The review will focus on how to dismantle heating radiators? The battery itself is a sectional heater made of cast iron, steel or aluminum. Dismantling the unit may be required to replace faulty elements or to build up and increase heating efficiency.
Where to begin?
Dismantling of heating radiators begins with the descent of the working fluid from the circuit. This operation is not as easy to do as it might seem at first glance. First you need to properly connect the drain hose, and then open the tap. If you make a mistake at this stage, the result will be flooding of the apartment and neighbors.
If you have autonomous heating, draining the coolant is not difficult. This is largely due to the fact that special permissions and coordination of work with neighbors will not be required. Even if unforeseen circumstances arise, they will not cause big problems.
Work steps include the following:
- Turn off the heating boiler.
- They are waiting for the coolant to cool completely.
- Overlap the cold water make-up fittings.
- Open the provided atmospheric valves, which must certainly be in the indicated structures.
- Connect the hose at the lowest point of the system.
- Under the conclusion, they put a container that is suitable in size and volume.
- Open the valve to drain the liquid.
After all of the coolant exits the system, you can begin to replace or dismantle the heating radiators. All operations can be carried out independently, without the participation of specialists.
Features
To dismantle the screen of the radiator in the presence of a "warm floor" system is somewhat more difficult. When draining the coolant to the inlet pipe, it will be necessary to connect a compressor designed to displace the liquid under pressure. If only one battery needs to be replaced, it is not necessary to release refrigerant from the entire system. The main thing is that there is a special valve on the workpiece. This will allow you to extract fluid from a specific radiator, without the need to dismantle other devices.
Experts recommend calculating in advance the possibility of discharge of fluid from individual sections, due to the installation of the required number of valves and valves. To avoid problems when draining water, you must first worry about a vessel of a suitable volume. In some cases, fluid is released directly into the street using a long hose.
Dismantling heating radiators in an apartment
Draining the coolant in an apartment building is much more complicated than in an autonomous system. Before disassembling and dismantling the radiator, it will be necessary to free the entire riser that serves the apartments vertically from the water. For this, it is necessary to coordinate actions with the company responsible for servicing the heating systems of the apartment building.
After obtaining the appropriate permission, they begin to drain the water, while taking into account that the liquid is drained from a section of the network, while in a private house this procedure affects the entire system. The process is carried out in different ways, depending on the type of installed fittings.
Mayevsky crane
When dismantling old heating radiators with a Mayevsky tap, you will need to unscrew the key with a plastic handle or use a slotted screwdriver. The rest of the procedure consists of the following steps:
- The side opening on the drain valve must be covered because it is often directed towards the wall. Dirty water can simply stain it.
- Then a suitable container is placed under the drain hole, the screw is opened until the hissing appears, which will soon disappear.
- Next, turn the screw until water appears from the hole. Thus, part of the air will go away with the liquid.
- When stabilizing the jet, the valve of the system is twisted.
- A hose of the required length is connected to the valve so that it is enough to drain.
- Open the tap completely to create a strong internal flow.
- When dismantling the cast-iron radiator after unscrewing the nut, make sure that the gasket does not leak.
If the design does not provide shutoff valves, it is better to entrust the work to professionals. The cost depends on the region of residence and the number of batteries. For example, dismantling a cast-iron radiator (in rubles) will cost about one thousand for each riser. If the procedure is carried out in the summer, the cost will be 20-25% cheaper.
Single pipe systems
Despite the fact that it is more difficult to manipulate heating batteries in an apartment building than in your house, do not give up. The easiest way to disassemble a system with radiators of a new type, which are equipped with competent engineering solutions and communications, in which it is possible to drain the refrigerant from the circuit unit, without affecting the common riser.
Pre-shut off valves at the inlet of the radiators, stopping the flow of fluid into some parts of the system, while the circulation of the coolant as a whole does not stop. If the design provides for outlet valves, a hose is connected to them through which water flows.
With single-tube counterparts, the process looks a bit different. To begin, open the shut-off element on the bypass, used to replace parts of the circuit. Only then do the taps overlap on both sides of the radiator. After that, they begin to disconnect the battery from the heating system. It is worth noting that this procedure is quite noisy, so you need to choose the appropriate time, as well as warn the neighbors. After installing a new unit, check all gaskets and seal the joints to prevent leaks.
Dismantling new type radiators
The connection and disassembly of individual sections of bimetal or aluminum is carried out using the upper and lower nipple nuts. The last elements are O-rings with external threads on both ends. The inner part of the part is equipped with a special groove, which serves to fix a special key of a radiator type. This tool allows batteries to close or open individual sections.
Before self-disassembling aluminum aggregates, it is necessary to prepare the required tools and equipment. The main role in the process will play the nipple key. The device is a steel rod with a length of about 0.7 meters, on one edge of which a working element is welded with dimensions of 24/40 mm, and a through hole is made on the second side. The metal rod makes it possible to significantly simplify the process of loosening nuts
Self-disassembling bimetallic batteries
The key for dismantling heating radiators has several notches, which are made based on the step of one section in width. Further actions for self-disassembling the battery are as follows:
- Determine the side in which you want to rotate the key.
- The battery on the surface is positioned so that the front side is on top. In this case, the left thread will be located on the left, and the right one, respectively, on the right.
- In a simplified version, a nipple is taken, putting it on alternately on both sides. If you do not observe the sideness, the manipulation is fraught with a breakdown of the thread and the failure of the section.
- On foreign analogues, plugs and other fittings are marked with the letters S (left) and D (right).
Disassembling the right-hand bimetallic battery
In this case, the dismantling of the radiator screen is performed according to the following scheme:
- The key is inserted in such a way that the working part (“blade”) enters the hole from above, with subsequent fixation in a special groove.
- Having applied a certain force, the tool is turned counterclockwise until the nut moves from its place.
- Then use the rod, which was mentioned above. It is placed inside the ring of the nipple key. Such a lever will make it possible to facilitate a process that requires considerable physical strength.
- After two full revolutions go to the bottom of the battery, repeat the operation again.
- The key is again fixed from above, the sequence of actions continues until the segment is completely untwisted.
This sequence allows you to minimize the possibility of distortions in the thread.
Assembly and extension sections
After the dismantling of heating radiators, assembly of new appliances will be required. Bimetal and aluminum modifications are processed as follows:
- Sections are placed on a perfectly flat area. Check all threaded connections and gaskets for chips or cracks.
- All compounds are cleaned of dirt using fine-grained sandpaper. If you plan to build batteries, the ends are smoothed to a shine.
- The end parts are degreased with gasoline or solvent. Gasket elements are washed in soapy composition.
- Sections are connected by putting on a paronite seal on a nipple nut. Parts are attached on both sides, the key is inserted into the upper hole and rotated 2-3 times without using a lever.
- Using a similar method, turn the nipple nuts from the bottom. The load should reach the degree of lock of the key, after which it is finally reached with the lever. Excessive efforts do not need to be applied, since aluminum is quite soft, it can be damaged by the thread.
After dismantling the heating radiator, the installation of a new unit is carried out according to the specified scheme. A plug is placed on the remaining hole, and on the reverse side is a Mayevsky cock, which serves to vent excess air.
Maintenance of cast iron modifications
In old residential premises, there are often cast-iron batteries of the MC-140 type. They are also assembled using gasket seals and nipple nuts. It is quite difficult to disassemble the old models, since during the long period of operation the sections on the joints become stuck due to rust. In such situations, the key slots are corroded by the refrigerant.
In addition, when dismantling sections of cast-iron heating radiators, one should remember the impressive mass of the material used. One 12-cell battery will have a weight of at least 90 kilograms, it is very difficult to cope with such a device alone. To perform the work you will need the following tools:
- special nipple key;
- a device for unscrewing plugs and futorok;
- little sledgehammer, chisel;
- blowtorch;
- brush with a steel base;
- bars made of wood, used for laying the radiator to the surface.
The key is a metal rod, which has a round configuration and flattened on one side. The diameter of the device is 18-20 millimeters. The flattened part has a thickness of 6 mm, its dimensions are 28x40 mm. On the opposite side of the rod, a ring is welded for threading the lever. The length of the radiator key is half the length of the 12-section radiator plus 300 millimeters.
Possible difficulties
Disconnecting sticky joints between sections is sometimes very difficult. In some cases, even enviable physical strength is not enough. In such cases, a blowtorch or a building hair dryer is used to warm the joints.
The sequence of actions for dismantling cast-iron radiators is carried out at the following stages:
- The material is heated until a glow of a crimson hue appears. Then proceed to the main work.
- Turn out the plugs.
- The radiator key is brought to the top of the battery, the tool head should be on the screw nut unscrewing compartment. At the end of the section, a circle for placing the rod is marked with chalk.
- The tapered end of the tool is inserted into the lower internal groove. Then the key is turned in the desired direction until it reaches the left mark.
Before performing the specified manipulations, it is necessary to decide which way to twist the sections. If the design provides for a nut of a nipple variety, it is alternately screwed on the right and left ends, which allows you to calculate the direction of rotation of the nipple. If the movement of the thread is noticeable, it is not necessary to complete full twisting immediately. To avoid distortions, you need to rotate the upper and lower elements one turn at a time.
In conclusion
Summing up, it can be noted that before removing and disassembling the battery, the coolant should be properly drained from the system. In addition, it is important to determine the direction of rotation of the sections. All manipulations must be done with caution. At the same time, special construction skills are not required, only suitable tools, accuracy and attention are needed. If you follow these recommendations and comply with safety rules, the operation in question is quite realistic to carry out independently. Those who are not confident in their abilities, it is better to turn to professionals. It is noteworthy that the prices for dismantling heating radiators in summer are cheaper, and heating is turned off during this period, which greatly simplifies the workflow.