Different types of heating systems can be installed in country houses. For heating small private residential buildings, usually simple two- or one-pipe networks are used. In large cottages, collector heating systems are most often equipped . Such engineering communications are rather complicated in design. And one of their elements is a distribution manifold for heating or, as it is also called, a comb.
What is used for
According to the rules of SNiP on the arrangement of heating networks, the sum of the pipe sections in the house should not exceed the diameter of the outlet boiler of the pipe. So, for example, in small low-rise buildings, heating units with 1 inch connection units are often installed. In such buildings, two lines of ½ inch can extend, respectively.
In large cottages, heating circuits are usually installed a lot. Pipes in such structures have to stretch on different floors. Also, cottages are often equipped with “warm floors” systems. In order to ensure optimal heating of the premises in such buildings, distribution manifolds for heating are installed. Using such equipment, you can easily adjust the heating temperature of heating appliances and, accordingly, the microclimate in rooms for various purposes.
Advantages and disadvantages
The main advantage of collector heating networks is precisely the possibility of creating an optimal microclimate in different rooms of the house. For example, when using a comb for a garage, you can choose a temperature for heating the air at 15 ° C, and for living rooms - 23-24 ° C. Also, the use of a collector makes it possible to ensure the required heating of water in “warm floors” to the maximum allowable 35-37 ° C.
Another advantage of such systems is the possibility of repair or replacement of structural elements without the need to turn off the boiler. If there is a comb at any time, you can cut off the coolant supply to any of the circuits in the building.
The disadvantages of equipment of this type, the owners of houses and apartments attribute mainly its high cost. In addition to the comb itself, to assemble the collector network, you also have to buy tens of meters of pipes, all kinds of shutoff and control valves and much more.
What material can be made
Distribution collectors for heating can be mounted from:
brass;
of stainless steel;
copper;
polypropylene.
The first type of comb is considered very reliable, but it is not used very often for installation in cottages. Brass collectors are durable, can be used in networks with pressure up to 14 bar, but also are expensive.
Steel combs on the market are currently the most popular. Such collectors can be installed in systems with pressures up to 10 bar. Distributors of this type serve for a long time and are relatively inexpensive.
Copper combs can withstand pressures up to 30 bar. Such distributors are very expensive. Collectors of this variety are usually used only if not water, but, for example, oil is poured into the system as a heat carrier.
Polypropylene combs are a budget option and are also used quite often in private homes. The ability to withstand pressure up to 6 bar, but not too long service life - this is what distinguishes such heating distribution manifolds. The price of polypropylene combs, which today are made including industrial, and not just artisanal, as until very recently, a method, is about 600-1000.
When buying a collector, among other things, it is worth being more attentive. The fact is that on the market today, unfortunately, there are many fakes of such equipment. Instead of a brass comb, consumers can be sold, for example, painted steel. Very often on the market there are also collectors made of ordinary steel, issued as made of stainless steel.
Design
How does the distribution manifold work in the heating system? The two basic elements of the comb are the supply and return pipes with exits to the circuits located parallel to each other and connected by brackets. The diameter of these segments is usually 1 or ¾ inch. Also, a bypass can be included in the collector design, on which the circulation pump is mounted. The number of fittings in such combs can be different. But most often in private homes, distribution heating manifolds are installed on 3 circuits, 4 or 2.
The most expensive items
Thermostats are provided on the feed pipe in the comb, and flow meters and a non-return valve on the return. It is these elements of the collector system that are the most expensive. In order not to overpay, some owners of country houses, therefore, purchase them separately. The combs themselves in this case are usually assembled from simple plumbing tees - brass, steel or propylene.
Water gun
In some cases, this element can also be installed in front of the collector in the heating system circuit. The main purpose of the separator in such networks is to clean the coolant from sludge and equalize the temperatures in the return and supply in order to prevent the failure of the boiler thermostat.
It is a special type of hydraulic bypass, installed between the feed and return. This element is usually made from a segment of a pipe of large diameter, to which two pipes are welded on each side. In the future, feed and return pipes are joined to the latter.
The principle of operation of the hydraulic gun is extremely simple. Due to the large volume of such a bypass, the speed of movement of the coolant inside it is reduced by tens of times. As a result, sludge settles inside the hydrocontroller, which can subsequently be removed through a special tap. The hydroshot can work in three modes:
- with an equal flow rate of the coolant in the circuits of the boiler and consumers, to the duct;
- when consumption is reduced by consumers, part of the coolant in the boiler circuit flow is sent not to them, but again to the heating unit through its return, thereby reducing the temperature difference in the system highways;
- with increasing consumption by consumers, part of the coolant from their return flows into their own supply, which also achieves temperature equalization.
Distribution heating collectors with hydraulic arrows are usually installed in houses with an area of more than 200 m 2 .
Manufacturers Overview
In Russia, collectors of the following brands are currently the most popular:
- Oventrop.
- Rehau.
- Meibes
- Danfoss
Oventrop models are capable of operating at a coolant temperature in the network up to +70 ° C. Such combs are made of stainless steel and cost about 7-8 thousand rubles. Rehau heating distribution manifolds have an operating temperature of up to +95 ° C. These models are made of brass. Their cost can be 6-9 thousand rubles. depending on equipment.
Meibes collectors are made of stainless steel. They can be mounted in systems with a coolant temperature of up to +110 ° . The price of distribution manifolds of this brand can range from 12-14 thousand rubles. Danfoss models are made of brass. They can withstand temperatures up to +90 ° C and cost about 7-8 thousand rubles.
If desired, today you can purchase a heating distribution manifold for 4 circuits, 3 or 2 from these manufacturers. These companies also make larger combs.
How to choose the right
When buying a collector, among other things, the following factors should be taken into account:
- maximum pressure level in the system;
- the number of circuits in the network;
- coolant volume in the system;
- the presence of various kinds of auxiliary devices.
From what pressure arises in the heating network of the house during its operation, the choice of comb material is directly dependent. In accordance with the volume of coolant in the system, the collector capacity is selected.
Also, when choosing such an element of the design of the heating network, one should also take into account the possibility of the need for installation in the future of additional consumer circuits (sauna equipment, greenhouses, etc.).
Is it possible to make a heating distribution manifold yourself
As already mentioned, it will be possible to make such an element, including independently. Most often, owners of country houses make combs with their own hands from polypropylene. In this case, pieces of PP pipe and several tees are used for assembly.
DIY assembly technology of the heating collector (distribution comb) looks like this:
- a tee is vertically welded to the end of the pipe segment;
- cut the pipe along with the tee, retreating a few centimeters from the edge of the latter;
- turn the tee on the other side and again weld the remaining pipe length to it;
- weld a tee to the second end of the pipe segment;
- cut the pipe, retreating a few centimeters from the tees;
- weld the pipe to the third tee, placing it horizontally;
- cut the pipe again.
Next, you just need to assemble the distribution manifold into 2 circuits from the resulting elements. For this, two tees made in the first stage are sequentially welded. Next, the last element is fixed to the resulting structure at an angle of 90 degrees. Then, a piece of pipe is welded to both outlets of this tee.
In the next step, the operation is repeated to make the second part of the comb. Next, ball valves are put on the feed, and adjusting valves on the return.
Where to install
The distribution manifold for heating should be placed in the house so that the length of the pipes of the consumer circuits does not exceed 20 m. Most often, this element is mounted in a niche in the wall located not high above the floor. If desired, the comb can be set, for example:
- in the corridor;
- pantry;
- closets.
On sale today, among other things, there are also special drawers, mounted or built-in, designed specifically for heating distribution manifolds. In comb cabinets, special openings for pipes are already provided at the production stage.
Collector Installation: Rules
The comb insert into the system is produced by standard technology with conventional plumbing tools. When using a gas or electric boiler in a house, this element in most cases is installed vertically. Also, when installing such an element, the following rules must be observed:
- the collector must be installed in a room with a normal level of humidity;
- Choose a place to install the comb in such a way that the distance from it to all heating radiators is approximately the same.
The collector is connected to the pipe going from the boiler using a crane with a run-off and a union nut. When using such an element in the future, if necessary, it will be possible to quickly shut off the flow of coolant and disconnect the comb. If there is no opportunity to purchase a special cabinet for the collector, it is allowed to hang it simply on the wall using brackets. In this case, the comb should also not be too high from the floor.