Do-it-yourself flushing of the heat exchanger of a wall-mounted gas boiler. Flushing the heat exchanger in a gas boiler is the key to long-term and reliable operation of the device

The article is devoted to an important problem that millions of boiler owners face every day. Learn how to flush the heat exchanger of a gas boiler with your own hands in minutes and completely free. But remember, if you are not sure, do not take it, a gas boiler is not a test field, there is a danger of an explosion.

For cleaning, you will have to use metal tools - pins, scrapers, and so on. In the course of work, special care should be taken so as not to damage the surface of the structure.

In some cases, the device is wetted in a container filled with a weak solution of hydrochloric acid. And as soon as the scale softens, you can begin to remove it. At the end of the procedure, all internal voids are washed with water under slight pressure. For this purpose, you can attach a hose connected to the water supply system.

You can see for yourself how much dirt will pour out. You have to wait until it starts to flow. pure water. Additionally, you can tap the surface of the device with a mallet (this is a special hammer made of wood or rubber).

Burner cleaning

During work gas burners soot is gradually formed, which accumulates and can interfere with the correct operation of the unit. Cleaning the element consists in the mechanical removal of contaminants. It can be done different ways- remove carbon deposits with special brushes or use chemical solvents. Here everything will depend on the degree of pollution.

Cleaning the heat exchanger

As for cleaning the heat exchanger, the situation here will be somewhat more complicated. The fact is that the element is exposed not only external influences, but it also gets dirty from the inside, and therefore the issue of cleaning it requires more detailed consideration.

Externally, the heat exchanger has some similarities with car radiator cooling systems. This is a tube bent into a coil, which is surrounded by transverse plates that serve to increase the heating efficiency. Plates are usually made of metals with high thermal conductivity. Over time, the heat exchanger plates become covered with soot from the gas flame, which accumulates and interferes with the normal functioning of the device. The cleaning of the element is carried out in the same way as cleaning gas burners - using brushes or chemical substances and sponges outer surface the heat exchanger is cleaned of impurities.

For the information that helped in the creation of the article, we thank the sites: infoaqua.ru, kottedj.jofo.me, v-teplo.ru, kotlydlyadoma.ru.

About the dangers of scale in the heat exchanger

Heat tap water for a hot water supply system (DHW) in a double-circuit gas boiler or in a gas column is produced in a flow heat exchanger.

It is known that when heated above 54 about C crystallization of salts dissolved in water chemical elements, mainly calcium and magnesium. Solid salt crystals settle on the heating surfaces of the heat exchanger and form a strong crust on them.

In addition to hardness salts, other particulate matter that are contained in the water. For example, rust particles, oxides of other metals, sand, silt, etc.

The amount of salt in water determines the degree of its hardness. Distinguish between hard water, which contains a lot of salt, and soft, with a small amount of salt.

If the source of tap water is a river or other natural body of water, then the hardness of such water is usually small. You are lucky, the water in your house is soft.

Tap water from a well usually contains more hardness salts. And the deeper the well, the more salt in the water.

A hard crust of hardness salts, rust, sand, silt on the heating surface of the heat exchanger prevents heat transfer through its metal walls. In addition, deposits reduce the clearance of the heat exchanger channels. As a result heating temperature and pressure hot water gradually decreases, and the walls of the heat exchanger overheat which reduces its service life.

The internal structure of a double-circuit gas boiler on an example Protherm Gepard 23 MTV and Panther 25.30 KTV(Panther). The secondary DHW heat exchanger is located in the lower compartment.

Dual circuit gas boilers most often have two heat exchangers. One is primary, in which water is heated by gas for heating. The other is the secondary DHW heat exchanger, in which the heating water from the primary heat exchanger heats the water from the DHW pipeline.

There are also double-circuit boilers, in which both heating water and hot water are heated by gas in one combined bithermic heat exchanger. The bithermic heat exchanger accumulates scale faster, and it is more difficult to clean it from scale.

The geyser has one DHW heat exchanger, in which tap water is immediately heated by gas.

Regular descaling is only necessary for the DHW heat exchanger, in which there is a constant accumulation of deposits of hardness salts.

In the channels of heat exchangers with heating water, scale accumulation occurs only when fresh water is replaced or added to the system. This happens quite rarely and in small volumes.

If there is a filter at the heating water inlet to the boiler, then other dirt from the heating system does not enter the boiler and there may not be a need to clean the boiler coolant channels for the entire period of its service life. Descaling of the primary heat exchanger with the same frequency as the DHW heat exchanger is not required. However, "servicemen" without proper reason often insist on descaling the primary heat exchanger, at the same time, just in case. Naturally, they charge for this.

Secondary plate heat exchanger for hot water supply of a double-circuit gas boiler. Two openings serve for the circulation of heating water through the heat exchanger. Through the other two, cold water enters and heated DHW comes out. Requires regular descaling inside.
Heat exchanger bithermic double-circuit gas boiler. On the right side pipes for heating water. Left - pipes for DHW water.Regular descaling inside and outside of soot required. Heat exchanger of a geyser of hot water supply. Regular descaling inside and outside soot is required.

How often to clean the heat exchanger from scale

Equipment manufacturers prescribe maintenance of a gas boiler or geyser hold annually.

Some "masters" do not approach the equipment until something happens. But, as a rule, "happens" at the very wrong moment. The severity of damage and the cost of repairs are higher. Some defects, outwardly imperceptible, lead to an increase in gas consumption for a long time.

In the Russian Federation, there are “Rules for the use of gas in terms of ensuring safety in the use and maintenance of in-house and in-house equipment when providing public service on gas supply”, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 410 dated May 14, 2013.

In accordance with current rules, in order to ensure the safety of gas-using equipment, household consumers must conclude a maintenance contract with a specialized organization.

In December 2016, the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation was supplemented by Article 9.23, which provides for punishment in the form of a fine of up to 30 thousand rubles for individuals, for violating the rules for providing safe use and maintenance of intra-house and intra-apartment gas equipment.

Penalties are provided for:

evading the conclusion of a binding contract for the maintenance and repair of gas equipment in homes;
refusal to allow a representative of the organization to perform maintenance; evasion from concluding an agreement on the performance of work on diagnosing gas equipment;
avoidance of replacement of gas equipment; actions that led to an accident or the emergence of an immediate threat of harm to life and health of people;
untimely or poor-quality performance of work on the maintenance and repair of in-house or in-house gas equipment.

I do not advise home craftsmen to carry out work on the gas path of the boiler, columns. The home master, if necessary, can do some simple work which are recommended for maintenance boiler.

The bithermic heat exchanger of the gas boiler, as well as the heat exchanger of the geyser, must be regularly cleaned not only from scale inside, but also from soot deposits outside.

A home master can easily clean the DHW heat exchanger from scale inside and from soot outside with his own hands.

Depending on the degree of hardness of tap water, the amount of water used and the temperature of its heating, the heat exchanger must be descaled every 1-5 years.

I advise you to do this work annually, in the summer. You should not wait several years until the heat exchanger is covered with a thick layer of scale inside and overgrown with soot on the outside.

Behind thick layer scale and soot will have to pay with increased gas consumption, reduced equipment durability. Besides, thin layer contaminants are much easier to remove.

Methods for cleaning the heat exchanger from scale

Heat exchangers are cleaned from scale by exposing deposits to special liquid compounds that dissolve salt, release and wash out rust, sand and other insoluble particles.

For a double-circuit gas boiler (column) apply two principal methods of descaling the DHW heat exchanger:

With removal, dismantling of the heat exchanger from the boiler, column.
Without removing the heat exchanger from the boiler or geyser.

An acid solution is poured into the heat exchanger removed from the boiler or column. going on chemical reaction, as a result of which the scale dissolves. The intensity of the reaction increases if the heat exchanger filled with the solution is heated. The cleaning process can be made more complete and faster by connecting the removed heat exchanger to pumping unit, which will force the cleaning solution to circulate in the channels of the heat exchanger.

The second method requires the connection to the boiler of special equipment, which includes pumps, solution containers, filters, hoses, connecting fittings.

The cleaning plant is connected to the inlet pipes of the boiler. The pressurized cleaning solution circulates in the heat exchanger, dissolving and flushing out contaminants.

This method is usually used by enterprises and organizations that provide services to the population.

The best cleaning quality can be obtained by ordering work from specialists.

You can independently remove the heat exchanger from the boiler and take it to a boiler repair service for descaling. Such a service will cost less than calling a master at home. And the quality of cleaning with the help of professional equipment will be higher.

It is easier to remove scale with your own hands if you remove the heat exchanger from the boiler. home cleaning suitable for heat exchangers that have not yet boiled strongly. It is beneficial not to delay cleaning.

How to remove a heat exchanger from a gas boiler, column

For all brands of boilers and gas water heaters, the heat exchanger is removed in different ways. But special difficulties this procedure usually does not. some special tool not required. But it would be better to find instructions, a website, pictures or videos on the Internet on this topic. For the first time, you can invite a service specialist and see how he removes the heat exchanger.

Example for double-circuit gas Boiler Protherm Gepard 23 MTV and Panther 25.30 KTV(Panther).

To remove the secondary DHW heat exchanger, it is necessary to unscrew the two screws - shown by red arrows and remove both mounting rails (at the bottom of the figure). flow sensor(flow) of DHW hot water is shown with a green arrow. An example for a double-circuit gas boiler Protherm Gepard (Proterm Cheetah) and Panther (Panther).

The body of the plate heat exchanger is pressed with mounting rails to the base. After the tires are removed, pull the heat exchanger up and remove it.

Before removing the heat exchanger, it is necessary to empty the boiler from water. To do this, close the valves at the inlet to the boiler of the heating pipes (direct and reverse). Close the faucet at the entrance cold water and disconnect the cold water tube from the boiler. Water will drain from the boiler through the open cold water pipe. Open the hot water taps to completely empty the DHW tract from the water. Open the drain valve on the boiler, on the right under the pump, to drain the heating water.

At reverse installation check the correct location of the heat exchanger - the markings on its side wall must face forward.

1 - mounting rails, heat exchanger holders; 2 - holder screw; 3 - gasket; 4 - heating water filter at the inlet to the heat exchanger; 5 - DHW heat exchanger of a gas boiler;
Clean the filter in the heat exchanger inlet on the left, closer to back wall. 1 - gasket; 2 - filter;

Before installing the heat exchanger in place, do not forget to clean the filter, item 2, which is located in the heat exchanger inlet pipe on the side of the heating circuit (on the left, closer to the rear wall).

It is recommended to change the gaskets between the heat exchanger and the base every time during installation, pos.1. DHW heat exchanger gasket, rubber ring: 22.2x13.5x5 mm. From the inside - an annular recess. Article number: 0020014166 (10 pieces).

How, by what means to remove scale from the heat exchanger

To descale at home, a 20% citric acid solution (250 g/liter).

You can also use commercially available special compositions for descaling household washing and dishwashers. Read carefully the contents of the labels on the packaging. The chemical must be designed to remove scale deposits, not to soften the water (not to prevent deposits).

Less accessible, but if desired, you can find and buy special formulations (liquid or powders) for professional cleaning of boiler heat exchangers from scale. The choice of such chemicals should be approached with care. Available for sale a large assortment strong cleaning chemicals different types equipment. You can buy a chemical that will corrode the metal or protective coating of the heat exchanger.

Particular care should be taken in choosing a means for cleaning the heat exchanger without removing it from the boiler. Selected chemical composition must not damage not only the metal of the heat exchanger, but also parts of the boiler made of other metals, as well as parts made of rubber and plastic.

In order not to make a mistake in the choice, home master I recommend using a relatively chemically weak and therefore safe, time-tested, affordable and cheap chemical - food or technical citric acid.

If you do not accumulate deposits, then for regular cleaning of the heat exchanger from scale, even conventional means for the treatment of the toilet, containing in their composition acid, for example, oxalic.

Descaling by pouring a cleaning solution into the heat exchanger

Watch the video which shows how to remove and descale the secondary DHW heat exchanger gas boiler "Ariston".

Here, to remove scale, a cleaning solution is poured into both cavities of the heat exchanger. To increase the efficiency of the process, it is recommended to place the heat exchanger filled with liquid in a container for water bath and keep it at temperatures above 60 about C within at least 1 hour. Then the cavities of the heat exchanger are washed under a strong stream of water from a tap.

To fill all the cavities of the secondary DHW heat exchanger of a wall-mounted gas boiler, approximately 0.25 liters cleaning solution.

The chemical reaction of scale salts with acid proceeds with the release carbon dioxide. Therefore, gas bubbles can be observed from the holes of the heat exchanger.

If the evolution of gas has stopped, then the chemical reaction has stopped. This can be in two cases, either there are no more scale salts in the heat exchanger, or there was not enough acid to continue the reaction with the scale remaining there. The concentration of acid in the solution gradually decreases as it reacts with scale salts.

If there is any doubt about the complete cleaning of the heat exchanger from scale, I recommend rinsing the heat exchanger with a strong stream of water and pouring in a new fresh portion of the acid solution. Repeat the entire cleaning process. If you see that gas bubbles have reappeared, then you did it not in vain.

Forced circulation of the solution in the heat exchanger removed from the boiler

And in the next video you will find out how to remove bithermic heat exchanger on the example of the Nova Florida boiler.

In this option, the heat exchanger removed from the boiler is connected to a pumping unit, with the help of which the cleaning solution is forced to circulate through the channels of the heat exchanger. The bithermic heat exchanger has a complex channel configuration.

This method of cleaning allows you to quickly and more efficiently remove significant scale deposits from the heat exchanger.

Descaling without removing the heat exchanger from the boiler or column

The following video shows how to assemble the simplest device from improvised means to clean the heat exchanger without removing it from the boiler.

I would like to draw your attention to the following:

The pump can be taken from any of the available ones, including from used equipment.
Be sure to install a filter at the pump inlet or after the pump, at the water supply to the boiler. Otherwise, the dirt from the container with the solution will go back into the boiler and clog the filter and the flow sensor in the boiler.
It is better to warm the solution up to 60 degrees. To do this, you can even turn on a short time boiler for hot water heating.

In this variant, the direction of movement of the cleaning solution should not be changed. It must match the direction of water movement during boiler operation.

You should be more careful in choosing the composition and concentration of the solution for descaling. Solutions can have a destructive effect on other parts of the boiler, including those made of different metals, plastic and rubber.

Heating boiler, like almost any technological equipment working in difficult conditions needs periodic maintenance. One of the most important operations carried out during the maintenance of a gas boiler is the cleaning of its heat exchanger.

heat exchanger is a metal (or cast iron) box with a built-in radiator, which is heated from the outside by a burner flame and transfers heat to the liquid flowing inside. If the heat exchanger is clean, then it works with maximum efficiency, giving almost all the energy received for heating. However, over time, various impurities begin to precipitate on the walls of the internal channels, which are compounds of salts dissolved in the coolant (scale). Particularly intensive education lime deposits takes place in the secondary heat exchanger double-circuit boiler if hard water is used in the DHW line.

Such contamination of the heat exchanger channels can lead to a number of unpleasant consequences:

Reduced boiler efficiency. mineral deposits they have much lower thermal conductivity than metal, so much more energy will have to be spent on heating water. Accordingly, the gas consumption will also increase.
Heat exchanger overheating. The scheme of operation of gas boilers assumes that the coolant coming from the return line cools the internal cavities heating element. When scale appears, the cooling efficiency drops, the heat exchanger overheats and quickly fails.
Breakdown of heating equipment. Mineral deposits on the inner walls of the heat exchangers make it difficult for the coolant to pass through them. This creates an additional load on circulation pump, which will quickly exhaust its resource if the narrowed channels are not cleaned in time.

Thus, timely flushing of the heat exchanger will help save significant funds by preventing the breakdown of expensive components and ensuring minimal required flow fuel.

Frequency of cleaning the heat exchanger

In different sources, you can find rather conflicting information about how often cleaning should be carried out. various elements heating boilers. As a rule, maintenance intervals are given in the instructions for a particular model. However, please note that these figures are approximate and are intended for use in the most favorable conditions. In fact, flushing of heat exchangers may be required more frequently.

It is possible to assess how heavily the heat exchanger is clogged by several indirect signs that accompany the operation of a gas boiler:

The design of modern boilers is designed for long-term use, and the cost of spare parts for them is quite high. Therefore, the heat exchanger should be cleaned immediately when the symptoms described above appear. Otherwise, the cost of maintaining heating boilers can increase significantly.

Methods for cleaning heat exchangers

The heat exchanger can be flushed different ways. Next, we will consider them in more detail, and at the same time we will note how to clean the heat exchanger of a double-circuit boiler, which is especially prone to the formation of organic deposits.

Manual cleaning

To solve the problem in this way, the heat exchanger must be completely removed from the boiler in order to gain free access to it. After that, it can be cleaned with various tools:

mechanical cleaning. You can remove plaque from the inner surface with a hard metal brush or a special scraper;
flushingin special formulations . Most often, heat exchanger parts are soaked in an acid wash solution. This method is especially effective for removing stubborn dirt, for example, in the channels of double-circuit gas boilers.

Method manual cleaning simple and effective. It can be used to flush the heat exchanger yourself. The only remark is that it is necessary to be careful when working with the sealing elements of the boilers and monitor the tightness of all connections.

Hydrodynamic cleaning

Flushing of heat exchangers of a gas boiler can be carried out without disassembling it.

Hydrodynamic cleaning is a process mechanical removal scale from the walls of pipelines with water jets high pressure, which sometimes contain impurities of small abrasive particles.

Such a procedure is carried out with the help of special installations that pump pressure up to one and a half thousand bar in the line. This is the most effective, although quite expensive, way to clean heat exchangers.

Chemical cleaning

Chemical flushing of the elements of gas boilers consists in the fact that an acid flushing solution is introduced into the system using a special device called a booster. Then this solution is run through the heat exchanger for several hours and cleans it. This method allows you to remove the most complex types deposits - carbonate scale and ferric iron.

To disadvantages chemical cleaning include the high cost of the reagent, the wear of the metal and the large volume of toxic waste.

Fluids for flushing heat exchangers

In conclusion, consider the question of how to flush the heat exchanger of a gas boiler. Despite the abundance of recommendations in various sources, some care must be taken in choosing a cleaning agent.

Many experts recommend using hydrochloric acid for flushing. It removes scale really well, but it is a rather aggressive compound that can break the protective coating of the inner surface of the heat exchanger.

In addition, there is evidence that washing with hydrochloric acid can cause metal brittleness.

Less dangerous for the heat exchanger material is citric acid. It copes well with all types of deposits, as well as special reagents: DETEX, Cillit, Sanaks and others.

timely and proper care behind the elements of the heating system will increase its service life and reduce the cost of maintaining performance. Cleaning the heat exchanger, as one of the most important operations performed in the maintenance of boilers, will make the most significant contribution to this process.

The comfort of the owners of a private house, especially in winter time, directly depends on the health of the heating system, and flawless operation heating boiler guaranteed only if all its parts are kept in perfect order. Sometimes the functioning of the equipment is disrupted for a very trivial reason - in view of the contamination of some parts, for example, a geyser or a heat exchanger. Consider whether it is possible to clean the gas boiler on your own and whether it is safe.

Pipes through which hot liquid circulates, sooner or later with inside covered with bloom. This process resembles the sedimentation of lime on the walls of the kettle: the thicker the scale layer, the slower it heats up. Salt deposits on the walls of the heat exchanger can cause problems.

This is how the heat exchanger pipes clogged with scale will look like (sectional view), if preventive maintenance and cleaning of internal channels are not regularly carried out

Are these troubles really that big? See what awaits you if you do not flush the lines in a timely manner:

Overheat. The gas boiler is designed in such a way that the coolant during the reverse movement must cool the internal parts of the heating elements. Limescale interferes with proper cooling, so equipment can break down at any time.
Breakage of important parts. For example, a narrowing of the pipe diameter leads to an increase in the maximum load on the circulation pump, as a result of which it can also fail.
Increase in fuel consumption. Due to deposits, the thermal conductivity of the pipes is sharply reduced, and for the necessary heating of the liquid, it is required large quantity energy, i.e. gas consumption increases. Accordingly, the cost of operating a gas boiler will also increase.

To avoid these troubles, it is necessary to regularly flush.

The frequency of the procedure depends on the liquid that is used as a coolant. Suppose an antifreeze heating system requires cleaning about once every 2 years, while you need to monitor the quality of the fluid and, if necessary, completely replace it. Pipes in which purified water circulates should be washed once every 3-4 years. The higher the hardness of the liquid, the more frequent cleaning measures.

Heat Exchanger Flushing Methods

When choosing a washing method, they usually focus on their own capabilities and knowledge. Let's take a look at three commonly used methods.

Method #1 - manual cleaning

To perform it, it is necessary to carefully remove the heat exchanger from the boiler, otherwise there will be no free access to contaminated surfaces. Next, choose or mechanical cleaning, or washing with solutions. To mechanically remove deposits, you will need a scraper, brush and vacuum cleaner. For flushing, which is good for double-circuit boilers, a salt-dissolving liquid.

At manual way cleaning all actions must be neat and careful. When mounting the heat exchanger in place, carefully check the tightness of the connections.

After removing the heat exchanger from the boiler body, you will understand that the inner surface of its main part, the curved pipe, needs to be cleaned, and it will be extremely problematic to manually perform a full cleaning

Method # 2 - chemical solution through a booster

It involves the use of special equipment - a booster, with the help of which an acid flushing solution is pumped into the heat exchanger. For a long time, it is run through the pipes several times, as a result, the plaque dissolves and is removed along with the flushing fluid. As a result, indicators bandwidth and thermal conductivity increases. Even the most persistent contaminants, such as salt deposits of carbonate and deposits of ferric iron, lend themselves to an acidic solution. Acid residues in pipes are neutralized special solution, which is finally launched into the heat exchanger.

Method # 3 - hydrodynamic flushing

Does not require disassembly of equipment. It consists in pumping water (in some cases with an abrasive filler) and subsequent pressure build-up. The movement of the liquid at an increased speed causes the destruction of deposits, which as a result are brought to the outside. There is a danger of exceeding critical pressure values, which may result in pipe rupture.

Self-cleaning of the heat exchanger is not recommended. The best solution- contact professionals who have access to work with gas equipment. Knowing the methods and sequence of cleaning, you will be able to control the work of specialists.

Prevention and repair of gas equipment by specialists ensures that high-quality equipment, proven materials, safe technologies will be used - and all this in compliance with the norms

Cleaning the boiler from soot

Along with cleaning the chimney, the channels of the gas boiler itself are also cleaned. If the chimney becomes dirty and there are problems with draft, the equipment is automatically switched off. With the accumulation of soot inside the boiler, the shutdown does not occur, and the residents of the house can be poisoned by combustion products. In addition, contaminated equipment does not function properly, so it is recommended to perform the cleaning procedure annually, especially for boilers operating year-round.

Disassembly and removal of soot

To remove the parts of the boiler and clean them, you will need a simple set of tools:

screwdriver;
brushes (soft and metal);
brush;
open-end wrenches (No. 8-17);
rag.

By following the steps described in sequence, you can completely clean the internal parts of the geyser and prevent an accident or smoke in the room.

Useful any tools with which you can remove limescale from metal surface, and also not to do without wrenches

So, the first thing to do is turn off the gas. Then we remove the boiler door and disconnect the wire leading to the piezoelectric element. Then, one by one, unscrew the thermocouple, the ignition electrode and the pilot burner tube. It is better to mark the position of the nozzle in the burner so as not to disturb the setting. The gasket under the pilot burner must be replaced with a new one. We carefully take out the nozzle, the copper tube, and after it the burner, unscrewing the set of clamps.

To unscrew the fixing nut of the copper tube, a key No. 17 is suitable, for removing the ignition electrode - No. 10, unscrewing the screws for fixing the pilot burner - a flat screwdriver

Having taken out the thermometer sleeve, remove the boiler cover together with the insulating sheet. Then we take out the gas duct, having previously disconnected the terminals from the traction sensor. The swirlers removed from the heat exchanger are cleaned with a brush. Similarly, we clean the base and the outer part of the heat exchanger. We blow out the internal channels with a vacuum cleaner.

To clean the burner, we use brushes and a brush. The flue must be wiped from all sides. Cleaning the nozzle requires special attention: it is enough to clean the outer surface with a brush, and for the hole you need a thin needle, the diameter of which is smaller than the diameter of the hole. If you accidentally increase the width of the hole, the combustion mode will be disturbed.

All elements of the heat exchanger, internal and external, must be cleaned with a hard metal brush. Settled dust and lime residue can be easily removed with a vacuum cleaner and a damp cloth.

The brush is ideal for removing plaque internal surfaces any form - heat exchanger elements, copper tube. The longer the handle. the easier it is to reach hard-to-reach places

Assembly in reverse order

We return the main burner, copper tube and nozzle to their place. Then we install a pilot burner on a new gasket, having previously cleaned it with a metal brush. When connecting the ignition electrode, it is better not to use a key, but to act manually so as not to damage the ceramic base. The rest of the details are also fixed in place. As control check We use soapy connections. Tightness of fixation copper tubes and burners can only be checked at the time of switching on.

When assembling a pilot burner, one rule to remember is that the tip of the thermocouple must be opposite the place where the flame appears.

Preventive and cleaning work is best done the day before. heating season. In any case, the parts will be covered with soot, which accumulates over time, so the procedure for cleaning the elements of a gas boiler is very important - both for effective functioning the boiler itself, and for the safety of the inhabitants of the house. And once again we remind you that it is better to entrust any work with gas equipment to specialists!

The owners of gas boilers have repeatedly thought about the fact that they would like the unit to work for a long time, be reliable and not create any serious problems during operation. These dreams can be turned into reality if one thing is observed during operation. minor condition- it is necessary to carry out periodic inspections and minor scheduled repairs if necessary. One of these planned activities is the flushing and cleaning of the gas heat exchanger.

This operation will return the unit to its nominal efficiency. This part needs to be cleaned once every 2-3 years.

Why do heat exchangers need periodic cleaning?

During operation, soot settles on this element. Sometimes the soot layer is so thick that the efficiency of the boiler drops by almost half. As a result, the unit does not heat up and the owner has to bring the device to full power. Preventive measures can remove this soot. But also scale forms inside the gas heat exchanger. Due to this scale, the passage channel is significantly narrowed, the coolant warms up much more slowly. This has a negative impact on work efficiency. heating system and increases workload. In addition, energy costs are rising.

To avoid problems with the equipment, it is recommended to clean the heat exchangers of gas boilers every three years. This process is a set of works that you can do yourself without special skills. The whole complex of events will take from one and a half to four hours of time.

How to clean the heat exchangers of gas boilers

It is worth noting that given element is a system of pipes through the internal channels of which the coolant moves. Often water is used as a heat carrier, and it rarely differs high quality. Salts of various metals quickly accumulate on the walls of the heat exchanger, which eventually turn into scale. In addition to the fact that scale is a barrier to the passage of water, it can cause a sharp decrease in the temperature of the coolant.

Among all existing methods, allowing you to clean this part, you can highlight mechanical cleaning, chemical methods and rinsing with water. The latter is supplied under high pressure.

Consider flushing the heat exchangers, which means that the third option will have to be discarded. To implement it, you will need a special powerful compressor. It is with the help of high pressure that dense deposits of metal salts can be broken up and removed. The other two methods are fine. Everything for them can be found at home or purchased at the appropriate stores.

Mechanical cleaning

When choosing this option, it is worth remembering that the element itself in the boiler body takes up quite a lot of space. It is located in most cases above the combustion chamber. Getting to him is not easy. To gain access to the gas heat exchanger, it is necessary to dismantle the outer parts of the housing. To do this, disconnect the gas hoses and electrical cords, if any. Next, the element itself is directly disconnected from the pipes. Finally, at the last stage, the fasteners are removed.

After that, the part can be removed from the case and begin to clean it. Immediately after dismantling, you can see that the internal cavities of the device are literally clogged various deposits. Often these are metal salts (sodium and calcium), as well as elements of the so-called ferric iron. Purify them metal tool- suitable scrapers, pins. You need to work very carefully so as not to break the inner walls.

The device itself can be soaked in a tub or basin. A solution of hydrochloric or sulfuric acid is added to the water. When deposits begin to soften under the action of acids, they can be removed mechanically. Experts recommend that at the end of the procedure, rinse the heat exchanger inside with water pressure. A mass of dirt will come out of the outlet. It is necessary to wait until clean water comes out of the heat exchanger. You can supplement this flush with light taps on the body.

Chemical flush

This procedure is quite complicated, but doable at home. To do this, you need special equipment called a booster. Before carrying out, you need to know the nuances of the procedure. They are, despite the simplicity of the process.

The process is simplified, and this simplicity lies in the complete absence of any need to dismantle the heat exchanger. Also, you do not need to disassemble the boiler. For implementation chemical washing it is enough just to disconnect the pipes from the heat exchanger. A hose is connected to one, which will pump the flushing fluid. A hose is also connected to the second. Liquid will come out of it. Inside the system from the heat exchanger and booster, the flushing composition will move in closed circuit. You also need to know how to flush the gas boiler heat exchanger. We will consider possible tools that you can make yourself or purchase on the market or in a store.

What is a booster

It is a special tank that can withstand the aggressive effects of chemicals. Also, the device consists of a pump and a heating element. This heater is not available on all models, but experts recommend choosing them for greater efficiency. This will warm up chemical reagent, which, when hot, will act much more efficiently.

Washing agents

On the modern market chemistry, there are many preparations suitable for cleaning and the choice must be approached carefully. It is made on the basis of two factors - this is the level of pollution, as well as how the reagent will affect the metal from which the heat exchanger is made.

You can wash the gas heat exchanger with your own hands citric acid. It copes quite effectively with the removal of minor deposits and scale. Sulfamic and adipic acid are also suitable. They are practical when flushing is regular and the contamination is low. Also designed for descaling hydrochloric acid- it removes even difficult thick layers of scale. However, here it is necessary to take into account the materials from which the heat exchanger is made. Even on the modern market there are special gels that need to be dissolved in water. They, unlike acid, are not so aggressive, and their effectiveness is high level as the reviews say.

Experts recommend using for flushing heat exchangers for gas boilers brine. It is effective, but you have to be very careful with it. It will cope well with scale and deposits, but in itself is quite aggressive. In addition to these funds, gas heat exchangers such branded formulations as Sanaks, Sillit, Dketex and others are suitable.

Features of cleaning plate heat exchangers

These products also detach and clean its external as well as its internal surfaces. It will be better and faster if you start cleaning from the outside. First of all, the device must be filled warm water with the addition of a scale and rust remover. Then, after a while, the liquid is washed off clean water. It is best to do this activity outdoors using a pressure washer.

After outside surface thoroughly cleaned, washed the internal parts of this item. This operation differs from the usual one in that there is a thick layer of scale on the wall surface, which is larger than in conventional heat exchangers. Therefore, for this work, you need to make maximum efforts. It is important to clean the scale completely for better heat transfer.

Conclusion

Cleaning the heat exchanger of a gas boiler is only half the battle. Be sure to clean the soot from the boiler itself and the chimney. Only after this can we say that a complete prevention was carried out. This operation will significantly extend the life of the heating system.

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