How to choose heating radiators for an apartment and a private house: selection criteria and advice to buyers

To keep your house and apartment warm and cozy during the cold season, it is important to properly design and install the heating system. And the radiator is one of the important components. It is thanks to properly selected equipment that the efficiency of the heating system can be ensured.

But among the rich assortment of batteries presented by such manufacturers as Prado, Conrad, Global Style, Tenrad, Viadrus, Konner and others, it’s difficult to navigate, isn’t it?

You don't know how to avoid mistakes when choosing and what points you should pay attention to first? We will help you understand this issue - in the article we will talk in detail about the criteria for choosing radiators for a private house and apartment, which are of paramount importance.

We will also consider the types of equipment and their features. We will provide recommendations for customers, supplementing them with visual photos and useful videos.

Types of batteries and their connections

The variety of heating radiators on the market is truly amazing. And it is especially difficult for an untrained user to make the right choice.

Therefore, within the framework of our article, we will try to consider in detail the types of heating devices, paying attention to their key characteristics, and give recommendations on choosing the appropriate option based on living conditions, type of heating system and the specific requirements of the owner.

Classifications of heating radiators

Heating devices used in the water circuit differ in design, material of manufacture, technical characteristics, and design. Next, we’ll talk in more detail about the types of radiators and their features.

What materials are batteries made from?

The most commonly used materials for heating appliances are:

• steel;
• aluminum;
• cast iron;
• combination of two metals.

So, steel Heating devices can be sectional, panel or tubular. And, depending on the design, their technical characteristics, service life, and cost will differ.

The simplest and most inexpensive are panel ones. They can withstand operating pressures of up to 10 bar (the value should be found in the data sheet of the corresponding model and specific manufacturer), are vulnerable to water hammer, and leaks may occur at welded seams.

Tubular heating devices are more durable - most often their walls are coated from the inside with a polymer composition, which increases wear resistance, allowing them to extend their service life. They can be sectional or welded

Radiators from aluminum They heat up quickly enough and release heat into the room, i.e. have low inertia. Thanks to the large heating surface area, they can quickly warm up the room.

Heating devices from cast iron characterized by high inertia - they take a long time to warm up and take a long time to cool down.This property is rated positively by many users who suffer from periodic heating shutdowns. But, on the other hand, this feature does not allow the use of cast iron batteries in smart home systems - it is useless to equip most models with thermostats.

Bimetal is not an alloy, but a correct combination of two metals in one product: internal elements bimetallic radiator made of steel (sometimes copper), and the outer (body) of aluminum. Moreover, the entire “skeleton” or its individual parts – a pipeline or vertical guides – can be steel. The first option is better and more expensive.

We have detailed the features of radiators made of these types of materials in the following selection of photos.

In addition to the materials discussed above, you can find copper radiators on the market. But the decision to equip the heating system with such devices will cost the owner of a country house a tidy sum due to their high cost.

Copper is also sensitive to the quality of the coolant and requires skill during installation.

A copper heating battery will harmoniously fit into the autonomous heating system of a country house, where the owner himself will be able to control the quality of the coolant, its heating, etc.

Differences in batteries by design type

Radiators for the heating system also differ in type of design and this is noticeable visually.

Structurally, batteries are:

• sectional;
• panel;
• tubular;
• lamellar.

The most common - sectional. They can be either steel or cast iron, aluminum or bimetallic. Thanks to the ribbed surface, the heating area exceeds the physical dimensions of the product, which has a positive effect on the efficiency of use of the devices.

They consist of individual elements connected to each other using nipple bushings and gaskets. It is these components that are the weakest point of heating devices of this type. But, if you follow the rules of operation and maintenance of radiators, clean them regularly and change worn-out gaskets in a timely manner, then leaks at the joints will not occur, and the product itself will last for many years.

Panel heating devices are one of the most affordable offers on the market. They are lightweight, easy to install, easy to maintain, and heat up quickly. But they also cool down quickly. Although this property allows them to be used in conjunction with temperature controllers.

Another type of design is tubular batteries. They are the most popular among designers due to the availability of a wide variety of shapes and sizes. They help create a unique interior of the room, zone the room, and add their own flair.

Heated towel rails are a type of tubular radiator. Their design form can be anything, which allows them to not stand out at all from the background of plumbing fixtures. And users will feel warm and comfortable in a spacious bathroom

Tubular radiators are also quite effective, especially since the length and number of sections can be adjusted to suit your needs.

Least popular batteries plate type. Such a device consists of tubes through which the coolant circulates, and plates strung on these tubes. The design provides a large heating area, which allows you to quickly and efficiently heat rooms. But their extremely unassuming appearance has contributed to the fact that these radiators are used purely for heating industrial buildings and public spaces.

The design features of radiators are clearly demonstrated in the following gallery.

Device connection type

If we talk about connection, then for heating devices for a water heating circuit it can be:

• lateral;
• lower

Side connection type assumes that the radiator will be connected to the heating system from the side. Why do manufacturers provide special holes in the design of the product - on the right or left. But some manufacturers do not limit the buyer by making four side holes, and during the manufacture of the battery, brackets are not welded to it - then the device can be mounted with both right and left connections.

Bottom connection involves connection to the supply line and to the return line from below. This is convenient if you need to hide pipes.

It is also possible to conditionally distinguish universal option — assumes the presence of six connection holes in the radiator design - two on the bottom and two on each side. The connection method is chosen by the user based on the characteristics of his heating system. The remaining holes are closed with plugs.

The photo shows the bottom battery connection. The supply and return pipelines are hidden in the wall, where grooves were specially made at the installation stage

Criteria for choosing the best radiator

When choosing a suitable radiator, you have to take into account a number of nuances, starting with the type of material and power, and ending with the design. Moreover, sometimes it is the last parameter that is decisive, especially when a designer is involved in the design of a country house.

Due to the demand for original shapes and sizes of heating batteries, the modern market can offer interesting solutions. And if necessary, you can order a custom-made heating device. Often interesting products of complex shape are tubular, made of steel.

The following selection will demonstrate that the battery is an independent piece of furniture, sometimes even its highlight.

The ideas for the original use of batteries in the interior discussed above are not limited to this selection. And if you have very simple batteries (still old Soviet ones), don’t despair.

They can always be hidden behind a decorative panel or disguised in another way. But in this case, you need to be prepared for heat loss at the level of 5-20% - the exact percentage of heat loss depends on method of camouflage, type of box, its shape and size, material of manufacture.

Next, let's talk about the features and characteristics of devices that are of key importance when choosing a suitable radiator.

Criterion #1 - material of manufacture

When choosing radiators based on the material of manufacture, it is important to first analyze the specific operating conditions. Which will be significantly different for a private house and apartment.

The best radiators for a private home

Private houses have independent heating. And this is very convenient - the owner does not depend on interruptions and sudden shutdowns of the centralized heating supply and can control the operating parameters of the system himself - system pressure, coolant quality And its heating temperature.

Therefore, for installation in such systems, you can use steel, aluminum, bimetallic, copper and cast iron batteries - whatever your heart desires. Moreover, in country houses where designers design the interior, they quite often use intricately shaped tubular heating devices.

Often, original radiators are purchased specifically for private houses and cottages with autonomous heating. With their help, it is possible to transform the room and bring something original.

If the heating system is installed in a small house that will be used from time to time, and the owner has allocated a modest budget, then it is quite possible to opt for steel panel radiators - they quickly heat up themselves and quickly warm up the room.

They also hold very little coolant, so it won’t take much time to fill the system upon arrival and drain the liquid upon departure.

The optimal solution for an apartment

But in apartments, in most cases, heating is centralized. This means that the owners of such housing cannot in any way influence the composition and temperature of the coolant (water from impurities), pressure in the pipeline, which is higher than in autonomous systems.

And in the case of water hammer, it even increases many times over. Therefore, you should immediately refuse to purchase steel panel batteries, giving preference to bimetallic ones. Which are able to withstand pressures of 20 bar, 50 or more.

By the way, as for the specific value of the operating pressure, it is indicated in the device passport. And it would be a good idea to immediately ask the seller to look at the test report to make sure that the declared indicators are not embellished, but confirmed by real tests.

Cast iron batteries are also suitable for centralized heating systems - they are less sensitive to the presence of impurities in the coolant. The only thing that is required is to periodically disassemble and clean the devices outside and inside.

It is worth mentioning separately about apartments with an autonomous heating system - the conditions here are the same as for the owners of a private house. Therefore, it is not necessary to choose practical and expensive bimetallic radiators - if you are in a tight financial situation, you can easily opt for aluminum ones.

Criterion #2 - type of radiator and connection type

As for choosing the type of design and connection, you need to take into account specific conditions and your preferences. So, for apartments, sectional batteries are most often used, selecting the required power. But for private houses, any type is suitable - panel, tubular and sectional.

In apartments with centralized heating, there is often no choice in the type of connection - you have to buy batteries based on the location of the riser. Quite often this is a lateral right-hand or lateral left-hand connection

But in private houses, owners can afford to design the location of risers, pipelines and heating devices at their own discretion.

When choosing radiators, it is important to immediately pay attention to the package contents - whether the components for installation and connection are included or whether they must be purchased separately. If you need to buy more, you should definitely pay attention to the diameter (most often 1/2", but it can be different).

Criterion #3 - power of the heating device

Also, when choosing batteries, be sure to focus on the thermal power of the equipment. After all, in order to install an effective heating system, it is necessary to correctly calculate the power of radiators.

If we take the average value for rooms with a ceiling height of up to 2.7 m, then 1 kW will be required to heat 10 m2. Based on these indicators, the battery power is calculated.

Before purchasing, you should definitely check what power indicator is indicated in the device’s passport and compare whether it corresponds to the figure noted in the test report.

Many manufacturers do not conduct any tests at all, but enter into the passport any suitable value that is attractive to potential buyers. Naturally, it is better to avoid the products of such companies.

Criterion #4 - heating/cooling speed

The rate of temperature change by radiators is important if you plan to install a climate control system. For such purposes, devices with low inertia are suitable - they quickly heat up and cool down.

This allows you to set the desired temperature in the room and control its values ​​by equipping radiators thermostats.

Bimetallic, aluminum and steel devices lend themselves well to adjustment. But cast iron ones have great inertia.Therefore, there is no point in supplementing them with regulators

Criterion #5 - manufacturer's reputation

When choosing a radiator, it is better to give preference to proven brands with a good reputation, including:

• Steel – Lidea, Konrad, Prado, Charleston, Kermi, Arbonia, Israp Tesi, Buderus PURMO, Delonghi, Korado.
• Aluminum – Global, Rifar, Ferroli, Purmo, Radena, Faral Trio.
• Cast iron – Adarad, Viadrus, Demrad, KIRAN, Konner, Cheboksary plant and Minsk plant.
• Bimetallic – Global Style, Sira, Rifar, Tenrad, Halsen, Radena, Rommer.

As you can see, many manufacturers produce more than one type of radiator, which differ in material and other characteristics.

But sometimes it is difficult to distinguish an aluminum radiator from a bimetallic one, the cost of which is much higher. This is what an unscrupulous seller can take advantage of. Therefore, before purchasing, you can conduct a test, for example, with a magnet - a magnet will always be attracted to the bimetal.

Another way to check the reliability of information from the seller is to weigh the radiator section. So, bimetal is always heavier than aluminum - 1.5-2 kg for bimetal versus 0.7-1.5 kg for aluminum

All respectable manufacturers of heating equipment on the market produce labeled products that meet the requirements of GOST 31311-2005.

Therefore, if the model you like does not have accompanying documents, there is no marking on the radiator body, then this means that this is a fake or a product from an unknown manufacturer. Buying such a device is a dubious undertaking.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Detailed recommendations for choosing heating devices:

The testing of steel radiators is clearly demonstrated in this video:

Properly selected heating radiators will ensure a comfortable temperature during the cold season. It is important not only to correctly determine the power of heating devices, but also to take into account the type of material - not every radiator is able to withstand the impact coolant, circulating in the pipeline of a centralized heating system.

The impurities contained in the liquid have a particularly destructive effect on the walls of aluminum radiators. Therefore, it is better for apartment owners to opt for cast iron and bimetallic batteries.

And in a private home, you can install radiators from any material - the main thing when using is to follow the recommendations prescribed by the manufacturer in the instructions.

Do you still have questions about choosing the right heating device for your heating system? Or would you like to share your personal experience in selecting and installing radiators? Tell us which battery material you prefer and whether you are satisfied with your choice, ask our experts questions and participate in the discussion - the comment form is located below.