Painting hot radiators - is it possible to update radiators during the heating season? Painting heating radiators: types of enamels and recommendations for application The best way to paint heating radiators
During operation of the heating system, it may be necessary to paint the batteries. The quality of the work performed determines the appearance and durability of the heating device. Therefore, it is important for users to know how to paint a heating radiator with their own hands.
Paint selection
Taking into account the specific operating conditions of radiators, the paint coating is subject to special requirements of the following nature:
- high temperature resistance. The coating must be designed for continuous operation at a temperature of 80-90 degrees;
- color stability. The coating must retain its original color for a long period;
- high protective qualities. It is necessary to choose paints that provide effective protection against corrosion;
- good adhesion. The paint should adhere well to the metal surface and not peel off during operation of the radiator;
- high strength and wear resistance of the created coating;
- safety. When heated, the coating should not release toxic substances or foreign odors into the air.
Modern acrylic paints best meet all these requirements.
Dyeing technology
Before painting the heating radiator, it must be cleaned of the old coating. This can be done manually using a wire brush. You can also use a grinder with special attachments. Another option is to use special chemicals. For example, it is convenient to use aerosols, under the influence of which old paint easily peels off. After removing the paint, it is also necessary to get rid of rust, dirt, and thoroughly degrease the surface.
The cleaned surface must be thoroughly primed. To do this, select a primer recommended for use in conjunction with the selected paint.
After this, you can proceed directly to coloring. At least two brushes are used. One regular brush is used to paint external surfaces. The second brush should have a long curved handle. It easily penetrates into hard-to-reach places, so it is convenient for painting inside the radiator fins. Before use, you need to fluff the bristles of the brushes, which will help get rid of loose hairs. First, the internal surfaces are painted, and then the external ones. In this case, painting is done from top to bottom, which helps prevent the formation of streaks and drops. The radiator must be painted in two layers. In this case, the second layer is applied only after the first has completely dried.
Painting bimetallic and aluminum radiators
They are already produced with a paint and varnish coating. It is applied using powder coating at the factory. This coating is characterized by high protective properties, mechanical strength, wear resistance, and temperature resistance. Thanks to this, these radiators do not require painting during operation.
The exception is cases of mechanical damage to the radiator coating during transportation, installation, or operation. You can use automotive putty to remove chips and scratches. It is also best to paint damaged areas with auto enamel, the quality of which is comparable to the quality of the “native” coating. It is convenient to use aerosol cans for application. It should be taken into account that car enamel dries better and faster on hot radiators.
If you need to completely repaint an aluminum or bimetallic battery, then this does not require removing the old coating. The surface must be degreased and coated with a primer. After this, you need to apply two layers of paint of the appropriate color with a spray gun. Water-based or alkyd paint is best.
Heating radiators are an integral part of almost any home, and their harmonious combination with the interior is observed in cases where these relatively new elements of the heating system are coated with suitable paint. This article will describe in detail what paints exist for heating systems, and how to choose the most suitable option.
Need to update
The service life of radiators made of cast iron or aluminum can exceed 50 years, but if the paint on old radiators in an apartment or kitchen has faded over time and began to swell, then in such an unpresentable form they clearly attract attention and can hardly be considered a home decoration.
Solving the problem by replacing batteries due to the considerable cost of this method can hardly be considered the best option. And repainting the radiators can be a completely acceptable way out of the situation.
There are several factors to take into account:
- Not all types of heating radiators can be painted on your own at home. Often, especially if the dye is chosen incorrectly, it will either quickly turn yellow or peel off soon.
- Batteries, as you know, are made of cast iron, aluminum, steel, or can be bimetallic. In principle, painting cast iron radiators does not cause problems. Here everything depends only on the right choice of paint for this purpose. But in the case of aluminum radiators, convectors or batteries made of stainless steel, the situation looks different.
Such elements of the heating system are powder painted at the manufacturer, followed by heat treatment.
Therefore, applying a new layer of paint over the factory paint coating at home becomes a serious problem.
- The vast majority of manufacturers of heating radiators not made of cast iron consider attempts to unauthorizedly paint batteries as a violation of the factory warranty by the consumer.
- After drying, enamel dyes cover the products with a durable and monolithic layer, completely eliminating the penetration of air to the metal surface. If oxygen does gain at least slight access through the paint layer, then the protection of the metal product from corrosion should be called into question, whereas precisely the protective functions in most cases are the main reason for the painting of radiators.
- It is curious that the passports for all heating batteries contain a categorical prohibition that does not allow painting over the air outlet hole on the automatic air vent. That is, if you apply paint to this hole, then if necessary, it will be almost impossible to bleed air from the heating system. This circumstance must be taken into account when performing painting work.
- Aluminum and stainless steel radiators are painted in the factory with powder dyes, which, after application, are subjected to heat treatment at high temperatures in special boxes. It is clear that creating such technological conditions at home is not possible. Conventional oil and other dyes, due to their low adhesion on aluminum and steel surfaces, will not last long.
- Reliable painting of aluminum requires special equipment for this purpose, as well as the use of epoxy primers and enamels, which is very expensive. In addition, deviations from the technology will inevitably lead to peeling of the newly applied coating. There is also a method of anodic oxidation, but it is associated with significant technological difficulties and requires certain knowledge.
- If the consumer has successful experience in painting a car body and paint materials suitable for the task, then you can try to paint aluminum batteries. But otherwise it is better to abandon this idea. In this case, it is more advisable to buy new heating elements, or cover the peeling products with a decorative screen.
- A special point are steel convectors. They are equipped with frequent fins made of steel plates strung on a pair of pipes - the so-called “comb”. If you try to paint these plate fins, you will have the undesirable effect of a sharp decrease in heat transfer. It is also impossible to reach the pipes themselves with a narrow brush. Therefore, it is better to avoid painting these surfaces.
Such radiators are usually equipped with iron shutters and side screens. These elements not only can, but also need to be painted, and ordinary heat-resistant dyes are quite suitable for this purpose.
Composition selection
Painting composite compositions intended for coating heating radiators are somewhat different in their technical parameters from conventional dyes. Therefore, when choosing them, one should take into account their basic physical, technical and operational characteristics in accordance with the recommendations of specialists.
The main criterion for this choice is the heat resistance of the dye. Therefore, to paint heating system elements, you should purchase paints and varnishes that can withstand temperatures up to +80°C, and for heating radiators this figure should exceed +100°C. Such dyes are indicated by special markings.
In addition, the paint layer must have a sufficiently high thermal conductivity so as not to reduce the heat transfer from the heating elements. At the same time, such paint should be highly wear-resistant, without releasing toxic substances into the air during heating. Hence the need arises to study the composition of the dye when purchasing and confirm its compliance with accepted technical standards and environmental safety requirements adopted in European countries. This applies to imported paint from European manufacturers.
If a domestic product is purchased, the manufacturer must focus on the norms of state standards in force in Russia.
It is advisable to purchase quick-drying paint, because this property of the dye always significantly speeds up the painting work, because it is usually customary to apply the dye in two layers.
The anti-corrosion properties of the dye are designed to protect the surfaces of radiators from external aggressive influences. This is usually taken into account during the production of compositions for painting metal surfaces.
Some paints emit strong and unpleasant odors until they dry completely., therefore it is better to choose such dyes only for work in thoroughly ventilated areas. In all other cases, it is better to give preference to odorless paints.
Another aspect of choosing radiator paint is its moisture resistance, which is necessary for wet cleaning using detergents.
To paint batteries, radiators and heating circuit pipes, dyes are used on various bases, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Heat-resistant paints include oil, alkyd, acrylic, silicone and powder dyes.
Oil paints are made from various types of organic oils. Until recently, oil dyes were practically the only alternative composite option for painting radiators. These paints are very opaque and are capable of creating a dense and fairly durable layer on a metal surface, resistant to various types of mechanical stress and high temperatures.
However, these dyes have a very unpleasant specific odor, which not only accompanies the process of painting and drying surfaces coated with such paint, but can also appear when exposed to strong heat during battery operation. In addition, they form a rather dense paint layer on radiators, which significantly reduces the useful heat transfer of their sections.
The application of an oil-based composition, unlike other dyes, does not always occur in a uniform layer, and if it is thick, the coating layer cracks and peels off during use. Over time, surfaces treated with it lose their original shine and turn yellow.
Oil-based paint coatings are not able to effectively protect metal from corrosion, which manifests itself in the appearance of rust on the surface of batteries. In addition, oil paint has the longest period of complete drying, and during its application it is rarely possible to avoid the appearance of smudges.
Thus, with the exception of affordable cost, oil paints can hardly be considered the best option for painting heating radiators.
Alkyd heat-resistant dyes contain pigment dispersions and special additives, the solvent for which is pentaphthalic or glypthal varnish. Their popularity among consumers is due to a number of advantages, including reliable protection of radiator surfaces from negative external factors and giving these surfaces a neat and aesthetic appearance.
Almost all enamels of the alkyd group perfectly withstand the high temperatures that arise in the heating circuit. The surface covered with them is characterized by ideal smoothness and even gloss; the paint layer does not turn yellow over time and does not peel off.
Alkyd enamels are quite wear-resistant and are available in a variety of colors– from the traditional white color for heating radiators to red and black paint. This, if desired, allows you to choose the desired color for any interior of the room. But, despite all the above advantages, such compositions, which include white spirit, emit an unpleasant, pungent odor, which not only persists for the first few days after painting, but can also appear for some time when the radiators are significantly heated.
The period of painting work with alkyd enamels can last several days due to the rather long waiting time for each layer to completely dry. There is an aerosol form of alkyd enamels, which is a coloring spray in cans.
Acrylic enamels have found wide application in the field of painting elements of heating systems. A dried layer of this paint gives the surface a perfectly smooth and even appearance, a bit like plastic in appearance. A significant advantage of acrylic paints is their almost complete absence of odor during painting and during operation of heating systems.
When purchasing acrylic dye, you should pay attention to the manufacturer of the composition and its purpose indicated on the packaging. There you should also study the temperature at which the paint is able to function effectively, since not all types of acrylic paint composites can withstand even +80 ºС and higher temperatures.
Acrylic paints are characterized by their ability to dry quickly. The setting and complete drying time of such dyes, indicated in the instructions for their use, can take from 10 minutes to 1.5 hours for the first stage and about 5 hours until the final readiness of one applied layer. To obtain a high-quality coating, it is necessary to protect freshly painted radiators from exposure to moisture throughout the entire time the paint dries.
Acrylic coloring solutions have a consistency similar to medium-thick sour cream, do not spread and do not leave streaks when working with them.
To obtain the desired effect, acrylic paint should be applied to a previously cleaned and primed surface in two layers.
A significant disadvantage of acrylic composites is their low resistance to external mechanical and abrasive influences.
High-quality silicone composites are able to maintain their working properties even when the radiator surface is heated to the highest temperatures that can occur in the heating system. These paints are based on silicone resin, which is mixed with aqueous or organic solvents. After the layer dries, the silicone dye acquires a semi-matte shine.
It is allowed to apply silicone paints to unprepared metal surfaces. Their durability is due to their resistance to mechanical stress and abrasive loads, and the only significant drawback of paints of this type for radiators is their high cost. Therefore, in comparison with other formulations, they are not so popular among consumers.
Powder paints consist of a special pigmenting powder with special binding additives. This type of heating radiator coating is the strongest and most durable. However, its use in apartment conditions with self-dyeing is not possible, since the technological process of applying such dyes requires special expensive equipment for this purpose and a constant voltage source. In the process of applying such a composition, the powder must be given a positive charge, and the surface it covers must be given a negative charge.
The painting procedure can only be carried out in a special chamber, where, after applying the coloring composition, a certain temperature regime is created for it to dry. The process of polymerization of powder dye on the surface of the radiator should take place at a temperature of +150 - +170 degrees Celsius, which depends on the type of composition.
All this, naturally, cannot be done at home and is purely a production process. The only place where radiators can be painted using powder technology is a body shop that has a set of equipment for painting cars with powder enamels.
Features of battery coloring
It is quite natural to consider the optimal moment for painting batteries to be the time of general repairs in the apartment. It is customary to carry out such repairs, and therefore paint the batteries, immediately after the end of the heating season or in the summer.
If you try to paint warm or hot radiators during the heating season, you will need to close the inlet valve or the radiator thermal head and wait for it to cool.
Painting a hot battery when the heating is on causes the dye to drip and be distributed over the surface in stripes, an uneven layer with wrinkling of the surface film of the paint layer due to the rapid drying of the solvent. This effect is especially pronounced when using water-based paint, when the paint layer swells on the surfaces of hot old radiators.
If painting still needs to be done in winter, and turning off the heating is not possible, then to minimize defects the paint should be applied in a very thin layer. It is well known that when painting over a hot radiator, the smell of paint inside the room will be much stronger, and opening windows for ventilation in the cold season is problematic due to the temperature outside.
Even the oldest and most dried paint coating is in most cases monolithically adhered to the base. Therefore, it is enough to just lightly sand the surface with sandpaper for stable adhesion when applying the next fresh paint layer.
If metal is visible through the old, worn and peeling coating, then the grinding of such a radiator should be more thorough so that after applying a new layer of paint no chips or irregularities are visible from under it.
In the case of a completely rusty coating, peeling off large areas, from under which rust is visible in places, it must be removed completely using a metal brush and special washing-off preparations. You should also prime the surface prepared in this way before applying the first layer of paintwork to it.
In addition, you can simply restore old paint by applying a fancy pattern to it instead of uniform coloring after preliminary sanding and priming.
If an aluminum radiator set is installed in the room, then in this case it is more advisable to buy new aluminum heating elements or cover the peeling products with a decorative screen.
Preparatory activities
The quality of battery painting directly depends on the correct preparation of their surfaces. The preparatory work stage takes a much longer time interval than the painting itself.
The preparatory stage begins with thoroughly cleaning the surfaces of the radiators. Their sections must be cleaned manually with sandpaper and a brush equipped with metal bristles or mechanically using an electric drill with a brush attachment.
Using these methods, the old paint layer is removed, and places where rust is observed are cleaned until a metallic sheen appears. Accumulations of dust and dirt are wiped off with a wet cloth, and remnants of old paint should be removed with spatulas and special cleaning solutions. Such solutions are applied to the surfaces of radiators and covered with a film to soften them.
For rusty areas, use a corrosion inhibitor.
After this treatment, the paint is easily removed using a spatula, a grinder or a metal brush on a drill. It is advisable to protect your hands with construction gloves, and your respiratory tract with a gauze bandage or a respirator. Then it is necessary to sand the surface of the radiator with sandpaper and degrease it with white spirit or any solution with a slightly alkaline reaction. A 1% solution of ammonia, soda or household detergents is suitable.
Next, the surface, well cleaned in this way, is coated with an anti-corrosion primer. It is designed not only to protect the metal from corrosion, but also serves to enhance the adhesion of paint to the surface of the radiator. The best option for this is an alkyd-based primer composite.
The choice of primer should be based on the purchase of an anti-corrosion composition, which is usually indicated on its can. Otherwise, if you prime the surfaces to be painted with another composite, new rust is very likely to appear after some time.
Modern manufacturers of building materials offer consumers a wide selection of dyes, which already include a primer and a rust converter. Their advantage is that their application to heating system elements does not require preliminary preparation of the base.
Calculation of the amount of paint
On the packaging of the dye, its manufacturers almost always indicate its average consumption per 1 m2. Everything looks quite simple if you need to paint, for example, the front part of a panel heating radiator. In this case, to calculate paint consumption, it is enough to determine the area of the surface to be painted.
The situation is different if the goal is to paint cast iron “accordions”. consisting of several sections.
The technical specifications of heating radiators often indicate their total area, which, if desired, can also be found on the Internet. There you can also find special calculators that allow you to calculate the rate of dye consumption with the necessary accuracy and speed.
Typically, such calculators take into account the parameters of cast iron batteries, the most common series are “MS” and “ChM”. It is also possible to simultaneously calculate additional material consumption if there is a need to paint pipes adjacent to the radiator and other elements of the heating system.
Paint consumption in these cases is taken using the averaging method for its main types, that is, for oil, alkyd, acrylic and silicone dyes.
The approximate consumption per unit area for different brands of coloring composites, despite some differences, is approximately the same.
Coloring stages
Thus, the essence of the process of painting heating radiators is to thoroughly clean their surfaces of old paint and treat rusty areas with a corrosion inhibitor, sand the radiator surface with sandpaper and degrease it.
At the end of the preparatory stage, the cleaned surface is coated with an anti-corrosion primer. The best option for this purpose is an alkyd-based primer composite. After the primer layer has set and hardened, the heating devices are painted with the dye chosen for this purpose.
Taking into account the above-described properties of various dyes and using simple materials and the most common tools, such work can be easily done with your own hands.
The choice of paint and varnish coating for a heating system is a fairly pressing and undoubtedly important issue. The paint must meet the objectives: withstand high temperatures, maintain gloss for a long time and not peel off. But this is its functional and aesthetic load. But the question of which odorless paint for radiators and how to paint them sometimes remains open. An educational excursion into the world of paints and varnishes will help you figure it out.
Which one is better to choose?
The choice of paint for the heating system of an apartment or house is closely related to the material from which the batteries are made. Each type has certain properties that are friendly to the paintwork or conflict with it. The main types of materials used for the production of radiators:
- cast iron;
- bimetal;
- steel;
- aluminum.
For painting heating radiators, the manufacturer market offers a wide range of types and a rich palette of coatings:
| № | Types of paints and varnishes | Kinds paintable radiators |
Advantages | Flaws | Firm- manufacturer |
| 1 | Oil paint | Cast iron |
Wide color palette |
It takes a long time to dry, has a persistent odor, quickly fades, cracks, and loses its shine. | "Tikkurila" etc. |
| 2 | Serebryanka | Cast iron | Excellent high temperature resistance | Persistent odor | “Lakra”, “Gloss”, etc. |
| 3 | Silicate paint | Cast iron | Designed for high temperatures | Long lasting odor | “Nevbytkhim”, “Ceresit”, etc. |
| 4 | Powder paint | Any kind | Durability, resistance to damage and high temperatures | Coloring in professional cameras | "Triton", "Ral", etc. |
| 5 | Alkyd enamel based on organic solvents | Cast iron, steel, bimetal | Wide range of applications | Characteristic odor, color varies by pigment | “Olecolor”, “Enamel”, “Tex”, etc. |
| 6 | Water-based alkyd enamel | Any kind | Barely noticeable odor, no loss of color | Titanium white is added to the high-temperature paints of this series, which are not cheap | “Tex”, “Lakra”, “Enamel”, etc. |
| 7 | Alkyd hammer enamel | Cast iron, steel, bimetal | Hides imperfections of the painted coating | There is a slight odor that disappears after drying | “Olecolor”, “Tex”, “Enamel”, etc. |
| 8 | Acrylic enamel | Cast iron, steel, bimetal | Almost no smell, dries quickly, wide range of colors, durability | It is necessary to carefully prepare the surface to be painted: sand, prime | “Lakra”, “Rainbow”, “Tex”, etc. |
| 9 | Spray paint | Any kind | Wide range of colors, ease of dyeing process | Strong smell | "Kudo", "Decorix", "Newton", etc. |
Is it possible to paint hot?
Experts have different opinions on the issue of painting radiators: some argue that they need to be painted to protect them from corrosion. Others counter that applying one or another type of enamel to radiators does not perform any protective function and is purely aesthetic in nature. Another thing is painting pipes in winter, when the radiators are hot.
Paints and varnishes suitable for heating systems and withstanding high temperatures require painting over cold radiators. If radiators are coated with enamel on a hot surface, the paint will dry out “on the fly” and the quality of painting will get out of control: sagging and unsightly spots will appear.
It would not be amiss to remind you that When applied to a hot radiator, the smell of paint will intensify, and opening windows in winter for ventilation is problematic due to the cold.
Important! Consumers most often choose white color for batteries, but experts say that the dark color of radiators contributes to better heat transfer.
Painting process
Before you begin the paint application stage, you need to stock up on the necessary equipment:
- radiator brush (curved, with a long handle);
- regular brush (100 mm wide);
- rubber or silicone gloves;
- respirator (if the paintwork is odorous);
- newspaper (to protect the floor from paint stains);
- sanding sheet No. 2 (if necessary, cleaning batteries from uneven surfaces);
- rag;
- primer;
- dye;
- white spirit (for unexpected contact of paint with the skin).
Sometimes, the preparatory work takes longer than the painting process itself. This is not surprising, because the radiator has a lot of hard-to-reach parts that need to be washed, and in some places peel off the peeling paint and sand it.
Important! If you want to remove the old coating completely, you can use a special remover.
- Prime the prepared surface.
- In order to avoid drips, painting begins from the top of the heating system.
- The internal parts of the batteries are also covered first.
- Layers of paint are applied evenly in a thin layer.
- As the paint and varnish material dries, the radiators are repainted.
Technology of painting over old paint
The condition of the paint on the heating system may vary:
- The coating, although old and faded, has a monolithic adhesion to the base. It is enough to just lightly sand the surface with sandpaper for reliable adhesion of the next layer of paint.
- The old coating has worn out in places, peeled off, and metal is visible in places. Here, more thorough grinding of the surface will be required so that chips and irregularities are not visible under the new layer.
- The paintwork is crusty, peeling off in large areas, and rust appears in places. Such paint must be mercilessly removed with a wire brush or special removers. The prepared surface is primed before applying the first layer of paintwork.
Important! You can simply renew the old paint: apply a fancy pattern to it, after sanding it for better adhesion.
In cans
For the convenience of consumers, paint and varnish manufacturers produce aerosol coatings for radiators. It has excellent properties:
- withstands high temperatures;
- easy and quick to apply;
- dries almost instantly;
- has a pronounced gloss;
- fits perfectly on any surface.
The only negative is the strong smell, but it will disappear in just an hour.
Balloon paint is sprayed onto the surface to be painted from a distance of 30 cm. Movements should be smooth, but fast, zigzag. Depending on the quality of the surface of the heating battery, painting in several layers may be required.
Important! When working with aerosol enamel, it is necessary to cover a large area around the radiator with newspapers, because The skill in painting with spray paint will not come right away.
Having the necessary information about heating radiator coatings, you can get useful advice and learn the features of technologies for using paint and varnish products.
Mechanical damage, natural wear and tear of the paintwork, repair work and the addition of new elements to the system - all this leads to the fact that the radiators in our homes lose their appearance. It is usually impractical to completely replace heating devices - this is a very energy-intensive and financially expensive process. For a budget update, heating radiators resort to painting.
To ensure that the result does not disappoint, it is important to choose the right paint, and then, before applying a new coating, carefully prepare the surface.
The wrong choice of paint, poor preparation, most often ends with the coating quickly wearing away and the battery again requiring renewal.
- Main selection criteria:
- Safety - the absence of dangerous components in the paint that evaporate when heated.
- Heat resistance - the paint must be resistant to thermal stress (80-90°C).
- Resistance to fading and mechanical abrasion determines how long the coating will not require updating.
- Adhesiveness - in other words, the ability of a paintwork composition to firmly adhere to a surface.
Anti-corrosion properties of the paint and varnish coating, i.e. the presence of substances in the paint that protect the radiator from rusting.
Note! A good radiator coating product must meet all of the above criteria. Only a sustainable, safe, easy-to-use product can provide not only visual appeal for a long time, but also keep radiators in working condition. Before painting, it is important to make sure that the paint composition is specifically designed for painting radiators.
The purpose of the paint is noted when labeling. But if for some reason this information is missing, you need to choose heat-resistant dyes.
- Based on their composition, they distinguish between alkyd, oil-based and water-based paints:
- Water-dispersion paint is safe, has low cost and high drying speed. However, this type of paintwork material is short-lived and not resistant to abrasion, therefore, this coating will need to be updated quite often. Acrylic paint also belongs to the dyes of this group, which is distinguished by its resistance to temperature changes and strength in relation to mechanical stress. It is durable, retains its attractive appearance for a long time, and does not fade over time. Using acrylic paints, a durable coating is created that has a rich, bright color, looking like plastic with a slightly shiny tint.
- Alkyd paint is suitable in all respects for use as a coating for radiators: it has a uniform composition and is highly resistant to abrasion. Alkyd paints contain substances that resist corrosion processes. One of the interesting types of alkyd paints is hammer paint. With its help, a coating is created that is distinguished by an uneven surface, reminiscent of embossing in appearance, this allows you to hide unevenness and gives originality. However, the alkyd coating, despite all its advantages, has a persistent unpleasant odor, which takes a long time to dissipate, and sometimes, when the batteries are very hot, appears even after complete drying. The paint dries very slowly and is best used only in areas where there is good ventilation. In addition, the paint does not retain color well and begins to turn yellow over time.
Note! When choosing alkyd paints, it is better to choose a glossy coating compared to a matte one; it is able to retain the color shade about 20% longer and does not give yellowness.
- Other types of paint coatings that are suitable for painting radiators include dyes based on silicate resins and aluminum. If we ignore the only drawback - the strong pungent odor that they emit during the painting and drying process, then this is one of the most stable types of coatings that have excellent adhesion: painting does not require the use of a primer, since the paint itself ensures strong adhesion of the composition to the surface.
- Serebryanka - a mixture of aluminum powder and varnish - is another type of paintwork material that is often used for painting batteries; it can be applied both to the primer and to old paint due to its high adhesiveness.
Let me start with the fact that it is necessary to paint the batteries when the battery is disconnected from the heating system. In theory, it is possible to paint a hot battery, but it is unpleasant and when painting a hot pipe, there is a possibility that the paint will be applied unevenly. Now let's move on to the main thing: is it possible to paint hot batteries?
The main task is to paint the battery evenly. To do this, use brushes or a paint sprayer. Paint Sprayer – Allows you to apply finer paint. It is recommended to paint the lower part of the battery using a brush. Painting should start from the top. After the first coat of paint has dried, apply the finishing coat. Done.
How can you paint a hot battery?
To paint the battery, the following paints are used: alkyd enamel, water-dispersion acrylic paints or polyacrylic enamels with organic solvents. It is necessary to ensure that the paint is resistant to elevated temperatures, i.e. the paint should not crack due to increased temperature.
Alkyd enamels
Alkyd enamel has a uniform coating structure, resistance to elevated temperatures and strength. But alkyd enamel has a very disgusting smell. This is his only drawback.
Water-dispersion paints
These paints are best suited for painting batteries; you just need to choose a special type of paint. After painting, no harmful substances are released, and the paint dries quickly.
Acrylic enamels on organic solvents
The coating has a glossy shine and does not change its color over time. However, during operation an unpleasant odor is released.
Preparing the battery before painting
Before painting the battery, you need to make sure that the steel surface of the heating radiator is perfectly clean. All this is done to ensure that the new paint is in extremely strong contact with the surface of the battery, providing better heat transfer. An unfinished surface will lead to undesirable consequences: cracking of the paint, damage to the coating layer, etc.
Most often, old radiators have an old layer of paint left on them. Such batteries can be used, but only if the battery is not damaged and its surface is cleaned of old paint and rust. To remove the old layer of paint you need to use sandpaper or special solvents. In order to speed up the cleaning process, you can use a hair dryer.
By the way, only after we have finished cleaning the surface of the battery can we start painting.
Of course, buying new radiators is a very expensive proposition. What should owners of old, Soviet cast-iron batteries do? of course, paint them. Thus, you can create your own individual interior. It is best to do painting in the summer, when the heating device is cold and the smell from the paint will disappear faster.
So is it still possible to paint hot batteries? Of course you can, you just need to choose the right paint. Let us mention again - carefully read the label on the jar.
So get down to business with confidence. We hope that our tips will help you in upgrading the radiators in your apartment or house.
Of course, buying new radiators is a very expensive pleasure. What should owners of old, Soviet cast-iron batteries do? of course, paint them. Thus, you can create your own individual interior. It is best to do painting in the summer, when the heating device is cold and the smell from the paint will disappear faster.
What to do if there is an urgent need to repaint hot batteries? This can be done, but the quality of the work will be poor and it will be a troublesome task.
To ensure that the work is done properly and there are no problems in the future, we advise you to take into account some nuances:
There are two methods of processing heating devices: mechanical and chemical.
- The chemical treatment method involves the use of special chemicals that can dissolve the old layer of paint and remove it without much difficulty. Don't forget about safety measures. When working with chemicals, you must wear gloves and safety glasses.
- The mechanical method or “manually” is based on the use of sandpaper, scrapers, and a drill with special attachments.
So is it still possible to paint hot batteries? Of course you can, you just need to choose the right paint. Let us mention again - carefully read the label on the jar.
High-quality paint for painting batteries will cost about three hundred rubles. A good hardware store can do some tinting if you wish. They usually charge fifty rubles for this.
So get down to business with confidence. We hope that our tips will help you in upgrading the radiators in your apartment or house.
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Odorless radiator paint
The paint for painting radiators must withstand high temperatures, i.e. be heat resistant. It is also good if it meets environmental requirements, i.e. does not emit harmful or unpleasant-smelling substances when heated.
The role of paint:
- Giving an aesthetically beautiful look
- Corrosion protection
- Protection from aggressive environmental influences
How to remove old paint from a radiator
Before applying new paint, you need to prepare the surface. To begin with, use a vacuum cleaner to remove large dust; fine dust can be wiped with a damp cloth. Grease stains are easily removed by solvents and dishwashing detergents.
If the old coating is well preserved, does not peel off, does not swell, and no rust stains appear through it, then to simplify and save time, you can simply go over it with sandpaper so that the new layer of paint adheres well to the old one.
If the old paint has a completely unpresentable appearance, then you will have to get rid of it.
You can remove the coating from the battery as follows:
- A drill with an attachment in the form of a stiff brush - a brush
- Solvents - washes
- Sandpaper.
Mechanical means of removing old coating guarantee a large amount of dust, and if used carelessly, they can damage the battery itself.
Paint removal attachments
Chemicals are safer in this regard, but you should work with them in a ventilated area and using protective equipment - gloves, a respirator, goggles, etc. Also, do not smoke or light a fire because solvents are flammable.
Typically, solvents come in the form of a thick liquid or gel. They are applied in an even and not too thin layer evenly over the entire surface of the battery. For application, metal or wooden spatulas or brushes with natural bristles are used. Spatulas made of rubber or plastic will simply dissolve from aggressive chemical exposure.
The gel is left on the surface for the time specified in the instructions, after which it is cleaned off with the same spatula along with pieces of softened paint.
The remaining solvent is washed off with water.
Rust can also be removed by mechanical sanding or corrosion inhibitors. Large gouges or chips should be repaired with putty.
After this, dust and dirt from the old paint should be removed and the battery should be allowed to dry. Next, apply a primer suitable for the given type of metal of the radiator and the selected paint. It contains small sand-like particles, the role of which is to increase the adhesion (adhesion) of the surface to the paint.
There are also paints that already contain substances similar to the primer, which perfectly protect the battery metal from corrosion and adhere well to the surface.
Dyeing process
It is better to paint batteries outside the heating season, then the paint will dry evenly and there will be no smudges, cracks, swelling, etc. If this is not possible, then apply as thin a layer as possible. Ideally, if the battery is not yet installed, or you can remove it to paint everywhere.
Important! All water based paints must be applied over a primer. When applied directly to the metal of the battery, you will have to deal with the rapid appearance of rust through the paint.
To keep the floor clean, you should lay unnecessary cloth or newspapers under the radiator. If the dye is applied from a spray can, you will also have to cover the adjacent surface of the walls with something.
Painting the battery with a brush
For work, it is better to choose brushes with soft bristles; they will create less splashes. A regular old toothbrush will help you get to those hard-to-reach places. To avoid getting dirty on an already painted surface, it is better to first paint the internal parts of the radiator. Paint should be applied from the top of the radiator downwards.
You shouldn’t try to immediately paint the battery evenly in one layer, it’s still unlikely to work. It would be better to use two neat thin layers, because one thick one will take much longer to dry and may leak. The time it takes for the dye layer to dry completely is usually indicated on the packaging. You should not apply the second layer ahead of time; the coating will turn out uneven and sloppy.
Painting can be done not only by hand, but also with a spray gun or from a spray can.
Battery paint in a can
Paint selection
Although conventional paints intended for walls, floors and ceilings are used for heating radiators, this is not the best solution. They are not designed for temperature exposure, and therefore will crack much faster and acquire a yellowish tint.
Heat-resistant paint for radiators
When choosing between matte and glossy paints, you should keep in mind that a shiny coating will greatly attract the eye and highlight all the imperfections and unevenness of the surface. A light matte finish will turn gray over time because dirt will accumulate in the porous structure of the paint.
Although the usual color of batteries is still white, this is rather a tribute to the Soviet past, when the choice of colors was not rich. In fact, white radiators will only look normal if the interior is in light colors. For bright or dark rooms, you should choose a different paint color.
Interesting! The battery can be turned into a noticeable and eye-catching interior detail if you paint it in bright colors, draw patterns or entire pictures.
Painting aluminum radiators
Aluminum batteries themselves have a neat-looking and even finish and do not require additional painting.
Is it possible to paint hot batteries?
If the convection plates of the radiator are located very often, then painting them will significantly reduce the heat transfer of the device.
If their appearance hurts the eye, then it is better to cover them with a screen or force them with furniture. If for some reason these options are not suitable, then the radiators, of course, can be painted. But paints suitable for cast iron batteries will not adhere well to an aluminum surface. Such radiators should only be painted using a spray can. Moreover, this should be done during the heating season, because on cold radiators at room temperature the paint will take a very long time to dry.
Important! It should be noted that most manufacturers of aluminum radiators consider their unauthorized painting to be sufficient reason to terminate warranty service.
Types of paints Alkyd
Alkyd paint for radiators can be organic, silicon-organic or water-based. In the first few hours after application, it has a strong odor, which then disappears completely. With the start of the heating season and appliances heating up, the smell may return briefly.
If you choose white paint, then it is best to purchase one that contains titanium pigment. Options containing chalk, although they will cost significantly less, will quickly turn yellow during use.
Acrylic
Acrylic paints for radiators look and feel very much like plastic. This coating holds up well and is easy to clean. If the acrylic dye is water-based, it will be completely free of unpleasant odor.
Hammer
Hammer enamels allow you to obtain shades of the same color and different texture options. A non-uniform coating will perfectly hide unevenness and other surface imperfections.
Preparation for application and the painting itself will be no different from usual. The only thing that is required is to sand the radiator to create a rough surface.
Water-based
Many people wonder whether it is possible to paint batteries with water-based paint. Of course, it is possible, because... it combines resistance to high temperatures, quick drying and the absence of an unpleasant odor. However, it is significantly inferior in durability to other species.
Powder
The so-called powder coating. The dry mixture is applied from a special gun due to the small difference in electrical potential between the radiator and the powder itself. After application, such paint must be polymerized. Indoors, this can be done using a heat gun, or if the radiator is removed from the wall, it can be placed in the oven. There are also options for powder dye that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet light. However, ordinary sunlight is not enough for this; you need to use an ultraviolet lamp.
Silicate
Paint for batteries based on silicate resins and aluminum is designed to work even with very high temperatures, which in practice do not occur in a heating system. After hardening, the material forms a dense, durable, but plastic layer, due to which no cracks will occur during thermal expansion and contraction of the metal. This paint does not require prior application of a primer and has very high adhesion to the surface. The only disadvantages of this option are the high price and the strong odor that takes a long time to dissipate.
Serebryanka
Silver paint, a mixture of varnish and aluminum powder, has long been used for painting radiators. This paint can withstand high temperatures very well. It should be applied either over a layer of old coating or onto a base in the form of a primer. Since silver oil contains petroleum products among the varnish components, it has a fairly persistent strong odor, i.e. the room will have to be thoroughly ventilated.
Advice! Automotive enamels in cans are very suitable for painting heating appliances, because... They are also designed for strong heating during operation and application to metal surfaces.
Conclusion
What paint to paint the heating radiators is ultimately up to the buyer to decide. You just need to carefully weigh all the advantages and disadvantages of each of the possible options. For a room in which people currently live, quick-drying, odorless radiator paint is better suited.
In a non-residential space, paints that take a long time to dry, but have a longer service life, are also suitable. You should not save on material; it is better to give preference to proven and well-known brands. User reviews, which can be easily found on the Internet, will help you check how well the performance of a particular paint actually corresponds to the declared ones, and decide which paint for batteries is better.
The need to paint heating equipment
Selection of coloring composition
A simple option for painting radiators
The correct method for painting heating appliances
Video
Radiators installed in the heat supply systems of private households, apartments or other real estate properties periodically need painting. How to paint heating radiators with your own hands and with what?
The need to paint heating equipment
Heating appliances need to be painted in only two cases:
- if the old paint on cast iron batteries in use has lost its original color and peeled off;
- if the builders installed convectors in the house from the 90s of the last century, which are a coil of a heating riser with a few pressed-on fin plates.
If painting is required in the second case, then only the decorative screen and the flap swinging from above are subjected to it. There is only one way to paint the inside of a battery with fins between the plates - this is by completely immersing the convector in a container with a coloring composition. But narrowing the gap between them leads to a decrease in heat transfer from the equipment.
Heating devices of a more modern type should not be painted, especially for products with aluminum fins. If you do this, the heat transfer of such a radiator will decrease and its appearance will deteriorate. The fact is that layers of paint applied with a brush are unlikely to turn out perfectly smooth and the result will not be similar to a durable powder composition applied in a factory.
It is advisable to paint plate radiators and other heating devices that have a large frontal surface area made in the form of one panel on the floor in a horizontal position using a spray can or sprayer. As a result of using this method, the paint layer is almost perfect.
However, regardless of the choice of how to beautifully paint batteries, the product will not become better. To fit them into the color scheme of the renovated room, you can use a decorative screen for heating radiators.
Selection of coloring composition
Deciding what to paint heating equipment with depends on the personal preferences of property owners. When you need to choose an odorless composition, then it must be water-soluble.
How to choose paint and paint radiators
All paints produced on the basis of synthetic varnishes smell during the drying process.
Of the commercially available water-based compositions, two types of paints are resistant to abrasion:
Painting compounds that are applied at room temperature to a cold surface of the product will dry within 4 to 8 hours. But they will not be completely resistant to abrasion - as a result, marks will appear on clothes and curtains.
What and how to paint a cast iron battery at home if you need long-term and trouble-free operation? Among paints intended for everyday use, according to experts, the best option is to use domestic alkyd enamels PF-115 or their imported analogues.
These paints are resistant to temperature changes and are intended for use indoors and outdoors. The price of a 2.6 kilogram can is affordable for most consumers.
Another viable option is to use auto enamels. But their application requires an ideal surface, otherwise all irregularities will become clearly visible. Automotive enamels are applied from a can and therefore, if the radiator cannot be removed, then a screen made of hardboard or cardboard is installed between it and the wall.
A simple option for painting radiators
Instructions on how to quickly paint batteries and return them to normal condition depend on the time during which this work must be completed.
You can use a simple method in which:
- The surface of the device is prepared in two stages. First, the layers of the paint composition are heated with a gas burner or a hair dryer, and then removed with a hard spatula and the surface is protected with a metal brush. By the way, sanding a battery for painting with sandpaper is very, very tedious and takes a lot of time.
- Remove rust and dust with a damp cloth.
- Then the paint, diluted to the state of rich milk, is applied in two layers, drying each of them for at least a day.
When painting, you must adhere to several rules:
- There is no need to try to paint the device at once when the paint layer is visible. It is better to spend 24 hours drying and then apply the next layer, otherwise the color will be uneven and sagging will appear. But, if this happens, the defects can be eliminated, for which the surface area must be cleaned again and another thin layer applied on top.
- When you need to paint hot batteries, you should put just a little paint on the brush at a time and quickly rub it in as thin a layer as possible in a well-ventilated room.
If the rules described above are followed, poisoning from the quickly evaporating paint thinner is eliminated and untidy streaks will not appear on the radiator, since the paint composition dries quickly on a hot surface.
The correct method for painting heating appliances
There is a way to paint cast iron batteries, returning them to their original appearance, removing streaks between sections and the shortcomings of the previous painting. The work is carried out as in the previous case - using a brush, applying two thin layers.
The radiator is prepared differently:
- Reset the risers, remove the device and drain the remaining coolant from it.
- Unscrew all blind and through plugs. Remove the washers.
- The radiator is annealed for at least one hour on a fire in the yard. Carrying out annealing with a blowtorch or hairdryer is a tedious and ineffective task.
- The cooled battery is disassembled into sections using a radiator key; after annealing, this will be easy to do.
- Each section is tapped with a mallet. The rust that has accumulated over many years will fall out of it, and eventually the channels inside will be cleaned.
- Sections are cleaned with a wire brush. After annealing, the procedure will be easy and quick.
- The radiator is reassembled using rubber gaskets. They can be made from an old car inner tube with a size slightly smaller than the end of the section. In this case, the compressed gasket will not protrude beyond the edges.
- Next, the battery is mounted, pressurized by simply filling the riser and painted.
The decision of what color to paint the battery is of no small importance for the appearance. The classic option is white or silver. But if desired, the color can be gray-green, brown or any other. As for heat transfer, dark-colored batteries do this best.