TOP 18 ways to clean the inside of heating batteries from dust
The key to a comfortable stay in the house is clean air, free of dust and dirt. General cleaning helps maintain cleanliness. However, not everyone knows that when cleaning do not forget about the batteries, since they are the main generator of polluted air. How easy it is to clean the heating batteries indoors from dust at home: what improvised means that are present in every house can help, and what are the nuances of maintaining radiators.
Reasons and need for cleaning
Why should efforts be made to keep heating appliances clean? Like any object in a living room, radiators are contaminated, not only from the outside, but also from the inside. Dust accumulates on the surface of appliances, which can affect the well-being of residents. In addition to dust, such devices often have oily contamination, which is difficult to remove.
It is necessary to rinse the heating coils thoroughly if:
- the battery heats up unevenly - one part differs in temperature from another, even to the touch;
- the heating time of the apartment has increased compared to previous seasons;
- the radiators are colder than the thermal network;
- for residents of private houses, a characteristic sign of the need for flushing is the fact of an increase in energy resources for heating, provided that the heat transfer is reduced or maintained at the same level.
Contamination of heating batteries occurs due to changes in the quality of the liquid. This fact contributes to the settling of mechanical particles moving with the coolant. After the end of the season, the water is drained and corrosion often begins to develop inside the pipe. When the heating season resumes, under the pressure of hot water, corrosive particles begin to move and settle in the radiator. Over time, there is more and more debris, which can lead to blockages and poor performance. Thus, the lack of cleaning can lead to a decrease in the heat dissipation of the batteries while maintaining the same costs.
Basic methods
There are many ways to remove dust from a battery. You don't need to buy any special tools, most tools are usually available. Cleaning can be done with electrical devices, improvised means, with or without chemicals.
Electrical appliances
The battery can be cleaned thoroughly with electrical devices. It is important to take precautions.
A vacuum
You can use a vacuum cleaner for rinsing. It is advisable to use a narrow nozzle, this will allow you to get into hard-to-reach places. You must first remove all dust and debris from the interior, then treat the exterior. When finished, you can wipe down the radiator with a damp cloth.
hair dryer
To use a hair dryer, you must first place a towel soaked in water or any thick cloth under the radiator. Direct a jet of warm air towards the radiator. Dust will be transferred from the battery to a damp cloth. Not the most efficient way: dirt can remain between the sections, get into the air or the walls, the floor.
Steam generator
The steam generator will resist pollution perfectly (in particular “accordion” type radiators). For cleaning, you will need to direct a jet of hot steam towards the radiator. Such heat treatment will not only effectively remove even old dirt, but also disinfect the surface. Under pressure, steam penetrates narrow and hard-to-reach rooms. To protect the surrounding surfaces from the effects of steam, you can cover them with a cloth or oilcloth. It is also important to know that high steam temperatures can harm the coating: damage the paint.
washing machine vacuum cleaner
A good alternative to a conventional vacuum cleaner. Perfectly resistant even to heavy soiling. Cleaning should start from the inside and then work outward. The mop vacuum, thanks to the aquafilter, is able to prevent the spread of dust throughout the room.
Improvised means
You can qualitatively rinse the inside of the battery from dust with the help of improvised tools that are in every house. The most popular remedies are presented below.
Spray
Before using a spray bottle or field sprayer, a basin or any container where water will drain should be placed under the battery. Dissolve a few drops of any detergent in the liquid, spray contaminated areas. Hold for a few minutes.Wipe with a clean cloth.
Window painting brushes
Small brushes, which will probably be able to get between the sections, to remove dirt from hard to reach places. You can use a radiator painting device with an elongated handle and curved bristles. A regular pom pom can also be lengthened with a stick and tape.
Toothbrush
The main difficulty of high-quality cleaning of heating devices is inaccessibility. The toothbrush will perfectly remove dirt in hard-to-reach conditions. You can moisten the bristles in detergent, wrap them in a cloth for more thorough cleaning.
Boiling water
Beforehand, it is necessary to place some kind of container under the battery, for example, a baking sheet or a basin, in order to avoid contamination of the surrounding surfaces. Pour pre-boiled water over the battery from above, not forgetting the side parts. Dusty water will enter the prepared container. Internal dirt can be cleaned in the same way.
Water with a hose
This method will effectively remove different types of dirt. The hose is connected to the faucet. It is important to adjust the pressure - the higher the pressure, the more effective the cleaning. A large container should be placed under the radiator so that the water can drain into it. The method requires precision and care.
foam sponge
The foam sponge will qualitatively remove dust and dirt. Detergents can be added. The sponge can be attached to a stick or brush to increase penetration into the radiator.
Chemical and folk methods
Detergents can be added to the water to increase cleaning efficiency.Before use, you need to make sure that there are no substances in the composition that are contraindicated for the treatment of specific surfaces. Some substances can damage the metal surface. Do not forget about the harmfulness of some components for the human body, for example, phosphate and chlorine. When working with such substances, it is important to use respiratory and skin protection.
Hydrogen peroxide
A good helper in the household is 3% hydrogen peroxide. This well-known substance perfectly cleans and disinfects batteries. For use in 2-3 liters of water, add ¾ bottle. To remove stubborn dirt, you can use pure peroxide by applying the substance directly to the pollution area or a sponge.
lemon acid
With the help of citric acid, you can not only effectively clean the radiator from contamination, but also get rid of an unpleasant smell. Typically, the smell comes from standing water on the surface of the flower fertilizer heater. To prepare a cleaning solution, you need to dissolve 3 teaspoons in a glass of water. citric acid.
Baking soda
You can use regular baking soda to clean the battery. To do this, dissolve 2 tablespoons in 3 liters of water. I. a soda. For greater effect, you can add 1 tbsp. apple cider vinegar and 7 drops of any liquid soap.
Vinegar 9%
Vinegar is poured into a spray bottle for further spraying on the place of pollution, previously cleaned with a damp cloth. After that, the battery should be thoroughly rinsed with water and wiped dry. Vinegar essence mixed with water in a ratio of 1:10 can also be used.When spraying indoors, the windows should be open, the respiratory tract should be better protected with a mask.
Use of special formulations
Effortlessly, in just a few minutes, special cleaning agents will help remove dirt and grease stains. To remove greasy stains, you can use dishwashing detergents, for example, "Fairy", "Pemolux", "MYTH". Before use, it is necessary to dilute the concentrate in water, foam it and wipe the surfaces of the radiator with a brush or sponge. Light contamination lends itself to laundry soap. Complex contaminants can be removed using special household chemicals designed for plumbing and household appliances, for example, "Domestos", "Mole", "Dash". Old stains are removed with stain removers such as Vanish and Antipyatin.
General cleaning of radiators
General cleaning should be done in all corners of the house. Radiators also cannot be avoided. In order for the cleaning to be on a large scale, it is first necessary to remove the liquid from the heating system, dismantle the radiator. It is worth washing the radiator with household or specialized cleaning products. Cleaning can be done at home, in the bathroom.
To prevent damage to the enamel in the bathroom, it is necessary to lay a rag on the bottom, install a mesh in the drain hole to prevent large items of debris from entering the sewer.
All plugs are removed from the cast iron batteries, the inside is filled with hot water. During the first flush, it is recommended to shake the radiator and drain the water and debris. With additional rinsing, special detergents can be added to the water.It is best to leave the radiator with a mixture of water and household chemicals for an hour. Rinsing is carried out until the water becomes light, without admixture of debris, dirt, rust.
Characteristics of aluminum cleaning products
Aluminum is a metal that reacts well with any element. This leads to rapid oxidation of aluminum radiators. The consequences of such processes are the rapid contamination of heating systems, which can lead to radiator failure. Therefore, aluminum structures should be thoroughly cleaned and regularly checked. Cleaning methods are similar to those listed above - you can use high water pressure, special chemicals, professional devices and improvised materials. It is important to remember that aluminum reacts badly to alkalis, positively to acids. This fact should be taken into account when choosing a cleaning agent.
Rules of maintenance and operation
Regular cleaning of all elements will help preserve radiators for a long time. The heater should be cleaned once per heating season, the outer surface of the battery should be wiped regularly. It is recommended to clean the surfaces with water each time the room is cleaned, since dust actively accumulates between the walls of the radiator, gnaws, actively spreads throughout the room, causing allergic reactions. When choosing a way to wash a radiator, you need to carefully read the instructions, take the necessary precautions, select an active substance based on the material of the product.
Heating batteries are an important part of the room, on the cleanliness of which the air quality depends, as well as the quality of heating in the cold season.