How to choose a radiator for an apartment?

Published by Nikoloz on 03.02.202103.02.2021

There is a wide range of radiators on the heating market. They can serve not only for heating, but also become a decoration of the apartment. Worth knowing, what criteria should be followed when choosing them. How to choose a radiator for an apartment

Types of radiators

You can find radiators on sale:

Sectional (cast iron and steel) consist of separate sections, interconnected. They transfer heat from 85 to 90% due to convection and only up to 15% due to radiation.
Convection (so-called convectors) consist of copper pipes with aluminum sheets pushed over them, encased. Aluminum sheets increase the heat transfer surface. Air, flowing through radiators, “washes” pipes and aluminum sheets and heats up from them. Heat transfer in these radiators is carried out almost exclusively by convection..
Lamellar – made of flat or perforated steel plates. There are aluminum sheets inside the radiator (convection), increasing the heat exchange surface. Radiators can consist of one, two or three steel plates and have one, two or three rows of aluminum convector sheets. Plate heaters are characterized by a large area, due to which a significant part of the heat is transferred to the room due to radiation – up to about 35%, the rest of the heat is transferred by convection.

What to look for when buying?

Material

Depending on the material, several types of radiators can be distinguished.:

steel radiators – most popular due to the variety of models available. Panel radiators have proven their worth, which are distinguished by their small dimensions and relatively high power. Lack of steel products, Unfortunately, is their great susceptibility to poor-quality water, in addition, the service life of steel radiators is reduced by the presence of oxygen in the system. Therefore, they should not be used in open installations.;
aluminum radiators – differ in sectional structure, light weight and work well with modern boilers, which use temperature control. However, they are not as popular., like steel radiators;
cast iron radiators – currently found in older installations. Due to their high corrosion resistance and low susceptibility to poor water quality, their service life is up to several decades.. Due to the thick walls, the radiator heats up for a long time, but at the same time it loses heat much more slowly. This has its merits and demerits. – the boiler works economically, but the radiators themselves do not react very quickly to temperature changes.

Power

This is one of the most important parameters when buying radiators.. The easiest way to calculate – to assume it, What's on 1 m2 of living room or kitchen you need:

a) 60 W , when a one-story building is very well insulated, ie. for a multi-layer wall was used 10 cm styrofoam.
b) 100 W , when a one-story building has limited. thermal insulation, ie. used by 5 cm styrofoam
v) 140 W , when no thermal insulation is used in the building.

However, before buying radiators, you should consult with a specialist., who will take into account all the necessary information and select the appropriate power for a particular room.

The size

Although the dimensions of the radiator affect its power, they should be chosen correctly. The best place to connect – wall under the window, where the greatest heat losses are recorded. Manufacturers offer specific models in different lengths and heights, so that visually similar radiators can be adapted to different room sizes.

Aesthetics

Although most people choose traditional solutions, manufacturers add interesting designs to their offer, which can give the interior a unique character. The radiator can be positioned horizontally or vertically, have an unusual shape and color.