The development of mass production of heating appliances has opened up great opportunities for manufacturers. Traditional cast-iron batteries are not the only option for heating. But a special place among aluminum and bimetallic sectional models is occupied by tubular radiators and radiators: steel, vertical, reviews of which speak of their reliability.
Features of tubular heating radiators
Why have steel tubular radiators become so popular? The root cause of this is their design. In the manufacture, the same technologies are used as in the manufacture of automotive equipment. It was this idea that Robert Zendre took advantage of, who introduced the first tubular heating radiator back in 1930.
A feature of these heating devices is the inability to disassemble them. The classic design consists of upper and lower nozzles interconnected by tubes. This makes it possible to fill the battery with coolant as much as possible, which affects the heat transfer in a positive way. In addition, we can distinguish the following positive performance indicators of a steel tubular heating radiator:
- Resistance to hydroblow. Welded construction is able to withstand short-term load up to 6 atm;
- Smooth inner surface reduces hydraulic resistance during heating;
- The opportunity to purchase batteries of a traditional form, as well as designer models;
- The absence of right angles not only facilitates cleaning, but also reduces the risk of injuries.
Why are tubular radiators not as common as sectional? The main factor is the relatively high cost. This is due to more labor-intensive production and the use of high-alloy steel grades. Therefore, there are practically no reviews about the rusting of tubular radiators. The exceptions are only homemade "artisanal" products.
Externally, tubular radiators are similar to cast-iron batteries. The difference lies in the material of manufacture, the thickness of the tubes and the distance between them.
The choice of tubular radiators
What you need to focus on in order to choose high-quality steel tubular heating radiators. Reviews do not always give an unambiguous idea of the features of work and maintenance. The best way to analyze is to combine technical specifications and actual user opinions.
The first thing you need to pay attention to is the thermal power of the battery. An analogue can serve as tubular heating boilers. Their heat transfer also depends on the number and diameter of the air pipes. Each steel tubular heating radiator has the following characteristics:
- Row. The more rows - the higher the thermal return. Currently, you can choose models with the number of vertical tubes from 2 to 6. But with their number, the depth of the battery increases, which is not always acceptable;
- Geometric parameters. The length of the radiator can be different - from 45 cm to several meters. The height depends on its design. For horizontal types, it varies from 30 to 50 cm. The height of the vertical models can reach 2 meters. But this applies more to designer radiators;
- Metal Thickness and Pipe Diameter. Reliable tubular radiators have a wall thickness of 1.5 to 2 mm with a diameter of 25 mm.
An important indicator of choice is the manufacturer.Traditionally, preference is given to foreign brands. But recently, reviews of domestic steel tubular heating radiators are mostly positive. It should be borne in mind that during their development, the features of the operation of central heating were taken into account.
An important factor for the consumer is the cost. Among the steel tubular batteries for heating traditional forms, the sales leader is products of the Kermi and Zehnder brands. Stylish solutions may surprise Accuro-Korle products. Its vertical steel tubular radiators can be used not only to heat the room, but also as a heated towel rail.
| Name | Power, W | Cost, rub. |
| Kermi Décor-S | 131 | 11680 |
| Zehnder Charleston | 157 | 2250 |
| Accuro-Korle Escape | 484 | 34750 |
The best recommended radiators made by laser welding. This technology also produces tubular boilers for heating.
Installation of tubular radiators
The installation of steel tubular batteries is practically no different from classic radiators. However, for them it is necessary to take into account certain subtleties. First of all, the form of the structure and the way it is connected.
It is important to remember that you cannot change the number of sections yourself - steel radiators are non-separable. Therefore, before purchasing, you need to measure the future installation location and select the appropriate model. In addition, you need to consider such factors:
- Diameter of inlet pipes. Usually this size is ½ ”, but it is best to check in advance to avoid mounting adapter couplings;
- Weight. The steel tubular radiator for heating has a rather large mass. For him, you need to choose fasteners with optimal load capacity;
- Installation of the Mayevsky crane and thermostatic valve. These heating elements will contribute to stable operation, as well as help provide emergency situations.
For many vertical models, manufacturers have provided the possibility of both lateral and upper (lower) connection to the system. Thanks to this, the same model can be installed with both the lower and upper pipe connections. After installation, pressure testing of steel tubular radiators is mandatory. Without it, the likelihood of leakage of the connecting elements increases significantly.
How relevant is the installation of tubular radiators and radiators. Often, steel structures are the only alternative to create a unique design. To a unique appearance, they do not reduce the efficiency of the system for maintaining a comfortable temperature in the house. Often, this is the determining factor in the selection.
You can verify the reliability of tubular radiators by watching a video about Zehnder’s battery manufacturing features:
