Old batteries: what to do with them. We hide and mask heating batteries. Interesting solutions Old battery

Nature rationally manages its resources, and each of its components lives several lives - the same maple leaf first serves as a “breathing” organ for a tree, converting carbon dioxide into oxygen with the help of sunlight, and then, when it exhausts its resource, it turns into food for the same wood and bacteria. Only a person in nature, despite his rationality, acts irrationally, throwing into the trash all that becomes unnecessary to him. Yes, nature will eventually eat this garbage, but from a human point of view, such an act still remains an irrational act, and this applies to literally everything created by man. Old batteries are no exception, which at best are scrapped - in principle, this is the right decision, but not the only one. In this article, together with the site site, we will talk about how it is more rational to deal with outdated cast-iron radiators.

Cast iron batteries of the old sample photo

Old batteries: a second life for its intended purpose

What makes old cast-iron batteries attractive is their, I’m not afraid of this word, huge work resource - these are practically eternal batteries that do not have to be demolished. Judge for yourself - today in houses and apartments you can still find working batteries installed under Stalin. Is it a joke? Almost a century for batteries. Radiators made before the collapse of the USSR have practically the same quality - at least they can still work for half a century for their intended purpose.

I agree, by modern standards they are ugly and inconvenient to maintain, but who will stop you from bringing them into a divine form and enjoying the warmth radiated by them until the end of your days? This is very easy to do, and it is this fact that many restorers use, buying old batteries for cheap, bringing them to the proper form and selling them for much more, thereby earning a living. Specifically, such work is as follows.

After that, the creative process begins, thanks to which it is possible to give the sections a unique and inimitable look. Even just painting them with the same hammer paints will make old batteries very attractive. People who are familiar with the benefits of old cast iron batteries will pick them up hand and foot.

Old-style batteries: what else can be made of them

Restoration for the purpose of resale or simply handing over old-style cast-iron batteries for scrap is not the only option for the rational use of this element of the heating system. From it you can make useful things not only for sale, but also for your needs.

In addition, some craftsmen use old cast iron batteries as heat exchangers for. In my opinion, the idea is not very attractive - the cast iron sections will have to be welded together to get rid of the gaskets between them. Yes, and a bulky heat exchanger will turn out, which will cause some problems during its installation. With old batteries, there are already enough problems, which is only worth disassembling them, which will have to be pretty tricky.

How to remove, disassemble and clean an old battery

Resuscitation of an old cast-iron battery is perhaps the most difficult stage of work. Its difficulty lies in the fact that over the long years of operation of the product, all its connections become so attached and rusty that it is impossible to disassemble them with keys. There is not enough human strength, nor the strength of tools. Here you need to act subtly and thoughtfully.

All! The battery is ready for reuse - it remains only to bring it to its proper appearance. by the most simple option to remove old paint from it is a mechanical way - simply put, it needs to be peeled off using a special cutter installed on. Alternatively, shoot out with a blowtorch or just in a large fire. Naturally, then you will have to remove carbon deposits from it, treat it well with phosphoric acid so that it does not rust, open it with a primer and paint it. And then it's up to you - you want a heater, you want it back into the system, but you want it for sale.

In conclusion, the topic of where to put old batteries, I’ll also tell you that you always have time to throw the product into a landfill or scrap it, besides, it’s the easiest. Another thing is to give the battery a second chance and save the lion's share of the family budget - here you already need to try. But you should not count on the fact that it will be easy - in fact, this is a very laborious process, which not every person will mess with.

For those who decide to save time and money on the reconstruction of the heating system and the replacement of cast-iron radiators with modern ones, we offer several ways to hide, disguise, decorate and upgrade old unsightly batteries. You will be surprised how these "cast-iron heavyweights" in a transformed form are able to refresh the interior.

Successful camouflage is a simple but effective idea for eye-catching radiators. It is enough to choose a paint to match the walls and paint the battery with it. Alkyd and acrylic enamels, as well as water-dispersion paints, are best suited.

And you can do the opposite - with the help of paint, do not disguise the battery, but focus on it.

In the midst of heating season the radiator can become a potentially hazardous item in the home. So that the child does not accidentally touch the hot metal, special screens were invented that prevent direct contact with the battery and play a decorative role in the interior.

In addition, the screen will prevent dust and dirt from entering the battery. So cleaning will no longer be so burdensome.

The easiest way to fit the batteries into the interior of the room is to hide them in a drywall box and close them with a decorative grille. Of course, the decoration must be done in such a way as not to disrupt the operation of the heating system.

Special perforated MDF panels are the most versatile of the radiator screens. A wide variety of shapes, shades and textures allows you to choose them for any interior. Such screens are lightweight, compact, moisture resistant, and environmentally friendly.

The screen of strict forms is also considered a classic.

AT modern interior concise will look good wooden models screens without elaborate decor.

similar decorative metal carcass for a radiator, you definitely don't want to hide behind curtains. Because it will definitely attract the attention of guests and will become the undeniable "highlight of the program."

If you have carpentry skills, the idea of ​​​​a decorative screen for a radiator can be developed to an impromptu shelving, console, cabinet. Functional furniture is worth its weight in gold in small-sized dwellings.

Glass can also turn out not just screens for a radiator, but also beautiful elements of functional furniture.

Some thought to use the battery, covered with a screen, as an additional place to rest. Warm, cozy, beautiful.

The radiator and heated towel rail can be made an art object. Sometimes it's hard to guess what the heating system looks like.

The yellow square is not a picture, but a battery.

We suggest trying to solve the problem of unaesthetic batteries on your own, for example, using decoupage. Wash the battery thoroughly, make its surface smooth - it is not necessary to completely remove the old paint. First paint it with plain white enamel. While the battery will dry for a day, take a decoupage card with a pattern that you like. Measure the width of the outer surface of the battery section, cut the card into strips of the desired size. Glue the motif diluted with water in a 1x1 ratio with PVA glue so that it is located exactly in the middle of the battery. Top and bottom of the remaining part without a picture, paint over with acrylic paints. When the paint dries, the entire battery must be coated with a heat-resistant varnish.

You can cover the battery in an original way using a folding frame, inside of which strips of fabric are intertwined.

Needlewomen can sew some kind of fun cover for the radiator. For example, let an unaesthetic metal battery turn into a sheep or other cute animal. Children will definitely be delighted.

Radiator shade - good alternative if you don't want to use bulky wireframe screens. For a decorative curtain, choose a fabric that suits your interior. Sew one part of the fabric Velcro to the top of the curtain, and glue the other to the bottom of the window sill above the battery. You can make several curtains and change them depending on your mood.

simple and original way battery masking - using a curved sheet of plywood 4 mm thick. The panel is attached to the wall with 4 screw hooks at a distance of at least 5 cm from the window sill, so as not to interfere with normal air circulation. In order to get a beautiful bend, the panel should be twice as long as the radiator, and its center should be placed strictly in the middle. Stick a decorative self-adhesive furniture film on the front side of the panel.

It is easy to make a universal retractable panel from a fiberboard sheet, which, if necessary, can be easily transferred to another room. It is installed behind the frame frame. For the frame, boards made of fiberboard 1.6 cm thick and 8 cm wide are needed. The horizontal and vertical parts of the frame are glued together.

If the masking panel is first covered with dark paint and then with varnish, you get a drawing board and notes for children. Also, the panel can be decorated with an application, a picture, or a flock of fish can be cut out in it.

In one of the Moscow apartments there is such a fake plywood fireplace, made by hand. It covers an old cast-iron battery.

The transformation happened like this. From plywood they built the "face" of the fireplace with a window for the firebox, as well as a firebox box with the image of bricks. Then, the decor of the floor and cornice was made from polyurethane skirting boards. A long LED lamp was placed in the firebox to shine. The lamp housing was painted with patches of orange and red paint. The coals depict large stones from a hardware store.

No matter how people resist, but time takes its toll, and if the old-style cast-iron batteries are still working properly, effectively warming the home, they still have to be changed over time. Even the most reliable device has its expiration date, which must be respected. Although there are examples that old-style cast iron radiators have served for more than a hundred years, it is not worth bringing to such an extreme in order to maintain personal safety.

Features of the manufacture of cast iron batteries

For too long, cast-iron radiators have been the only type of heating device installed in apartment buildings. Many people are so accustomed to them, knowing about their durability and reliability, that when it comes time to change heating system looking for similar devices.

The cast-iron batteries of the new model are completely different from those that the residents of Khrushchev are accustomed to. The old models had their own advantages, against which their shortcomings were forgotten, and this is due to the peculiarity of their manufacture.

This metal cannot be processed, so products from it, whether old cast-iron radiators or pans, have always been cast in finished forms. This is due to the fact that for many decades, sectional "accordions" of the same height, width and depth were produced.

in order to change thermal power cast-iron radiator, it was necessary to add or remove a section, for which the coolant was completely drained from the system, paralyzing the heat supply to the building.

To ensure high-quality sealing, rubber gaskets are installed between the sections (if antifreeze is used, they must be paronite).

Cast iron sectional radiators are connected using nipple nuts and a special key and are divided by type:

• On single-channel samples, which are found mainly in vertical models.
• Two-channel types are the main type of cast-iron radiators.
• Three-channel are extremely rare, have the highest heat transfer and great depth.

According to the shape of the collectors, the types of cast-iron heating radiators can be divided into oval and round. The former are recognized as more reliable and resistant to water hammer, but the wall thickness of the device is no less important. To make them as light as steel or bimetal radiators, thin walls are required, but they are too vulnerable to shock and mechanical damage. Too thick a layer of cast iron will make the radiator invulnerable, but unbearable, which is also unacceptable, and besides, it will take forever to warm up. Old radiators weighed about 7.5 - 8 kg, which is quite a lot for one section.

In Soviet times, several types of blanks were used for their production, differing in size. The depth depended on the number of channels for the coolant, and the height depended on the center distance.

There were models with interaxal indicators from 300 mm to 900 mm, but the most popular was the distance of 500 mm, which in our time is considered the classic standard for radiators made of any metal.

If you have to replace old cast-iron batteries with new ones, then you should choose analogues with the same center distance, which will ensure the reliability of their connection to the heating system and work efficiency.

The parameters of these radiators were such that they fully corresponded to the centralized heating of those years:

• Working pressure 9 - 12 atmospheres.
• Heating of the coolant up to +110 degrees.
• Resistance to chemical impurities in water.
• Service life of 20 years with flawless operation up to 50.
• Low cost.

The biggest disadvantage of the Soviet "accordions" was their weight. They were difficult to transport and install, and not every wall is able to withstand such a "burden". With the advent high-rise buildings the strengths of cast-iron batteries no longer meet the new standards of centralized heating, since in houses over 12 floors, water hammer is much higher than they can withstand.

New type batteries

Modern types of cast iron batteries are not at all like their old "brothers". Over the past 15 years, steel and aluminum radiators, but the former are mainly represented by panel-type models, which does not fit into every heating system, and the latter do not tolerate the chemical effects of the city heating system coolant. That is why many consumers have turned their attention to the varieties of cast-iron heating radiators of the new generation. Their positive qualities:

• Outwardly, they are not much different from modern counterparts from other metals. Sections with a flat smooth surface will fit into any interior. On sale there are not only products with factory coloring, but also those that can be painted independently in any color (domestic production), which many customers like.
• The cost of new cast iron batteries is still low, which makes them attractive to consumers.
• They have a higher heat transfer due to the reduction in volume.
• Their weight has dropped significantly. If the old samples weighed from 8 kg and more, then the new ones - from 3.5 kg and up to a maximum of 7.1 kg one section.
• Today, there are both decorative cast-iron radiators in retro style, as well as floor, vertical and classic models.

That batteries of this type have become lighter and more stylish, while retaining their basic positive sides makes them very popular with the public.

Decorative radiators made of cast iron

In the domestic market artistic views heating devices are presented mainly foreign manufacturers. As a rule, these are design works that not only weigh a little more than their classic counterparts, but also cost several times more. Such luxury can only be installed in the corresponding interior.

Decorative cast-iron heating radiators are presented in the Baroque and Renaissance, Art Nouveau and Neoclassical styles. The style and ornament of the product do not affect its value, unlike the size and shape. So among them there are low batteries, standard height 500 mm or high views. If the interior requires antique heaters, then preference is most often given to models with a patterned pattern. Their coloring can be completely different and they look not only spectacular, but also expensive.

As a rule, decorative cast iron radiators have the same properties as modest classic designs. Sections are mounted in the same way as the usual Soviet "accordions". Cast-iron batteries on legs look especially stylish and unusual.

Floor cast iron batteries

This type of radiator appeared out of necessity. Cast iron is a fairly heavy metal, from which any product inherits a lot of weight, and batteries are no exception. Not every wall can withstand such a load, so the manufacturers went to meet their customers by launching a cast-iron floor radiator into production.

Panoramic windows, which are very popular lately, require a different approach to heaters. Low floor models look good and at the same time have all the advantages of taller counterparts. Today, cast-iron floor heating radiators are considered elite, so their cost is one of the highest among batteries made of this metal.

The advantages of these devices are:

• Stability is ensured by sturdy legs that can be screwed to the floor if needed.
• They take up little space, and the pipes are laid on the floor during their installation, which improves the visual appearance of the room.
• Floor batteries can be of any color.
• They perform well in closed heating systems.
• Installing a floor structure frees owners from work such as drilling walls and attaching brackets.

In terms of their technical indicators, radiators of this type differ little from standard cast-iron models.

Feature of vertical radiators

High radiators are rare and quite expensive, no matter what metal they are made of. Given the weight of cast iron, vertical radiators made of it cannot be the same size as, for example, aluminum or bimetallic ones, which can reach 3 m. The maximum height that vertical cast iron heating radiators have is 1 meter.

As a rule, they are represented by sectional tubular structures, which, although they heat up for a long time, keep the heat and cool down for the same long time. Such models have high heat transfer, despite the large volume of coolant in them.. Their main disadvantage is the weight, which significantly exceeds the standard counterparts, not only because of the greater height of the sections, but also the thickness of the walls.

Heating elements for cast iron batteries

Not surprisingly, today many consumers are looking for alternative views heating their homes. Price utilities is constantly growing, which cannot but cause alarm. One way to create heating system in the apartment it is a cast-iron battery with a heating element.

Teng is an ordinary metal tube with a spiral located inside it, which is separated from it by a filler. It can be made independently from improvised means. Batteries with a heating element are distinguished by high performance, economy and reliability, and the fact that they are built into the heating system itself allows you to save space and ensure their inconspicuous presence.

Such a device can be equipped with a thermostat to regulate the degree of heating of the coolant and serve as both an additional and the main source of heat.

There are heating elements of different capacities on the market, so you should calculate in advance how many watts are required per section of the radiator to heat each individual room.

Conclusion

To date, interest in cast iron radiators has revived. This is due to the change appearance and technical performance for the better. They are mounted both in autonomous systems of private houses and in high-rise buildings connected to the central city heating network.

On the market you can find euro-cast iron radiators, and vertical, and floor, and classic options products from this metal. This gives consumers the opportunity to choose batteries for the interior of the room and its needs for warmth.

As a rule, the official life of car batteries is about five years. After this period, especially economical owners try to extend the life of the battery with the help of charger or other "revitalizing" events, but nothing is eternal, and in the end, any battery has the same outcome - a garbage dump, a dump, or the usual storage in a car owner's garage among a pile of the same unnecessary garbage.

Recently, however, enterprising citizens have found another way for spent batteries. Each of the motorists observed cars with banners on the sides of the city streets calling for money to turn in the old battery.

This option is more beneficial for the owner of the used device.- after all, three hundred rubles, which are offered for an old standard battery, is also money. Yes, and from the point of view of ecology, such a scheme is more preferable, because lead and sulfuric, the main components of any battery, will not turn out to be pollutants over time. environment.

Reason for buying used car batteries

As noted above, the purchase of worn-out batteries takes place in front of everyone. Cars with appropriate advertising or garage-like reception points can be seen everywhere.

But, nevertheless, despite the popularity of such a process, many people ask themselves the question - “why are they buying old batteries?”. Some believe that by purchasing such junk for a penny, receivers are able to restore batteries to the state of a new product, then selling them, in turn, at the appropriate price.

Watch the video to see how you can make money by selling old batteries.

However, this opinion is false., since for the most part, spent batteries can no longer be restored. Even if there is a battery that can be restored - in this case, "the game is not worth the candle." Repair costs a lot of money, comparable to the cost of a new battery, but in this case there is no guarantee for the validity period.

What do they do with old receivers?

The answer is simple - sell further. Their buyers, paradoxically, are the manufacturers of car batteries themselves.


To understand the feasibility of such a chain, it is necessary to back up each of the links with specific numbers.