Battery on the wall without a window how to hide. How to close the heating battery: plumbing position

How to close the heating pipe and is it possible to do this at all? How to close the radiator with drywall?

Will it affect the climate in the room? Or is it better to look for some other solutions?

Perhaps the designer will take over the head. However, from the point of view of the author, the photo shows the best of the decorative screens for the radiator. Pipes don't have to be closed at all.

Key points

Let's just point out one subtlety. The author is a former plumber with many years of experience. As a result, it is pointless to search in the article design solutions: we will consider first of all how a particular project will harm the normal operation or maintenance of heating equipment.

Nuance: against beautiful design there is no objection to the premises. When the house is clean, beautiful and does not stick out before your eyes rusty pipe or a battery with peeling and yellowing paint - that's fine. However, experience tells us that if the same thing can be done in several ways, the worst is invariably chosen. possible solutions. This is what we will try to fix.

So, how to close heating radiators without harming? What can our attempt to bring beauty in general affect?

Heat dissipation

A radiator heats a room using a combination of two heat transfer methods.

• infrared radiation transmits thermal energy directly to objects in the room. It is thanks to him that you feel that your cheeks begin to burn when you bring your face closer to a hot radiator.
• Convection currents lift warm air up and replace it with colder air. As a result, the entire atmosphere of the room becomes evenly warm.

When choosing how to close the radiators, you need to clearly understand that ANY screen in front of the radiator will limit the exchange of heat between it and the room. How more area its solid surface - the colder it will be in the house.

Service

As a heat carrier, the central heating system uses conventional process water, which is initially far from the ideals of purity. Having traveled a long way along the heating mains, the elevator unit, bottling and risers, the water, by the time it ends up in the battery, carries a large amount of suspension. Guess where they stay?

It is because of the gradual silting that once every few years, radiators require flushing. It requires the actual flush valve located in the lower corner heater from the side opposite from the liner, and ... free access to the radiator.

If it is not there, you will either have to put up with the fact that the first two out of ten sections heat up, or break a decorative box or screen made by yourself.

Faults

When deciding how to close a heating radiator, it is useful to remember one more thing. Everything breaks sooner or later. Because, presumably, if appearance the radiator and pipes do not suit you, they are no longer new - most likely, there will be a little bit of a breakdown. What can happen?

Plenty of options:

• The steel pipes on the threads in front of the battery are thinner than on the straight sections of the riser, and leak first of all.
• The risers themselves, welded from an electric-welded water and gas pipe, sometimes leak along the factory weld.
• A leak from under the lock nut of the radiator is a frequent visitor in apartments with cast-iron heaters.

Locknuts are one of the sore points of cast iron batteries.

• Finally, in spring and autumn, leaks between radiator sections are frequent. Paronite gaskets no longer provide tightness after several years of operation.

findings

Any decorative screen in front of the radiator

1. Should create as few obstacles as possible to convection and thermal radiation. The ideal is a metal or plastic decorative screen in the form of a coarse mesh. First of all, solid boxes on top, where hot air rises, are unacceptable.
2. Should be easy to remove. It is best to be attached, without any permanent attachment.

Pipes should also be easily accessible if necessary. If, despite the above, you decide how to close the heating pipes with drywall - well, your right. At least provide light plastic door near the radiator inlet. And, of course, be prepared to disassemble the structure you created at the first leak.

Solutions

So, how to close heating radiators, taking into account all of the above?

decorative screen

We have already mentioned the main selection criteria. Mesh wherever possible and no permanent fixing to the wall.

When choosing, you will surely meet several alternatives which you will like very much in appearance. Alas, no matter how attractive the design and price of the product are, remember that in winter the house requires, first of all, warmth.

wooden lattice

How to close radiators if you want to put your own hands to work?

The instruction is simple: assemble an attached wooden grate. Thin mounting rails are easy to buy at hardware store, and stain and varnish will make your work truly memorable.

The Healthiest Decision

Finally, consider another option. Perhaps it is better not to think than to close the heating pipes in rust stains and flaky batteries, but to replace them with new ones? And aluminum radiator, and a snow-white pipe made of reinforced polypropylene will not spoil the design of the home at all. Rather the opposite.

More importantly, in this case, possible problems with the heating system will remain in the past for a long time.

Conclusion

You listened to the opinion of the plumber and, we dare to hope, took note. The video at the end of the article will offer you a different point of view on the problem: the same question will be considered from the point of view of the designer.

Good luck decorating your home!

Heating is the most important part of every winter. Thanks to him, we live the cold season in warmth and comfort, which makes the presence of a battery in the room an advantage, but bulkiness and not elegant design interfere with planning.

Large and protruding pipes are hard to imagine in a sophisticated classical style, modern high-tech direction, however, as in any other.

The usual location of the battery is the wall under the window. Due to its design, the battery stands out strongly in front of the wall. A protruding piece of metal does not add beauty to the room, which led the designers to think about how to beautifully arrange the battery in the interior.

Especially considering that the problem of protruding heating threatens the health of children. Batteries in the children's room are essential. They maintain the desired temperature, which prevents hypothermia and colds in the child's body.

But what about children's activity and sluggishness? Toddlers easily hit, burn themselves and cling to the protruding parts of the heater.

Modern apartments are put on sale with newer models, they are more reliable and safer, but their appearance is far from ideal. And I don’t feel like talking about old houses with huge “monsters” as heating. The most hard part- this is not to hide the heater, but to do it and not lose the main heating properties.

Popular ways to hide the battery

Every problem has its own solution. And to the question of how to close the radiators, the answer has long been found. Interior designers have found many solutions to this problem. The most used include:

Screen

The most popular solution for masking old radiators is a screen. Most often made from metal. Knowing such parameters as the width, height and length of the heater, you can easily choose suitable model. Screens are stamped in in large numbers and for different settings.

The advantages of this solution include the preservation of the main function - space heating. Also, the material has high strength and wear resistance, does not change shape at high temperatures, is cheaper than other options.

Of the shortcomings, not the best appearance. It looks, of course, much better than a battery without it, but still not suitable for every interior. More details can be seen in the photo of hidden batteries. If you have limited finances, then you can decorate the screen yourself.

wood screen

More costly and beautiful option This is a screen made of wood. To find ready-made version suitable for the parameters is difficult, so such things are made by professionals to order and are made by hand. The wood species, matched to the color of the furniture and the appropriate texture, will serve as an amazing example of how to hide the battery.

The pattern is chosen in the form of a sieve or weaving. They perfectly mask the shortcomings of the heating system and have a high heat transfer. The cost far exceeds the price of metal screens. But in return, you get a perfectly matching design detail.

Depending on the desired result, the screen can be created in the form of a high bench, cabinet, chest, or simply with additional shelves. The advantage is the ability to manufacture at home.

plastic screen

A screen made of plastic is a cheaper option than wood. But when buying, be sure to ask for quality certificates. And do not buy such an important part of the interior in non-specialized places and unknown brands.

Plastic is not the best reliable material and a product bought simply on the basis of the price may emit toxic fumes at high temperatures or even melt on the battery.

A more elite option is special built-in furniture, which is made to order according to individual measurements and sketches. It is easiest to hide pipes in a table, cabinet, chest of drawers, seat, etc. But important condition is the free circulation of air from the place of heating, which will allow both to close the battery and heat the room without interference.

If you are an ardent opponent of noticeable pipes or extra elements in the room, then you can wall up the heating system under the walls. There are several options for execution and both are not the easiest.

The first option is to make adjustments at the stage of building a house, which will allow you to install the system behind the wall. If you live in an already fully built house or apartment, then you can create a false wall. Just sheathing everything a short distance from the radiator.

Of the shortcomings, this is a decrease in free space and a clear reduction in the room. And also the room will be heated a little worse. There will be natural difficulties, as well as costs in the event of a breakdown.

For a long time, including now, batteries are masked with heavy curtains made of dense fabric. The idea is good because it does not require extra costs and investments. And curtains are a natural part of the interior and do not attract much attention.

You can paint or wallpaper the heating pipes. This will help reduce their visibility in the room. But everything must be done qualitatively. Paint with smudges or obliquely glued wallpaper will only attract unnecessary attention and will involuntarily catch the eye.

Unusual ideas for hiding the radiator

You can get rid of all the pipes and replace them with a safer underfloor heating. The method has its advantages, first of all, you will not depend on the heating season, increase free space, the chance that you will be doused with boiling water from your own battery will be equal to zero.

Of the minuses, these are the prices for electricity, the possibility of a short circuit, fire, etc. increases. And also in the absence of light, in winter you will have to look for another place to spend the night.

For a children's room, fabric covers for radiators are gaining popularity. Most often they are made by hand. Created in the form of a favorite character or canvas with a magical story, letters, numbers, etc.

It all depends on the age and hobbies of the baby. Such a detail will be perfectly combined with the atmosphere. children's room and protect the child from burns and bruises.

especially original people hire artists. They use a battery instead of a canvas and paint on it with heat-resistant paints, creating unique masterpieces that match the interior of the room. The advantage is the ability to draw a new drawing if you suddenly want to change the design of the room.

The radiator as an element of the heating system does not always meet the aesthetic expectations of the owners of the house or apartment. Many people want to decorate such structures, smoothing out their effect on the interior as a whole. However, before you close the battery, you need to carefully weigh the pros and cons, because it’s wrong installed design can significantly reduce heat transfer.

decoration

The battery may or may not be covered. There are several alternative ways hide radiators if they do not fit into the interior.

Painting

It is enough during the repair to remove the old coating and repaint the surface. To do this, use a special paint that is resistant to high temperatures. The color must be selected to match the interior of the room. True, this option is best used with modern aluminum batteries. Painted cast iron products will stand out strongly.

It is not necessary to make the radiators plain, they can be decorated with various patterns. This is especially true in the children's room or in the kitchen. If artistic skills are completely absent, you can use special stencils.

Curtain

You can close the heating battery with a cotton curtain. True, this option is only suitable for products installed in a niche. You can attach the curtain to the window sill with Velcro, the fabric should be matched to match the wallpaper. Blinds can be used as an alternative.

Decoupage

Using ordinary napkins and PVA glue, you can also decorate the heater. This is easy to do with your own hands, special skills and expensive materials are not required. It is enough to pick up napkins to match, cut necessary elements and wrap them around the radiator. On top, you can apply a special heat-resistant varnish.

Screens

If for some reason the decoration of heating devices does not suit you, you can hide them under special grilles or perforated screens. These devices are made from various materials have a variety of shapes and designs.

When choosing a screen, it is worth remembering that the better the perforation is, the more heat from the radiator will enter the room. Blind side and top bars seriously reduce battery efficiency.

glass

Screens made of thick glass will successfully hide the heater. You can purchase options with photo printing or whole glass paintings, such products look beautiful and very stylish. Glass screens cover only outside batteries. Fastened with screw holders with elastic protective pads.

Mounted

You can hide the radiators with the help of hinged grilles. Most often, such products are used for cast-iron batteries located in a niche under the windowsill. Everyone will also cope with the installation - you just need to hang the structure on the heater.

Wooden

Best suited for rooms with classic design. In addition, wood products can be used as a stand. However, there is a drawback to such a screen. It consists in a short shelf life of products. Alas, the tree, regardless of quality, will sooner or later deform under the influence of high temperature and simply dry out.

What can you do yourself?

Now there are many opportunities to design screens for heating appliances with your own hands. The easiest way is to close the radiator with drywall. This is universal option suitable for any room, from the living room to the kitchen.

Necessary materials and tools

• pencil and tape measure;
• perforator and screwdriver;
• metal scissors and a clerical knife;
• level, stapler, sandpaper;
• self-tapping screws;
• drywall, UD and CD profiles;
• lattice.

frame

In order to close the radiator with drywall, you need to make a frame. To do this, the UD guide profiles are fixed with self-tapping screws to the underside of the window sill, walls and floor. The front edge of the resulting frame is deepened by 13 mm, so that after plasterboard sheathing, the surface of the screen coincides with the wall.

Then CD profiles are screwed vertically, and the distance between them should be slightly more sizes gratings.

sheathing

Using a knife, blanks are cut out of a drywall sheet the right sizes. Then drywall is screwed to the frame with self-tapping screws. Screw heads should not be deeply recessed, otherwise the sheet may break and the structure will not be securely fastened. At the last stage, a decorative grille is fixed.

Drywall constructions fit perfectly into the interior, but significantly reduce the efficiency of the radiator. small space for flow warm air hinders convection. Therefore, when choosing a screen or decorative design, you need to find a balance between aesthetics and a minimum decrease in heat transfer from the radiator.

Greetings, comrades! Today we will talk about how to decorate a heating battery in a living room. Since your obedient servant was a plumber in the recent past, any decor will be discussed from the standpoint of practicality - the heat transfer of the heater and its maintainability.

How does the battery heat up

Any heater gives off heat to the heated room in two ways at the same time:

• convection. The air is heated by direct contact with the surface of the radiator and, due to the decrease in density during heating, is displaced upwards by colder air masses. Cooling down, it again falls down, reheats upon contact with the radiator - and so on ad infinitum;
• Thermal radiation. IR rays propagate within the line of sight and cause heating of all objects near the heater.

The predominance of one or another method of heat transfer is determined by the configuration of the heater and its temperature. For aluminum battery with developed finning, convection prevails, for a radiator plate - radiation.

In order for no obstacles to interfere with convection, the radiator is placed under the window in a strictly defined way:

1. Distance to window sill should be equal to at least 6-12 cm. The flow of heated air should rise freely, ensuring efficient and uniform heating of the entire volume of the room;
2. Between radiator and wall there is a gap of 2-3 centimeters. It provides the movement of air heated in contact with back side sections;
3. Between battery and floor clearance is also needed (at least 8 cm): it provides a free flow of cold air, replacing the heated one.

In order not to interfere with heat transfer due to radiation, the battery must not be closed from the main volume of the room with furniture and thick curtains.

Malfunctions of heating devices

The idea to close the battery with a screen arises, as a rule, among the owners of Soviet-style cast-iron radiators. Indeed, outwardly they are quite unsightly. Initially unattractive appearance is often exacerbated by years of influx of layers - unevenly applied and partially burnt out.

And now - the bad news. Cast iron radiators have a number of typical problems that require free access to them.

Intersection leaks

The essence of the problem: paronite gaskets between cast iron sections are not flexible. Over time, they become more and more rigid.

When heating sections in heating season the gasket is compressed due to the thermal expansion of the sections, and after cooling it no longer returns to its previous dimensions. Nipple connection leaks.

elimination: The end sections are detached and both gaskets are changed on the current pin connection. Work requires access to blind radiator plugs at the end of the radiator. If you close the battery with a blank screen, and even more so hide it in a box, it will be simply impossible to unscrew the plugs and remove the sections.

Locknut leak

The essence of the problem: burnt or rotten organic winding under the locknut on one of the eyeliners no longer seals the threaded connection.

elimination: when the heating riser is dropped, the lock nut is unscrewed a few turns and rewound with sanitary flax or other winding. If you close the heating radiators with a screen or box, access to the connections will be extremely difficult. You cannot turn a pipe wrench or adjustable wrench in a confined space.

Fistula on thread

The essence of the problem: a cast-iron radiator is connected to an eyeliner with a long thread cut on it. Steel is subject to corrosion. Through fistulas appear primarily in areas with the smallest wall thickness, that is, in the hollows of the threads.

elimination: when the heating riser is dropped, the liner is cut off at the beginning of the thread, and a new run is welded to it by electric arc or gas welding. If you close the radiators with a non-removable screen or put them in boxes, the welder will not be able to get to the problem area of ​​the liner.

A box or screen for a radiator often hides the problem from the homeowner: there is a leak, but you can't see it. You will learn about the presence of a defect in the radiator or piping from flooded neighbors or during flooding own apartment when a small fistula on the pipe turns into a source of a serious leak.

Airlock

The essence of the problem: After the heating circuit has been reset, air remains in the circuit when it is restarted. Air locks prevent circulation in the risers.

elimination: air is vented through the so-called Mayevsky taps installed on the top floor for each riser. Cranes are most often mounted in the upper deaf radiator plug. And in this case, to start the riser, you need free access to the battery.

Radiator silting

The essence of the problem: silt and sand carried by the coolant gradually accumulate in the lower collector of the sections farthest from the supply - in the area where the water velocity is minimal. The end sections stop heating.

elimination: sludge is flushed out of the battery through the flush valve. A hose is attached to the tap, installed instead of one of the blind radiator plugs, through which water is discharged into the sewer. Both the installation of the flusher and the flush itself require access to the end sections.

decor requirements.

So, how to hide batteries in an apartment without compromising their functionality and maintainability?

1. Plasterboard boxes around batteries are strictly prohibited. Such a box will drastically reduce the heat transfer of the batteries, limiting air convection. At the same time, in the absence of a heat meter, you will be in full size pay for the heat you have not received;

1. The more gaps in the screen - the better. Warm air and thermal radiation will pass through these gaps;
2. A solid horizontal shelf on top is a bad idea. It will limit the movement of the upward air flow;
3. The material of the decorative screen should have maximum thermal conductivity. Having warmed up, he himself will become a source of heat, heating the room due to infrared radiation;

The exception is screens that are installed to protect children from burns. For obvious reasons, their front surface should not heat up.

1. The ideal option is a screen that is transparent in the infrared spectrum. Permeability to infrared rays has, in particular, ordinary glass;
2. The back surface of an IR-opaque screen should be as dark as possible, ideally jet black. Black surface absorbs maximum amount heat. White and, conversely, reflects radiation over the entire spectrum;
3. Any decor should be easily dismantled. Sooner or later, the battery will need service or repair.

materials

What can be used to make a decorative screen? I will evaluate popular materials in terms of the above requirements.

Image	Material and its properties
	Metals A: Metal screens (aluminum and, to a lesser extent, steel) have excellent thermal conductivity. They are impenetrable to thermal radiation, but when heated, they themselves are able to become a source of infrared rays. The most advantageous design metal grid on a light frame.
	Glass: Glass screens are transparent to heat radiation. The front surface heats up to a much lower temperature compared to the radiator, which makes the glass safe material for a family with small children. When mounting the screen, gaps must be left above and below it for air convection. The distance from the radiator is not less than 2-3 cm.
	Wood: minimum thermal conductivity and opacity in the infrared spectrum. With prolonged heating and fluctuations in humidity, the wood dries up and deforms or cracks. Not the best stuff.
	Laminate: has all the properties of wood, but, unlike it, retains a stable geometry during heating and humidity fluctuations. Due to its low thermal conductivity, it can be used in children's rooms.
	Plastics: all polymers are characterized by low thermal conductivity and opacity for thermal radiation. With prolonged heating to 80-90 degrees, the plastic degrades and becomes brittle.

A little common sense

Comrades, let's turn to common sense. Why do we buy or make a decorative battery screen with our own hands?

The answer is obvious: to be beautiful. The dull look of cast iron sections is clearly not decorating your home.

And what prevents you from changing a cast-iron battery to a modern bimetallic one? Her appearance is much better. As a bonus, the buyer will receive an increase in temperature in the living room or in the kitchen: the heat output of the bimetallic section is one third higher than that of the cast iron section (190-205 watts versus 140).

Do you think the replacement will cost too much? I dare not agree. Let's go to the catalog online store Leroy Merlin:

Image	Description
	Screen for battery. Size - 63x83 centimeters. Price - 2316 rubles.
	Bimetal radiator. Size - 8 sections. Price - 2295 rubles.

So, The best way decor of old cast-iron batteries - their replacement with new ones.

Conclusion

I hope that my advice will help the dear reader to make his home cozy and warm. Normally, Additional information you will find in the video in this article. Feel free to comment on it and share your own experience. Good luck, comrades!

In fact, we are talking not only about old cast-iron batteries. It is very likely that when moving to new apartment you find that batteries (even if they are white and neat) spoil general form rooms. And you don't know what to do with them. We've put together five inspirational ideas for you on how to disguise an ugly radiator.

1. Paint the color of the walls or make them contrast

Let's start with the most banal: paint the battery in the color of the wall special paint(resistant to high temperatures). But this can only work if the radiators initially look decent - shabby cast iron batteries such decor will not save.

Even cooler - paint the radiator in contrasting color- the battery will instantly turn into a stylish design detail. Just paint it carefully and carefully.

Even more interesting idea- paint the radiator in ombre style or different colors. Such a bright battery can no longer be called ugly.

2. Order or make a special screen

Another simple option to hide the battery is to put a special metal or wooden screen on it. It can be ordered in special stores, or you can do it yourself. Remember that it must have holes for heat to escape. Most often used for decoration wooden lattices: they do not obstruct the passage of warm air, they are easy to put on and easy to remove.

In addition, such a screen can be used as a small shelf - put a vase of flowers or souvenirs on it.

Minus wooden screens - under the action high temperatures they can deform.

3. Turn the battery into a mini chest of drawers

A more advanced way is to disguise the radiator as furniture. For example, under the chest of drawers. It is rather difficult to build such a structure on your own, but it can be ordered according to your design. Surprisingly, some chests of drawers are made in such a way that guests will not even guess that a battery is hidden behind them.

Or you can just carefully hide the battery under the table.

4. Hide the battery in a cabinet

This method is similar to the chest of drawers idea, but requires even more imagination. You do not just close the battery with a small chest of drawers - it becomes a full-fledged part of a large cabinet (for example, a bookcase).

Such a cabinet looks very organic: the mesh insert does not spoil its appearance at all. However, remember that in the event of a radiator breakdown, you must have quick access to the battery (the door must open).

5. Make a recreation area above the radiator

If the battery is very large (or there are several of them), then you can turn the space above it into a bench and make a cozy seating area there. To do this, you need to make a wooden box with bars, put a small mattress on it and decorate the bed with small pillows.