Heating boiler operation settings and why they are needed
Imagine you bought a gas boiler and successfully connected it. Winter is just around the corner, so you want to be prepared for the heating season. As soon as there is a need to warm up the room.
When there is a need for hot water, the boiler automatically switches to heating the water. In other cases, the boiler is in standby mode and performs other functions so as not to freeze itself.
The boiler operating modes allow the user to understand how the boiler operates, what tasks it performs, and how priority is structured. They help you understand concepts like cycling, temperature and warming up. Knowing these concepts, you can guess how to profitably save on resources for the boiler.
Basic settings of a gas boiler:
- work only for heating;
- hot water priority;
- summer operating hours;
- "warm floor" mode;
- frost protection.
Some boiler models have their own modes. Basically, they are focused on marketing and emphasize their “zest”. But the standard set is always the same.
To select a boiler, watch this video:
Winter mode
In winter mode, the gas boiler operates at full capacity. It can be roughly divided into “heating only” and “hot water priority” operating modes. In the first case, the device turns on and off independently, bringing the room to the desired air temperature level.
A cyclicity is created. It depends on the cooling rate of the room, square meters, and the power of the boiler itself. Set a comfortable temperature, paying attention to cycles. Adjust, reducing the load and saving on gas consumption.
In heating mode, adjust the temperature from 35 ºС to 85 ºС, gradually achieving optimal values. After adjusting the temperature, elements such as water pressure, pressure switches, NTC sensors and others are checked.
Double-circuit boilers. Pros and cons.
In this article we will consider the issue of combining home heating with the provision of hot water. Gas boilers are capable of efficiently heating a house and guaranteeing the availability of hot water. Today there is a huge selection of gas boilers, water heaters, water heaters, so sometimes it is difficult to choose the best option that suits your conditions. First, let's look at the classification of boilers:
— Based on location, there are floor-standing and wall-mounted boilers.
— Depending on the required functions – single-circuit or double-circuit.
— According to the structure of the combustion chamber: open (chimney) or closed (turbocharged or parapet).
To implement hot water supply you can use:
— double-circuit boiler;
— double-circuit boiler with built-in boiler;
— single-circuit boiler in conjunction with a gas water heater , electric or gas boiler ;
— single-circuit boiler with indirect heating boiler.
A double-circuit boiler allows you not only to heat the room, but also provides hot water, thanks to the presence of an additional built-in burner. The positive aspects are the relatively low cost of equipment for heating plus domestic hot water, the compactness of the solution, and the absence of problems connecting two devices into one system. The disadvantage of using a simple double-circuit boiler to obtain hot water is the waiting time and excessive consumption of cold water: after opening the tap, you must wait for the water temperature to reach a comfortable value. In addition, you should be careful when using water at the second point. You will get an unexpected surprise while taking a shower if someone suddenly decides to wash dishes in the kitchen. The temperature of the hot water at the first point will immediately change.
Imported double-circuit boilers are predominantly wall-mounted, their power starts from 24 kW. “Why so powerful? My house is up to a hundred square meters!” - people often say. This is due to the fact that to heat 13-14 liters of hot water at 30-35? C it is necessary to expend approximately 24 kW of energy. In other words, so that your double-circuit boiler can provide you with comfortable water for showering, manufacturers have taken care of producing boilers of the most optimal power for you and me. Don't worry about running out of gas. The design of a modern wall-mounted double-circuit gas boiler necessarily includes a flame modulator and a temperature sensor. Modulation is an automatic change in the “strength” of the flame. The boiler automation will “reduce gas” when it is justified and increase it when faster heating is needed. A temperature sensor connected to the boiler automation is capable of automatically turning its operation on and off when the set temperature of the coolant in the heating system pipes is reached. Thus, there is no need to be afraid that a 24 kW boiler will not work correctly in a small room.
The problems described above with classic double-circuit boilers can be avoided by choosing
Double-circuit boiler with built-in boiler. The boiler capacity varies depending on the user's needs: from a microboiler of 25 liters to 60 liter tanks. It should be borne in mind that these boilers are more bulky and heavier than a conventional double-circuit boiler. And, naturally, they are more expensive. You will always have stocked water at your disposal, heated to the required temperature.
?
If you are building a large house, you have two or three bathrooms and several children, then the best solution will undoubtedly be an imported single-circuit boiler together with an indirect heating boiler. You are not tied to the size of the boiler and can choose a boiler of a much larger volume than the options described above offer. However, this system will occupy a significantly larger area. It is best to provide a boiler room for the boiler. (If the power of your boiler is over 30 kW, then a boiler room is required). The power of single-circuit boilers is selected depending on the heated area, and the volume of the boiler should be selected depending on the number of people living in the house, the number of simultaneously operating water points and the required volume of hot water. It is worth considering that additional power will be required to obtain hot water. For example, a single-circuit boiler equipped with a boiler for hot water must have a power of at least 24 kW. At the same time, during the operation of the boiler, water heating in the heating system is turned off (priority of the DHW circuit). Heating starts again only when the water in the boiler reaches the required temperature. That is why it is of great importance that interruptions in heating operation are not too long. This solution is the most expensive, but also the most comfortable. Our Store consultants will always help you make the right decision when purchasing. Find out the price of a single-circuit gas boiler in Belarus. Find out the price of a double-circuit gas boiler in Belarus.
Hot water priority
In the hot water priority mode, we observe a clear sequence of actions and cyclic switching on for heating. If you want to turn on one of the hot water taps, the boiler will forget about heating and begin to heat the water. This is called hot water priority.
The heating works around the clock, the boiler knows when to turn on and off, maintaining the required temperature in the house. The need for hot water is much less frequent than the need to heat a house. When you turn on the water, the house is “already warm,” but the water is “still hot.” Therefore, priority for heating hot water is higher than for heating.
In most modern gas boilers, the water temperature can be adjusted separately in the range from 35 ºC to 55 ºC. The procedure is similar to the heating procedure. Set the appropriate temperature and use hot water.
Which material should you prefer?
Nowadays, stainless steel chimneys are very popular on the market. They are used for boilers of various types, although this approach is fundamentally wrong. If you plan to install a gas boiler , you need to decide what material the chimney should be made of. Don't rush to buy metal pipes. They are excellent for solid fuel boilers, as they can easily withstand high temperatures.
For gas boilers, which are characterized by low temperatures and large amounts of condensate, it is preferable to choose plastic or polymer pipes. Their main advantage is good resistance to moisture. Because of this, they usually last longer than metal chimneys. FuranFlex pipes are excellent for gas boilers, which are characterized by excellent resistance to aggressive substances, strength and durability.
If you use a gas-wood combination boiler , you will have to abandon the use of FuranFlex. The fact is that polymer pipes are produced in two versions - for high and low temperatures (solid fuel and gas boilers, respectively). Polymer stockings cannot be used effectively at high and low temperatures at the same time.
Summer operating hours
At home, heating is not needed in summer. There is no desire to wash dishes in cold water or take a cold shower. For such purposes, a summer mode was invented, when the heating of the room is in hibernation mode (sleep mode). But when you open a hot tap, the water begins to heat up (for double-circuit boilers).
When summer comes, the heating circuit does not switch off automatically. There are three options for the development of events:
- let it be as it is;
- switch to hot water mode;
- turn off the boiler completely.
In the first case, the heating mode will be active. In this mode, the heating circuit will always be on and internal checks of the equipment will continue to be carried out. Don't waste resources just like that.
Switching to summer mode (hot water mode) is available if the boiler allows it. You will receive hot water, the heating will be turned off. The boiler performs a minimum of conservation procedures.
The problem is solved by the switching valve
The switching valve works as follows: when the coolant heats up to 95 degrees, the thermostatic valve opens, and cold water begins to flow from the water supply into the boiler, and hot water is discharged into the sewer. Gradually the temperature of the coolant decreases.
For reliable operation of the switching valve, it is necessary not only to have water in the water supply network, but also to have sufficient pressure to operate the valve. In addition, constantly adding hard water to the system leads to its rapid slagging.
Warm floor mode
The heated floor mode does not exist in all heating boilers. Works only in winter mode. The floor heating mode involves heating the water under the floor, bringing the water to the temperature specified by the user.
There are no separate installations that work separately with the floor. By adjusting the temperature on the boiler, you limit its power. Power is consumed to heat the room or heat water.
When the boiler operates in three directions simultaneously, think about the rational use of resources. The “warm floor” mode means the boiler operates at a temperature of 35-50 degrees. With this operating mode, the efficiency of the boiler decreases. Therefore, the profitability of this option is questionable.
Chimney fan
The chimney is an important part of the heating system. Backdraft, smoke in the boiler room and the inability to heat the boiler to the required temperature are the consequences of errors in installing a pipe to remove burnt gases from the boiler. This can be treated with simple installation - extending the chimney above the ridge point, and if this is not possible, then a special exhaust fan , which is made of special materials, is installed in the chimney. The boiler power increases, and the risk of carbon monoxide entering the premises disappears.
Frost protection
The most important mode is frost protection. The mode is active when the boiler is switched off or winter mode is switched off. Why is it needed:
- the burner continues to work;
- the boiler was in working order;
- works when the heating is turned off.
Not every boiler has a protection mode. When the boiler turns on when water is supplied, the outlet water temperature is checked. Each boiler has a separate threshold, most have 5 degrees. If the temperature is 5 degrees, the boiler brings it to 15, then turns off.
We use a cooling heat exchanger
The principle of its operation is based on cooling heated water in the heating system. A cooling heat exchanger is installed in the boiler itself or at its outlet. As soon as the water temperature reaches 95 degrees, the valve opens and cold tap water begins to flow into the heat exchanger, reducing the temperature of the coolant. For safe operation of such a system, a large volume of cold water is required. Lack of water in the water supply network when the boiler overheats can lead to an emergency.
