Cleaning bimetallic batteries with vinegar and soda. Cleaning radiators - eliminating blockages

To keep your home warm and cozy, you need to properly care for communications and regularly carry out preventive maintenance. This also applies to cast iron batteries. Long-term operation of heating devices for several months in a row leads to clogging of internal channels. The results are a decrease in heat transfer, longer warm-up, and cold in the room. To normalize the operation of the heating system, cast iron radiators need to be cleaned. It is better to carry it out in the summer, before the start of the new heating season.

Cast iron heating radiators last 50 years or more if used properly

It's time to flush your batteries: five signs

1. Low temperature of one radiator compared to others. If one battery is cooler than all the others in the house, then the channels through which the coolant moves are clearly dirty.
2. The battery temperature is lower than the riser. This is also an obvious sign that there are problems with the device.
3. The apartment does not warm up well, but the neighbors are warm. The cold in an apartment is not always related to the operation of the heating network. Perhaps all the batteries in the apartment need cleaning.
4. Cold lower part of the radiator. Uneven heating is a sign of clogged channels.
5. Sections of the same radiator have different temperatures. It happens that the channels of individual sections are dirty. It is impossible to wash them separately, and it makes no sense, because... other sections also require preventative maintenance.

How a radiator works - diagram

Causes of contamination of the internal channels of cast iron batteries

In centralized heating systems, the quality of the coolant is poorly controlled. As water circulates through the network, it carries particles of foreign impurities. Heat pipes are often not maintained in proper condition. The pipes in some areas are several decades old. Corrosion processes are ongoing. Under the pressure of hot water, pieces of rust break off from the internal surfaces of the pipes and enter the heating radiators, where they settle on the walls.

Impurities, debris, rust - all this gradually clogs the channels of heating devices. The amount of coolant circulating in them decreases, and the heating efficiency decreases. In this case, even high-quality water heating by the heat supplier does not guarantee comfortable temperature regime in the house.

Type of dirty internal surfaces of the heating device

Centralized and individual battery cleaning

There are two ways to clean radiators - individual and centralized (general) flushing. The first option is the only one possible for private houses and apartments with autonomous heating. To clean, you will have to remove and then reinstall the radiators. The advantage of this method is minimal financial costs.

Centralized washing is carried out only in apartment buildings. This effective method cleaning, but it involves costs and requires the consent of all neighbors. A significant plus is that you don’t have to dismantle the heating devices.

Special equipment can be used for washing

How is centralized washing carried out?

The procedure is carried out by utility workers and some construction companies. They use a hydropneumatic flushing method. The essence of the technology is as follows. Water is supplied under pressure into the riser. Since compressors operate at certain intervals, the water in the system mixes with air. The mixture enters heating appliances in apartments, and air bubbles “beat off” debris particles accumulated on the walls of the radiator channels. The dirt is gradually washed away.

Such cleaning gives good results, but organizational issues take up energy and time, so most people prefer to remove the batteries and wash them themselves. It is faster, cheaper and does not require prior approval from neighbors and utility companies.

Connection diagram for special equipment for chemical cleaning

How to clean batteries yourself

You will need tools for dismantling and subsequent installation of batteries, a bathtub and old rags. The easiest and most reliable way:

• Prepare the bath: cover the bottom and walls with a rag so as not to strip the enamel when flushing the radiator. It is best to use a cast iron or steel bath. Acrylic can be hopelessly damaged. Protect the drain with a special mesh, this will help avoid clogging of the sewer.

• Remove the radiator and move it to the bathtub. Remove the watering can from the faucet or attach a hose to the faucet and flush the radiator under pressure. To help the dirt peel off better, the battery needs to be shaken and turned periodically.

• Flush until clean water flows out of the radiator. If the blockages are not washed out, you need to clear the channels with a long wire.

Removing the battery for cleaning

How to clean cast iron radiators

Used for washing hot water with cleaning agent. Soda ash works best. The mixture is poured into the battery, after which it is gently tapped on the outer surface with a wooden hammer or the radiator is turned several times to speed up the peeling of the build-up. After a while, the radiator is washed under water pressure using a hose connected to the tap. The procedure is repeated several times until complete cleaning.

Recipes for cleaning products from savvy “nuggets”

Sometimes liquids for cleaning car radiators are used as cleaning agents. They are poured into heating devices and water is added. The amount of cleaning agent is calculated based on the volume and dosage recommended by the manufacturer. The finished mixture should not completely fill the radiator. Shake the battery vigorously every 10 minutes for two hours. Rinse under strong water pressure.

Some “traditional craftsmen” advise using it instead of household and automotive chemicals. vinegar essence and natural whey. They are used exactly as described above. It is believed that the acids contained in dairy products corrode dirt well and help peel off corrosive particles. It is impossible to vouch for the correctness of such assumptions.

After cleaning the batteries from the inside, it makes sense to paint and decorate the external surfaces

Whatever method you choose to clean heating radiators, ensure that dirt and debris are washed out as much as possible. Remember that the indicator of correct flushing is not the time and effort involved, but the purity of the water flowing from the radiator. A well-cleaned battery from the inside heats up more intensely, which means the house will be warm and comfortable in winter.

Video: flushing heating systems using the hydro-pneumatic ram method

The very first and surest sign that a layer of unnecessary elements has appeared in your batteries is when during the heating season some of the batteries are hot and some are cold. The battery needs to be washed.

Washing the device must be carried out not only with outside, but also inside. You can do this yourself in a private home. In apartment buildings, it is difficult to clean the batteries of one apartment, and this will not bring the expected result, since your common system heating. Some of the debris you remove will end up back into your batteries in a few seconds. Therefore, in apartment buildings it is necessary to flush radiators together with everyone who is attached to your riser, and under the supervision of specialists. Such radiator flushing should be scheduled. It is advisable that it takes place every three years.

Risk factors

In addition, there are other signs that the radiator needs to be cleaned:

1. The radiator pipe is hot, but the battery itself is cold.
2. When heat is applied, the battery heats up more slowly than usual.
3. Energy consumption is growing.

When is the best time to clean?

Experts have different opinions. Many people advise flushing batteries at the end of the heating season (from May to September). There is no need to turn off anything, and the water will not interfere with the process. Many, on the contrary, say that flushing should be done while heating the premises, having first disconnected the battery and. Then, at the end of the process, the functionality of the radiators will be immediately visible. You can tell if they are fully heated after cleaning.

It is advisable to carry out general cleaning once every three years, even if there is no apparent reason for this. This way you will prolong the operation of your entire heating system.

Washing process

When flushing must have:

1. Bench tools for removing and then replacing batteries.
2. Welding machine - to secure the battery in the right place.
3. Special solution (to soften scale).
4. The cleaning device is a gun with a nozzle.

Read also: Heating radiators for cottages with antifreeze

Subsequence

1. Release the water from the batteries (from the boiler, if this is a private house, no need to release water).
2. When removing the radiator, keep the necessary plumbing tools at the ready.
3. Pour in a solution - a liquid that softens scale.
4. Turn on the gun with the nozzle, which is inserted into the radiator hole. Wash the inside with a jet of liquid. The pressure and composition of the solution will allow you to remove deposits from all walls, both technological and chemical, as well as grease, scale, rust, and clots of accumulated dust.
5. Place and secure the battery in its original place.
6. Connect the water supply to the heating system.

The frequency of flushing radiators directly depends on the material from which they are made.

The most durable in this regard is a bimetallic radiator, the inner surface of which is smooth and little susceptible to corrosion and deposits. Rough cast iron is more susceptible to sediment accumulation, but does not corrode and is less susceptible to rust. they have to be cleaned more often; they are more susceptible to internal deposits.

Features of washing cast iron batteries

Durable and high-quality ones also require washing. It is best to do it in the bathroom, after covering it with a sheet or polyethylene.
After removing the cast iron battery from the L-shaped mount, place it in the bathtub, fill it with hot water and after 5 minutes pour this water out of the radiator. Then we fill it with a chemical solution (you can buy it in a ready-made form at the store or prepare it yourself - from 70% vinegar, soda, whey, etc. are also added to the liquid), close the plugs and leave the battery with the internal solution somewhere - then for an hour. Then we wash out the entire contents with streams of the prepared liquid, and then with streams of water. Flood clean water it is necessary so many times until a relatively clean liquid pours out of the battery.

Heating systems often clogged due to the ingress of various debris, poor water quality and great content minerals in the coolant.

Lime deposits, corrosion and clogging of batteries significantly reduce the efficiency of the system.

When is it necessary to flush bimetallic radiators?

• Uneven heating. A hot top and cold bottom of the appliance indicate a blockage inside the equipment.
• Slow heating. When starting the heating system, the batteries take longer to heat up than usual.
• Low temperature radiators with hot pipes.
• Increased energy consumption.

How to properly clean your device

Smooth inner surface doesn't get dirty so quickly, as in similar products made of cast iron or aluminum. Metal appliances for space heating are durable and require general cleaning once every 5-7 years. Preventative cleaning should be carried out annually.

Choice of funds

Specialty Chemicals are a quick and effective way to clean heating equipment from contaminants. The components that make up the preparations break down deposits on the inner surface and help wash away dirt.

In addition, you can use these folk remedies:

• solution caustic soda;
• seventy percent vinegar essence;
• whey.

Experts advise using only special chemicals to clean metal heating devices.

Battery flushing

Batteries are easiest to clean in large containers. Considering the low weight of the products, the best option would be to process the equipment in a bath. First cleaning carried out without the use of chemicals. The radiator is filled with water and dirt is mechanically removed from it using shaking.

Photo 1. Before performing any procedures, you should shut off the water supply to the radiator using ball valves.

Spent content the device should pour out, and in its place add special reagents. The solution is inside the battery about an hour, after which the equipment knock with a wooden hammer or shake to remove any remaining rust and dirt. At the end of the device rinse in running water.

Features of cleaning at home

In addition to washing metal equipment, you should completely clean your home's heating system. For this you need bleed all the air and fill the circuits with chemicals. Water with reagents must be driven through the pipes until a visually clean liquid flows out.

Important! The main reason batteries become clogged is the use unfiltered water from a well or well.

In private homes, due to uncleaned coolant, heating systems should be flushed carry out 1-3 times a year.

Useful video

Check out the video that shows how to flush the radiator: how to reduce the pressure and release dirty water.

Clean radiators are the key to efficient home heating

Flush batteries preferably after the end of the heating season. This will prevent the formation of emergency situations, breakdown of the heating system and premature failure of devices. Manipulations related to cleaning radiators do not take a lot of time, effort and money, but provide energy savings and a comfortable indoor atmosphere.

Heating radiators very quickly accumulate dirt and dust, especially inside. This disrupts the aesthetics of the room, interferes with the proper operation of the heating device and reduces the efficiency of heat transfer, causing corrosion, grease and salt deposits.

In addition, dust negatively affects human well-being and often causes allergic reaction.

Regular battery cleaning is the key to human health and excellent preventive maintenance of heating devices. However, while removing dust from the outside of the radiator is quite easy, cleaning the inside causes a lot of hassle and problems. Let's find out how to quickly and effectively clean the inside of radiators from dust.

Seven ways to clean your battery from dust

1. A vacuum cleaner with special narrow nozzles is the fastest and most effective way to clean cast iron or steel radiators;
2. Instead of a vacuum cleaner, you can use a steam generator, which not only cleans, but also disinfects. To do this, place rags under the radiator that absorb water well. Or, to protect the walls and floor, you can first lay or hang an oilcloth, and lay a rag on top. Then treat the heater with steam;

Place a wet cloth on the wall behind the battery and use a hair dryer to blow the dust off the device. Then the dust will settle on the rag;

3. You can wash the battery without using additional equipment. In this case, use manual cleaning and cotton gloves. Put gloves on your hands and soak them in a soapy solution, then use your hands to clean the dirt and dust from inside the device;
4. You can clean the battery using boiling water. To do this, take a baking sheet from the oven, a kettle of boiling water and a bucket of rags. Place the baking sheet under the radiator, and start pouring boiling water over the device itself. During cleaning, you can additionally wipe the battery with a cloth. When working, use rubber gloves and be careful with boiling water! Water and dust will drain into the pan. And as the pan fills, pour the water into the bucket and put it back. After the procedure, thoroughly wipe the radiator with a damp and then a dry cloth, and remove any splashes around;
5. Heavily dirty heating appliances can be washed using special cleaning products. Household chemicals effectively remove dirt, dust, grease and plaque. First, rags are placed under the battery, and then the spray is sprayed over the surface of the radiator and left for the time specified in the instructions. After this, wipe the battery with a sponge or cloth;
6. To properly clean the inside of the battery, use a dish brush with a curved end, a long-handled radiator paint brush, or an old toothbrush. This way, you will reach hard-to-reach places, you will be able to completely wash the device, and effectively and permanently remove dust.

How to remove and wash the battery from the inside

For general cleaning, experts recommend removing the battery and taking it out of the room, as this procedure causes a large amount of dirt and debris to appear. Cleaning is done outside or in the bathroom, after covering the bathtub with a thick cloth so as not to damage the enamel of the plumbing fixtures.

By the way, read here how you can restore the enamel of a bathtub. A protective mesh is inserted into the drain hole to catch solid particles and prevent clogging of the pipeline.

Before starting the process, be sure to turn off the valves and unscrew the nuts that connect the radiator to the heating network pipes. Then you should carefully drain the remaining water, remove the battery from its mounts and place it in the bathroom. Wash the device using a shower or hose.

To clean a radiator, take a mallet, hammer or wooden block and tap each section thoroughly. This will speed up the removal of rust and salt deposits. Then tilt the appliance on its side and shake it to release large solids from inside.

After this, pour hot water inside the radiator and leave for half an hour. After the time has passed, rinse using a shower or hose. Flush the battery until the water coming out from inside is clear.

Most often, batteries are not cleaned inside for several decades. Therefore, washing with ordinary water may not cope with contaminants. In this case, you can use additional funds.

So, soda, citric acid or acid-base compounds are added to the washing water. Before using special detergents, carefully read the instructions, as some have a negative effect on aluminum and are not suitable for aluminum batteries!

How to flush a heating radiator. Hydraulic, hydropneumatic and chemical cleaning

Over time, heating radiators lose their efficiency due to the accumulation of sediment and other pollutants in them. However, this is not a reason to buy new radiators, since they can be washed and thereby return to their original efficiency.

Below we will get acquainted with the main nuances and methods of cleaning them.

Flushing the heating radiator

When should batteries be washed?

The following signs indicate the need to flush heating radiators:

• Uneven heating, for example, a heating device can be hot from below and cold from above, or vice versa.
• The radiator began to heat up more slowly than before.
• Energy consumption has increased noticeably.

Most often, the need for cleaning occurs in batteries that are connected to centralized heating systems. This is due to their length, big amount connected equipment.

Moreover, cast iron radiators most often become clogged, since, unlike bimetallic aluminum ones, they have much more irregularities inside. True, the cleaning process for both is performed in the same way. However, looking ahead, it will be noted that bimetallic heating devices are best washed using a chemical method.

Advice! To avoid frequent clogging of the autonomous heating system, softened filtered water should be used as a coolant. In this case, even after several years of operation, the batteries will remain clean.

Diagram of contaminant accumulation in radiators

Flushing options

The choice of cleaning type depends on the degree of contamination of the heating device. Below we will take a closer look at how to flush a heating radiator in an apartment using each of these methods.

In the photo - washing the battery

Hydraulic flushing

The advantage of cleaning using this method is that it can be done even during the heating season, since it does not require dismantling the batteries. The idea is to rinse the device with running water.

This procedure is performed as follows:

• Before flushing clogged radiator honeycombs from the inside, you should connect a hose to the drain valve and drain it into the sewer.
• Then you need to open the system feed tap. As a result, the bulk of the contaminants comes out with the flow of water.
• When clean water flows from the hose, the procedure can be considered complete.

Draining dirty coolant

Advice! If the system is not connected to the water supply, you can use a pump or pump to supply water to the radiators.

This method is gentle and at the same time quite effective, especially if radiators are cleaned regularly. However, if a large amount of precipitation has accumulated inside, you will have to use more effective methods.

Pneumatic flushing diagram

Hydropneumatic cleaning

This method washing resembles the method described above, however, air is added to the water. To do this, you can use a car compressor.

The main nuance of such cleaning is that air is supplied to the system intermittently. The result is a pulsation that can break up even stubborn deposits.

The only drawback of this method is that during the flushing process water hammers are formed, which can damage the weakest areas of the system. But, on the other hand, it is better to detect such areas before the onset of the heating season and promptly eliminate them with your own hands.

Heating battery cleaner

Chemical

As you might guess, the chemical method involves the use various means. It should be noted that there are special liquids for flushing heating systems.

However, you can also use folk remedies, such as:

• Vinegar;
• Milk serum;
• Phosphoric or orthophosphoric acid;
• Caustic soda.

You can also flush the radiator citric acid.As a rule, the dry cleaning process involves dismantling the battery.

Advice! If the system has a bypass, then you can remove the battery even during the heating season.

Below, as an example, we will consider how to rinse a cast iron radiator using a chemical method:

• First of all, you need to rinse the device several times with running water according to the scheme described above. It is advisable to wash with hot water.
• Then you need to turn off the water supply and drain it from the battery.
• After this, you need to dismantle the radiator.

• Then liquid with added chemicals is poured into the battery. Vinegar essence is most often used, since its price is not high, but it copes with the task efficiently. In this case, one bottle of 70% solution should be used per battery.

The filled battery should be sealed and left for several hours. During this time, all scale and rust will be removed from the inside.

• Next, you need to shake the battery well or even hit it with a hammer, after which you can drain the chemical.
• Then the device should be rinsed several times with water. This must be done carefully, as remaining acid can cause rust.
• Threaded connections should be wiped with a cloth.
• After this, you should install the radiator in place, sealing the threaded connections with fum tape.
• Final rinsing can be done after installing the device.

Advice! As a cleaning agent, you can use “Mole” or other products that are used to clean pipelines.

If you need to wash bimetallic or aluminum devices that are slightly dirty, they do not need to be dismantled.

Flushing options

• Hydraulic;
• Hydropneumatic;
• Chemical.

Chemical

• Before washing an aluminum heating radiator, you should drain the old water from the system, rinse the batteries with running water according to the scheme described above, and then add chemicals to the water.
• Then, for several days, every three to four hours you need to turn on the pump for 15 minutes.
• After this, the liquid must be drained and the system must be flushed several times with clean water.

That’s actually all the instructions for chemical washing. It should be noted that according to the requirements of SNiP, it can be carried out no more than once every six to seven years.

But it is advisable to carry out hydraulic and hydropneumatic cleaning every year. True, modern bimetallic and aluminum heating devices require cleaning less often.

Have the radiators in your apartment started to heat up poorly lately? Sections are not warm enough and the overall heating time has increased noticeably? Most likely, the heating radiator is clogged and needs to be thoroughly cleaned.

Low heat transfer from batteries indicates they are clogged.

In order to clean it you will need the following tools: paint (FUM), a two-piece gas wrench, an adjustable wrench for plumbing work(provided that cleaning of aluminum, bimetallic or steel heating radiators is required), sealing tow and container. We proceed directly to the procedure for cleaning equipment in the apartment. Please adhere to the below step by step instructions, and you will be able to restore normal operation of the radiator in fairly short term.

Algorithm for cleaning the radiator

1. Sometimes owners are forced to deal with crystalline blockages, and in this case slightly different means are needed. You can't do without a concentrated vinegar solution. We install the end fittings at the bottom and pour vinegar inside. Before using vinegar, it is recommended to dilute it 70% with water. This flushing will help remove stubborn blockages from the heating radiator. The solution should sit for about two hours, after which it should be poured out and the radiator should be cleaned with water pressure to achieve complete cleansing.
2. You can also wash the external surfaces of the radiator to give it a nice and clean look.

One of the reasons for clogging may be scale formation

The radiator should be placed on wall mounts and the threaded connections on it should be lightly cleaned with a cloth, which must be dry. If you have a cast iron radiator, then screw tow onto all the fittings in the direction of the threads and apply paint to the seal. It is allowed to use any paint related to “Nitro” and “Enamel”. Using a two-piece gas wrench, tighten the fittings tightly.

If the apartment has more modern radiators, then it is recommended to use film for waterproofing purposes. Do not use tow or paint.

So, as we see, there is nothing overly complicated about cleaning the radiator. This will not require any special skills or knowledge, just as you will not need any rare means and tools that are difficult to obtain. If done responsibly, this procedure will not take too much time and effort, and therefore every owner can clean the radiator on their own.

However, there are situations where even after all the measures have been taken and the radiators are installed in their place, the heating system still functions poorly. In this case, you need to buy a new radiator and replace the old one, or use the services of specialized companies that carry out cleaning with a technical booster.

The efficiency of any, even very high-quality heating system, gradually decreases during operation. This means that under the same initial conditions, much less heat enters the room, that is, it is heated worse. Often the cause of this phenomenon is clogged radiators.

Heat coolant circulating through the heating circuit, as well as poor water quality, leads to the formation of scale, which settles on the walls of the radiators. The metal from which batteries are made begins to rust over time. Small particles of rust and scale mix with the circulating water and clog the system, reducing its heat transfer.

In what cases may radiator flushing be necessary?

There are several main conditions under which battery flushing is necessary:

• Uneven heating of the radiator. In this case, on one side the device heats up more than on the other.
• It takes longer for the battery to fully heat up than before.
• Heating radiators do not heat up, despite the fact that the pipes leading to them are hot.
• Fuel consumption for heating the house has increased.

In most cases, either cast iron or bimetallic radiators are installed in modern houses. The latter have higher performance characteristics because they have a smooth surface and clog much more slowly.

In general, the method of cleaning batteries does not depend on the material they are made of. However, when deciding how to wash bimetallic batteries, it is worth choosing the chemical method rather than the mechanical one.

We wash the batteries with our own hands

You can start flushing the aluminum radiator only at the end of the heating season, when all the water has been removed from the system. After this, you can remove the battery and begin cleaning. Before rinsing aluminum heating radiators or any others, you need to purchase special household chemicals and prepare a special solution of acetic acid, caustic soda and whey.

In an apartment, dirty work such as cleaning batteries can only be done in the bathroom. But in order not to damage it, it is advisable to wipe old thick rags under the radiator. Before rinsing the aluminum battery, do not forget to place a special mesh over the drain hole. It contains all the large particles of dirt and prevents them from penetrating into the sewer.

When working with cast iron batteries, first of all, you need to remove the plugs from them. After this, hot water is poured into the hole without any additives. The radiator should be shaken slightly to lift sediment from the bottom, and then drain the dirty water.

In this case, the holes must be closed with plugs and the solution must be left inside the batteries for at least an hour.

After 60 minutes, using a wooden hammer, you need to tap the radiator over the entire surface or shake it thoroughly. Such manipulations will help peel off rust and scale from the inner walls of the radiator.

Next, the solution with chemicals is poured out of the radiator and clean water is added again. In order to rinse cast iron or aluminum radiators as best as possible, you will need to fill in clean water several times. This will not only help remove the blockage more efficiently, but will also flush out the remaining acetic acid, which can gradually corrode the walls and contribute to the formation of rust.

Sometimes after washing the batteries, air pockets form in the system. The only way out of this situation is to blow out the battery. However, if you have never done this, it is better to invite a specialist so as not to aggravate the situation.

Cleaning radiators in a private house

Due to a number of objective reasons, heating systems in private homes become clogged much more often. In this case, cleaning is required not only for heating radiators, but also for the entire system as a whole.

The peculiarity of individual heating in private houses is that untreated well or tap water, which contains a large amount of salts and other impurities, is used as a coolant.

It is these impurities that form scale over time and, together with rust, clog the heating system much faster. In this regard, centralized heating of multi-storey buildings is advantageous in that purified water is supplied to the system.

Flushing options

Chemical

Don’t know how and how to clean radiators? Read!

If the radiator becomes cold during the heating season, then it is necessary to flush it, since during operation, debris has accumulated in it and the coolant has stopped circulating through the system. But before we find out how to clean radiators, let’s figure out why a cast iron radiator gets clogged.

How and what does a heating device become clogged with?

Since the quality of the circulating fluid sometimes changes, this leads to mechanical particles settling in the heating system, which move along with the coolant. And after the season, the water is drained, and corrosion occurs in the pipes.

When hot water is supplied, since it is under a certain pressure, corrosion particles peel off and also settle inside the radiator. And over the years, so much of this garbage accumulates that, circulating along with the coolant, it clogs the heating battery. All this leads to the fact that the device stops working efficiently, and even with a hot riser, the radiators remain warm, and this is the first signal that the battery needs to be cleaned.

If you do not have the skill to work with wrenches, then you should not wash the heating device yourself. Let's look at how to clean a heating battery correctly.

For this:

• In places where there is a surge on the radiator (top and bottom), unscrew the lock nut;
• Hold the coupling with one key, and screw the squeegee into the heating battery with the other. This is done until he comes out;
• Free the radiator from the pipes and remove it from the holders;
• The battery is mechanically cleaned of debris and deposits, but if this does not work, then various chemicals are used to remove scale;
• After the inside of the radiator is cleared of debris, it is blown out with compressed air;
• If the battery is aluminum, then hydrodynamic flushing is necessary;
• After cleaning, the heating device is mounted back in its place. To do this, hang it on brackets. Unscrew the fittings and clean the threads from the seals. A cable or sealing tape is wound around the long thread and screwed into the radiator. Before this, screw the locknut to the end of the thread. The same action is performed with the second drive;
• Simultaneously with unscrewing the squeegee, screw it into the tap or coupling, and there should be a seal at its end;
• Also, a sealant is wound in front of the locknut.

It is important! Let's look at ways to clean cast iron heating appliances; this work is not difficult. You can flush the radiator using soda ash, whey, vinegar essence and other preparations.

Basic steps when flushing the battery:

1. Dismantle the radiator;
2. Soda is poured into hot water and poured into the heating system;
3. The plugs are screwed in at both ends of the battery;
4. After some time (1 hour), the radiator is shaken, and in order for the rust to come off, the body is tapped with a wooden hammer;
5. Open the plugs and connect the hose and open the tap, and the pressure must be high so that all the rust comes out;
6. In order to create high pressure you can use a compressor.

Comfortable modern housing in central Russia cannot be imagined without heating elements. The heating system is a complex design of devices, which consists of heating sections, heating mains and heating points. The most common and popular type of heat point is a radiator. And sooner or later the question always arises of how to flush a heating radiator.

The Importance of Cleaning Thermal Elements

Over time, even the most efficient heating point with an ideal coolant temperature can lose its high heat transfer coefficient due to clogging. The blockage occurs from inside the battery, filling it with a kind of debris, preventing coolant from passing through and not conducting heat into the room.

You should not think that someone deliberately adds garbage to the heating system so that the battery loses its thermal properties, and manufacturers of heating devices maintain their turnover. Heating batteries are made from a variety of metals. Each metal, like any other material, has its own resource and lifespan. During operation, it is destroyed, and the rate of destruction directly depends on the quality of the alloy.

In the warm season, when the heating system is not working and the battery is standing without water, its internal walls begin to collapse. The upper layers break off and settle as debris inside the device.

It is quite possible to prevent this process and preserve the thermal characteristics of the device for as long as possible.

In your own heating system, it is easier to monitor the condition of the batteries, since you can fill it with coolant yourself and select thermal points with corrosion resistance indicators. In a central heating system, this is somewhat more difficult, since it is not known how old the neighbor’s batteries are and how carefully he monitors them.

Cleaning the battery is a time-consuming and troublesome task, and many people neglect such an important procedure. But sooner or later you still have to clean the heating point - or you will have to completely replace it. The need to clean the radiator can be determined by the following signs:

• Warming up occurs unevenly.
• Compared to previous heating seasons, the room warms up more slowly and less efficiently.
• The heat pipe is higher in temperature than the heating point itself.

Types of batteries

Today, the number of types of heating devices has increased several times. You can heat the room by installing the following radiators:

• Steel.
• Cast iron.
• Aluminum.
• Bimetallic.

The most resistant to internal corrosion are steel and bimetallic radiators. They are smooth inside, which minimizes the risk of corrosion.

Aluminum batteries are also resistant to corrosion, but are susceptible to flushing fluids. According to their own chemical characteristics aluminum is the most valent among all metals. When choosing an aluminum heat point, there are many factors to consider, as aluminum wear can be affected by more than just internal corrosion.

In practice, only cast iron radiators face problems with cleaning radiators. Due to the porous inner surface, a cast iron radiator needs cleaning more than any other radiator.

Washing methods

You can wash the radiators without removing them - using a special device that fills the radiator with detergent under high pressure. In the absence of such a device, the thermal point is washed manually. For this cleaning method, the battery must be removed from its place.

Before cleaning a battery (cast iron, aluminum or steel), it is necessary to prepare:

• Wash the outside of the battery, as well as the mount and the wall from dust and grease films.
• Remove the battery, having first installed a container to drain the water from the pipes and shut off the water supply valve.
• Remove all plugs and fill the device with hot water, shaking occasionally so that all dirt particles pour out with the water.
• The next step is to add detergent. Before this, you need to return the plugs to their places. The radiator is left with the active liquid for a couple of hours.
• Before freeing the heating element from the cleaning liquid, shake it a couple of times. You can lightly tap it with a rubber hammer so that the remaining dirt is completely peeled off and comes out of the battery.
• Thorough rinsing of detergent with plenty of running water is the last step.

It is better to rinse the radiator in the bathroom, after covering it with a rag so as not to damage the surface. The drain must be protected with a special mesh. It is better not to clean the battery alone, but to find helpers, since it is extremely difficult to carry out all the cleaning operations yourself.

Cleaning products

Cast iron batteries, like any other thermal point, can be washed with the following liquids:

• Chemicals that contain caustic soda.
• Citric acid.
• Acetic acid.
• Means for cleaning car radiators.

These products will do an excellent job of cleaning radiators. However, you should not use acid and alkali for aluminum radiators.

The most effective way to wash a cast iron battery is with a car cleaner, but given its volume, this procedure will cost a significant amount.

Products containing caustic soda are easy to find: almost any dishwashing composition. This type of cleaning should be used when flushing the heating point from serious contaminants, but this product will not remove salt deposits.

Pollution prevention

Eat good way flush the heating radiator without removing it. Thus, you can save yourself from regular flushing of the heating point, which is recommended to be done every 3-5 years.

Filter rough cleaning(its second name is an oblique filter) is a brass fitting that is installed on the water supply to the radiator. A mesh is installed inside it and an outlet for a plug is made.

The mesh in the filter prevents dirt from entering the radiator and remains in the fitting. As the blockage occurs, the plug from the outlet is twisted and the entire blockage is cleared.

How to flush a heating radiator in an apartment, outside and inside: aluminum, cast iron, do-it-yourself installation instructions, how to clean clogged honeycombs from the inside with citric acid, photo and price

Cast iron heating radiators have good heat transfer. However, in order to give something, you must first take it from somewhere. The cast iron from which the batteries are made heats up, that is, it takes away thermal energy hot liquid that flows through the radiator cavities. The closer the contact between the coolant and cast iron, the better and faster the heat will enter the heated air.

You can talk for a long time about where the dirt in the batteries comes from, what its nature is and who is to blame for it (if the heating is centralized). However, it is much better and more constructive to instead accept the fact of the presence of pollution and try to rid the sources of heat and winter comfort from them, especially since for this you do not need to have any special skills, that is, you can actually do everything with your own hands.

Dismantling a cast iron heating radiator

In order to properly clean the “insides” of a cast iron battery, it needs to be disconnected from the communications, removed and, preferably, taken outside. You can, of course, try to do this inside the home, but in this case, preparations for the process will take much longer than the process itself. Plus the smell won't be pleasant.

Let's start with the fact that flushing the heating system in a private house is carried out as planned during the warm season. If the heating is centralized, there should be no water in the system; if the system is autonomous, the coolant must be drained.

Then, using an adjustable wrench and some force, unscrew the threaded clamps. Before doing this, you need to place something under the connection points between the pipes and the heating radiator, since it is possible that a small amount of liquid will still leak out.

Now you need to plug the open holes on the heating product, and remove the cast-iron radiator from its holding pins or hooks and take it outside. Do the same with the remaining batteries.

How to clean cast iron batteries

Methods that can effectively clean the inside of batteries can be divided into chemical and mechanical.

The first include household cleaning products, which can be used to chemically attack various types of pollutants. These include:

• — household chemicals containing caustic soda;
• - lemon acid;
• - acetic acid;
• - a means for cleaning car radiators.

All of the listed preparations do a good job when cleaning cast iron batteries is necessary. However, their effectiveness varies.

The product for radiators works best, but the cost, given the volume of cast iron products, is a bit expensive.

Acetic acid Gently cleanses of impurities in the form of salt deposits. However, if there are significant deposits, vinegar, especially in a highly diluted state, is ineffective.

The more chemically aggressive citric acid dissolves salts much better. Whey is also good for these purposes, but where can you get so much of it?

Household substances containing caustic soda include almost all dishwashing detergents. They will not remove salts, but they will cope with all other dirt very well.

Mechanical methods include flushing the heating system in a private home by tapping the radiator body in order to peel off plaque from the cast iron surface.

How to effectively clean cast iron radiators

In order to best clean the product and free it from all unnecessary things, you need to do everything in several stages, alternating mechanical effects with chemical ones.

• The first thing you need to do is unscrew all the plugs and, inserting a connected hose into each hole one by one, rinse the battery with water. As a result, the radiator will be cleared of large quantity dirt, which will be noticeable by the leaking fluid.
• Then, plugging three holes, fill the available volume through the fourth with water with the addition of dishwashing detergent. Close the remaining hole and slightly “move” the cast iron product. Caustic will dissolve all organic pollutants and open access to salt “deposits” of citric acid.
• Now you need to unscrew the plugs, drain the liquid inside and fill in the next one, as is already clear, with dissolved citric acid. Close all the holes again with plugs and leave it like that for a couple of hours. It’s good if the water with food acid is heated, under such conditions the chemical interaction will occur more actively.
• After the specified time has passed, the water is drained. Now you can tap the radiator body with something wooden so that the softened salt deposit will better come off the cast iron, and then thoroughly rinse the battery with water again.
• After the procedures are completed, the battery will be like new inside. You can also give the outside of the radiator a good wash while it is outside.

mynovostroika.ru

Heating radiators in our homes are excellent dust collectors. Therefore, they need to be washed periodically. I will tell you how to wash a heating battery (radiator) quickly and accurately.

The method that is right for you depends on what kind of batteries you have, what type of floor and wall covering you have. You can use one of the methods or combine several.

Method 1

You can get rid of dust on the heating radiator using a vacuum cleaner with special attachments.

Method 2

You can attach a wet rag to the wall behind the battery and use a stream of air from a regular hair dryer to knock off the dust that sticks to the wet rag.

Method 3

To work, you need to prepare a baking sheet, a kettle with boiling water, a bucket and rags.

The baking tray must be placed under the radiator, and the radiator itself must be poured with boiling water from a kettle. All the dust will be washed off with water into a baking tray, from where it must be poured into a bucket. After such a shower, you just need to wipe the battery and everything around from water splashes.

You should work with boiling water very carefully!

Method 4

The steam generator copes well with battery contamination. Before starting work, you just need to put old towels or rags that absorb water well. And after that, treat the heating radiators with steam under pressure.

Method 5

For particularly dirty batteries, you can use bent end cleaning brushes or battery paint brushes. With their help, you can reach all hard-to-reach places and completely clean the heating battery.

Method 6

How to clean a very dirty battery in the kitchen? To do this, you need to pour a cleaning agent (or a solution of this product) into a spray bottle and spray it on the battery. Give time for the product to act on the dirt, and then rinse with water. Dirt, grease, and dust will be washed off without any problems.

Method 7

Particular difficulties may arise when washing batteries if the walls are covered with wallpaper and the floor is carpeted or parquet (laminate). In this case, the walls and floor can be protected from splashes and water with oilcloth. Place additional rags on the oilcloth on the floor to absorb excess water.

These little tricks will help you quickly wash your heating batteries (radiator) from dirt. Clean batteries release their heat better during the heating season.

Flushing options

Chemical

Get more useful information on this topic can be found in this article.

Tsugunov Anton Valerievich

Reading time: 3 minutes

To create a comfortable microclimate in the apartment, it is necessary to maintain an optimal air temperature for all residents. However, over time, the efficiency of the water heating system decreases, and the rooms warm up much worse. The reason for the decrease in heat transfer is clogging of the batteries, which occurs due to the coolant. Timely cleaning of radiators, which can be done at home, will help remove deposits and restore the functioning of radiators. How to wash heating batteries depends on the nature of the contaminants, operating conditions and the material of the heating elements.

Causes of clogging of the heating system

Hot water, circulating through the heating pipes, interacts with the metal and contributes to the occurrence of chemical processes. As a result, deposits appear on the internal surfaces of the batteries, which interfere with the operation of the system and the heating of the premises in the apartment. In cast iron pipes, blockages are formed due to pockets of corrosion that destroy the metal and settle on the walls in the form of tiny particles. On internal surfaces, deposits occur due to the precipitation of calcium and magnesium salts.

In addition, poor quality coolant contributes to clogging of the heating system. Along with water, sand particles, welding scale, and other types of contaminants move through the pipes, especially if the communications are old. Over time, all elements of the heating system become silted and require cleaning, which you can do yourself.

Signs that batteries need cleaning are:

• increasing the room heating time;
• growth in energy consumption;
• uneven heating of radiators;
• in a heating boiler;
• with hot pipes.

This method is based on removing deposits from the heating system using a jet under enormous pressure. Water is supplied to places where sediment accumulates using special nozzles. As a result, there are no accumulations of silt particles, rust or other contaminants inside.

This method is effective for cast iron elements of the heating network, since due to the porous structure, dense deposits form on the walls, interfering with the operation of the equipment. The rather high cost of hydrodynamic cleaning is compensated by the result.

Chemical

Flushing with chemical substances─ one of effective ways removal of deposits. For this purpose, various compositions, solutions of alkali, mineral and organic acids are used. This option is optimal for removing sediment from the inner surface of steel pipes and is used in apartments of multi-story buildings.

Chemical cleaning requires special equipment, which consists of a liquid container, pump and hoses. The composition of the solution is selected taking into account the material of the heating network.

The advantage of this method is the ability not to stop the operation of the heating system, so all technological operations can be carried out in winter period. To get the desired result, you only need to correctly select the solution and calculate its concentration.

To clean using this method, you need equipment capable of creating high pressure. Ordinary water is used as the working fluid without the addition of reagents and chemically aggressive substances.

Deposits on the inner surface of the radiator mainly consist of magnesium salts, sodium and other elements. The specificity of such sediments lies in the combination of strength of attachment to the walls and fragility. Therefore, during hydropneumatic treatment, deposits are easily destroyed by turbulent flows.

Deposit removal technology

To rinse and remove sediment from the walls with your own hands, you will need to perform a number of operations. First, turn off the water supply to the heating element. If there are no shut-off valves, then completely drain the water from the utility network. To do this, remove the radiator and take it to the bathroom, and under certain living conditions, to the street.

When cleaning indoors, protect plumbing fixtures from damage using rags or film. The bathtub opening should be covered with a special mesh to prevent large particles from entering the drain during flushing. Then do the following:

• remove the plugs from the batteries, this is done especially carefully for cast iron products;
• using a garden hose, thoroughly rinse the internal surfaces with a stream of water under pressure, tapping on the outside;

HELPFUL INFORMATION: How to choose an air humidifier for an apartment: battery-powered humidifiers