How heating works in an apartment building

Have you ever wondered how your apartment building’s heating system operates? Until something goes wrong, we tend to take things for granted. However, being aware of the fundamentals of multi-unit heating systems can make you appreciate the warmth they offer in the winter.

Heating in apartment buildings is usually centralized, which means that one system is in charge of warming up several units. The centralized approach provides improved control and distribution of heat throughout the building, resulting in efficiency and convenience.

The boiler is the central component of the heating system in many apartment buildings. Water is heated by this powerhouse and then circulated via a system of pipes to each unit’s radiators or baseboard heaters. The temperature inside rises as a result of the hot water’s release of heat into the air as it passes through these devices.

However, how does the boiler determine when to start operating? That’s the situation with thermostats, though. Usually, each apartment has a thermostat so that occupants can set the temperature to their preferred level. The thermostat alerts the boiler to begin heating the water when the temperature falls below the predetermined level.

Maintaining the heat inside your apartment is essential if you want it to stay there. Walls, floors, and ceilings that are properly insulated help keep heat from escaping, keeping your house warm without using unnecessary energy. Additionally, by preventing cold drafts, tightly sealed windows and doors are essential to preserving indoor comfort.

Individual heating in residential buildings

Apart from the central heating system, an autonomous heating system is available in apartment buildings.These types of heat sources are typically uncommon and are only seen in newly constructed buildings. Additionally, the private residential sector makes use of local heat supply systems. Since the temperature of the coolant in the heating system must be adjusted, it is customary to locate the boiler room—if available—either close to the residence or inside the building in a separate room.

Since installing autonomous heating in an apartment building can be expensive, it is best to install a single, strong boiler room that can supply warm, hot water to an entire residential microdistrict.

Central heating of apartment buildings

The trunk pipelines indicate that the heating unit of an apartment building receives coolant from the central boiler room, which is then distributed throughout the apartments. In this instance, additional hot water supply adjustment is generated on-site at the heat station, where circular pumps are employed. We refer to this process of providing the coolant to the end user as independent (see "Centralized heating: the pros and cons" for more information).

Furthermore, apartment buildings employ dependent heating systems. In this instance, the coolant is delivered straight from the thermal power plant to the apartment batteries, requiring no further distribution. Regardless of whether the water is supplied directly to customers or through the distribution point, the temperature of the water is located in this instance.

In the latter version, coolant is supplied separately for hot water supply and radiator heating after entering the camshaft through a thermal power station or central boiler room. Open systems lack this kind of separation, allowing residents’ heated water needs to be met from the main pipe. As a result, customers are left without hot water outside of the heating season, which leads to a high volume of utility complaints. Also see "The battery’s heat meter."

Types of connection to heating systems

It is impossible to alter the centralized circuit that drives the coolant’s movement. Because of this, only the apartment version of a building has the option to adjust the heating. Although it happens infrequently, there are instances where homeowners replace the heating system on their own. In these cases, one or two pipes are used, and the coolant circulation principles are unaltered. Additionally view "Independent heating system."

In an apartment building, heating operates through a centralized system that distributes warmth to individual units. This system typically uses a boiler to heat water, which is then circulated through pipes to radiators or underfloor heating in each apartment. The boiler can be fueled by various sources like gas, electricity, or district heating. Thermostats in each apartment control the temperature, allowing residents to adjust it according to their comfort. Proper insulation plays a crucial role in retaining heat within the building, minimizing energy loss and ensuring efficient heating. Regular maintenance of the heating system is essential to ensure its optimal performance and to prevent issues like leaks or breakdowns, ensuring that residents stay warm and comfortable throughout the colder months.

One -pipe heating system

The primary drawback of an apartment building’s single-pipe heat supply is the considerable heat loss that occurs during the transportation of hot water. The coolant in this circuit is supplied from the bottom up, goes into the batteries, produces heat, and then exits the pipe again. Hot water used to reach end users living on the higher floors in a barely warm state.

There are times when the one -pipe system is further simplified, trying to increase the temperature of the coolant within radiators. For this, the battery is cut directly into the pipe. As a result, it seems that the radiator is its continuation. But only the first users of the system receive more heat from such a connection, and the water reaches the latter consumers almost cold (read also: “Acardic heating system is the characteristic“). In addition, a single -tube heat supply of an apartment building makes it impossible to adjust the radiators – after a decrease in the supply of coolant in a separate battery, the water flow is also reduced along the entire length of the pipe.

The inability to replace the radiator during the heating season without completely draining the system’s water supply is another drawback of this type of heat supply. Installing jumpers is required in these situations in order to turn off the battery and direct the coolant toward them.

Thus, installing a single-pipe heating system results in savings on the one hand, but also poses significant issues with heat distribution among apartments on the other. It’s winter there, and the people are freezing.

Two -pipe heating system

Two pipes can be used in an apartment building’s open and closed heating system (see photo), allowing you to regulate the coolant temperature in the radiators found in each floor’s apartments. The two-pipe circuit device suggests that hot water that has cooled in a radiator does not return to the original pipe. It goes into what is referred to as the "return" or return channel. Also see "What is the heating system’s elevator node?"

The coolant maintains a consistent temperature throughout its entire journey along the feed pipes, regardless of whether the battery is connected to the riser or sunbed pipe.

The ability to modify an apartment building’s heating system at the level of each individual battery by erecting cranes with thermostats affixed is one of the main benefits of two-pipe water circuits (see also "Adjusting the heating system – details from practice"). Consequently, the apartment makes sure to automatically maintain the appropriate temperature range. Heating radiators can be used in a two-pipe circuit with a lateral or lower connection. Additionally, you can employ passing and dead end coolant movements.

Hot water supply in heating systems

Water is heated in boiler rooms, but DHW is typically centralized in multi-story buildings. Link the hot water supply from the one- and two-pipe sources, as well as the heating contours. Depending on the number of main pipes, the hot water temperature in the morning is either warm or cold when it comes from the tap. When a five-story apartment building with a single pipe heat supply opens its hot crane, cold water initially flows from it for 30 seconds.

The coolant in the pipes cools at night, and it is rare for one of the tenants to have a hot water crane. Since it merges straight into the sewer, there is an excess of superfluous cooled water.

The two-pipe version of the system has continuous hot water circulation, which eliminates any issues with the domestic hot water heater (DHW), unlike the one-pipe version. It is true that some homes have heated towel rails that are hot even in the summer thanks to a riser with pipes and a hot water supply system.

After the heating season is over, a lot of customers are curious about the DHW issue. Sometimes there is a prolonged absence of hot water. The truth is that post-flow tests of heat supply systems must be performed by communal services in order to ensure compliance with apartment building heating regulations (see also: "The act of hydraulic testing of the heating system and pipelines"). Such tasks take time to complete, particularly when damage needs to be repaired.

Testing is done on an apartment building’s entire central heating system during the summer. Utility services turn off individual sections of the heating main while performing overhaul and current work on it. The refurbished thermal highway is once again put through testing on the eve of the impending heating season (further information can be found in "Rules for preparing for the heating season of a residential building").

Specifics of an apartment building’s heating system, as shown in the video:

Radiators for high -rise heating systems

Many people who live in multi-story buildings are accustomed to using cast-iron radiators, which have been around for more than a decade. If necessary, install a similar one in place of the heating battery that the apartment building’s heating system requires. These radiators are thought to be the best option for central heating systems because they can handle pressures up to quite high without experiencing any issues. Two numbers are printed on the cast-iron battery passport: the first one represents the working pressure and the second the test (or assessment) load. These are typically 6/15 or 8/15 values.

The value of working pressure increases with the height of the residential building. It reaches six atmospheres in nine-story buildings, so cast-iron radiators are appropriate for them. However, if it’s a 22-story building, 15 atmospheres are required for the centralized heating systems to function. Steel or bimetallic heating devices are required in this situation.

Experts do not recommend using aluminum radiators for centralized heating – they are not able to withstand the working condition of the water circuit. Professionals also advise owners of real estate during a major overhaul in apartments in case of replacement of batteries to change the pipes of the coolant divorce by ½ or ¾ inch. Usually they are in poor condition and instead of them it is advisable to put ecoplast products.
In some types of radiators (steel and bimetallic) watercrows already than in cast -iron products, so they are clogged and subsequently lose power. Therefore, at the place of supply of the coolant to the battery, the filter should be installed, which is usually mounted in front of the water meter.

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Providing the heat of apartment buildings: a centralized heating system

As you are aware, a sizable portion of the housing stock has central heating and cooling. Furthermore, central heating is still preferred by apartment building developers, if not by apartment building owners themselves, even in spite of the appearance and introduction of more contemporary heat supply schemes in recent years. It should be mentioned, though, that extensive experience both domestically and abroad with this type of heating option has demonstrated its efficacy and right to continue existing as long as all components are performed with high quality and without incident.

One characteristic that sets this scheme apart is the generation of heat outside the buildings that are being heated, with pipelines being used to transport the heat from the source. Stated differently, centralized heating refers to a sophisticated engineering system that is dispersed over a sizable area and serves to simultaneously heat numerous objects.

Central heating system structure

The central heating system’s primary structural components are:

1. The source of thermal energy. which can be large boiler rooms or heat -power centers (CHP); They are heated by the coolant through the use of any type of energy source.
   In the boiler rooms to transfer thermal energy to consumers, water is used, then, as at the CHPP, it first heats up to a steam state that has higher energy indicators and heading to steam turbines to generate electricity. And already worked steam is used to heat the water that enters the heating system of an apartment building.

Multiple boiler houses can be replaced by a single heating system, which not only lowers construction costs and frees up large areas but also greatly improves the overall environmental condition.

1. Heat nets – a complex, branched, extended system of pipelines designed to transport heat to objects.
   They are two heat pipes-supply (hot) and reverse (with a waste coolant), usually made of steel pipes with a diameter of 1000-1400 mm. The laying of the heating systems can be carried out both by the ground and underground method with mandatory thermal insulation in both cases.It should be noted that large centralized heat supply schemes have, as a rule, several heat sources associated with reserve highways and ensure the reliability and maneuverability of their functioning.
2. Consumers of heat – heating equipment installed directly in an apartment building or another facility. Figure 1 – General scheme of central heating

Classification of centralized heating systems

They are able to rank them based on certain classification features because of the diversity of central heating organization schemes that are currently in use.

According to the heat consumption regime

• seasonal. heat provision is required only in the cold season;
• year -round. in need of constant heat supply.

By type of coolant used

• Water – This is the most common heating option used to heat an apartment building; Such systems are easy to operate, allow you to transport the coolant over long distances without worsening quality indicators and adjust the temperature at the centralized level, and are also characterized by good sanitary-hygienic qualities.
• Air – These systems allow not only heating, but also the ventilation of buildings; However, due to the high cost, such a scheme does not find wide application;

Figure 2: Building air heating and ventilation

• steam – are considered the most economical, t.To. For heating the house, small diameter pipes are used, and hydrostatic pressure in the system is not enough, which facilitates its operation. But such a heat supply scheme is recommended for those objects that, in addition to heat, requires water vapor (mainly industrial enterprises).

By the method of connecting the heating system to the heat supply

• Independent. in which the coolant circulating along the heating networks (water or steam) heats the coolant (water) supplied to the heating system in the heat exchanger;

Diagram 3: Self-contained central heating system

• dependent. in which the coolant heated in the heat generator is supplied directly to the heat consumers through the networks (see. picture 1).

By the method of joining the heat supply system of hot water supply

• Open. Hot water is taken directly from the heating system;

The open heating system in Figure 4.

• Closed. In such systems, the water fence is provided from the general water supply, and its heating is carried out in the network heat exchanger of the central.

Figure 5: A central heating system that is closed

The device of a centralized heating system and the principle of operation of its components in an apartment building

It is evident that an apartment building needs to be connected to a heating network that originates from a thermal power plant or boiler room in order to provide warmth. For these reasons, they set input valves in the building’s pipes, where one or two thermal nodes are recorded.

Gryazer valves are typically installed after the pipeline has been exposed to hot water for an extended period of time, causing oxides and salts of metals to deposit. By the way, you can prolong the heating system’s terminal operation with these devices.

Inserts for hot water supplies are located further down the house circuit. first on the return, and the second on the feed. As you are aware, overheated water is used for central heating (the coolant temperature with the CHP is between 130 and 150 0C, and a system pressure of 6 to 10 kgf is created to prevent the liquid from turning to steam). Hence, during the winter months, DHW is connected from the return, where the water temperature typically stays below 70°C. The hot water supply is connected to the supply during the summer, when the coolant temperature in the heating system is comparatively low.

The heating elevator is the system’s most crucial component, right after the DHW valves. Its primary goal is to reduce the overheated (incoming from the thermal power plant) material to the acceptable levels required for direct supply to the apartment building’s heating systems.

This device is made up of a steel case with a nozzle that allows water from a heat-power center to exit at a high speed and low pressure. This leads to the creation of a rarefaction, which causes the coolant to leak from the return to the elevator, changing its temperature due to water mixing.

Figure 6: Elevator device with heating

It should be mentioned that altering the elevator nozzle’s diameter controls the heating system’s regulation, i.e., the real temperature difference within the system, the degree of heating of the working water mixture, and the heating devices themselves.

Typically, apartment buildings or heating valve entrances are situated behind the elevator.

House valves are used to connect and disconnect the heating center circuit. They overlap in the summer and are open in the winter.

Moreover, the installation of the so-called discharges is made possible by central heating. serving as the system’s release or drainage valves. In order to supply water to the radiators during the summer, they are occasionally connected to the cold water supply pipeline.

There have been established heating sequences at the entrance to the house or entrances in recent years in compliance with the requirements for the mandatory installation of metering devices.

Figure 7: Diagram of the central heating system’s thermal unit device

Risers and outlines of a centralized heating system

The layout of an apartment building’s water circulation system is typically a one-to-one replica of the heat carrier with an upper or lower outlet. Concurrently, the supply and return pipes can be diluted in the attic or technical story, the return in the basement, and the pipe in the attic.

Risers, on the other hand, have:

• the passing movement of the coolant;
• the movement of the water to the top down;
• oncoming movement from the bottom up.

Employing Schemes with Reduced Output Jumpers, which can be found in attics or upper-floor apartments, are used to connect each pair of risers. In this instance, the air vent (air tank) needs to be mounted at the top of the jumper.

The Maevsky crane is the most basic, yet it can withstand errors in flight design.

This option’s primary drawback is having to remove the system after every water discharge, which necessitates air suffering from every jumper.

Potential layouts for the central heating system with a lower outlet are shown in Figure 8.

Upper outlet heating system It allows for the installation of separate valves that enable each riser to cut off, as well as an expansion tank with a valve and an aircraft wizard on a hardware house.

When opening aerialists, the proper bias during roser laying allows for a quick and full drainage of the system’s water supply. However, there are a lot of features with this option that need to be considered when designing.

1. The temperature of heating devices decreases as the coolant is moved down. It is clear that on the lower floors it will be significantly lower than on the upper ones, which is usually compensated by an increase in the number of sections of radiators or the area of convectors.
2. The heating launch process is quite simple. For this, you need to fill out the system, open the existing house valves and for a short time airborne on the expansion tank. After that, central heating and the entire system begin to function in full.
3. The discharge of the coolant from a particular riser, on the contrary, has some difficulties. To do this, you first need to find and block the desired riser on the technical story of a multi -storey building, then find and turn off its valve in the basement, and only after that it will be possible to open a reset.

Diagram of a single-pipe heating system with an upper outlet is shown in Figure 9.

Advantages and disadvantages of the central heating system

The following are some advantages of the central heating system:

• the possibility of using inexpensive types of fuel;
• reliability provided by regular control of performance and technical condition from special services;
• use of environmentally friendly equipment;
• Simplicity in operation.

A few drawbacks It is important to take note of this apartment building heating scheme:

• The system operates according to a strict seasonal graphics;
• the impossibility of individual control of the temperature of the heating devices;
• frequent pressure drops in the system;
• significant heat loss in the process of transportation and heating in an apartment building;
• High cost of equipment and its installation.

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Heating of an apartment building – existing options

The majority of large cities’ contemporary housing stock is found in multi-story structures constructed during the Soviet Union. Back then, centralized systems were used to heat residential buildings, and the issue of heat conservation did not stand out as much. This was relevant back then, but more and more of our countrymen are considering ways to refuse heating in apartment buildings these days.

Centralized heating system

To put it mildly, nobody will contest the moral obsolescence of the apartment building’s centralized heat supply system in its current configuration.

It’s no secret that there can be up to 30% loss during transportation, and we are responsible for covering these costs. In an apartment building, turning off the central heating can be complicated and problematic, but first, let’s understand how it operates.

A multi-story building’s heating system is a sophisticated engineering design. The central unit, also known as the elevator node, is connected to a complex system of plums, distributors, and flanges that control the heating of residential buildings.

Heating system with two pipes.

Since experts are handling this and a layman would not need to know the specifics of how this system operates, there is no purpose in going into detail because nothing here depends on him. It is preferable to think about the apartment’s heat supply scheme for clarity.

Lower Rosliv

The distribution diagram featuring the lower outlet allows coolant to be supplied from the bottom up, as implied by the name. Using this exact principle, a five-story building’s traditional heating system is installed.

The feed and return are typically placed in the basement and around the building’s perimeter. In this instance, the feeding and reverse risers act as a jumper between the roads. This is a closed system that descends back into the basement after rising to the highest floor.

Two kinds.

Even though this scheme is thought to be the simplest, locksmiths find it problematic when it first launches. The truth is that an air-pulling device, dubbed the Maevsky crane, is installed at the top of every riser. You must release the air before each launch; otherwise, the riser won’t heat up and the air cork will obstruct the system.

Notably, some occupants of extremely high floors attempt to move the air discharge valve to the attic in order to avoid constant interaction with housing and communal service staff. Such an adjustment may be costly. The attic is a cold space, and if the heating is turned off for even one hour during the winter, the pipes will freeze and burst.

One significant drawback in this situation is that the batteries are hot from one side of the five-story building where the input occurs and cool from the other. Particularly on the lower floors, this is felt.

The possibility of radiator connections.

Upper roser

A nine-story building’s heating system operates on an entirely different principle. The highway’s supply is immediately transferred to the upper technical floor, avoiding the apartments. The entire riser can be shut off if necessary thanks to the valve system that controls the air discharge valve, expansion reservoir, and valve system.

In this instance, heat is dispersed more equally throughout the apartment’s radiators, wherever they may be. Another issue, though, is that there is a lot of room for improvement when it comes to heating a nine-story building’s first floor. Since the coolant only becomes slightly warm after going through every floor, the only way to combat this is to increase the radiator’s section count.

Important to note: in this instance, the issue of water freezing on the technical floor is not as serious. Ultimately, the feeding line’s cross-section measures roughly 50 mm. Moreover, in the event of an emergency, the water from the entire riser can be released in a matter of seconds, which is sufficient to open the basement valve and the attic’s airborne.

Temperature balance

Everyone is aware, of course, that central heating in apartment buildings is subject to strict regulations. Therefore, during the heating season, the temperature in the rooms and bathrooms should not drop below +20 °C or +25 °F.

Contemporary heating systems for new construction.

The acceptable minimum temperature in an old house’s kitchen is +18 º because the space is not much different from a large square and because the furnace operates periodically, which naturally warms the space.

Important to note: the information above applies only to apartments situated in the building’s center. Instructions call for raising the temperature in lateral apartments—where the majority of the walls are external—by two to five degrees Celsius above the norm.

Regional heating norms.

Topic	How heating works in an apartment building
Overview	Central heating systems distribute heat from a single source to multiple apartments within a building.
Heat Source	A central boiler or furnace generates heat, typically fueled by gas, oil, or electricity.
Distribution	Heated water or steam is circulated through pipes to radiators or baseboard heaters in each apartment.
Thermostat Control	Residents can adjust temperature settings in their individual apartments using thermostats connected to the central heating system.

It is essential for residents to comprehend how heating functions in an apartment building in order to maintain comfort and make wise energy-saving decisions. Although heating systems in apartment buildings differ, they usually consist of a central heating source that provides warmth to the entire building.

A centralized boiler or furnace is the most prevalent type of heating system in apartment buildings. It produces heat, which is subsequently delivered to individual units via a system of pipes or ducts. In contrast to individual heating units in each apartment, this centralization offers efficiency and cost savings.

Centralized heating systems are convenient for residents because they eliminate the need for individual heating units to be maintained or fuel supply concerns. Rather, they take advantage of the reliable warmth supplied by the building management, which is usually paid for by a maintenance fee or included in the rent.

It’s crucial that locals realize they still have power over how much heat they use, though. While residents can use thermostats or radiator valves to control the temperature within their individual units, building management is ultimately in charge of the building’s overall temperature and heating system operation.

To guarantee the heating system operates effectively and to avoid malfunctions, routine maintenance is necessary. Building management should plan regular cleanings, repairs, and inspections to keep the system in good working order and to quickly handle any problems that may arise.

In summary, understanding how an apartment building’s heating system operates gives residents the power to efficiently control their comfort and energy use. In addition to staying warm and comfortable, residents can help the building as a whole save money and energy by being aware of and in control of the centralized heating system.

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