What is the best heating system for a private home?

What is an autonomous heating system?

The transition to individual heating involves abandoning the use of a communal heating system and dismantling the radiators and pipes associated with it. Instead, new pipes and batteries are installed, which are connected to the heater. In apartments, two types of heating systems are usually used - gas and electric boilers. The principle of operation of the boiler is simple: it heats up the water and forces it to circulate through the system, heating the room in the required mode.

Boiler types

All boilers can also be divided into two types:

• single-circuit – working exclusively for heating;
• double-circuit – additionally providing hot water supply.

Depending on the installation method, heating boilers can be wall-mounted or floor-mounted. The former are more popular due to their compactness and lower price. Floor-standing boilers have greater power and a longer service life.

Electric boilers

Installations powered by electricity are affordable and have a high level of safety. An electric boiler can be installed anywhere in the apartment. Unfortunately, such a boiler is not suitable for a house with old wiring due to the risk of constantly knocking out plugs.

Gas boilers

Gas boilers are more expensive, but they last a long time and quickly pay for themselves during operation, since they use a cheaper source of energy. The gas-fired boiler has a special combustion chamber and a smoke exhaust system to avoid any inconvenience to the apartment's inhabitants.

The choice of boiler depends on many conditions, including the size of the apartment, so its choice must be approached very responsibly.

Tip: it is believed that to heat a standard room with a three-meter high ceiling, the area of ​​which is 10 m2, you need 1 kW of heating boiler power. To calculate the required power of the heating boiler, divide the area of ​​the entire room by 10.

Heating a house with electricity

Heating a house with electricity is based on two principles. The first is heating each room separately using devices connected directly to the electrical network. The second is indirect heating with pumping coolant that heats the radiators in each room.

An example of a direct heating method is the use of an oil radiator. With its ribbed shape it resembles a classic cast iron battery. The device itself heats up to a high temperature and sends heat into the environment in the form of heat rays.

The surface of the radiator cools slowly due to the fact that the coolant has good thermal inertia. The most commonly used devices are additional ones. It is not economically profitable to include oil radiators in the main system.

Option #1 - using an electric boiler

The water system connected to the electric boiler has its own characteristics. In order to use electricity rationally, the circulation of the coolant in the system should only be forced. Natural circulation will increase energy consumption.

In addition, this will entail uneven heating of the room, a decrease in the rate of heat transfer, and power loss.

The advantage of an electric boiler is its full automation, and also the fact that it can be installed in any room

When using an electric boiler, the system must include an expansion tank equipped with a control unit and safety elements. The design of an open system does not make sense, because will lead to high operating costs.

To be able to heat your country house with electricity, you must have a power line of sufficient power. Therefore, before purchasing a boiler, you need to perform simple calculations.

You need to proceed from the fact that, according to experts, 1 kW hour is enough to heat a room of 10 m². If you have to heat 200 m², you will need 20 kW. Since, in addition to the boiler, there is other electrical equipment in the house, about 5 kW is added to the calculated value.

Type No. 1 – electric boilers with heating elements

In electric boilers, heating elements, electrodes, and magnetic induction are used as a working element. The first type is the most common. Water or other coolant is heated inside the boiler from the walls of heating elements enclosed in a moisture-proof housing, then goes into the heating system.

The efficiency of such a boiler is not very high - the heat transfer process is accompanied by large losses. A boiler equipped with a multi-stage connection and electronic control is considered more efficient. When the set temperature is reached, the boiler unit turns off.

The modern heating element electric boiler has a stylish design. The coolant can be not only water, but also antifreeze

The main disadvantage of an electric boiler with heating elements is the formation of plaque on the heating element coils. Because of this, power consumption increases while efficiency decreases.

Type No. 2 – electrode units

The main feature of these boilers is that they do not have an element that heats the coolant. Heating occurs when electrical impulses transmitted by a special electrode pass through the water.

As a result of this effect, water molecules break down into ions that carry a positive and negative charge. Since this uses alternating current with a frequency of 50 Hz per second, the polarity of the electrodes in the aquatic environment changes at the same frequency.

Under such conditions, ions begin to vibrate and change direction. All this happens with great resistance of the aquatic environment to this process. As a result, thermal energy is generated, which the coolant transfers to the heating radiators. At the same time, hard deposits do not have time to settle on the electrodes, which is a big plus in favor of boilers of this type.

There are single- and three-phase boiler models. The only difference is in the design of the electrodes and dimensions. The design includes a cylindrical all-metal body coated with polyamide. The cylinder has pipes through which the coolant enters and exits.

The efficiency of ion boilers is high - from 95 to 98%. They are small in size and heat up very quickly, but also cool down at the same speed. The boilers do not have a “dry run”, so if there is no water in the system, they simply will not start. They are not affected by voltage drops; when it drops, the power simply decreases, but the unit does not completely shut down.

The disadvantages of boilers of this type include their increased demand for coolant. Water must have good conductivity, otherwise the power of the equipment begins to decrease.

Such a boiler will not be able to operate on battery power, because... Only a variable power supply is required. When operating it, it is necessary to prevent air from getting inside the boiler, because this triggers an enhanced corrosion process.

One side of the cylinder is hermetically sealed; the other side contains a block of electrodes. Polyamide nuts are used as an insulator separating the electrodes from the housing.

Single-phase units have a power of 2 - 6 kW, three-phase - 9 - 50 kW. The former are suitable for use in country houses, while the latter are used for heating large industrial buildings. The average diameter of the boiler is 32 cm, the maximum length is 0.6 m. The lower the temperature of the water inside the boiler body, the less electricity it consumes.

Depending on the principle of coolant distribution, electrode boilers can be open or closed. In the first case, natural circulation is carried out, and in the second, an expansion tank and pump are included in the system.

Most models have automatic control, a starting unit and protection against unstable power supply. Expensive models are equipped with a controller that maintains optimal temperature and remote control.

When installing an electrode boiler, you need to ensure reliable grounding of the electrical network at home. The boiler heat exchanger must be cleaned once every 12 months. It is also necessary to monitor the chemical composition of water and correct it if necessary.

Type No. 3 – induction equipment

The operation of an induction boiler is based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. The electromagnetic energy generated by the coil is transformed into heat. The core is heated by the electromagnetic field of the coil, and it transfers the resulting heat to the fluid passing inside it.

The boiler is used in both open and closed systems, in which coolant circulation is forced.

The boiler design does not provide for elements that quickly fail. The material for the manufacture of the core is high-quality steel with a thickness of about 6 mm, so it can work for a long time - 35 - 40 years

Boilers of this type are massive. Their housing contains a primary winding coil that is not in contact with the coolant. The secondary winding is an internal system of pipes with liquid flowing through them. Energy is not lost during the very rapid heating process, therefore, as manufacturers claim, the efficiency is close to 100%.

As a result of self-induction, the boiler additionally generates significant reactive power. This increases the efficiency of the equipment. Any coolant can be pumped into the system - both water and antifreeze, oil, glycerin. The cost of boilers of this type is quite high, but if you wish, you can make an induction boiler with your own hands.

The heating system with an induction boiler, in addition to the heater itself, includes:

• circulation pump;
• membrane tank;
• heating radiators, and sometimes heated floors;
• security group;
• remote control.

Mount the boiler in a vertical position. At the same time, the distance to the nearest objects is at least 0.3 m on the sides and 0.8 m below and above. They start it only when the system is full and checks for airing. It is also necessary to ground both the boiler itself and the components of the system: controller, pump and other elements.

Option #2 - heating with electric convectors

Visually, a convector is the same battery located under a window or on a wall. But there are heating elements inside. The design provides for the penetration of cold air inside from below. It heats up inside and comes out through the top grill.

The user sets the temperature himself. Thermostats built into the convector control the temperature and turn off the device when it reaches the set value. The advantage of heating using convectors is the absence of the system itself with its complex wiring and “bonuses” in the form of freezing or leakage.

There are models of convectors with protection class IP-24. They are designed for installation in damp areas. Class IP-21 is suitable for rooms with normal conditions

Since these heating units do not have open elements, and the outer panel heats up only slightly, they are completely safe. They operate silently, and the design allows them to be used without damaging the interior. They produce mobile and stationary convectors, which allows you to create comfortable zones with their help.

We have provided a rating of the best manufacturers of electric convectors for home heating and recommendations for choosing in this article.

Option #3 - heating the house with warm floors

You can also heat a private house from the mains using heated floors.

They are produced in several versions:

1. Cable single or double core . They are usually placed in a screed, which then accumulates heat and releases it into the surrounding atmosphere.
2. In the form of heating mats . Essentially this is the same cable, but located on a fiberglass mesh. For their installation, a screed device is not a mandatory requirement.

The design of the heated floor provides for the presence of temperature sensors. The heating mode is maintained automatically after pre-setting the temperature. The room warms up evenly.

Information on installing cable and film versions of heated floors is described in detail in the following article.

Option #4 - infrared space heating

A comfortable microclimate is created by long-spectrum waves transmitted by an infrared heater. It first heats everything in the room, and only then the excess heat enters the air. Heat is located near the floor, and not at the top, as with convector heating. This regime is most favorable for all inhabitants of the house, including plants.

There are 3 types of IR heaters:

• ceiling;
• floor;
• wall-mounted

The former can become an element of a suspended ceiling, and if you place the IR above the window, it will cut off cold air. The direction of radiation is adjusted using special suspensions.

Floor models are mobile. They can be moved to any desired place or taken with you into nature. Wall-mounted IRs are involved in creating the interior. They can disguise themselves as a panel, a painting, or a wall lamp.

The most convenient to use are PLENs or film electric heaters. They are strips of heat-resistant transparent film with a maximum thickness of 0.4 mm in different sizes. The emitters are placed between layers of plastic and connected to each other via conductive copper busbars.

The efficiency of PLEN film heaters ranges from 95 to 98%. The film is placed on the ceiling, on the floor under the finishing coating and even under the carpet

The film is sometimes used as a heated floor without screed. It itself warms up to an average of 50⁰, so it cannot burn or cause a fire. The disadvantage of an infrared heater is its constant glow.

Year-round heating of the room together with gas heating in the apartment

Living in an apartment, many people face problems such as “freezing in winter.” Therefore, gas heating in apartments is becoming increasingly popular. After connecting your private unit, you become a completely independent person. Now you no longer have to freeze and wait for utility companies to connect the gas - now you decide when to turn on the boiler in the apartment and when not.

Rice. 1 Gas individual heating system in the apartment

But, unfortunately, not everything is as simple as it might seem at first glance. Connecting individual heating requires considerable preparation. Many people argue about this. Some say that it is impossible to install a gas individual boiler in apartment buildings, while others, on the contrary, are in favor of connecting it. As they say, as many people as there are so many opinions.

Thanks to individual heating, you will no longer need to wear a huge amount of warm clothing in order to keep warm. This will all remain a thing of the past, because you will discover the heating season in your apartment yourself. If you managed to obtain permission to install individual heating, then you will understand that winter is a wonderful time of year.

Project development and installation work

Installation of a new system begins with the dismantling of old heating equipment.
You need to plan a private heating system for an apartment taking into account its area and planning features.

The project must be done taking into account the following restrictions:

• moving the riser;
• removal of heaters to the balcony;
• demolition of the partition between the kitchen and living room;
• moving the bathroom.

When planning a strapping scheme, the choice is made from the following options:

• radiators - cast iron, steel, bimetallic;
• pipes - plastic, brass, steel;
• method - one-pipe or two-pipe;
• circulation - natural or forced;
• wiring - top or bottom;
• connection - vertical or horizontal;
• interchange scheme - with dead-end highways or throughways.

It is recommended to pour distilled water into the system to avoid scale formation.
The construction of an individual heating system is carried out in the following sequence:

1. Dismantling of old communications. It is no longer advisable to use them; it is better to install new and more efficient ones. First, the batteries are disconnected, then the piping, and lastly the pipes near the riser. The holes are welded tightly or a pipe with a thread for a plug is attached to them. In some cases, part of the riser with bends is cut off and a new fragment is welded in its place.
2. The boiler is being installed. If necessary, a stable base is made for it next to the external wall. Then the product is aligned vertically.
3. Radiators are being installed. To fasten them, strong and reliable hooks with dowels or anchor products are used if the work is carried out in a brick building.
4. The harness is being laid. Branches extend throughout all rooms. It is advisable to use reinforced polypropylene pipes, which have better characteristics compared to analogues. Assembly is carried out with a special soldering iron.
5. Ball valves are installed in front of the batteries, after which they are connected to the supply and return.
6. The tightness of the assembled circuit is checked. To do this, use a compressor with a pressure gauge or soap foam.
7. The boiler is connected through a meter to the gas main. A shut-off valve is installed on the pipe.
8. The circuit is filled with water. Air is released through Mayevsky's taps.

Boiler selection

The most economical option is a solid fuel stove with a heat accumulator.
To heat a room efficiently, you need to choose the right energy source. It is desirable that the supply of fuel to the boiler be constant.

The simplest solution is to install a solid fuel stove burning coal or wood. There is no need to obtain permission to construct such a structure. In addition, there is no need to connect to a water supply system. The closed circuit is filled once, and then water is added in small portions as it evaporates from the expansion tank. The disadvantage of this option is regular cleaning of the chimney and rapid burning of fuel. The way out of the situation is to buy a long-burning stove. At one gas station, a good fireplace works for up to 12 hours. You should constantly monitor the availability of coal and firewood, regularly replenishing their supply.

Electric boilers are distinguished by their compactness and clean heating process. The energy you receive is limitless, you just need to pay your bills on time. In case of a blackout, you can buy a small generator that has a place on the balcony or in the closet. The downside is that electricity is expensive, the heating season will cost a pretty penny. Therefore, such systems are in most cases installed in non-gas high-rise buildings.

Gas boilers are the most suitable choice for creating an individual heating system. The products are reliable, small in size and high in performance. The devices are completely safe thanks to automation, which turns off the gas supply when its pressure drops to a certain level. The downside is that you need to drill a hole in the wall to lead the chimney to the street. This negatively affects the strength of load-bearing structures and the aesthetics of the facade.

Comparative analysis based on other criteria

In addition to the questions: the cheaper it is to heat a house, fuel consumption and efficiency, various heat generation options can be compared according to other parameters:

1. From an environmental point of view, it is better to use equipment that runs on electricity. Then there is a gas boiler and combined gas-electricity systems.
2. Electric convectors and infrared emitters have advantages in terms of complexity and cost of maintenance. The most demanding in terms of this parameter will be solid fuel systems, which require daily cleaning and loading.
3. In terms of installation complexity, hybrid systems rank first, for example, solar collectors - gas boiler. The easiest to install is electrical equipment, followed by solid fuel boilers. Gas devices are installed, tested, and serviced only by special organizations and require a large number of permits.
4. According to safety criteria, any heating system can lead to unpleasant consequences if used incorrectly. Possible electric shocks, fires, and gas explosions.

Nuances of operation

Heating systems have their own operating characteristics depending on the quality of installation and type of equipment.

Systems of the same type work differently because:

• fuel of a different quality is used;
• coolant parameters differ;
• a local zone of low pressure has formed in the expansion tank;
• air is sucked into the circuit due to a leak;
• air diffusion occurs through the surface of pipes made of plastic;
• During the installation of the pipeline, plugs were allowed to form, for example, when soldering pipes.

About fuel storage

To prepare a supply of firewood for the entire season, you will need a room protected from moisture. Coal, briquettes and pellets also require special storage conditions.

To contain liquid fuels, you will need a plastic or metal container, which should not be in the basement.

Ground placement is acceptable if its volume is less than 150 m³. In other cases, you need a separate warehouse that is not connected to the boiler room, or underground storage.

Equipment service

Primary and additional heating in a cottage or private house require periodic inspection, repair and replacement of components. The following signs indicate the need for work:

• Coolant is leaking from radiators and pipes;
• seething or noise is heard in the system;
• uneven heating in different rooms and floors;
• The system functions worse than at startup.

Possible causes of problems:

• design errors;
• the tightness of the connections is broken;
• Radiators are installed incorrectly;
• air pockets interfere with coolant circulation;
• equipment was installed in bad faith;
• due to incorrect connections, the system was unbalanced;
• use of low-quality components.

How to install a gas boiler for heating in an apartment

It’s not worth saying much about the operating principle of a gas boiler, since everything is already clear there. Water enters the heat exchanger, then it is heated to the required temperature, and then distributed throughout the heating system.

What you need to have or do before installing individual heating:

• In order to install gas heating in an apartment, you must first obtain permission for this (from the gas service).
• Select, calculate and then purchase the necessary equipment for individual heating of the room.
• The room or area where the boiler will be located must be prepared accordingly. You can make the appropriate repairs, punch a hole for the coaxial pipe if there is no chimney, etc.
• Thanks to the gas heating system in the apartment, you will no longer depend on a centralized gas main.
• You also need to think about ventilation of the room, as this guarantees the safety of using the unit for all family members.

Of course, it will not be possible to quickly install an individual heating system, since collecting documents according to the list will take a lot of time.

Rice. 4 Autonomous heating in the apartment

Below are the conditions under which gas heating can be installed in apartments:

• An individual gas boiler in an apartment can be installed in rooms with an area of ​​more than 4 m², but in no case less.
• There should also be more natural light in the room where the individual heating system will be located, that is, the presence of a window (with a window that will open for ventilation) is mandatory.
• There must be a cold water pipeline.
• For individual gas heating you need a chimney. If this is not the case in a high-rise building, then you can install a coaxial pipe that passes through the wall.
• When the gas unit is operating, ventilation should also work well.

If you follow all these simple rules, then the installation of individual heating in an apartment will take place quickly and without any problems. You can install an individual system yourself, but it’s still not worth it - it’s better to contact a specialist.

Autonomous heating in the apartment

Alternative heating of a cottage or private house based on biofuel

Biogas can be obtained from biomass, which includes various organic wastes - plants, manure, wastewater. The main process for producing biogas is decomposition through bacteria. Houses with one floor will be most efficiently heated using logs, wood pellet chips, and pressed waste from the woodworking industry. To ensure that fuel gets into the boiler, today fully automated heating options for a country house are used. If you install a boiler that runs on fuel such as firewood or logs, it must be loaded manually.

Pellet boiler with loading hopper

Alternative type heating boilers can operate on pellets.

The implementation of such a heating system can be in several versions, but what they will have in common is the automatic fuel supply. This makes it possible for no person to be near the boiler. Such a system allows you to maintain exactly the temperature values ​​that were set by the residents of the house.

Flaws

• It is necessary to take your heating system more seriously, monitor the serviceability of the equipment, and periodically clean the chimney. After all, if the boiler fails, the owner will be left alone with the problem. And if it’s -40°C outside, and it’s night at that, in the best case they will only come to you the next day. Therefore, before installing individual gas heating in an apartment, you should weigh all the pros and cons.
• It is necessary to vent combustion products outside.
• High cost of equipment and installation.
• A gas burner at high-power operating modes “eats” the oxygen in the apartment. To replenish oxygen, you must constantly keep some window open.
• The consent of the other residents of the house should be obtained.
• The heating system is completely dependent on gas supply.

• Replacing heating radiators in an apartment and private house
• Heating on balconies and loggias: implementation options
• Infrared ceramic heater: types, application, operating principle
• Gas heating convectors: design, installation, advantages
• Gas fireplace for a country house and cottage
• Outdoor temperature sensor for gas boiler

Preparatory work

Before starting work on heating installation in a private house, it is necessary to carry out preparatory work. Their goal is to reduce the possibility of downtime for the installation team to a minimum during the work process. Preparatory work includes:

• Ensuring construction readiness - the thermal circuit must be closed, the premises must be cleared of construction debris, there must be interfloor ceilings or joists
• Construction of niches for the installation of radiators and manifold cabinets - if necessary
• Preparing the wall surface for installing radiators - preferably a fine finish
• Complete finishing of the boiler room
• Making all the necessary holes in the interfloor ceilings, making grooves and niches

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Heating scheme

Centralized heat supply systems use a single-pipe circuit, which is inferior in efficiency to a two-pipe circuit. A single pipe system can only be used for a small number of radiators in situations where savings are needed.

The optimal choice for individual heating is a two-pipe scheme. It has many advantages:

• use of pipes and fittings of smaller diameter;
• high pressure stability in the system;
• the ability to use automatic flow regulators on all batteries, which will operate without compromising the heating of other radiators;
• independent connection of each radiator, allowing it to be removed for maintenance or gaining access to the niche during repairs.

Features of heating a city apartment

Installation of heating systems

In an apartment building, it is difficult to equip separate chimneys and ensure a normal level of air supply to create effective draft and improve gas combustion.

Therefore, heating an apartment with a parapet-type gas boiler is the most convenient and acceptable option. This device differs from conventional products in that its operation does not require the construction of a separate and bulky chimney.

1. To supply oxygen, which is necessary for fuel combustion, there is a horizontal chimney with an additional pipe built inside. This product is called a coaxial chimney.
2. Air enters through an external pipe, and combustion products are discharged through the inside of this device.
3. The coaxial product is installed horizontally through the outer wall of the room.
4. As a heat exchanger in such devices, as a rule, copper pipes are used, which have a high level of thermal conductivity and rapid heating. The efficiency factor (efficiency) of parapet gas boilers is at least 90%.

What types of boilers are there for individual heating?

There are many types of heating units that can be installed in apartments:

• Single-circuit boiler.
  This device is only suitable for heating a room. If you also need to heat water for family use, then such a unit will not be suitable. Of course, you can install it, but you will also have to additionally purchase a boiler to heat the water, and this, in turn, is fraught with extra costs.
• Double-circuit boiler.
  This heating unit is the most popular, since thanks to it you can also use hot water around the clock. The dimensions of such boilers are quite compact, so they can be installed even in a small kitchen.

If you choose from these two options, then, of course, the second option will be the best. Individual boilers in apartments are installed on the walls, which saves usable space in the kitchen. Many modern high-rise buildings do not have chimneys. But this is not a reason to give up on your dream - installing a gas unit. After all, there is another excellent way through which combustion products are removed outside. This is the installation of a coaxial pipe, or it is also called a coaxial chimney.

Gas boilers can have an open combustion chamber or a closed one. For an open chamber, a chimney is a prerequisite for installing gas heating in apartments. If an individual heating unit has a closed combustion chamber, then a coaxial pipe can be installed to remove combustion products, which simultaneously supplies oxygen to the combustion chamber and removes unnecessary substances through another hole.

Rice. 2 Gas heating in the apartment

What are the benefits of boilers with a closed combustion chamber:

• Such units for individual heating are safer to use for others, as they prevent combustion products from entering the room.
• They are easy to use and have a much longer service life.

Also, many gas heating units only work when there is electricity. Therefore, if you live in an area where electricity often goes out, then you need to acquire an additional power source. After all, you don’t want to freeze in severe frosts.

general information

You should prepare for the fact that the heating supply organization will be against installing autonomous heating, because Almost throughout the entire territory of Russia, it is prohibited to disconnect an individual apartment from the central heating supply and switch it to an autonomous one (an exception is if the transition is carried out by the entire house). There are quite understandable reasons for this, such as:

• An installed individual boiler can unbalance the entire heating system of an apartment building, which will “suffer” neighboring apartments;
• The hydraulics of the system will be disrupted;
• Often, to install autonomous heating in a separate apartment, it is necessary to increase the diameter of the gas supply pipes, because otherwise, the pressure in the system may drop, which in turn will lead to malfunctions of gas stoves;
• There is no guarantee that the apartment owner will comply with all necessary security requirements;

Also, before installation, you should pay attention to the presence of a chimney system in the house, which is mainly present in old houses. Unfortunately, in modern houses ventilation is provided only in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen

Important! It should be remembered that if you managed to install autonomous heating, you must periodically clean the chimney, which becomes clogged with soot, which negatively affects the efficiency of the gas boiler

Gas wall-mounted boiler Bosch Gaz 4000W. ZWA24-2A23 S5700

Where to get the necessary documents

Collecting documents can take a lot of time and effort, because you will have to contact many services and organizations.

1. For permission to disconnect your apartment from the general heating system, go to the city heating network. You can receive a refusal only in one case - if dismantling the radiators leads to disruption of the operation of equipment in neighboring apartments.
2. Specifications for the installation of gas equipment are provided by the gas service. To receive them, you need to go to the district housing office, from where you must send a letter with the request to the service.
3. The refurbishment plan is handled by the design organization. This plan should contain all information about the future system, technical solutions and calculations.
4. A completed redevelopment project requires approval from the authorities from whom you received the technical specifications, as well as the fire service and SES authorities.

Characteristics of an autonomous heating system

AO allows you to regulate the temperature and select fuel, which significantly reduces heating costs.
A massive transition to stove gas heating in apartment buildings was observed at the end of the last and beginning of this century. This event was then banned as problems with central supply began to arise. To install a boiler and refuse the services of a management company, you must obtain a decision from the city council, which always stands on the side of large service providers.

From the consumer’s point of view, individual heating in an apartment building has the following advantages:

• The ability to make an independent decision regarding when to start the heating season. At the same time, you can adjust the temperature, on and off time. And this can only mean an increase in the level of living comfort.
• You only need to pay for the energy actually consumed. When using the services of public utilities, you have to pay for heat loss, the organization’s profit and other related expenses.
• Possibility of independent choice of heating technology and layout of heating elements. Selection of installation options not only according to technical, but also aesthetic criteria.
• Minimum and controlled energy consumption with high heat output. Setting the optimal temperature depending on the weather and physiological state.

The main disadvantage of JSC is the high cost of initial investment in equipment.
The disadvantages are as follows:

• Dependence on centralized energy supplies. If the gas pressure decreases or there is a power failure, the boiler stops working.
• High cost of initial investment. It is necessary to pay for technical conditions, materials and equipment, the work of craftsmen and subsequent repairs, since installation is accompanied by damage to the finish.
• Regular inspections, checks and adjustments are required. All this requires a waste of time and money.
• The need to purchase and keep backup heating devices in readiness. This is not only additional financial costs, but also the allocation of space for their storage.

Efficient boilers for space heating

For each type of fuel there is equipment that works best.

Condensing gas

Cheap heating in the presence of a gas main can be performed using condensing-type boilers.

Fuel savings in such a boiler are 30-35%. This occurs due to double heat extraction in the heat exchanger and condenser.

The equipment is available with non-simulated and simulated burners. The latter adapt to different combustion modes - during operation they gradually change power.

The following types of boilers are produced:

• wall-mounted – for small areas of apartments, houses and cottages;
• floor-mounted – heat apartment buildings, industrial facilities, large offices;
• single-circuit – for heating only;
• double-circuit – heating and hot water.

In addition to all the advantages, the installations also have disadvantages:

1. Higher price compared to equipment of outdated designs.
2. The boiler must be connected to a sewer system to drain condensate.
3. The device is sensitive to air quality.
4. Energy dependence.

Pyrolysis

Pyrolysis heat generators operate on solid fuel. These are relatively economical boilers for a private home.

The principle of their operation is based on the process of pyrolysis - the release of gas from wood during its smoldering. The coolant is heated by combustion of gas, which enters the chamber from the loading compartment, and subsequent combustion of charcoal.

Pyrolysis-type systems are made with forced ventilation, powered by an electrical network, or natural, created by a high chimney.

Before starting such a boiler, it must be preheated to +500...+800˚С. After which the fuel is loaded, the pyrolysis mode is started, and the smoke exhauster is turned on.

Black coal burns the longest in the installation - 10 hours, followed by brown coal - 8 hours, hard wood - 6, soft wood - 5 hours.

The best fuel for extending the life of equipment and generating large amounts of heat is firewood with a humidity of 20-25%.

Solid fuel

In addition to pyrolysis systems, which cost 2-3 times more than classic ones, do not operate on damp fuel, and have smoke contaminated with ash, automated versions of standard solid fuel boilers are used to heat the house.

To select the right equipment, you need to determine what type of fuel is most available in your region of residence.

If there are nightly electricity tariffs, then combined systems can be used, for example, wood and electricity, coal and electricity.

It is believed that the required power is taken at the rate of 1 kW per 10 m² of heated room.

To obtain hot water, you will have to purchase a double-circuit boiler or use indirect heating of a boiler connected to single-circuit equipment.

Electric boiler

Economical heating of a private house without gas can be done at the lowest cost using boilers that run on electricity.

If the device power is up to 9 kW, then there is no need to coordinate with electricity suppliers.

Budget equipment that uses heating elements as a heating element occupies 90% of the market, but is less economical and convenient to use.

Modern induction-type boilers do not have a number of disadvantages (the heating element does not come into contact with water), but at the same time they take up a lot of space and have a high price.

You can save on electricity if:

• monitor the condition of the coolant;
• periodically clean the heating elements;
• use night tariffs for electricity costs;
• install a boiler with multi-stage power control, which operates depending on weather conditions.

Individual heating in the apartment will help avoid cold evenings in winter

It's no secret that apartment buildings (most of them) are poorly heated in winter, and this leads to the fact that all family members get sick more often. But with individual heating in the apartment, these problems can be avoided. After competent specialists connect you to autonomous heating equipment, you will be able to heat the room at any time of the year.

Rice. 1 Individual heating in the apartment

In an apartment, of course, connecting gas equipment will be more difficult than in a private house, but there is nothing wrong with that. You just need to prepare for installation ahead of time - and everything will be fine. Before buying heating equipment, you must first become familiar with those modern units that are the most popular and safest on the heating unit market.

There are many differences in human opinions. Some people say that you can’t install individual heating in an apartment, while others, on the contrary, are for it. In any case, only you will have to weigh the pros and cons. But it is worth noting that after installing heating equipment, you will no longer wear a lot of warm clothes and look like a stuffed animal. Now you will be warm and comfortable in your own apartment.

Latest heating systems

An example of a fairly affordable and at the same time effective system, suitable for both a country house and an apartment, is an electric heated floor. By incurring relatively small expenses for the installation of such heating, you can provide your home with heat and not buy any boilers. There is only one drawback - the cost of electricity. But considering that modern underfloor heating is quite economical, and if you have a multi-tariff meter, this option may be acceptable.

In southern regions with high solar activity, another modern heating system performs well. These are water-based solar collectors installed on the roof of buildings or other open areas. In them, with minimal losses, water is heated directly from the sun, after which it is supplied to the house. One problem is that collectors are absolutely useless at night, as well as in the northern regions.

Various solar systems that take heat from the ground, water and air and transfer it to a private home are installations that implement the most modern heating technologies. Consuming only 3-5 kW of electricity, these units are capable of “pumping” 5-10 times more heat from outside, hence the name – heat pumps. Then, using this thermal energy, you can heat the coolant or air, at your discretion.

Installation features

Installation and adjustment of gas boilers

If you choose from all types of gas devices, then the most acceptable option for an apartment is a wall-mounted double-circuit boiler. With its help you can provide heat in the room and hot water for domestic needs. And placing it on the wall will significantly save usable space.

If in private houses you can even choose a separate room for a heating unit, then for a city apartment the most acceptable option is a kitchen, which already has a gas stove, cold water supply and, as a rule, reliable ventilation. Therefore, installing gas heating in the kitchen is the best solution for a small city apartment.

Modern double-circuit type products include a circulation pump, the operation of which requires a constant supply of electric current. In the event of an emergency with electricity supply, a backup power source in the form of a power plant is installed in country houses.

Important! This cannot be allowed in an apartment, so for emergency connection you can use an uninterruptible power supply, like for a computer, only more powerful. It will last for several hours of operation until the emergency on electrical networks is eliminated.

For normal operation of a gas boiler, an expansion tank is also required, which must constantly contain water for the heating system. When heated, water or another type of coolant expands, and its excess enters this container, and when cooled, it goes back into the system. That is, the principle of operation of the expansion tank is the same as for the car cooling system.

Installation of gas boilers is strictly prohibited in the following cases:

• installing devices near flammable objects
• in the hallway and bathroom due to increased humidity and reduced fresh air supply
• in dormitories
• in the basement and on the balcony
• in the basement, which is located below ground level
• in rooms not equipped with windows

Regarding the basement floor, installation of gas equipment is allowed if there is special permission from the regulatory authorities.

Stove heating

This option of providing rooms with heat has been considered for many centuries as the most reliable method of heating. And although stove heating, along with all its shortcomings, today can no longer compete with systems that are superior to it in terms of economy, efficiency and productivity, it is still very common in houses and cottages remote from central gas mains and used for temporary residence.

The main advantage of such heating is independence, relatively inexpensive type of fuel and its availability. Stoves heated with oak wood or high-quality coal can provide heat for a fairly large cottage in the most severe frosts, and they can be used as a boiler to heat the water circuit of the radiators. Most owners maintain their stoves by connecting them to radiators for primary, secondary or backup heating purposes.

Types of stoves and optimal location in a residential area

The disadvantage of this option for heating rooms is the labor-intensive and rather lengthy process of installing heating structures, which requires the knowledge and skills of a craftsman. But on the Internet you can find a huge number of “orders” of almost any type of heating stove:

• on one or two floors of a cottage;
• with cooking panel and oven;
• stoves-fireplaces;
• sauna stoves;
• angular and straight;
• with and without a heating pipe;
• with elements of water treatment for hygiene procedures - heating water in a stove boiler;
• with various bed options.

Heating system for two floors

Detailed instructions allow you to assemble the stove frame yourself and even connect the water circuit yourself for a large house. It is worth noting that classic stove heating involves heating rooms using adjacent walls. Accordingly, it is important to correctly position this traditional heating “device” and choose a project designed for a specific area.

If you do not plan to connect water heating, a large Russian stove is placed in the center of the house, and its walls should extend into all existing rooms. The firebox and oven are installed in the kitchen. If you have a therapeutic stove bed in this room, you can arrange an additional place for useful rest.

All Russian stoves have a so-called summer operation for use in the warm season for cooking. A sauna stove and a water treatment compartment can be attached to such a structure.

Features of stove heating

Stove heating is a system whose main element is the stove. For its manufacture, both brick and metal with brick cladding can be used.

A stove in a country house can operate on absolutely any type of fuel. The most accessible and cheapest source of heat is, of course, firewood, although it is extremely expensive due to its large volume. When choosing a project for permanent residence in a house, you need to give preference to types with large fireboxes, into which you can load the daily amount of fuel.

Wood heating of a country house

To improve efficiency, so-called “eternal” logs are used, this improves efficiency and reduces firewood consumption by 30%. This option is especially suitable for small buildings heated by potbelly stoves.

The device has three modes of use:

• active heating;
• maintaining temperature - smoldering;
• summer mode.

We emphasize that when using stoves, there is a fairly significant difference between the temperatures under the ceiling and at floor level.

Construction of the furnace

Organizing stove heating in a home is a solvable task that absolutely every person can accomplish. Although there is no way to do this without certain theoretical knowledge and skills in creating brickwork.

Sectional structure of the furnace

Furnaces can be built in various ways. Russian, Finnish, German and Swedish projects for various purposes have been proposed. They differ in size and design method.

The only conditions for the methods under consideration are the organization of effective waterproofing and the pouring of a high-quality foundation. Fewer problems arise with the arrangement of a potbelly stove, since structures of this kind are sold in completely finished form. After purchasing, all you need to do is cover the product with brick.

Cladding a metal stove with bricks

A metal stove with a brick lining is slightly more expensive than a conventional brick design. However, if you have certain skills in welding metals, then such a product can be made completely independently. Even if you hire a qualified welder, making a metal structure yourself in a country house will still be cheaper than buying it in a specialized store.

Such furnaces have a water circuit and are used as heating boilers. The body of such a mini-boiler house running on solid fuel can be structures built from heat-resistant bricks.

Types of autonomous heating

Scheme of autonomous heating in a private house - the heating circuit is connected to the stove.
Autonomous heating is a system independent of the utility network that provides heat to real estate. This structure consists of a heating device, pipes and radiators. The difference lies in the energy source and coolant.

Traditional system

Traditional gas heating in an apartment building is a closed water circuit connected to a central water supply. The liquid is heated in the boiler, and circulation is ensured by the temperature difference in different parts of the piping. Such a design can be called completely autonomous, conditionally, since its performance depends on the supply of water, electricity and gas to the building. If one component is missing, the device turns off.

• environmental friendliness, absence of harmful emissions;
• silent operation;
• safety achieved by installing high-quality control devices;
• no need for expensive maintenance;
• long service life;
• tangible money savings.

Design disadvantages:

• expensive and complex installation;
• apartment renovation required after installation;
• regular inspections by inspectors.

Air system

The air in the room is always fresh, since there is a constant intake from the street.
The design consists of a heating boiler, a blower and an air duct system that passes through all rooms. Warm air, after cooling, passes through filters, enters the heater and is again supplied to the rooms. An electric coil, gas or water circuit is used as a heater. To keep the air fresh, it is constantly taken from the street.

• effective distribution of heated masses throughout the room;
• efficiency due to controlled ventilation;
• simplicity and reliability of design;
• no risk of defrosting;
• possibility of air purification and sterilization;
• ease of maintenance.

Design disadvantages:

• dependence on electricity;
• bulkiness of air ducts;
• difficulty in combining highways in the interior of the apartment.

Direct electric heating

Electric heating is cheaper than gas
heating Home heating with electricity is convenient because you do not need to create complex and bulky circuits or be tied to water and gas. It is enough to purchase reliable cables and high-quality equipment. To heat the premises, convectors, fans, oil and infrared heaters, heated floors and heated towel rails are used.

Advantages of using electrical appliances:

• environmental cleanliness;
• noiselessness;
• reliability;
• no need to obtain permission;
• possibility of DIY installation;
• equipment mobility;
• no need for maintenance;
• use for heating water for domestic needs.

Disadvantages of electrical equipment:

• shutdown when the current supply is interrupted;
• the need to lay a separate line, additional protective and distribution devices;
• large amount of energy consumed, high electricity bills.

Types of heating

Gas heating

Using gas as an energy source for heating a country house is currently the most optimal solution. Modern gas boilers do not require constant monitoring, are easy to maintain, have compact sizes and are safe to use.

A gas boiler

The energy supply is carried out through the main line, from which there is a connection to the consumer. Gas supplies are usually uninterrupted. At the same time, housing is not always located in close proximity to the highway, therefore, to create an autonomous heating system for a house, other methods of organizing heating should be considered.

Gas heating of a country house has a number of advantages:

• Installation and operation are quite simple. Standardization of fasteners and connecting parts for gas equipment greatly simplifies installation difficulties.
• It is quite possible to carry out some types of installation work on your own. But at the same time, commissioning work must be carried out by specialized specialists.
• The equipment has high efficiency compared to other heating methods. The use of a pressure pump in the system allows the coolant to be delivered to distant rooms and heated in the shortest possible time.
• The relatively low cost of gas makes it possible to save money.
• High level of safety when operating gas boilers subject to fire and explosion safety standards. In addition, there is virtually no chance of poisoning from fuel combustion products.
• Additionally, safety is guaranteed by the presence of control and measuring equipment.
• A small amount of substances harmful to the environment makes the heating process environmentally friendly.
• The combination of significant equipment power with its compactness. The gas boiler is integrated harmoniously into the interior.
• Sufficiently long service life of boiler equipment.

Gas heating is convenient.
To objectively assess the characteristics of gas heating in a country house, you should understand that:

1. All activities for its organization must be coordinated with the relevant organizations, which requires some time.
2. The use of gas equipment for heating is advisable if the area of ​​the heated premises is more than 100 sq.m.

Electric heating

Electric boiler

Traditional electric heaters use water or oil as a coolant. The principle of operation in this case is to heat the refractory element and transfer thermal energy to the coolant, which circulates through the heating system, releasing heat into the premises. At the same time, the required temperature regime is ensured for a long time, which allows saving electrical energy.

Electric boiler

Design must be carried out by a suitably qualified electrician. During the calculations, it is necessary to take into account the inevitable losses of thermal energy and the power of the unit, as well as the area of ​​the heated room and the set temperature in it.

The heating system consists of an electric boiler, pipes and radiators. The determining parameter for achieving the required temperature is the power indicator of the boiler equipment.

In addition, it is necessary to calculate the number of required radiators. In this case, their material, room area and design features of the radiators should be taken into account.

Warm floor

Implementing a heating system based on the principle of underfloor heating is a more economical and efficient way to heat a home. It is not fundamentally different from the case when boiler equipment is used. The difference is that there are no radiators, and heat is transferred from the coolant through tubes installed in the concrete screed. The coolant is heated by a heating element.

This heating method creates uniform heating throughout the room by moving warm air upward according to the laws of physics.

Warm floor

Installation of such a structure is characterized by certain difficulties. At the same time, it is possible to regulate the power of the equipment and save energy.

Electrical panels

Organizing heating in a country house by installing electrical panels greatly simplifies installation work. The heating device consists of thin double plates. In them, the air is heated and discharged through a grille or special openings. The convective heat transfer used in this case eliminates all possible heating problems. The panel is mounted on the wall, and the power cable is connected to the in-house power supply system. No special skills are required for this.

The number of convectors is determined in accordance with the volume of the heated space and the power of the equipment. It is recommended to install the panels next to the balcony door or place them below the windows. This arrangement is due to the fact that heat loss can occur in these places.

For a country house, this solution is optimal, provided there is a constant power supply. It will take a fairly short time to reach the required temperature.

Warm baseboard and infrared heating

It should be understood that to solve the problem of heating the entire area of ​​the house using an infrared heater is not enough. It is effective in cases where it is necessary to warm up a room in the shortest possible time. The design of the heating element has undergone certain improvements, and modern devices use heating elements or film heaters. A reflector is used to give direction to the flow of thermal energy.

Such panels are more of a backup heating option

The design of film heaters allows the device to be mounted on a wall. Introducing decorative elements into its design makes it possible to add additional detail to the interior.

It is possible to heat the premises of a country house using panels, but a warm baseboard system is more effective. The name of the device fully corresponds to the installation method: it is placed around the perimeter of the room in the form of a floor plinth. Electricity consumption is reduced due to the low power of the system. This design is aesthetically pleasing. The warm plinth does not take up any extra space, but runs in accordance with the configuration of the floor plinth.

Warm baseboard

A combination of heating methods for a country house allows you to achieve significant savings. For example, small rooms can be heated using underfloor heating or baseboard systems, medium-sized rooms can be heated using panels, and for large rooms, water heating can be used with an electric boiler.

How to install a gas boiler in an apartment

The operating principle of such units is quite simple - water from the heating system passes through the heat exchanger. As a result of the combustion of blue fuel, it is heated in a heat exchanger and then distributed through pipes and radiators.

• obtain a number of permissions from the relevant services
• purchase equipment
• prepare the room
• remodel the heating system - cut it off from centralized communications
• equip ventilation and provide for the installation of a chimney

The list of documents that need to be collected will be provided to you by the gas supply organization. Moreover, this is not an easy, troublesome and quite lengthy task.

Installation of a gas boiler in an apartment is carried out by specialized organizations subject to certain rules:

1. The area of ​​the room in which the equipment will be located must be at least 4 square meters.
2. Good natural light - per 10 square meters of area a window measuring 0.3 square meters is required. m. A prerequisite is the presence of a window.
3. The width of the entrance door is at least 80 centimeters.
4. The height of the room is at least 2.5 meters.
5. Availability of a cold water pipeline.
6. Output from the ground loop.
7. Chimney installation.
8. The presence of a ventilation duct.
9. Smooth and plastered walls.

If the room is equipped in compliance with these simple rules, and the appropriate documents are available, then you can begin installing gas equipment. It is strictly prohibited to carry out installation on your own, as this should only be done by employees of a specialized organization.

Liquefied gas

In terms of cost per kilowatt of energy, liquefied gas ranks third.

There are different ways to deliver and store it, but the smaller the volume, the more expensive the final price. Therefore, a gas holder is needed for a permanent home, and for a small dacha, which is rarely visited in cold weather, you can get by with several 50-liter cylinders. When using a gas holder, the price of a kilowatt of heat from burning liquefied gas is 2.3-2.5 rubles, the use of cylinders raises the bar by 50 kopecks.

You can also heat yourself in different ways.

The simplest system is direct combustion of gas to produce heat without heating the intermediate coolant, pipework and radiators. For this purpose, gas convectors and infrared heaters are used. Their operating principle and design are different, but they have one thing in common - availability of equipment, compactness and operation from bottled gas. The disadvantage is the power limitation and heating of only one room. For example, infrared and catalytic gas heaters from AYGAZ have a maximum power of 6.2 kW.

With such a compact infrared heater you can heat up to 40 m2Source vps-region.ru

The gas tank allows you to build a full-fledged autonomous water heating system, and the frequency of refilling depends on the volume of the container, heating area and operating mode. In terms of ease of operation and maintenance, the system ranks second after electric heating. But it requires significant initial investment for the purchase of a gas tank, its installation (usually underground) and the laying of communications (pipes for connection to the boiler and electrical cable for the tank heating system).

Another difficulty for a gas tank is choosing a location. It should be located close enough to the house and be accessible for gas refilling. Source zaprosotvet.ru

How to get permission

For permission to install autonomous heating, you need to contact the district administration, or rather, the interdepartmental commission responsible for the use of the housing stock. No later than a month and a half later, the commission gives an official response. At the administration you can get a list of documents that you need to provide to obtain permission.

Sample list of documents

Since the installation of an individual heating system relates to the refurbishment of a residential premises, the list of documents will include:

• a statement written in a special form;
• documents establishing your right to own housing: state registration certificate, ownership transfer agreement, gift agreement, document confirming the right of inheritance (original documents or copies certified by a notary);
• certified copies for all owners and a statement signed by all owners (if the apartment is in shared ownership);
• a copy of the technical passport of the premises;
• consent of family members of the tenant and all residents of the apartment building, documented in the form of minutes of the meeting of apartment owners (if the apartment is municipal);
• conclusion of the body responsible for the protection of architectural monuments, historical or cultural heritage on the possibility of redevelopment (if the house is an architectural, cultural or historical monument).

The most difficult thing will be to prepare and provide technical documentation. These include:

• redevelopment project for the installation of a gas boiler, including gasification of the premises and changes to the central heating system;
• a copy of the passport for the electric boiler, technical conditions, agreement confirming the permission of the maximum power, which exceeds the boiler power (when choosing an electric heating device);
• Specifications for disconnecting the wiring in the apartment from the communal heating system;
• Specifications for ventilation;
• Specifications for connecting gas networks.

Water heating

This type of heating belongs to the category of the simplest and most reliable. The operating principle of water heating is based on heating water using a boiler and its subsequent distribution to room radiators thanks to a piping system.

The use of a circulation pump ensures constant circulation of water in this closed system. The coolant in a water heating system is usually water or antifreeze, and the boiler can operate on coal, wood, natural gas, kerosene and other types of fuel.

Water heating includes the following main elements: boiler, pipelines, batteries, expansion tank, circulation pump, pressure gauges, shut-off valves, automatic air vents, safety valves.

Pipelines used for water heating can be made of various materials:

1. Steel.
2. Copper.
3. Polymer materials.

Steel pipelines, unlike stainless or galvanized ones, are characterized by low corrosion resistance. Copper pipelines are highly reliable and can withstand high temperatures and pressures.

Pipelines made of polymer materials are quite durable, eliminate the formation of sediment on internal surfaces, and are highly resistant to corrosion.

Their disadvantage is the presence of a large coefficient of thermal expansion, which contributes to the formation of leaks.

Thus, the most efficient water heating of a cottage or private house can be achieved using copper pipelines. This opinion is shared by the vast majority of experts.

The only drawback of pipelines made of copper is their comparative high cost, which is compensated by their absolute reliability and ability to last for several generations.

Water heating scheme. Click to enlarge.

Indoor piping can be done using single-pipe, double-pipe or manifold.

Single-pipe wiring does not allow full control of the performance of the entire system due to the impossibility of blocking access of the coolant to one of the radiators.

The option using a two-pipe system is the most efficient (for individual houses) heating, allowing you to freely adjust the temperature inside each room.

This type of wiring involves supplying cold and hot pipelines to each radiator. The distribution of pipelines can be carried out in a star-shape or in the form of a “loop”.

Manifold wiring involves connecting supply and return pipelines to each heating device from a common manifold.

Manifold systems are distinguished by a high degree of versatility due to ease of installation and adjustment, the ability to replace damaged sections of pipelines (without destroying the floor structure).

Which heating is better (single-circuit, double-circuit or collector) for a country house? The answer is obvious - two-pipe and collector.