Crane for radiators: types, purpose, installation

A modern radiator is quite a functional device. To the battery, pipes of central or autonomous heating systems are connected by means of threads or fittings. At first glance it may seem that the heat exchanger is self-sufficient and there is no need to equip it with any other technical elements. But in case of unforeseen circumstances, a crane for heating radiators, as well as various valves, can help. Let's look at the types of cranes for batteries that are used today, explore their capabilities, functionality. Also find out how they are installed.

Purpose of the shut-off valve

Modern heating systems can function properly without the need for additional equipment. The premises will be heated in any case. But there are a lot of situations where the absence of stopcocks and other similar equipment greatly affects the usability. For example, one of the situations is a primitive accident, when the radiator flows. To eliminate such an annoying problem, it is necessary to disconnect the entire riser, the entrance of a multi-storey building, and in particularly serious situations, even the whole residential block. Also, the shut-off valves for heating allow you to adjust the performance of the heating batteries. At best, when assembling heat exchangers, they are equipped with simple ball valves. Most often there are three. One is designed for installation on the supply of a coolant, the second is for a tap, and the third is mounted on a bypass. In addition to the supply put an adjustment valve. It can regulate the coolant head. The heating battery itself is equipped with a Mayevsky crane to facilitate air bleeding. Such a scheme is not a redundant option, although four devices are used here. In the kit they can solve a lot of useful tasks.

Functionality

The crane for radiators of heating will be extremely useful in that case when it is necessary to dismantle the battery for its clearing from blockages without draining of the heat-carrier. Also radiators are removed to eliminate leaks. Cranes of the Mayevsky type allow you to get rid of air congestion that formed in the system. Often, air is formed in the upper parts of the heat exchangers. There is a fundamentally different stop valves - these are cranes for radiators with a thermostat. They are equipped with thermostatic heads, by means of which the heating of heating batteries is regulated. Such a complex allows to reliably protect the heat exchanger and the heating system from any failures, allows to control the efficiency of supply of premises with heat. The devices of the stop valves are much cheaper than any repairs due to radiator leaks.

Differences from conventional

A customary crane can perform a variety of functions, depending on which design the product is and how it operates. Also, the functionality depends on the materials from which this or that device is made. Naturally, any cranes, or rather, the devices of shut-off valves for heating appliances, are slightly different from traditional mixers that are available in each bathroom or kitchen. The devices of the stop valves must meet certain basic operational requirements. So, the maximum temperature of the coolant can not be more than 200 degrees. Pressure - from 16 to 40 atm. Cranes and other similar elements must be resistant to corrosion and mechanical wear.

For working in heating systems, special models of valves and valves are manufactured. For those who want to save money and want to install ordinary devices designed for working with cold water, it must be said that such an approach is fundamentally wrong. Devices designed for less aggressive conditions can simply not withstand the loads and quickly fail.

Types of devices of shut-off valves for heating systems

Normal and efficient operation of any heating system depends largely on whether the locking elements are properly selected. There are several types of cranes that are suitable for different tasks.

Materials

Brass, steel, cast iron and plastic are most often used for the manufacture of stop valves. For domestic heating systems, the most preferable is the brass faucet. The cost of such an element is higher than that of a steel product. But its characteristics can not be compared in efficiency with any other materials. The temperature range and operating pressure that the material withstands can not be compared with plastic. Unlike steel and cast-iron products, the brass faucet is not subject to corrosion. This is a big plus.

Connection type

All locking devices for heating systems, regardless of the type and type, are equipped with an American connection. This method of connection allows you to install and dismantle the batteries without changing the design of the entire system. Often, when installing individual heating systems, a faucet is used for heating radiators of ½ inch. Less often you can find devices with a connection type of ¾ inch.

Ball valve

This element is called because of its device. The locking mechanism, which is located inside the device, has the form of a ball with an aperture. The principle of operation of such a device is simple. It consists in that by means of one turn of the handle it is possible to stop the supply of coolant through the pipes of the system. This can be very useful if accidents occur (for example, a water pipe break). The ball element allows quick and easy shut off the hot water supply. If a screw valve for heating radiators were used for the same purpose, then it would take considerably longer to shut off the water supply. In addition to spherical mechanisms, there are also analogues on sale. Here, the locking portion may have a conical or cylindrical shape. However, according to performance characteristics, ball products are the most effective. Conical devices are inferior at least in that they are subject to higher wear.

If you cut the device, then inside you can see a metal ball and a gasket, which ensures tightness when the valve is closed. Polymer ball valves have recently appeared on the market. They can be installed on any type of radiator. Also there are on sale metal products. Often, brass or brass alloys are used.

Ball valves for radiators have only two working positions - hence their name. This is a stop valve. In the market you can find cranes with three possible positions. They are also suitable for work with radiators. The peculiarity of them is that there are three positions. The flow of the coolant itself can be directed in two directions. The cost of ball valves is small. Elements have a simple design, their installation also does not require special skills and equipment.

About the choice of ball valves

Regarding the selection of this locking device, it is necessary to take into account the overall dimensions of the device, the type of metal or alloy. The material is very important, as when connecting the element to the radiator, galvanic pairs should not be formed.

When selecting, it is necessary to pay attention to the dimensions of the hole in the locking part. There are full-bore cranes, standard and incomplete. In full bore, the size of the inner hole fully corresponds to the internal size of the pipe. Due to this, after installing the device in the open state, it will not reduce the volume of the heat carrier that enters the radiator.

The diameter of the opening of the locking part in standard cranes is 20% smaller than the internal dimensions of the pipe. When operating such models, the heat transfer of the radiator is reduced by 10-15%. Incomplete passages have a very small opening in the shut-off ball - the coolant flow rate is reduced by half.

Stop valve

This category of equipment is suitable for connecting heating batteries in a system with two pipes. Due to the design, these valves allow the flow of the heat-transfer agent to be quickly cut off into the radiator, without completely shutting down the heating system. Shut-off valves are also very convenient for draining water from the heat exchanger. As for the feasibility of acquiring and installing this particular solution, there is no special difference between such a valve and a ball valve. If the simplest thermoregulator is installed on the pipe that supplies the coolant, then both options will work completely the same. However, the check valves differ in design. The ball valve can only be opened or closed. A valve allows you to regulate the flow of hot water in the system. Also on the device there is no valve for turning. The cost of the shut-off valve is slightly higher than that of the ball valve.

Cranes of Majewski

Heating systems are a closed circuit in which the coolant is constantly circulating. If an air stopper appears in it, then the heat transfer of the system is significantly reduced. And this is the best thing that can happen. In such situations, there are risks of freezing the system. To eliminate such plugs in heating systems, the Mayevsky crane is applied. The price of the device starts from 100 rubles. This is an inexpensive, but necessary and very effective device. If you turn the valve on the tap all the way, you can hear the air coming out, if there is one. After the whole cork comes out, the mechanism can be closed. The air is released from a hole 2 mm in diameter. This hole is in a plastic gasket or in a brass body. On sale there is a simple or automatic Maevsky crane.

The price for automatic solutions is higher and starts at 350 rubles. But such instruments are much more convenient.

Adjusting cranes

These products are classified as a group of shut-off devices. However, they completely overlap the heat carrier flow, they are extremely rare. Therefore, if a crane is installed in the system, the ball valve is still necessary.

Adjusting valves for radiators are devices that change the amount of heat transfer fluid that passes through the heat exchanger. So you can change the modes of heating the air in the premises.

The principle of the device is quite simple. The flow of hot water is regulated by a cone. The latter is raised or lowered by rotation of the handle. There are valves of such a plan with a direct or lateral type of connection. As for the materials, this is bronze and brass. On sale, you can find nickel-plated reinforcement from these materials. There are also devices from stainless steel. But this is a big rarity due to the high price.

What you need to know about the control valve?

By installing such a valve on the battery, it is possible to significantly reduce the amount of coolant passing through the heat exchanger. Even when the control valves for heating are fully open, the throughput will be hardly more than half. Install such equipment should be if the room is too hot. As one of the possible options - you can find a device with a greater throughput. Minus such cranes - because of the small transmission diameter, such instruments are often clogged.

Mounting Features

Ball valves on heating batteries are most often installed on the reverse system. The valves are mounted on one or more batteries if the sum of heat transfer values is more than 50% of the total value. The remaining instruments are equipped with a valve on the feed pipe and ball valves.

"American" is always equipped with one or two nikidnymi nuts. This method of installation is much simpler than a coupler connection. For polypropylene pipes, metal ball valves are mounted using special couplings. The threads must be compacted. The Majewski cranes are often equipped with a sealant. Therefore, they do not need additional sealing.

So, we have found out the types and differences of the stop valves.