Aluminum radiators have many advantages: they are relatively cheap, weigh a little, take up little space, look aesthetically pleasing, differ in low thermal inertness and high heat transfer. How to choose aluminum radiators and which ones are worthy of the title of the best, read in this material.
CONTENT
- 1 Choosing aluminum radiators: what to look for
- 2 Top 8 best aluminum radiators
- 3 FAQ
Choosing aluminum radiators: what to look for
Type of radiators. Aluminum heating radiators can be manufactured using three main technologies:
- cast radiators are the most expensive and reliable, since they are monolithic structures and do not have connecting seams that could leak or disperse;
- extrusion models are cheaper than cast ones, but consist of several elements welded, glued or otherwise connected together, therefore, the margin of their strength is relatively small, and the pressure that such radiators withstand is significantly lower than that of cast models.
Construction type. Among aluminum radiators, you can find both tubular and sectional models. The first are one-piece, non-separable structures consisting of tubes through which the coolant circulates. The second ones consist of interconnected elements, the number of which can vary from one and almost to infinity. From this follows the main difference between these radiators: tubular radiators are usually more reliable, but sectional ones are more repairable, since in order to get rid of any fistula, it is enough to replace the damaged section to a new one.
Connection type. Radiators can be connected to the wiring in various ways. In particular, the inlet and outlet of the heating medium can be located both on one side and on different sides of the device. If there are relatively few sections in the radiator, then the efficiency for different connection schemes will be equally high.
Multi-section radiators with more than 10 elements work best with double-sided diagonal connection, when the inlet is located on one side from the top and the outlet is on the opposite side from below. The one-way design is only slightly less effective, with the inlet on top and the outlet on the same side from the bottom. In third place in terms of efficiency is the bottom two-way connection, when both the inlet and outlet are located at the bottom, but on different sides of the radiator. Other combinations are much less efficient.
Placement method. Until now, the most popular models of radiators are wall-mounted, which are hung on brackets to the wall. It is these designs that are best suited for standard apartments. However, if you are looking for a radiator for a private house, then it makes sense to look at other options. There are both floor standing, built-in and universal models on the market that can be placed there and as you like.
Heat dissipation of the radiator. This parameter shows how much heat the radiator can give to the surrounding space. It is generally believed that 1 kilowatt of heat dissipation is sufficient to heat a 10 square meter room. A low-power radiator will leave the room cold, and an over-powerful radiator will idle.
Maximum operating temperature. An important parameter for district heating networks, through which the coolant can be let in at almost any possible temperature. For high-quality aluminum radiators, this parameter reaches 130 degrees.
Maximum working pressure. The pressure in the pipes that the radiator can withstand for a long time. It is desirable that it be at least 15-20 atmospheres.
Pressure test. In centralized heating systems, water shocks are not uncommon, when the coolant pressure rises sharply for a short period of time. A weak radiator can break with such a water hammer, so it is better to choose a product with a safety margin - at least up to 30 atmospheres.
Connection diameter. Aluminum radiators have standard connection pipes. Typically the diameter is ½, ¾, or 1 inch.
Dimensions (edit). The larger the radiator, the usually more heat it is able to give to the heated room. At the same time, a radiator that is too large may simply not suit you, especially if you plan to place the battery in a fixed-size niche. Therefore, before buying, be sure to measure the place where the radiator will stand. And do not forget that to ensure normal convection between the radiator and the wall there must be a distance of at least 3 centimeters, so that not only height and width, but also depth are important radiator.
Center distance. It shows the distance between the points of connection of the radiator to the heating system. If you do not want to digest those pipes that are already in your home, when replacing the radiator, it is better to measure the distance from the center of the upper pipe to the center of the lower one and choose a suitable radiator.
Top 8 best aluminum radiators
Best tubular aluminum radiator
1. Aluminum radiator KZTO Elegant plus 6 180 × 900
Extremely elegant tubular aluminum radiator. Supports any type of placement. Bottom connection. The maximum operating temperature is 130 degrees, the maximum operating pressure is 15 atmospheres, and the maximum pressure test is 25 atmospheres. Thanks to these parameters, this radiator can be installed not only in a private house with its own individual heating system, but also in an ordinary city apartment. It should be borne in mind, however, that the battery is rather large: its height is 900 mm, and its thickness is 180 mm, so make sure that the product fits your size before buying. Otherwise, it is a very decent, albeit very expensive, radiator at an immodest price of 19,000 rubles.
Price: ₽ 19 000
KZTO Elegant plus 6 180 × 900
Best compact tubular aluminum radiator
2. Aluminum radiator KZTO Elegant-mini 3 180 × 130
This aluminum radiator can with good reason be called the younger brother of the model discussed above. It is produced by the same manufacturer and belongs to the same series of tubular radiators "Elegant", but costs much cheaper and takes up significantly less space, so you can place it almost anywhere whatever. Versatile in design, the model supports the bottom connection and is able to withstand the maximum operating temperature up to 130 degrees, operating pressure up to 15 atmospheres and pressure test up to 25 atmospheres. With the same thickness of 180 mm, the height of this little one is only 130 mm. The issue price is 9,000 rubles.
Price: ₽ 9 000
KZTO Elegant-mini 3 180 × 130
The best sectional aluminum radiators with bottom connection
3. Radiator aluminum Rifar Alum Ventil 500
Sectional aluminum radiator of 12 elements for wall mounting with bottom connection. Heat dissipation is 2196 W, which is enough to heat a room up to 22 square meters. The center-to-center distance of the device is 80 mm, the connection diameter is ½ inch. The battery can withstand a maximum operating temperature of 135 degrees, an operating pressure of up to 20 atmospheres and a pressure test of up to 30 atmospheres. The volume of the coolant in the entire radiator is 3.24 liters, and in one section - 0.27 liters. The device is a little expensive, in the region of 9,000 rubles, but it is definitely worth it.
Price: ₽ 9 060
Rifar Alum Ventil 500
4. Radiator aluminum Rifar Alum Ventil 350
Aluminum radiator for 8 sections, for which you will have to pay a little less than 6,000 rubles. Placed on the wall, bottom connection, center distance - standard 80 mm, connection diameter - ½ ". The heat dissipation of the battery reaches 1224 W, which should be enough for heating the 14.6 square meters declared by the manufacturer (it is better, however, to limit yourself to a room of 12 square meters). The product is capable of withstanding a maximum operating temperature of 135 degrees, an operating pressure of 20 and a pressure test of 30 atmospheres. The radiator comes with a mounting kit, so you can easily install it yourself.
Price: ₽ 5 900
Rifar Alum Ventil 350
The best sectional aluminum radiators with side connection
5. Aluminum radiator Global VOX R 350 х12
Wall-mounted sectional aluminum radiator with 12 elements. Designed for lateral connection with a center distance of 350 mm and a connection diameter of 1 inch. The heat dissipation of the radiator is 1140 W, and the heated area is 17.4 square meters. The maximum operating temperature of the coolant should not exceed 110 degrees, the maximum operating pressure is 16 atmospheres, and the pressure test is 24 atmospheres. With quite serious parameters, the device is not so expensive: they ask for a little more than 7,500 rubles for it.
Price: ₽ 7 680
Global VOX R 350 х12
6. Radiator aluminum Royal Thermo Indigo 500 x10
10 section wall mounted aluminum radiator with side connection. The heat dissipation of the product is 1248 W, and the maximum power reaches 1920 watts: this is enough for to heat a room with an area of 19 square meters or even more (although, of course, it is better not to risk). Center distance - 500 mm. The maximum operating temperature can reach 110 degrees, the operating pressure is 20 atmospheres, and the pressure test is 30 atmospheres. Prices for this inexpensive but highly efficient radiator start at RUB 6,000.
Price: ₽ 6 550
Royal Thermo Indigo 500 x10
7. Aluminum radiator ROMMER Al Plus 500 x8
Sectional aluminum radiator consisting of 8 elements. Wall-mounted design, side connection with 1 "diameter and 500 mm center distance. The maximum working temperature reaches 110 degrees, while the working pressure should not exceed 16 atmospheres, and the maximum pressure test - 24 atmospheres. The radiator is capable of delivering up to 11668 watts of maximum power, which is enough to heat a room up to 12 square meters. The main advantage of this radiator is its modest price in the region of 3000 rubles.
Price: ₽ 3 176
ROMMER Al Plus 500 x8
8. Radiator aluminum Thermal RAP-500 x4
The most affordable radiator in our selection: for its 4 aluminum sections they ask for a little more than 1100 rubles. The battery is designed for wall mounting with side connection on a ¾-inch female thread with a center distance of 500 mm, standard for such a design. The heat dissipation of the radiator is 644 W, so even for a small room it is better to splurge on a couple of them. But in terms of other parameters, this model leaves behind much more expensive specimens: the maximum operating temperature that this model can withstand baby, is 130 degrees at a maximum operating pressure of 24 atmospheres and a pressure pressure in a record 35 for aluminum radiators atmospheres.
Price: ₽ 1 120
Thermal RAP-500 x4
FAQ
How to flush an aluminum radiator?
There are several ways.
The most convenient is chemical. It is enough to use a special chemical descaling agent for radiators. There are also traditional counterparts like vinegar or caustic soda, but their effectiveness is questionable.
The second method is hydrodynamic. It involves flushing the heating system with a stream of water under high pressure, which will simply wash away all deposits from the radiators. As a subspecies of this method, we can call impulse washing with the help of special equipment. This is perhaps the most effective option, but it requires the involvement of specialists.
The third is a quieter, low-pressure hydraulic flush. This is the most gentle way, but you need to use it regularly: old dirt cannot be removed like this.
But these are all flushing methods available to residents of private houses with their own autonomous heating system. What should residents of apartments in high-rise buildings do if there are aluminum radiators? There is only one answer: wait for the end of the heating season, remove the radiators and rinse them in the bathroom, and then hang them back.
The main thing is not to be lazy to flush aluminum radiators at least once every five years, and then they will serve you with full dedication for many years without losing efficiency.
