Advantages and disadvantages of radiant heating systems. Perimeter or radial wiring of the heating system: what to choose? Existing schemes and nuances of installing a beam system

Greetings, comrades! I will tell you what a collector-radiant heating system is, how it works, and what materials can be used to connect heating devices to a heat source. In addition, we have to study the advantages of beam wiring and become familiar with its disadvantages. Let's get started.

What it is

There are two main ways to wire heating systems:

Sequential. The devices are connected one after another to a common riser or heating outlet. The return of one heating device is the supply for another;

Radial. Radiant heating involves the independent connection of each device with its own pair of connections to a collector common to several radiators.

When designing a real heating system, the two wiring diagrams are often combined. For example, in Stalinka batteries there is often a parallel connection of two batteries to a pair of common crosses on the riser - a functional analogue of a collector. In modern cottages, high-temperature radiator heating is made sequential, and the low-temperature underfloor heating circuit is made radiant.

Elements

Basic

What mandatory elements does a radiant heating circuit include?

Image	Heating system element
	Supply and return bottlings. They connect the heat source (boiler, heat pump, central heating riser, etc.) to the collectors.
	Supply and return manifolds. They connect to the heating outlets. Each collector outlet is equipped with shut-off and throttling valves - a ball valve, a throttle or a thermal head. The fittings make it possible to independently switch off and adjust each individual device.
	Eyeliners. Each radiator or convector is connected to the collector by its own pair of pipes. As a rule, the liners are laid in the screed, under the flooring or in grooves.
	Air balloon(Maevsky tap or regular water tap). It is placed in the top plug of each radiator. The heating device is mounted above the supply line and will be aired out when the circuit is reset.
	Circulation pump, creating hydraulic pressure in the heating circuit and encouraging coolant circulation. Thin and long lines have high hydraulic resistance and are unable to work with natural circulation. Typically the pump is installed on the heating return flow, between the collector and the heat source.

Additional

A home heating system with two heating circuits with different operating temperatures (warm floors and radiators) additionally includes:

Hydroshooter. It is a bypass pipe between the supply and return, which allows you to synchronize the operation of several circuits and minimize their influence on each other;

Three way thermostatic mixer, limiting the flow of hot water from the high-temperature circuit to the low-temperature circuit.

Grade

Advantages

Why is a radiant heating system better than a sequential one? Here is a typical list of arguments of its supporters:

Minimum temperature spread between heating devices. They are powered from a common collector and are fed from one supply thread;
Ease of management. From the manifold cabinet you can change the temperature of any part of the heating system;

Independent temperature control of devices. If you cover or completely turn off any of them, this will not affect the operation of the remaining batteries;
Hidden liner routing. When laid in a screed or grooves, they will not spoil the design of the living space.

Flaws

First, a few critical comments on the properties of collector wiring that I mentioned among its advantages.

In a two-pipe series system, it is also possible to obtain the same temperature of the batteries. With dead-end wiring, it is achieved by balancing the system (that is, throttling the connections of the batteries closest to the boiler); with parallel wiring, the temperature on all heating devices will be the same without balancing;

It is most convenient to control the air temperature in the room directly from it. If you need to go through the whole house to the collector cabinet in order to reduce the heating of the battery, this, you see, does not look like an advantage at all;
Independent temperature control of radiators is possible in any two-pipe system. With single-pipe wiring, this is also achievable: it is enough to connect the batteries not into the filling gap, but parallel to it.

And the actual disadvantages:

Expensive. The total length of the heating connections in the case of radial pipe distribution will be several times greater than when the batteries are connected in series;
Difficult. Grooving walls or pouring screed with collector wiring is possible only at the stage of major renovation of a private house or apartment. Meanwhile, it is possible to sequentially separate the batteries even after finishing the final repairs: the only dirty work to be done is drilling the walls for bottling;

Unreliable. The heating system requires a circulation pump to operate, which makes it energy-dependent. When circulation stops (for example, in the event of a long power outage), the water in the pipes will freeze. It is much more difficult to warm up connections hidden in the floor or walls than openly laid outlets.

Please note that when laying pipes in a screed, they cannot be completely dried out and defrost cannot be prevented. Each liner forms an upward-curved bracket in which water will constantly stand.

conclusions

In my opinion, radiant wiring is justified only in one case: if you are installing water-heated floors.

Arguments? At your service:

The length of one heated floor circuit cannot exceed 120 meters due to the high hydraulic resistance of the pipes, so in any case there will be several parallel circuits in the house;
It is most convenient to connect parallel circuits to the terminals of the distribution manifold. Alternative installation methods involve open laying of bottlings and open installation of chokes or thermal heads, which, as you understand, goes against aesthetics.

A high-temperature radiator heating system is cheaper, easier and smarter to install in series.

Materials

Pipes

When manifolding radiators and when laying water heated floors, the same types of pipes are used. They have a common feature: pipes are sold in coils of at least 100 meters in length. Here is a list of materials used:

Cross-linked polyethylene (PEX). It differs from the usual one by cross-links between polymer molecules, which change its physical properties: the softening temperature of the material and its mechanical strength increase. Cross-linked polyethylene has an interesting feature - shape memory. This property is used when assembling fitting connections: the pipe is stretched with an expander, put on the herringbone fitting and after a few seconds it compresses it tightly;

Thermally modified polyethylene PERT. It is inferior to cross-linked in strength and superior to it in heat resistance (up to 110-115 ° C). Connections are made using compression fittings or low-temperature welding;

Metal-plastic. Metal-polymer pipes are a pair of layers of PEX polyethylene (less commonly PERT or PE) with a reinforcing aluminum layer glued between them. The advantages of metal-plastic are an affordable price (from 33 rubles per linear meter) and high tensile strength (working pressure of at least 16 atmospheres); its disadvantage is the large minimum bending radius. When you try to bend a pipe with a small radius, its aluminum core breaks;

To connect metal-plastic pipes for heating, it is better to use press fittings rather than compression ones. Unlike the first ones, they do not leak after several heating and cooling cycles.

Corrugated stainless steel. It performs radial wiring of the heating system in an apartment building, powered by a boiler room or thermal power plant. The advantage of this pipe is its highest strength (destructive pressure - at least 200 atmospheres), allowing it not to be afraid of water hammer.

Along with pipes in coils for radial distribution of radiator heating, you can use polypropylene pipes sold in straight sections. Their welded joints are maintenance-free and have the same strength as a solid section. Polypropylene is not used for installing heated floors due to its low thermal conductivity and poor flexibility.

Radiators

Which radiators will provide maximum heat transfer at the lowest price?

For an autonomous heating system, the best choice is sectional aluminum batteries. A section of an aluminum radiator costs from 250 rubles and produces up to 200 watts of heat. The relatively low strength is compensated by a gentle operating mode: in a properly designed autonomous circuit there are no pressure surges or water hammer.

In the central heating system the picture is different. A quickly opened faucet on a riser or a falling valve may well provoke a water hammer, so our choice is durable bimetallic radiators.

Installation rules

How to properly perform beam wiring with your own hands?

Here are some basic rules.

As connections, you can use pipes of the minimum commercially available diameter (15 mm for corrugated stainless steel pipes and 16 mm for metal-plastic, polypropylene, PEX and PERT);

All serviced connections must be accessible after installation, so they are brought outside the screed or groove;
To connect hoses to radiators, use American ones. Quick release connections will save you a lot of time and effort if the battery has to be removed for some reason;
Install throttles and/or ball valves on both manifolds (supply and return). Each circuit must turn off completely independently of the others. This instruction will help you not to be left without heating in the entire house in winter due to a leak in the only battery;
When installing radiator heating, lay the connections in thermal insulation (for example, in foamed polyethylene tubes). This way you will reduce unnecessary heat loss.

Conclusion

I hope that my recommendations will help the dear reader in designing his own heating system. The video in this article will help you learn more about how a radiant heating system works. I look forward to your additions and comments to it. Good luck, comrades!

The efficiency of a heating system depends on many factors. These include materials for manufacturing pipes and appliances, a properly selected boiler and a professionally drawn up pipeline laying diagram. The latter affects not only the quality of work, but also safety and durability. For country cottages with a large area, a do-it-yourself radiant heating system for a private house is most often used. What is its feature and why is it more effective than standard pipe routing?

Radiant heating scheme

Traditionally, pipes are laid along the walls. However, this technique is unacceptable for houses with a large area and several floors. The main disadvantage is the rapid cooling of the coolant. A radiant heating system for a two-story house with hot water distribution over separate circuits can solve this problem. But first you need to find out what a radiant heating system is - photos and videos will help with this.

The design principle is to create separate circuits, each of which is connected to one or more devices (radiator, heated floor, etc.). In this case, the piping is laid not along the wall, but along the floor. A properly installed do-it-yourself radiant heating system has several advantages:

Uniform distribution of coolant throughout all devices. There is virtually no temperature difference, as with a series connection - the further the radiator is from the boiler, the lower the water temperature in it;
Ability to adjust the heating level in each individual circuit. To do this, it is necessary to install a two-way (three-way) valve;
Radial heating distribution makes it possible to carry out repair or maintenance work without shutting down the entire system;
Reducing hydraulic losses. This is due to the fact that the pipes are laid with a minimum number of corner joints.

However, radiant wiring of radiator heating also has disadvantages. Firstly, it can only be two-pipe. The cooled coolant is necessary for mixing with the hot stream in order to minimize the cost of heating water and automatically regulate its temperature. If the return pipe runs separately from the main pipes, it will be almost impossible to install a mixing unit.

The opinion about the greatly increased consumption of materials for installation is erroneous. If you correctly draw up a pipe laying diagram, you will find out that radial wiring of the heating system will in some cases be more economical.

To do this, you need to correctly approach the issue of creating preliminary design documentation.

DIY radiant heating

Is it possible to make a professional drawing of a radiant heating system for a two-story house? This is quite possible if we take an integrated approach to solving this problem. This will require initial design skills (creating basic drawings) and knowledge of the basics of heating. If you don’t have confidence in your own abilities, it is recommended to contact specialized design companies.

For those who want to make a radial heating system for a private home with their own hands, the work should be divided into several stages:

The last point is very important, since for standard pipe routing it is enough to install one air vent. In our case, their number should be equal to the number of circuits in the system. This is necessary to ensure that the radiant heating system of a private house works normally, without causing air locks. The Mayevsky crane is installed at the highest point of the circuit. This is usually the upper radiator hose.

Collector or radial pipe routing

The main element of the system, without which radiant heating of a house is impossible, is the collector. It is designed to distribute coolant from the central line to separate circuits. Externally, the collector is a hollow cylinder with a pipe for water inlet (outlet) and connecting elements to which the system circuits are connected.

In order for a two-pipe radiant heating system to function normally, two types of collectors are required:

Input. For optimal operation, it is equipped with a pump and two-way (three-way) distribution valve. For the latter to function, you will need a thermometer installed in the collector housing. Receiving from it the current water temperature in the radiant heating circuit, the valve mixes hot and cooled coolant. In this way, automatic regulation of heat in the pipes occurs.
Day off. After the liquid has completed a full cycle through the circuits, it must return to the boiler for further heating. To collect it, an output collector is installed. Additional control devices - balancing flowmeters - can be installed on its pipes. With their help, the temperature of the water of each circuit in the radial distribution of radiator heating can be changed by adjusting the throughput of the pipes.

At first glance, when designing a system, you can do without a collector by simply making distribution using tees. However, in this case, the radial wiring of the heating system will experience malfunctions. Without pumps, distribution and control mechanisms, there is a possibility of “downtime” of some circuits - the coolant simply will not circulate in them.

Pipes: material requirements

What pipes are recommended to be selected when installing a radial heating system with your own hands? There are several criteria that determine the operational and technical qualities of the future highway. The starting point can be considered the installation conditions - the pipes are installed in a cement screed or under a decorative covering of a wooden floor.

The specificity of laying such a pipeline is the need to bend the pipes, the angles of which are most often not equal to the standard ones. Therefore, it is recommended to use a fairly flexible material to avoid a large number of joints. Cross-linked polyethylene is best suited for a radiant heating system in a private home.

The design of a cross-linked polyethylene pipe must have an airtight layer.

This is a mandatory condition, since without it, polyethylene will allow air molecules to pass through, enriching the coolant. As a result, the rusting process will progress on the inner surface of the radiators and boiler heat exchanger. The material of manufacture must be indicated on the radiant heating diagram.

In addition, when choosing pipes you need to pay attention to the following factors:

For collector wiring, it is typical to use pipes for circuits of smaller diameter than the cross-section of the common supply pipe. The optimal size would be 32 or 24 mm;
Providing protection from mechanical influences. The radiant heating pipes of the house, laid on the floor, are filled with cement screed. During this, you need to make sure that the line is not squeezed.

When installing a radiant heating system for a private house, you only check the integrity and correctness of the pipe connections before pouring the screed. To do this, after installing all the elements, start the heating boiler. There should be no leaks during the circulation of liquid through the lines. Only after completing such a check can a decorative floor be installed.

Unlike the standard installation scheme, the installation of a radiant heating system for a two-story house has a number of nuances. First of all, this concerns the mounting location of the control manifolds. The general distribution unit should be located immediately after the coolant exits the boiler. Most often this is a specially equipped boiler room.

If the house is large enough, then there may be several distribution manifolds. For a two-pipe radiant heating system, it is important that the user has easy access to each of them. Therefore, they are installed in a special closed box.

The collector must not be left in a cement screed or hidden behind permanent decorative panels.

To ensure control of the operation of the radial heat supply system, sensors and shut-off valves are installed:

Pressure gauges and thermometers. At least one pair of these devices must be located at the outlet of the hot coolant from the boiler. It is also recommended to install them on each collector. In this way, you can visually control the level of water heating in the radiant heating distribution for each radiator (or group) separately. This is one of the basic rules for organizing a radiant heating system on your own;
Protective fittings. This includes Mayevsky air valves and safety valves for pressure stabilization;
Shut-off valves. Installed in front of the boiler inlet pipe and for each manifold separately. With their help, you can perform repair or maintenance work on radiant heating without turning off all circuits. It is enough to limit the flow of coolant into a certain one of them.

The variety of building heating schemes that exist today makes it easy to choose the optimal heat supply option. However, not all of them can be quite effective in providing heat to houses with a complex configuration or multi-room layout. And in difficult projects, the modern radiant heating system has proven itself well, although not very popular yet, but gradually gaining recognition among specialists and property owners.

Unlike others, this scheme provides for individual heating of each of the installed heating devices, i.e. both supply and removal of coolant are carried out in parallel through pipes separately connected to the radiator. Externally, the configuration of this system resembles rays diverging in different directions from a heat source, which gave it its name.

Radiant heating can be organized with one or two pipes. The second option is most widely used, characterized by higher heat transfer rates and, consequently, greater efficiency.

Figure 1 – General diagram of a radiant heating system

Structure of a radiant heating system

Any heating system has in its structure a heat source (boiler, furnace, boiler), heating devices (radiators, convectors), pipes, shut-off and control valves and, in most cases, a circulation pump. The beam scheme also implies the use of the above elements, as well as important equipment that distinguishes it from others - the collector.

Many of the listed structural components are standard, so it is inappropriate to dwell on their description. Only those that have special requirements will be considered below.

Heat sources

As you know, this is the main unit of any home heating system, the choice of which should be approached reasonably. The beam circuit is structurally quite complex and, accordingly, requires powerful equipment.

When choosing a boiler power, you need to take into account that an extensive network of pipelines laid during radiant heating, as a rule, in the floor structure, causes slightly larger heat losses, which affect the efficiency of the system as a whole.

Heating manifold

The second most important element in such a heat supply system is collector. It is a device in the form of a short pipe with numerous pipes for connecting radiators. In the literature you can often find another name for it - comb.

Figure 2 – Heating manifold

The dimensions of the collector can be adjusted during operation, adding new sections as new heating devices are connected.

Its main function is the centralized distribution of coolant from the heat source to the heating devices. It also allows you to regulate the heating intensity of each of them, as well as turn off a separate circuit for repairs or planned replacement without affecting the operation of the system due to the installation of various types of shut-off and temperature control valves.

Radiant heating, as a two-pipe system, involves the use of two collectors: supply and outlet, usually installed in pairs. And to accommodate the entire unit, it is recommended to use a special cabinet, which will not only provide easy access to the equipment, but will also hide its unaesthetic appearance.

It should be noted that the use of collectors in the heating circuit makes it easy to modernize and allows it to be connected to the Smart Home system. Specially installed sensors provide the ability to automatically regulate the degree of heating of the coolant depending on temperature fluctuations in the premises, as well as remote control of home heating.

Circulation pump

A radiant heating system, as a rule, involves forced circulation of the coolant, and therefore necessarily requires the installation of a pump.

When choosing a circulation pump model, you should take into account not only its power, but also such a parameter as the speed of pumping water per unit time.

Depending on the complexity of the circuit configuration, as well as the length of the pipelines, two devices may be required, mounted both on the supply and return.

Pipes

To organize a radial heat supply scheme, metal, metal-plastic and polypropylene pipes can be used. When choosing a specific type, you should proceed not only from the cost of the products, but also from the complexity of installation and repair. In this regard, the plastic version has found the greatest use.

When purchasing pipes, it is necessary to take into account that their diameter must correspond to the dimensions of the inlets and outlets of the boiler and manifold. If necessary, adapters can be used.

The main advantages and disadvantages of a radiant heating system

The organization of the radiant heating scheme predetermined a number of its benefits, among which it should be noted:

reliable operation - the system eliminates the possibility of water hammer; there are few weak points in it, since the number of pipeline connections from the collector to the radiator is reduced to a minimum, or they are completely absent;
independence from the configuration and size of the building (flexibility) - it allows for efficient heating of a house of any layout and number of floors;
balance - all heating devices heat up evenly;
the ability to regulate, including automated, temperature in each room;
simplicity of repair and maintenance work - replacing damaged areas does not require opening the floor covering; to carry out such activities, the required circuit (beam) is turned off without affecting the functionality of the system;
the ability to modify the system at any stage of creation and operation;
aesthetic appearance - pipelines are usually laid in the floor structure, and collectors are installed in special cabinets or niches.

Despite its high efficiency, the radiant heating circuit has several shortcomings:

high material consumption and, accordingly, price - due to the significant total length of pipelines, as well as the need to purchase a large number of connecting elements, control valves, manifolds, pumps, sensors, etc.;
the need for competent and high-quality installation to avoid problems in the future.

Existing schemes and nuances of installing a beam system

The classic version of such heat supply involves the installation of heating collectors on each of the floors or parts (with a complex configuration) of the building.

In this case, the collectors are mounted on the walls (in existing or pre-designed niches) or placed in special cabinets, and the piping system is laid along the subfloor, as a rule, before screeding.

Figure 3 – Installation diagram of a radiant heating system

If the collector is located above the radiators, air will accumulate in it over time. To avoid this, the mandatory installation of automatic air vents is required.

There is also an option in which the heating devices are located at a higher level, i.e. The comb is mounted on the ground floor or basement. In this case, the pipelines are laid along the walls, which are subsequently sheathed with structures of various types (plasterboard sheets, PVC panels, etc.) to give them an aesthetic appearance.

Figure 4 - Radiant heating with a bottom-mounted collector

In small two-story houses, you can sometimes find a scheme using one collector unit, which provides heating for both levels. In this case, it is necessary to purchase a sufficiently powerful pump capable of pumping coolant to all floors. But since the cost of the corresponding equipment is quite high, this option is practically not used.

Figure 5 – Scheme of radiant heating of a two-story house with one collector unit

Space heating is one of the most important elements in the construction of residential buildings. When choosing a suitable heating system and wiring diagram, it is necessary to take into account the number of floors, area, number of rooms, and installation features. Let's pay attention to radiant heating of the house.

Principle of operation

The beam system works quite simply. The liquid (water) heated in the boiler moves through the pipes, giving off heat to radiators and other heating devices; the heated pipes fill the room with warmth, first from the top, then from the bottom. In this way the process is repeated again and again, and the room becomes warm in a short time.
Today heating is usually divided into:

forced circulation systems;
systems with natural circulation.

General implementation scheme.

The radiant type of heating refers to systems with forced circulation, since the process involves a pump that provides operating pressure and the required coolant speed (sometimes this scheme is called a collector). Like any heating with forced circulation, the radiant circuit has pros and cons.

Advantages

The main advantages of a radiant heating system are as follows:

simple heat flow control;
simple regulation of circulation;
saving resource consumption;
relatively inexpensive cost.

Advantages are those properties that improve or simplify the control or operation of heat flow. Regulating the temperature in each room is not only convenient, but also economical in terms of resource consumption. You save a lot of time, since the overall scheme is very simple.

Another advantage of this method is the possibility of using polypropylene and metal-plastic pipes instead of steel ones. This significantly reduces the cost of materials and allows you to choose any finishing design, since it can often be hidden behind the walls.

An important advantage of using radiant heating system wiring is its compatibility with the installation of heated floors.

Metal-plastic pipes.

The radiant heating system allows you to completely avoid water hammer, which is important for expensive plumbing fixtures that cannot withstand high pressure.

Flaws

In addition to all the above advantages, there are also some disadvantages. A significant disadvantage is that the operation of the entire system will be completely dependent on the electrical network, since the circulation pump runs on electricity. If there is no power supply to the house, then it will not be possible to heat such a room. And this is a significant problem at the construction stage of the building.

Installation stages

There is a misconception that radiant heating systems can only be installed by professionals. In fact, you can make a high-quality installation yourself. The only thing that will be required from you is more time than from a professional.

An example of planning a system in an apartment.

Planning

The first stage is planning. At this stage it should be designed taking into account all the subtleties. If installation work is carried out in winter, you may encounter a problem, since not all pipes are able to function at subzero temperatures. And for installation, for example, of polypropylene pipes, the premises will need to be preheated to above-zero temperatures.

Often a tap is installed on the unit through which the system can be drained and filled. Its fastening is carried out using special brackets.

Correct installation of radiant heating allows you to avoid common problems that may manifest themselves during operation.

Option for connecting the system to the boiler.

Types of wiring

The radiant system is very efficient and inexpensive compared to other heating options. You can install it yourself.

The collector-beam system can be divided into two types: one-pipe and two-pipe. Single-pipe wiring is a universal option for any home, as it is profitable and easy to implement. The two-pipe one is somewhat more expensive, but is more productive.

Two-pipe system.

Also, the beam system can be divided into two more subtypes: vertical and horizontal wiring. Vertical wiring is installed in buildings with several floors and makes it possible to repair or replace one of the risers without disconnecting all the others. The horizontal type is used when there is one main riser and horizontal branches on each floor, in both single-pipe and double-pipe versions.

Wiring in a two-story building

A radiant heating system for a two-story house makes it possible to take into account the specific layout of each floor. Its task is to ensure a similar temperature regime in all rooms.

The difference from the piping of a one-story building is that the radial type provides an individual supply of coolant to each radiator on each floor.

If you isolate the heating circuit of living rooms into a separate beam, then the two-pipe scheme and vertical wiring, while maintaining the slope of the pipelines between the boiler and the collectors, will ensure heating operation with natural circulation. This is relevant in two-story country houses, as well as in buildings where power outages occur.
The heating system in a two-story building is demanding for the first start. It is necessary to properly balance and adjust the fluid flow. This will contribute to the most economical and efficient operation.

There are a considerable number of radiator heating pipe layouts, but due to their many advantages, two layouts have become especially popular: two-pipe and radial. Most often, any developer has to choose between these two systems (if it was decided to install radiators). Hoping to get recommendations from installers, you usually do not meet objectivity and everyone chooses what is more convenient for him.

And there is also the most pleasant phrase that every customer loves to hear: “well, you decide for yourself, but it doesn’t matter to us what to install.” Let's try to adequately understand the strengths and weaknesses of two-pipe and radiator radiator wiring

This is a consequence of the evolution of the single-pipe system, in which all the main disadvantages were eliminated. In this system, two pipes are connected in parallel to the radiator. One is feed, then feed, the other is reverse, then return. Hot coolant is supplied, and it will enter each battery at almost the same temperature. And in the opposite direction, the already cooled coolant flows by itself.

In a single-pipe system, we were faced with the fact that only one looped pipe was responsible for the supply and return. Therefore, the temperature difference between the first and subsequent batteries was more significant. And it was not possible to “level” the system so that each radiator was the same temperature.

What is a radiant heating scheme?

Let's now highlight the strengths and weaknesses of each heating scheme

Which heating is cheaper?

The most prominent advantage of a two-pipe system is the price. This system is cheaper than the beam one. Mainly due to the fact that fewer pipes are used and there is no need to purchase an additional distribution manifold. But a two-pipe system uses more fittings. At our last facility with an area of 300 square meters, the difference between the beam and two-pipe systems was 30,000. In both cases, metal-plastic pipes were used, as well as connections from the same company.

On the one hand, this can be written down as a disadvantage of the beam system. But on the other hand, for such an object, for many developers the difference of 30,000 will be insignificant.

Materials used

Polypropylene can be used for pipe routing in a two-pipe system. As we know, this is the most affordable type of pipe on the market. Now we will not list the advantages and disadvantages of this material. You just need to keep in mind that if the budget is limited, then you can use polypropylene

For beam distribution, only metal-plastic pipes or pipes made of cross-linked polyethylene with a thicker wall are used.

Number of joints

Here the radiant heating system has its clear advantage. Its main advantage is the absence of connecting parts in the concrete screed. All connections are located in the manifold and on the radiator itself. Accordingly, if something ever decides to leak, it will happen in a visible field and you can quickly fix everything.

In a two-pipe system, all connections are filled with concrete screed and recessed into the walls. This adds the possibility of some kind of leakage due to operation of the system. Although press and tension pipe connections are famous for their reliability, accidents actually occur quite rarely

It's a different matter if you use polypropylene. There are even more joints there and most of them are also located in an inaccessible area. This is truly a lottery. If suddenly the installer welded the joint sloppily, it may not leak immediately. It will last a year or two. And that's where the fun begins. So with polypropylene pipes for hidden installation, I would recommend being extremely careful.

Temperature adjustment

These systems have convenient ways to adjust the temperature. Thermal heads on radiators are most often used. This is a relatively inexpensive and convenient adjustment option.

The advantage of the beam system is that you can install servos on the collector and regulate the temperature in each room using room thermostats. This option is already much more expensive, but at the same time more advanced.

What's the result?

An insignificant disadvantage of the beam system is that it requires space to install the collector. But in truth it is not always present. Plus, it is advisable to install the collector in the middle of the house.

If we consider these two systems in terms of efficiency and economy, then they have absolute parity. Both systems do their job remarkably well.

It’s just that if you have a limited budget, then you should look towards a two-pipe system. If desired, you can also use polypropylene. The beam system will add some convenience and peace of mind to you, that if something happens, nothing will leak under the screed.

It is important to understand the main thing. In both cases, your choice will be absolutely correct!