Thermostat for radiators

Each person perceives the level of comfort in his apartment differently. At normative indicators of air temperature in winter, one may freeze, and the other languish from the "heat" and open windows. You can quickly and effectively solve the problem of controlling and regulating heat in the apartment by installing a temperature controller for the heating battery in each room.

Thermostat for a radiator: what is it?

A temperature controller, or thermostat for a heating battery, is a small-sized device. Its main function is to control the air temperature in the room. This is achieved by regulating the flow rate of the coolant in the battery. These devices do not work on increased heat transfer in radiators, so installing them for this purpose is useless.

Thermostats are simple products in design, consisting of two main elements: a valve (valve) and a thermostatic head (thermocouple).

1. The thermal valve is a brass body in which a passage hole, a locking mechanism and a seat are located. During the operation of the thermostat, the cone (locking mechanism) is set in motion: it rises and falls. By these actions, he ensures the passage of hot water to the radiator and regulates the heating of the latter.
2. A thermal head, or thermostatic element, is a part that drives the locking mechanism. It consists of a movable sealed cylinder - a bellows, which contains a thermal agent. Its role is played by special liquid or gas.

The efficiency of the thermostat depends on the reaction rate of the contents of the bellows to a change in room temperature.

The principle of operation of the thermostat

Installing a thermostat on heating radiators allows you to control and maintain the required temperature conditions in the room. During normal operation of the device, the error can be no more than 1 degree. This is achieved thanks to a streamlined system of interaction of internal mechanisms.

With increasing air temperature in the apartment, thermal fluid or gas inside the bellows expands and increases the size of the cylinder. It puts pressure on the piston, which drives the thermal valve shut-off mechanism, which in turn blocks the flow of hot water. As a result radiator cools down, which reduces the temperature of the room. In the process of cooling the thermostatic filler, the cylinder acquires its original dimensions. The piston raises the cone-constipation, the coolant circulation resumes, the radiator begins to warm up, increasing the temperature of the room air.

Consumers who wish to install thermostats on their batteries should be aware of some of the features of this appliance.

1. The radiator itself may heat up unevenly, in some places it will be cold to the touch. Do not be afraid of this. It is enough to remove the thermal head, and the entire surface of the battery will become equally warm. If this does not happen, you need to check its condition: clean and remove the air.
2. Thermostats can be installed on any radiators except cast iron. They have high thermal inertia. This makes the heat control device almost useless.

Types of thermostats

The type of thermostat depends on the type of thermostatic element - the upper, replaceable part of the device. It happens:

• manual;

• mechanical;

• electronic.

Most manufacturers of thermostats produce products suitable for any type of thermal head. The most popular mechanical. This is the basic configuration, differing in some characteristics and price.

The type of temperature sensor affects the cost of the device. It can be built-in and remote. The second option is more expensive. It is installed when access to the battery is limited. For example, it is covered by a screen. In this case, the device itself with a sensor located at a distance connects a special tube that ensures the accuracy of the device.

The budget option is a device with a manual thermal head. It does not differ in the principle of operation of similar devices of a mechanical type. However, the consumer independently rotates the valve, which changes the amount of hot water passing into the radiator. If desired, this element can be replaced by a mechanical or electronic. The case remains the same.

The most expensive electronic thermostats differ in size and additional features. They install a program that can change the temperature of the coolant according to the specified parameters. For example, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. when there is no one in the apartment, you can lower the temperature of the water in the system. With the arrival of tenants, restore it to the necessary parameters. Such a device allows to reduce the payment for thermal energy, which is especially important for individual heating or in the presence of a heat meter.

According to the type of filler, thermal heads are liquid and gas. They do not create differences in the operation of the device. Both are of good quality and operational efficiency. However, liquid ones are presented in a wider assortment, since it is easier to make them.

When buying a thermostat, the following points are taken into account:

• the width of the temperature range;
• sizes
• overall design;
• connection method and type of sensor.

All these characteristics affect the cost of the device.

How to install a thermostat on a battery

To install the thermostat correctly, you need to know some points:

• the thermostat is primarily mounted in rooms where people spend a lot of time and it is necessary to regulate the microclimate;
• the correct location for the thermostat is a section on a horizontally running pipe in the maximum proximity to the radiator;
• install the device at the pipe inlet to the radiator;
• in functioning heating systems, appliances are installed only after the coolant is drained.

Installing the thermostat on the battery is as follows.

1. In an empty heating system determine the "seat" for the thermostat.
2. If there is a valve at the place where the pipe enters the radiator, this part is dismantled.
3. If there is no tap, the horizontal conductor is cut.
4. From the ends of each pipe make a thread.
5. In the prepared "seat" set the thermostat housing. It is fixed with locknuts on both sides on threaded pipes.
6. The joints are wrapped with insulating thread for sealing.
7. The thermostatic element is inserted into the housing in a horizontal position.

When installing a thermostat with a remote sensor, its location is determined in advance. It should be convenient for subsequent operation. Usually it is mounted on the wall like an ordinary switch.

How to adjust the device

After installing the thermostat on the batteries carry out control measurements and configure the device. To do this, perform the following actions:

• close all windows and doors in the room so that any movements of the air masses do not affect the microclimate in a particular room;
• in the center of space they put a thermometer at the level of half the height of the room, that is, about the average height of a person;
• open the valve of the device mounted in the system, turn it all the way to the left and set the maximum value of the water heating temperature;
• when the room warms up to 7 degrees (the thermometer will tell), the faucet on the device is closed by turning all the way to the right;
• after that, they monitor the changes in the indicators on the thermometer.
• when the temperature on it is within the required limits, the valve carefully, slowly turning to the left. Do this until the moment you clearly hear the sound of water in the device.
• the faucet is fixed at this mark, and marking is created on the device (draw a line or make a notch). This will help in the future to correctly adjust the device.

If automatic thermostats are installed on batteries, manual adjustment is not required. It is important to correctly verify the readings of the remote sensors with marks on the thermometer and the scale of the device.