Batteries in the interior of an apartment or a private house is a must. The harsh conditions of our climate oblige us to establish a high-quality heating system that will ensure comfortable living throughout most of the year. Radiators are difficult to attribute to the group of interior decorations. This plain part of the communication lines of the heating system spoils many elegant interiors. However, radiators can easily be turned into a stylish decor by simple manipulations. Let's talk about how to hide the batteries in the interior.
A couple of centuries ago, fireplaces and stoves, which were heated by coal or wood, were responsible for heating in the house.In many Russian villages, these units are still preserved, which are still used for their intended purpose. The first prototype of the heating system is considered to be Roman hypocausts. They were a complex of channels that were held under the floor and connected to the furnace. The premises were heated due to hot air. Roman baths were heated with water fired through copper pipes. The liquid was also heated in an oven. Thus, in ancient Rome there were two types of heating systems: steam and water. The stoves themselves were first made of clay, then of stone and brick.
The revolution in the furnace business was made by Benjamin Franklin, known more for his political activities. The inventor used cast iron to make the furnace. The metal heated for a long time, but it cooled slowly. The cast-iron unit became the prototype of two modern inventions at once: boilers and radiators. The next was an ingenious English engineer who, based on the Franklin stove, created a complex water heating system for heating the winter garden. Liquid heating was carried out in large volume boilers. Then the water entered the pipes, where it circulated, giving off heat, and returned for re-heating. This idea was adopted not only by English engineers, but also by domestic ones.
The Summer Palace in the Petrine era was heated by similar aggregates. The systems used ordinary pipes, which nevertheless did not warm the air well due to the small area. The first cast iron radiator, which was a system of discs and a pair of thick pipes connected to the boiler, was invented by domestic inventors. Such batteries quickly spread throughout Europe and beyond. However, gravitational heating systems over time replaced the units that worked on the pumps. In them, the liquid spread along the communication lines as a result of forced injection.Closer to the 30s of the last century, tubular radiators came to replace cast-iron radiators. Thirty years later, aluminum batteries began to be used. Beginning in the 1920s, they began to introduce an innovative (at that time) central heating system, which is still in use.
Types of radiators
Heating radiators are classified by size, design features and manufacturing materials. When choosing a battery, it is first of all judged by its operational efficiency, and only then by its appearance. By the type of design, the units are divided into three types:
Sectional;
Tubular;
Panel.
The existing ones are removed in the sectional ones or new sections are additionally installed. Thus, you can independently adjust the battery power. They are inexpensive, but they quickly heat up. Sectional radiators are difficult to wash. Panel models have a wide range of sizes, which allows you to choose the unit for a specific room. For example, for a small kitchen you can buy the same compact radiator, which is also easy to hide. However, they cannot be combined with high pressure systems. And finally, tubular batteries. The easiest and most popular option. They consist of tubes (as the name implies). Usually segments are arranged vertically, but there are also models with horizontal placement. The level of heat transfer depends on the diameter of the tubes. The rounded ends do not allow dirt to accumulate on the surface. Depending on the location of the battery, they are classified into:
Vertical (high);
Floor standing;
Flat.
The most original option are vertical. Their height significantly exceeds the width and usually such an aggregate does not need to be hidden: it successfully integrates into a loft, high-tech or modern style.
Bimetallic
The radiator consists of an aluminum box and steel tubes hidden underneath.This is the most common type, which is universally installed in apartment buildings. Bimetallic batteries can be 100% and 50%. In the first case, the tubes are completely made of steel, and in the second - only partially. Such radiators last a long time, and the need for maintenance is very rare. They quickly heat up, have a small weight, which allows you to install them yourself. Compact radiators are well suited to modern design.
In order for the unit to work correctly, it is necessary to additionally install a valve for venting air.
Aluminum
Aluminum radiators are made in two ways:
Extrusion;
Casting.
In the second case, additional sections are allowed to be attached to the battery. Aluminum radiators are light weight, low price and at the same time have a rich assortment of colors and sizes. They are easy to integrate into almost any interior. Radiators heat up quickly, but over time leaks may form between the sections. In addition, aluminum is a malleable material; aggregates made from it cannot be subjected to strong mechanical stress.
Steel
Steel aggregates heat up very quickly. The equipment market offers models that are installed at an angle, vertically or horizontally. Unfortunately, the material is subject to corrosion. The maximum service life is 15 years. The use of batteries of this type is not allowed in central heating, as the material quickly deteriorates if it is left without water for a long time. Steel radiators do not withstand sudden pressure surges. They are especially vulnerable in weld areas. They will have to be replaced more often than cast iron or copper. Painting the surface “with gaps” of the areas can cause metal corrosion.
Copper
Copper radiators are among the most expensive on the heating equipment market.Units are light weight and have a shiny surface that does not need additional painting. The material is insensitive to water hammer and pressure surges, as the load is distributed evenly. Copper radiators are suitable for both centralized and autonomous heating systems. Units look stylish in combination with Provence, retro and classic. There is no need to hide such beautiful batteries. They can be used as decoration of the room.
Cast iron
Cast iron radiators are considered an old retro model. They, in fact, have already outlived their use and are rarely used. The radiator is a system of vertical tubes, the surface of which is often decorated with floral ornaments. The units are massive and very heavy, which complicates the DIY installation. One person cannot cope with such equipment, so they will have to be installed by the company. It is very difficult to mask the battery in the interior. Cast iron heats up for a long time, which affects the efficiency of the radiator. In order for the room to form comfortable temperature conditions, you will have to use a large amount of fuel and time. However, the cast-iron batteries cool for a long time. The average life of the unit is 30 years. The material is almost not afraid of corrosion.
Recessed radiators
The design of built-in radiators already involves the competent disguise of the battery in the floor or wall. The unit is securely closed by a mesh panel that transmits heat. All the "insides" of the system are hiding behind this box. Built-in radiators are needed for heating spacious rooms with glass walls (panoramic windows). Floor models in this case are more effective. By standards, appliances are installed near cold walls with windows. Wall-mounted built-in batteries, which are mounted "next door", give little heat and slightly warm the room.Floor batteries are a mesh “strip” in front of the window, which does not spoil the interior design, but at the same time successfully copes with the task.
The “warm floor” system also belongs to this category. It is usually installed as additional heating in apartments where a comfortable temperature is not maintained in winter or in “vulnerable” rooms (a balcony converted into a living room).
Ways of styling
The simplest option for masking a plain radiator that does not fit with the stylistic decision in the design of the room is the screen. This is most often an already finished panel with holes that cover the battery. It can be suspended or built into a special box, that is, completely hide the radiator. Screens are made of glass, MDF, metal. There are also wooden panels that look like a wicker. The color of their surface is chosen to match the room's furniture. Glass is ideally suited to modern "high-tech" styles. Metal screens are often made with forging elements. Floral motifs will originally blend into country or classic style. You can design radiators not only with the help of screens. The simplest, budgetary methods include painting. Color radiators combine with a shade of curtains, walls or make the battery an accent of the interior. Sometimes the unit is pasted with strips of wallpaper, thereby completely masking the surface. Black, gray, white radiators are combined with a loft, minimalism, high-tech, futurism and avant-garde. Sometimes fabric curtains are used that are attached to the windowsill. Such a cozy solution in the style of Provence, eclecticism, ethnic or classic looks appropriate. With the help of putty, the figure is given additional volume. Copper radiators are decorated with artificial patina, aging the surface.
In some cases, radiators skillfully decorate under the "fireplace". On the sides of the battery mount shelves for books and jewelry.It is worth remembering: the deeper the battery is hidden, the more it will affect the efficiency of its work.
How to choose the right
Radiators are selected by size, design and material. But their number for a particular room will have to be calculated. To get the correct value, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the room, the material from which the frames and the structure are made, the number of external walls and window openings. Based on these data, heat capacity is calculated.
Conclusion
If there is no time or desire to tinker with the design of the battery, purchase a radiator with the author's design. The cost of equipment, of course, is several times higher than that of simple units, but a unique element in the interior will become part of it, thereby complementing the design picture. Traditionally, such radiators are decorated with embossed patterns. There are also models of extraordinary forms: animals, objects of a "streamlined" configuration, "gates" with latches, a musical stave, a cunning interweaving of thin tubes that form a complex pattern.
Batteries in the interior of an apartment or a private house is a must. The harsh conditions of our climate oblige us to establish a high-quality heating system that will ensure comfortable living throughout most of the year. Radiators are difficult to attribute to the group of interior decorations. This plain part of the communication lines of the heating system spoils many elegant interiors. However, radiators can easily be turned into a stylish decor by simple manipulations. Let's talk about how to hide the batteries in the interior.
Content
History of radiators
A couple of centuries ago, fireplaces and stoves, which were heated by coal or wood, were responsible for heating in the house.In many Russian villages, these units are still preserved, which are still used for their intended purpose. The first prototype of the heating system is considered to be Roman hypocausts. They were a complex of channels that were held under the floor and connected to the furnace. The premises were heated due to hot air. Roman baths were heated with water fired through copper pipes. The liquid was also heated in an oven. Thus, in ancient Rome there were two types of heating systems: steam and water. The stoves themselves were first made of clay, then of stone and brick.
The revolution in the furnace business was made by Benjamin Franklin, known more for his political activities. The inventor used cast iron to make the furnace. The metal heated for a long time, but it cooled slowly. The cast-iron unit became the prototype of two modern inventions at once: boilers and radiators. The next was an ingenious English engineer who, based on the Franklin stove, created a complex water heating system for heating the winter garden. Liquid heating was carried out in large volume boilers. Then the water entered the pipes, where it circulated, giving off heat, and returned for re-heating. This idea was adopted not only by English engineers, but also by domestic ones.
The Summer Palace in the Petrine era was heated by similar aggregates. The systems used ordinary pipes, which nevertheless did not warm the air well due to the small area. The first cast iron radiator, which was a system of discs and a pair of thick pipes connected to the boiler, was invented by domestic inventors. Such batteries quickly spread throughout Europe and beyond. However, gravitational heating systems over time replaced the units that worked on the pumps. In them, the liquid spread along the communication lines as a result of forced injection.Closer to the 30s of the last century, tubular radiators came to replace cast-iron radiators. Thirty years later, aluminum batteries began to be used. Beginning in the 1920s, they began to introduce an innovative (at that time) central heating system, which is still in use.
Types of radiators
Heating radiators are classified by size, design features and manufacturing materials. When choosing a battery, it is first of all judged by its operational efficiency, and only then by its appearance. By the type of design, the units are divided into three types:
The existing ones are removed in the sectional ones or new sections are additionally installed. Thus, you can independently adjust the battery power. They are inexpensive, but they quickly heat up. Sectional radiators are difficult to wash. Panel models have a wide range of sizes, which allows you to choose the unit for a specific room. For example, for a small kitchen you can buy the same compact radiator, which is also easy to hide. However, they cannot be combined with high pressure systems. And finally, tubular batteries. The easiest and most popular option. They consist of tubes (as the name implies). Usually segments are arranged vertically, but there are also models with horizontal placement. The level of heat transfer depends on the diameter of the tubes. The rounded ends do not allow dirt to accumulate on the surface. Depending on the location of the battery, they are classified into:
The most original option are vertical. Their height significantly exceeds the width and usually such an aggregate does not need to be hidden: it successfully integrates into a loft, high-tech or modern style.
Bimetallic
The radiator consists of an aluminum box and steel tubes hidden underneath.This is the most common type, which is universally installed in apartment buildings. Bimetallic batteries can be 100% and 50%. In the first case, the tubes are completely made of steel, and in the second - only partially. Such radiators last a long time, and the need for maintenance is very rare. They quickly heat up, have a small weight, which allows you to install them yourself. Compact radiators are well suited to modern design.
Aluminum
Aluminum radiators are made in two ways:
In the second case, additional sections are allowed to be attached to the battery. Aluminum radiators are light weight, low price and at the same time have a rich assortment of colors and sizes. They are easy to integrate into almost any interior. Radiators heat up quickly, but over time leaks may form between the sections. In addition, aluminum is a malleable material; aggregates made from it cannot be subjected to strong mechanical stress.
Steel
Steel aggregates heat up very quickly. The equipment market offers models that are installed at an angle, vertically or horizontally. Unfortunately, the material is subject to corrosion. The maximum service life is 15 years. The use of batteries of this type is not allowed in central heating, as the material quickly deteriorates if it is left without water for a long time. Steel radiators do not withstand sudden pressure surges. They are especially vulnerable in weld areas. They will have to be replaced more often than cast iron or copper. Painting the surface “with gaps” of the areas can cause metal corrosion.
Copper
Copper radiators are among the most expensive on the heating equipment market.Units are light weight and have a shiny surface that does not need additional painting. The material is insensitive to water hammer and pressure surges, as the load is distributed evenly. Copper radiators are suitable for both centralized and autonomous heating systems. Units look stylish in combination with Provence, retro and classic. There is no need to hide such beautiful batteries. They can be used as decoration of the room.
Cast iron
Cast iron radiators are considered an old retro model. They, in fact, have already outlived their use and are rarely used. The radiator is a system of vertical tubes, the surface of which is often decorated with floral ornaments. The units are massive and very heavy, which complicates the DIY installation. One person cannot cope with such equipment, so they will have to be installed by the company. It is very difficult to mask the battery in the interior. Cast iron heats up for a long time, which affects the efficiency of the radiator. In order for the room to form comfortable temperature conditions, you will have to use a large amount of fuel and time. However, the cast-iron batteries cool for a long time. The average life of the unit is 30 years. The material is almost not afraid of corrosion.
Recessed radiators
The design of built-in radiators already involves the competent disguise of the battery in the floor or wall. The unit is securely closed by a mesh panel that transmits heat. All the "insides" of the system are hiding behind this box. Built-in radiators are needed for heating spacious rooms with glass walls (panoramic windows). Floor models in this case are more effective. By standards, appliances are installed near cold walls with windows. Wall-mounted built-in batteries, which are mounted "next door", give little heat and slightly warm the room.Floor batteries are a mesh “strip” in front of the window, which does not spoil the interior design, but at the same time successfully copes with the task.
Ways of styling
The simplest option for masking a plain radiator that does not fit with the stylistic decision in the design of the room is the screen. This is most often an already finished panel with holes that cover the battery. It can be suspended or built into a special box, that is, completely hide the radiator. Screens are made of glass, MDF, metal. There are also wooden panels that look like a wicker. The color of their surface is chosen to match the room's furniture. Glass is ideally suited to modern "high-tech" styles. Metal screens are often made with forging elements. Floral motifs will originally blend into country or classic style. You can design radiators not only with the help of screens. The simplest, budgetary methods include painting. Color radiators combine with a shade of curtains, walls or make the battery an accent of the interior. Sometimes the unit is pasted with strips of wallpaper, thereby completely masking the surface. Black, gray, white radiators are combined with a loft, minimalism, high-tech, futurism and avant-garde. Sometimes fabric curtains are used that are attached to the windowsill. Such a cozy solution in the style of Provence, eclecticism, ethnic or classic looks appropriate. With the help of putty, the figure is given additional volume. Copper radiators are decorated with artificial patina, aging the surface.
How to choose the right
Radiators are selected by size, design and material. But their number for a particular room will have to be calculated. To get the correct value, it is necessary to take into account the dimensions of the room, the material from which the frames and the structure are made, the number of external walls and window openings. Based on these data, heat capacity is calculated.
Conclusion
If there is no time or desire to tinker with the design of the battery, purchase a radiator with the author's design. The cost of equipment, of course, is several times higher than that of simple units, but a unique element in the interior will become part of it, thereby complementing the design picture. Traditionally, such radiators are decorated with embossed patterns. There are also models of extraordinary forms: animals, objects of a "streamlined" configuration, "gates" with latches, a musical stave, a cunning interweaving of thin tubes that form a complex pattern.