As you know, it is not easy to build an absolutely hermetic heating system with a liquid coolant. But, even if it succeeded, leaks may certainly appear during operation. And in this situation, it's time to decide which radiator sealant is better and how to use it for its intended purpose.
What to consider when choosing
There is a wide range of sealants on the market, which are distinguished by consistency, degree of hydrophobicity, degree of resistance to high temperatures, durability and, of course, price.
The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing these tools is their resistance to deformation. The fact is that an increase and subsequent decrease in the temperature of the coolant leads to expansion and subsequent narrowing of all elements of the system through which the coolant circulates.
If the sealing agent in the hardened state is characterized by excessive fragility, it is likely to crack. If the composition applied to the leak remains relatively elastic after drying, cracks will not appear.
Optimal elasticity parameters are demonstrated by acrylic and silicone compounds, which today are most popular everywhere. The least elastic two-component compositions made on the basis of epoxy resin.
Types of sealants
To prevent leaks and to eliminate leaks, you can use the following tools:
- Liquid products- are poured into the damaged heater and fill the gap themselves.
- Gels- applied directly to the damaged area of the surface.
Each of the listed categories has characteristic operational features. Let's consider them in more detail.
Liquid sealants
When repairing heating appliances, it is not always possible to use sealants intended for external application. For example, a leak may be hidden or in between sections that are difficult to reach to apply putty.
The liquid repair compound is simply poured into the system. In the process of circulation through the heating devices, the agent fills small leaks and neutralizes them.
The principle of operation of the agent is simple - the liquid, penetrating into the place of leakage, completely fills the damage cavity and partially protrudes outward. Interacting with air, the agent polymerizes and gradually hardens.
Currently, there are several categories of liquid sealants on the market, which differ from each other in the possibility of using them in certain conditions.
- compositions for systems with a coolant - water or antifreeze
- compositions for solid fuel and gas boilers
- formulations for heating pipes.
It is not recommended to use one of the listed categories to neutralize various leaks with your own hands; it is better to use compounds specially made to solve a particular problem.
Along with the listed means, liquid sealants of universal action are implemented. But application statistics demonstrate that formulations with a narrow action neutralize leaks better than universal counterparts.
Important: Unprofessional use of liquid sealants can lead to blockages in the heating system.
Therefore, without proper experience, try to fix the leak with the system turned off and the battery removed.
Now consider how to fill the sealant in the radiator?
Instructions for fixing a leak with a liquid composition are as follows:
- Shut off the system and drain the coolant.
- We dismantle the damaged heater.
- Prepare about 5 liters of hot water in a bucket.
- IN hot water a concentrated polymer composition is poured out of the canister. The solution is thoroughly mixed until a homogeneous consistency.
- Pour the solution into the radiator using a purge pump or using a funnel.
- If we use a pump, we need to prepare about 5 liters of hot water to flush those pump elements that have come into contact with the sealant.
- If a watering can is used, on one side of the batteries we close the top and bottom holes with plugs, while the opposite holes remain open. We put the heater on the end, and pour the solution through one of the open holes from above.
- Next, the battery is turned over so that the solution passes to the area where there is damage.
Important: The solution must be prepared immediately before use, as it polymerizes for a short time and a film may form on the surface.
- The sealing effect will be noticeable after about 3 days.
How to flush the radiator after the sealant? Flushing is carried out hot water. In order to remove fragments of sealant that have not adhered to the inside, it is advisable to flush under pressure.
Means in the form of gels and putties
Now let's look at how to use a radiator sealant made in the form of gels and putties.
Instructions for the use of cold welding:
- The supply is blocked.
- The area where the leak is noticed is cleared of old paint and polished to metal.
- Cold welding is kneaded by hand to make it soft and applied to a previously prepared surface fragment. The superimposed welding is smoothed and left in this position until completely dry.
After a day, the welding hardens so much that it cannot be picked off with a knife. - The layer of the applied sealant is leveled by grinding sandpaper, after which the repaired fragment of the surface can be painted.
Important: Despite the fact that the battery repaired in this way will look intact, you need to understand that this is a temporary solution.
And the complete elimination of leakage is possible only as a result of replacing the damaged section or replacing the entire heater.
Conclusion
Now we have a general idea of how polymerizing radiator sealant and its putty-consistency counterparts work. The acquired skills can be applied by repairing the heating system in your house or apartment.
There are questions that need clarification, the necessary answers can be found by watching the video in this article.
- the material does not change with time or from temperature fluctuations in volume;
- does not spread;
- retains plasticity even after drying, repeating exactly all the bends of the parts, and thereby forming a gasket that is unique for this joint, which cannot be displaced by water pressure;
- sealant for water pipes does not clog the system;
- always allows the dismantling of communications.
In what cases is sealant indispensable?
- for any threaded connections during the assembly of the water supply;
- when installing pipes made of cast iron, where there are no sealing rings;
- at repair work ah and elimination of leaks at the joints as an additional waterproofing.
Types of sealants for water pipes
Today there is a large selection of sealants, with different features and appointments, among which you can most accurately select exactly what is required in a particular situation. Consider what options exist:
- Self-adhesive tape
The main advantage is its anticorrosive and dielectric properties. Tape is used for connections various types, pipe bends, plugs, corners and other elements.
The basis of the tape is bitumen-rubber, and on the outside it is covered with an aluminum layer with a protective film, which is removed during installation. Although tape is very easy to use, it is a very effective and reliable way to insulate pipes. If you decide to use such a tape, then remember: from exposure sun rays she loses her qualities, so the pipes are on open areas additionally wrapped with protective material.
How to use self-adhesive tape:
- Before starting work, the surface must be cleaned and dried.
- to avoid wrinkles, the tape must be stretched during winding
- it is important to wrap in such a way that each turn lies on half of the previous one, covering the entire surface in two layers.
- Silicone Thread Sealants
Single-component liquid sanitary sealants for pipe connections are used to prevent leakage through connections and fittings on metal or plastic pipes ah in water supply systems with both cold and hot water.
They have gained popularity due to their reliability. In addition to rubber, which is part of the mixture, silicone sealant contains various additives and additives providing excellent sealing ability. Such a material has a high degree of adhesion to almost any surface, even without pre-treatment.
- Plumbing adhesive sealant designed specifically for use in wet areas: kitchens, bathrooms, where there is a risk of fungus.
An important feature: depending on the hardener in the composition, silicone sealants are acidic or neutral. Acid cleaners, although cheaper, are not suitable for use on surfaces that are afraid of acid. But neutral sealants are universal and harmless to any materials.
Attention: do not confuse silicone adhesive sealant with winding sealant
- FUM tape, polymer thread
Good alternative to silicone, easy to wrap on all types threaded connections and are quite effective, however, with vibrations and loosening of pipes, they can leak over time.
- Portland cement
This material is part of the composition of cement and asbestos-cement mixtures that are used to assemble cast-iron sewer communications in places where socket joints are minted.
Petroleum bitumen, mastic, epoxy resin
They are used in the preparation of an insulating fill for sealing the joints of ceramic pipelines, including at home.
Which sealant to choose
When choosing a plumbing pipe sealant, it is important to understand that it may come into direct contact with the water coming from your faucet. Therefore, it is worth paying attention to products certified for contact with drinking water.
For correct selection sealant in your case, try to answer the following questions:
- Are we dealing with metal parts or plastic ones?
- If it is plastic or its combination with metal, will it be necessary to additionally align the system, calibrate after installation?
If the answer is yes. We use a ready-to-use sealing thread white color impregnated on metal, plastic or mixed surfaces. Maximum thread diameter should be up to 4 inches, with low disassembly force. Provides fast sealing at full pressure and withstands temperatures from -50°C to +130°C. No special application equipment is required.
If the answer is no. Apply a silicone gel sealant, such as Loctite 5331, white, to plastic, metal, and plastic-to-metal fittings in contact with hot and cold water. The maximum thread diameter is 3 inches, the disassembly force is weak. Quite quickly sealed at low pressure, operating temperature from -50 °C to +150 °C. Does not require special equipment for application.
If the parts are made of metal, do they have large or small threads?
If it is small, they work with metal gel, for example, Loctite 542. This is a sealant Brown applied with a hand gun. Designed for fittings with fine thread, 3-4 inches, as well as communications fittings pneumatic and hydraulic systems. When disassembling, it is unscrewed with medium force. There is no sealing at low pressure, operating temperature -55 °С - +150 °С.
If large, then gels, liquid and pasty sealants are suitable.
Loctite 511 Gel is a fast curing white compound, due to its low strength, suitable for sealing 3" threads with a small gap.
Gel sealant for metal general purpose, for example, SantekhMaster Gel, suitable for large threads and pipes with a diameter of 3 inches. It has a medium force when disassembling, and at low pressure it hardens quite quickly. Suitable for quick application at low temperatures. Applies to inactive surfaces.
Red Locite 572 Liquid Sealant is used on large metal threads in 3" fittings. Thanks to its slow polymerization, it allows fitting fittings to be aligned during installation.
Selon Sealant Paste is a red material for low disassembly forces, operating in the temperature range from -55 °C to +150 °C. It does not spread over the surface, as it is specially designed for metal communications with large threads, where regular disassembly is not required.
When it comes to choosing a sealant for sewer pipes, then product quality should be taken extremely seriously. If the wastewater discharge system is broken, this is fraught with sewage entering the running water.
refit.ru
Types of sealants
Linen
This plumbing sealant was used by our great-grandfathers, quite successfully connecting the plumbing system at first glance at the threads. However, organic flax fibers work on the principle of swelling when exposed to moisture. As a result, if metal pipes made of brittle alloys are sealed with flax thread, then its change in volume can lead to an early rupture of the pipeline.
In addition, wet flax fibers begin to decompose over time, which reduces the quality of sealing of all joints. And constant moisture at the joints, in the end, will lead to metal corrosion, which threatens to break the metal when dismantling a section of the water supply system.
It is also worth noting that in high-pressure systems, the use of dry flax as a sealant and sealant is unacceptable, since water will begin to seep over time.
As an option for using linen, you can use it in tandem with paint. This option is more reliable, but it is worth remembering that the paint does not completely impregnate the fiber, which means that rotting will overcome the seal only with a large segment time. In addition, the dismantling of the pipeline will be fraught with difficulties.
The only correct way out in solving the situation with the use of linen thread is the use of silicone sealant. In this case, the installation of all threaded connections is based on the treatment of the fiber with a silicone agent. As a result, the installation of all fittings and pipes is greatly simplified, and the elements can be tightened.
Important: silicone sealant creates a tightness of the pipeline even if the elements of the water supply are not tightened to the stop.
Fluoroplastic sealant (FUM)
This type of polymer tape in the form thin strip, wound on a bobbin, was originally produced not for plumbing purposes, but in the defense industry. A distinctive feature of FUM is that such a sealant can be used at temperatures up to +300 degrees and, moreover, in aggressive environments. That is why FUM is now quite widespread among professional plumbers.
The advantages of the FUM tape include:
- The material is completely protected from decay, which means it prevents metal corrosion during the operation of the plumbing system;
- The ideal smoothness of the tape reduces the friction of the threaded elements against each other during installation, which affects the durability of the plumbing system and assembly quality.
However, all the advantages of such a sealant can in some cases be regarded as disadvantages. For example, the tape does not respond well to vibrations, so if the plumbing system operates under high pressure, there is a risk of depressurization.
In addition, in the case of repair work on a section of the water pipe, the return stroke of the element leads to depressurization of the system. In this case, you will have to rewind the FUM.
Important: the FUM tape is ideal for mounting elements of the plumbing system that do not need positioning. It is better to mount taps, mixers or valves using a different type of sealant.
Plumbing thread
This type of sealant has the form of a dense synthetic thread impregnated with a special antiseptic agent, which prevents the material from rotting, metal corrosion and depressurization of water pipes. In addition, the plumbing sealing thread resists aggressive environments.
Unlike linen, plumbing thread allows you to mount plumbing communications with the possibility of reverse movement of elements up to 180 degrees (linen makes it possible to position elements up to 90 degrees). At the same time, the plumbing thread makes it possible not to tighten the pipes and water supply elements to the limit to achieve the tightness of the system.
Important: plumbing thread has a higher price compared to other types of sealants.
Sealants in suspension
Such balloon sealants are available in the form of a gel or suspension. They do an excellent job of lubricating all connections in the plumbing system, but, unfortunately, they can only be used in combination with fibrous sealants. In its pure form, such material will simply be pushed out of the system, especially in pressure lines. If you use a drying material in its pure form, then when it dries, it will shrink noticeably.
The only exception is an anaerobic sealant, which dries perfectly without air access, while maintaining its volume and protecting the metal from corrosion, and the system from leaks. Sealing anaerobic gel has a number of advantages:
- It has excellent adhesion, qualitatively connecting the elements of metal and plastic pipes;
- The gel can be used both in standard plumbing systems and in aggressive chemical environments (it is completely inert to chemical suspensions);
- The sealant works equally well in both pressure and non-pressure plumbing systems;
- In addition, excess gel can always be easily removed with a simple napkin, since it does not harden in air.
Important: Anaerobic type sealant requires compliance with certain operating principles. So, if the room temperature is below room temperature, then it will be necessary to warm up the pipe for high-quality application of the gel. In addition, all threaded connections must be clean and free of grease before applying sealant.
The dismantling of water supply elements with anaerobic sealants inside will also have to be carried out with preliminary heating of the pipeline.
Pros and cons of sealants in various situations
- Having studied all the features of each of the sealants, a strong conclusion suggests itself that flax is the most unsuitable material for use. Even when combined with a silicone or other gel-like sealant, its performance is significantly inferior to the same plumbing thread or FUM.
- In turn, of all the types of sealants given in the material for connecting the water supply system, FUM is the most optimal and affordable. But it must be applied very carefully.
- The plumbing thread is easy to install and ensures the quality of the sealing of the system. At the same time, an anaerobic sealant can be put on the same level with it in terms of quality. Its features clearly form the advantages of using it against the background of using other types of gel-like products.
- Non-drying products are best used in combination with fibrous materials.
Important: thus, the most reliable and productive of modern sealants are plumbing thread and anaerobic sealant. Only a significant difference in price varies the consumer demand for both types of materials.
Update as of 07/03/2017
New interesting video for sealing (alternative opinion):
vodakanazer.ru
Water pipes
Sealing pipe connections on threads can be performed in the following ways:
- Liquid synthetic sealants. The mixture of oils and polymers remains plastic throughout the entire period of use.
It is easy to apply, but with significant pressure (especially on hot water) it can be squeezed out by pressure. The consequences are obvious. - Pipe sealing tape (FUM tape). Already better. The main disadvantage is that the connection sealed with synthetic tape starts to flow with a minimum thread retraction, which during assembly complex structures happens often.
- Hardening sealants. Reviews are mixed; The quality of sealing is highly dependent on the specific manufacturer. IN general case- best avoided.
- Linen. Organic fiber in the presence of condensate on the pipe inevitably begins to rot with quite obvious consequences.
On hot water, flax can burn out and become brittle over time (it's still organic). The result is the same. - Finally, grandfather method- linen, impregnated natural drying oil and lead red lead. Sealing pipes in this way gives excellent results. The author had occasion to dismantle heating risers in stalinkas, assembled on galvanized threads in the middle of the last century.
There was not a single sign of pipe thread rewinding after the builders. Yes, drying oil and red lead are not in every home; however, impregnation of linen with paint gives a slightly worse result.
How it's done?
- We apply not a large number of paint directly on the thread. It is not necessary to lubricate it - a few drops are enough.
- We wind a thin strand of sanitary flax along the thread. It must be clean, free of debris and straw.
- On top of the winding, a couple more strokes of paint with a brush or stick. Don't try to apply the paint evenly: as you assemble the pipe threads, the paint will soak the linen evenly.
- Actually, we collect and tighten the thread. Do not forget to put a piece of polyethylene on the floor: a few drops of paint will inevitably fall.
The method is perfect for any steel thread, whether it is galvanized or black steel, a pipe manufactured by Chelyabinsk or Hermes - pipes do not flow on a threaded connection for the entire period of their operation.
Please note: the exception is the skew of the lock nut relative to the coupling on the spur.
If the winding is pressed unevenly, it will flow in any case, regardless of the material.
There is only one way out: change the locknut to a straight one.
Sewerage
Cast iron pipes for chasing
Here the traditional way of sealing the joint is used:
- The pipe is inserted into the socket;
- The gap around the circle is minted with a cabal (organic fiber impregnated with oil). A graphite seal will work too. Several turns are made; access at the socket is needed along the entire circumference of the pipe.
- Then the joint is covered with cement mortar.
Builders in the last century often used liquid sulfur to seal these joints. It is unlikely that you will resort to such a method; but you may have to disassemble these joints.
Method one: the bell is heated blowtorch, gas burner or building hair dryer.
At the same time, it is very important to provide ventilation and put on a respirator or, even better, a gas mask: the smell of burning sulfur is so caustic that it literally paralyzes the breath.
Pipes with rubber o-rings
With rubber seals, both cast-iron pipes and plastic pipes of all types are produced: polyethylene, polypropylene and PVC.
Here the need for additional sealing is rather an exception. The seal should ensure tightness without additional effort.
If the pipe enters the seal without effort, an ordinary silicone pipe sealant is used. It is applied to the end of the pipe with chamfered, after which it is inserted into the socket.
Conclusion
Of course, not all methods of sealing joints are listed. Brazing and copper plumbing brazing, compression fittings and butt welding of pipes were not affected by us. However, what you will most often encounter in everyday life is listed. Good luck with the repair!
o-trubah.ru
Why sealing sewer pipelines is necessary
Sewer pipelines in the private sector, unlike urban conditions, need improved sealing for the following reasons:
- Soil instability. Loosely connected pipes placed under a layer of earth during flooding groundwater or during spring floods, as a result of weakening or subsidence of the soil, they may disperse, which will lead to depressurization of the joint and Wastewater into the soil.
- Temperature effect. In winter, during severe frosts, freezing of the soil to the area where the sewer line is located can occur - this will lead to freezing of sewage drains and the formation of a plug. If liquid is subsequently introduced, the tubulars may rupture under pressure or as ice expands as a result of thawing.
- temperature fluctuations. When hit in sewer system hot drains, hotter areas at the joints can expand, leading to leaks.
- temporary aging. Over time, the tightness of the sewer line connections is reduced due to the loss of their physical properties material of manufacture and rubber rings in pipes. This can cause depressurization of the connection and leakage of drains.
Fig 2. The method of sealing pipes made of cast iron
- Difficulty repairing leaks. Since a private sewer line is usually located underground with a slight slope, it is rather difficult to determine the location of the leak - if it occurs at a high point, then the drains will flow down the slope, making it difficult to find. In most cases, you will have to dig out the entire highway in order to carry out repairs.
- Increased damage from leaks. When it hits the ground sewer drains together with groundwater, they can reach the aquifer with a shallow well or well. This will lead to the contamination of water with pathogenic bacteria, as a result of which residents may be left without drinking water.
- Strong regular leaks can cause an unpleasant odor due to the presence of gases harmful to humans in the air: hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane.
Almost the same problems will have to be faced, with the exception of contamination of water, soil and unpleasant odors, in case of depressurization of an underground water main, if it consists of pipe sections and does not have a welded joint.
Types of modern pipe sealants
Modern sealants seal and seal joints of water and sewer pipes, plumbing fittings (faucets, fittings, couplings) when connecting connections, and there are several of the most common types.
Sealing tape
Fig.3 Tape for sealing pipes
This type of sealant is most suitable for steel pipes for heating or water supply when laying underground or in basements. The tape provides protection of pipelines from the formation of condensate on the surface of the pipes, and also protects the pipe from corrosion.
The tape consists of a reinforced or aluminum film, to which a bituminous layer is glued, it is removed before use. protective film and tightly press it with your hand to the surface of the pipes, winding it with an overlap in a spiral onto the treated area.
There are three types of sealing tapes depending on the conditions of use:
- Summer with L marking for insulation in hot water supply systems, heating, heating boilers, in this case the joint is designed for a working temperature range up to 300 C.
- Winter with Z marking can work in systems at temperatures from -200 to +100 C.
- Heat-resistant with the letter T in the marking withstand a temperature range of up to 1500 C., are usually used in pipelines of exhaust systems of automotive equipment.
In addition to eliminating leaks, sealing the joints of sewer pipes with tape provides additional protection against corrosion, mechanical, chemical and temperature effects.
Fluoroplastic seal FUM
Rice. 4 Fluoroplastic sealant for water pipes
Fluoroplastic sealing tape is designed for internal sealing in plastic and threaded connections of water supply, gas supply or heating units, often used when connecting plumbing fixtures. Distinctive features FUM are:
- Operating temperature range from -70 to +250 C.
- Resistance to high pressures up to 100 atmospheres and its differences, water hammer compensation.
- This tape is most effective on plastic water line threads.
Plumbing thread
Rice. 5 Filament pipe sealant - application examples
Winding or plumbing thread is a modern substitute for flax fiber, used in water supply, gas and compressed air systems. The winder can work with threaded plastic and metal pipes, has the following features:
- Operating temperature range from -60 to +120 C.
- Suitable for plumbing fixtures with fine and coarse thread profiles.
- Can withstand pressure of 40 - 50 atmospheres.
- The average service life of threaded connections with winding is 20 years.
Epoxy resin
Epoxy resin is a universal two-component adhesive that can be used to seal joints together with dense material (fiberglass, polymer fine mesh). When using, it is important to observe the proportions indicated on the package, otherwise, when mixing the hardener and resin, with an excess of the former, the composition may boil and quickly harden.
Technical sulfur
Rice. 6 Sulfur for cast iron sewer pipes and epoxy resin
Powdered or lumpy sulfur made from oil refining products is sold in construction stores and is commonly used for sealing joints cast iron pipes wires. The material is used only in a liquid state heated to 130-150 C. It is poured into the cavity between the cast-iron pipes. When cooled, sulfur forms a hard and brittle mass with high water resistance.
Jute and hemp ropes
To seal wide joints of ceramic or cast-iron sewers, it is unprofitable to use popular expensive high-quality silicone-based materials - it is more expedient to replace them with hemp or other jute ropes, making a resin strand out of them. During the work, the sealing resin strand is pushed into the socket with a metal rod of a suitable diameter, the tightness of the connection is ensured by the resin.
Cement
Cement is popular building material, consists of clinker, potassium silicates, gypsum, for use it is diluted with water until a creamy mass is obtained. Excellent for puttying joints in cast iron; when working, it is better to use grades with additives that increase its ductility.
Rice. 7 Ropes, cement and mastics
Bituminous mastics
When arranging ceramic lines good quality compounds are obtained using inexpensive bitumen-rubber and bitumen-polymer mastics cold or hot method of application. Liquid sealant is poured into the sockets of the joints, while the seal is elastic, highly chemically resistant and long term operation.
Anaerobic sealants
Plumbing gel (anaerobic sealant) is one of the latest developments in the production of materials for sealing threaded or flanged joints, previously used in the space and defense industry. It very tightly and firmly connects threaded joints in lines for supplying cold and hot water, natural or liquefied gas, gasoline and heating antifreeze. The gel has the following unique properties:
- Designed to work with metal surfaces, turning into a dense polymer during solidification - it does not dry out on other materials.
- The material is resistant to pressure drops, temperatures and impacts, resistant to various environments.
- It is smeared from a tube on the surface of a previously degreased part, after application, the excess is removed with a special stick that comes with the kit - it is heated and turned into a brush, rubbing it against a hard surface.
- The operating temperature range of the anaerobic sealant is from -60 to +150 C.
Rice. 8 Anaerobic sealant - application example
Sealants based on acrylic and silicone
A popular type of modern sealing materials is acrylic or silicone sanitary sealant, which is characterized by high plasticity, adhesion to any materials, and versatility. Acrylic sealants bond well to concrete, brick, or wood materials, so they are not often used on plastic main pipes. There are two main types of silicone on the construction market:
Acid. They are inexpensive and quality material, however, contained in them acetic acid leads to the destruction of the metal, so they are of limited use in pipeline systems, they can be used for polypropylene pipes.
Neutral (alkaline). They have a higher price and are suitable for working with any type of material, they are most often used to seal water pipes or metal heating systems.
Rice. 9 Silicone sealant for sewer pipes
Advantages of silicone sealant
The composition of the silicone sealant includes a silicone polymer and additives that increase its strength, adhesion and accelerate the curing time. Basically, silicone is used for internal sealing of joints, its advantage is the following factors:
- High adhesion of the material with metals, plastics, ceramics, glass, enamel, stone.
- The material provides a long-term elastic connection without cracks.
- The temperature range of silicone is from -50 to +180 C., high-temperature domestic varieties are able to work at temperatures up to +260 C. and for a short time up to +350 C.
Pipe Sealant - Selection Guide
The choice of sealants is largely determined by the material of the elements on which it is applied and the type of pipeline - in everyday life it is a plumbing, gas, heating or sewer system.
Rice. 10 Sewer sealant pvc pipes– application
Sealants for sewer pipes
When deciding how to seal a sewer pipe, one should first of all proceed from the material of its manufacture, while several types are considered:
PVC. The PVC sewer pipeline has internal rubber rings at the joints, so it does not need to use any sealants. If it lies underground or in places with loads on the highway, it can be additionally reinforced with bituminous tape.
Ceramics. Due to its high cost and complexity of installation, ceramic sewage is rarely used in households; internal rubber rings are used to seal joints in pipes, so sealant is not required when connecting them. In the event of a leak, it is possible to fill in the sections of the sockets of the sewer pipes with bituminous mastic, use resin impregnated bands or outer tape.
Cast iron. Commonly used for sealing cast iron inexpensive materials having a rigid structure after drying - sulfur, cement, epoxy resin.
Rice. 11 Use of silicone for heating systems
Sealants for heating pipes
The temperature in the pipelines of domestic heating systems rarely exceeds 90 C. Therefore, almost all known sealants can work in it.
When connecting the elements of the heating system, heat-resistant materials are often used - silicone neutral sealant, FUM tape, plumbing thread or flax fiber, anaerobes form a high-quality thread connection.
Sealants for water pipes
In water supply systems, all of the above sealants for heating systems are used, if the pipes are made of plastic, acid silicone can be additionally used.
Rice. 12 Sealants for water lines - application example
How and with what to seal the joint when changing from cast iron to plastic
One of the common problems in the sewerage system is the replacement of outdated cast-iron pipes with plastic ones.
In apartment buildings during overhaul almost always leave a cast-iron wastewater riser, to which a plastic sewer pipe is then attached. During the work, the old one is dismantled cast iron tee and insert a new one made of PVC in its place, dismantling and installation are carried out in the following sequence:
- Remove the old tee. It is held in a cast-iron socket by means of chasing - that is, a recessed tarred linen cord is smeared with cement or filled with sulfur.
- The tee can be cut or notched with a grinder and then smashed with a hammer (this is very dangerous, you can damage the socket) and then gradually remove the remnants of the sealing materials with a chisel, a sharp screwdriver and a hammer.
Rice. 13 Dismantling the cast iron tee
- In the absence of a grinder, sulfur can be melted with a gas burner (while ensuring good ventilation and respiratory protection against sulfur fumes), and then remove the tee by gradually loosening.
- If the chasing is made of cement, it is gradually knocked out with a thin flat screwdriver using a hammer.
- A universal way to clean the bell from chasing can be drilling it with a drill with a thin long drill.
- Clean up the chimney. After removing the old tee, the socket of the hole is cleaned of dirt with sharp objects, wire brush and wipe dry.
- They put an adapter ring on the sewer sealant. On inner surface sealant is applied to the cast-iron socket and a rubber adapter is inserted (make sure that it fits snugly against the socket), after which a plastic tee is easily attached to it.
Rice. 14 Connection of plastic and cast iron water pipes
Modern materials make it possible to ensure high tightness of pipe and fitting connections in sewer, water, heating and gas mains used in household. Household sewers do not usually need sealing materials − sewer pipes have a tight rubber ring connection, in case of leaks or for insurance, inexpensive silicone sealant is most often used.
Mounting new system heating, changing batteries or re-sealing threaded connections in the heating system before starting heating season, give a couple of minutes of your attention to what materials the specialist will use in his work and how he will seal, for example, a pipe leading to the heating system of your home. Why is it important?
If you are ready for all these risks, then you can continue to use flax, paint and in the old fashioned way. However, the use of FUM tape or flax has long been replaced by safer, more reliable and durable methods of sealing mounting units and heating pipe systems. These are modern thread sealants - anaerobic gels and polymer threads, which are great 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.
You can buy modern seals at the best prices on our website in the section.
There are no ideally installed heating systems, and therefore, sooner or later it is found that the coolant is leaking. Sealants for heating systems are capable of eliminating leaks. The polymeric substances included in their composition are suitable for sealing gaps in the joints of pipes, radiators and even boilers. We propose to consider the advantages of liquid sealant for heating in comparison with conventional sealants, as well as the rules for its use.
Types of sealants
In today's everyday life, a large number of products with sealing properties are used.
In my own way chemical composition sealants are divided into the following main types:
- acrylic- unsteady, do not tolerate temperature changes;
- polyurethane- elastic, have high adhesion to metals, resistant to corrosion and temperature;
- silicone- the most common type of universal sealants, retain elasticity and moisture resistance in a wide temperature range, durable.
When sealing leaks in metal elements heating system it is permissible to use silicone sealant only with its neutral variety, but not acidic, since the acetic acid contained in the acid sealant will cause active corrosion of the metal.
Heat-resistant sealant for heating pipes is used in relation to metal and polymeric materials. This tool regularly fulfills its purpose - to prevent the penetration of moisture from damaged elements of the heating system. The sealing substance, which is a viscous mass, quickly hardens at the site of application and subsequently withstands high temperatures.
Anaerobic adhesive sealant is used instead of linen tow and FUM tape to seal threaded joints in modern heating networks. The environmental friendliness of such a sealing agent allows it to be used not only in heating systems, but also in plumbing systems.
Sealant for heating boilers is used to eliminate gaps in places where heat resistance of the material up to 1500 ° C is required.
With the help of this tool, it is possible to close cracks in heat exchangers and chimneys of boilers and furnaces. After hardening in the seams between the surfaces of different materials(metal, brick, concrete) the substance retains its tightness.
The better liquid sealant for heating repairs
To repair heating, it is not always possible to use external agents. What to do, for example, if the place of the leak cannot be found because the house was hidden wiring pipes and equipped with underfloor heating? Do you really have to break the walls and open the floors? No, you don't have to! In such situations, apply relatively new method elimination of leaks - by pouring liquid sealant for heating pipes into the system. Such a sealant is also suitable for radiators when it is not possible to apply a clamp to a leak.
The fundamental difference between liquid sealants for a heating system is their ability to eliminate leaks not by applying to a damaged area from the outside, but directly from the inside.
The essence of this method is that in a mixture with a coolant, the sealant remains liquid, and only when it comes into contact with air penetrating into the system does it polymerize. Gradually hardening, clots of sealant are sealed from the inside of the gap precisely in those places where the integrity of the system is violated.
They produce several types of liquid sealants for heating, each of which is adapted to special conditions applications, in particular:
- the coolant is water or antifreeze;
- gas or solid fuel boiler;
- heating or plumbing pipes.
You should not try to look for one universal sealant for a home heating system. It is better to purchase a specialized composition for the specific parameters of your heating system.
The most famous among consumers are liquid sealants for heating systems produced by the German company BCG. The use of these funds is considered ideal solution to eliminate hidden leaks of the coolant. At correct use liquid sealant does not pose a danger to heating boilers and does not damage the circulation pump and measuring instruments.
Sealant for pipes and radiators must remain in the system long time. Once you add this sealant to the heating system, you can forget about leaks for several years.
Sealants for closed systems heating systems eliminate pressure losses associated only with leaks in pipes and batteries, but are powerless in cases where the membrane in the expansion tank is broken.
Steps to fix leaks with liquid sealant
The procedure for using liquid sealants to repair a home heating system can seem quite complicated. In some cases, clots of sealing fluid cause partial blockage and prevent the movement of the coolant. Therefore, in order not to harm the heating equipment due to your inexperience, it is better to invite a specialist. In any case, you need to study the instructions for using a particular type of sealant for radiators and strictly follow it.
Having decided to use a liquid sealant to fix a problem in the heating system, you need to make sure that:
- the cause of the pressure drop is precisely the leakage of the coolant, and is not associated with a malfunction of the expansion tank;
- the selected type of sealant for heating systems corresponds to the type of coolant in this system;
- the sealant is suitable for this heating boiler.
When using liquid sealant for pipes and radiators, it is important to maintain the correct concentration. On average, its values range from 1:50 to 1:100, but it is desirable to determine the concentration more accurately, since factors such as:
- coolant leakage rate (up to 30 liters per day or more);
- the total volume of water in the heating system.
If the volume does not exceed 80 liters, 1 liter of sealant will be enough to fill the heating system. But how to more accurately calculate the volume of water in the system? It is necessary to calculate how many meters of pipes and what diameter were laid in the house, and then enter this data into any of the online calculators. To the resulting volume of pipelines, you must also add the passport characteristics of the volumes of all radiators and the boiler.
It is possible to drain all the water from the system into a certain container, the volume of which is precisely known, and then refill the system.
Preparing the heating system
- Dismantle or cut off all filters with taps so that they are not clogged with a viscous solution of sealant for heating systems;
- Unscrew the Mayevsky tap from one radiator (the first in the direction of the coolant) and connect a pump to it (such as "Kid");
- Start the heating system and let it warm up for an hour to a temperature of 50–60 ° C at a pressure of at least 1 bar;
- Open all valves on pipelines and radiators for free passage of sealant through them;
- Remove air from the entire system, including radiators and circulation pump.
If you do not completely bleed the air, it will begin to react with the sealant and cause it to thicken at all in the wrong places where it is necessary to eliminate the leak.
Sealant preparation
Sealant solutions for heating systems must be prepared immediately before use so that the liquid does not come into contact with atmospheric air for too long.
Pouring sealant
Liquid sealant for heating systems must have time to mix with the coolant before it reaches the boiler, so it is more expedient to fill it into the supply:
- Introduce a solution of liquid sealant into the system using a pump;
- Pump the remaining hot water through the pump so that absolutely all of the sealant residue enters the system;
- Release the air from the system again;
- Raise the pressure to 1.2–1.5 bar and maintain the system operating cycle for 7–8 hours at a temperature of 45–60°C. This period is needed for the complete dissolution of the sealant in the coolant.
The operation of the heating equipment must not be stopped for several days until the polymerization of the liquid sealant for heating is completed.
How does the sealing effect work?
The liquidation of the leak should not be expected immediately, but only on the 3rd or 4th day. During this time, the sealant for heating pipes will condense and close the cracks in problem areas from the inside. Eliminating the problem of coolant leakage will manifest itself in the fact that the sound of falling drops of liquid will no longer be heard in the house, the moist places on the floor will dry out, and the pressure in the system will no longer decrease.
At the same time, one of the negative effects may be a slight blockage of passages in devices for distributing the flow of coolant, as well as in thermostats. But this problem can be easily solved by periodically opening and then bringing into position such regulators in order to prevent them from further sticking.
When working with liquid heating sealant, the same strict precautions must be observed as are prescribed for working with any kind of chemicals!
The video lesson will help you understand how to fix a leak in the heating system yourself using a liquid sealant.
Based on the foregoing, you can be sure that the liquid sealant is undoubtedly worth it to use it to eliminate leaks in the heating system. Even though its price "bites". However, it should be understood that the hidden installation of heating pipes is not only a convenience, but also a certain risk, for which you sometimes have to pay.
Usually, with the correct and high-quality installation of heating systems, a substance such as a sealant for a home heating system is used. Such substances belong to the category of vulcanizable. These are polymer components that serve to seal joints between surfaces.
Sealants for home heating system
Types of sealants
To date, the highest quality and most common is a universal heat-resistant sealant for heating pipes. Usually, the owners of heating systems use it, since this substance has all the necessary qualities for an insulating material. It is also used in everyday life and in industry. This is a viscous mass that can withstand high temperatures and quickly hardens.
Silicone sealant is also common. It is resistant to moisture and mold, as well as to temperature extremes. Such a sealant is often used in everyday life to seal the seams of various surfaces.
Less common types are urethane and polysulfide sealants for home heating systems. But such sealants may not be used everywhere, so you need to carefully study their characteristics and capabilities before use.
Very often you can find the use of such a sealant as heat-resistant. Such a sealant is able to penetrate even those gaps that are hard to reach.
Also, this sealant has increased ductility and excellent elasticity. Heat-resistant sealant for the heating system is used to glue metal, rubber and other materials. The main task of this substance is that it protects individual elements heating system from moisture.
Heat Resistant Sealant
The quality of the heat-resistant sealant is monitored by specialists who constantly test it, checking for strength and extensibility. That is why such a sealant perfectly fulfills the functions assigned to it, it is resistant to various factors - sunlight, water, and it is practical and easy to use.
We also note that heat-resistant sealant is currently produced in a wide range of colors and by a variety of manufacturers.
Of course, it is better to give preference to proven brands that guarantee quality.
How to choose a sealant for heating?
Chimney Sealant
The main criterion for choosing a sealant for heating systems is resistance to deformation. A good option– silicone sealant for the heating system (acidic or neutral). If you purchase an acrylic sealant, then only one that will be resistant to high temperatures.
There are sealants that can withstand temperatures above 1000 degrees Celsius. They are commonly used to seal targets and cracks in fireplaces, around chimneys and pipes.
Do not try to use one universal sealant for everything. It is better if these are specialized formulations for specific materials.
Fixing leaks in the heating system
Many owners of heating systems will sooner or later find out what a leak problem is. Using a sealant for heating, you can easily get rid of it.
First you need to fill the system with water as much as possible, remove all air from it and warm it up to operating temperature. Mud and other filters are preliminarily removed. The sealant must be mixed well until smooth and poured into a container convenient for you. The volume of water that corresponds to the volume of sealant must be drained from the system. The sealant must be pumped into the system using a pump that is connected to any available inlet to the system. The pump hose is connected, then the valve opens and the pump turns on. After pumping the sealant, the system must work for at least 7 hours with a temperature of 45-60 degrees Celsius and a pressure of 1.1-1.6 bar.
Remember that when working with a substance such as liquid heating sealant, you must follow all the safety precautions that are standard for working with chemicals. If suddenly this substance gets into your eyes or on your skin, then wash it off with plenty of water. If the sealant gets inside - rinse your mouth and drink plenty of water, then call a doctor! Do not store sealant near acid.
