It’s important to know your heating options if you want to keep your house warm and comfortable during the winter. Selecting between an independent and dependent heating system is one of the most important choices that homeowners must make. It’s important to carefully consider your options because each has pros and cons of its own.
Dependent heating systems produce all of the house’s heat from a single, centralized source, usually a boiler or furnace. Heat is distributed throughout the house by means of pipes, radiators, or ducts by this centralized system. It is a typical configuration found in many residential buildings, and its fuel can come from a variety of sources, including electricity, gas, oil, and even renewable energy sources like solar power.
Independent heating systems, on the other hand, which are also referred to as individual or decentralized heating systems, supply heat to each room separately. Each room or zone has its own heating unit, such as electric baseboards, space heaters, or ductless mini-split systems, in place of a single, central source. Because of this configuration, tenants have more freedom and flexibility to modify the temperature in various spaces in accordance with their tastes and usage habits.
Cost is a key consideration when choosing between dependent and independent heating systems. Installing dependent systems can be expensive up front, particularly if extensive piping or ductwork is required. In the long term, though, they might be more energy-efficient, especially if the house has adequate insulation or a high-efficiency central heating system.
Conversely, since independent heating systems don’t need complicated infrastructure, they might have lower initial costs. They may, however, result in increased energy costs, particularly if individual rooms are heated and not all spaces are used regularly. Furthermore, over time, the upkeep and repair expenses of several separate units could accumulate.
| Dependent Heating System | Independent Heating System |
| A heating system that relies on a centralized source, such as a boiler or furnace, to provide heat to multiple areas or rooms within a building. | A heating system that operates autonomously, typically utilizing individual heating units like electric heaters or wood stoves to provide heat to specific areas or rooms. |
Dependent (open) heat supply system
The coolant that flows through the primary networks of the dependent system enters the house directly, which is its primary characteristic. The reason it’s called "open" is that hot water for the house is selected from the supply pipeline using coolant. When connecting to the heating networks of apartment buildings, office buildings, and other public buildings, this kind of scheme is most frequently employed. The following figure illustrates how the dependent heating system’s diagram operates:
The coolant in the supply pipeline can be sent straight to the heating devices when its temperature reaches 95 °C. When the temperature hits 105 °F, a mixing elevator node is placed at the front of the house, and its job is to mix hot coolant with water from radiators to bring it down in temperature.
As a point of reference. A precise and realistic temperature schedule is in place for the centralized dependent heating system. The computed graph illustrates the highest water temperature in the open system, which is either 95 /70 º or 105 /70 ºΡ. The actual schedule is supported by the central heat point and is subject to daily changes based on weather conditions. When there aren’t any strong frosts outside, the coolant’s temperature is substantially lower than expected.
In the USSR, the plan was highly popular at a time when few people were afraid. The truth is that an elevator mixing unit dependent connection is very dependable, essentially supervision-free, and reasonably inexpensive to install and purchase. Once more, if hot water can be successfully obtained from the thermal line, there is no need to install additional pipes to supply it to the house.
However, this is where the dependent scheme’s benefits end. There are also a lot more drawbacks:
- Dirt, Okhalin and Rusta from trunk pipelines safely enters all consumer batteries. Old cast -iron radiators and steel convectors were sort of trifles, but modern aluminum and other heating devices are definitely not not to do;
- Due to the decrease in the water clearance, repair work and other reasons, a pressure drop of pressure often occurs in a dependent heating system, or even hydraulic houses. This threatens the consequences for modern batteries and polymer pipelines;
- The quality of the coolant leaves much to be desired, but it directly goes to water supply. And although in the boiler room water passes all the stages of cleaning and desalination, kilometers of old rusty highways make themselves felt;
- It is not easy to adjust the temperature in the rooms. Even full-flow thermostatic valves quickly fail due to the poor quality of the coolant.
The decision between dependent and independent heating systems is significant when it comes to insulation and home heating. Dependent systems are more convenient but may come with less control over personal heating preferences and possibly higher costs because they rely on centralized sources such as shared boilers or district heating. However, independent systems—like standalone heat pumps or boilers—offer homeowners independence and flexibility, enabling them to adjust heating schedules and temperatures to suit their needs and possibly save energy costs. Making wise choices regarding the cost-effectiveness, comfort, and efficiency of your home’s heating system requires an understanding of the variations between these systems.
Independent (closed) heating system
These days, it’s more common to connect the heating system to an independent circuit when installing new boiler houses. It has two circulation circuits: the primary and secondary, which are hydraulically divided by the heat exchanger. This is the basic outline: coolant from thermal power plants or boiler rooms travels to the central heat point before entering the heat exchanger. The house’s heating system is a separate circuit that uses the same heat exchanger to circulate coolant and obtain heat from boiler room network water. The figure depicts an independent system’s operation scheme:
As a point of reference. In the past, these systems had cumberships of steel heat exchangers installed, which took up a lot of room. This was the primary challenge, but it is no longer an issue thanks to high-speed plate heat exchangers.
However, what about the centralized hot water supply, as it is currently impractical to obtain it from the highway due to the excessively high temperature (between 105 and 150 º)? Everything is easy: any number of plate heat exchangers connected to the main pipelines can be installed thanks to an independent connection scheme. The first will supply the home’s heating system, and the second can prepare water for daily use. How it’s accomplished, as seen below:
The DHW contour is made closed with the organization of automatic subtracting in the reverse pipeline to ensure that hot water always arrives at the same temperature. Towels are connected to the DHW circulating reverse line, which is visible in apartment buildings’ bathrooms.
It goes without saying that having a separate heating system offers many benefits.
- The home heating circuit does not depend on the quality of the external coolant, the state of main networks and pressure drops. The entire load falls on the plate heat exchanger;
- It is possible to adjust the temperature in the rooms using thermostatic valves;
- The coolant in the small circuit can be filtered and cleaned of salts, the main thing is that the pipes are in good condition;
- The DHW system will have drinking water entering the house through the water line.
Nevertheless, frequent cleaning of a separate heating system—or more accurately, a plate heat exchanger—will be necessary due to soiled, low-quality coolant in the central network. Thankfully, it is not that hard to accomplish. Among the drawbacks, it is important to mention the increased expenses associated with purchasing heat exchangers, circulation pumps, and shut-off valves. However, compared to open systems, closed systems are safer, more dependable, and better suited to new technology. They also meet current regulations.
For homeowners, selecting between an independent and dependent heating system is a big choice that affects cost, comfort, and efficiency. Dependent systems, like district heating, are convenient and might work well in areas with a high population density. They consolidate the production of heating, which lessens the requirement for personal maintenance but may also restrict control over energy sources and expenses.
Independent heating systems, such as heat pumps or boilers, on the other hand, offer flexibility and independence. By customizing their system to meet their unique requirements, homeowners can potentially maximize efficiency and lower long-term costs. Independent systems, however, might require more initial costs and require specialized maintenance.
A system’s selection should take into account a number of important factors, including budget, energy availability, location, and personal preferences. Dependent systems may be more practical in urban areas with well-established district heating infrastructure, but independent systems may be preferred in rural areas or by people pursuing energy independence.
Energy efficiency is yet another important factor. Independent systems provide more control over energy choices and consumption, even though dependent systems are becoming more and more common in modern society. Independent systems may be more appealing to homeowners who are worried about the environment or who want to lower their energy costs.
In summary, personal priorities and circumstances ultimately determine which heating system is dependent or independent. There is no one-size-fits-all answer; both approaches have benefits and cons. Through meticulous assessment of variables like affordability, convenience, independence, effectiveness, and sustainability, homeowners can make well-informed choices to guarantee cozy and long-lasting home heating.
