Cast-iron radiators, which ones are better? Cast-iron radiators: specifications, reviews of experts and buyers

Correctly picking up radiators of heating, you will provide yourself with warmth and comfort in the house. When choosing it is necessary to take into account a lot of important points, such as the area of the room, from which the building is made, etc. But we are not talking about this now. Let's talk about what is a cast-iron radiator, which is better and how to make the right choice. Despite the fact that everything may seem pretty simple, it's not entirely true, and in this article you'll find out why.

Some general information

The heating radiator, commonly referred to as a battery, can be made of the following materials: steel, cast iron, aluminum, copper, etc. But we will only talk about cast iron. Its main advantages are that corrosion processes take place extremely slowly. It is for this simple reason that more than one heating radiator has not surpassed cast iron in terms of durability. Another important plus is the high heat dissipation. For example, you have turned off the heating. In this case, the cast-iron battery will be heated much longer than steel or aluminum. But this is not all that the heating radiators can boast of. Specifications here are also on top. Such damaging hydraulic or chemical blows for copper or aluminum products , critical pressure drops in the system or not the best quality of the coolant are not harmful.

All of the above advantages mean that this is an excellent solution for heating the room. "But it can not be so perfect!" - you say. Of course, cast iron radiators have their drawbacks. For example, it's hard to imagine something more heavy than a battery from a given metal. Another disadvantage is the design, which often does not fit modern interiors. But partly this problem is solved, in the markets there are more and more original models in retro or modern style. Let's look at the cast-iron radiators that are better and which are not worth your attention.

About the technical characteristics of the product

We have not yet said that the cast-iron battery is suitable for any kind of heating, this is due to the large hydraulic resistance, so regardless of whether forced or natural circulation is installed, this radiator will work perfectly. The main technical characteristic that matters to you as a consumer is the power.

To understand what kind of performance radiator you need, you need to apply a fairly simple calculation. So, for a room of 10 square meters, which has one window and an external wall, you need a battery for 1 kW of power (thermal). If the room has several exterior walls (angular) and one window, then it is necessary to have 1,2 kW. When there are 2 windows and two external walls in the room, the battery with 1.3 kW of heat output is best suited. Proceeding from this and it is necessary to choose cast-iron radiators of heating. Specifications are always very important. The lack of power will lead to poor heating of the room, and excess - to the increased temperature in the room and overpayment. But this is not all that concerns the technical side, so let's consider this issue in more detail.

Cast iron radiators: technical details of the products in detail

Let's talk in more detail about batteries made of cast iron. The first step is to say that their heat transfer coefficient is relatively small, about 40%. In fact, 60% goes only to heat the radiator, and the remaining 40% - to the direct heating of the room. But not everything is as bad as it seems. As noted above, cast-iron batteries cool very long, therefore, the air will be heated much longer than the product from another metal. As an example for consideration of technical characteristics, let's take the cast-iron radiators of Russian heating, manufactured in accordance with GOST 31311-2005.

The length of one section of such a battery is 9.3 centimeters, and its weight is about 7 kilograms. The heat flux in this case will not exceed 0.16 kW, provided that the area of the heating surface is 0.24 square meters. From this one can draw a simple conclusion that 7-8 sections are sufficient for heating a small room of 10 squares. As you can see, cast-iron heating radiators technical characteristics are very good. In addition, the temperature of the heating medium can be 130 degrees Celsius, and the allowable pressure in the system is about 9 atmospheres or 0.9 MPa. In principle, this is a good solution for heating both residential and industrial buildings. But you need to calculate the correct heat output.

Cast-iron radiators: consumer reviews

Despite the fact that we have already familiarized ourselves with the main advantages, I would like to talk about what consumers say and recommend experts. First, almost everyone talks about trouble-free operation for 30-50 years. This indicates that after installation you can not worry for a long time that there will be a breakdown. Owners of central heating systems have always complained about the quality of the coolant. But what is remarkable about cast-iron batteries is that they work normally even in extreme conditions, ordinary consumers can not fail to notice it. Adherents of such radiators note and immunity to abrasive wear, which plays almost a decisive role in the selection.

Of course, cast-iron radiators, reviews about which are mostly positive, have their drawbacks. For example, alone it is almost impossible to perform the installation, which is due to the large weight. Especially it concerns batteries, where the number of sections exceeds 5-6 pieces. Sometimes there are negative responses about the poor quality of the weld. But this is, rather, the lack of a specific manufacturer, rather than the product as a whole. In general, cast-iron heating radiators reviews are positive, even though today there are more profitable solutions.

Overview of batteries from the STI model range "Nova"

Russian cast iron radiators from this manufacturer are of high quality and attractive design. It is worth noting that this company produces the average price range product, and as for quality, it is above the average. For example, cast-iron heating radiators "500-Nova" for 10 sections will cost about 5 000 rubles apiece. In exchange for money, you will receive a product made of gray cast iron, whose durability in normal operation reaches half a century. Sealing rings are made of modern polymer, so the leakage of the coolant is practically impossible.

The battery from STI Nova-500 operates at a normal pressure in the 1.2 MPa system, but it will withstand a load of 1.6 MPa, so the water hammer will not disable the radiator. The heat flux of an individual section is approximately 0.15 kW. In total, you will get a battery with a thermal capacity of 1.5 kW, which is quite enough to warm up the premises in 13-15 square meters. As for the design, then you need to say a separate "thank you" to the manufacturer. The product is designed in such a way that it resembles a modern steel or aluminum battery. In principle, this is what radiators of heating cast-iron Nova are famous for. Customer feedback converges to the fact that the product fits perfectly into any design of the room, and this is important.

A small review of the radiators MC-140

This is a Soviet cast-iron battery, which was installed both in residential and industrial buildings. A distinctive feature of the MC-140 is that the sections are wide and capacious, due to this it was possible to achieve a minimum hydraulic resistance. But I had to sacrifice the coefficient of efficiency, which fell to a mark of 40-60%. As a material for manufacturing cast iron is used, the sections are joined together by means of nipples from cold-rolled steel or malleable cast iron. The old samples were primed and painted.

But today the cast iron heating radiators MS have been slightly modernized. Of course, their main characteristics, such as heat transfer, weight and dimensions, changed little, but the appearance became completely different. Moreover, there were models designed to work in corrosive environments, places with frequent temperature changes and high humidity. In this case, the characteristics of cast-iron radiators are somewhat different from conventional products. The sections are additionally polished from the top, as well as the front side, and the painting is carried out in a two-step method. As a paint, use persistent epoxy enamels, which are processed by polymerization at a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. As a result, you get a battery that will withstand any loads and will work for many years.

Radiators of Russian production Konner

The company is located in the city of St. Petersburg and produces a wide range of batteries. In particular, these are bimetallic, aluminum, extruded and cast iron. We are only interested in the last kind of batteries. This company differs from the others in that it produces radiators of different models, there are more than 10 of them. There is a choice between "Modern" and "Retro", "Light" and "Olimpic", "Fort" and "Hit", and so on. All this suggests that you can find a battery for every taste, no matter what your design and interior. Cast iron Konner heating radiators are completed as standard. These are sectional blocks for 4, 7, 10 or 12 sections. In principle, this choice should be enough, although many say that this is not enough? And you need to use a non-standard equipment.

As for the technical characteristics, they are almost all standard. The temperature of the coolant is up to 130 degrees Celsius, and the operating pressure in the system is about 13 atmospheres. But there are a few nuances. For example, a retro-style battery has a thermal power of 100-130 watts, while the "Modern" radiators are 130-150 watts, which is somewhat higher. This applies to other characteristics, as well as the dimensions of the product.

Which radiator company to choose?

This is perhaps one of the main questions for those who decided to focus on batteries from this material. There are several important points. First, regardless of the manufacturer, the product should not be mechanically damaged. For example, chips and cracks will soon lead to complete destruction of the product. Since cast iron - metal is very brittle, then impacts during loading / unloading are simply unacceptable. As for the manufacturer, Konner will be the perfect solution, offering a wide choice at an affordable price. This manufacturer has 80% positive feedback, which indicates a worthy quality of products.

We have talked with you about radiators of STI Nova company. This is quite a quality product. Many consumers say that the battery life reaches very impressive figures, it's 50 years or more. This all suggests that Nova's cast-iron batteries are bought once and for life. At the market today there are a lot of brands worthy of your attention, among them both European and domestic.

What do experts advise?

Cast-iron radiators which are better? This should be asked from experts. Most recommend the popular European brand Paladin. The company produces products with high power and high quality, which is its main features. The best Paladin cast iron batteries are suitable for the classical design of the room, but retro or modern can be chosen under the order, etc. The German company "Guratec" has long established itself as a reliable and responsible manufacturer of cast iron radiators. Today, its products are one of the most expensive, but it pays off not only with exceptional quality, but also with design. Working pressure here is 8 atmospheres, so if your system often has all 10 or even 12, then these radiators will definitely not work for you.

Conclusion

Here we are and talked about what iron radiators are. Which is better, you must decide for yourself. You can, of course, listen to a consultant, but it is advisable to buy what you like best. In most cases, products from different manufacturers differ only in design, sometimes with the quality of the front and top surfaces. Almost always, gray cast iron is used, so there is no need to say something about the quality of the material. Most often, consumers are faced with the fact that the battery starts to leak. However, it can be said with certainty that these are isolated cases. For example, there is no defect in Konner radiators, the same concerns Nova and MC-140. Do not forget that irrespective of the brand, the installation of cast-iron radiators should be carried out by specialists, then you will provide yourself with warmth and comfort in the house, when there is a blizzard and frost outside the window.