How does a boiler work in an apartment building

What criteria to choose

There are 3 main criteria for this process:

Volume. It is not necessary to set the maximum device for this value. This may lead to financial difficulties in the future. Since more water will go into a container of sufficient volume, the bill for its consumption will be higher. It is worth remembering that the larger the volume of the installation, the more it will come into contact with the coil, which can lead to heating of the coolant.
Power. This criterion affects the heating of water. For a full-fledged heating process, a water heater with an indicator of 8-12 kW is suitable.
Diameter. This criterion depends on the area of \u200b\u200bthe room where the device is installed.

Installation and operation of a heating boiler

Boiler in the heating system

After performing all the necessary calculations of the boiler power and its volume, you can proceed to integrate the device into the heating system

An important task is to determine the installation site. Having decided on the purpose of the boiler in the heating system, you need to read the instructions for its installation

The best option would be to install in the immediate vicinity of the boiler. In this case, the transfer of thermal energy from the coolant to water is the most efficient.

But at the same time, you may encounter the following difficulties in organizing heating using a boiler:

Supply of the DHW system. In a heating system with a solid fuel boiler, it is most convenient to place the boiler directly in the boiler room. But then, to supply heated water to the premises, you need a separate pump and control devices for it;
Large capacity. if heating is planned through a boiler for large residential areas. There is a problem with the placement of the heating element;
Power supply to ensure the operation of the heating element. For the normal functioning of the boiler for heating a private house, it is also recommended to install an autonomous source of electricity.

Having solved these questions, you can proceed directly to the installation.

Control of water temperature in heating through the boiler is carried out using the installed thermometer. It is not included in the standard package and therefore it is necessary to purchase this device separately.

Installation of a storage heating tank

To install the heat accumulator, it is necessary to prepare a flat area in advance. Its large weight should be taken into account - if necessary, a separate foundation is made or the floors are reinforced.

The optimal mounting option is on a separate platform. In this way, contact of the body with the concrete surface can be avoided, which will reduce heat losses in the electric boiler for heating. Almost all manufacturers make containers on special legs. In their absence, it is recommended to install a heater on the floor.

The procedure for connecting the boiler to the heating system is to perform the following actions:

After installing the container, you need to check its position relative to the horizon. Deviations are not allowed.
Connect to the heating

It is important that the diameter of the pipes is equal. Otherwise, after connecting the boiler to the heating system, excess hydraulic resistance will appear.
If the installation is carried out in an unheated room, the boiler body is insulated.
A connection is made to hot water supply so that the boiler works not only for heating, but also for hot water.

Upon completion of this work, you need to check the tightness of all connections and start the heating system. Within 2-3 weeks, it is recommended to measure the temperature of the water in the tank and the coolant in the pipes after the boiler is turned off.So you can determine the actual time to maintain the desired level of heating in the heating circuit from the boiler.

In order to make full-fledged heating from a boiler, it is not recommended to use antifreeze. It is characterized by a relatively low heat capacity, which will affect the transfer of heat to water and back to the coolant.

Conditions for proper operation of the boiler

Scale on the heating element of the boiler

Maintaining a storage tank is practically no different from carrying out the necessary procedures to maintain the performance of any electric boiler with heating elements. And in this case, in order for the boiler to work normally in the heating system of a private house, it is required to follow the manufacturer's recommendations.

This can be ensured even before the heat supply from the boiler is done. It is best to purchase models with the so-called "dry heating element". On it, the formation of scale occurs much more slowly. You should also pre-filter the water before entering the storage tank.

In addition to these procedures, you must do the following:

Once a month, check the integrity of the thermal insulation of the structure;
Control the duration of maintaining the temperature of the heat carrier during the mode of operation of heat supply through the boiler. The difference between calculated and actual indicators should not exceed 15%;
Connection tightness control. It is recommended to replace gaskets before each heating season. So you can achieve more reliable heating of a private house with the help of a boiler.

The control unit of some models is sensitive to voltage drops. To avoid damage to this expensive device, you should connect a stabilizer for the boiler in the heating system.

To clean the heating element from scale, it is necessary to dismantle it. But before that, you need to ask the seller whether the factory warranty is preserved.

Preparatory work before installing the boiler

Self-installation of an electric water heater will cost you less than the services of specialists. On average, the job will take about two hours. But in preparation for installation and directly in the process of performing work, you must follow the safety rules.

First of all, you should decide on the model of the boiler: what system it should be - flow or storage, how many liters it is designed for, how it will be mounted - horizontally or vertically, on a wall or under a sink, etc.
The next step is to create a device connection diagram on paper with the designation of hot and cold water tie-ins. Then you need to do the following:
- make room for the water heater and work;
- check the strength of the wall for the ability to withstand the weight with a double margin (for example, if the boiler has a volume of 50 liters, then fasteners are required for a weight equal to 100 kg plus the mass of the empty boiler);
since the water heater is a very powerful consumer of energy, it is necessary to determine in advance the type of wiring (aluminum or copper) and the cross section of the cable laid in the walls, as well as assess the ability of the wiring to withstand the load of an electric boiler (for example, to connect a 2 kW boiler, a copper cable with a cross section of from 2.5 mm2);
check the condition of the water pipes and risers (especially for older houses) - they must be in good condition and have points for connecting a water heater.
Before you start installing the boiler, you need to read the instructions to understand the features of the model, then turn off the electricity and shut off the pipes supplying hot water. It should be remembered that if you live in a multi-storey building, this will temporarily deprive residents of other apartments of hot water, so you need to carefully prepare for work in order to finish it faster.

The strength of the wall can be checked in the following way: mount the fasteners that come with the boiler and hang two bags of cement on it. If the mount can cope with such a load, then it will be able to withstand a water heater, which weighs half as much.

Particular attention should be paid to checking the strength of the wall when installing a large 150-liter boiler. The fastening of such a unit is made on spacer metal anchor bolts or special strong hooks.

Anchors are recommended to be used with a length of 100 mm and a diameter of 10 mm.

It should be borne in mind that the installation of a water heater will require the efforts of two people, since this process is quite laborious. Typically, the boiler is mounted in the bathroom or in the toilet room directly above the toilet. As a rule, this place is not used in any way. At the same time, a free approach should be provided to it.

In a small room, to save usable space, the boiler is usually placed horizontally. A small water heater is attached to the wall, and units with a volume of 200 liters or more are installed on the floor.

Peculiarities

Unlike conventional water heating devices, this device has an inlet pipe (for cold water) mounted at the bottom of the storage tank, and an outlet (for hot water) - from above.

Thus, the liquid must circulate in a closed heating circuit with a fixed temperature, which is reached in the upper part of the tank.

Indirect heating boiler with connection to the boiler

The main difference between such a device and a conventional water heater for heating is the presence of an external source of heating the coolant. It can be solar panels, a boiler, central heating.

From such an auxiliary source, a heat carrier passes through the coil passing through the inside of the boiler, which, in turn, heats the liquid in the tank.

This system is protected by a heat-insulating layer.

Electric storage boiler device

Knowledge of the device and the principle of operation of the unit will allow you to avoid annoying mistakes during installation and operation, and this will increase the duration and safety of use.

What elements does an electric boiler consist of?

Bracket for fixing the boiler to the bearing surface. It is located in the upper part of the device, provides reliable fastening of the boiler. It is made of thick steel sheet, welded to the outer casing by resistance welding.
Cold and hot water supply pipes. The branch pipe for cold water has a small length and a jet divider. Due to this design, cold water is evenly distributed in the lower volume and does not mix with heated water by the pressure of the jet. Heated water rises due to the difference in the densities of cold and hot water. The hot water intake pipe has an increased length, the intake takes place in the upper most heated part of the volume.
Thermal insulation layer. A very important element of the boiler, heat saving indicators largely depend on it. It is made from various modifications of foam.
Thermostat. Adjusts temperature values, automatically turns on / off the power. It is located in the lower part, this must be remembered when adjusting the temperature of water heating.
Internal tank. It can be made of stainless steel (expensive models) or ordinary sheet with an anti-corrosion coating.
A heating element. Power 1.5-2.0 kW, can be "wet" or "dry".
magnesium anode. Appointment - reduction of corrosion processes of the internal tank. How does it function? Water has oxygen that oxidizes iron. Magnesium is highly active and is the first to react with oxygen, due to this its concentration in water decreases, steel rusts more slowly.The frequency of replacement of the magnesium anode depends on the frequency of use of the boiler and averages 5–8 years.
Thermometer. An ordinary bimetallic thermometer is used, the accuracy of readings is ± 2–3 ° С. Some modern models have electronic control units, but this does not affect the quality of operation. But the cost of the boiler increases significantly.
indicator light. Turns on when voltage is applied to the heating element and turns off simultaneously with it.
External case. It is covered with stable powder paints that reliably protect the metal from the negative influence of external factors.
Safety and check valves. Manufactured in one housing, they control the pressure in the boiler and protect against excessive pressure increase during water heating. The non-return valve performs two functions: it prevents emergency exposure of heating elements and prevents hot water from entering back into the water supply. In the absence of a valve, heated water enters not only for its intended purpose, but also to the entire plumbing system.
Plastic clutch. Used when connecting the boiler to metal pipes, lowers the voltage during a short circuit of the heating element. But it cannot completely protect users, we will talk about this in the article below.

Most of the boilers consist of such elements. Minor technical differences do not affect the installation process of the equipment.

Do-it-yourself boiler for heating

It should be noted that the cost of factory models of a boiler for heat supply to a summer residence is quite high - from 7,000 rubles. and more. An alternative option is to make the structure on your own.

You can use any steel container for this.

It is important that its volume corresponds to the calculated one. To organize heat supply schemes from a home-made boiler, you will need the following components:

Tank. It is best to order a stainless steel structure or make it yourself. The body must have holes for soldering the inlet and outlet pipes;
Coil. The best option is to install a copper structure. This material has optimal parameters for the transfer of thermal energy;
Fastening of branch pipes for connection to heating and GVS.

To ensure thermal insulation, it is recommended to make a double casing. Glass wool or basalt insulation is installed between the walls. The recommended layer thickness is 5 cm. The procedure for installation and commissioning is no different from factory models.

How effective is the use of a boiler in heating a house? It all depends on the correctness of the calculations of the parameters of the entire system. Only after calculating the optimal characteristics and testing them in practice can we talk about the true efficiency of the boiler installation.

The video shows an example of using a boiler in a heating system.

Using a boiler for a water supply system for heating a house

One of the frequently asked questions regarding the use of a boiler in a heating system is the following: is it possible to use a boiler that is designed to simply heat domestic water in a heating system. There is no single answer to this question - it all depends on how branched the heating system itself is and what additional equipment is used.

The water supply boiler is characterized in that both holes (both the cold water inlet and the hot water outlet) are located at the bottom, and both of these holes have a small diameter (most often it is 0.5 inches or about 1.2 cm ).

Such an arrangement of holes excludes the possibility of water moving through the heating system on its own, since here cold water will not constantly “drive out” hot water from the tank and force it to move through the pipes.But, in general, such a boiler can also be used in a heating system if it is supplemented with a circulation pump, which will be “responsible” for the movement of water through the heating system. The effectiveness of such a system depends on several factors:

on how powerful the boiler itself is. Suitable power is usually determined at the rate of 1 kW per 10 square meters of heated area.
on how much power the circulation pump has
on how extensive the heating system of the house is. It is best if it does not have many branches.

As for the type of boiler, here you can use both instantaneous and storage water heaters.

So, heating a house with a boiler is not a fantasy at all, but a completely viable version of a heating system. The main thing when creating such a system is to accurately calculate the required boiler power, based on the size of the house. In some cases (for example, if the area of \u200b\u200bthe house is large enough), the efficiency of the system can be increased by expanding the inlet and outlet for water, as well as by upgrading the boiler itself to increase its capacity.

07/07/2013 at 20:07

Features of mounting the boiler on a thin wall

Ideally, the water heater should be mounted on solid brick, concrete or block walls, since the appliance, along with water, is quite heavy. But sometimes the device needs to be hung on a thin plasterboard, frame, wooden, aerated concrete or foam block base. In this case, it will be necessary to strengthen the wall and use special fasteners.

It is impossible to mount the water heater directly on a wooden wall for reasons of fire safety. To begin with, it must be well insulated from heat, for example, with profiled iron, which is used for roofing.

In other cases, special fasteners are used:

spiral nylon dowels;
metal fasteners for mounting boilers with a capacity of 100 liters.

If you plan to hang the water heater on a wall of foam concrete blocks, you will need metal dowels or special chemical (adhesive) anchors for foam concrete. A chemical anchor is a versatile fastener that can withstand high loads. It is environmentally friendly and resistant to low temperatures.

Fastening to the adhesive anchor is carried out in the following way:

A hole is drilled with the expansion of the channel by rotating the drill at an angle in different directions.
Concrete dust is removed from the hole.
The hole is filled with a quick-hardening mixture, into which a mounting sleeve or threaded stud is inserted.

The resulting cone-shaped plug provides a fairly high fastening strength.

Is it possible to use a boiler for hot water in the heating system

In order to fully understand what kind of device it is, you need to understand all the nuances.

What is a device

Visually, the boiler for heating looks like a container of a rather large volume. There is a heat source inside or under it.

Design and specifications

On the outer case of the device there is a pressure sensor and an electronic-mechanical system for controlling the boiler. Next, there is a layer of thermal insulation that separates the wall of the housing and the storage tank, and allows you to save heat.

Photo 1. Indirect heating boiler model 702.1, capacity - 712 l, manufacturer - "Elitec", Italy.

It is advisable to choose the volume of the storage tank in which water will accumulate and warm up in the range of 200-300 liters. Lower tank capacities should not be considered, as this will not be enough to heat even a small area.

Water heating is carried out using a tubular electric heater with a power of at least 8-12 kW.

Attention! It is important to take this indicator into account, since if it is lower, the equipment will not be able to cope with heating, and there will be a need for round-the-clock operation of the device.

What is it for

After the storage tank is full, the heating elements located inside it begin to heat the water to the set temperature. As the required mark in degrees is reached, the liquid begins to flow through the pipes into the pipes of the main heating system.

Although the principle of operation of a boiler for heating is quite simple, it is important to remember about the features of the preparatory process:

create a closed circuit;
foresee the possibility of adding liquid to the coolant from water supply systems;
install a pump that regulates the stable movement of water through pipes, shut-off valves, an expansion tank;
to establish the structure of water filtration, the liquid should circulate along the circuit already in a purified form, without impurities.

The heating elements built into the boiler control fluctuations in the temperature of the device. As soon as the user-defined value in degrees is reached, the system automatically shuts down. If the water cools down, then the reverse process occurs: its heating starts again.

Boiler insulation

In order for the boiler to retain heat better, it must be wrapped with polypropylene foam, polyurethane foam or isolon. The insulating material is fixed with glue or wire. Thermal insulation of the entire surface of the boiler not only helps to retain heat, but also reduces the heating time of water by increasing the efficiency of the coolant. High-quality insulation will not allow the water to cool quickly.

The second way to insulate the boiler is to place a smaller container inside a large tank. The resulting space acts as a heater.

And yet, if you realize that you are unable to install the boiler yourself, or there is a need to replace the pipes due to wear and tear, contact the specialists. Their services will not cost you too much: dismantling an old water heater - about 500 rubles, installing and connecting a new device - about 7,000 rubles. In this case, you will be sure that the equipment is connected correctly and you will not have an accident or explosion. There is one more important point: when installing the boiler yourself, as a rule, the manufacturer's warranty is canceled.

Heating the house with a boiler

Good heating is one of the most important factors that distinguishes a comfortable home from a home in which a person cannot feel comfortable. Today, there are many traditional heating systems with which you can heat a country house of any size. One of the most popular systems is gas heating. Natural gas is considered one of the cheapest heat carriers in our country. But, unfortunately, gas pipelines are not extended everywhere. Therefore, heating systems that use a different coolant, such as hot water, are very popular. And the basis of such a system can be an ordinary boiler.

Pros and cons of heating based on a boiler

The advantages of such heating, perhaps, are not too many:

The main advantage of such a system is simplicity. Almost any master can assemble a structure based on a boiler and connect heating pipes to it, because this does not require any special skills or sophisticated equipment.
Another advantage is low cost. As a rule, boilers are cheaper than electric boilers, so when designing a low-power system, it is quite possible to save money.

As for the shortcomings, we talked about them throughout the article, so it remains only to summarize:

The power of household models of boilers is not enough for efficient heating of an apartment. The maximum is the heating of a country house, and even then, not in winter, but in autumn, when there are no severe frosts.
The heating element of the device is constantly on, which, together with regular water renewal, leads to accelerated corrosion. Of course, the cost of a heating element is small, but its replacement is a very laborious process.

Replacing a heating element is not only a laborious process, but also a dirty one.

If you assemble the system in accordance with all the rules (i.e. with the selection of a heater of the required power, proper piping, installation of a circulation pump in the heating system), then the savings compared to purchasing a boiler are scanty.

Summing up all of the above, we can say that electric boilers for heating can only be used in certain situations. In all other cases, it is better to use heating devices more adapted for this purpose!

Recommendations for choosing and using a boiler

Due to the skillful use of the boiler, it is possible to achieve significant savings in electrical energy, increase reliability and duration of use.

What should consumers be aware of?

In bathrooms, it is more profitable to install devices with a volume of 80-100 liters. This water, heated up to +50-60°C, is enough for 2-3 people to take a shower or fill one standard bath. In addition, such boilers keep water warm for at least 12 hours, which makes it possible to turn on heating at night, when the cost of electrical energy is minimal, and take a shower in the morning and evening. The heater can be turned on manually or connected to a timer.

Do not connect a kitchen to a large boiler. Otherwise, to wash several dishes, you will have to constantly keep a large volume of water hot. For kitchens, it is recommended to separately install boilers up to 10 liters.

Manufacturers complete the devices with all the necessary safety fittings. Remember that the more you install additional valves, valves, etc., the more likely it is that one of them will fail. The axiom of all installation work: fewer components - higher reliability of the system.

Buy modern boilers. Manufacturers have provided for the possibility of emergency water leakage. It can occur in cases where the supply stops in the central water supply, water leaves the boiler and exposes the heating elements. For a device connected to the network, this means their burnout. Now the height of the pipe supplying cold water is always higher than the height of the heating element, the heater will always be in the water. You do not need to install additional protective fittings at your own discretion. By the way, the check valve is always built into the safety valve, both of them are located in the same housing. A check valve is included in the delivery.

Periodically check the function of the non-return valve, a small hole may eventually close with hard calcium deposits.
Never install additional valves to drain water from the boiler. It can be removed through the safety valve - open it with a special lever and all the water will go away.

There is no need to install separate water pressure reducers for boilers - all devices can withstand a pressure of at least 6 atm. What is 6 atm.? This is the pressure of a water column 60 meters high. In all cities, the pressure in houses is not more than 3 atm., If the building is high-rise, then it has its own additional booster pumps, and reducers are already installed in the apartments

You don't need to be smart about anything.

If you have partitions in the bathroom made of foam blocks, then pay special attention to fastening. The strength of the blocks does not guarantee reliable fixation, even special dowels may not withstand the heavy weight of the boiler

Professionals recommend first drilling conical holes of increased diameter in foam blocks, the base of the cone should be in the thickness of the block.Next, the hole is filled with a strong cement-sand mortar and brackets for hanging the boiler are fixed in it.

Use your best efforts to connect ground. In old buildings it is not, and this is very dangerous. Although some boilers are equipped with plastic sleeves to break the metal pipe, they do little to help. The fact is that water in itself is considered a good conductor of current; if the heater breaks down, people are inevitably injured.

Connect the boiler only to reliable and high-quality sockets, do not use cheap fakes.
The fact is that the water heater will consume maximum power for a long time, low-quality sockets heat up during this time, the plastic melts, the contacts oxidize. In the best case, your boiler will stop working, in the worst case, a fire is possible with all the sad consequences. How to choose the right socket? On the body of the outlet, the current limits are indicated in amperes. To find out what power of electrical appliances it can withstand, you need to multiply the indicated current by a voltage of 220 V. For example, a 10 A socket can withstand a power of 2.2 kW. If the heating element of your boiler is 1.5 kW, then such an outlet can be used. If the heating element is 2 kW, then it is better to buy a 16 A socket. Pay the same attention to the cross section of the conductive cable.

Compliance with simple installation rules will make the use of the boiler long and safe.