To create comfortable conditions in the apartment, it often becomes necessary to change the temperature of the heating devices. How can this be done? It must be understood that the intensity of heating depends not only on the temperature of the hot liquid, but also on the volume that enters the radiator. Since it is impossible to independently influence the coolant in a centralized heating system, the temperature of the heating batteries is adjusted due to a change in the volume of liquid passing through the device.
With the help of radiators with a temperature controller, you can:
- save on payment (if there are individual heat meters in the apartment);
- maintain a temperature regime in each room;
- avoid drafts from open windows and refuse blankets on radiators at too high a heating temperature.
Most often, regulators are installed on batteries in rooms where the temperature often changes - in the kitchen, rooms on the sunny side of the house. They may also be required where it is necessary to constantly maintain a comfortable temperature regime - in the nursery, bedroom.
Attention! Not all types of central heating systems allow the adjustment of radiators. It is impossible to adjust batteries in multi-storey buildings in which the heat-carrying fluid is supplied vertically from top to bottom. Changing the temperature of radiators using a control valve is available in buildings with one-pipe and two-pipe heating system.
Types of temperature regulators for batteries
Devices that allow you to adjust the temperature of heating radiators can be divided into several groups depending on their design and principle of operation.
Stopcocks
The simplest device that can change the temperature of the batteries is a shut-off valve. He can, at the most primitive level, control the supply of hot water from the heating system of the house. The shut-off valve has the form of a ball valve, which has only two positions:
- "closed" - the movement of hot liquid is stopped, the battery is cooling down;
- “open” - the maximum volume of coolant passes through the radiator, and it heats at full strength.
A significant disadvantage of using a shut-off valve is the need for constant manipulation. It is impossible to create a stable temperature regime using this device.
Important! The ball valve must not be left in an intermediate position, as the shut-off valve is damaged by solid particles in the heating water.
It is possible to use a tap to regulate the temperature of the radiator only if a bypass (bypass pipe) is installed in front of the battery. Otherwise, a closed tap will disrupt the circulation of the coolant in the common house system.
Manual valves
Valves with manual adjustment allow you to change the volume of coolant entering the radiator by increasing or decreasing the diameter of the through hole.
As part of the cone valve there is a valve having a locking head. It, in turn, is connected to the handle, on which a scale with divisions can be applied. Turning the handle causes the locking head to move and change the volume of the incoming coolant to a smaller or larger side. The marks on the scale allow you to set the desired temperature of the battery.
Manual valves are simple, reliable and inexpensive, but require regular monitoring.
Automatic thermostats
There is a more advanced type of battery regulator that can respond to the temperature of the air in the room and automatically vary the degree of heating of the radiator.In this case, the change in the diameter of the flow section of the valve, which doses the volume of the incoming liquid, occurs according to the signal of the temperature sensor.
Automatic heat regulators are divided into two types:
- thermostatic;
- electronic.
In the following video, you can clearly get acquainted with the principle of operation of the thermostat.
Thermostatic thermostats
In its design, the thermostatic device resembles a manual valve. At the same time, a thermostatic head is installed on its valve, which controls its operation. The thermal head includes:
- a thermal sensor that reacts to air temperature and is connected to the shut-off head of the valve;
- adjustment mechanism having a control handle and a tuning scale.
You can select the room temperature, which will be maintained at a constant level without further intervention, by turning the knob in accordance with the desired value on the scale.
Electronic thermostats
The maximum functionality is possessed by electronic devices equipped with a control unit, as in the following photo. It, in addition to the electronic temperature sensor, includes a microprocessor circuit and a panel with buttons and a display. The locking head is moved by a mechanical relay with an electrical drive on a signal from the control circuit.
Such thermostats allow not only to maintain the required temperature with maximum accuracy, but also make it possible to program their work. For example, daily on weekdays during the absence of tenants in the apartment, the degree of heating of the devices automatically decreases, and before the arrival of the owners, the rooms will again warm up to the optimum temperature.
Tip: You don't have to buy a new thermostat to change the way the batteries are adjusted. It is usually possible to install any type of thermocouple on one valve: manual or automatic.
Details about self-installation and setting up a thermostat for a heating battery are written in this article.
Three-way valve
An unconventional device for controlling the temperature of heating appliances is a three-way valve, shown in the photo below. It is placed at the junction of the bypass and the supply pipe that goes to the battery. In order for the device to perform the function of stabilizing the heating level of the radiator, it must have a thermostatic head.
- If the temperature near the head rises above the required value, the coolant supply to the battery is stopped, the fluid flow moves through the bypass.
- When cooling occurs, the valve opens again and the radiator heats up.
This adjustment method is used in single-pipe systems with vertical wiring.
Important! In multi-family buildings with central heating, the heat transfer medium usually contains particles that clog the thermostats. Therefore, in the apartment, you can safely install manual taps or valves, as well as three-way valves. If you want to install automatic regulators, you must put filters in front of them, which will have to be cleaned regularly.
Increasing the heat transfer of batteries
We found out how to adjust the temperature of heating radiators using thermostats. However, it should be borne in mind that all adjustment devices can reduce the degree of heating of the heater, but are not able to make it give off more heat.
If the radiators in the apartment do not need to decrease, but to increase the temperature, you can resort to measures that can change the situation.
- The minimum intervention that will help the batteries get hotter is pipe cleaning and filters and the release of radiators from air locks.
- Changing the connection scheme. The diagonal installation of heating elements is considered the most effective, the largest heat losses are observed with the lower connection.
- Adding additional sections.
- Installation in the heating element radiator.
