How to choose the right paint and paint the heating battery

Heating batteries are an imperceptible element of our house and harmoniously fit into its interior if they are new, shining with fresh paint. But if the batteries are already old, the paint on them has faded and swollen, then in this state they are striking and are unlikely to decorate the house. The problem can be solved by replacing the batteries. But this is expensive and not always justified, so there is another way out - to paint the batteries again. For this purpose, special paint is used for heating radiators. Its purpose is to protect the surface of batteries from corrosion, giving them the desired color, as well as a decent appearance. And if earlier pipelines were painted only in white, then now they are painted in the color that is most suitable for the design of the room. Our article will discuss how to choose paint for heating radiators and how to properly paint them.

Rules for choosing the right paint

The final result depends on the correct choice of paint. Here it is necessary to take into account the requirements for paint for batteries and heating pipes. It:

• high temperature resistance (not less than 100 ° С);
• abrasion resistance;
• resistance to aggressive environments;
• lack of toxicity.

Paints specifically designed for painting heating batteries are of the following types:

1. Acrylic Enamels. Produced in organic solvents, therefore, their drying is accompanied by the release of a characteristic odor of the solvent. But the result is a nice glossy shine that lasts for many years.
2. Alkyd enamels. The surface painted with such a paint is resistant to high temperatures and abrasion. This paint is available in a fairly wide range of colors, it is possible to choose any color you like, so it is very popular among consumers. The disadvantage is an unpleasant odor that persists for several days after painting, but can resume at high temperatures.
3. Waterborne dispersion paints. This choice is considered optimal, because these compounds do not have a specific smell and dry much faster. It is only necessary to pay attention to the marking on the package: for painting heating radiators and pipelines.

There is also oil paint, but recently it has been used little for this purpose, this option has become obsolete. Which paint for radiators is better? Each of them has its pros and cons, so the choice ultimately remains with the consumer.

Paint for heating radiators must be heat-resistant, resistant to abrasion and not contain harmful substances

Preparing batteries for processing

To achieve high-quality coloring of batteries, it is necessary to properly prepare their surface for painting. Preparatory work before painting takes longer in duration than the painting itself.

The preparation of batteries for painting is carried out in the following order:

1. Thoroughly clean the surface before painting: remove the old layer of paint, and places where rust appeared, clean to a metallic luster. Dust and dirt are wiped with a wet rag, and the old paint is removed with a spatula and special washing solutions.
2. Wash solution is applied to the surface of the battery and covered with a film to soften. After that, the paint is easily removed with a spatula, grinder or a metal brush worn on a drill. In this case, it is advisable to put on construction gloves and protect the respiratory tract with a respirator or gauze bandage.
3. Next, the surface of the battery is sanded with sandpaper, then degreased with white spirit or any slightly alkaline solution.
4. An anticorrosion primer is applied to a well-cleaned surface, which will not only protect it from corrosion, but also increase the adhesion of the paint to the surface of the battery. For this, an alkyd-based primer is best suited.

The primer must be chosen one that has anti-corrosion properties (this is usually indicated on the bank), otherwise after a while the rust will appear again. On a well-prepared surface, the paint will lie perfectly.

For painting the battery to be of high quality, it is necessary to carefully prepare its surface - wipe off the old paint, remove rust, wash off dust and dirt

Modern construction stores offer a large selection of paints that already contain a primer and a rust converter. They are convenient in that they are applied to heating batteries without first preparing the base.

Painting process technology

Now we will consider how to paint the heating battery in order to achieve a good result. This must be done with the heating turned off, otherwise in some areas the paint will dry too quickly, will lie in an uneven layer, smudges will appear that look ugly. Of course, there is a special paint on sale that is designed for use on hot radiators, but it can lie unevenly if the heating is not blocked.

Currently, heating batteries are painted in colors that are most suitable for the overall interior design of the room

If there is no other way out and you have to paint the heater during the heating period, then you need to at least cut off the hot water supply yourself or contact the housing department with this request. The temperature on the radiator in this case will significantly decrease.

So, if you have already decided which paint is best to paint the heating batteries, you can proceed directly to the painting process:

1. First of all, you need to take care to protect the floor from pollution by stains of paint. To do this, unnecessary paper or cloth is laid under the batteries.
2. We select small brushes with soft bristles, one of a straight shape, the other of a curved shape to paint hard-to-reach spots.
3. Apply paint first in the upper part of the battery and move towards the bottom. The battery is painted on all sides: first, internal ceilings, then external, to avoid staining of hands and clothes. After drying of the 1st coat of paint, a second coat is applied. You need to remember the rule that two thin layers are better for paint than one thick one. Indeed, only in the first case will a uniform and smooth colorful coating be guaranteed.

The radiator can also be painted with a spray gun or from a spray can.

Coloring the heating battery with heat-resistant spray paint is convenient and quick, while the paint lays down in a thin uniform layer

When using a spray gun, it is recommended to remove the battery so that all hard-to-reach areas can be painted. Painting with a spray can filled with heat-resistant paint is very fast and high quality.Typically, detailed instructions for painting surfaces with a spray can are given on its packaging. The basic rule: performing zigzag movements in the direction from top to bottom at a distance of about 30 cm from the surface to be painted.

Before painting heating batteries, it is important to study the technology of this process, because its observance will ensure an attractive appearance of the heating device and its reliability.