How to choose a boiler for heating a private house - the main criteria

Engineers, endowing their creations with certain properties, expect to be used in certain conditions, where they could prove to be most useful.

Therefore, it is very important to know how to choose a boiler for heating a private house in your circumstances.

This overview will help you make the right choice.

So, which boiler to choose for a private house?

Gas boilers - leaders in heating a private house

The golden rule is: if there is main gas, you need to install a gas boiler... There are no competitors in terms of operating costs for heating main gas. But there are spots on the sun too: the initial investment in the installation of gas equipment is tangible. It will require project development, piping, purchase and installation of heating radiators and the gas boiler itself. Expenses can exceed 350,000 rubles, excluding the cost of connecting to the gas pipeline.

The gas boiler is put on for many years, and not as a temporary solution. Boilers of this type dominate the market and are divided into groups by the type of installation (wall-mounted, floor-standing), by the type of burner (atmospheric, pressurized), by functionality (single-circuit and double-circuit - in addition to the heating system, they also provide hot water supply for hot water supply).

Gas floor-standing single-circuit boiler Beretta Novella Avtonom

They are produced by a large number of companies: BOSCH, BUDERUS, VIESSMANN, DE DIETRICH, CTC, ROCA, PROTHERM, AEG, VAILLANT, HERMANN, BERETTA, BAXI, FEROLLI, DAKON, NAVIEN, TITANIUM. Today a gas boiler of a well-known brand is very reliable, and if installed correctly, it practically does not break. The opinion that only domestic models are fully adapted to our conditions is not entirely correct.

The main difficulties of the Russian heating system of a private house: low gas pressure, power surges (unpredictable long outages) and requirements for the type of coolant.

For example, wall-mounted gas boilers Vaillant AtmoMAX Plus are designed for a nominal main gas pressure of 13-20 mbar (0.013-0.02 kgf / cm²). With a reduced pressure, the automation switches off the unit, and after the resumption of gas supply with the required pressure, it also automatically turns on. The technique is doing just fine, but people run the risk of being left without heat in the winter. In such cases, they install backup heating equipment or select a boiler designed to work with low pressure gas. Currently, such models are easy to find: a Buderus Logano G234WS floor-standing boiler, a Navien Ace wall-mounted boiler and others, designed to operate at a gas pressure of 10 mbar.

Power outages occur even more often than gas interruptions, as a result of which the automation of modern computerized boilers is turned off. Most of Russian units with atmospheric burners are not afraid, they are non-volatile. Operation of imported equipment in this situation is possible in manual mode. An interesting solution was proposed by the specialists VERETTA and DAKON. Electricity for powering the automation is generated by a built-in heat generator.

Another problem in Russian conditions arises due to the fact that many foreign manufacturers remove their equipment from warranty service when using propylene glycol rather than water as a heat carrier. And in summer cottages and in cottages of periodic residence, the temperature at the level of 5 ºС at subzero external temperatures is maintained precisely due to the use of glycolic antifreeze.And therefore, if you intend to pour antifreeze into the heating system, ask if this is permissible for the boiler of the selected model.

A remote control unit with an information display allows you to easily adjust the mode and control the operation of the boiler

Wall hung gas boilers 1.5-2 times cheaper than floor options, but also with performance, it can be the same. For example, a wall-mounted double-circuit boiler Baxi LUNA-3 Comfort 310 Fi with a capacity of 31 kW costs about 40,000 rubles, and its floor-standing analogue Baxi SLIM 2.300 Fi for 29.7 kW is twice as expensive - 70,000-80000 rubles. But still, do not forget that wall-mounted gas boilers are limited in power (up to 42 kW). They are used for heating and hot water supply of a country house with an area of ​​up to 300 m². An important factor in saving on operating costs is the presence of stepwise or smooth power regulation. The boiler usually operates at full capacity only for one fifth of the heating season. The rest of the time, the reduction in power leads to significant savings.

Wall mounted gas heating boilers:

ARISTON THERMO BS II - double-circuit wall-mounted gas boiler Read also:  Geyser mora moravia. Gas column "Mora": reviews. Installing a gas water heater Mora	BAXI Nuvola - double-circuit wall-mounted gas boiler
DE DIETRICH Innovens Pro MCA 25 - gas wall-hung condensing boiler	BAXI Luna 3 - double-circuit wall-hung gas boiler with a closed combustion chamber
BOSCH Condens 3000 W - gas wall-mounted double-circuit condensing boiler	VIESSMANN Vitodens 200-W - wall-hung gas double-circuit condensing boiler

A kind of trump card of pressurized boilers is a replaceable fan burner. It costs a lot and is sold separately. In this case, you can purchase both a "native" burner, and an analogue of a third-party manufacturer (BALTUR, ECOFLAM, WEISHAUPIGIERSH, RIELLO, LAMBORGIANI, BENTONE). The fan burner solves many pressing problems and works for the future.

Firstly, it allows the boiler to function with high efficiency at a reduced gas pressure and to regulate its power. Secondly, a set of replaceable burners provides flexibility in the choice of fuel.

One and the same pressurized boiler will run on gas or diesel thanks to the replacement of a single unit - the burner. It is practical if the main gas is only included in the development plans of the settlement. For the first time, they purchase a supercharged unit, a diesel burner and heat the house with liquid fuel (as an alternative, you can use an electric boiler). When the long-awaited gasification becomes a reality, all you need to do is change the burner. The cost of a two-stage gas burner Baltur BTG 6 R (30.6-56.3 kW) is about 26,000 rubles, a diesel Baltur BTL 6 R (31.9-74.3 kW) - 24,000 rubles, a multi-fuel burner (gas / diesel ) Baltur Comist 26 SP (130-340 kW) - over 100,000 rubles.

Burner types for boilers:

Read also:  How to turn a regular fan into an air conditioner Atmospheric gas burner works on the principle of a conventional gas stove, they differ only in the form and method of ignition	In condensing boiler burners, a special design allows surface combustion rather than flare combustion.
Blowing gas burner - air for the mixture is supplied by a fan	Combination (universal) or dual-fuel burners

The vanguard of gas boilers are gas condensing boilers. Such units are produced by many companies, for example: BUDERUS, VIESSMANN, VAILLANT, BOSCH, etc. The heat exchanger uses the heat of the burnt fuel to the maximum, as a result of which the efficiency increases by 10-15% compared to traditional models (with atmospheric or fan burners). This results in fuel savings, but the operational advantages require significant initial investments: a Viessmann Vitodens 300-W-26 boiler with a capacity of 26 kW costs about 120,000 rubles. In the middle lane and in the northern latitudes, condensing gas boilers do not always show maximum performance. An economical mode of operation is ensured only when a heat carrier with a temperature of 40-50 ° C is supplied to the heating circuit, and Russian conditions may require a higher temperature.

Viessmann Vitocrossal 300 - floor standing gas condensing boiler

BAXI POWER HT - floor standing condensing gas boiler

Today, gas condensing boilers are becoming more and more popular, which provide a more efficient energy conversion process when burning gas. Their energy conversion factor reaches 109%. The principle of utilization of the latent heat of vaporization helps to significantly reduce the consumption of gas fuel for the same power of heat supplied to the consumer. Among other things, the operation of a condensing boiler, unlike a traditional one, does not have a negative impact on the environment. The modern design of devices allows you to switch from natural gas to liquefied gas without replacing nozzles and associated service operations. In addition, models of boilers using biogas are already beginning to appear - a gas obtained by fermentation and disposal of natural waste and animal waste products, for example, on a farm.

Comparison of fuel costs per year depending on the boiler efficiency (heating area 200 m²):

Fuel type	Efficiency 80%	Efficiency 95%	Difference per year
Natural gas	RUB 26,000	RUB 20,000	6000 rbl
Electricity	RUB 195,000	RUB 150,000	RUB 45,000

Electric heating boilers

Electric heating boiler

Electric heating boilers differ in the type of installation and can be installed wall-mounted or floor-standing.

Interesting! Exclusively heating boilers, whose power does not exceed 60 kW, can be mounted on the wall, and more powerful ones only on the floor.

Electric boilers are connected to a standard one- or three-phase electrical network, and water from a regular water supply, specialized oils or antifreeze can be used as a filler for the heating system.

Important! Only appliances with a power less than 12 kW can be connected to a single-phase network.

Electric heating boilers differ in the method of heating the coolant. Basic types:

• Indirect heating. In these devices, heating occurs through the use of a heating element located in a heat exchange tank.
• Direct heating. The coolant is warmed up due to the heat generated by a pair of electrodes immersed in the water.
• Induction energy saving.

TEN boilers

In these devices, the heating medium is heated by converting electrical energy into heat by means of a tubular heater located in a heat exchanger. Heating elements boilers work with any heat carrier and regardless of their initial temperature. The required pressure level is created thanks to the circulation pump.

Interesting! It is possible to significantly reduce heating costs due to the installation of special temperature sensors on radiators.

Boilers using heating elements can be both single-circuit and double-circuit and can be used to supply hot water.

The main disadvantages of such boilers are:

• Burnout of TEN, which implies its replacement.
• Scale build-up on the heating element. This is due to the use of poor quality hard water and leads to a loss of power and breakdown of the heating element.

Important! You can significantly extend the life of the boiler using special water softeners.

Electrode type boiler

The principle of operation of such boilers is that an electric current passes through the coolant directly, which causes heating. Electrode boilers are economical and reliable. In comparison with TEN, the real energy savings are up to 40%. An undoubted plus is the absence of the possibility of scale formation, since there is no such fuel element, only the cathode and anode through which an electric current is passed.

The device of this type of boilers does not require the installation of a pump for circulation and a large heat exchanger tank, which makes the device quite compact.

The heat carrier heats up in a very short period of time, and the efficiency reaches up to 95%.Electrode type boilers are very reliable, durable, energy saving and economical, but there are some disadvantages:

• Inability to connect to the mains by means of an RCD.
• The need to use only special antifreeze fluids supplied by the boiler manufacturer as a heat carrier.

Resistive energy saving electric boilers

The least known representative of electric heating boilers, similar in principle to an electrode one. The direct heating element is a metal tube with a layer of tungsten deposited on it, which heats the water. This method is called electromagnetic induction.

Despite the low popularity, boilers of this type have a number of advantages,

• Ordinary tap water can be used as a heat carrier.
• High power due to the absence of a thermal barrier.
• Profitability and high level of energy saving.

Gas boiler, but what gas?

Gas boilers operate not only on main gas (methane), but also on liquefied gas in cylinders (propane-butane mixture)... After a specialist has replaced the nozzles and set the pressure settings on the gas valve, the unit can easily switch from liquid gas to normal gas or vice versa. But for the user himself, the situation is changing dramatically.

In terms of operating costs and associated costs, liquefied gas is significantly inferior to the mainline gas and appears as if in a different echelon, where it competes with diesel and solid fuel. If the main gas pipeline delivers fuel directly to the boiler, then when using liquefied gas, the consumer will have to solve the problem of fuel delivery and storage himself. You will need to purchase and install a gas tank on the site, preferably with an extended neck of the tank to maintain productivity in winter, do not forget about the Russian frosts. To heat a house with an area of ​​200 m², a gas tank with a volume of 2700 liters is needed, for a house with an area of ​​400 m² a tank of 4800 liters is more suitable. The total cost of installing a gas tank (4800 liters), including earthworks and commissioning, starts from 200,000 rubles. The price of propane-butane in the Moscow region, taking into account delivery, is about 15 rubles / liter.

Installation of a gas tank

Calorific value of various fuels:

Type of fuel	Calorific value
Dry firewood	3,900 kW / kg
Wet firewood	3,060 kW / kg
Anthracite	5,800 kW / kg
Brown coal	2,900 kW / kg
Diesel fuel	11,700 kW / kg
Natural gas	10,000 kW / m³
Liquefied gas	20,800 kW / m³
Eurodrova	5,300 kW / kg
Pellets	5,000 kW / kg

How to choose the right gas boiler with coaxial chimney

A condensing boiler is far from being a cheap purchase, therefore, when choosing it, you must take into account the following nuances:

• The capacity of the unit must be suitable for the area to be heated, since operation at partial load can cause premature failure of the boiler. It is generally accepted that for heating 10 m2, a thermal power of 1 - 1.2 kW is required, based on this ratio, the power of the device is selected for a particular house or apartment. In addition to the area, one should take into account the quality of external thermal insulation, the number of door and window openings, the height of the ceilings, etc.
• Possibility of using a coaxial gas boiler to provide hot water supply (double-circuit installations);
• Unit efficiency;
• Consumption of main or liquefied gas. It is on this indicator that the expediency of operating a particular model depends;
• Heat exchanger material. Since the condensate is nothing more than a solution of organic acids, the compensation heat exchanger is made of silumin (an alloy of aluminum and silicon) or stainless steel. Steel heat exchangers are welded, and silumin ones are cast;
• The degree of automation of the unit. Modern electronic control systems can provide completely autonomous operation of the device.In addition, some models provide the ability to control and configure using a mobile phone;

In addition to the above criteria, the cost of the boiler is also of great importance, but this is a purely individual issue and has nothing to do with the topic of our article.

Is liquefied gas a worthy alternative to mainline gas?

The price of liquefied gas (propane-butane mixture) is significantly higher than that of the main gas (methane), but if there is no choice; then today it is quite an interesting alternative to diesel fuel, electricity and solid fuel pellets. The only nuance associated with liquefied gas is its storage. The fact is that the installation of a gas holder is a rather expensive pleasure, and it makes sense to bury money in the ground only if the main gas is not foreseen even in the future. Working with cylinders and constantly changing them in a house with an area of ​​more than 150 m² is very laborious, since in winter, in frosts, one cylinder of 50 liters will be enough for a maximum of one or two days.

In addition, it must be remembered that it is not recommended to remove more than 10 kW from each cylinder, otherwise freezing of the cylinder and gas reducer may occur. For example, for a 24 kW boiler, it is better to put 3 cylinders in parallel. In general, the safety requirements for such systems are spelled out in the regulations. For example, cylinders cannot be placed in basements, since liquefied gas is heavier than air. At least once every six months, you need to check the tightness of gas reducers and gas pipelines, and even better, install a gas leak detector. Many models of gas boilers can operate on liquefied gas if you change the nozzles and reconfigure the equipment, but a specialist should perform the adjustment.

Characteristics of gas boilers

The gas boiler is the most common for private houses. Such heating units are produced in two types: floor-standing and wall-mounted.

Wall mounted boilers are small in size, which saves space. This allows them to be installed in small spaces, as well as in city apartments and offices. Low weight facilitates installation and transportation. The relative simplicity of the design device, if necessary, allows the boiler to be converted from liquefied gas to natural gas and vice versa.

Such units already have built-in burners, control elements, a circulation pump, pressure gauges, an expansion tank and other devices for automation and control. And most importantly, there is a security system capable of stopping the gas supply in case of any malfunction.

Heating boiler device

In the case when the house has a large area (from 200 m2), it is better to use a floor-standing gas boiler. The power range of such systems varies from 10 to 200 kW. True, unlike wall-mounted, the efficiency has a lower value. But, thanks to the high-quality materials used in the manufacture, and with proper use, floor-standing boilers will last much longer (up to 50 years). Heat exchangers for floor-standing boilers are usually made of cast iron or steel, while for wall-mounted boilers, copper is used in production.

Solid fuel heating boilers

Residents of regions remote from the center, most likely, will prefer to heat their houses with solid fuel, since firewood, peat or coal are generally available, in Russia the reserves of these resources are huge. Heating a house with an area of ​​150-200 m² per season requires 22 m³ of firewood or 6 tons of coal. The process of laying firewood in the furnace does not lend itself to automation, therefore a solid fuel boiler may well do without modern computer automation, and therefore without electricity.

Solid fuel boilers:

Solid fuel boiler from the BOSCH company - Junkers Supraclass SW	Solid fuel boiler from the BUDERUS company - Logano S111
Solid fuel boiler from the JASPI company	Solid fuel boiler from Protherm
Solid fuel boiler from VIADRUS - U 22	Solid fuel boiler from the WIRBEL company - Eko-EL

The result is a completely autonomous system, ideal for those who rely only on themselves. But this also becomes the main disadvantage when the conditions are not so harsh and the desire for comfort is justified. After all, solid fuel burns quickly (coal in 6 hours, firewood is twice as fast), so you have to regularly visit the boiler room in order to throw firewood.

In addition to firewood, they use coal, peat, briquettes (wood, peat, coal) or more modern ones - pellets... All these fuels differ in characteristics (heat transfer, burning time, ash content, volatile matter release), cost, packaging, ease of storage and use.

Pellet boiler models:

Read also:  Overview of gas and combined boilers "Zhitomir" Pellet-fired solid fuel boiler BIOMASTER CS	Solid fuel boiler operating on pellets SIME Solida 8 PL
Solid fuel boiler Junkers Supra Pellet	Solid fuel pellet boiler from BIOTECH

The BIOTECH boiler can be operated using a screw and / or pneumatic pellet feeding system from the hopper to the burner.

For use in solid fuel boilers, it is increasingly recommended to use various fuel briquettes, in Europe they have been produced and used for heating houses for several decades, but for Russia it is still a curiosity. Although we already have a fairly new concept - eurowood, that is, fuel briquettes from pressed sawdust and shavings, are sold in packs of 10 kg. One ton of such briquettes takes 1.5 m³ and gives the same amount of heat as 5 m³ of birch firewood, forming ten times less ash during combustion. The cost of wood fuel briquettes is from 6,000 to 8,000 rubles per ton.

Eurodrova - fuel briquettes from pressed sawdust

Coal briquettes packed in bags of 15-20 kg and offered at a price of 8,000 to 9,000 rubles. per ton.

Coal briquettes

Peat briquettes in polypropylene bags of 25 kg each cost 5,000 rubles per ton.

Peat fuel briquettes

The manufacturers of solid fuel boilers are now quite different both among foreign companies and among our Russian ones: ATMOS, BUDERUS, DAKON, BOSCH, OPOR, VIESSMANN, WIRBEL, KONORD, KIROVSKIY ZAVOD.

To facilitate the stoker's task, boilers with an enlarged combustion chamber are produced. So, for example, the Wirbel EKO-14 model (power 14 kW, price 38,000 rubles) doubles the intervals between fuel loading compared to a conventional boiler.

Technological innovations also open up new perspectives - long-burning pyrolysis (gas generating) boilerscharacterized by high efficiency (up to 85%) and the ability to control the fuel combustion process. Their work is based on the principle of gasification of wood, the fuel in them does not burn, but smolders, so it is enough to heat such a unit twice a day. The disadvantage is dependence on electricity required for automation.

Viessmann Vitoligno 100-S - floor standing solid fuel pyrolysis boiler

Bourgeois-K T - floor-standing solid fuel pyrolysis boiler

A domestic-made Bourgeois-K T-30 boiler with a capacity of 30 kW costs about 65,000 rubles, an imported Viessmann Vitoligno 100-S of the same power - about 140,000 rubles.

Another invention that makes it possible to automate the process of loading and burning solid fuel is pellet boilers. Pellets Are wood pellets with a diameter of 6-8 mm and a length of up to 50 mm, produced from sawdust, shavings or husks. The calorific value of pellets is 1.5 times higher than that of dry wood. But the main thing is not even this, but the flowability of the granules, due to which the fuel loading can be automated. The pellets are stored in a waterproof hopper, from where they are conveyed by auger to the burner. The built-in photosensor stops feeding when the combustion chamber is full. The decisive disadvantage of such fuel pellet boilers is the still rather low availability of granular fuel - pellets. But the growth of pellet production is higher every year, and more and more such industries begin to develop in the regions.

Pellets - fuel pellets, compressed cylindrical sawdust

Today, hundreds of enterprises are already engaged in the production of pellets. However, before purchasing a pellet boiler, be sure to decide on reliable fuel supply channels from the manufacturer.The cost of granules is from 5000 rubles / ton. The fuel consumption of a 25 kW unit is approximately 3 kg / h. Pellet models are more expensive than standard solid fuel ones. The OPOR BioComfort boiler for 24 kW costs from 140,000 rubles, Astor (25 kW) - 120,000 rubles.

Solid fuel or liquid fuel? The costs are comparable, the choice is influenced by: the availability of fuel, the possibility of its storage, the level of desired comfort.

Solid fuel boilers

Solid fuel boiler

Solid fuel heating boilers are indispensable for households where there are no gas mains or electrical wiring does not differ in stable operation. There are various options for such devices on the market, from ordinary ones to long-burning boilers that maintain a given temperature regime for up to several days.

Types of solid fuel boilers

Solid fuel heating boilers differ in the following parameters:

• Fuel used.
• Single or double circuit.
• Fuel supply method.
• Power and heat dissipation level.
• The presence of a hob.
• Dimensions.

Important! The method of mounting solid fuel boilers is exclusively floor-standing, wall-mounted installation option is not provided.

The following are used as fuel in such heating devices:

• Coke.
• Coal.
• Firewood and lumber.
• Special pallets.
• Fuel briquettes.

To provide hot water supply, you should opt for a double-circuit boiler, and to use it for cooking - choose with an equipped hob.

The most important point when choosing a boiler is to correctly calculate the required power, based on the amount of heated area of ​​the house and the efficiency of the device itself.

The device and features of a solid fuel boiler

The main modular blocks of solid fuel boilers:

• Furnace where fuel is burned.
• Coolant circulation system.
• Chimney and carbon monoxide removal systems.
• Temperature control unit.

The principle of operation of all types of solid fuel boilers is simple - fuel is burned in the furnace, as a result of which the metal walls warm up, which transfer heat to the coolant.

There are two main ways to burn fuel:

• Classic - conventional combustion of fuel in a furnace with heat release.
• Gas generating or pyrolysis - fuel and emitted gases are burned in separate chambers, which provides higher power and heat transfer (efficiency).

Important! The use of solid fuel boilers of the gas-generating type implies the combustion of extremely well-dried fuel, with a moisture content of no more than 20%.

As a coolant, you can use both tap water and special fluids and antifreezes. The circulation in the system can be carried out independently or using special pumps.

Important! To equip a solid fuel boiler, you need a chimney with sufficient draft or the installation of a special ventilation system in it, for the forced removal of gases. Water boilers for solid fuels require increased attention while observing the temperature regime. The process of fuel combustion cannot be stopped immediately, only to reduce the intensity. This can lead to boiling of water in the system, which threatens a complete loss of performance. To prevent such accidents, it is necessary to install additional tanks with cold water and special valves that shut off the supply of overheated coolant.

Advantages of solid fuel boilers:

• The installation of such a heating system provides a number of advantages:
• Autonomy. No dependence on electricity or gas supply.
• Profitability. The cost of such boilers and fuel is much lower than that of other options for autonomous heating systems.
• Simplicity. The design of the boilers is very simple, which guarantees ease of use.
• Versatility. The ability to use various types of solid fuels.
• Energy saving. No electricity or gas consumption required.

Diesel version of heating boilers

Liquid fuels also have their competitive advantages. Although diesel fuel is already not cheap, the installation of boilers with diesel burners in "standby mode" is popular, when the main gas is planned to be brought to the house in the near future, but no one knows exactly when it will come. As soon as the gas is supplied to the house, the burner is changed to a gas one, and the diesel one remains in reserve, which provides the heating system with higher reliability. Liquid fuel boilers are produced by many companies: ACV, BAXI, BIASI, BUDERUS, SNAPRE, STS, DAKON, DE DIETRICH, FERROLI, FONDITAL, KITURAMI, LAMBORGHINI, MORA, PROTHERM, ROCA, SIME, VAFILLANT, VOL. KIROVSKIY FACTORY.

Oil fuel models of heating boilers:

Buderus Logano G125SE - floor standing oil boiler	DE DIETRICH GT 120 - floor standing oil (gas) boiler
VIESSMANN Vitorond 200 - oil (gas) boiler with gas or oil burner	Wolf CNK - oil (gas) boiler with forced draft gas or oil burner

The cost of the Viessmann Vitola 200 VB2A model (power 33 kW) is from 75,000 rubles, and the domestic diesel boiler KChM-5-K-38 (38 kW) is about 55,000 rubles. For storage of liquid fuel, containers are installed (usually plastic, block type). In the boiler room itself, it is permissible to put a tank with a volume of no more than 750 liters. Such a container can be purchased for 10,000 rubles. In the Moscow region, diesel fuel is supplied for 23,000 rubles. per ton. But diesel prices are constantly changing depending on oil prices and the season.

It is necessary to note one more important factor, albeit not financial: diesel fuel has a persistent smell, which will be constantly present in the boiler room and you need to be prepared for this.

The closest to gas boilers in terms of technical and functional characteristics are liquid fuel boilers, which is explained by the following factors:

1) High efficiency. This indicator for a diesel and gas boiler is almost the same and reaches 91-92%.

2) Possibility of autonomous operation of the boiler house on diesel fuel. The choice of control panels - from the simplest mechanical to programmable weather-dependent.

3) Possibility of quick transfer of the boiler from liquid fuel to gas if it is connected.

4) The environmental performance of liquid fuel boilers is, of course, slightly lower than that of gas boilers, but they are not critical. The disadvantages of this equipment include rather high costs for the organization and operation of the boiler room.

Fuel types

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What can serve as a source of thermal energy for heating a house or apartment?

1. Electricity.
2. Combustion of main or cylinder gas.
3. Combustion of liquid fuels - diesel fuel or waste oil.
4. Combustion of solid fuel: firewood, coal, woodworking waste (including pressed sawdust - pellets) and peat briquettes.

Cost estimation

What is the rating of heating boilers in terms of operating costs?

• The cheapest way to heat with natural gas... If your home is gasified, there is no need to look for other options.
• Solid fuel is the second cheapest, primarily firewood and coal.
• Solar oil - in third place... Development is much cheaper, but it is becoming more and more difficult to find it in the free sale.
• Electric heating boilers cost more than all other heating methods.

When choosing a heat source, it is worth considering a couple of nuances:

1. The high cost of thermal energy obtained by direct heating of water using electricity does not apply to all types of electric heating. Infrared underfloor heating can reduce costs by at least a quarter; a heat pump of any type will practically equalize the cost of electric heating with the cost of purchasing firewood.

More optimistic charts can be found on the websites of heat pump manufacturers.

1. In the short term, the cost of heat generated by burning gas will grow much faster than the price of a kilowatt-hour of electricity. Gas is an irreplaceable resource, the reserves of which are coming to an end; at the same time, the energy sector in developed countries is gradually shifting to renewable sources.

Ease of use

Cheapness is not the only parameter by which heating equipment can be evaluated. Ease of use is equally important to them.

What will the rating of heating boilers look like from this point of view?

1. Electric boilers can work completely autonomously for an unlimited time, maintaining a stable temperature in the room and flexibly adjusting the power consumption depending on the heat demand. In addition, they can be installed anywhere in the house or apartment.
2. Gas equipment in the presence of digital control is not inferior to electrical equipment in autonomy, however, it requires the removal of combustion products. This leaves an imprint on the place and method of installation.

An important point: a gas boiler, unlike others, cannot be assembled from start to finish with your own hands. The safety instructions require the mandatory involvement of gas service specialists to connect to the mainline and first start.

1. The inevitable attributes of liquid fuel heating are the smell of fuel and the high noise level of the burner. Oil boilers require installation in a separate boiler room.
2. Solid fuel devices require frequent loading of fuel, and the frequency usually does not exceed several hours. Only the operation of pellet boilers can be automated within certain limits; however, pellets can be bought far from everywhere, and the costs in this case will grow.

In the photo - a pellet boiler with automatic fuel supply.

Electric heating boilers

Against use electric boilers High operating costs are unambiguous evidence. In addition, there is a serious infrastructural limitation: the power allocated to the consumer often does not exceed 10 kW, and this may not be enough to heat a large house. It should be remembered that boilers with a power of 7 kW or more require a three-phase power supply. Despite this, electric boilers are in steady demand and are manufactured by many companies STS, DAKON, KOSPEL, PROTHERM, ROCA, WESPE HEIZUNG, EVAN, RusNIT.

Since in some circumstances, namely a boiler that runs on electricity turns out to be the best, but temporary solution.

Firstly, the initial investment is relatively small. For example, the domestic model EVAN Standard-Economy of the EPO-24 series (power 24 kW) costs only 15,000 rubles, and the Protherm SKAT 9K (9 kW) version will cost 24,000 rubles. But in the house itself, for heating with electricity, you will need to carry out powerful electrical wiring. By entrusting the boiler with hot water supply, it is possible to organize a non-liquid heating system on electric radiators (the total cost of equipment and installation of such a solution starts from 60,000 rubles).

Secondly, with a two-tariff electricity payment scheme using an electric boiler only at night turns out to be a relatively inexpensive pleasure (2-3 times cheaper than during the day). So, in practice, the use of an electric boiler is quite economically profitable if it works to heat a small house as a backup device, at a night rate, or, as they say, for the first time, until the main gas is connected.

Electricity choices if a workaround is required and discounted night electricity rates are in effect.

In addition to traditional models on heating elements (boilers), they produce electrode boilersthat consume 20% less electricity due to direct heating of the coolant. For example, a domestically produced electrode boiler Galan Geyser-9 with a capacity of 9 kW costs only 6,000 rubles.

How coaxial gas boilers differ from others

Analyzing the main differences between atmospheric heat generators and coaxial installations, first of all, the following should be noted:

• All coaxial units are equipped with a closed combustion chamber;
• Due to the condensation of water vapor and preheating of the air entering the combustion chamber, the efficiency of coaxial boilers is usually higher than that of conventional boilers;
• Plants with a coaxial chimney are more compact, and their installation does not require large-scale construction work for the installation of an atmospheric chimney.
• Turbocharged boilers with a closed combustion chamber and a coaxial chimney can be installed in a high-rise apartment, but a unit with an atmospheric burner can be used exclusively in a private house or industrial premises.

Despite the fact that the cost of condensing boilers is much higher than conventional gas units, they are most widely used due to economical gas consumption and ease of installation and operation. In addition, for 2 - 3 heating seasons, this difference is fully paid off by saving on utility bills.

Heating boilers for all occasions. Replaceable burners and three types of fuel

It was already mentioned above about the advantages of replaceable burners, they provide the consumer with independence in the choice of fuel. The most in demand are inexpensive solid fuel boilers with gas burners of domestic production: Don (KONORD plant), Ochag (GAZSTROY), Yaik (Novosergievsky mechanical plant). The cast iron solid fuel boiler KChM-5 (Kirovsky plant) is very popular in the central region. A three-section model with a power of 21 kW costs 27,000 rubles, a gas burner costing 3,000 rubles is used with it.

Boilers designed for three types of fuel (solid, gas and diesel), produced by foreign companies SNARREE, DAKON, VIADRUS, DEMIR DOKUM, ROCA, JAMA. Record holders among combined boilers have a built-in heating element and are also capable of operating on electricity. Such boiler models are manufactured at STS and JAMA factories. For example, for a STS 2200 Trio with a capacity of 45 kW, all types of fuel are suitable (price - 240,000 rubles).

Which chimney to choose for a gas boiler

Leading companies in the manufacture of condensing gas units such as Viessmann, Buderus and Baxi manufacture units with non-standard pipe diameters. In this case, the use of branded chimneys of the same name is the best option. In other cases, to install a coaxial chimney, it is enough to select the appropriate pipe diameter and chimney material.

The most common materials for making coaxial pipes are aluminum, heat-resistant plastic and alloy steel. Aluminum chimneys are not widely used on the territory of the Russian Federation due to their high cost.

Plastic two-channel chimneys

Such a chimney is designed to heat up to +210 ° C and is used in conjunction with condensing gas equipment. The advantages of such pipes include:

• Low operating weight;
• Affordable price;
• Ease of installation.

The use of plastic chimneys is limited by the fact that the mechanical strength of such devices is low. In addition, such a chimney can only work in the low-temperature gas outlet mode. That excludes the possibility of connecting it to a conventional gas boiler.

Coaxial chimneys made of stainless steel

Such a pipe is resistant to acids, and the maximum possible heating temperature is 540 - 550 0С. There are two types of stainless steel coaxial chimneys:

• No insulation. Such designs are simple and reliable, but require additional thermal insulation to reduce condensation of exhaust gases. The advantages of these chimneys include a long service life and the ability to use with any heating equipment;
• Insulated structures can be connected both to boilers with forced exhaust gas removal, and to installations operating on natural draft. Such chimneys are often used as a collective gas outlet. The service life of the pipe is at least 35 years.

The choice of a coaxial chimney is primarily determined by the recommendations of the boiler manufacturer.

Service of heating boilers

The warmth in the house is one of the most important components of a comfortable stay, but no heating system is guaranteed against failure. The cause of breakdown can be both manufacturing defects in the equipment and improper installation, as well as natural wear and tear of various components. Of course, aging of parts cannot be completely avoided, but proper maintenance can significantly slow this process down.

The costs of preventive maintenance will be significantly - ten times - lower than the possible costs of repairing equipment, in most cases requiring complete dismantling and removal of the faulty boiler to a service center.

Coaxial gas boiler: owner reviews

Having studied the reviews of the owners of condensing units, you will save yourself from a reckless waste of money and will be able to make the right choice.

In my opinion, in the Moscow region, winter is quite possible for the use of a low-temperature heating system, therefore, in order to save gas, I decided to stop at a coaxial condensing boiler. In terms of power characteristics and cost, the BAXSI Luna Platinum +1.32 model came up. It is very convenient to reconfigure the boiler from main gas to liquefied gas, there is no need to reinstall the burner. It works properly, I have no complaints, only it took 2 months to wait for delivery. Nikolay, Moscow region

In the very first month of using a condensing boiler with a coaxial gas removal system Protherm Lynx condensing 30 – MKO, the gas meter readings decreased by about 25%. The temperature in the house is quite decent, even when it is 15 ° C outside the window. I haven't noticed the icing of the chimney yet, apparently the guys did everything in their minds, taking into account all the necessary requirements. For two heating seasons, no problems arose, I am very pleased with the purchase. Andrey, Kharkov.

Despite the high price of the Viessmann Vitodens 200 - WB2HA881 boiler, I am very pleased with the purchase. For three years, the installation has established itself as a reliable and efficient device. The house is warm and comfortable, there were no interruptions in work. The stainless steel coaxial chimney did not freeze even when it was -17 ° C outside, although the outside was insulated with mineral wool. If funds permit, I highly recommend it. Alexander, Rostov region

As can be seen from the above reviews, condensing gas heat generators equipped with a coaxial chimney really provide tangible gas savings. The high cost of the units pays for itself in 2 - 3 heating seasons.

The main advantages of coaxial gas boilers include Versatility (the unit can be installed even in a high-rise building), economical consumption and high efficiency of the installation. If climatic conditions allow the use of a low-temperature heating system, the installation of such a device is the most rational solution to the problem of home heating.

What is serviceable?

Obviously, distribution manifolds, pipelines and heating radiators do not provide any special measures to keep them in working order. A visual inspection of the accessible sections of the system for the detection of corrosion and leaks, as a rule, is carried out without the involvement of specialists, or even not at all. Circulation pumps, thermostats, valves and gate valves must also be replaced only upon failure: this procedure can be quite time consuming and expensive, since the coolant will have to be drained from the corresponding circuit or even from the entire heating network.

By the way, many boiler manufacturers strictly limit or even prohibit the use of special antifreeze, disclaiming all warranty obligations in case of violation of this condition.The most convenient and reliable coolant is ordinary water with special additives, chemically purified and deaerated.

Thus, the boiler itself needs periodic inspection and maintenance, regardless of the type of fuel used, as well as the fuel supply line and chimney. Particular attention is paid to checking and adjusting the operating parameters of boiler equipment, control and safety automation, cleaning of burner elements.

Practice shows that serious breakdowns in boilers do not occur so often that the record time of arrival of specialists is of great importance when drawing up a service contract.

Boiler equipment

Heating systems built on different types of boilers practically do not differ in structure and element-wise components. For transportation and distribution of heat, identical pipes and radiators are used, as well as filters, air and exhaust vents. However, each of the boilers, whether gas or electric, undercuts certain installation work, maintenance, etc.

• Electric boiler
• A gas boiler

ELECTRIC BOILER

The electric unit includes a water heating element, a temperature control toggle switch and an automation. During installation, a ground loop is connected to it and equipped with a protective shutdown.

A heating system powered by electricity is simple and efficient. But in order to heat an area of ​​200 sq. m., consumption of 20 kW is required. Therefore, the electricity bill will undoubtedly make the owners appreciate the pros and cons of the system.

Electric boiler device

To save energy, experts recommend using a unit with a 2 or multi-tariff meter, as well as a storage tank. The device will not function around the clock, but only at night. This period will be used for intensive heating of water in a thermos tank.

Thus, it will be possible to maintain a comfortable temperature around the clock, while significantly saving. However, during severe frosts, such use becomes impossible.

The organization of the heating system, which implies the use of a boiler with a storage tank, will require serious initial investments, since it will be necessary to purchase a tank and lay complex wiring. Naturally, the result will be savings on payments, and as a result, a quick payback.

A GAS BOILER

The installation of a natural gas boiler is associated with stringent requirements not only for installation, but also for operation. If the power of the unit is 30 kW, the area of ​​the room in which it is installed should not exceed 7.5 cubic meters.

In turn, for a boiler of higher power, it is necessary to equip a separate room for the furnace - from 13 cubic meters.

The gas heating system is built on the principle of combustion, and therefore requires chimneys, which leads to an increase in heat loss.

Gas boiler device

Gas fired boilers are divided into:

• conventional with 90% efficiency
• condensing with 110% efficiency

Modern gas boilers are equipped with more sophisticated automation than electric ones. But, one should not forget - in order to extend the service life of the device, it is necessary to regularly invite specialists from service centers to inspect and carry out preventive work.

Should be considered

Gas has a detrimental effect on the gum, from which they quickly dry out and become hard. As a result, these elements cease to fulfill their main purpose - to prevent leakage. In addition, the copper heat exchangers in the gas boiler need to be flushed about once every 2 years.

This is a common problem for owners whose homes are located far from regional centers. The point here is in the water produced from the wells. It contains a large amount of salt.Over time, they settle on the tube walls, resulting in lower and less efficient heating of the tubes in the burner.

Who is the best to entrust the boiler repair and maintenance work?

There are a number of organizations that service boiler equipment: as a rule, any seller of such equipment will be happy to give the buyer detailed information on this matter. As in any industry, large firms with branches in various areas of the suburbs and smaller companies without a developed network of service centers are represented here. Some are trying to interest customers with affordable prices, others - with a wide range of works, sometimes not too necessary for the consumer, while others declare a large number of mobile teams and the shortest time for the arrival of specialists to quickly eliminate the breakdown.

Without trying to single out any of the listed advantages as the only one important when choosing a service organization, let's say that here you need to look for a middle ground. Very low prices look suspicious: the market for such services is saturated enough for someone to offer real dumping prices. A mobile team consisting of one certified specialist and a bunch of random people who can only work with a wrench can do more harm than help. Most likely, there is no point in overpaying for a set of additional services: the list of necessary measures is contained in the documentation with which boiler manufacturers supply their products. The importance of performing work not included in this list is often far-fetched.

In addition, the myriad of repair teams ready to arrive on call within almost a couple of minutes are also not a reason to overpay.Even in a severe frost, if there is good thermal insulation in the house, complete cooling takes place in 3-5 days, besides can use local heaters - for example, electric or infrared. So, if the organization guarantees the arrival of repairmen within 24 hours (in most cases, this is the period indicated) - this is quite enough.

As for the documentary confirmation of the right to carry out both installation and commissioning works, as well as measures for servicing boilers, this type of activity is currently not subject to licensing. However, a prerequisite is the presence in the company's staff of employees trained to work with gas equipment (with the issuance of an appropriate certificate) and admitted to work on electrical equipment with a voltage of up to 1000 V (3rd and higher electrical safety group). Passing certification for the maintenance of specific brands of boilers is advisory and may not be documented in any way. At the same time, a large number of all kinds of diplomas and certificates on the walls in the office of the company does not in itself mean anything: they may not have anything to do with the employees of the field teams. But there is nothing wrong with that: the company in any case bears full responsibility for the actions of its personnel, and modern boiler equipment of various brands does not have significant design differences.

How much do combined heating boilers cost: model prices

The price for multi-fuel heating systems depends on the configuration, combination of energy carriers used, power and materials used.

Zhytomyr - 9

The installation provides for the possibility of using gas and firewood. The model range includes single-circuit and double-circuit boilers. The manufacturer guarantees the flawless operation of the device for three years, and the full service life of the product is 12-15 years.

Specifications:

The power of the boiler when operating on natural gas ranges from 12 to 16 kW, when using solid fuel - 15–20 kW. Efficiency on gas - 92%, on wood - 78%.The heat exchanger is made of high quality heat-resistant steel. The permissible temperature of the coolant is not more than 90 ° C.

The price of the combined boiler "Zhitomir - 9" depends on the power of the installation and the availability of the DHW circuit and ranges from 32 to 45 thousand rubles.

Zotamix 20 kW

Depending on the installed burner, the device can operate on diesel fuel, liquefied and natural gas, pellets. In addition, the use of coal, anthracite and firewood is allowed. Alternatively, a stainless steel electric heating element is installed.

Specifications:

Characteristic	Value
Rated power, kW	20
Main circuit volume, l	50
DHW circuit volume, l	35
Overall dimensions, mm	580x425x1060
Chimney pipe diameter, mm	150
Weight, kg	135

The average price of a combined unit Zotamix 20 kW is 45 thousand rubles.

Kiturami KRM 30R

The unit belongs to high-performance double-circuit combined boilers. The device is designed to work with all types of solid energy carriers and diesel fuel. The basic equipment includes an electronic control unit, a diesel burner and a pump that circulates the coolant. When entering the operating mode, the Kiturami KRM 30R heating boiler generates 35 kW and can effectively heat an area of ​​up to 350 m2. The choice of the energy carrier is carried out automatically and does not require readjustment of the device.

You can buy the installation for 115-120 thousand rubles.

ATMOS DC18SP

A Czech-made combined boiler has a nominal power of 20 kW, which is quite enough for heating a private house with an area of ​​200 m2, with a ceiling height of 2.8 m. Pellets, firewood, liquid fuel and natural gas can be used as an energy carrier. The device is equipped with an automated control system that enables a gas or diesel burner to turn on if there is no solid fuel in the loading chamber. The plant efficiency is 90–95%.

You can buy an ATMOS DC18SP boiler for 67–68 thousand rubles.

Kupper PRO 22

The device has a rated power of 22 kW and can provide 220 m2 of living or industrial space with heat. The boiler can operate on any type of solid fuel, pellets and natural gas, in addition, an electric heating element with a capacity of 6 kW is included in the basic package.

Specifications:

Characteristic	Value
Solid fuel chamber volume, l	35
Maximum length of firewood, mm	450
Overall dimensions, mm	855x485x675
Weight, kg	120
Chimney pipe diameter, mm	150
Warranty period of operation, years	3

You can buy a domestic development for 33-35 thousand rubles.

A more complete impression of the efficiency of the units can be made based on the feedback from the owners.

How much does the boiler maintenance cost?

As already mentioned, the cost of boiler maintenance may vary slightly depending on the specific service organization, as well as on the list of work performed. Below is an approximate range of prices for this type of service: approximately this amount will have to be parted when concluding a contract for a period of one year. The final price will be determined by the type of boiler, the complexity of the work at the facility and its remoteness from the office of the company or its branch. The list of activities has been compiled in accordance with the requirements and recommendations of most equipment manufacturers, without additional services, the need for which may be controversial.

The construction of a floor-standing gas boiler using the example of Viessmann Vitogas 100-F. 1 - highly efficient thermal insulation, 2 - heat exchange surfaces made of special gray cast iron, 3 - stainless steel rod burner with partial premixing, 4 - digital boiler controller

So, concluding a contract for boiler maintenance twice a year (a requirement for a number of diesel models) will cost the customer 12,000 - 22,000 rubles: this cost includes an unlimited number of visits by repair teams to eliminate breakdowns. A similar agreement providing for a one-time performance of service work (sufficient for units of any type of low and medium capacity) is estimated somewhat cheaper: from 6,000 to 18,000 rubles.If the customer is confident in the reliability of the equipment used, then he can save a little more and pay from 4,000 to 10,000 rubles: this amount includes only boiler maintenance, and all team visits for troubleshooting are paid separately, and their cost depends on the specific breakdown.

The measures for preventive maintenance of the heating system (boiler) include:

• external inspection of the burner and boiler, diagnostics;

cleaning and maintenance of burners:

• cleaning the fire tube;
• cleaning the retaining washer;
• cleaning the arson electrodes;
• replacement of the nozzle;
• fan cleaning;
• flushing or replacing the fuel pump filter;
• flushing the photo sensor;
• cleaning the retaining washer;
• air sensor purging;
• dismantling and subsequent installation of the gas section;
• cleaning the boiler gas ducts to the smoke channel (subject to access to it and the possibility of dismantling);
• control of electrical parameters;
• burner and boiler adjustment;
• control of the composition of waste gases;
• boiler check;
• checking mixers;

safety automation check:

• checking the gas equipment of the boiler;
• external inspection of the gas pipeline;
• check for tightness of flange, threaded connections and welded joints on the gas pipeline;
• checking the actuation of the shut-off valve.

These articles may also be of interest to you:

1. Replacing the siphon and sink drain
2. Installation and repair of electric water heaters
3. Removing clogging with a plunger with a pump
4. The original design of a small kitchen

What else to read?

Tags: gas burners, gas condensing boilers, gas boiler, gas generating boilers, euro wood, pressurized boilers, wall-mounted gas boilers, heating boiler, heating, pellet boilers, pellets, pyrolysis boilers, home heating system, electric heating boilers, electrode boilers, electric boilers

The device and principle of operation of a coaxial boiler

Equipping a wall-mounted or floor-standing gas boiler with a coaxial flue system has a number of significant advantages over a traditional vertical chimney:

• The air flowing through the outer channel heats up due to contact with the outer wall of the outlet pipe, which contributes to more efficient fuel combustion;
• The use of a coaxial system completely eliminates the ingress of carbon monoxide into the room;
• Air intake to ensure gas combustion is carried out from the street, and not from the premises, which avoids additional costs for the installation of a supply ventilation duct;
• Installation of a coaxial chimney is much simpler than a classic vertical chimney.

Another advantage of such systems is that the temperature of the exhaust manifold does not rise above 45-50 ° C, which significantly reduces the likelihood of a fire.

The increase in the efficiency of the installation is carried out due to the condensation of water vapor in a special heat exchanger. Waste gases contain a significant amount of heat, which in classic heat generators is simply emitted into the atmosphere.

The principle of operation of a coaxial gas boiler is that the exhaust gases in a condensing heat exchanger are cooled to the dew point temperature, as a result of which condensation of water vapor occurs with the release of heat. It is thanks to the condensing heat exchanger that the efficiency of the installation can exceed 100%, since in addition to the main heating, the thermal energy of the exhaust gases is used.

Structurally, a coaxial heating boiler consists of the following main elements:

• Closed combustion chamber equipped with a modulating burner and a blower fan;
• Primary heat exchanger, which provides heating of the coolant to a predetermined temperature;
• Bunker for cooling the spent gas-steam mixture to the dew point (56 - 57 0С);
• Compensation heat exchanger, providing additional heat energy due to condensation of water vapor on the walls;
• Condensate storage tank;
• Coaxial chimney;
• Circulation pump;
• Electronic control unit and settings.

Since the working conditions of the compensating heat exchanger can cause its premature corrosion destruction, this element is made of copper or stainless steel. In addition, the design of the coaxial boiler provides for the presence of a special container for collecting waste condensate, from which it is discharged into the sewer system.