quality copper pipes of German companies KME, MKM, stainless steel pipes SANHA, we also cooperate with Ceramic Studio for the sale of ceramic tiles and others. Pipes are sold in various designs in terms of material, degree of hardness, mechanical and operational properties:

soft (diameter range from 6 to 22 mm, in rings, with a pipe length of 25-50 m), semi-solid, hard (diameter range from 10 to 133 mm, with a length of 5 m) copper pipes; without insulation, with insulation; specialized pipes for refrigeration equipment, air conditioning; "warm floors"; NiroSan stainless steel pipes (diameters from 15 to 108 mm, lengths of 6 m).

Copper pipes for plumbing are considered to be the best for the installation of any water supply systems. This type of pipes has excellent characteristics and the highest degree of reliability. They are able to withstand enormous pressure (up to 40 atmospheres) and serve for 80-100 years! But in fact, their performance parameters are even higher, since manufacturers indicate a minimum threshold value.

Features of Brazed Copper Fittings

One of the simplest and most durable connections of pipelines from copper components is soldering.

Unlike polymer products, copper fittings, like pipes, are considered eternal in terms of service life, they serve for at least a century, do not deteriorate under the sun, do not melt from high temperatures and do not crack in the cold, therefore they are used where the tightness and strength of pipeline highways are subject to increased requirements.

The popularity of copper fittings is due to the special characteristics of the metal:

copper is a well-known antiseptic that protects pipes from the development of bacteria and fungi;
installation of communications consisting of copper components is easier than connecting pipeline systems made of cast iron and steel;
it is possible to damage copper pipes or fittings only under a pressure of more than 200 atm, but such pressure simply cannot exist in communication systems.

Limitations when using copper pipes

Despite the many advantages that copper pipes have, there are certain limitations to their use. These limitations are due to the following characteristics of this metal.

Copper is a very soft and ductile metal, so the fluid flow velocity through pipes made of this material should not exceed 2 m/s.

If the water that flows through the water supply systems contains solid particles of contaminants that mechanically act on the walls of the pipes, this can cause gradual washing out of the metal (erosion) and a significant reduction in the life of the water supply system. That is why, in order to ensure the reliable operation of copper pipelines, it is necessary that the water for them undergo preliminary purification from impurities.
An oxide film that forms on the inner walls of copper pipes and provides them with even more reliable protection can only form when the hardness of the water in contact with them is 1.42–3.42 mg / l, and the pH is 6.0–9, 0. If this requirement is neglected, then the oxide film (patina) on the surface of copper pipes will be constantly destroyed and restored, which will eventually lead to a gradual decrease in the thickness of their walls and premature wear.
If the water transported through copper pipes will be further used for food or drinking purposes, then lead-based solders cannot be used for their installation.
Given the fact that the average life of copper water pipes is 50 years, they should be installed in such a way as not to reduce it in any way. So, it is not allowed: to twist the pipes, to make creases when they are bent, to edit jams on them more than once.

Fittings for copper pipes

When soldering pipes, it is also necessary to monitor the temperature of their heating, since overheating can lead to a decrease in the strength of the material and its rupture at the junction.
After the installation of the fittings, it is necessary to remove the used flux from the inside of the water supply system, for which the flushing method is used. Such a flux, being a chemically aggressive substance, can lead to the development of corrosion processes in the pipeline.
After copper pipes and connecting fittings (in the direction of the water flow), elements made of zinc, steel and aluminum cannot be used in water supply systems, this can lead to the active development of corrosion processes. If the use of such elements is necessary, then passive anodes attached to the system will help prevent their corrosion.
Fittings that are used to connect a copper pipe to a water supply element made of another metal should be made of brass, bronze or stainless steel, this will avoid corrosion of these elements.

However, even these limitations, which can be considered insignificant, do not reduce the popularity of copper pipes, which are considered the best material for arranging water supply systems.