Operation of heating boilers - maintenance of gas boilers

The rapid gasification of Russian regions has created a demand for gas boilers of various modifications. The operating principle is based on the combustion of gas in a chamber and heating of a heat exchanger through which water circulates.

Depending on the purpose of the room, area, materials from which the building is constructed, wall-mounted or floor-mounted, single-circuit or double-circuit boilers are chosen, with an open or closed combustion chamber. Floor-standing gas installations are designed for a longer service life; they are part of a boiler room; wall-mounted ones are a mini-boiler room, take up little space, and are ideal for apartments and houses. Single-circuit boilers are intended only for heating, double-circuit boilers are intended for heating premises and producing hot water. Boilers also differ in the type of draft; turbocharged boilers have a closed combustion chamber, while atmospheric boilers have an open combustion chamber.

Regardless of what model of boiler is installed in the room, the safety of the heating boiler directly depends on proper operation and compliance with safety precautions. Gas installations are sources of increased danger and can pose a threat to life due to the careless and neglectful attitude of the consumer. Failure to comply with basic operating rules leads to gas leakage, the appearance of carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide), fire, and in rare cases, an explosion of the installation.

Safety precautions when operating a gas boiler

Safety precautions for gas equipment require strict adherence. Basic requirements for working with gas boilers:

It is forbidden to open the unit or break the seal of the housing, this can lead to burns, cuts and electric shock.
You cannot dismantle the boiler yourself; such work should only be performed by a gas equipment installation specialist.
The power cord must be handled with care; it must not be heated, cut or subjected to other destructive influences.
You cannot leave or store objects on the surface of the boiler; the vibration that is created by the operation of the installation can cause the object to fall and damage it.
It is forbidden to climb onto the gas installation; such actions lead to deformation of the fastenings and damage to the boiler.
The boiler must be cleaned from stable surfaces. Stools and folding ladders can cause a person to fall and damage the boiler.
Cleaning is carried out only after disconnecting the boiler from the power supply; some components are live.
It is forbidden to use aggressive cleaning agents or solvents for cleaning.
It is prohibited to store flammable materials and liquids near the unit.
You cannot use a gas boiler and safety precautions prescribe this for children and people with limited physical and mental abilities.
It is unacceptable to operate the boiler at the limit, allow overloads and deviations from the modes prescribed in the instructions.
If smoke or a burning smell appears in the house, you must disconnect the unit from the network, turn off the main gas tap, open windows or vents, and call a technician.
If you smell gas, you must turn off the main gas tap in the house, ventilate the room, and call a gas installation maintenance specialist.

It is important to strictly follow the prescribed rules so as not to expose your life and health to undesirable consequences.

Basic recommendations for the operation and repair of gas boilers

Do not open the gas valve under any circumstances. All work related to gas must be performed by a specialist. You shouldn't put your life in danger.
As a last resort, if you have basic knowledge about the operation of gas boilers , you can check the filter at the gas pipeline inlet. Before doing this, be sure to turn off the tap, unscrew it and check the gasket.
80% of problems during operation of a gas boiler occur due to phase zeroing when the wire plug is incorrectly connected to the socket. For example, one of the family members unplugged the boiler and unknowingly put the plug back in the wrong position. First of all, you should pay attention to this and try to put the fork in the correct position. If this is the problem, the system will reset the error and the boiler will start working. This completes the repair of the gas boiler. In order not to get confused about the correct phase setting, you can make marks on the plug and socket with a marker, mark the pin and the corresponding hole.
It is necessary to check the gas pressure; this can be done visually, for example, by the boiling time of the kettle. If the kettle boils longer than usual, half an hour instead of ten minutes, then the pressure is low.
Coolant circulation. Filters are installed at the inlet to protect the boiler from debris and scale that enters it from old or low-quality systems during operation of the gas boiler. A layer of dirt forms inside the pipes, and circulation in the boiler is disrupted. In this case, you need to make sure that the system is not clogged with debris - unscrew the filter and check it. In case of contamination, rinse the filter thoroughly and replace it.
Be sure to check the chimney. Various contaminants may appear inside the pipe during operation of a gas boiler, for example, wasps can nest comfortably in it or build a hive right in the chimney. In addition, if water enters the chimney from the outside, ice may form, preventing air from escaping. A sign that the problem is in the chimney will be a strong spread of flame when the boiler is turned on. In this case, the pipe must be cleaned and the ice removed. Clean the chimney pipe regularly.
Before first use and throughout the operation of the gas boiler, you should turn the rotor of the circulation pump as follows: unscrew the washer, place a piece of cloth and use a screwdriver to turn the rotor clockwise. Due to the tightness of the pump, movement will be difficult, but after that the work will be restored.
Check the operation of pressure, temperature sensors, etc., after turning off the boiler. Make sure the contacts are connected - disconnect the wire from the sensor and insert it back, this way the electrical connection is restored.
There is a burner inside the boiler that requires regular cleaning. This can be done using sandpaper, carefully clean the ionization and ignition contacts and the burner field from plaque.
If during operation of a gas boiler there is loud noise and vibration coming from it, it is necessary to check the fan, which may become clogged from dust getting into it. If there is dirt on the fan blades, operation will be disrupted. Contamination must be eliminated to restore normal air circulation and normal operation of the gas boiler. Lubricate the bearings. If the fan continues to spin poorly, then the bearings need to be replaced.
The system is equipped with a press control - a mechanism that serves to close the circuit when the fan is turned on, which protects the boiler from fire. Two tubes supplying pressure and vacuum are connected to it. This element also needs to be checked. When the fan is turned on, a click is heard, indicating that the contacts in the press control are closed. If the fan malfunctions, the press control will also be faulty.

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Operation and maintenance of a gas boiler

Many manufacturers equip gas boilers with various protections: against freezing, overheating, scale formation, gas leaks, pressure loss in the heating circuit. The models are equipped with self-diagnosis, self-shutdown when smoke appears or when there is a gas leak, but for long-term and high-quality operation of the boiler, each user must know how to use the heating boiler correctly. Basic recommendations for operating gas equipment:

It is not recommended to install the boiler in rooms with high humidity and temperature; the metal parts of the boiler rust, and scale appears faster.
It is not allowed to carry out construction or repair work near the boiler; dust settles on the circuit boards and heat exchanger, which reduces the efficiency of the installation and can damage it.
A filter is installed in the boiler to purify water. Contaminants can cause blockages in the heating and hot water circuits.
You should monitor the heating circuit, regularly flush the pipes, and check for leaks. The interaction of air and water in the heating system should be minimized.
It is recommended to keep the burner clean and clean it if necessary. Timely action will prevent excessive fuel consumption and operational inefficiency.
A boiler with an open combustion chamber must provide a constant flow of air. Lack of oxygen reduces the efficiency of the installation.
It is necessary to regularly check and clean the chimney and ventilation duct system.
It is necessary to monitor the water level and pressure in the heating circuit.
Add water to the system only after it has cooled to avoid temperature imbalances.
In the heating system, the temperature should not exceed 95 degrees and fall below 45 degrees Celsius. Overheating can lead to system breakdown; low temperatures promote condensation.
The boiler should be inspected at least once a year, and ideally twice. A specialist will identify problems and fix them, replace damaged parts, remove scale that reduces heat transfer, clean the chimney, poor draft reduces the performance of the installation.
Also, in accordance with the standards of the Federal Law “On Environmental Protection”, the user is responsible for the gas installation, he is responsible for its environmental safety.

Following these simple rules will ensure proper operation of your gas boiler for several decades.

Accommodation requirements

These requirements will directly apply to the room in which the gas boiler is to be located. What does the instruction manual say about this? Thus, the room must have a total area of more than 7.5 m². Ceiling height - at least 2.2 m.

Diagram of a gas boiler from Vaillant.

In addition, the room must have a window that can be opened if necessary. It should go outside. This is required by fire safety.

As for the door in this room, it should open in the direction of movement from the room. There should be no switches in the room itself. They should be moved outside the room.

A ventilation system (supply and exhaust) is required. Approximately 15 m² of air per 1 m² of gas burned is required. Three air exchanges are also needed.

When installing the boiler itself in a room, fire safety precautions must be strictly observed. So, from the boiler to the combustible elements of the room, you need to measure a distance of no less than 25 cm. As for non-combustible elements, a distance of 5 cm is allowed here.

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The distance between the chimney and combustible parts is 40 cm, and between the chimney and non-combustible parts - 15 cm.

The gas boiler must be installed on a perfectly flat surface with no slopes. This is important for safe use.

Models of gas installations and their technical characteristics

Gas heating boilers of various modifications and manufacturers are collected on the website santechbomba.ru. For example and reference, the technical characteristics of several models are presented:

Gas boiler Daewoo GasBoiler DGB-130 MSC

The reliable and durable Daewoo wall-mounted double-circuit gas boiler has a modern, ergonomic design. A boiler with a closed combustion chamber has a convenient control panel with a display that displays digital values, set modes, and a simple interface. The heat exchanger for the heating circuit is made of copper. The boiler power is 15 kW, the efficiency is more than 90%, it is designed to heat a room up to 150 sq. m., good hot water performance. Compact dimensions and light weight make the model convenient for any room; the boiler does not take up space.

Gas boiler Baxi ECO 5 Compact 1.14 F

An Italian single-circuit gas boiler is ideal for an apartment with autonomous heating. The installation is wall-mounted, with a closed combustion chamber. The heat exchanger is made of copper, its service life is much longer than that of its aluminum counterpart. The boiler efficiency is almost 93%, the power is 14 kW, this model can heat up to 140 square meters of living space. The unit has an attractive design, an easy-to-use control panel with an LCD screen and weather-compensating automation. The model is equipped with built-in protections, smooth electronic ignition and the ability to connect to solar collectors.

Gas boiler Mimax KSG-20

The Russian-made floor-standing boiler is distinguished by its reliability and excellent performance characteristics. Mimax double-circuit boiler with an open combustion chamber. The high power of the installation - 20 kW and efficiency - 92% allows you to heat up to 200 sq.m of living space. High productivity of hot water. The weight of the unit is 62 kg, control occurs by increasing/decreasing power. The model has a 15-year warranty.

Gas boilers differ in power characteristics and performance; models have various built-in functions and protections. Gas boilers are selected based on the technical characteristics of a house or apartment, taking into account the capabilities and preferences of the consumer. A gas boiler must have a power reserve of at least 10%.

When choosing a gas installation for heating your home, you should not neglect safety. It is necessary to monitor the technical condition of the equipment, check the tightness of connections in circuits, chimney and gas supply systems. Compliance with simple requirements and proper operation will protect the house from emergency situations.

30.09.2017

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Low gas pressure

The gas pressure in the gas main varies significantly depending on the time of year. In winter, when the maximum number of consumers is turned on, gas pressure often approaches the minimum permissible. Old-style domestic equipment may completely shut down in such situations due to low pressure.

Modern boilers still function, but they can no longer produce their full power. This is not as noticeable when heating the heating system as when the boiler is operating to heat hot water, when consumers notice that the water coming from the tap is lukewarm. Only a service engineer who has a special knowledge of the equipment. And if the static pressure is 130 mm. vd. Art. at the inlet to the gas valve, then we can immediately assume that there will not be enough gas in the dynamics, and the boiler will not produce its full power if necessary. With a further decrease in pressure, the power of the equipment will also decrease.

This value can be determined from a graph of the dependence of thermal power on gas pressure at the burner, provided by the equipment manufacturer. They are considered the most resistant to a decrease in gas pressure. In the event of a drop in blue fuel pressure, the service engineer is unable to influence the situation and must contact the gas utility.

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