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Antifreeze heating system for a summer residence diagram. Heating radiators for cottages

Antifreeze heating system for a summer residence diagram. Heating radiators for cottages

In heating systems, water is most often used as a coolant today. But sometimes antifreeze is also used. Many people wonder why it should be used and how to choose. The fact that water has long been considered an exceptional coolant for heating is due to its properties. These include specific capacity - 4.169 kJ/kg. But this quality is not the only one. After all, water is also available and cheap. Typically, for closed systems, a distilled version is used.

Why you should not use water as a coolant

There are several known factors limiting its use as a universal coolant. One of the main ones is that this substance passes from a liquid to a solid state at 0 °C. If this happens, the volume of water will increase by 10%, which will certainly cause damage to the networks. Therefore, to solve some problems, a coolant with more flexible properties should be used.

Effective operation can be ensured by using antifreeze. And this concept includes not only liquids such as ethyl alcohol, automobile antifreeze and transformer oil. Special-purpose antifreeze is better suited for heating systems. The main requirement for the coolant in this case is safety in terms of combustibility and flammability. There are also restrictions regarding standards for premises where people live. In addition, antifreeze should not be chemically active when in contact with metals.

How to choose antifreeze for heating: varieties

Antifreeze for the heating system of a country house is created on the basis of solutions of propylene glycol and ethylene glycol in water. Such compounds are quite aggressive individually. But during production, additives and additives are used that eliminate the formation of foam, scale, corrosion and prevent damage to fittings and networks.

Additives increase temperature resistance; it can vary from -70 to +110 °C. Those antifreezes that are intended for heating systems have excellent contact with the following types of materials:

plastic;
elastomer;
rubber.

Description of ethylene glycol antifreeze

If you want to purchase antifreeze for the heating system of a country house, then you can consider the ethylene glycol composition and its varieties. This material can be intended for different operating conditions. The first variety freezes at -30 °C, while the second freezes at -65 °C. Before filling the system, antifreeze must be prepared. To do this, it is diluted with water.

The cost of this option is not so high, so ethylene glycol as an antifreeze is quite popular among consumers. However, it also has disadvantages, one of which is high toxicity upon contact with skin and inhalation of fumes. Even the lethal dose for humans has been determined, which is equal to 250 mm.

This drawback limits the use of ethylene glycol in double-circuit networks, where the coolant can easily enter the DHW circuit. Therefore, the use of these substances is relevant only for single-circuit systems. In order to ensure safe operation, a red pigment is added to the antifreeze, which makes it possible to detect its leakage.

Features of propylene glycol antifreeze

Propylene glycol antifreeze for the heating system of a country house is not toxic. It became available to a wide range of consumers at the end of the last century. The advantage is complete harmlessness. This quality allows the material to be used in dual-circuit systems.

After reading the instructions, you can understand that the substance can be used at temperatures down to -35 °C. For identification, the composition is painted green. In confirmation of safety, it can be noted that propylene glycol acts as a food additive; it is used in the preparation of confectionery products as an agent that retains moisture and softens the structure.

When should you buy triethylene glycol antifreeze?

If you need a country house, you should find out how to choose such a composition before visiting the store. On sale you can find triethylene glycol compounds that are designed to work at high temperatures up to +180 °C.

This substance is characterized by quite impressive temperature stability. But such coolants cannot be called products for widespread use. Such antifreezes can be found in special heating systems where radiators are designed for high temperatures.

If you decide to pour antifreeze into your home heating system, you should know that most of these compounds are sold in finished form. You can also purchase them in a concentrated form. In the latter case, we are talking about mixtures that contain only the main component, this can be propylene glycol or ethylene glycol.

It is important to know about the proportions of dilution of concentrates for a specific climate. Typically, two parts water is used to one part concentrate. If you purchased ready-to-use antifreeze, it should already contain water; this mixture acts as a solution of a concentrated component. This antifreeze can be used at temperatures down to -30 °C.

Before adding antifreeze to the heating system, the concentrate must be diluted with filtered or distilled water. In order to achieve a safe concentration of ethylene glycol, it must be used in a volume of 1 g per liter. In such a concentration it is not capable of causing harm to the environment.

Antifreeze has a less impressive surface tension coefficient when compared with water. This means that the coolant based on it will be more fluid and will penetrate cracks and pores more easily. If the system is operated with ethylene glycol, the rubber will swell more slowly. Therefore, before replacing water with antifreeze, you need to make sure that the communications do not leak.

Antifreeze “Warm House” and its main varieties

On the market of modern materials for heating systems, you can find the “Warm House” coolant in several varieties, among them “ECO-20”, a ready-to-use green composition, which is based on propylene glycol. It is ideal for double-circuit boilers. Antifreeze for the heating system of a country house is also offered in the “ECO-30” variety. In this case we are talking about a composition based on ethylene glycol, which is suitable for single-circuit boilers.

After purchasing the coolant, it must be diluted, and the operating temperature will reach -20 °C. Another variety is “Warm House-65”, which is red in color and is made on the basis of ethylene glycol. The composition can be diluted with water, and its operating temperature reaches -30 °C.

Features of using antifreeze “Warm House”

The antifreeze described above for the heating system of a country house must be used according to the rules given in the instructions. The mixture is more liquid and fluid compared to water. Therefore, the assembly of the docking assemblies must be carried out with special attention. Before using the system, it is important to carry out pressure testing.

The mixture should not be used in conjunction with electrolysis boilers. For dilution, you can use technical or distilled water. If 10% liquid is added to the volume, crystallization will begin at -25 °C. When the water volume increases to 20%, the temperature will drop to -20 °C. During this dilution process, the antifreeze will take on a jelly-like form.

Features of filling the system with antifreeze

Replacing antifreeze in the heating system of a country house involves draining the water at the first stage. For emptying, it is necessary to use a drain valve or drain pipe, which is located at the beginning of the falling or at the end of the return pipeline. The work can also be carried out using a forced method using a circulation pump.

At the next stage, the system is filled with antifreeze. For this you can use two pieces of rubber hose and a pump. The first hose is installed at the outlet of the pump, while its second end must be secured to the drain pipe. You should use regular clamps for this.

The second hose is installed at the inlet of the pumping unit, and its second end must remain free. It should be immersed in a container with antifreeze. This will eliminate the need to use clamps. Before pouring antifreeze into the heating system, you must assemble the circuit described above, the free end of the hose is immersed in a container with antifreeze, only then can you turn on the power to the pump.

It is important to ensure that no air has entered the system; this may occur after the container has been emptied. If work is carried out in a single-pipe system, then air release can be carried out using Mayevsky cranes. Two-pipe systems do not have problems with this; the process will happen much faster; to do this, you just open the drain valve on the supply pipeline. You can also remove the plug from the pipe.

Positive features of antifreeze “Warm House”

On sale you can find antifreeze for the heating system of a country house “Warm House”. It has many advantages, among the first is a fairly wide range of operating temperatures. The material will remain liquid down to -30 °C. The approximate service life is 5 years. This coolant is not dangerous for metal-plastic, plastic, rubber.

“Warm Home” is harmless for people and animals. If you use this antifreeze exclusively for the heating system, its service life can be extended to 10 years. This antifreeze for the heating system is ideal if we are talking about a scheme where a double-circuit boiler is used. You can use the mixture without fear of explosion or fire. The composition is also suitable for use in home heating systems. The mixture can provide reliable protection for cooling and heating equipment.

The main disadvantages of antifreeze “Warm House”

If you are interested in the antifreeze described above for the heating system of a country house, it is also recommended to consider the disadvantages of this mixture. Among them, we should highlight the unsuitability for heating in conjunction with electrolysis boilers. In addition, the composition contains salt, which can cause corrosion and scale in the equipment.

The composition can only be used at a certain temperature, otherwise crystallization may occur. If you use antifreeze at a lower temperature, it can cause glycol deposits on the heating elements. Equipment burners also face the same problem, which leads to the appearance of tarry deposits. This antifreeze for the heating system cannot be mixed with coolants of other types without first checking whether this will lead to the destruction of additives and a decrease in anti-corrosion properties.

Conclusion

The advantages of using water as a coolant are obvious. It has a high specific heat capacity, is accessible and inexpensive. The main disadvantage is that water freezes at a certain temperature, after which it begins to expand, tearing apart the elements of the system. Therefore, quite often, especially for country houses, antifreeze is used, which freezes at lower temperatures.

Owners of suburban real estate, which are periodically used, including in winter, are forced to solve the problem of heating their home. If the house has a large volume that cannot be provided with heat using a stove, then you have to use an autonomous heating system.

Let us immediately note that operating an autonomous heating system in a house where no one permanently lives is also a problem. Any boiler must be monitored, fuel must be loaded into it, and the operating parameters of the system must be checked. In addition, you will have to bear the cost of buying fuel, even when no one lives in the house.

There is a way out of this situation, and it involves not only saving fuel, but also allowing you to use heating as safely as possible. This is an option when the boiler only works while people are outside the city. Before leaving, it is turned off, and the house calmly awaits the next arrival of the owners.

How can this be? After all, everyone knows that water used as a coolant will inevitably freeze and burst the pipes? Yes, that is right. Therefore, despite the fact that it is an ideal coolant, it cannot be used in such a system.
There are several options for other liquid coolants that differ favorably from water in their properties, allowing them to be used for heating a home.

The main requirement for coolant circulating in a system used occasionally is a low freezing point.

It is this property that will prevent it from freezing, changing volume and causing irreparable damage to pipes and heating radiators. There are several such liquids.

The first option: ethyl alcohol, which, when diluted with water to a concentration of 45-55%, has a freezing point of about -30 degrees. This option is not used as rarely as it seems.

But using an alcohol solution also has its disadvantages:

it evaporates quickly, so the heating system must be closed;
the solution boils at a temperature of +90 degrees, so the boiler electronics must be able to strictly control the maximum heating temperature of the working fluid.

Second option: glycerin. Some antifreezes are produced on its basis.

At the same time, they have the following qualities:

good solubility in water;
non-toxic;
anti-corrosion;
Possibility of use for a long time (7-10 seasons).

Glycerin performs well in the temperature range from -30 to +105 degrees. The disadvantage of using it is its rather high price.

Another option is antifreeze, which is a group of non-crystallizing liquids. But this, of course, is not ordinary antifreeze (used by motorists), but special compounds intended for use in everyday life.

The two substances most commonly used in intermittent heating systems are ethylene glycol or propylene glycol. Ethylene glycol, which is a dihydric alcohol, is often used in heating systems due to its low cost. On its basis, the very popular DIXIS-65 coolant is produced, which has a fairly wide range of operating temperatures. It can be used in the range from -65 to +110 degrees.

The substance contains a large number of various additives that improve its performance properties:

antioxidants - to neutralize scale;
corrosion inhibitors - necessary to protect metal elements of the heating system;
thermal stabilizers – provide a wide temperature range of antifreeze suitability;
Additives that reduce the chemical activity of the solution are introduced to protect rubber seals.

Antifreeze is sold as a concentrate, and is used after dilution with water to a concentration of 55-77%. A negative property of ethylene glycol is its high toxicity, dangerous to people. Any coolant leak from the system can cause severe poisoning. Therefore, it is used only in closed heating systems that are in no way connected with the hot water supply system.

Used antifreeze, due to its high toxicity, must be disposed of by special organizations.

Propylene glycol, unlike ethylene glycol, is completely safe for living organisms and therefore has no restrictions on its use. The only disadvantage is the high cost and the inability to use with galvanized equipment. In its pure form it is not used for heating, but is used to prepare various liquids with a freezing point from -30 to -40 degrees. The use of propylene glycol reduces the hydraulic resistance of its elements and reduces heat loss.

When cooled, both antifreezes do not crystallize like water, but turn into a thick gel. Therefore, if it is necessary to start the system after inactivity, the coolant must be warmed up gradually, starting from low temperatures.

If you live in a house permanently and the heating system operates continuously, the use of non-freezing liquids is not economically justified. Although, if for some reason there is a high probability of accidents, then it is better to use antifreeze. Then you won’t have to worry about burst pipes and warming them up.

Advantages of antifreeze:

low freezing point;
the ability to save energy by turning off the heating system when there are no people in the house;
rust and scale do not form in the system, which has a positive effect on its performance and durability;
when cooling, the coolant does not damage pipes and heating devices;
Antifreeze cools slowly, so it holds the temperature longer.

Flaws:

high cost of quality compounds;
it is not possible to purchase at the nearest retail outlet;
increased antifreeze viscosity requires the use of a more powerful and expensive circulation pump;
the composition has a high fluidity, so it is necessary to constantly monitor the tightness of the heating system;
not all boilers and radiators can run on antifreeze.

Considering that the heat capacity of antifreeze is almost 20% lower than that of water, it is necessary to equip the house with more powerful heating radiators. In addition, you will have to increase the volume of the expansion tank by 40-60% and choose a boiler more powerful than for a water system.

Some coolants are prohibited for use with polyethylene and polypropylene pipes.

Thus, simply replacing the coolant in an existing heating system most likely will not work. First you will have to replace some (and even many) of its structural elements. Therefore, it is always easier to plan the use of antifreeze in a new system than to convert an old one to it. Having chosen the brand of the desired coolant, you need to select the boiler, radiators, expansion tank and pipes for it, constantly checking the recommendations of their manufacturers.

If you are planning to equip your dacha not only as a place for a seasonal stay, but also for living in the winter, one fireplace as a heating source is not enough. But how to choose heating for a country house so that it is as efficient as possible and at the same time affordable? Next, we will try to answer this question and consider possible ones.

Types of heating

All existing types of heating primarily differ in the type of energy carrier on which they can operate.

The most common options for heating a country house are:

On gas;
Electricity;
Solid fuel;
Liquid fuel.

In addition, there are several types of heating methods for a country house:

Air;
Vodyanoe.

In many ways, the choice of heating type depends on the following factors:

When deciding how to heat a country house in winter, you should familiarize yourself with the features of each system.

In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to such aspects as:

The price of the fuel on which the system operates;
Cost of system elements;
Installation cost or option to install yourself.

Heating a country house using solid fuel using a stove is a fairly common option. If the dacha is used in late autumn and early spring, then it can be heated with a stove.

However, such heating cannot be called ideal, as it has quite a few disadvantages:

The oven takes up a lot of space;
It is necessary to ensure a supply of fuel;
It is very difficult to install a stove with your own hands; moreover, this procedure requires serious reconstruction of the house.
The house warms up unevenly; remote rooms are much colder than those close to the stove.

Water heating

Perhaps water heating for a country house is the most common. Its principle is based on the fact that a heat source heats a liquid, which distributes heat throughout the system.

Most often, water is used as a coolant, however, in some cases, a country house is heated with antifreeze. The main advantage of water heating is the ability to maintain optimal temperature in the premises.

The simplest water heating scheme consists of the following elements:

Fuel boiler;
Heat transfer batteries;
Expansion tank.

Another advantage of such a system is the ability to heat the house with any energy source, for example, wood or gas. The power of the heat supply source is selected in accordance with the area of the house.

Water circulation in the system can be carried out in two ways:

Natural - circulation is carried out due to the difference in density of cold and heated liquid. Water or antifreeze is heated in the boiler, after which it moves through pipes to the heating radiators. Here the coolant is cooled and returned to the heat source via return lines.

This process is continuous. To achieve optimal water pressure, the boiler is located below floor level. This system is an excellent option for heating small buildings.

Forced - the system uses a circulation pump, which ensures constant movement of liquid in the pipes, as well as uniform heating of all rooms. The disadvantage of such a system is that its uninterrupted operation depends on the availability of electricity.

Advice! If there is no power supply in the area, then renting a diesel generator for the dacha will help solve the problem.

It must be said that in a water heating system it is possible to supply hot water not only for heating, but also for domestic needs. For this purpose, double-circuit boilers are used, the design of which provides for the possibility of heating water for both purposes.

In addition, it is possible to heat a country house with your own hands, such as a “warm floor”, which can serve as a complement to traditional radiators or even as an alternative to batteries. In contrast, heated floors warm the room better and do not dry out the air.

Summarizing all of the above, we can highlight the following advantages of water heating:

Low cost of equipment;
Possibility of choosing energy carrier;
High heat capacity of the carrier.

Along with the advantages, there are also some disadvantages:

Difficulty in installing the system;
Constant monitoring of equipment operation is required;
System elements are susceptible to corrosion;
The boiler takes up some space, although it is smaller than the oven.

Gas heating

Separately, it should be said about gas heating, which also applies to water heating. It is perhaps the most convenient to use and effective.

Gas heating in a country house, made using modern heating equipment, can provide the house with warmth and comfort even in the most inclement weather.

The only disadvantage of this option is the need to connect to a central highway, which is not available everywhere. True, regular purchase of gas cylinders can be considered as an option.

Among the main advantages of such a system are the following:

Affordable gas prices;
Easy installation of the system;
Ease of operation of the equipment.
High heating efficiency;
Environmental friendliness.

Electric heating

Thanks to the direct transformation of electricity into thermal energy, electric heating systems for a country house do not require the installation of a coolant. You just need to install heating elements.

This heating technology is very popular in Europe. In our country, it is used less frequently, which is due to frequent power outages in rural areas, as well as the relatively high cost of electricity.

Any element role. Therefore, the compliance of each element of the system must be done correctly. On the open web page of the project, we will try to help determine the necessary heating units for the desired dacha. The garage heating design has several components. The heating system includes thermostats, batteries, fasteners, air vents, pressure-increasing pumps, manifolds, boiler pipes, expansion tank, and connection system.

A comfortable stay at the dacha at any time of the year becomes possible thanks to a correctly selected and, most importantly, competently installed heating system.

Installing electric heating would be the best option if your country “hacienda” has a small area, and you use it mainly only in the summer, and during the cold season you come for a short time (on holidays, weekends, holidays). The Comfortable Dacha company installs electric heating at the most reasonable prices.

What is electric heating at home?

Pipes, fittings, shut-off valves, radiators or convectors.

Thanks to specialized additives, antifreeze practically does not cause pipe corrosion and dissolves scale and old limestone deposits. The system seals, on the contrary, are practically not exposed to this substance.

However, in some characteristics antifreeze is still inferior to water: for example, in such parameters as heat capacity and viscosity. High heat capacity is the most important parameter for a coolant, because usually these liquids or gases pass through many radiators. In this case, naturally, the liquid slowly but surely loses heat. Actually, the more heat the liquid gives off, the hotter the battery will be, but closer to the end of the journey the coolant will no longer be so hot, and the batteries will not heat so well.

If the coolant has a high heat capacity, then, giving off a lot of heat, it does not cool down so much. The heat capacity of antifreeze is lower than the heat capacity of water. This, in turn, means that a heating system using antifreeze will have to increase the power of the radiators, and also choose a more powerful pump. In addition, a prerequisite for using antifreeze is its periodic replacement, because sooner or later the liquid becomes contaminated and begins to lose its beneficial properties.

Despite these disadvantages, antifreeze is an excellent solution for use as a coolant in a new, optimized heating system.

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The term “antifreeze” refers to a class of liquids that do not freeze under any conditions. The scope of their application is wide, most often in installations that operate at low temperatures. Antifreeze for the heating system of a country house is a modern solution, but before you pour this liquid into the system, you need to learn more about its properties and application features, as well as what its use can lead to.

Species diversity

There are many antifreezes, but not all of them are suitable for use in a heating system; we’ll tell you about the “correct” ones, namely:

Ethylene glycol antifreeze– made on the basis of the alcohol of the same name. They are classified as polyatomic. After cleaning, it is a clear liquid that has a light oily consistency. There is no smell in it, but there is a sweetish taste. Do not try, as this substance is toxic. It is dangerous to use, especially in double-circuit systems, when there is a possibility of it getting into the water supply. It is also not recommended for use in systems with an open expansion tank, since you can be poisoned by its fumes. In addition, such antifreezes do not tolerate overheating. Each specific product has its own overheating temperature; if the liquid is higher than this indicator, the “anti-freeze” will form a solid sediment and be deposited throughout the system, which will lead to a deterioration in heat transfer or even failure.

Propylene glycol antifreeze– have the appearance of a colorless liquid with high viscosity. Typical mild odor and sweet taste. This alcohol is non-toxic. This type does not suffer from an increase in the temperature of the liquid and does not precipitate, but it is much more expensive.

The main indicator for antifreeze in any heating system is its freezing point, and given that it is not used in its pure form, but is diluted with water, it will depend on the percentage of water and “antifreeze.” Generally speaking, the more antifreeze you add, the less likely the pipes will burst and the heating system will freeze. So, for example, if you make 10% antifreeze in the total amount of liquid in the system, then it will freeze at -5, and if it is more than 50%, then the probability of freezing is negligible, since it is virtually impossible to reach a temperature of -40 indoors in our country.

You cannot use any other antifreeze in the heating system of a country house. There is an opinion that antifreeze, engine oil and ethyl alcohol are suitable, but this is completely wrong. In addition to damaging the system, it is also dangerous. After all, they are highly flammable and contain harmful substances.

Beneficial features

Antifreeze for the heating system of a country house undoubtedly has disadvantages, but first I would like to talk about the advantages of its use. The most important thing, of course, is the safety of the heating system, regardless of the temperature outside, and besides this:

Protection of metal elements of the system from corrosion.
Dissolution and removal of various types of sediments.
Preventing the destruction of non-metallic system components, including silicone gaskets, rubber seals and sealants.

Rules of application

Having chosen any type of antifreeze, it is important to know the rules for its use in the heating system. When deciding to use anti-freeze in the system, it is important to consider the following factors:

It is necessary to include more radiators in the project if the system is just beginning to be built, or increase their number in the existing one. This is necessary, since the heat capacity of antifreeze is 15-20% lower than that of water.

Installing a higher power pump, because antifreeze makes the mixture viscous. Take into account the flow rate of the circulation pump, it is needed 10% higher, and the pressure – 60% higher

It is important to use only soft water for dilution, otherwise the likelihood of salt precipitation increases, which this leads to, as we said earlier. It is also worth taking care of adding additional additives to the liquid. Of course, antifreeze has anti-corrosion properties, but given that it will need to be diluted at least twice, its abilities will also decrease by the same factor. In order to smooth this out, you need to add specialized additives: those that reduce foaming, corrosion, etc.

Disadvantages of “anti-freeze”

Antifreeze for the heating system of a country house - disadvantages, in addition to those already mentioned:

In some systems, the use of antifreeze is strictly prohibited, as they will destroy its components. In particular, a zinc heating system will not “make friends” with the “antifreeze”, or rather, it will defeat it, since the antifreeze composition will react with zinc and lose its original properties.

He is very fluid. Oddly enough, antifreeze is more fluid than water. For this reason, you need to pay close attention to detachable connections. It is important that all such components can be easily inspected at any time.

Despite everything…

Having looked at the characteristics and beneficial properties of antifreeze, many owners of country and country houses are in no hurry to pour it into the heating system, and the reason for this is the following circumstance. Manufacturers of heating boilers always indicate the following note on their products: the use of antifreeze in heating systems is prohibited. Otherwise, the manufacturer declines all responsibility for the quality of work.