How to flush heating batteries

To create a comfortable microclimate in the apartment, it is necessary to maintain the air temperature that is optimal for all residents. However, over time, the efficiency of the water heating system decreases, and the rooms warm up much worse. The reason for the decrease in heat transfer is clogging of the batteries due to the coolant. To remove deposits and restore the functioning of radiators will help them timely cleaning, which is carried out at home. How to flush the heating batteries depends on the nature of the contaminants, the operating conditions and the material of the heating elements.

Reasons for clogged heating system

Hot water, circulating through heating pipes, interacts with metal and contributes to the occurrence of chemical processes. As a result, deposits appear on the internal surfaces of the batteries that interfere with the operation of the system and the heating of the rooms in the apartment. In pipes made of cast iron, blockage is formed due to foci of corrosion that destroy the metal and settle on the walls in the form of tiny particles. On internal surfaces

aluminum or steel radiators deposits occur due to precipitation of calcium and magnesium salts.

In addition, the clogging of the heating system contributes to the poor quality of the coolant. Together with water, particles of sand, and scale from welding, and other types of pollution, especially if the communications are old, move through pipes. Over time, all elements of the heating system are silted up and need cleaning, which can be done with your own hands.

A signal that the batteries require flushing are:

• increase the time of heating the room;
• growth in energy consumption;
• uneven heating of radiators;
• extraneous noise in a heating boiler;
• cold batteries with hot pipes.

If the network is not cleaned in time, then in addition to reducing heat transfer and increasing energy consumption, the mechanical deterioration of communications is also accelerated.

Ways to eliminate blockage in the heating system

Depending on the technology of execution, clogging of batteries and pipes can happen:

• hydrodynamic;
• chemical;
• pneumohydroimpulse;
• hydropneumatic.

Each cleaning option has its own characteristics, advantages and disadvantages and requires the presence of certain equipment.

Hydrodynamic

The basis of this method is the removal of deposits in the heating system by a jet under tremendous pressure. Water is supplied to the sediment accumulation sites using special nozzles. As a result, no accumulation of silt particles, rust and other contaminants remains inside.

This method is effective for cast iron elements of the heating network, since dense deposits form on the walls due to the porous structure, which interfere with the operation of the equipment. The relatively high cost of hydrodynamic cleaning is offset by the result.

Chemical

Flushing with chemicals is one of the most effective ways to remove deposits. For this, various compositional compositions, solutions of alkali, mineral and organic acids are used. This option is optimal for removing sludge from the inner surface of steel pipes and is used in apartments of multi-storey buildings.

For chemical cleaning, special equipment is required, which consists of a tank for liquid, a pump and hoses. The composition of the solution is selected taking into account the material of the heating network.

The advantage of this method is the ability to not stop the heating system, therefore, all technological operations can be performed in the winter period. To get the desired result, you only need to correctly select the solution and calculate its concentration.

Pneumohydropulse

Such cleaning is indispensable if the diameter of the pipes and heating elements does not exceed 150 mm. For work, you need a water pneumatic gun that allows you to remove deposits from a distance of 50 m. It convenient to use, because it allows you to remove deposits pointwise in the places of their greatest accumulation. At the same time, radiators retain their functionality and do not require shutdown.

Hydropneumatic

To clean in this way, you must have equipment that can create high pressure. As the working fluid, ordinary water is used without the addition of reagents and chemically aggressive substances.

The deposits on the inner surface of the radiator mainly consist of salts of magnesium, sodium and other elements. The specificity of such precipitation lies in the combination of wall fastening strength and brittleness. Therefore, during hydropneumatic treatment, deposits are easily destroyed by turbulent flows.

Sedimentation technology

To rinse and remove the sediment from the walls with your own hands, you will need to perform a series of operations. First, turn off the water supply on the heating element. If shutoff valves are absent, then completely drain the water from the utility network. To do this, remove the radiator and take it to the bathroom, and under certain living conditions ─ to the street.

When cleaning indoors, plumbing is protected from damage with a rag or film. The bath opening should be closed with a special mesh to prevent large particles from entering the sewer during washing. Then do the following:

•  they remove the plugs from the batteries, especially carefully do this for cast-iron products;
• using a garden hose, thoroughly rinse the internal surfaces with a stream of water under pressure, tapping from the outside;

• dry the heating element and set it in place.

With caked sediment, cleaning with vinegar is necessary. To do this, plugs are installed in the lower part of the radiator, and a 70% essence solution is poured inside and left for about an hour. At the end, the heating element should be shaken so that the detachment of rust and scale occurs.

The final step is the removal of the vinegar solution with the precipitate and rinsing with clean water. It is carried out especially carefully, since residual essences can cause corrosion and destruction of the metal.

If aluminum batteries are installed in the heating system, exposure to acid or alkali solutions should be avoided. Otherwise, the heating element is damaged and loses its operational properties and technical characteristics.

Advice! For efficient operation of the heating network, regularly clean all of its elements. The frequency depends on the degree of contamination of the coolant, and is usually 2-3 years.