Which radiators to choose – bimetallic or aluminum, comparative analysis

Selecting the appropriate kind of radiator is essential for effective home heating. Choosing an option that best fits your needs can be difficult when there are so many to choose from. We’ll concentrate on two common varieties in this post: aluminum and bimetallic radiators. Through a thorough comparative analysis, we will examine each’s distinct benefits and factors.

Bimetallic radiators are renowned for their strength and capacity to produce a lot of heat. With the help of steel and aluminum, these radiators optimize heat distribution while consuming the least amount of energy possible. They are especially well suited for central heating systems that need a strong defense against fluctuations in water quality and high pressure.

Conversely, aluminum radiators are efficient, light, and react fast to temperature changes in the room. They are the best option for people looking for an affordable, easily installable solution with good thermal conductivity. In contrast to their bimetallic counterparts, aluminum radiators might not be as resistant to high pressure or corrosion.

These two types of radiators will be compared in this analysis based on a number of criteria, including cost-effectiveness, durability, energy efficiency, and compatibility with various heating systems. Comprehending these distinctions will enable homeowners to make an educated choice that fits their heating needs and financial limitations.

Comparative analysis of bimetallic and aluminum radiators

Despite their outward similarities, the two types of products differ greatly from one another in terms of a wide range of traits and attributes. The consumer is frequently faced with the dilemma of choosing between aluminum and bimetallic heating radiators. These two varieties of heating batteries each have advantages and disadvantages.

Our goal in writing this article is to inform the reader of all the benefits and drawbacks associated with these kinds of heating radiators. It will be simpler for the customer to select one model over another when comparing their qualitative features with the regional conditions of their own or centralized heating system.

Aluminum radiators

In the field of heat engineering, models composed of non-ferrous metal are relatively new. The products are actually made of an alloy called silumin, which contains 12–14% silicon and traces of other metals. Instead of aluminum, this alloy is used to make the products. Silumin is more robust and long-lasting than aluminum.

1. Radiator body.
2. Polymer coating.
3. Frontal ribbing.
4. Horizontal channel with thread.
5. Side ribbing.

Prefabricated products, as opposed to monolithic batteries, are made up of sections joined by gaskets and steel nipples with multidirectional threads. The standard assembly of aluminum heating devices consists of sections 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 15, 17, and 21. 200, 250, 300, 350, and 500 mm are the rib heights.

The homeowner can select the number of sections for each model of prefabricated structure. This is crucial in figuring out whether the apartment’s radiators are still superior—aluminum or bimetallic batteries.

Difficulty of installation

The siluminous models are all radiators with hinges. They are mounted on wall-mounted brackets. Silumin is lightweight, so strong supports are not needed when mounting the batteries. It might be necessary to use dowels and a perforator to install the radiators. A welding machine and plastic adapters are required if the radiator is connected to plastic pipes.

The installation procedure doesn’t require much skill. A number of prerequisites need to be fulfilled in order to install. This is the device’s top surface’s horizontality; the distances between the wall and the battery’s back should be at least 4 cm, and the top of the device and the window sill’s bottom should be between 5 and 7 cm.

Radiators are assembled on-site by twisting sections with gaskets and nipples in addition to prefabricated panels. The process is so easy to understand that anyone who wants to put together a sectional design on their own can do so.

Operating temperature

Radiators made of aluminum can tolerate hot water up to 100 degrees Celsius. Water is substituted in private homes’ autonomous heating systems with a synthetic liquid coolant that can withstand silumin and has a maximum heating temperature of roughly 130 0 C.

In order to prevent unexpected temperature fluctuations, the heating system is equipped with a thermostat. Heating panels are additionally fitted with thermal heads, which prevent overheating.

Both manual and automatic thermostats are available, and the priciest models allow for smartphone-based online adjustments via the "Smart House" system.

Working pressure

Heat output

Products made of aluminum produce heat that is unmatched. A silumin battery can produce up to 200 W of heat energy in one section.

The device radiates half of it, and convection brings the remaining half into the space. In a matter of minutes, the radiator’s surface reaches its maximum temperature.

Reliability and service life

Radiators are made of sillimin, which is a fairly brittle material. The locations where there is the least chance of an unintentional mechanical impact are where they should be put.

The gadgets are intended to last between ten and fifteen years, according to statements made by the manufacturers.

This is the "lifetime" minimum in the worst possible operating circumstances. The batteries can operate in a trouble-free mode for twice or even three times longer if they are installed correctly, have clean coolant in them, and receive routine preventive maintenance.

Interaction with coolant

When the material comes into contact with clean water, it resists corrosion. Aggressive additives can be introduced to non-ferrous metal through synthetic fillers. Impurity-filled hot water is a frequent occurrence that comes with central heating systems.

Elevated acidity in heat carriers can corrode silicon, leading to battery degradation and possible flooding of the room. By adding more filters, it is simpler to regulate the coolant’s purity and inertness in autonomous heating systems. This makes the environment ideal for heating radiator operation.

Cost

An unbiased comparison of the costs of bimetallic equivalents and aluminum radiators can only be made between branded products.

An examination of heating technology offerings on the market reveals that anodized batteries are 10–15% less expensive than bimetal ones.

It’s important to weigh the differences between aluminum and bimetallic radiators when selecting one for your home’s heating system to determine which is best for you. Because of their lightweight construction and quick heat output, aluminum radiators are a good choice for spaces that require quick heating. However, systems with high pressure or water that is sensitive to pH levels might not be the best fit for them. Bimetallic radiators, which combine aluminum and steel, are strong and resistant to corrosive substances, making them appropriate for higher pressure systems and a range of water quality conditions. In the end, the decision is based on your unique heating needs, your financial situation, and the features of the heating system in your house.

Pros and cons

Silumin batteries have a number of drawbacks in addition to their advantages. Both ought to be taken into account.

Pros

It is appropriate to attribute the following benefits of these kinds of products:

• Silumin, retains all the positive characteristics of aluminum, while giving the metal additional strength;
• high heat transfer. Almost instant heating of the heating panel surface. In a few minutes, the battery reaches maximum heating;
• The optimal size of the products allows them to be compactly placed under the windows without exceeding the width of the window sills;
• Sectional design of batteries allows you to form the size of heating panels in each individual case;
• affordable prices for non-ferrous metal batteries for the average consumer.

Cons

The following are some drawbacks of silumin products:

• brittleness of metal, which is fraught with destruction at pressure drops and water hammer in the heating system;
• In addition to heating up quickly, the batteries also cool down quickly, which has a negative effect on the heating of the entire room;
• During the summer season, the coolant must not be drained from the system as there is a risk of internal corrosion;
• the risk of corrosion is much higher with simple aluminum products than with anodized models.

Bimetallic radiators

Difficulty of installation

Bimetallic batteries, in contrast to monolithic heating panels, are put together using multiple sections. There may be three or more of them in a single product. Batteries are put together by twisting sections together with the help of gaskets and nipples with double-sided threads.

Products that are sectional or monolithic are supported by brackets set into the walls. The installation guidelines are identical to those for siluminous radiators (refer to the section on aluminum radiators in the above chapter).

Operating temperature

The decision regarding which radiator to select based on operating temperature is clear in favor of bimetallic products.

Higher than 100 0 C heating temperatures are not fatal to a steel collector.

Experience indicates that most boilers are capable of raising the heating liquid coolant’s maximum temperature to 90 0 C. Private residences have autonomous heating systems that use water vapor, which can reach temperatures of 130 0 C and higher, as a coolant. Which battery is superior in this situation is not a question. In this regard, the only radiators that can be substituted for these are cast iron ones.

Working pressure

Bimetal products continue to be the industry leader when it comes to the maximum operating pressure value in heating radiators. Silumin radiators still lag far behind bimetal radiators when we compare these permitted parameters.

The centralized heating system "suffers," as was previously stated in this article (see the same paragraph in the section on aluminum radiators), from decreases in operating pressure in the radiators of the heating apartments of multi-story buildings. Hydrostroke is another possibility, with a pressure peak as high as 40 atm. The only batteries that can withstand these adverse occurrences are bimetallic, steel, and cast iron batteries.

For which rooms

Bimetal devices can be installed in high-humidity rooms just like aluminum ones. In the event that the steel pipes freeze, the radiators are protected from damage since water flows through them.

Because of its thickness (2–3 mm), steel is a fairly strong material that can withstand temperatures that could drop below zero.

Heat output

Bimetal radiators are more inertial devices than aluminum ones. They both take longer to heat up and cool down. High thermal conductivity, or an average of 160–180 W/m 2 siluminous surface of the radiator, is a characteristic of aluminum products.

We recommend familiarizing yourself with the Top 18 bimetallic heating radiators, which represent the highest rated models.

Consequently, aluminum is superior to bimetal in terms of heat transfer. The steel collector’s shorter reaction time compared to silumin allows it to remove less heat from the coolant. According to multiple calculations from well-known heating device manufacturers, bimetal devices produce 1.5 times less heat than aluminum devices.

Reliability and service life

Bimetallic radiators have a long service life (15 to 20 years), which makes them very popular with consumers. Manufacturers typically guarantee trouble-free operation during this period.

The most delicate material, silumin, is kept out of contact with the coolant, and steel collector pipes are able to withstand drops in peak pressure as well as the effects of aggressive contaminants in hot water. Bimetallic radiators have an endless lifespan if the centralized heating system receives routine preventive maintenance.

Interaction with the heat transfer medium

Because of their anti-additive qualities, steel collectors for bimetallic radiators prevent deposits from forming on their inner walls from tainted coolant. In spite of this, professionals advise using cleaning agents to flush the heating system if the heat output starts to decline.

Only cast iron, steel, and bimetallic heating radiators—of all the types—are suitable for use in steam heating systems, where the coolant temperature can reach 130 degrees or higher.

Cost

Bimetallic sections are being offered for sale in a lot of different places. Despite the wide range of costs, bimetal’s approximate average cost can be calculated using specific features.

Therefore, for instance, one must spend roughly 19–20 thousand rubles to purchase bimetal heating devices in order to heat a well-heated room.

Pros and cons

Steel and silicon are the two materials used to make the radiators, and each has advantages and disadvantages.

An unbiased evaluation of the benefits and drawbacks in this area is crucial when deciding whether aluminum or bimetal is preferable in a given set of circumstances.

Pros

The benefits and advantages of bimetallic radiators include the following:

• long service life – 25 years
• high threshold of maximum heating temperature – 130 degrees and more;
• resistance to pressure fluctuations and water hammer up to 40 atmospheres;
• immunity to corrosion;
• universal design allows to replace damaged sections or change their number in one battery.

cons

Bimetallic radiators "suffer" from a few drawbacks in addition to their advantages. These include:

• when draining the coolant in the off-season there is a risk of corrosion of the inner surface of the steel collector;
• Small passage diameter of the collector pipes affects the lower heat output than that of aluminum devices;
• the price of bimetal is higher by about 20 – 30% than the price of aluminum products.

Selecting the appropriate radiators for your home heating system is essential for cost-effectiveness, comfort, and efficiency. Aluminum and bimetallic radiators can be compared; each has specific benefits and uses. Because of their lightweight design and quick heat transfer, aluminum radiators are a great choice for rooms that require quick heating. But given their susceptibility to corrosion, extra care may be needed, especially in places with low water quality.

Conversely, bimetallic radiators, which are perfect for higher pressure central heating systems, provide the toughness and longevity of their steel cores. These radiators are a reliable choice for long-term heating solutions because of their increased resistance to physical damage and corrosion. Despite having a potential higher initial cost than aluminum, they may end up being more affordable over time due to their durability and ease of maintenance.

Ultimately, considerations like financial constraints, the requirements of the current heating system, and the quality of the local water should be taken into account when choosing between bimetallic and aluminum radiators. It’s a good idea to take individual heating preferences and environmental considerations into account. Speaking with a heating specialist can offer customized guidance that will help you match the appropriate radiator type to your unique needs for an effective and efficient heating setup.