This article will introduce you to the main types of finned and corrugated pipes used in heating systems Oh. It's hard to imagine the pipe leading to the battery as anything other than smooth and straight, isn't it? However, surprises await us.
Dictionary
Let's start with a casual introduction to different types exotic pipes. This is necessary to avoid confusion in the future. For our own convenience, we will roughly divide the pipes into categories according to the material from which they are made.
Cast iron
Here we can meet only one representative of the family. Finned heating pipes are massive pieces of cast iron that are hollow inside, on which coarse fins are cast to increase the heat transfer area. They are equipped with flanges for ease of installation and, as a rule, are assembled into registers of varying complexity and size.
It’s interesting: these pipes are used not only as heating devices, but also as heat exchangers that take excess heat from the furnace gases.
Black steel
A convector can be called a finned tube rather arbitrarily - the fins are not made at the same time as it. Transverse plates are pressed onto the finished pipe to increase heat transfer. Front heating device can be covered with a decorative screen; An adjustable damper can be located on top to increase or decrease heat transfer.
Stainless steel
Stainless steel corrugated pipe for heating is a material that appeared relatively recently. The small thickness of the walls provides flexibility, and the strength of stainless steel ensures a wide range of operating temperatures and pressures.
As an example, here are the parameters with which, according to the manufacturer, Korean corrugated heating pipes Kofulso can work:
- Working pressure - 15 atmospheres.
- The maximum permissible pressure is 50 atmospheres.
- The destruction pressure is 210 atmospheres.
- Operating temperature - from -50 to 110C.
- The minimum bend radius is equal to the pipe diameter.
Plastic
A flexible corrugated plastic pipe for heating would seem to be nonsense. Plastic does not have high mechanical strength; The corrugated pipe is also thin-walled.
It's simple: the corrugation for heating pipes is not intended for transporting coolant, but for the external protection of polymer and metal-polymer pipes when they are laid in a screed or installed inside a wall.
In addition, a corrugated pipe for heating somewhat reduces unnecessary heat loss.
Attention: do not flatter yourself - it will not replace insulation. If you need to reduce heat loss to a minimum, it is worth protecting the pipes with polyurethane foam shells or at least polyethylene foam.
Corrugated stainless steel: installation method, advantages and disadvantages
If all other materials have been familiar to us for a long time, then we should focus on the corrugated stainless pipe just because of the relative novelty of the material.
Installation
How to install a heating system from it yourself?
In terms of design, the system does not have any special features and, in principle, is no different from a metal polymer with compression fittings. But the pipes are connected in a different way. For them, fittings without a fitting are used - the pipe is simply crimped on the outside with a gasket made of high-temperature silicone.
The instructions for assembling the connection are extremely simple:
- Cut the pipe in place. It is better to use a special cutter. The price of this device is 700-900 rubles, which is not very much compared to the total cost of heating installation.
- Insert its end into the fitting.
- Tighten the nut on the fitting with a gas wrench or an adjustable wrench. The gasket will tightly seal the pipe, making the connection airtight; corrugation will provide it with strength. Even a very strong person will not be able to tear out the liner section from the fitting.
Advantages
They are very convincing.
- The strength and resistance of the material to pressure surges allows its use in systems central heating together with bimetallic radiators. In this case, the eyeliner will not become a weak link.
- Stainless steel is chemically stable and does not form galvanic couples with aluminum or copper. If one of your neighbors shared a heating circuit with you, used copper pipes or installed aluminum radiators- none negative consequences It won't matter to you or them.
- The ease of installation of a corrugated stainless steel heating pipe surpasses even the notorious metal-plastic with compression fittings. The tools you need are the simplest - a pair of adjustable or gas keys Yes, a cutter, which in principle you can do without. Assembling one connection takes no more than a minute.
- The material has an almost unlimited service life. What’s especially nice is that this period is not reduced when the design temperature of the coolant is exceeded.
Useful: the limit of 110C is quite arbitrary and is associated with the heat resistance of the sealing gaskets, as well as with the thermal expansion of the pipe and fitting. The temperature at which stainless steel noticeably loses strength begins at approximately 800 degrees.
It all started with a renovation and at the design stage I was puzzled by the choice of pipeline material for installation solar collectors, water furnaces and heating systems.
Solar collectors required pipes resistant to high temperatures (up to 200 degrees theoretically) and pressure (operating up to 6 atmospheres). We also had to take into account the difficulty of laying a route from the tank on the ground floor to the roof. There were only two options - copper (ideally, since the heat exchanger in the collector is also made of copper) or stainless corrugation. For these reasons, any plastic is naturally eliminated.
Aquatop also required pipes that could withstand high temperatures (especially near the heat exchanger in the fireplace hood), the route laying trajectory was also not simple (part of it goes under the suspended ceiling, hidden, part of it in the wall). Copper in this case is not the best option, since in combination with black steel the steel from which the firebox is made could cause corrosion. Ferrous metal pipes are also not an option due to the complexity of their installation. The plastic also fell away.
Heating system. Small house located in Sochi, air humidity is constantly high. In the summer heat, when moist hot air from the street enters the kitchen and bathroom, strong condensation appears on the always cold walls (which are located on the side of the retaining wall and or in those places where the floor level is lower than the ground level). IN winter period In the absence of sufficient ventilation, condensation also appears. Therefore, it was planned to have a heated floor and a radiator along two walls in the kitchen and living room, as well as a heated floor and walls in the bathroom. First of all, we had to take into account the possibility of bending the pipe with a small radius, which was required when laying the route in the corners of the room and the walls of the bathroom. Here the choice was between stainless steel, Pex and copper.
In addition, we had to take into account:
- the feasibility of unifying the type of pipes
- the air radiator along the walls should not release harmful substances into the air when heated
-heat exchangers in storage tanks are made of stainless corrugated steel
- all the work was planned to be done alone
-pipe price
- a little theory about corrugation - it can withstand high (250 degrees) temperature and pressure (rupture at 200 atm), does not burst when water freezes in it, transfers heat very well external environment, very smooth inside, has strong resistance to coolant pumping if its speed is above a certain limit, bends with the minimum possible radius equal to two diameters (annealed), has low thermal expansion compared to many other materials for pipelines, retains its shape after bending, rusts under certain conditions (electrochemical, crevice, sub-slurry corrosion, stray currents), resistant to various chemicals, costs a lot (especially Korean), length is usually limited to 50 meters for 15, 20-30 meters for 20, although coils of 100 meters are also available) , it comes with or without a shell, the fittings for it are quite expensive, and so on
I decided that in my case, in the totality of parameters, a corrugated stainless pipe best meets these requirements. I stopped there.
Heating pipes from of stainless steel are increasingly considered by consumers as the most promising, although not a budget option for arranging a heating system for your home. Due to the properties of the material, such pipes are not susceptible to corrosion - the main enemy of the lines responsible for delivering heat to homes. Once laid pipes from stainless steel - with correct implementation all installation work will not require repairs for many decades. What can’t “boast” about are pipes made of ferrous metal, which begin to partially leak within 5-7 years after the start of operation.
Characteristics of stainless steel heating pipes
Welded stainless steel pipe. (pipe bending is made of stainless steel)
Having decided to purchase stainless steel heating pipes, the consumer is faced with three market offers:
- welded pipes made of stainless steel,
- seamless,
- corrugated.
Seamless steel pipes
What type, diameter, thickness of pipes are suitable in your case is determined taking into account:
- budget allocated for the purchase of rolled metal;
- the nature of the loads to which the heating system will be subjected;
- specifics of external influences on the future line;
- technical features of the facility where pipe laying work is planned;
- system configuration;
- pressure indicators;
- temperature indicators.
Corrugated steel pipes
So, for gravity systems, pipes with a wide diameter are needed.
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Why is stainless steel better than other materials?
- It is not susceptible to moisture, which prevents corrosion processes from developing inside the pipes and on their outside.
- Lack of corrosion inside the pipes, ensures preservation chemical properties passing through the water system. This significantly extends the life of motors installed in forced-pressure systems.
- The introduction of an increased amount of chromium into the stainless steel alloy makes the material resistant not only to moisture, but also to aggressive substances, for example, 50% hydrochloric acid.
- Stainless steel is resistant to mechanical stress.
- Seamless pipes made of stainless steel are particularly resistant to high pressure. Even when emergency situation at the substation and the resulting water hammer, the surface of the heating system with pipes made of stainless steel will not lose its tightness.
- The material retains specifications under the influence of typical temperatures, does not change properties when the ambient temperature changes.
Rolled metal for heating systems from stainless steel
- resistant to corrosion and aggressive chemical environments;
- immune to the influence of temperature changes;
- withstands high pressure.
According to the method of production, stainless steel pipes are divided into hot-rolled and cold-rolled.
Stainless steel pipes have many advantages and are therefore resistant to many damages
By processing technique outer surface are divided into:
- matte,
- polished,
- mirrored
Welded rolled metal from non-ferrous metals for heating is obtained from sheet steel. The presence of a seam on such pipes is their “weak link”, since it creates, albeit scanty, a prerequisite for future leaks at the junction of the edges.
As in the case of welded ones, seamless ones are connected using welding. On the one hand, this creates the preconditions for leaks in the future (subject to poor-quality welding of joints), on the other hand, it does not always suit home owners if the installation/replacement of the system is carried out in a residential building with expensive renovations on the premises. In this case, if the owners want to install heating with pipes that have the longest service life, we can recommend corrugated pipes.
Corrugated heating pipes made of stainless steel are a relatively recent industrial achievement, which appeared thanks to the efforts of Japanese technologists.
Such pipes are made from steel strip, which is then molded under high temperatures (up to 1150 degrees)
Corrugated pipes have the longest service life
In addition to technical qualities similar to performance characteristics conventional heating pipes made of the same material have a unique property - they can be bent without the use of additional equipment (R bending determines the diameter of the pipe). This allows:
- reduce the cost and reduce the duration of installation work - there is no need to use welding
- reduce the cost of purchasing connecting elements for underfloor heating systems.
Why is installing accordion pipes cheaper and easier?
to menuDisadvantages of pipes made of stainless steel accordion
- cannot compete with seamless or welded ones in resistance to particularly high temperatures;
- susceptible to mechanical stress (because of this, they are not recommended for installation in children's bedrooms and playrooms);
- may lose their tightness under the influence of certain alkalis and acids (cannot be installed in rooms where there is a possibility of aggressive chemicals getting on the surface of the heating system).
Installation of corrugated heating pipes is easy
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Bottom line
When arranging a heating system at home, wanting to insure as much as possible against pipe leaks in the future, it is advisable to use pipes made of stainless steel. When laying a line in a newly built house with unfulfilled decorative and finishing work, you can safely weld pipes using welding. And remember, a high-quality stainless steel pipe, the price of which does not exceed the market price, will be the most acceptable. If you choose a pipe for a heating system, the conclusion is obvious: it is better to buy a stainless steel pipe.
IN residential buildings Where the use of open flame burners is not possible for safety reasons, the heating system can be made using corrugated pipes. You can find out where to buy stainless steel heating pipes in your city by contacting a store that sells plumbing fixtures or building materials, or by using the capabilities of a virtual network.
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Video review of a recent industry achievement - stainless steel corrugated pipes:
In this video you will learn more about what a corrugated stainless steel pipe is.
prootoplenie.com
Stainless steel pipes for heating - a guarantee of system reliability for many years
When installing a heating system, considerable attention is paid to the pipes used. After all, the quality of heating depends on them as well.
Stainless steel pipes have been actively used for heating for a long time. Let's consider how relevant the material is at the present time, what advantages and disadvantages it has.
Kinds
Stainless steel pipes for heating can be of three types:
- thin-walled;
- thick-walled;
- corrugated.
Thin-walled ones have excellent characteristics. They are resistant to corrosion and the appearance of precipitation on the internal walls of the pipeline. If you take a pipe that has been used in a heating system for, say, 20 years, you can see that the inside is almost perfectly clean.
Steel pipes can be of two types:
- seamless;
- with a welded seam.
The first type is considered more reliable and therefore has a higher cost. A pipe with a seam can sooner or later leak, which is why most craftsmen prefer a seamless one when creating a pipeline.
Another type of steel pipes is corrugated. Appeared on the market relatively recently. It can confidently be called an alternative to classic stainless steel.
But there is a significant difference that makes this type more popular:
Read more about corrugated pipes.
Advantages and disadvantages
Stainless steel heating pipes have a significant number of advantages:
- long service life - the material can easily last at least 50 years;
- strength – it is quite difficult to deform or damage a pipeline of this type;
- high thermal conductivity - the pipeline easily transfers heat into the room (but this is a disadvantage if part of the pipeline passes into unheated room– the pipe and, accordingly, the coolant in it cools down quite quickly);
- accessibility - buying stainless pipes for heating is quite simple, they are common and have a very affordable price.
However, like any other material, this type also has some disadvantages, which makes their use sometimes quite inconvenient.
However, stainless steel has only one drawback - the complexity of installation. To install the pipeline, it is necessary to carry out welding work - and this, first of all, takes a long time.
In addition, this is only permissible if no work has been carried out in the room where the heating system is installed. Finishing work. After all, welding can easily damage both wall and floor coverings. Accordingly, the repair will have to be done again.
We do not recommend carrying out welding work on your own: they require certain skills that not everyone has. It would be more correct to invite a specialist who will connect the elements and connect the pipeline to the radiators and heating boiler.
Important material on the topic - how to do welding yourself and what you need to know and be able to do for this.
The video below shows a hydraulic test of a corrugated stainless steel pipe. The pipe passed the test. This proves that they can be safely used in modern systems heating.
Conclusion
Of course, many may say that it is much easier to buy propylene pipes for heating.
But the fact is that stainless steel has the highest quality characteristics, which allow you to forget about the problems of the heating system for a long time. Of course, provided that everything is designed and connected correctly.
We hope that we have convinced you that stainless steel pipes have much more advantages than disadvantages. Therefore, you can safely use them.
We will be grateful if you press the buttons social networks.
Have a nice day!
kvarremontnik.ru
The use of corrugated stainless pipes for heating
Development modern technologies led to the emergence of new types of pipes for communications made of cross-linked polyethylene and metal-plastic. Due to ease of installation, resistance to corrosion, light weight, and affordable cost, they have significantly displaced steel and copper pipes. Corrugated stainless steel pipe has not only found its niche, but also significantly expanded it due to its characteristics.
Corrugated stainless steel pipe Most often, corrugated stainless steel pipes are used when installing heating systems, heated floors.
Properties that make stainless corrugated pipe suitable for heating:
- high heat transfer (concrete surfaces up to 10 cm thick can be easily heated);
- speed and ease of installation;
- a stainless steel pipe has excellent flexibility, so no additional fittings are needed at the bends of the routes;
- saving material by reducing connecting bends;
- long service life of systems;
- does not corrode.
What should you pay attention to during installation?
Stainless steel pipes for floor heating are used without plastic braiding, as it reduces heat transfer.
Installation of heated floors using corrugated pipes It is necessary to take into account that the bending radius must be at least three times the diameter of the metal corrugation.
The second point to pay attention to is eddy currents (Foucault currents). Stainless steel conducts electricity and must be grounded when installing it. In places where a corrugated heating pipe may intersect and electrical wiring. The corrugated sleeve must be placed in metal pipe. It will serve as a screen, neutralizing vortex electrical currents. Otherwise, the tightness of the pipe may be compromised due to electrochemical corrosion.
Installation of heated floors has its own nuances. Compression fittings must not be installed in closed systems. They are brought above the level of the heated floor.
Specifications
The corrugated pipe is made of alloy steel, that is, with additives that significantly improve the characteristics of the metal, and therefore, products made from it. Chromium and nickel are used as such impurities. By adding chromium (more than 12%), the anti-corrosion properties are significantly increased and strength increases. The combination of chromium and nickel makes hardware heat-resistant, imparts plasticity (viscosity) to the metal. The stainless steel corrugated pipe material contains 18% chromium and 8% nickel (SUS steel (AISI) 304).
Manufacturing stages:
- First, a pipe is formed from an alloy steel strip.
- The turns of the tape are connected by automatic welding.
- They use a laser machine and check the quality of the welds.
- Then the stainless steel pipe is rolled.
- The corrugated sleeve is cut and rolled into coils.
The ribbed structure of the pipe is ensured by rolling with special rollers Corrugated stainless steel comes in two types: annealed and unannealed. The product is annealed, that is, heated, and then cooled so that it acquires plasticity, holds its shape, and bends better. This is especially important for corrugated hoses of small diameters.
Specifications:
Standard dimensions: thickness 0.3 mm. In polyethylene winding 0.5 mm.
Maximum pressure: 60 Bar, destructive 210 Bar
Temperature range that corrugated pipe can withstand: from -50 °C to + 110 °C. The pipe itself can withstand up to 800 °C, but the fitting gasket can withstand up to 110 °C.
| Pipe diameter (mm) | Bend radius (mm) |
| 12 | 36 |
| 15 | 45 |
| 20 | 60 |
| 25 | 75 |
| 32 | 96 |
Standard packages: 50 and 30 meters (for large diameters).
Advantages and disadvantages
The wide range of applications of corrugated stainless steel pipes is determined by a number of material properties.
These include:
- Versatility. Pipelines of different diameters made of stainless corrugated pipes are used for:
- hot and cold water supply. Complies with sanitary and hygienic standards;
- heating systems;
- heated floors;
- natural gas supply;
- ventilation systems, chimney;
- systems designed for fire extinguishing;
- as a corrugated hose for electrical wiring with an increased degree of fire safety;
- transportation of individual chemical compounds.
- Corrugated stainless steel has good flexibility.
- Retains its characteristics under conditions of temperature changes and repeated freezing.
- When used for water supply, it demonstrates resistance to water hammer and sudden changes in water pressure.
- Has a long service life. Minimum guarantee period 20 years, in practice they last 2–3 times longer.
- Resistant to excessive mechanical stress, high blood pressure(up to 60 Bar).
- Flexible corrugated systems, due to their high wear resistance, can be safely mounted in plasterboard frames.
- Not subject to corrosion.
- Stainless steel surface ( inner diameter) does not accumulate deposits.
- Comparable in weight to bimetal and plastic.
- The number of connecting elements (fittings) is minimized.
- Fireproof (withstands temperatures up to 800 °C).
- Compact. The rolled-up coil takes up little space, making it easy to transport.
The disadvantages include the fact that the corrugated structure of the pipe increases hydraulic resistance. In this regard, corrugated hose is inferior to plastic, so for longer routes a greater slope is required or an additional hydraulic pump is installed.
A corrugated pipe has less sound absorption, that is, the sound of water will be heard more, compared to metal-plastic cross-linked polyethylene.
They note that plastic pipes, from an aesthetic point of view, look more attractive, but this is a matter for discussion. From the moment they started producing corrugated pipes in a plastic shell, they became more visually aesthetic.
It is more difficult to clean a corrugated surface from dirt than a smooth one.
Main manufacturers
Japanese company Neptune. Recognized leader in the production of corrugated stainless steel pipes. Corrugated stainless steel hoses appeared in Japan (about 15 years ago). The company has representative offices in many countries around the world. Experts note high quality, competitive price.
Among the recognized brands that are in demand in the market are South Korean manufacturers.
Stainless Steel Corrugated Pipe Manufacturer KOFULSO KOFULSO company. The price is higher than that of analogues, but it has good quality indicators. The service life of pipes and fittings is not limited. The O-rings are thicker than in other similar systems and last more than 30 years (under warranty). It is resistant to mechanical stress and water hammer.
"Lavita" Production is located in Latvia. This is good value for money. The cost is lower than KOFULSO, the quality is high. Experts note that sometimes, when a pipe for heating or other systems is installed, the metal rings of the fitting can cut through the walls of the corrugation.
Hydrosta. Like “Lavita” it is an affordable option. Somewhat inferior in quality to KOFULSO. On average, product complaints are 5–7%.
German company Meibes. Like the products of the South Korean company KOFULSO, they have good quality indicators. Stainless corrugated heating pipes from this company meet quality standards. But pricing in the Eurocurrency segment makes its products quite expensive.
Important criteria for choosing corrugated pipes
Please note that the corrugated sleeve is marked only on the packaging, so you should not throw it away immediately. In case of a complaint, it will be useful, along with the purchase receipt. It is rare, but there are cases when, instead of annealed stainless corrugation, they sell material that has not undergone thermal hardening. The quality characteristics of an unmolded pipe are an order of magnitude lower, as is the price, but they look almost the same. You can distinguish them by bending. After annealing, the corrugation bends easily, maintaining its shape, it is more elastic. To confirm, it is better to ask whether the seller has a certificate of conformity.
Criteria for selecting corrugated pipes The length of the corrugation in the package must correspond to that indicated on the package. If you purchase a piece of pipe, then its edges are cut evenly, at an angle of 90⁰. Cutting at a different angle may damage the fitting gasket.
Upon external inspection of the surface, there should be no visible defects along the entire length.
Check the brass fitting included. The kit should include: connection body, silicone sealing ring, brass clamp ring. Next comes the gasket (silicone comb ring) and the crimp nut.
Installation features
Corrugated pipes for heating and other communication systems are connected using brass fittings (without a fitting). In order to make installation quickly and without complications, purchase components from the same manufacturer as the corrugated hose.
Fitting complete set When laying pipes, you do not need to stretch it in length, as this will increase the stress. It should maintain its natural shape, without tension or sagging.
Assembly steps:
- Cut the pipe with an even straight cut. It is convenient to do it between the links of a corrugated sleeve. To do this, use a metal file, grinder and other tools. Experts use a roller pipe cutter. The edges should not have jagged edges; they should be cleaned with abrasive materials.
- The pipe is crimped using the internal gasket part of the connection ( compression fitting). The corrugated hose is inserted into the fitting, then tightened with the union nut from the kit.
- The shape required according to the project is given, then fixed using special fasteners.
- The last stage is checking the system. It is made under more pressure than a worker. In places of leakage, carefully tighten the nuts.
Fitting installation methods This is what it looks like general scheme installation Its specifics depend on the purpose of the pipeline.
Conclusion on the topic
Corrugated stainless steel pipe has a number of advantages. High heat dissipation, 40% higher than copper pipe, ease of installation is not everything positive sides such systems. A strong argument in favor of such corrugation is that it easily withstands freezing and defrosting cycles.
But it is worth noting that the cost of such a heating system is higher in comparison with metal-plastic cross-linked polyethylene. It would be rational to use corrugated stainless steel hoses on certain sections of the pipeline with increased loads. Or for installing a heating system with a short length, local heaters. Convenient option for heating systems of small cottages.
Homemade heating radiator from corrugated pipe When laying electrical networks that require an increased degree of fire safety, stainless steel corrugation is indispensable. Flexible gas hoses allow you to connect and install gas equipment in such a way that it can be moved.
The technical characteristics of the stainless corrugated pipe allow it to be used in various fields, as a reliable pipeline.
Stainless steel is a material that has maximum utility and excellent performance characteristics: it is strong, does not corrode, can be used at any temperature, and has a long service life.
It is these advantages that have given stainless steel heating pipes their current popularity. Today we will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of stainless pipelines, consider their installation, and also analyze current market prices.
Product Features
Without getting carried away with overly colorful descriptions, we will immediately consider all the pros and cons regarding stainless steel heating pipes.
Advantages:
- Stainless steel pipes for heating have a long service life. This is explained by the fact that stainless steel, as a material, is absolutely not afraid of corrosion: neither from exposure to liquids, nor from an acidic environment;
- Stainless steel pipes are not subject to linear expansion during operation. For this reason, on their basis, installation of in-wall heating systems made of steel pipes can be carried out;
- The stainless steel corrugated pipe for heating has sufficient elasticity. Corrugated stainless steel allows its use in laying heating lines where there are a large number of bends.
- Heating pipes made of stainless steel have high hardness and rigidity, as a result of which they can withstand water shocks of up to 15 atmospheres for a short period of time, and are not afraid of mechanical influences from the outside;
- Such pipes have a wide range of operating temperatures: they are not afraid of freezing, and can transport media whose temperature exceeds 400 degrees;
- Installation of heating registers made of steel pipes is highly efficient, since stainless steel has a good heat transfer coefficient.
- Installation of a stainless steel heating system is extremely simple: it is not necessary to use special fittings or equipment, all connections are made using ordinary fittings.
This type of pipe has much fewer disadvantages than advantages:
- It is worth recognizing that a corrugated stainless steel pipe for heating has a rather specific appearance, the installation of which will not suit the design of every room;
- Price: Stainless steel is a very expensive material, so such heating pipes and fittings for it will cost you quite a lot.
Regarding the last point, we note that high density stainless steel allows manufacturers to produce high-quality, strong pipes and fittings that, at the same time, have a relatively small thickness, thereby reducing their final cost.
Specifications
GOST for heating pipes 3262-75 stipulates quite strict requirements for stainless steel products. According to it, high-quality stainless pipes and fittings for heating must meet the following technical characteristics:
- Normal operating pressure– 15 atmospheres;
- The maximum permissible pressure in the pipeline is 50 atmospheres;
- The pressure followed by deformation and destruction (rupture) is 200 atmospheres;
- The most low temperature working environment: – 50 degrees;
- The minimum acceptable bend radius must be equal to the diameter of the product.
The manufacturing technology of corrugated stainless pipes is fully automated, which contributes to the highest accuracy of each stage of production. Let's take a closer look at the manufacturing stages:
- First of all, the stainless steel sheet undergoes pre-treatment, after which it is fed to the forming conveyor, where it is given a cylindrical shape.
- Next, the cylinder joints are connected by welding, which is performed in a special gas environment.
- At this stage, the formation of a corrugation (ribbed coating) occurs - for this, the workpiece is rolled over rollers of different diameters.
- The pipe, which already resembles the final product, undergoes a special heat treatment, which gives it the required elasticity characteristics.
- The last step is cutting the segment into pieces the right size(mostly 50-meter pieces), which are wound into coils.
Installation nuances
It is worth remembering that one of the main advantages that a steel corrugated pipe for heating has is flexibility, but at the same time it is its Achilles heel.
During installation, you should not subject the structure to repeated bends in one place. Also, if there are children in the house where a stainless steel heating system will be installed, you should think about how to reduce their contact with the pipes to a minimum.
If children use flexible pipe and its fittings as a support or crossbar, then the gradually accumulated “fatigue” of the material will exceed the permissible norm, and the structure will deform.
Welding steel pipelines stainless steel heating is not necessary - generally such structures are connected using special fittings.
Installation of a heating system made of steel pipes is carried out as follows:
- A corrugated stainless pipe is connected to a device that supplies hot water to the heating system using universal polymer or rubber seals included in the kit.
- Next, at the site of the first connecting node, the pipe is cut using a special roller pipe cutter (if it is not available, you can use a regular grinder), after which all burrs are carefully cleaned from the cut end.
- At the end of the segments that will be connected (the diameters of the steel heating pipes must be identical, of course), fittings are put on and screwed into each other. Check that union nut was properly tightened.
- The pipeline is fixed in the desired position on the wall using special brackets.
- Upon completion of installation, supply water to the system and check the tightness of the connections.
Nuances of installation (video)
When purchasing stainless pipes, you should carefully look at the following details:
- The outer coating of the product should be as smooth as possible; there should be no chips, cracks or dents on it;
- Carefully inspect the entire length of the segment - there should be no cracks or breaks that form due to excessive bending, because it is in such places that, over time, deformation occurs, and, as a result, depressurization of the system;
- Each of the connecting fittings must be equipped with a special sealing gasket; if it is missing, the fitting can be thrown into the trash can.
Having analyzed the offer of manufacturers on the plumbing market, we can conclude that the price of stainless steel heating products depends, first of all, on their diameter, as well as on the “brand” of the company producing them.
We will not advertise good or bad manufacturers, but simply recommend paying attention only to products that comply with GOST of the Russian Federation 3262-75 (as evidenced by the presence of an appropriate license), which is a sufficient guarantee of quality.
There is a large assortment of stainless pipes on the market that will satisfy all segments of the population with different financial capabilities.
Another question is how long is the service life of stainless steel heating pipes, which are sold cheaper than plastic ones. Typically, products of this type serve without problems for at least 20-25 years, provided that the operating rules are followed and there is no mechanical stress.
Trying to find the minimum cost of steel products for heating, you are playing a lottery.
Cheap products can last for many years, or they can start causing trouble at the very beginning of use.
So it’s better to immediately purchase good stainless pipes, even if choosing not the cheapest option.
And finally, let’s mention specific numbers.
The price of steel heating products made of corrugated aluminum in a minimum diameter (15 mm) starts at $2 per meter, and increases in accordance with its increase.
You can buy steel pipes for heating with a diameter of 50 mm (2 inches) for $20 per linear meter.
Galvanized steel pipes for heating are presented on the market in the price range from $1.5 per linear meter of a product with a diameter of 15 mm to $6 per meter with a diameter of 50 mm.
Below are the characteristics of steel heating pipes, the needs of government parameters, and also methods of connecting them. Additionally, you will be able to get acquainted with the types of fittings and how to install them on the circuit.
Metal at work: both weak and strong sides
Stainless steel pipes for heating
Steel is deservedly considered the most quality material for arranging heating systems. Until recently, the emergence of plastic analogues, steel pipes for heating were used very often. Strong sides:
You can press the contour with your hand and even stand on it, and it will hold it very easily. Such products withstand water hammer better than any other;
- excellent resistance to heating processes.
For plastic circuits, the maximum possible level of heating of the coolant is 95 degrees, after which there is a risk of depressurization. The metal melts at a temperature of 1500 degrees; this does not happen in heating systems. The highest temperature in steam heating is no more than 200 degrees, which is negligible when compared with the strength reserve of stainless steel pipes for heating;
- low thermal expansion rate.
Heat supply from steel pipes in personal home It is allowed to do it secretly, walling them up in the wall without additional materials compensating for linear and volumetric thermal expansion.
Most plumbers are afraid of steel heating pipes because they simply do not know how to work with them. Good masters " old school"are becoming less and less common.
For open-type heating systems - these are those in which the coolant moves independently without the help of electric pumps, products with a large diameter are used. Plastic is not used for this. Moreover, in open circuits the main enemy of steel is air, with which the coolant is saturated in excess in the expansion tank.
In addition to the installation process of the circuit, metal is used to equip chimneys. The stainless steel pipe for the heating boiler, which carries combustion products outside, must be thermally insulated. To do this, heat-resistant materials are used.
Corrosion of profile pipes
How air destroys metal:
- water is saturated with air in the expansion tank and draws it into circulation;
- when the coolant is heated, air bubbles begin to actively separate from water molecules;
- When metal interacts with water and air, it begins to oxidize and corrosion occurs. If there is no air, corrosion does not occur.
For systems closed type(sealed) the problem of corrosion is not so acute, although air also penetrates into the sealed circuit simultaneously with the coolant. To reduce this process, air separators are installed at the entrance, which, mixing the flow, emphasize oxygen bubbles from it and remove it outside in automatic mode. Another scourge of metal systems is the difficulty of installation, which is associated both with the heavy weight of the structure and with the required professional skills of the installer.
The working life of steel heating pipes made of ferrous metal is about thirty years. Stainless steel heating pipes are virtually eternal.
Characteristics according to GOST
Production is carried out in 2 ways:
Seamless steel pipe
Based on this, we emphasize welded and seamless rolled stainless steel pipes for heating. Most large diameter welded products are much higher than seamless ones and can reach 2.5 meters. They are welded using furnace or electric welding. The latter can be forgiven even in a gas chamber.
State Standard No. 3262-75 determines that steel pipes for a home heating system should be produced in sizes from four to twelve meters. In addition to measured ones, they can be manufactured to special order of unmeasured length, in parts from one and a half to four meters. The internal cross-section of products can vary from 6 to one hundred and fifty millimeters, and the external diameter is therefore from 102 to 165 millimeters. Depending on the wall thickness, steel pipes of the heating system are divided into:
The mass of the product, which is calculated in kilograms per 1 meter of product, also depends on this characteristic. The calculation is performed taking into account the density of the material, which is 7.85 g/cm3. For finished products The standard allows maximum deviation:
- the outer diameter of steel heating pipes is no more than 0.4 mm for products with an internal cross-section of up to 4 cm. For products with a relative passage of more than 4 cm, the deviation is noted as a percentage and amounts to 0.8;
- weight – no more than eight percent;
- geometry - on one meter, the curvature should be within one and a half percent for products whose internal diameter is up to 2 cm. And for pipes whose symbolic passage is more than 2 cm, the deviation is no more than 2 percent.
Galvanized profile pipes for heating according to GOST 3262-75, 3% heavier than ordinary ones. The zinc coating must be uniform and its thickness must be at least 30 microns. Its presence is not necessary at the ends and threads.
The ends of the products are also distinguished, which can be smooth, threaded, or with a coupling. The thread can be long or short. It can be applied to one or two sides of the product. In addition, chamfers can be removed at the customer's request. At the same time, the metal should not peel off at the ends. On the outside surface, minor scratches and other defects are allowed, which are not reflected at all in the characteristics of the products.
Much attention is paid protective coating from zinc, if such is calculated in production process. The protection layer of a stainless steel pipe for heating must be smooth, without bubbles or peeling. The thread can only be cut after a layer of protection has been applied.
At the final step, the zinc steel pipes of the heating system are pressure tested. For this purpose, hydraulic tests are carried out, the results of which ordinary pipes must withstand a load of at least 25 atmospheres, and reinforced ones - at least 32 atmospheres. At the request of the customer, this indicator can increase to 50 atmospheres.
Accessories, joining methods
For pipe connections between each other, two methods are emphasized:
Threaded fittings for steel pipes
butt welding;
Accessories include fittings for steel heating pipes and flanges. Let's consider each product separately. There are fittings different shapes(straight, at an angle of 90 degrees, crosses and more). The main thing is the way they are connected to the circuit:
A fastening connection in the form of a thread is considered detachable. Welded fittings, based on this, are an integral type of connection. They do not have threads, and the heating system made of steel pipes is combined using electric or gas welding. Clamping fittings practically do not differ from substitutes for plastic systems, except for some additional parts, for example:
- clamping ring – should not be confused with a clamping ring (collet);
- plastic seal ring.
Clamp fitting design
Clamp fittings do not provide a quality connection and are used as a short-term measure. Such a joint is very sensitive to mechanical loads and can leak. In this case, all the advantages of steel are simply reduced to nothing.
Flanges are a connection consisting of two rings. They are bolted together and attached to the circuit either by threading or welding. There are also differences in their surface, it can:
Steel pipe flanges
This type of connection is considered collapsible and is used for products whose diameter exceeds 5 cm.
All about the installation process
Main points of the installation process:
- The very first thing you need to do is cut the pipes into the required lengths.
To do this, use a pipe cutter or reciprocating saw. Pipe cutters divide the product into sections using cutting discs, which must be changed occasionally. For stainless steel, there are special discs that are sharpened in a special way, which allows them to work with more viscous materials. Using hand tools is not always possible, for example, when it is necessary to cut off part of an already created contour. Thanks to this, it is used for this reciprocating saw. It is attached to the contour so that an even cut is obtained;
You should not use an angle grinder to cut off part of an already created contour. In addition to sparks, there is a risk of CS or electric shock if water from the system gets on the instrument. Use a reciprocating saw.
Seal the fastening joint in the form of a thread with flax
There are several types of threads: conical and cylindrical. To cut threads you will need a thread cutting die, which will probably be manual or electric. To reduce friction and heating of the metal during operation, oil is supplied to the metal surface. When installing, the fastening connection in the form of a thread is sealed with flax;
To do this you will need a pipe bender. Some craftsmen do without it, they simply heat the bending area red-hot and bend the product with their hands. Only in this option will the symbolic passage become narrower with almost 100% probability.
In addition, registers are made from pipes made of metal. Steel heat supply register smooth pipe- it’s like a battery consisting of several parallel pipes that are connected to each other so that the coolant can circulate freely through it. Heat supply registers made of steel pipes are used in non-residential premises, in production, in farming, schools and kindergartens, etc. You can also install a Mayevsky valve in them, thanks to which you can bleed off any air pockets that have appeared.
Fastening steel heating pipes is carried out according to the following tips:
- for products with a diameter of up to 2 cm - every 2.5 m;
- for products with a diameter of up to 4 cm - every 3 m;
- more than 4 cm - every 4 m.
As soon as the system is ready for commissioning, it needs to be tested, which is called pressure testing. This is testing the circuit for strength and impermeability under pressure exceeding operating pressure.
How to properly use stainless steel heating system pipes?
If you look at a lot of publications and other information related to stainless steel pipes, you will first of all see: the authors describe the properties of these pipes exclusively in superlatives, while noting only the only negative - their high price. They are actually not cheap, but if you use stainless steel heating system pipes correctly, the benefits from such use (also economic) will more than pay for your high costs.
The greedy one pays more
It is necessary to start with the fact that getting savings does not at all mean saving wherever possible. Stainless steel pipes are offered by suppliers as suture and seamless. Suture ones are much cheaper. However, if you, guided solely by economic considerations, use seam (welded) stainless steel pipes for the heating system, be prepared for the fact that after a period of time, albeit a long one, leaks will first appear in your heating system.
The system will need to be changed; welding or caulking stainless steel pipes is a very difficult, large and expensive process. This will happen significantly later than when using ordinary, “black” seam pipes; stainless steel pipes have high anti-corrosion characteristics, but it will happen first. Stainless steel heating system pipes should be used exclusively seamless.
More about saving, and not only...
If you seriously “save” and used “black” pipes when installing heat supply, it may happen that your financial mistake will be invisible for a long time. More precisely, its cause will become invisible. You will sometimes purchase and replace taps, valves, connecting elements with threads on both sides and other shut-off valves, scolding “dishonest” manufacturers, and the reason is that same “savings”.
The reason is in the “black” pipes. They have the property of oxidizing, and the oxidation product - corrosion - clogs and disables shut-off valves. When using stainless steel pipes for heating, this simply cannot happen by definition - stainless steel pipes never become rusty.
We did not touch upon individual big topic– applications for heating flexible stainless steel pipes. The range of their use is quite wide - these include “heated floors”, “warm walls”, boiler piping, and much more, which will inevitably lead you to saving money, although the initial costs can be significant. But the main positive qualities of stainless steel pipes - strength and anti-corrosion resistance - over a period of time will primarily give a natural, and not an imaginary financial effect.
Which heating system pipes are better: steel, plastic, copper, metal-plastic, stainless steel, characteristics, photos and videos
In today's world, there are many, many pipes that are designed for heating, and any of these types are great when they are in their own place. So it’s best to immediately figure out where and which heating system pipes are better.
Types of heating pipes
Types of pipes for heating systems:
- copper;
- stainless steel;
- plastic;
- steel;
- made of metal-plastic.
It is worthwhile to carefully understand what exactly will be most suitable in your case.
Profile pipes
Profile pipes have been guarding the heat supply for many decades. They are reliable, have good performance characteristics and are time-tested. Metal pipes are also attractive to professionals because they have a fairly long service life. For steel pipes, temperature differences and even very large heating and pressure coefficients in heat supply do not matter.
But if it seems to you that this option is considered ideal, do not forget that this is not the most affordable pleasure of all. Moreover, the heating system of a house made of pipes made of metal is quite good.
Metal pipes are the most difficult to hide from prying eyes, and the process of installing a heating system should only be handled by an experienced welder. Likewise, the use of such heating pipes is reasonable where the greatest strength is required, some very large diameters are used, or it is necessary to get rid of outdated iron pipes.
Plastic pipes
Plastic pipes for heating offer such advantages as a fairly long service life, resistance to wear, light weight, ease of installation and good low cost. You can also choose from required quantity designers' decisions. However, different plastic pipes different composition, which requires its own installation conditions.
Plastic pipes and components
Before making your final choice, you should seek detailed advice from a professional who will recommend which heating system pipes personal home more convenient to buy.
An interesting property of plastic pipes is their ability to lengthen or bend when a very hot coolant is supplied to the heating system of a room. This must be taken into account if you plan to close plastic pipes into the wall or cover them with decorative components, otherwise a lopsided pipeline will be able to squeeze even a whole piece of plaster out of the wall.
Moreover, plastic pipes for heating systems cannot be bent, so for those places where bending is necessary, you will have to purchase a corner. And if you need a lot of similar elements, then you don’t have to think about the aesthetic component. Plastic pipes are also incredibly difficult to install and have impressive dimensions. Installing plastic pipes requires experience. If the installer overheats the pipe, then during installation the bore diameter will either become unacceptably narrowed or completely block the passage.
In essence, metal-plastic pipes for heating are aluminum products with walls no more than one tenth of a millimeter thick, coated inside and outside with a specialized polyethylene-based film. Metal-plastic pipes have very high-quality connections between each other and are able to maintain a given shape for a long time, even if they have to be bent.
If we look at the comparative properties, then, unlike other pipes, metal-plastic has only one big drawback - the metal fittings they need are very expensive. Pipes and fittings for them should be purchased exclusively in special stores. Despite expensive price, you will gain confidence in the quality of the products. At the same time, offering inexpensive pipes of a similar type most quickly means that they are trying to sell you a fake.
Copper pipes
When thinking about choosing heating pipes for heating networks, you should not neglect information about copper pipes. Copper pipes are well valued by professionals for their wide range of uses, because copper pipes can be used not only for the installation of heating systems, but also for gas mains and water supply, since the high content of chlorine does not have a detrimental effect on the metal.
Copper pipeline
Plastic pipes can literally die if they come into contact with some element of chemistry. However, copper pipes in heating supply, on the contrary, in many cases will increase their own strength, as a result of the formation of a small coating on the metal surface. The service life of copper pipes can be 50 or even 100 years.
Copper pipes are not without certain disadvantages. For example, they are very difficult to weld, so this should be done by an experienced professional equipped with specialized equipment. Connections are locked with specialized press connectors, in the middle of which there is a rubber ring. Over time, it dries out and depressurization occurs.
Moreover, copper pipes for heating systems are too expensive and cannot be combined with products made from any other materials. They are afraid of electrochemical corrosion.
Stainless steel pipes
A heating system mounted from pipes made of stainless steel is considered to be the standard of reliability and durability. Stainless steel pipes for the heating system are able to withstand fairly high operating pressure without loss, they have a wonderful and very modern design, they do not change the composition of the coolant and are not afraid of any corrosion.
Practical heating supply made of stainless steel
Stainless steel pipes are easy to assemble both from the outside of the pipe and in the middle. But in order to please yourself with such an acquisition, you will need to shell out a very large amount.
In fact, it is up to you to decide which heating system pipes are best to choose. However, it would be nice to confirm your own desires and turn your questions to a professional who will help you make the right choice.
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Galvanized heating system pipes, flexible hoses and corrugated stainless steel pipes
Keeping up with the times, much improved products are being developed, as well as various options pipes, for example, flexible stainless steel galvanized pipes for heating systems have emerged. There is a wide selection of materials from which such pipes are made; we will consider them in detail.
Galvanized heating pipes
- Cast iron pipes. These include finned galvanized pipes of the heating system; they are heavy pieces of hollow cast iron. They are used not only as radiators, but also as heat exchangers that remove excess heat from furnace gases.
- Black steel. In this case, transverse plates are pressed onto a ready-made pipe in order to increase heat transfer.
- Stainless steel. These include corrugated stainless steel pipes for heating. Thanks to the small wall thickness, the flexibility of the pipe is ensured, and since stainless steel is very strong, such pipes have a wide range of operating temperatures and pressures.
- Plastic. Since plastic does not have great mechanical strength, it is used exclusively for external protection of polymer and metal-polymer pipes.
Installation option for corrugated stainless steel pipes
It's pretty new material for pipes, making their installation a novelty for most people. From the design side there is nothing original here, but from the outside there are pipe connections certain subtleties. To connect them, fittings without a fitting are used; the corrugated pipe for heating is crimped on the outside with a gasket made of high-temperature silicone.
Corrugated stainless steel pipes for heating
- Strength and resistance to pressure surges. This makes it possible to use it in centralized heating systems simultaneously with bimetal radiators.
- Chemical stability of stainless steel.
- Ease of installation. The tools needed are very simple, and it takes no more than a minute to assemble one connection.
- Long service life, which does not decrease even when the carrier temperature is exceeded.
- Such pipes are not afraid of defrosting, since they are very resistant to frost, thanks to this they can be used as heating system pipes, as well as for the “underfloor heating” system.
- Corrugated stainless steel pipe for heating does not corrode, and sediment deposits do not appear in it.
- Its texture is plastic, and it also contains an unusual design.
- Can be safely used in damp and basement areas.
Heated floor made of stainless steel corrugated pipe
When compared with the positive qualities and good qualities of using stainless steel, there are quite a few disadvantages:
- Appearance.
- Price. Even nowadays, such stainless steel heating pipes are quite expensive.
- If stainless steel is regularly subjected to deformation, it will eventually become unusable. Thanks to this, such pipes do not need to be installed where there is a very high probability of damage from mechanical factors of the pipe or the influence of an aggressive environment.
The pipe should not be frequently bent and unbent in one place, and it is also undesirable to twist it. Flexible stainless steel pipes of the heating system can be preserved for a long time in a dry room; it is only necessary that they are protected from a variety of damage from mechanical factors and do not come into contact with various metal materials.
Having appeared on our market, a stainless steel pipe for heating quickly found its own niche and became very popular due to its own advantages, and even more so – durability. But taking into account not the lowest price, not everyone who wants will be able to establish for himself such pleasure as flexible liner for heating. Although, if we take into account their strength and long-term use, when all operational rules are implemented, and also taking into account the technical properties, such a cost is not considered high, but quite optimal.
