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Connecting metal heating pipes with fittings. How to connect pipes without welding - a few secrets from the masters. Welding connection

Proper connection of heating pipes is a guarantee of good tightness of the system and prevention of heat loss. Specifics installation work depends on many parameters: the length of the pipeline, the material from which the coolant is made, the personal preferences of the person.

How to connect pipes for a heating system?

Connecting parts using short threads and couplings is usually used for long pipelines. If you choose this option, remember that dismantling in this case cannot be carried out due to the fact that the short thread has its own characteristics: its last turns are shallow. This ensures a good seal. To make the connection, apply the sealant clockwise. A strand, FUM tape, and so on can act as a sealant.

To make it easier to fix the coupling, there is no need to apply a sealant to the first turns of the pipe. The coupling is screwed onto the seal using a pipe wrench. You need to screw it until it jams. After fixing the coupling, both pipes are connected by screwing. Dismantling of such a structure is possible only by cutting the pipeline. The tightness of the system can be improved by covering the seal already fixed on the threaded connection with a layer of oil paint. This way you will protect the pipeline from various kinds negative impacts. A similar work algorithm should be followed when installing tees and corner systems.

Adapter

Installation of pipes using an adapter also has its own characteristics. The product is screwed into the adapter, then the nut is tightened, firmly fixing the seal. Similar actions are performed with the second pipe. Using this option, you can easily dismantle and reinstall the system.

Welding

When installing pipelines for heating systems, welding is often used. It is better to entrust such work to a qualified specialist. However, you can solder the pipes yourself. The end result is high-quality, reliable connections that are cheap to install. To work you will need an adapter with solder. Both parts of the pipeline should be screwed into the adapter, and then heated using a special burner. Heating is carried out until the molten solder fills the assembly seam.

Installation process

Let's take a closer look at the installation of radiating parts in the heating system. Typically, a cast iron pipeline is used as radiating elements due to its many advantages: affordable cost, long term operation, reliability of fastening. To make the connection, remove the plugs. The radiator must be fixed so that external thread The bushings cut deeply into the body of the heating device. If the heating scheme involves external wiring, then both pipes are installed on one side of the radiator body. If the length of the horizontal parts of the pipeline installed in the heating system is more than 15 cm, spacer stands are installed between these elements. After installation, they are securely fixed by welding. This measure helps prevent the risk of product deformation due to high temperature influences.

Welding or threading - which is better?

Today it is becoming more and more popular threaded connection due to its advantages: ease of installation, aesthetic installation seam, ease of maintenance work, reliability.

Welding joints are also distinguished high quality, however, it is often difficult even for specialists to complete them the first time, and installation errors can lead to the creation emergency situations. In addition, after welding work caustic and bad smell.

Let's sum it up

It is quite possible to connect pipes for heating systems yourself, without resorting to the services of professionals. The main thing is to follow the instructions given and ensure that all work is done very carefully, because the tightness of the system, and therefore the absence of emergency situations, maximum comfort and warmth in the house, depends on its results.

Before design heating system it is necessary to determine in advance the material of its main elements that affect the proper functioning of the entire system. Modern construction market There is a huge range of pipes available for replacing sewerage, heating and plumbing, which makes choosing much more difficult. But, heating application steel pipes considered a classic.

TO strengths and the features of steel pipes include:

• Their resistance to high loads, presented external influence and high blood pressure;
• The ability to move coolant through pipes with a temperature of more than one hundred degrees Celsius;
• Possibility of heating pipes in emergency cases (when the coolant freezes) even with an open flame;
• Significant service life (about 30 years);
• Their compatibility with cast iron radiators thanks to the possibility of installing a squeegee on a pipe to which the radiator is screwed.

For the manufacture of pipes intended for water heating, preference is given to mild carbon steel. Its use is explained by the significant strength and plastic properties of the raw material. Thanks to this, steel pipes are processed by bending, cutting, welding, riveting and other manipulations.

Steel pipes have significant heat-conducting properties, which is important when moving heated water. An important factor, which influences the laying of pipes in concrete, is the correspondence of their temperature coefficient of linear expansion to the coefficient of concrete expansion.

For water heating systems, preference is given to:

• “Seamed” water-gas black welded pipes, obtained by bending a sheet of steel with subsequent seam welding, and electric-welded galvanized pipes with a straight seam. Such pipes are a low-cost option with a limited service life of up to 4 years. At the junction of steel layers, a weld seam is formed, processed with outside, which prevents the appearance of bumps and nicks on the surface of the pipe. The welding seam cannot be processed from the inside, and its quality control is difficult. Due to a small shell flaw, the metal in this place becomes thinner. This leads to leakage, followed by forced dismantling of steel pipes.
• Seamless, seamless pipes, which are more reliable in operation, used in places that are difficult to access for repairs. They are made by pressing, forging and rolling. However, the cost of such products is an order of magnitude higher than the suture version.

Manufacturers produce pipes with diameters from 8 to 150 millimeters. The thickness of steel pipes can be light, ordinary or reinforced. The most common and worthwhile option are steel pipes with a thickness of 2.7 millimeters and a diameter of 25 millimeters. Such parameters ensure pipe protection from rupture.

Disadvantages of steel pipes

Unfortunately, despite all the advantages, steel pipes have many disadvantages. Firstly, they have significant weight and large dimensions, which makes them difficult to operate. Secondly, gas welding used to connect them significantly increases the cost of installation.

The main disadvantage of steel pipes lies in their corrosion instability and susceptibility to various damages. These pipes quickly become overgrown with rust and various deposits, which causes the release into water harmful substances and deterioration in the functioning of locking elements. Due to rusting, the internal diameter of the pipes decreases, impeding the circulation of the coolant, which is the rationale. The optimal method of protecting steel pipes is galvanizing them. But, after this process, the use of antifreeze becomes impossible.

It is believed that galvanized pipes cannot be connected by welding. This is due to combustion zinc coating at the seams. To connect them, couplings, tees and bends are used, which is an additional cost.
Due to their low throughput properties, steel pipes are inferior to pipes of similar parameters made of copper and plastic. When transporting cold water, steel pipes have negative thermal conductivity due to their sweating and rusting, which can destroy adjacent building structures.

The principle of using and installing heating with steel pipes

The use of steel pipes is advisable when large diameters and mechanical strength. Laying pipes is quite problematic due to the difficulty of giving them the required geometry. In addition, it is recommended to insulate the pipes due to their significant thermal conductivity coefficient.

If you have a floor-standing boiler with natural circulation, the use of “black” steel will be optimal. This is the raw material in plumbing system quickly rusts. But, in autonomous system heating, with long circulation of the coolant, rapid oxygen evaporation, the service life of black pipes can last about 50 years.

When using wall-mounted boilers equipped copper heat exchanger And forced circulation(pump), the use of steel pipes becomes impractical. This is due to the unaesthetic nature of such a system, corrosive clogging of the thinnest heat exchanger and high installation costs. Therefore, it is advisable to dismantle steel pipes using copper or plastic raw materials.

To assemble steel pipes, you need a device for cutting pipes and threads, an adjustable and gas wrench, a hacksaw, welding, and sealing tape to seal all connections. When purchasing non-galvanized pipes, they must be painted with asphalt varnish. If the pipes are factory galvanized, there is no need to further process the pipes. If you prefer open pipe laying, you need to take care of the mounting clamps. The attachment points can be located at the following distances:

• 2.5 meters if internal diameter labor is up to 20 millimeters;
• approximately 3 meters with a diameter of 25 millimeters and above;
• 4 meters with an internal diameter of 40 millimeters.

For bending steel pipes, it is advisable to use a hydraulic pipe bender, which is a small-sized, convenient and easily transported device that is energy efficient. If such a tool is not available, then it is possible to purchase ready-made steel fittings of the required shape, ensuring the connection of straight sections in a pipeline bend. Today, choosing fittings is not a difficult task, since manufacturers offer a sufficient range of them.

Connection methods

1. The use of an autogenous welding method connecting pipes with smooth ends.
2. The use of connecting screws, sealed with a special gasket, which ensures the connection is impermeable.
3. Flange fasteners, in which the connection is made by bolting to the ends of the pipe.

To connect pipes to radiators, it is recommended to use a gas generator. Preference should be given to seamless pipes, high-quality pipes and radiators. The connection diagram consists of the following steps:

• Cutting old pipes, knocking them out ceiling joints, followed by drawing new steel pipes for heating;
• Warming up the pipe, bending it and welding-free connection to the radiator;
• Installing a squeegee with a suitable thread, followed by screwing on the radiator;
• Apply silicone sealant or flax fibers to the threads to prevent water leakage.

Before installation, it is necessary to check the integrity of all elements, because the correct and quality installation is the key to long-term operation of the heating system.

Metal pipeline elements are still used everywhere: in the installation of heating, water supply, and gas pipelines. Therefore, many are faced with the problem of how to connect metal pipes.

In general, there are 2 types of connections for this type of pipe:

• non-separable;
• collapsible;

It all depends on what goals you set for the connection. If there is a need to disassemble the system, for example, for flushing, then type 2 is used, and if the pipes are connected thoroughly, then type 1 is used.

The first one is welded joint, to the second threaded, using fittings, couplings and flanges.

Welding connection

This type provides adequate reliability for for a long time. But it requires a set of special knowledge and skills; it is difficult for a non-professional to do the job well.

The selection of equipment for welding work is also important. The work can be performed using either electric or gas welding machines.

Rules that must be followed before and during work:

1. Joining surfaces must be free of dirt and rust.
2. Connected elements should be cut evenly, without deformation, almost perfectly mating to each other.
3. When welding, the work is carried out continuously, without allowing the seam to cool.

It is preferable to carry out gas welding with small-diameter elements being welded; otherwise, it is preferable to use electric welding machine. Welding is carried out in various ways(there are about 32 of them), in this case, bends, adapters, and corners are used.

The main ones:

1. Joint when elements of the same diameter are welded.
2. overlap, when one part to be welded is inserted into another of larger diameter.
3. Taurus when one pipe is welded into the side of another.
4. Corner, the elements to be welded are cut at the required angle and welded.

It must be remembered that the connection by this method is best carried out by a professional who has constant practice and has mastered various types of welding: bottom, ceiling, vertical.

If you want to master this method yourself, then:

1. Buy inexpensive welding machine.
2. Explore the whole theory.
3. Practice in welding profiles, corners that do not have a load.
4. Try to cook small quantity water pipes using the rotary method and run water over them; if there are no leaks, you can complicate the task.
5. Make a couple of connections in an irrevocable way.

Some rules for welding work:

1. Always use special clothes.
2. Work always with a mask or protective glass.
3. When applying each weld, remove the slag.
4. When welding pipes, the number of layers of the seam depends on the thickness of the walls: the thicker the walls, the thicker the seam.
5. Welded joint should smoothly transition into the element being welded.
6. It is important not to allow if scale gets inside, as this will lead to clogging of the pipeline.

The choice of electrodes for welding is important. The electrode has a metal base coated with a special welding compound. They have different diameter, depending on the thickness of the pipes being welded.

When purchasing, consult with professionals which electrodes to give preference, only quality material will not stick and will give a constant arc. For pipes with a diameter of up to 100 mm, it is advisable to use 3 electrodes.

Threaded connection

This type of connection is perhaps the most suitable for installing a home heating system, since you can independently assemble and disassemble any system assembled using this method.

You can buy finished pipes with threads, threaded couplings, corners, but you can cut threads on them yourself, the procedure is not complicated, but it requires some effort:

1. Do you need a set of lekars?(dies), die holder for cutting external threads.
2. Insert the die with the diameter you need in the die.
3. pipe, on which threads are required, we cut them off using a grinder.
4. Clamp part in a vice.
5. Filming it has a chamfer, that is, we make the outer edge a little rounded so that the die fits better.
6. You can lubricate the place thread cutting with machine oil.
7. Clockwise We begin to slowly move the clamp. This must be done carefully, since a slight misalignment determines how the couplings and angles will be screwed onto a given thread.
8. If, after making 2-3 turns, the lever does not want to move, turn it back half a turn and, with a little effort, start moving again.
9. After that Once the threads are screwed in, remove any remaining oil and metal filings.
10. Try to screw it up onto the threaded coupling.

If you know someone who has an electric drive, this will make the task much easier. And the whole thread cutting process will take a few minutes.

taps

Now let's look at the process of cutting internal threads:

1. Required set of taps and wrenches.
2. Selecting taps(rough, medium, finishing) of the required diameter.
3. Rough tap We clamp it in the driver, we clamp the pipe in a vice and slowly begin, like a drill, to cut the internal thread.
4. If the tap does not move, it is clogged with chips, turn it out and start again.
5. We do the same average and pure dreamer.

As for the joining process itself, you will need a sealant (flax, fum tape, sealing thread) and sliding gas keys. A sealant is wound onto the thread, along the thread, we try to ensure that the sealant does not get inside the pipe.

If flax is used, then it is necessary to stretch the linen thread, wind it and lubricate it, for example, with red lead for better compaction. We screw a coupling, angle or other pipe onto the pipe.

If the pipes cannot be twisted

In this case, a coupling, a drive and a lock nut are used:

1. For the drive The seal is screwed on.
2. For long thread screw the locknut all the way and the coupling.
3. short end with a seal, it is screwed into another coupling, valve, or fitting.
4. coupling, unscrewing, screwed onto another thread and tightened with a lock nut

Additional options

Using fittings

A fitting is a part of a pipeline used to various types connections: linear, angular, installation of pipes of different diameters.

Depending on the use, they are divided into:

• on corners and bends, and having different angles;
• adjustable elements: crosses, tees;
• plugs;
• fitting;

Using a coupling

This type in lately received wide application, both pipes in which there is pressure and without pressure. The coupling has high strength and special tightening devices.

Procedure:

1. Making an even cut connecting places with a grinder, remove burrs.
2. We measure the joint, it must be located strictly in the middle of the coupling.
3. Using chalk or marker, mark the depth of insertion of the pipe into the coupling.
4. We use silicone sealant for lubrication of the connected elements and the coupling itself.
5. Insert the first part up to the marker, and then put the coupling evenly on the second pipe. And clamp the connection. But remember that it is advisable to buy couplings from trusted manufacturers, mainly from Switzerland and France.

Using flanges

Flange- this is a special fitting that has large area contact and connection occurs using bolts and gaskets between them. The flange can be attached to the main element either by welding or by threaded connection.

This type is very practical when frequent disassembly of the system for cleaning or other needs is necessary. When disassembling the system, it is important to then monitor the integrity of the gasket. The flange is also very durable and is used in almost all areas.

1. When using different fittings, it is advisable not to save much, since most often they are inexpensive and have a short service life.
2. Apply sealant responsibly with a threaded connection, because most of the leaks occur precisely because of poor-quality winding.
3. When starting the system for the first time, be sure to check all connections for leaks.
4. United in different ways pipes, it is necessary to paint them in order to avoid rusting.
5. When installing a water supply network, install a filter that will avoid contamination of the entire system.
6. On mounted elements, try to make the load as little as possible, do not put heavy things.

Mounting new system heating, changing batteries or re-sealing threaded connections in the heating system before starting heating season, spend a couple of minutes of your attention on what materials the specialist will use in his work and how he will seal, for example, the pipe leading to the heating system of your home. Why is this important?

If you are ready to take all these risks, then you can continue to use linen, paint, etc. the old fashioned way. However, the use of FUM tape or flax has long been replaced by safer, more reliable and durable sealing methods assembly units and heating pipe systems. These are modern thread sealants - anaerobic gels and polymer threads, which are perfect for home heating systems and more.

If you have to install or repair a heating system in the near future, it is better to choose modern sealants, which are several times easier to use and economical, but are even more reliable than traditional sealing materials.

Buy modern seals at optimal prices You can on our website in the section.

The radiator piping must include shut-off valves

We already know about that, but today we’ll talk about connecting heating radiators to pipes. In a heating system, threads are often used to connect elements. All equipment is installed on the circuit using threads. This includes an expanzomat (a metal tank with a rubber membrane inside), a pump, batteries, and the same meters. Metal lines can also be connected with threaded couplings. At the same time there is different types threads and methods of sealing connections. Let's figure out how to properly connect heating pipes to each other and to the batteries.

Types of carving

Steel pipes can be connected by welding or pipe thread. Connection of heating radiators to pipes is carried out only with metric threads, which are cut on the nuts. To assemble the individual parts of a stainless steel metal line together, threaded connections of heating pipes are used, which are:

• conical (BSPT);
• cylindrical (BSPP).

In heating systems, conical threaded connections of heating pipes are used, and cylindrical ones are used only for drains. Cutting is carried out using a tool called a clamp. They are manual and electric. Hand tools consists of a handle, a ratchet and a head with cutting teeth. The presence of a ratchet allows you to work in hard to reach places, for example, in the section where the highway runs along the wall.

To cut a thread, you need to chamfer and treat the surface with oil. In the process of cutting threads on a heating pipe, oil must be added, this reduces friction and heating of the part. In order for the joint to be airtight after connection, it must be sealed. It is also compacted and metric thread on the nuts of all circuit elements.

Types of seals

Previously, there was not such a variety of seals as there is today. Some plumbers use the entire range of materials in their work, while there are conservatives who still recognize only linen. Are they right? Let's figure it out. How to seal the threads on a heating pipe:

• tape-fum;
• flax with paste;
• anaerobic adhesive sealant;
• sealing thread.

Flax was previously used in tandem with red lead, lubricant or oil paint. Today, a special sealing paste is used that prevents the flax from drying out and rotting.

Flax dries in systems with hot coolant, but rots on cold water. In the first and second cases, the result of the process will be the appearance of a leak. Thanks to the paste, the fitting can be loosened a little after twisting, turning back no more than 45 degrees. Universal material, suitable for connection metal pipes heating, and for polymers.

Flax is suitable for all types of threads on heating pipes, regardless of diameter. It is the cheapest of the seals. It is important to wind it correctly:

• using a metal blade or a file, notches are made on the thread;
• a strand of flax is rolled into something like a thread;
• winding is carried out as the fitting is screwed in (usually clockwise);
• The protective paste is applied evenly.

Seal with flax

When winding flax, it is important not to overdo it. First you need to make the first turn, which will secure the seal to the thread. This leaves a tail. On the second turn, the remaining tail is picked up and wound together with the common fiber. Make sure there are no twists. The material should be distributed evenly along the threads from the end to the fitting body. When working with flax, when connecting heating pipes, you need to watch your hands, as they are constantly smeared with paste. If you take hold of it with such hands, an imprint will remain.

Fum tape is used for thin-walled fittings and connectors with fine threads. The material is easy to work with and your hands are always clean. At the same time, fum tape is quite expensive and is mainly used for small diameters. Significant disadvantage This seal is impossible to adjust. That is, if the joint of the heating pipes is twisted and needs to be loosened a little to center it, then the connection loses its tightness.

The sealing thread, like fum tape, does not require lubrication or the use of special paste. It can be wound onto dirty or wet threads and is suitable for plastic.

According to the characteristics stated by the manufacturers, the sealing thread can be turned away (adjusted) by 180 degrees.

Sealants are applied to clean and grease-free threads (usually new ones). They are:

• dismantled;
• difficult to dismantle.

But in fact, they are all not dismantled. Before connecting heating pipes using sealant, you must be prepared for the fact that it will be possible to disassemble the connection only after heating. And only then, perhaps, will it be possible to unscrew it. But during installation, the connection points do not even need to be tightened with wrenches.

Connecting the circuit and batteries

Let's start understanding the methods of connecting heating pipes to a radiator by considering the materials from which heating systems can be made. They can be different:

• steel;
• copper;
• propylene;
• metal-plastic.

All of them perform one single function - this is the transportation of coolant from the boiler room (boiler) to the radiators, which, in turn, give off heat and thereby heat the room. All batteries are connected to the system with threads. To do this, fittings with a transition to thread are installed on the circuit. They are placed on polymer contours by soldering or pressing. Copper can only be soldered, while steel can be connected using press fittings and threads.

In any case, a threaded connection is supplied to the battery. How to connect a heating battery to

Diagrams for connecting batteries to heating

pipe, diagrams:

• bottom connection;
• side connection;
• diagonal connection.

Most effective option- this is the diagonal. In this case, the supply to the battery is carried out from above, and the return flow comes out from the bottom of the opposite end. Radiator temperature difference at various methods connection is unimportant, so first of all you should start from the location of the battery. New batteries are always supplied with parts for connecting them:

• nuts marked “S” and “O”;
• stub;
• Mayevsky crane.

Before connecting the heating radiator to the pipe, nuts are screwed into the holes at the ends of the battery, and then, depending on the wiring, plugs, a Mayevsky tap and American ones are screwed into them.

To connect the pipes and the circuit, you must use taps and American connections.

An American is a nut that can rotate while the fitting is stationary. By the way, when connecting heating pipes to a heating boiler, it is also necessary to install taps with American type. In this case, it is necessary that the American one is screwed not onto the boiler pipe, but onto the circuit. Then you can safely remove the boiler and water will not spill out of it.

Some craftsmen do not install taps when tying batteries, which leads to difficulties in further exploitation. If you want to remove and clean the battery, you will have to drain all the water from the system and then refill it. And if something happens in winter and the radiator ruptures, what then? It turns out that you will need to stop the entire heating system to replace it. This is despite the fact that hardly anyone has a spare radiator on duty at home.

You will need to go to the store, buy it, find a master. This will take at least half a day, with sub-zero temperature outdoors there is a risk of the system defrosting. And then it will be necessary not only to change the batteries, but also to repair the entire circuit. If you install taps, you can cut off radiators without stopping the entire system.