Heating System for a Country House

First of all, it should be noted that any house can be heated, the only question is the cost to the owner. Many houses with poorly designed heating systems, un-insulated walls, and roofs have been heating their interiors for years. While indoor temperatures can be maintained at a comfortable +24°C, monthly energy costs may differ by 6–10 times compared to those for a well-designed home with modern heating technology.

Before installing a heating system, it’s essential to decide on the energy source: gas or electricity. In most regions of our country, homes are heated with gas, as it is currently the most cost-effective option (compared to solid fuels or electricity). The core component of such a system is a two-circuit wall-mounted or floor-standing gas boiler. Heat transfer fluid circulates through reinforced polypropylene pipes.

Choosing the Right Heating System Design

When selecting a boiler, consider the balance between reliability, price, and output capacity. For a country house of 100–130 m², a 19 kW economical boiler is usually sufficient. However, for homes closer to 160 m² or larger, a more expensive 24 kW unit may be required.

The second key decision is whether an additional circulation pump is needed. Why 'additional'? Because most modern boilers already include an integrated circulation pump to move the heat transfer fluid through the system.

An extra pump may be necessary in homes with more than two floors. The built-in pump may not be powerful enough to lift fluid to heights of 10 meters or more. As a supplementary solution, it’s recommended to periodically integrate short sections of smaller-diameter pipe into the main line and reduce pipe diameter before radiators.

Heating Radiators

The market offers a wide variety of radiator types and brands, differing not only in design and price but also in the alloy composition used in manufacturing. Before choosing a model, remember that radiators are the primary heat-emitting components of the entire heating system—this is their fundamental purpose. Therefore, a high-quality radiator should not be inexpensive.

As in many other cases, the final price includes material cost, manufacturing process, labor, logistics, and the manufacturer’s profit. Since profit margins are similar for both reputable and generic (‘no name’) brands, price differences often stem from cost-cutting on materials or production methods. For the end user, such 'economy' can turn into serious problems during cold winter months—leaks and pressure loss leading to boiler lockout are common issues among those who cut corners on radiator quality.

Bimetallic radiators are recommended when the heating system uses water from a central water supply, where impurities and metals may be present. However, if the heating system is supplied from a private well with known water chemistry, aluminum radiators can be safely used without corrosion risks.

In terms of heat output, steel radiators are the top performers. Due to steel’s thermal conductivity being three times higher than aluminum’s, the heat emission of finished radiators increases by about 30%. Compared to standard radiators, using steel sections allows for:

• reducing the heat transfer fluid temperature,
• reducing the number of sections per module for the same heating area.

Before installing a heating system in a country house, it’s crucial to carefully plan every detail during the design phase. A thoughtful approach ensures comfortable indoor temperatures throughout winter and prevents unnecessary operational expenses.