Water heating convectors: types, how to choose + an overview of popular models and brands

Functional and practical water convectors are used if you need to create an effective and economical heating system in any room. Such equipment is reliable, it can work for decades without the slightest problem. However, to feel the benefits, you need to know the rules for choosing devices. Do you agree?

You will learn all about the choice of water-type convectors for the construction or modernization of heating systems from the article we presented. We described in detail the specifics of the convector type of heating, listed the existing types of equipment. Criteria were given on the basis of which a balanced choice can be made.

How do convectors heat?

All water heaters are traditionally designed to heat all kinds of rooms using convection - this is a physical phenomenon in which heated air rises, cold masses take its place.

Such a process occurs constantly until the temperature is equalized in all layers of a closed volume. For maximum efficiency, convectors are specially designed.

They consist of the following elements:

• the pipe through which the coolant flows (so-called hot water);
• a heat exchanger, which is a metal plate (ribs) placed on the pipe.

All main parts are covered, special slots (grille) allow air to circulate freely. The design of this part of the device is carried out without sharp corners, protruding parts to prevent injury.

Classification of water convectors

Modern water convectors for heating are divided into types that indicate technical specifications.Moreover, it is not difficult to understand all the features, since they differ in only two respects: the type of convection and the installation method.

For water heaters, convection can be:

• forced;
• natural.

All equipment with a natural convention has less power, cost and is suitable for heating a variety of small rooms with low ceilings.

In addition, it is often used as an auxiliary for heating large rooms, such as shops, or with a significant area of ​​glazing. To solve these problems, convectors are installed at doorways, windows.

Wall-mounted convector with natural convention is the most popular type for installation in living rooms and offices

The presence of a forced convention implies that the heater is equipped with a fan, which accelerates the process of air circulation, and, consequently, the speed of its heating, which ensures fast heating even of large commercial and industrial premises.

And also products of this type are successfully used for heating restaurants, offices, pools and various housing with a complex configuration. They create an effective heating system in cases where using other types of equipment is difficult to do, for example, when installing traditional radiators.

In addition, convectors are divided by the installation method. In this case, the following types are distinguished:

• wall-mounted; recently, a variety of them is often used - ceiling devices;
• floor;
• built-in to the floor, sometimes the equipment is mounted instead of skirting boards.

In any case, the product can be used as part of a centralized and autonomous heating system, and the coolant is exclusively liquid. And also each modern device can be used in the main or auxiliary network.

Existing types of equipment

In addition to the function of complete heating of the room, additional convectors are often installed near places where a comfortable microclimate is especially important, for example, in a crib.

Additional equipment must be included in the operation when the main heating devices do not cope with the timely heating of the air. Such a situation can occur during severe frosts or poor-quality utilities.

Features of wall models

The most popular are wall convectors. There are several reasons for this - they are affordable in cost, easy to install. Also, similar equipment can be placed anywhere.

The floor type of convector can be installed anywhere in the room to provide comfortable conditions in the selected area

This opportunity gives a small weight, which allows you to mount the equipment even on lightweight partitions, and a large assortment of models. Most often, such a product is designed for heating using natural convection.

For more efficient operation, devices are often equipped with casings that have air channels directed in the right direction, which significantly increases productivity and heating speed.

Description of floor convectors

Floor-standing appliances are used to heat objects where the installation of wall-mounted models is not possible, for example, when glazing starts from floor level, or large areas need to be heated in industrial buildings.

Often products belonging to the class floor water convectorsequipped with fans, which increases productivity, heating speed, but makes the work somewhat noisy.

The water-type floor convector is easy to install, but it occupies a useful place. This should be kept in mind when choosing the right model.

Built-in products for heating

So called floor-mounted models fit into any interior.They do not occupy usable space; they can heat a room of any size.

But the installation of such equipment is the most expensive, the reason: for this procedure you need a niche in which the convector is installed. To fix it, you must first make a floor screed or install a reliable raised floor.

If the model is not equipped with a fan, heat insulation must be used. This will eliminate the loss of heat that will go to the floor heating. If we neglect such a requirement, then the efficiency of the device will become an order of magnitude lower.

There is another important feature: in the casing of such devices is accumulated, and quickly, a sufficient amount of dust that needs to be eliminated, but this is not difficult.

Additional advantages of the built-in equipment are the longest service life among all types and a variety of sizes. An important plus are high decorative qualities. Although the device itself is located in a niche, but the protective grill is clearly visible on the background of the floor, so it is given all kinds of colors and shades.

The water convector is an effective thermal barrier and can serve as an exquisite interior detail

Nevertheless, it is worth remembering that the installation of such devices is more convenient to carry out during the repair or construction of the building. Since special dismantling of floors for laying pipes and installing floor products will be an expensive pleasure.

Advantages of convectors over radiators

Although residents of the CIS, for the most part, out of habit, use traditional cast iron batteries or more modern bimetal radiatorsbut this trend is changing now. Convectors have a list of significant advantages, which makes them a more practical solution in a number of situations.

Their main advantages are:

1. Cost-effectiveness - for heating identical rooms, such devices spend only a quarter of the thermal energy that radiators need.
2. High efficiency - in many cases, products are capable of fully heating all kinds of rooms at a coolant (water) temperature of 50 ° C. According to the standards, familiar radiators at the indicated water temperature can well heat the room when it is only 5 ° C outside, and at -5 ° C it will already be necessary to warm the coolant to 78 ° C.
3. Quick heating of rooms - thanks to the convention, heating of any room occurs an order of magnitude faster than when heated by batteries. Since they simply radiate heat. In addition, the speed of heat propagation is facilitated by the rapid heating of the heat exchanger (pipes, fins). For example, such a procedure for these devices is much faster than that of familiar cast-iron products.

In addition, all convectors are easy to maintain, lightweight, compact, and are famous for their high fire safety. Get a glimpse of the benefits convectors in comparison with a fan heater Our recommended article will help.

They may have the only source of potential danger - a fan. But it is not installed on all models, and is also low-voltage. Such equipment rarely becomes a source of trouble. The surface of its casing is always cool, which eliminates burns.

Convectors are increasingly used in apartments as primary or secondary heating appliances. In the photo, the mounted device serves as a thermal barrier at the entrance to the balcony

Not without products and shortcomings, but their list is quite short. Thus, the convention creates air flows that contribute to greater dustiness of the premises.

And moving air masses can create a light draft. This phenomenon is not critical, but undesirable for people suffering from various types of colds. These disadvantages are offset by an important advantage - convectors never dry the air.

The biggest disadvantage is the uneven heating of rooms with very high ceilings. The reason lies in the fact that under the action of the convention warm air accumulates under the ceilings, and it can only fall in the cooled state, which does not contribute to creating a comfortable temperature.

The same situation will arise if ceilings of moderate height are used in the heated room, but at the same time they are used for heating forced ventilation.

How to make the right choice?

To get the expected result, the potential buyer must find out whether it is possible to install convectors in the selected room. It is necessary to consider whether forced ventilation will not be used to create the desired microclimate and whether the height of the ceilings is acceptable.

And you should make sure that there is a technological opportunity to supply the necessary equipment. For example, in many cases it is impractical to place the mounted devices in residential premises, due to the complexity of installation.

Power calculation - mandatory procedure

If convectors can be installed indoors, you have to calculate the power. Such a procedure cannot be ignored - otherwise it will not be possible to create the desired microclimate. That is, housing, office or any other object, he will not heat. Often there is one more extreme - heat, which also will not please the buyer.

To perform the calculation yourself, the following formula is suitable: for every 10 square meters of any room, at least kilowatts of thermal power should be available. But you need to understand that not everything is so simple - this formula will allow you to determine only the average value.

The design of water convectors is simple and reliable, which provides them with a service life of more than one decade

Water convectors should be selected with a twenty percent margin. Better yet, invite a specialist to conduct an accurate heat loss calculation buildings, premises. That is, all the features of the object to be heated will be taken into account. This includes glazing area, ceiling height and more.

And the specialist will be able to indicate the exact location of the devices, tell you where it is better to install additional equipment.

Material of manufacture is always important

When choosing, attention should be paid to the material of manufacture - it affects efficiency, cost, durability and even decorative qualities. Moreover, the last point for today has become one of the most important.

For example, devices can be:

• steel;
• aluminum;
• bimetallic - in this case, two types of metals are used for the manufacture.

And also copper is often used. The most effective today are bimetallic and aluminum devices. But steel devices also have a significant advantage - their cost is the most affordable.

The built-in convector can be ideally fit into any interior thanks to the rich color palette of most equipment manufacturers

It is worth paying attention to the decorative elements of the equipment, they can be different: metal, wooden. And for painting, powder paints of various colors are used, which makes the offer even more diverse.

What else to look for

Each heating system (centralized, autonomous) has operating pressureIn addition, there is another characteristic - test pressure, so convectors should be bought taking into account such values.

Particular attention should be paid to test pressure, reason: it is an order of magnitude larger than the working one. An important point is that in different systems such characteristics vary significantly.

For example, old Khrushchev systems are tested under pressure of 5-7 atmospheres. Such a parameter in systems of new buildings during the testing of performance can reach an impressive 12-15 atmospheres.Accordingly, the capabilities of convectors must meet the specified values.

If this is not foreseen, then equipment damage cannot be avoided. As a result, you will have to spend money on buying a new one, repairing a heated room, and in the worst case, compensating for damage to neighbors.

Working temperature and dimensions

And also pay attention to the maximum temperature coolantwhich the convector will be able to withstand. For example, if an autonomous heating boiler is capable of heating water to 95 ° C, then there is no need to buy products that can only work at 70 ° C.

An important characteristic is the size of the devices, and their proper selection will more efficiently heat the room, avoid fogging the glass, and other problems. For convenience, the industry produces convectors of different depths, lengths, heights.

And also the equipment can be vertical, horizontal, which allows it to be placed almost anywhere, but the buyer must determine the size.

The convector size can be any, the main thing is to choose it correctly, otherwise installation will be difficult

Increase efficiency and create the most comfortable microclimate shut-off valves, thermostats. Such equipment allows you to turn off part of the device at high temperatures in a heated room. Moreover, this happens in automatic or manual mode. But there is a drawback: all kinds of additional equipment can significantly increase the cost of the product itself.

How not to get confused in the technical specifications?

Although all manufacturers attach passports to their devices, where their names are indicated, power, but often people make mistakes in choosing. The reason lies in the fact that almost under the same abbreviation a whole line of goods from several dozen products can be sold.

A vivid confirmation of this is the family of popular convectors KSK-20, where under the same name more than 40 units are produced, differing only in size.

Moreover, there are products of the same size, in which the plates (ribs) intended for heat exchange are located at a greater distance from each other, and this significantly reduces productivity. And such subtleties sometimes confuse potential buyers, who in the variety of products can make the wrong choice.

And also you need to remember that the same power and size, the devices are flowing and end. Convectors related to the first option can work in any heating systems (autonomous, centralized), and products included in the second group can be built into autonomous systems only.

All of the above indicates that the buyer will need some theoretical knowledge to make the right choice.

Browse Popular Models

An impressive number of models of all types of convectors from various manufacturers are presented on the market. Moreover, domestic companies are actively conducting their activities in this area. For example, in the niche of low-cost heating equipment, they are traditional leaders.

So, if the buyer needs reliable, affordable wall-mounted devices, then you should buy KSK-20 products that are tested by time and a large number of users, which are produced by the famous Togliatti plant. He has been making demanded and inexpensive units for heating for decades.

The KSK-20 convector is an effective, reliable and inexpensive heating device

These convectors can cover the needs of all categories of users, as they come in different capacities, sizes, configurations. For example, the length of the devices is in the range of 60-160 cm, and the weight starts from a small 8 kg, which allows you to place the devices on any walls, partitions without the risk of damage.

The power of such heating equipment is in the range of 0.4-2 kW, which allows you to heat both a small living room and a large industrial, commercial premises. For the manufacture of high-quality steel, which provides the device with a life of at least 25 years.

Such convectors can be used in any heating systems, because they are able to withstand temperatures up to 150 ° C, and operating pressure up to 10 atmospheres. It protects the device from minor damage and gives it a modern, pleasing to the eye, appearance high-quality powder paint, which covers all products.

The only minor drawback of the KSK-20 is the lack of brackets in the kit, used to mount it to the wall, another vertical surface. Some buyers pay attention to the poverty of the color palette - heating equipment, most often, can only be bought in traditional white or gray color, so it does not always fit perfectly into the interior.

If you need a prettier device, then you should turn to the product line of another domestic manufacturer - Techno. So, at his Moscow plant for decoration, various colors are used and products are decorated with various structural elements. For example, Vita Bench KBZ model is in demand among buyers.

Its main feature is performance. The floor device is a bench, and wooden elements can be made even from popular and valuable species of wood, which makes it an ornament.

At the same time, Vita Bench is a durable and efficient convector, which the manufacturer equips with a thermostatic valve. But the disadvantage of the presented model is the price - it is significantly higher than the similar in power, KSK-20.

Covectors can have decorative qualities and serve as decoration in hotels, offices, housing

In recent years, another Russian manufacturer of convectors has become known - Varmann. Reason: its products are distinguished by functionality, practicality, high decorative qualities.

Thus, its Qterm HK line of built-in appliances is equipped with air ducts and tangential fans that allow air to be drawn only from the right side. This function significantly increases efficiency, profitability.

The fan speed is controlled by a microprocessor, and if necessary, the convector can be connected to the "smart home" system or use the remote control. The reason for this is simple - heat output depends on fan performance

The high-quality materials used in the manufacture make it possible to withstand impressive pressure during the crimping period, reaching up to 16 atmospheres, and to work stably with a coolant heated to 90 ° C.

With the guidelines for choosing a convector type heater will introduce next articlededicated to this interesting question.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

In this material, a specialist shares information on how to calculate the power of heating devices:

This video demonstrates how the installation of built-in convectors is performed and that should be taken into account:

Convectors are a profitable and practical alternative to conventional radiators and, just as importantly, affordable. But the buyer must understand that the possibility of creating a comfortable microclimate in a house, office or at the factory depends on his choice, which can be made with theoretical knowledge about heating appliances.

If you don’t want to spend time getting them, then you can turn to specialists, this will help to avoid useless financial expenses.

We will be glad to read your story about choosing a water convector. Share the criteria on the basis of which you personally made a purchase. Please leave comments in the block below, ask questions, publish photos on the topic of the article.