For many of us underfloor presented as something complex, bulky equipment by means of which can be a good idea to heat the premises. Talk about the fact that the floor heating installation is associated with hard work and great technological difficulties often becomes a reason for not trying to do in his house like heating system. However, for the category of people who have an overwhelming desire to create in your own home comfort during the cold season, make the water warm floor with their hands, the problem is quite Solved.
It is important to have an idea of what the principle of the whole system and the importance of presence in the construction improvised heating of individual elements, components and assemblies. To do with his own hands the installation of water pipes, lay screed - is half the battle. The main system must be equipped with devices and devices that will be, will not only perform basic work, but also to control the whole process.
The value of the collector and the place for warm water floors
Since installation of floor heating own, should be ready for installation of such a device, as a mixing unit. Do not in this situation without such devices, such as valve, circulation pump and bleed valve. All this and more in the original equipment costs money. Especially expensive collector which performs the basic function - mixing cold and hot water then supplying coolant to the required temperature water circuit regulates the entire heating complex. The apparatus is rather complex and high-tech design. Factory models are made of brass or stainless steel, so the price of such devices is high, respectively.
Not everyone can afford to spend heavily to equip a warm floor with the necessary equipment. In addition, when it comes to heating of small floor space.
For instance: under-floor heating bathroom can be done with his own hands at the lowest cost by connecting the water circuit to a heated towel rail. Buy for this purpose expensive collector with all the additional equipment and tooling, impractical and uneconomic.
In this situation, you can gather manifold for floor heating with his hands of the available scrap materials, valves and accessories. If the collector can be assembled from improvised means, without the circulation pump, the drain and the three-way valve you can not do. If you had the courage, have the necessary financial resources, some knowledge and patience, you can get to work. No hurry, try to understand and appreciate how the collector for which it is set.
On a note: Do not listen to those who claim that the collector is only needed that would distribute the flows of the different water heating pipes floor. This is a superficial knowledge. Flow distribution is engaged so-called comb or distributor. Collector task is much more difficult to bigger and bigger, from a technological point of view.
Manifold for underfloor heating not only performs the functions of distribution flows through the water pipes of floor heating, but also participates in the management of the entire system. Thanks to the collector you make your floor heating as efficient as possible. Immediately it should be noted, do not confuse the mixing unit to the manifold. Mixing set - a set of control equipment, while the collector is a component of the mixing unit, which is equipped with any heating system "warm water floor."
Design and operation of the collector
Collector or as it is called, a comb, enters the mixing unit set. Without this device it is difficult to imagine a functioning warm floor. Without this device loses all sense of heating by floor heating. As an essential element of the mixing unit, the collector provides a mixture of different water flow temperature and subsequent distribution of the heating pipes of the water circuit. In fact, the device consists of two similar parts, one part is the supply, while the other is going. Hence the name of which there is an among experts, are manifold.
For reference: Distribution part is a node feeding warm water into the system piping underfloor. The collecting part is specially designed to collect the spent heat carrier following the reverse direction (return).
Structurally and externally both sides virtually indistinguishable. The device is based on a large diameter tube fitted with lateral branches (holes) with a thread. The number of holes corresponds to the number of water circuits connected to the equipment. Simply put a comb - it bends with the same parameters, twisted together. Therefore, for those who have at least some idea of the plumbing, do not make homemade collector pipe.
Having an idea of what the collector and what are its main objectives, you can do planning their own heating system. In order that would make the distributor, you need to know in advance which areas will be heated room, and what are your heat demand. Therefore, decide for yourself the following questions:
- how much will you have the heating circuits;
- What type is the main source of water heating (we are talking about, or the CO and domestic hot water system or an autonomous boiler);
- What additional instruments and devices will be equipped with a heating system (pump, temperature sensors, pressure gauges).
On a note: start making the collector floor heating with his own hands is necessary to select the design of the device. In other words, it is necessary to determine how it will be used to connect the water pipes, respectively, in which position will be located distribution and collecting comb.
There are plenty of technological nuances to which you should pay attention before you begin to assemble your unit.
For example, gas or electric heating devices are connected to the collectors from below or above. When installed in the circulation pump system, the connection is only at the end portion of the comb.
In cases where you use as a heater of indirect heating boiler, solid fuel boilers, the collector can be connected only to the end.
If you want to use for underfloor heating the water from the central heating system, connect your collector should top or bottom. The figure shows a diagram of a variant of connecting the manifold to the riser of the CO system.
If you do not mind, move the design scheme, and the position of the distribution manifolds of the paper. At the same time, you can specify the dimensional parameters, which you can rely already on the job. It is appropriate to say that the distance between the individual feed and return pipes should be less than 10 cm and not more than 20 cm. Use the same dimensions as possible and with the distance between the individual nodes and the distributor comb collection.
On a note: Try to make your device not only effective and technologically advanced, but compact. Otherwise, you can continue to face the problem of a self-made collector installation. Oversized device more difficult to hide in a collector box, and installation of floor heating manifold negative impact on the interior of the heated space.
After drawing the sketch it becomes clear how much and what you will need for further work on the production of home-made switchgear.
Process of collector assembly homemade
If your heating system is concentrated in one room and for this you need only one water circuit, proceed to assemble a simple header. For these purposes, you will need:
- Mixing valve ¾ inch;
- adapter for ¾ inch;
- nipple;
- tees;
- a knee bend 900;
- clamping sleeve is ¾ inch.
As an additional feature also require a circulation pump with inlet nozzles with diameter of 1 inch, a ball valve to ¾ inch, air and bleed valve.
For the manufacture of the collector with his own hands, you can use accessories or brass metal and plastic valves, knees, tees and adapters. Metalloplastikovaja valves used for these purposes, allows cheaper and easily improve the design of floor heating, with the expectation of increasing floor heating loops.
It is better to use for feeding units and collect the return round and square pipes. Metal pipes of rectangular section are considered to be the best option, since take off according to experts it is more convenient to work with. Consider how to collect self-made collector of plastic pipes.
The process of manufacture and assembly can be divided into stages.
The first stage in accordance with the dimensions shown in the drawing you are prepared tubes, which are made from separate pieces of the structure.
Second stage: the individual elements are joined into a unitary structure in accordance with the technological need and purpose;
Third stage: the installation of separate elements made prepared for cold weld. Further, welding conducted using the cold welding apparatus;
Fourth stage: build your own collector, you must check it for leaks. Closing all the connections, one is left open so that it would apply hot water. Leaks in the joints says that you did everything right;
Fifth step: assembling the manifold in its place constantly positioning and connecting to it the water circuit of the heating tubes.
Further, as necessary equipment is carried out of the mixing unit circulating pump, three-way valve and other elements of the valves.
conclusion
If we approach the issue of equipment and equipment underfloor pragmatically, the self-made reservoir, justifies expended on its production efforts. The only "but" that could jeopardize all your efforts - a reliable design and functionality. Ready collector that you can buy, investing a lot of money may not be suitable for your existing heating system. Its work will be the other way around, as close as possible and adapted to the existing specifications.
Homemade comb, which you probably have tried to consider all constructive nuances, should work properly and efficiently.
Comparing the amount of money spent on the creation of a self-made reservoir and the cost of the finished device, you can safely talk about significant savings. Many models of collectors today are not cheap. As a rule, the price of the device is comparable in costs half the money spent on supplies and the subsequent installation of floor heating.
For those who want to so equip the heating system in the country or make a warm floor in the bathroom, this option will be very convenient and practical. Installation of heated floors in the water as the main heating system in the house on the basis of the capital, has set you high demands. Better in this case to buy the factory model for quality and reliability that are the responsibility of the manufacturers.
