Frequently asked questions

There are a lot of types of radiators in the market which differ by various criteria. Because the radiator is a heating appliance operating mostly according to the principle of convection, the surface of the radiator is important as well as the intake and exhaust manner of air.

Radiators of Aklimat M family are made from aluminium which significantly affects the behaviour of an aluminium radiator with its specific characteristics, low weight and high thermal conductivity. This means that these radiators are easy to handle (transport, lifting and installation) and that they heat fast and release heat into the room. Thus, for heating rooms of the same size significantly smaller radiators are needed compared to the radiators manufactured from other materials.

Namely, an aluminium radiator provides double heating effect. As with other radiators, the room is heated with radiation, however, the special feature of aluminium radiators is also heating with convection. Design and profile of aluminium radiators enable greater and faster air flow, which enters the radiator cold at the bottom and heated at the top.

Other benefits of aluminium radiators are high anti-corrosion stability, meaning that aluminium does not rust like steel, thus significantly extending the useful life of aluminium radiators. The advantage is also that they are powder lacquered which extends the colour stability. Colours may be selected from the entire RAL colour chart which helps the radiators to contribute to the aesthetical look of the room. Aklimat radiator’s measurements may be ordered by standard connections or on order, and they are ideal as a replacement for old radiators.

In our experience and the experience of experts in the field of heating water system hydraulics, the main cause of various noises in valves and radiators is inappropriate water system hydraulics, namely:

1. air in the central heating system,
2. incorrect choice of water flow pumps,
3. flow and pressure conditions in the system,
4. incorrect selection of programme and regulation automatics.

1) The air from the system can be eliminated or successfully removed (since it is always present in the system more or less) by correctly installing the radiators on the wall. You have to take into consideration the 1-3% fall of radiators with regard to the location of warm water input (valve). Air can also be eliminated from the system with manual or automatic bleed valves.

2) Noise can be eliminated with a correct choice of pump or calculation of an appropriate pipe size with regard to the quantity of water in the radiators or the entire system. Improved water flow through the heating system may also be provided with a built-in pump with regulating the number of revolutions.

3) In designing the central heating system without any noise or cracking sound, it is necessary to take into consideration the option of built-in differential pressure regulators because they maintain constant pressure required for proper operation of the hot-water system. The experts from the undertaking DANFOSS have made the most progress in this field.
For proper operation of thermostatic valves, automatic balancing valves are used with the following functions:

• to equally distribute energy,
• to eliminate noise in the thermostatic radiator valves,
• to provide constant pressure in the thermostatic radiator valves, thus improving regulation.

4) That is why a 3-point programme automatics is recommended in the design.

Air may be eliminated from the system or successfully removed in two ways; first, by correctly installing the radiators on the wall, where the 1-3 % fall has to be taken into consideration with regard to the location of warm water input, and second, with manual or automatic bleed valves.

To clean external colour-painted surfaces only mild cleaning agents are recommended in order to avoid damaging the coloured surface. To clean dust between the radiator ribs it is best to use a specially designed brush or a dust trap.

Radiators in the rooms which are not used regularly should be set to minimum. Be careful that the temperature in the room does not fall below 0ºC, because then the water in the radiator will freeze and the radiator will crack.

The thermostat head or thermostat valve with pre-adjustment should be adjusted by a person specialized for such work; after the heating season is over the valve should be full open so that the needle does not malfunction due to the water scale.
Before the start of each heating season it is necessary to relief the air from radiators or the system. We open the valve to relief the air on the radiator with a special key, we put a bowl under the valve and wait until the water comes out of the opening. After that we tighten the valve.

Many people would make the decision to buy an aluminium radiator, however, they are unnecessarily concerned by the radiator’s oxidation because the existing technology efficiently prevents rust. Quality aluminium radiators are made in such a way that as soon as they are filled with water, they are covered with a thin oxide layer almost as hard as a diamond. When the thin oxide layer reaches a certain thickness, the process stops by itself, and the aluminium should be permanently protected against oxidation.

The critics of central heating criticise radiators that they unhealthily dry air in the room which was proved that it is harmful to the respiratory organs. Aklimat developed a special air humidifier which differs from the traditional humidifiers. The latest humidifier is made from special heat-resistant plastics and does not damage the radiator’s colour because it prevents the contact between the radiator and water, which causes peeling off of colour in traditional humidifiers.