Designed for distributing water through a cold or hot water supply system (cold and hot water) in an apartment, private house, cottage, or country house.
A water comb and a water collector or distribution manifold are the same device, they are just called differently.
What is a comb and what are they? We will try to help you understand this in more detail.
A water comb resembles a thick pipe, from which small tubes come out perpendicularly. This large tube is called the main manifold, and the smaller outlet tubes or "nipples" are the manifold (combs). Water enters through the riser, passes through water supply devices (meter, filter) and enters the distribution comb. Then through the outlets of the comb it passes along the water intake contours and enters household appliances (faucets, toilets, washing machines and others).
Types of combs
All water combs are divided into the following types depending on the regulation of water flow:
- With valves (valve taps)
- With ball valves
- Without adjustment (taps)
A water comb with valves can open or close the flow of water into the water supply circuit, as well as regulate the amount of incoming water. The latter is the advantage of this type of collector. When can this be used? And when, for example, you have many water intake points, but the pressure in the first circuit is excellent, and at the last point it is weak. In this case, you partially block the first points, then for the last one there will also be enough pressure.
A water comb with ball valves is designed almost the same as a comb with valves. One and the main main difference, as you might guess from the name, is the presence of a ball valve. Inside such collectors there is a ball, which, when the handle is turned, only opens or only closes the flow of water. It should be noted here that there is no third position. If you leave the tap half open (closed), this can lead to its rapid complete failure. This is because the shut-off ball cannot partially resist the water pressure.
Non-adjustable water combs (comb without taps) are the simplest type of all. They do not have the ability to shut off, they only separate the flows along the water supply circuits.
Why do we need combs with taps at all? Everything is very simple. For future ease of installation/disassembly of devices. For example, if you want to change the faucet in the bathroom or kitchen, then you can close only the circuit that leads to it and easily dismantle the faucet. If you have combs without adjustment or none at all, then you will have to block the entire riser, which can lead to inconvenience in using water. The only way out of the latter situation is to use combs without taps and separate taps for household appliances at the end of each point of the water intake circuit.
Diameter of dies
Regarding the sizes of water combs. There are only 4 of them:
- 3/4" x 1/2"
- 3/4" x 3/4"
- 1" x 1/2"
- 1" x 3/4"
What does the first number mean and what does the second? The first means the diameter of the main manifold, and the second the diameter of its outlets (nipple). And which one to choose, you ask?
You can, firstly, start from the diameter of the pipe suitable for it. Secondly, you can start from the distance from the comb to the end points of the water intake contours. For example, if your apartment is small, and the distance from the collector to the end points of the water intake is small (1-3 meters), then it will probably be enough for you to buy and install combs of the first two sizes, 3/4" x 1/2" or 3/4 " x 3/4". At the same time, I would like to note that most manufacturers give a 95% preference to producing their combs in the size 3/4" x 1/2". This is most likely due to the fact that the difference between these diameters in their throughput characteristics is not significant, but in terms of economics, 3/4" x 1/2" combs are cheaper.
In the same case, if you have a large apartment, house, cottage, the distance from the comb to the end points of water intake is large, it is recommended to install combs with dimensions of 1” x 1/2” or 1” x 3/4”. The diameters of such combs will not reduce the water pressure and will allow full flow of water through each of the circuits of the distribution comb.
Most combs are made through-type. This means that the main manifold has threads on both the inlet and outlet. Often this thread is made in the external-internal (IR-internal) design, although there are exceptions. Some manufacturers produce combs with a plug mounted at the end of one of the sides. But such models are not suitable for everyone, because the comb is often the final object in the system of the main group of devices, and nothing is mounted after them. And as often happens, sometimes it is not completely clear from which side the water supply will approach the collectors, and from which side the comb will need to be plugged. If you purchase a pass-through comb, then in this case you will only need to purchase separately the missing plugs for the side that will be plugged. If you buy a comb with one of the sides already tightly plugged without the ability to remove this plug, and it turns out that the side with the plug is not what is needed, then you will have to change such a collector, which sometimes takes some time, and most importantly delays the installation process of the entire system.
Number of comb outputs
Combs with taps are mainly available with 2 (two), 3 (three), 4 (four) or 5 (five) outlets. If you need a comb with 6 outputs, then this can be solved by splicing, screwing the combs together (just don’t forget about the seal). All plumbers use this method and there is nothing wrong with it.
Combs without taps are available with a fairly wide range of outputs, from 2 to 12. With such a number, choosing the right comb will not be difficult.
Since there are many outlets, and in order not to get confused which one goes where and in general, in order to immediately understand whether it is installed with hot or cold water, the taps are distinguished in color. The comb taps are made in blue or red, depending on the water on which it will be installed. Some manufacturers even produce flags with labels indicating the end point of water intake, for example, kitchen, bathroom, washing machine, etc. What to do if the collector has no taps or there are no such inscriptions on the flags. Then they use blue or red colored electrical tape and a permanent marker, which are used to manually mark the comb outputs.
Water combs are manufactured with three types of threaded outlets (nipple):
- Under Eurocone (EC)
- Under gasket
- For metric thread (M)
The first two (for Eurocone or gasket) from this list are very popular, the third (for metric threads) come across and are used not so often and in very specific places.
Why is there such a big difference in the threads at the outlets of the combs? This is due to the material of the pipe whose fitting will be connected to the nipples of the comb. All these connectable fittings are quick-detachable, for future ease of installation/disassembly of the comb or connected pipe. There are only two types of such fittings: threaded clamp connection or union nut. The union nut can be produced in a version for a gasket or for a Eurocone. The threaded clamp connection only fits the Eurocone. Knowing what kind of connection (type of fitting) the pipe to the comb you will have and you need to make a start when choosing a comb with a certain threaded outlets.
There is just one more nuance: not all threaded clamping connections are equally suitable for all combs designed for the Eurocone, namely its nipples. It all depends on the Eurocone company and the comb company. This is a very delicate point, and if you are not sure that you have chosen the right package, then call us, and we will be happy to guide you and help you with this issue!
Comb materialOK
All combs are made only from high quality brass. In addition, combs are also available with a nickel plated finish. Nickel looks more beautiful than brass. But there is another reason for the release of nickel-plated combs. Brass will corrode over time. To avoid this, the combs are coated with nickel. But the price for nickel-plated combs is correspondingly higher than for a simple brass version.
At the stage of installing a water supply or heating system using modern technologies, one cannot do without a distribution manifold. This device allows you to redirect fluid flows.
Thanks to the distribution manifold, you can easily turn off or limit the capacity of each heating or water supply circuit in a private house or apartment. This, in turn, allows you to significantly save money on heating those rooms in which maintaining a high temperature is not required.
This device also allows you to more evenly distribute the fluid pressure between consumers, which is almost impossible to do with a series connection.
Types of distribution combs
Collectors come in three types: with two terminals, three and four terminals. If the number of consumers is more than four, then you can assemble a unit with any number of pins except 5. If 5 taps from the comb are required, then the sixth pin in this design should be closed with a plug.
Depending on the area of application, combs can be made of various materials. Usually for the production of such devices the following are used:
- Polypropylene.
- Copper or brass.
- Stainless steel.
A Question of Choice
A high-quality distributor is capable of operating at high fluid pressure, has trouble-free shut-off valves, and a high degree of environmental safety when distributing water.
Before purchasing a collector, it is necessary to determine the number of water consumers to which an individual pipeline will be connected. Then you need to purchase a collector, the number of outlets of which is equal to the number of water consumers.
It is recommended to install a water manifold with one additional outlet into which a plug is installed. This additional spare lead can be used when connecting additional equipment that will be purchased later.
If the supply pipe is made of polypropylene, then the distributor should also be installed from this material.
In the case where the supply pipe is metal, it is better to use a distributor made of copper alloy or stainless steel.
When choosing a distribution manifold, it is necessary to take into account such a design feature of these devices as the possibility of replacing the tap of each outlet. Otherwise, if one of them fails, the collector will need to be completely replaced.
Selecting a location
First of all, the water distributor must be installed in such a way as to maximize the length of each pipeline to the consumer. If this rule is neglected, then over longer areas the fluid pressure will differ significantly.
If the water supply is installed in a multi-storey building, then the collector is installed on each floor.
There are two ways to install a water comb:
- In the wall of the building.
- In the distribution cabinet.
The first installation option is used when the usable area of the room is limited, or the open installation of pipes and distribution boxes will significantly change the design of the room. In this case, a niche is built in the wall, which is closed with a valve, and if necessary, it will be possible to gain access to the control of the device.
If it is possible to install the distribution device in a utility room, then in this case a special box is installed, inside which the comb and all the pipes leading to this device are fixed.
If the water supply is installed in a multi-storey building, then the collector is installed on each floor Installation of distribution manifold
When installing the distribution manifold inside the wall, a recess is made into which the comb and inlet and outlet pipes are placed. If it is possible to install the comb in a utility room, then this is the most suitable place to install this device.
The distributor installation process is very simple and is carried out in the following sequence:
- The supply is turned off water from the riser.
- The supply pipe is connected to the central entrance of the collector.
- If the device is not equipped with taps, then a ball valve is connected to each output of the distributor.
- Connects to each tap separate circuit.
- If the number of taps exceeds the number of water supply circuits, then excess outlet holes should be closed with plugs.
- After connecting all pipes, the collector is fixed to the plane of the wall or box with clamps.
Price
– the comb is intended for use only in a cold water supply system. The material from which the device is made – nickel-plated brass – does not interact chemically with impurities in water, thereby allowing the device to be used for at least 10 years.
The comb is equipped with valves that are located on the main distributor pipe. The number of pins of this device is 4 pcs., but if necessary, a block of an unlimited number of pins can be assembled from separate sections.
The price of the comb is 1400 rubles.
– a universal device that can be used to distribute the water supply network and heating system. The material from which the distributor is made is structural steel, capable of withstanding temperatures up to + 120 degrees. The pressure in the water supply system when installing this device should be no more than 6 bar.
Number of comb leads – 4 pcs. Fastening to a horizontal plane is carried out using special brackets that securely fix the distributor, completely preventing its movement during operation.
The price of the comb is 1900 rubles.
– this device is equipped with valves, which significantly reduces the time for installation work. The comb has 4 output holes, but if more outputs are required, it can easily be assembled into a block with an unlimited number of output holes. Due to the fact that the distributor design is repairable, the service life is at least 15 years.
The cost of this device is 2200 rubles.
– this distributor is very convenient for external installation. Due to the fact that the terminals of this device are multidirectional, the area occupied by the comb is insignificant.
The distributor has four terminals that are not equipped with valves. Installation of such a device takes more time, but due to the maintainability of this design, the service life is significantly increased.
Price – 2400 rubles.
– a cold water distributor made of polymer material, has three outlets of 20 mm each. The product is equipped with three polypropylene taps. The kit includes a plug with a device that allows you to bleed air from the system. The distributor is lightweight and easily attaches to any vertical surface.
Price – 500 rubles.
Not so long ago, in the process of constructing multi-apartment buildings or private sector houses, they used not very convenient main pipeline distribution. Therefore, the problem of uneven heating of rooms in the house was familiar to every happy owner of his own home.
Today, this problem has been solved by using a special comb - a distribution manifold. But in old buildings, to install such a distribution unit, you will have to completely replace the existing heating distribution with a new collector system.
If we consider a water supply system, then the collector (comb) for water in it will be responsible for uniform pressure distribution for all consumers. The design of the manifold distributor can be adjustable or shut-off. Moreover, the latter uses a ball-type valve, and the adjustable analogue uses an axle-type valve.
Installation of distribution manifold
By installing such a structurally simple element as a water distribution comb, you can achieve the following goals in the water supply and heating system of the house:
But this is only a small part of the positive qualities of using a comb in the collector pipeline. In order to maximally compensate for pressure differences in the water supply of the house, a comb should be installed for both cold and hot pipelines.
Considering that the collector wiring provides availability of special taps for each specific node, it becomes possible to shut off only a separate water supply line, for example, in a toilet for plumbing repairs without affecting other water intake points.
Types of water distribution combs
As previously mentioned, the collector (comb) is designed for both cold and hot water supply lines. At the same time, for convenience, manufacturers produce collectors in two colors - blue and red - for cold and hot water, respectively. This simple solution made it possible to simplify the process of installing the comb, and not to get confused about which device to install on which pipe.
If we consider types of distribution combs, then they differ in the number of outlets from 2 to 4, depending on the purpose of using the collector, the number of water supply nodes and the preferences of the homeowner. If standard groups of taps are not enough, then a combination of them is used. For example, if a collector is needed for 7 nodes, then use a combination of combs connected to each other with 3 and 4 taps, respectively.
Thanks to the use of a collector type of wiring, it is possible to lay all communication pipes in a hidden way. Naturally, if everything is planned at the stage of building construction or during major repairs, when it is still possible to draw up a diagram for the distribution of water supply or heating of the house using a distribution manifold.
If we come to the issue of safety of using a distribution comb, then it is a leader in piping. Its installation makes the life of the inhabitants of the house completely safe. thanks to pressure stabilization in all pipes. This wiring involves connecting the distribution manifold to the central riser and pipes are laid from it to all consumers.
How to avoid mistakes when choosing a comb?
Purchasing a distribution manifold is a responsible process and requires taking into account the relationship between all the functionality of the comb and the requirements for it. In this case, it is not the material used in the manufacture of the part that deserves special attention, but other more important parameters. First of all, you need to focus on the following characteristics:
It is quite difficult to choose the right comb that is suitable for price and quality, especially if a person is unfamiliar with the intricacies of piping and heating systems. Therefore, it is better to seek advice from specialists.
Features of installation of the distribution circuit
Installing a distribution comb is not a simple process. In most cases, this will require a lot of time and knowledge in this matter. But, even taking into account all the difficulties of installing a comb in modern houses and apartments, they are increasingly using just such a distribution water supply system, which is considered the most effective and simple in terms of operation.
Thanks to the constant improvement of distribution manifolds, installation work is greatly simplified. In this case, they are most often mounted on the wall or installed in a special mounting cabinet. For wall mounting, the comb is equipped with clamps, and thanks to its high corrosion resistance, this product will last for decades.
To fully understand what a distribution manifold is, a person who does not understand anything about this issue will have to study a large amount of information. But first, you need to consider the main types of combs, which may differ in the materials used in their manufacture - polymer, steel, brass or copper products. At the same time, according to the design, the distribution combs are divided into certain types.
- A simple water collector is a device that does not have the ability to control water flow. This comb distributes water evenly to all consumers in a house or apartment. Moreover, such a device has a low price and a simple design, consisting of a pipe with branches on both sides.
- A complex comb can be supplemented with various useful elements: shut-off valves, a pressure sensor and an automation unit, which naturally affects its price. Plus, modern models are equipped with a mechanical or electronic temperature sensor. Thanks to this, the uniform distribution of hot water supply or coolant in the heating system is controlled automatically.
How and where to install a water collector?
The choice of location for the distribution manifold should be based on placing the equipment at the same distance from the comb. If we neglect this, then on the longest sections of the pipeline high blood pressure will occur, which negatively affects his condition.
If you plan to install a distribution comb for a heating system, you need to take into account the main rule - the permissible difference in the lengths of different sections of the pipeline from the collector to the heating radiators should not exceed a ratio of 1:2. Simply put, the length of the pipes from the first battery to the comb and subsequent radiators should not be less than 2 times.
If the specified parameters are exceeded, it will not be possible to achieve correct operation of the collector wiring of the heating system. If there are several floors in a building, then the comb should be installed on each of them. At the same time, there is several placement methods distribution manifold:
- in a special installation cabinet;
- directly on the wall.
To install the comb on the wall, install a special niche slightly above floor level. The size of the niche must correspond to the collector, taking into account that the heating system pipes will be connected to it. The place where the comb is placed must be dry. Most often they choose for this corridor or utility room, where the collector system will not interfere.
If the comb is placed in the corridor, then it is advisable to place a special cabinet in the niche. Structurally, such a product is nothing more than a metal box with a door and holes for pipes in and out. The box is usually equipped with special fasteners to securely fix the comb.
The most popular comb models
To fully understand what is meant by a distribution manifold and how to choose the right product, you need to consider which models have recently become popular among consumers. Such information will help you find out what criteria a water comb (distribution manifold) must meet, and what innovations have been applied by manufacturers.
Today the modern market of heating and plumbing systems offers 2 most popular types distribution manifolds and combs that meet all the requirements of such equipment.
The modern construction technology market is constantly updated with new models of distribution combs and manifolds, which are complemented by many useful functions and differ in both their design and price. They all have both positive and negative characteristics. Therefore, in order to make the right choice, you need to have a good understanding of the design features and purpose of such a product.
Either connecting plumbing fixtures in series using tees, or in parallel using a comb.
Installing pipes through a comb is convenient because plumbing fixtures are connected independently of one another. This is not only a very reliable connection, it also makes it possible to disconnect a separate branch in the event of an accident, without disturbing the operation of the entire system, in order to replace or repair a separate device. A plumbing comb makes life easier for the owners of an apartment or house, and also creates convenient conditions for specialists to carry out repair work.
Advantages of parallel connection
In Soviet times, single-pipe wiring with a tee connection was most often used in heat and water supply systems. It was a less material-intensive and cheaper solution. But the disadvantages inherent in such wiring do not satisfy modern requirements for comfort and service.
Nowadays, collector wiring is increasingly used, which allows you to connect not only standard plumbing equipment, but also swimming pools and heated floors, since the plumbing comb ensures uniform distribution of water to each “consumer” and regulation of the hydraulic process in the system.
Combs are made for 2, 3 and 4 outputs. If it is necessary to connect a larger number of devices, several collectors are selected, which in total will give the required number of outputs, and are connected in series with each other. This connection is very convenient when there is a need to carry out renovations in the bathroom or kitchen. or you can use a tap to shut off the flow of water to the required outlet and calmly replace the device.
Comb installation
According to the rules, a plumbing comb is mounted independently on hot and cold water (at the same time, for convenience, red and blue collectors are installed, respectively, to distinguish between them). They are placed on cold water pipes after filters and they level out sudden pressure surges in the riser. Using special clamps, the combs can be attached directly to the wall, or they can be mounted in a box. It becomes possible to connect heat meters to heating devices.
For ease of regulation, a plumbing comb with taps is installed. Most often, collectors are made of cast iron or bronze, stainless steel, and less often of titanium.
Pros and cons of installing a comb
pros:
Minuses:
- Relatively expensive compared to a single-pipe connection scheme. For good plumbing distribution combs, the price ranges from $120-150, and sometimes several of them are required, plus an additional number of fittings and pipes.
- The collector itself takes up quite a lot of space if there are more than four connected devices.
Owners of country cottages and private houses are increasingly abandoning traditional one- or two-pipe wiring and prefer a manifold distributor. This allows you to use fuel more economically and create comfortable conditions in each room separately. Agree that it is irrational to refuse to reduce heating costs, especially since the temperature in the premises will not suffer from this.
Are you also thinking about connecting a collector and want to learn more about this equipment? We will help you understand the topic - in this article we will look in detail at what the distribution comb of the heating system is and what its advantages are.
We will highlight the significant disadvantages of its use, describe the connection process in detail, providing the material with visual photos. We will also focus on the basic connection rules that it is advisable to follow. Here are useful video recommendations for installing and making your own comb.
Heating manifolds (distribution combs) are an important component of a modern heating system. In a simplified form, the comb can be represented as a pipe with a plug at the end and several outlets in the form of pipes, allowing the coolant to be directed to individual points.
The number of outlets varies - it depends on the specific heating system and the number of heating devices planned for connection.
With the help of a collector, coolant flows in the heating circuit are optimized. It also smoothes out pressure surges () that appear due to the operation of boiler automation that regulates temperature conditions.
Image gallery
A master with experience in manifold equipment knows how to correctly install a distribution comb and hide it in a cabinet so as to hide all the pipes
Since the resistance in the circuits is different (due to different lengths, etc.), it is necessary to ensure optimal consumption of the coolant by balancing.
To do this, balancing valves, rather than shut-off valves, are installed on the return comb nozzles. They can regulate (although not exactly, but by eye) the coolant flow in each circuit.
Option #2 – with pumps on each branch and hydraulic arrow
This is a more complex option, which will be needed if necessary to power consumption points with different temperature conditions.
So, for example, in radiator heating, water heating ranges from 40 to 70 °C, a warm floor needs a range of 30-45 °C, hot water for domestic needs must be heated to 85 °C.
In the piping, the hydraulic arrow will now play a special role - a section of pipe that is blind at both ends and has two pairs of bends. The first pair is needed to connect the hydraulic needle to the boiler; the distribution combs are connected to the second pair. This is a hydraulic barrier that creates a zone of zero resistance.
On the comb itself there are mixing units equipped with temperature control devices. Each outlet pipe has its own pump operating independently of the others, providing the specific circuit with the required amount of coolant.
The main thing is that the total power of these pumps does not exceed the main boiler pump.
Both options considered are used when installing distribution manifolds for boiler houses. Everything you need is sold in specialized stores. There you can buy any assembly assembled or element by element (counting on savings due to self-assembly).
To further reduce future costs, the heating distribution comb Can .
The boiler room manifold is located in close proximity to the heating equipment and is exposed to high temperatures that only metal can withstand.
The local distribution comb is subject to less stringent requirements for heat resistance; not only metal pipes, but also polypropylene and metal-plastic pipes are suitable for its manufacture.
For a local distribution manifold, the easiest way is to select suitable scallops from those that are commercially available. In this case, you should take into account the material from which they are made - brass, steel, cast iron, plastic.
Cast scallops are more reliable, eliminating the possibility of leakage. There are no problems connecting pipes to the manifolds - even the most inexpensive models have threads.
Distribution combs assembled from polypropylene parts are attractive due to their low cost. But in an emergency, the joints between the tees will not withstand overheating and will leak
Craftsmen can solder a manifold from polypropylene or metal-plastic, but they will still have to buy threaded tips, so the product will not be much cheaper in terms of money than a ready-made one from the store.
Externally, it will be a set of tees connected to each other by tubes. The weak point of such a collector is insufficient strength at high heating temperatures of the coolant.
The comb can be round, rectangular, or square in cross-section. Here, the transverse area comes first, rather than the cross-sectional shape, although from the standpoint of hydraulic laws, rounded is preferable. If the house has several floors, it is better to install local distribution manifolds on each of them.
What do you need to know about the cons?
After the advantages of using distribution combs in heating systems have become clear, it makes sense to dwell on some of the disadvantages:
- High price. Collectors are made of durable, high-quality metal, the cost of which is above average. High-precision locking equipment is also expensive. The more circuits a comb serves, the higher the cost of equipping it.
- Energy dependence. Collector heating without a circulation pump does not work. Therefore, you need to prepare for additional payments for electricity.
- High pipe flow. The consumption of pipes is several times higher than in conventional ones, since a separate loop must be pulled to each device. All this complicates and increases the cost of installation work.
The collector system, according to experts and those who already use it, is the most modern, reliable and efficient.
But at the same time, both its arrangement and operation are expensive.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Installation of heating equipment with connection to the distribution comb:
Making a comb with your own hands:
Compared to the traditional organization of a heating system, distribution combs increase its efficiency, and only the financial issue somewhat inhibits consumer interest in this heating method. But if money is enough, using distributor combs is your ideal choice.
Have you implemented a collector heating system in your home? Or are you just planning its arrangement and there is something you don’t understand? Ask questions - we will try to answer them.
Or maybe you used a comb to connect a heated floor system? Share your personal experience of assembling and installing the system - leave your comments in the block below.
Loading...