We make steam heating in the garage with our own hands

You can make steam heating in the garage with your own hands quite quickly, because such a system has minor differences from liquid heating circuits, which are now the most common. Both structures are based on the boiler and piping design. The only difference is the coolant used. For steam heating, this is superheated steam.

Principle of operation

Steam heating is the heating of a room with steam, which appears when water boils in a boiler. After that, it enters the radiators through pipes.

The steam heating system includes:

• boiler;
• pipes;
• radiators;
• firebox;
• circular pump;
• shut-off valves — exhaust valve and valves (steam version).

Attention: The heating system can be open or closed. In the first case, a pump is used to return the condensate to the boiler. If it is closed, the condensate returns to the boiler on its own, due to the presence of a slight technological slope of the pipes and under the influence of gravity.

According to the distribution of pipes, the system can be one- or two-pipe. In the latter case, steam passes through one pipe, and the resulting condensate returns to the tank through another. In this case, both pipes are closed in one cycle.

If the wiring is single-pipe, then steam and condensate move along one pipe, while creating extraneous sounds in the complex.

If a two-pipe system is usually used to heat private houses, then its single-pipe counterpart can also be used to heat a garage. After all, the dimensions of the garage are most often small, and the productivity and power of the boiler is quite enough for its high-quality heating even in severe frosts. Although it is not forbidden to install a two-pipe system in the garage. Which one is more preferable is up to the owner of the garage to decide.
*

Fuel and boiler

Attention: For a steam heating boiler, liquid (diesel oil, fuel oil) or solid (coal, firewood) fuel can be used. Natural gas can also be used, but is rarely used to heat a garage.

*
Boilers for steam heating are of two types:

1. Gas-pipe — low-power, explosive with a significant increase in power.
2. Water tubes — with a large power potential, more modern and, as a result, safer.

Whatever boiler is used, its device is the same. It consists of a furnace, burner, drum and ash pan.

Calculation and installation

Having decided to install steam heating in the garage, you should carefully approach the design stage. The following calculations must be made:

1. Hydraulic. It allows you to set the characteristics of the condensate and steam pipes.
2. Thermal. It makes it possible to calculate the geometric and other characteristics of the batteries.

You should carefully consider the choice of the boiler and other additional equipment that will be required for steam heating of the garage.

The installation of a steam heating system in a garage is similar in technology to the arrangement of a room with a water heating system, however, due to the fact that steam is an aggressive heat carrier of high temperature, the requirements for materials, assembly quality and ensuring the safe operation of the steam circuit are especially high. Therefore, the characteristics of shut-off valves must meet the requirements for operation on steam pipelines, sealing fittings (sealants, gaskets) must be steam and heat resistant, and the number of mounting joints must be minimal.

Despite the fact that the steam heating system is considered obsolete, it is great for heating the garage — if it is properly calculated and installed, steam heating is effective even in severe frost, the room temperature can be adjusted, and the mechanisms do not require special care.

Scheme

To achieve high-quality garage heating using steam heating, you should choose the right equipment and materials. Much depends on the correct installation of the system. It is for this that it is recommended to draw up a project in advance. With it, you can find out which of their water heating schemes will be most suitable for your garage. Also, thanks to the project, it is possible to determine the length and position of all contours, including their branches, turns, etc. It is also indispensable for choosing the place of installation of the boiler and radiators.

The choice of the optimal scheme is required to determine the required steam pressure when heating a particular garage. It can be of four categories, but since the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe garage is usually small, you can opt for ultra-low (vacuum-steam).

It can also be used to set how moisture will be returned back to the boiler. There are two options — open and closed. In the first case, the return occurs due to the presence of a pump that pumps it through a special tank. The closed method consists in the return of moisture by gravity, due to the presence of high pressure.

Attention: Thanks to the scheme, you can also find out the most suitable circuit, which can be single or double. For steam heating, both options can be used. If the circuit is single, in order to achieve the movement of steam and condensate in the same direction, it should be that there are the necessary angles and slopes. If the circuit is double, the movement of the coolant and condensate occurs through different pipes.

Steam heating for a garage must have a properly drawn up diagram in order to determine the required equipment parameters. First of all, the power of the boiler. But, as already mentioned, the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room is usually small and there is no need to purchase a powerful boiler to heat it.

When choosing, you should also consider the type of fuel that you intend to use for heating. It should have a reasonable cost and be available in the area where you live and, accordingly, your garage is located.

The material of the pipes and their geometric characteristics should be taken into account. They must be selected to withstand the pressure and steam in the system for the expected life of the system. It is best to choose a pipe made of alloy steel, copper or rolled products. Despite the fact that their cost cannot be called cheap, in this case, one should pay attention to their reliability. The efficiency and durability of steam heating in the garage also depends on the material from which the radiators are made and their dimensions.

Mounting

The installation of a steam heating system depends on the chosen scheme. You should also read all the recommendations of the manufacturers of the equipment used.

Attention: It is necessary to take into account the distance from the boiler to the ceiling and walls of the garage. The latter must be fire resistant. The room in which steam heating will be installed must have a good ventilation system.

Heating installation includes the following steps:

1. Site preparation for installation.
2. Boiler and radiator installation.
3. Boiler and radiator piping.
4. Trial run and check of correct operation.

*
By installing a steam heating system in the garage, you will be able to feel comfortable in it while doing, for example, repairing your car. It will be warm even in the most severe frosts. The main thing is that it is designed and installed correctly.

Before you start heating the garage with this system, you should test it. This is necessary to check the tightness of the circuit, because you should know in advance whether it can withstand the operating pressure. Also, during the tests, you can find out whether steam is evenly supplied and whether it enters the condensate pipe (if the wiring is two-pipe).

We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the link with the main article on the implementation of heating in the garage on your own.

What is a steam heating system

The composition of the system is quite simple. It includes a device for generating steam. A boiler is usually used as it. Radiators similar to those used in water heating systems. You can not do without connecting elements. These are fittings, pipes, etc. If the circulation of the coolant in a natural way in the system is not possible, you will need to install a pump.

The principle of operation of steam heating with a pump is as follows:

1. In the heat exchange circuit of the boiler with burning fuel, the water turns into steam, which moves through the pipes.
2. The process of moisture condensation occurs in radiators. It is accompanied by a significant increase in temperature.
3. Moisture flows first into the collection tank, and then back into the tank. At the last stage, the «help» of the pump is needed.

Attention: The steam heating system can also be used without a pump. This is possible if there is the necessary slope and the correct location of all components and connecting elements.

Such a structure has both positive and negative sides. Among the positive ones can be distinguished:

1. High speed of achieving the effect — after starting the boiler, the radiators will become hot quickly enough.
2. High efficiency. It is almost 100%. Heat loss is minimal, and its return is maximum.
3. The dimensions of the entire system are quite small. It can be easily installed in the garage.
4. It has good freeze resistance. If this happened, when it is defrosted, there should not be any damage.

The disadvantages of this structure include:

1. The surfaces of radiators and pipes are so hot that, if touched, they can cause burns.
2. Since such a system operates in rather «hard» conditions, this negatively affects the duration of its operation.
3. It is not possible to regulate the temperature of individual radiators.

As you can see, there are many advantages and disadvantages of a steam heating system without using a pump. And only you can choose which type of steam heating will be the most rational.