Heating manifold: purpose, advantages and installation

The heating collector is the main node of the radiant heating system, which is one of the most progressive and efficient solutions today. We will talk about the main structural features of the collector for heating, consider the types of combs and give a number of tips to help you install a collector for heating with your own hands.

Collector-beam heating system

Consider the heating collector in conjunction with the consideration of the radial layout of the coolant, so it will be easier to understand its main functions and advantages.

As you know, there are three main types of pipe wiring:

1. One pipe design. Here the radiators are connected in series, that is, the coolant is supplied to the first device, then passes through the battery and enters the next one, gradually passing the entire circuit and returning to the boiler. It is obvious that after each radiator the water cools down and the batteries warm up unevenly;
2. Two-pipe scheme. This solution provides for the supply of water through one pipe, and the outlet to the second, that is, the circuit consists of two lines, between which radiators are connected in parallel. This scheme allows you to warm up the devices more evenly;
3. Beam pattern. The coolant is supplied to the distribution unit (collector of the heating system), from where it comes to each radiator through a separate pipe, and then it goes back through the return pipes, collects with a comb and enters the boiler. Thus it is possible to achieve the most uniform distribution of heat in the room.

Note! As you can see, in the radial scheme there are many circuits, one for each battery. Therefore, for the normal operation of the system, a circulation pump is needed that can provide the necessary parameters of pressure and circulation rate of the coolant.

The beam scheme allows to heat each individual radiator as evenly as possible, moreover, it makes it possible to adjust the intensity of heat supply to each battery.

Also in this scheme, you can turn off any device without changing the operation of the entire system, and in high-rise buildings you can turn off entire floors without interrupting the flow of coolant to the other sections of the building.

To realize these advantages, heating collectors are used, which are included in the distribution node in the form of a pair of devices - a feed and return comb. The strapping of the heating collector valves, air and drain valves, flow meters and thermostatic heads allows automatic regulation of temperature conditions on each individual heating device.

Note! Most often, such wiring is used in the construction of heating systems of private houses and cottages; however, this scheme can also be applied in an apartment with centralized heat transfer. It should be remembered that the pipe is best carried out under the floor.

Another advantage of the radial layout is the ability to hide the pipeline under the baseboard or in the thickness of the floor. Often, this particular feature affects the choice of layout.

Also not to mention such a system as "warm floor". Here the contours are not connected to the radiators, but are laid in a special way in the floor screed to warm it up.

The only significant drawback of this solution is the high price of materials and work.

Heating comb

Design

The comb is an inch or three-quarter pipe, the holes at the ends of which are threaded. One end is connected to the water supply or drain line, and the other is closed with a plug, an air vent and / or a tap to drain the coolant from the system.

Over time, you will be able to remove the cap or taps and add new links to the comb to expand the heating system or to connect the “warm floor”.

In addition, the pipe is equipped with taps for connecting heating pipes and sockets for mounting control valves. As a rule, the delivery part is equipped with flow metering valves, which regulate the flow, and the return part - with thermal heads, which measure the temperature of the return water and, if necessary, open or close the flow meters.

Note! Piping is possible with simple adjusting cranes: in this case, the control is carried out manually. Cranes must be installed, they are needed to disconnect the devices from the network in order to repair or replace defective parts.

In the case of simple strapping with cranes, sockets for fittings are not required, so the comb can have a simpler design. Varieties of designs will be discussed in the next section.

Species

There are different models of distributors, which differ in the complete set of strapping, materials, manufacturers and design. There may also be differences depending on the purpose of the devices.

The most effective and reliable brand models that are equipped with all the necessary devices and fittings.

The composition of such products may include:

• Feed and reverse combs. As a rule, made of high quality brass or stainless steel;
• Circulation pump;
• Flowmeters on the giving distributor;
• Thermostatic heads on the collecting knot;
• Mayevsky air valve or tap for evacuating air from the system;
• Crane for draining coolant;
• Pressure gauge for pressure control;
• Brackets or other mounting hardware;
• Bends for connecting wiring pipes.

Note! Brand models are assembled and equipped with all the features of the equipment and the design of the comb. As a rule, the details of such a system are designed for each other and work most effectively in this mutual configuration.

The cost of high-quality assemblies from leading companies can reach 20-30 thousand rubles. If this is too expensive for you, you can use simpler and cheaper devices.

A less complex variation is the inch brass tube with half-inch wire connections. The feed part is equipped with outlets only, and on the back comb there are slots for installing thermostats or flow meters. Selection and installation of valves will have to be done independently.

However, this is not the easiest option, there are also Chinese products:

Even cheaper will cost a cast model with control valves manufactured in China. There are possible problems associated with the deterioration of seals and leaks in the area of ​​the valve assembly. Replacing seals is often difficult or impossible due to the molded design of the products.

You can also find plastic models of valves. They are distinguished by low cost and fairly good quality, but their reliability is questionable. Since there are no reliable statistics and operating experience yet, it’s time to tell about durability.

Finally, you can assemble a polypropylene distribution assembly by tapping tees into an inch reinforced pipe. This is the cheapest and easiest way, but its reliability tends towards negative values, which makes it possible to call such a solution temporary.

Note! In the case of a limited budget, you should not save on heating, it is better to cut down the cost of finishing or interior delights, as an accident with boiling water leaks will cost much more, and the decoration will suffer first.

Installation

The installation of the heating collector begins with the installation of dies on the bracket. Then unscrew the plugs and install the air vent and drain valve.

Then they remove the caps from the sockets and mount the flow meters for the flow, and put the thermostats on the return flow. If the pump is not installed initially, it is installed.

After that, the bracket is mounted on the wall or in a distribution cabinet. When the kit is assembled and installed, connect radiator pipes or contours of a warm floor. At the end, the main pipes are connected and the system is crimped using a special pump.

Note! This instruction is not final and may vary depending on the equipment used and the system configuration.

Conclusion

Collector heating is the most progressive scheme of water heating of rooms. For its implementation, various models of distributors are used, the most effective of which are branded European products with a complete set. The video will help you better understand this topic.