Heating systems are complex systems that aim to provide an optimal microclimate in every room. They consist of many elements with different functions, the basic ones of which are: a boiler - the heat source - and pipes that distribute this heat throughout the apartment. To guarantee the best heating efficiency, it is worth using technologies that hydraulically balance heating systems. They always come to the rescue when the installer does not have an exact heating system design. Learn more about the ALPHA 2 and ALPHA 3 systems from Grundfos!
What should you remember when installing a heating system?
When installing or modernizing heating systems, the installer aims to provide household members with thermal comfort with the lowest possible energy consumption. Achieving the optimal proportion may be difficult due to the lack of an installation design. In such a case, it is difficult to assess pressure losses in the heating circuits and the required amount of heating medium that should be supplied to the radiators.
Inadequate distribution of heating fluid results in uneven heating of rooms and, as a result, unnecessary losses. This applies to up to 80% of all central heating installations! The causes of the problem may be different - from irregularities at the level of assembly or operation, to the lack of a hydraulic balancing mechanism.
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Technologies that hydraulically balance heating installations not only translate into heat savings or reduced electricity consumption, but above all guarantee an optimal microclimate in all rooms. The temperature level has a decisive influence on the health, well-being and work efficiency of the apartment's residents. Unique Grundfos technologies can take care of this.
ALPHA2 and ALPHA3 system - an innovative solution from Grundfos
ALPHA2 and ALPHA3 systems are technologies designed for hydraulic balancing of heating systems of all types - underfloor heating, central radiator heating, as well as mixed installations. This type of solution allows for quick and precise balancing of the heating fluid distribution, based on its actual flows and pressure losses in all circuits.
What does a hydraulic balancing system consist of?
Depending on the selected variant, the pumps communicate in different ways with the GO Balance application, which is used to control them remotely.
The ALPHA2 system includes the E model pump and an additional ALPHA Reader communication module. The Grundfos GO Balance app can be downloaded to your smartphone for free. The values of heating water flow and pressure loss are transmitted by optical signal from the pump to the aforementioned module, and from there - via Bluetooth - to the mobile device.
ALPHA3 pumps are the B model, equipped with a direct communication function with the GO Balance application. An additional module is therefore unnecessary in this case. GO Remote technology allows remote control of the pump.
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What constitutes the balancing process?
The hydraulic balancing process, which is carried out by modern Grundfos devices, includes 5 stages .
- To optimize your home heating, you need to configure the system. To do this, download the Grundfos GO Balance app and install and activate the communication module, which should be on the ALPHA2 pump. This step is much less complicated in the case of the ALPHA3 system.
- The next step is to enter the data and settings for the installation and layout of the rooms in the house. The device must find out what the area of all the rooms is, what type and size the radiators are (or loops - in the case of underfloor heating), and what the operating parameters of the heating are (for example, the temperature of the heating water supply).
- Once the devices are configured, a zero flow measurement should be carried out. This is done with closed circuits, in all circuits or heating loops (underfloor heating).
- The penultimate stage of the process is the proper balancing of the heating system. This is achieved by adjusting the pre-setting on the thermostatic valve or the control valve on the manifold beam. The indicator in the mobile application will inform you about the optimal setting. It should be in the green area, which will be additionally signaled acoustically.
- Finally, the correct pump settings and configuration of its optimal operating mode are included in a report, which also includes data on the installer and the owner of the system. The document can be sent to the end user by email.
Benefits of using the ALPHA3 system
Heating installations can benefit greatly from hydraulic balancing systems. Solutions of this type generate savings of 15 percent and are of great importance for the health and well-being of the tenants. But what is the advantage of ALPHA3 pumps over other products in this segment?
The ALPHA3 by Grundfos is the first home circulation pump fully integrated with a mobile app. As a result, all information about the device's operation and its function settings are available from the phone. This allows, among other things, the configuration of the weekly pump schedule, depending on the user's needs.
Unlike the ALPHA2 pump, it is not necessary to install an additional communication module, as the device sends a direct signal to the application during hydraulic balancing. Installation and operation are therefore much easier.
The ALPHA3 pump is equipped with an automatic air venting function, as well as an auto-adaptive function for all heating systems - underfloor heating, radiator and hybrid.
The Grundfos GO Balance app itself is also worth mentioning. Thanks to its intuitive interface, it guides the user step by step through the hydronic balancing process and enables convenient control of all pump functions. It informs about the actual required flow values for each radiator in the system, which makes it easier to maintain an optimal temperature throughout the house. The app also provides access to Grundfos online tools. You can download it for free from Google Play or the App Store.
Trust Grundfos solutions!
Grundfos is the world's largest pump manufacturer. Its devices are reliable and provide the best-in-class energy efficiency. When installing or modernizing heating systems, it is worth trusting proven solutions that facilitate the use of heating and translate into real savings.
Check out the Grundfos brand and choose the products that fit your heating system. If you have any questions, please contact us by phone!