Individual heating in the apartment: the best options for an apartment building

Few of the owners of apartments in a high-rise building are fully satisfied with central heating. Uncomfortable temperature, interruptions in the supply of heat and hot water, dampness and fungus in the rooms. And most importantly - the high cost of utilities, the quality of which often leaves much to be desired. Do you agree?

There is an effective method of dealing with the above negativity - this is individual heating in the apartment. We will talk about the options for its organization and how to translate ideas into reality. In the article we presented, the schemes using various types of fuel are described in detail, the features of the arrangement are given.

Autonomous heating in the apartment: is it possible?

The desire to equip autonomous heating is quite understandable. Calculations show that the cost of heating a house and supplying hot water should be significantly reduced. According to statistics, on average, they are reduced by two to three times for heating and four to five times for heating water.

The result is a significant amount. It is clear that you will have to spend money on installing equipment, on its maintenance and on the acquisition of energy, but the costs will be justified.

The public utilities are not at all interested in losing consumers of their services. Therefore, you need to be prepared for the fact that you will have to make efforts to implement their plans. First of all, you need to know exactly what the legislation on autonomous heating in the apartment says.

Very often, the owner of an apartment is denied disconnection from the central heating supply, referring to the Federal Law No. 190 “On Heat Supply”. However, this is unlawful, since there is a Government Decision number 307, which was issued on April 16, 2012. It prescribes the procedure for connecting autonomous heating systems in multi-apartment buildings.

Here is a list of heat sources that are strictly prohibited for the installation of autonomous heating in such houses. Therefore, it is allowed to equip individual heating with the condition of using modern safe equipment.

You must understand that before you purchase and install equipment, you need to get permission to disconnect from the centralized system and permission to switch to individual heating of the selected type.

To do this, you will have to collect a significant package of documents and wait for a decision. Only after this can you begin to rebuild heating.

Autonomous heating for an apartment in a high-rise building is beneficial and practical. However, to get the opportunity to equip such a system will have to try. You should start by collecting a package of documents

Features of individual apartment heating

When planning to switch to autonomous heating, you need to really assess your capabilities and understand that most of the options that are quite acceptable for private houses are impossible in a high-rise building. Immediately follows the "sweep" solid fuel and liquid fuel boilers of all varieties.

This is due to the fact that their uninterrupted operation requires a fuel supply, which is unsafe in an apartment building.

Individual heating in the apartment can be arranged in different ways. Of course, there are fewer options than in a private house, but it is enough to choose the system that is most suitable for existing conditions

In addition, it is also extremely inconvenient. It is forbidden to use in this case a warm water floor. Only the installation of one of its electrical varieties is possible.

You need to know that when arranging individual heating in a high-rise building, you will have to take into account not only your interests, but also the interests of other residents, who may be unhappy with some of the difficulties that arise as a result of your actions.

Therefore, choosing the right heat source is very important. This is a crucial stage that determines, in fact, the success of a planned event.

Despite the limitations, there are a lot of options for autonomous systems. First of all, it is gas-fired heating. And you need to consider that this is not about bottled fuel, but about connecting to a gas pipeline.

The option with cylinders should not even be considered, since it will cost much more than central heating, and it is extremely inconvenient. Heating on main gas is very economical and is able to work completely autonomously.

The best source of heat for one of the apartments in a high-rise building will be wall-mounted double-circuit boiler with thermostat and electronic ignition. It will automatically maintain the most comfortable temperature, and supply hot water.

If the apartment has enough free space, it is worth paying attention to the boiler with a boiler. So it will be possible to stabilize the flow of hot water.

Electric heating can also be installed in apartment buildings. It can be implemented in several versions, when electricity is used for direct heating, which is more expensive, or indirect.

A gas wall-mounted boiler paired with a boiler will certainly take up a lot of space, but it will be possible to ensure uninterrupted supply of hot water of the right temperature and in any volumes

A system operating on electricity can have a boiler, a heat pump as a heat source, and an electric cable floor as an energy transmitter, infrared film, skirting radiators or electric convectors.

The owner of the apartment can choose any suitable option or combine several. For example, underfloor heating and convectors. Let us consider in detail each of the possible ways of arranging autonomous heating.

Gas heating in the apartment

Such a system is a closed loop with a coolant circulating inside. A gas-fired boiler is used to heat the liquid. It can be single or dual circuit. It all depends on the needs of the people living in the apartment. As you know, gas boilers can be floor or wall. For apartments, the second option is selected.

These are compact but powerful enough devices. For the apartment, you should choose a heater with a closed burner. Such devices do not take air from the room and do not require the arrangement of a traditional chimney system.

The latter is far from always possible in an apartment building. Turbocharged boilers also require a special type of chimney, which is easily equipped.

What are the benefits for the owner of gas heating? First of all, it ceases to depend on the timing of the heating season. The boiler is ready for use at any time and can be started as needed.

The cost of fuel is relatively low. When compared with heating by electricity, for example, the operation of the boiler will be much cheaper. In addition, if you install thermostatic valves on batteries and purchase a heating unit with automatic control, save on its operation.

In new buildings with individual heating of apartments, the problem of smoke removal from the gas boiler can be solved in this way: in the picture you can see the pipes through which the street air enters the burner. Smoke is diverted to the central smoke shaft

This is because the automation will adjust the temperature in the rooms, choosing the most economical mode of operation and turning off the equipment when the set temperature is reached. "Manually" with all the desire to do this will not succeed.

The advantages include the compactness of gas heating equipment, its high efficiency and quite budget cost. There are solutions and disadvantages. The most obvious are related to the potential danger posed by gas heating.

The owner of the apartment will be required to obtain a permit package for installation of gas equipment. It should be understood that it will be received only if the apartment fully complies with safety requirements. Purchased equipment must be certified.

Installation, connection and subsequent maintenance should only be carried out by specialists. In general, gas equipment should be handled with extreme care and no initiative, whether it is a part made for a boiler with your own hands or an independent repair of the device, is unacceptable here.

Gas equipment is considered potentially hazardous. Handle it with extreme care. Its maintenance, installation and repair should only be carried out by certified specialists.

The disadvantages include the volatility of the system, which will not work without electricity. Despite the shortcomings, practice shows that gas heating is the most frequent choice among apartment owners.

It allows you to get the maximum cost savings and at the same time get efficient heating of your home. The possibility of parallel arrangement of domestic hot water makes this solution even more attractive.

Electric heating direct heating

The concept of direct heating implies that electrical energy will be directly converted into heat. There are several acceptable for the apartment options for such systems.

Use of convectors or radiators

Electric radiators are simple transducers. Two electrodes are lowered into the electrolyte, which is mineral oil. The current flowing through the liquid heats it.Given that the boiling point of the oil is high and its heat transfer is very good, the surface of the radiator heats up in a short time.

To increase the heat transfer of the device, its body is usually made ribbed. The device can be controlled manually, for this a special controller can be installed on the case, or automatically, which is possible only for programmable models.

The advantage of this method of heating can be considered the ultimate simplicity of the arrangement. Oil radiators are simply placed in the right areas. It is important that they have access to the mains.

Electric convectors - more reliable and economical equipment compared to oil radiators

Nothing more is needed. Devices quickly warm up, but cool down for a long time. They work completely silently and do not emit toxic substances. The devices are compact and have an attractive design.

The main disadvantage of electric radiators is their high energy consumption, which is very disadvantageous for their owners. A good alternative to radiators are electric convectors.

Their difference lies in the fact that the heating elements installed in the devices heat the air entering the housing, which subsequently rises and enters the heated room. Convectors are produced in wall and floor versions, which is very convenient for their placement in the room.

Advantages of devices are about the same as that of radiators. The only thing is that they consume electricity more economically, but still it takes a lot of it.

Underfloor heating system

She represents electric heating systemconsisting of special heating mats or cables laid on the floor. When you turn on the device, they convert electricity into heat, which is radiated from the entire surface of the floor.

This is a big plus, as the room warms up as evenly as possible. The temperature difference between the lower and upper parts of the room is minimal.

The heat source for arranging an electric floor heating can be a heating mat, infrared film or resistive cable shown in the photograph

The system has built-in sensors that monitor the temperature in the room. As soon as it reaches a predetermined mark, the heating is automatically turned off and vice versa, when the temperature drops, heating is turned on.

Thus, the system independently maintains the desired temperature. It is possible to implement different scenarios, that is, in some rooms it can be warmer, in others it can be cooler.

Warm floors do not dry out the air, humidity remains at a comfortable level. They are absolutely harmless to those living in the apartment. The system makes it possible to warm up the room as quickly as possible.

They are quite simple to install, can be laid on almost any foundation. Warm floors do not take up free space, do not spoil the interior, because there are simply no bulky radiators and pipes.

The service life of the system is from half a century or more. Let's talk about the shortcomings of warm floors. They are more economical than radiators and convectors, but still consume electricity.

And its consumption is quite large. It largely depends on the degree of insulation of the apartment, the desired heating temperature and other factors, so there are ways to save. Often such systems are used as additional heating.

The resistive cable and heating mats are laid in a screed, so that the floor is slightly raised. This must be taken into account when planning a floor heating system.

However, in a small well-insulated apartment, it will work perfectly as a main apartment. The disadvantages include the rather high price of equipment and its installation. You need to know that according to the rules, heating mats or cable are laid only in a screed.In addition to this, most likely, it will also be necessary to replace the old unreliable wiring, and this is also costly.

Infrared Heating Options

This type of individual heating in an apartment building is based on the use of infrared radiation. Infrared heating systems are surfaces assembled from a special film, laid on the floor or mounted on the ceiling.

In any case, an effective result will be obtained. When current flows through a graphite paste deposited on such a film, infrared radiation appears. The rays move until they encounter a massive barrier on the way. It can be a floor, ceiling or large pieces of furniture. Here they linger and begin to accumulate in the object holding them.

Thus, the floor or furniture is heated and gives the previously received heat to the air, so that the temperature in the room rises very quickly. The main advantage of infrared heating is the maximum temperature distribution comfortable for humans.

Infrared heating gives the most comfortable temperature distribution for humans. The figure under the number 1 shows the scheme of convective heating, under the number 2 - infrared

Wherever the infrared film is located, on the ceiling or on the floor, the bottom of the room will always be warmer than the top. Such a distribution, according to doctors, is ideal for human health.

By their nature, infrared rays are similar to thermal solar radiation, therefore they are completely safe for the body and even useful. This type of heating system is fully automated.

Sensors that monitor the temperature in the room are necessarily built into it. Based on their readings, the controller turns off / on the system.

Thanks to this, heating always works in the most efficient energy-saving mode. Given that the film warms up the room very quickly, in working condition such a heater does not arrive very long, about 10-15% of the total operating time.

Thus, it is possible to recognize IR films as efficient and economical as possible. In addition, their use does not spoil the indoor climate. Humidity remains unchanged. Question about the dangers or benefits of IR heating considered in an article that we advise you to read.

Such heaters do not make noise, do not emit toxic substances and are completely invisible in the interior. The film is mounted under a floor or ceiling coating, which does not affect its performance.

Infrared film can be mounted on the floor or on the ceiling. almost any coating can be laid on top of it

There are infrared heaters, ceiling and floor type. But they are used exclusively for heating a certain area. IR films can be used for additional or basic heating of the apartment.

Of the shortcomings, it is worth noting the high price of the equipment, as well as the need for accurate calculations when arranging such a heating system. Otherwise, the cost of its maintenance may be prohibitive.

Electric water heating

It is a standard closed heating circuit, where the heating medium is heated by an electric boiler. This is very effective, since the heating of the liquid occurs quickly.

The efficiency of such a system is determined by the type of boiler used. The most common heating element as the easiest to install and operate.

They sink into the liquid and, when activated, quickly heat it up. The efficiency of such devices is relatively low, they consume a large amount of energy. The most vulnerable place of such devices is heating elements. They interact with coolant and quickly fail.

A more reliable option is an electrode boiler.The coolant is pumped through the body of the device, inside of which there are electrodes.

The induction electric boiler is very compact, but it has considerable weight. Therefore, it requires strong fasteners for wall mounting

With the passage of current, the liquid quickly heats up. A feature of the use of such a boiler is the need for additional preparation of the coolant. Electrode devices are durable and reliable. In terms of energy consumption, they are approximately equivalent to TENOVs. The third version of electric boilers is induction. These are the most economical modern devices.

The equipment has two circuits - heat exchange and magnetic, due to which there is a redistribution of temperatures and the liquid warms up as quickly as possible. The efficiency of such devices is very high. The devices are compact and easy to use. Of the disadvantages, it is worth noting the high cost of induction-type boilers and the difficulty in making their adjustments.

Electric heating indirect heating

In this case, we are talking about different types of heat pumps. Electricity will only be used to operate equipment that extracts heat from the environment. Therefore, its consumption is relatively small.

It should be noted that the use of heat pumps is optimal only in areas with a mild climate, where in winter there are quite mild temperatures and there are no frosts.

The heat pump “draws” heat in the environment. The principle of operation of such an air-to-air device is shown in the diagram

The best options for heating the apartment are air-to-air or air-to-water pumps. The former, by the principle of their operation, are close to air conditioners; therefore, they can be used in summer for cooling air masses indoors.

To obtain heat, it will be necessary to purchase and install expensive equipment, but in the future the heat pump will pay off. A heat unit obtained in this way costs about the same as that obtained using a gas boiler.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Video # 1. Advantages of using autonomous heating in the apartment:

Video # 2. Advantages and disadvantages of individual gas heating:

Video # 3. How to equip electric heating in your apartment:

Autonomous heating of the apartment is a reasonable and practical solution that allows you to save significant amounts on heating homes. It is important to choose the right heat source for the apartment and correctly calculate the heating system.

In this case, operation problems should not arise and the owner will only have to rejoice in the warmth and his independence from the centralized system.

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