Today, individual residential buildings are heated in a variety of ways. The most popular and common heating options include gas, as well as liquid and solid fuel. However, electric heating is often used in a wooden house. It is used primarily in those settlements and cottage communities where there is no access to the main pipeline. A convenient type of heating with electricity is not such a cheap pleasure, unlike the price of log houses.
Types of heating systems
First of all, the house can be heated using an autonomous structure with forced or gravitational (natural) coolant circulation. Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. In addition, there are situations when it is better to use one or another variety.
Advantages and disadvantages of natural circulation
Gravity pumping is entirely based on the laws of physics. More precisely, the coolant moves through the pipeline due to the difference in weight between cooled and heated water.
A hot liquid has a much larger volume, but much less mass. Accordingly, it rises up the riser, moves further through pipes that are laid at an angle, and is pumped into heating radiators, where it is cooled.
Before making a final choice in favor of a certain type of fluid circulation in the system, you need to consider the pros and cons of each heating option
The list of advantages of such a solution should include ease of installation. A system with natural circulation lasts much longer and is stable. At the same time, the absence of a pump allows you to get rid of excess noise and ensure independence from the availability of electricity.
As for the disadvantages, this kind of solution can only be used when heating a small house. In addition, the system requires laying large-diameter pipes, which significantly increases the cost of organizing a home heating system.
When choosing natural circulation, you need to take a responsible approach to installation - errors will lead to a serious decrease in the speed of pumping the coolant
Distinctive features of pumping systems
To make water move faster through the pipes, a circulation pump is installed into the heating system. With its help, you can move the media with virtually no loss of temperature. As a result, a wooden building warms up much faster, which saves a considerable amount of fuel.
The main advantage of forced circulation is that the area of the heated house can be practically unlimited. At the same time, the owner is given the opportunity to control the amount of heat and the speed of the pump. The disadvantages of this solution are the dependence of the system on the availability of electricity and the high noise level of the equipment.
When installing a heating pump, you can use pipes of small diameter. This allows you to save on the purchase of plumbing fixtures
Direct electric heating
Oil radiators
The housings of these devices consist of several sections with mineral oil as a coolant, which is heated by powerful heating elements up to 200 degrees, maintaining the radiator temperature no higher than 100 degrees.
Oil radiators are capable of heating any living space; they do not “burn” oxygen during operation, but they are used only in extreme cases due to the high consumption of electrical power.
Convectors
In these devices, a heating element heated by electric current directly heats the air without an intermediate coolant. Therefore, they have higher heat transfer and efficiency, but at the same time some of the oxygen is burned out of the air in contact with the hot metal of the heater.
With the radiator and convector method, cold air from below the room, after heating, rushes upward and collects near the ceiling, and from there it is distributed throughout the entire volume of the room.
Therefore, when the temperature at the top of the room reaches +22°C, the air near the floor will warm up to +17°C, which is quite acceptable, but not entirely comfortable.
Convectors use temperature sensors with automatic temperature control systems, which can significantly save energy costs.
Attention! The convector located below the window protects the room from the penetration of cold air through cracks from the street, preventing drafts.
Types of thermal media
To transfer heat from the generator to the heated room, water is most often used, which has been heated to a certain temperature and circulates through a pipeline.
Today this is the most affordable and simple solution. By correctly calculating the number of radiators and the power of the boiler, you can organize a high-performance system that does not require any special care.
In addition to water heating, in a private wooden house the following is used:
- air;
- oven;
- electric.
A combination option is also often used. A well-designed scheme makes it possible, without spending a lot of money, to build a system that will completely warm up the house in a matter of hours.
If water is used as a heat transfer agent, it must first be filtered. This will significantly increase the service life of heating equipment
Criteria for choosing a heat generator
There is simply a huge selection on the market - domestic and foreign manufacturers offer a wide variety of models. From such an assortment, a buyer with any income level will be able to choose something for himself.
In order not to make a mistake when buying a boiler, you need to check what type of fuel is most available in the region. It is also important to correctly calculate the power of the equipment.
Advantages of gas units
The vast majority of owners of wooden houses opt for gas equipment.
The popularity of wall-mounted and floor-standing gas boilers is due to the fact that such fuel is one of the cheapest in many countries. In addition, with its help you can organize a completely autonomous and maintenance-free heating system.
The list of advantages of gas boilers needs to be supplemented:
- High efficiency . Even a low-power device generates more heat than its counterparts running on other types of fuel.
- Ease of operation . No need to worry about where the fuel will be stored. At the same time, using such equipment is easy - you only need to set it up once.
- Durability . A high-quality gas unit will last at least 15 years.
The main disadvantage is the need to obtain special permission to install it. All other disadvantages are completely offset by advantages.
If you need to heat a large house with an area of more than 100 m2, then it is better to refuse a gas boiler. In this case, it will be an economically unprofitable solution
Diesel component in the system
Diesel-powered equipment has become increasingly popular over the past few years. First of all, liquid fuel boilers are cheap to maintain and easy to install.
At the same time, there is no need to organize a complex chimney design - many models run on light heating oil. The only thing required is to organize the pipe outlet in the form of a sandwich. It has a special turbine that pushes out air.
If you have decided to install a diesel boiler, you need to understand that this heating method will be expensive. After all, the efficiency of this equipment varies from 75 to 85%, which is a rather low figure.
Also, a diesel-powered unit requires constant monitoring. If it is left for at least a week, it will lead to problems. Indeed, due to the low quality of fuel, the equipment may stop. As a result, the water in the pipes will freeze and burst.
Even despite all the advantages of a diesel device, it should only be installed if this is the only available way to organize a heating system
Solid fuel boiler
This type of equipment is as popular as gas equipment. Great demand is due to the efficiency and environmental friendliness of solid fuel boilers. After all, such a device is the cheapest device to operate. At the same time, it burns renewable fuel and is highly energy efficient.
The market offers an impressive selection of solid fuel boilers. Savings in this matter are not always justified - if you decide to buy the cheapest model, you need to be prepared for the appearance of soot, soot and come to terms with the need for frequent cleaning.
The only disadvantage of solid fuel boilers is the need to allocate space for storing fuel, which requires quite a lot for its operation
Electric heat generator
Equipment that uses current in its operation is the only solution for those regions where centralized communication systems are not installed. Most often it is used as an additional option.
Today, manufacturers offer a wide range of electric boilers. Models with power from 6 to 30 kW are available on the market. Such a wide range of performance allows you to order the device for a wooden house of any size.
Advantages of the equipment:
- small dimensions;
- operational safety;
- complete autonomy;
- cheapness;
- Efficiency approaching 100%.
But keep in mind that electricity is the most expensive energy carrier. Therefore, even despite the low cost of the unit, operating such a system will be expensive.
Electric boilers are completely safe for a wooden house. But to avoid problems, you need to install a meter and select a cable with a calculation of 8 amperes per 1 mm2 of its cross-section
Power calculation rules
To determine the optimal performance of the boiler, it is not at all necessary to seek help from a specialist. To do this, you only need to determine the amount of heat loss. Knowing this value, it must be multiplied by the area of the house and the resulting number will be the required power.
If the building is not insulated in any way, then heating one square meter will require from 130 to 200 W. For buildings with old windows and a facade that is covered with material that does not allow cold to pass through, the optimal value will be 90-120 W/m2.
As for houses with good thermal insulation of attic and basement floors, plastic double-glazed windows, insulated doorways, properly arranged air exchange, then 50-80 W/m2 will be enough to heat them.
What can you save on?
So, you have decided on the option of electric heating for a wooden house, now you need to select the right equipment and calculate the project in such a way that all elements are used as efficiently as possible.
First of all, correctly calculate the power of the equipment. It is believed that for 1 m3 of insulated room, sufficient thermal power is 30 W (for an unheated room 41 W). This calculation is simplified; for a better calculation, it is recommended to use special formulas and programs that can be easily found on the Internet.
Next, make sure that all heaters have a temperature regulator. This device will allow you to set the optimal temperature in the room. As a result, electric heating of a wooden house will not be so expensive. Another important piece of advice is to purchase a two-tariff electricity meter; we talked about its advantages in the article we referred to.
Subtleties of radiator selection
Radiators are one of the most important components of the system. After all, they distribute heat throughout the living space. Therefore, their choice should be taken with full responsibility, and not buy the first product you come across.
Batteries are divided into categories depending on their design and the material from which they are made. Since a wide assortment can drive an unprepared buyer into a dead end, before going to the store it is necessary to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type.
Aesthetics of aluminum structures
Such products appeared in Italy more than 35 years ago. Since their invention, aluminum heating radiators immediately became popular and won the recognition of professionals.
When choosing a heating radiator, first of all you should familiarize yourself with the material of the sections. The heat transfer of the battery, its service life and weight depend on it
And this is not at all surprising, because these structures are distinguished by their lightness, high heat transfer, and attractive design. But they are poorly resistant to corrosion and are susceptible to airing.
Aluminum batteries can be cast or extruded. The first type is a monolithic structure, and the second is a blank formed by a press, from which finished products are subsequently cut.
Cast structures are considered more reliable and durable. In other respects, their analogues are in no way inferior to them.
Aluminum batteries are relatively lightweight. This makes them easy to transport and connect, something you can do yourself
Panel steel radiators
Steel is an excellent heat conductor. Therefore, batteries made from it are considered the most effective and are recommended for installation by all specialists. In addition, they are a monolithic structure, which greatly simplifies installation.
Provided that steel radiators are used in a house or country house with an autonomous heating system, they have no disadvantages. If all recommendations are followed, the service life can reach 30 years.
Batteries of this type are often supplemented with heat exchangers. But this in no way affects the appearance of the structure.
Good old cast iron
Cast iron radiators were first used more than a century ago. But even today they have not lost their relevance and are actively installed in heating systems.
The reason for this is its ease of maintenance and simply enormous service life - cast iron will faithfully last for about 50 years. At the same time, it retains heat well. The products take a long time to heat up, but after turning off the heating they will heat the room for a long time.
Taking into account all their advantages, cast iron appliances have only one insignificant disadvantage - they are heavy. Thus, the weight of one section can reach 6 kg, and the weight of the entire battery can be 36 kg.
Even in comparison with bimetallic and aluminum products, cast iron structures are a good and universal solution with many advantages
Tubular radiators made of steel
Tubular batteries, as a rule, are classified as products in the highest price segment. They fully comply with all quality standards and have a number of advantages over their analogues.
First of all, such structures can easily withstand sudden changes in pressure, and in the event of a heat cut, the battery will not become air-filled.
Also, tubular radiators have a smooth surface both outside and inside. Thanks to this, they have an attractive appearance, due to which they will harmoniously fit into any interior.
Tubular steel radiators are an expensive proposition. But at the same time, they last for about a quarter of a century, which completely pays for the costs.
Modern bimetallic structures
These types of batteries are made from an alloy of aluminum and steel. These metals have completely different characteristics, and as a result of their combination, a material with excellent performance is obtained.
More precisely, these radiators show high thermal conductivity and can easily withstand water hammer. If assembled with high quality, bimetallic products last about 50 years. But they are quite expensive.
Even despite the high price, it is better to spend money once and buy a bimetallic radiator from a reliable supplier. Thanks to its long service life, it will fully justify the investment.
Built-in floor convectors
This heating device is a tube made of copper and aluminum through which the coolant moves. The main advantage of floor convectors is the ability to build them directly into the floor.
In this case, the structure does not take up precious residential square meters, but at the same time warms the building well. The only thing that comes out is the decorative grille or panel.
If installation is carried out incorrectly, drafts may form inside the room. In addition, you need to carefully monitor the cleanliness of the heating element - air flows carry dust well.
It is better to choose a floor convector made of copper, steel or aluminum. In this case, the structure will last a long time, and the house will warm up almost instantly
What can you build with your own hands?
In principle, with certain skills, you can implement any type of heating system with your own hands. The easiest way would be to build an electrical system.
As for stove heating, if you have experience in bricklaying, then building a stove will not cause you any particular difficulties. You just need to get a suitable design for a furnace that will have good efficiency indicators.
But you will have to tinker with the construction of a liquid heating system. There are a lot of nuances that need to be taken into account. For example, if you choose a one-pipe system, then in this case you can only use the top type of wiring. And for this you need a technical room on one of the upper floors, or an attic. If your house is one-story with a flat roof, in this case it is advisable to use a horizontal type of wiring.
In any case, when independently organizing the heating of a wooden house, you should seek advice from specialists. Only in this case will you be able to avoid mistakes and provide the most efficient heating for your home with minimal energy and material costs.
Heating system piping
The main task of the pipes is to transfer the coolant from the boiler to the radiators. There are many types of them - they are divided into categories depending on the material.
Pipelines are:
- polymer;
- steel;
- copper.
The latter variety is resistant to high temperatures and high pressure. Currently, copper pipes are the most reliable and safe. Thanks to this, they can be hidden in the wall. But they are quite expensive.
Nowadays, heating pipelines are most often assembled from metal-plastic or polypropylene products. They are characterized by ease of installation and resistance to corrosion. The elements are connected to each other using soldering. Their disadvantage is their low hydraulic resistance.
To install a steel pipeline, you need to hire a welder - it will be problematic to cope with the work yourself. In addition, such structures are susceptible to corrosion.
Method 7 - infrared heaters (the most economical)
Infrared heaters are considered the most economical of all types of electric heaters. They do not need heating elements and water pipes. Infrared heaters heat objects, not the room. Then the heated objects heat up the air. If an electric boiler can be compared to a kettle, then an infrared boiler can be compared to a microwave oven.
Infrared panels are especially popular. They are installed on the ceiling or walls of residential and industrial premises. Since the heating area is increased, the room becomes warmer faster than usual. Such a panel can be used as an independent heating source or as an addition to an existing system. An infrared heater goes well with electrode boilers. For example, an infrared heater can only be turned on in spring and autumn, when it is too early to turn on the main heating, or when it suddenly gets cold outside.
Pictured is a GROHE infrared panel, Germany
Drawing up a heating scheme
Since water is predominantly used as a heat carrier, the schemes discussed below will be based on this factor. The essence of this kind of heating system for a wooden house is that the liquid is heated in a boiler and passes through pipes into radiators, where it is cooled. Next, the water returns to the heat source.
Installation of a one-pipe system
The choice of scheme largely depends on whether a system with gravity or forced coolant pumping is used. In addition, when drawing up a project, you need to take into account the number of circuits.
When organizing a single-pipe building heating system, it is almost impossible to regulate the temperature. It will be different in any case. The farther from the boiler, the lower the temperature
The advantage of creating one heating circuit is ease of installation. If you stick to the plan, you can quickly get the job done without involving a professional.
The single-pipe system allows you to save plumbing fixtures. And in order to maximally equalize the temperature throughout the entire circuit, it is necessary to increase the number of radiator sections that are connected at the end. To speed up the water flow, it is recommended to install a pump.
You should choose a single-pipe system only if it is possible to install the boiler below the level of the radiators. Otherwise, water will not circulate through the pipes
Subtleties of organizing two-pipe heating
A system with two circuits allows you to maintain the same temperature in all radiators, which will have a beneficial effect on heating efficiency. The disadvantage of this solution is the high consumption of materials.
The diagram of a two-pipe house heating system is also suitable for heat generators that run on solid fuel. The only thing that needs to be adjusted in this case is the pipeline material
When implementing a two-pipe project, each radiator must be equipped with shut-off valves. Such elements will allow you to adjust the temperature in each room.
If the boiler will be installed in the basement, then the best choice is a system with bottom wiring (the diagram is presented below). This solution is ideal for wooden houses where a gas boiler is used as a heat generator.
Installation features
As we have already said, when connecting electric heating in a wooden house, you must adhere to several important requirements, namely:
- When heated, wood can dry out and crack, so avoid direct contact with the heat flow on the walls and ceiling. It is best to point the devices towards the floor and towards the center of the room.
- If you decide to use radiators, their installation in a wooden house also has its own peculiarities. Over time, wood shrinks. If you do not provide special compensators on the risers in the design of the house, during shrinkage the heating main may be disrupted and fail.
- The power cable from which the electric boiler (or boiler) will be powered must be able to withstand current loads with a reserve. Otherwise, ignition may occur from spontaneous combustion of the electrical wiring. To prevent this from happening, calculate the cable cross-section based on power.
- When using UV intensifiers, place them in such a way as to prevent direct (or very close) contact of the heating element with other objects.
