Which gas boiler to choose for heating a private home?

The most optimal and economical source of heating for a country house is still a gas boiler.
There are a huge number of manufacturers of these products on our market - Bosch, Buderus, Viessmann, Vaillant, Baxi, Navien, etc.

In addition, there are single-circuit and double-circuit models, traditional and condensation, wall-mounted and floor-mounted, with an open and closed chamber. Which one should you choose and what technical issues should you pay attention to in addition to the brand?

Let us help you understand this matter in order to avoid irreparable mistakes when purchasing.

Power calculation

At present, no one questions the project for power supply to the building. This is taken for granted.

Mistake #1

At the same time, not everyone orders the same heating project.

This leads to problems, first with the correct selection of the power of a gas boiler, and then with its operation.

Mistake #2

You cannot select power based on some average parameters.

The most popular way of them is to divide the total area of ​​the house into 10 m2. As a result, the calculated value is supposedly obtained.

In this case, the thickness and material of the walls, dimensions, number and type of windows, doors, the presence of an attic, etc. are not taken into account.

If you want to find out the average power without a project, at least use online calculators. You should choose those that require you to enter the maximum number of parameters.

For example, this one is TYTS.

But still, for a comfortable and quiet life, initially include in your expenses a separate amount for the heating supply project. It should also include a diagram of the entire heating system and calculate the heat loss of the house.

Selection of a boiler for heating heating equipment

Many visitors to the Technodom online store contact us with a request to select heating boilers online. We are always ready to help them in this matter, especially since our company’s range includes many different types and models of equipment suitable for literally any purpose. For example, if you need to select a gas boiler based on its parameters, our consultants will be happy to provide you with all the necessary information. Before you start choosing heating equipment, it is advisable to determine which criteria will be most important for you.

Selection of a boiler according to parameters (area, power, type of fuel)

Very often, people select a gas boiler for a private home based on the area and volume of the room. This principle works effectively with other types of boilers. Having such data, you can determine the optimal equipment power for your building. It is believed that ideal indicators should be 100 watts per 1 sq. meter of area. If you need to select a boiler for a private home, the price of this equipment can also be of considerable importance

Finally, we advise you to pay attention to the type of fuel - and purchase just such a boiler, the use of which will be the most profitable and less expensive for you

Selection of gas heating boiler

For many of those who select a gas boiler based on parameters, the cost of this equipment can be very important, but far from the only factor. In addition, it is worth determining its location - whether it will be wall-mounted or floor-mounted. An equally significant factor is its energy dependence; the equipment can be autonomous or must be connected to the mains. Finally, these models are single-circuit and double-circuit, the first provide only heating, and the second provide heating and hot water heating. The staff will be happy to help you understand all these subtleties.

Selection of an electric heating boiler

In addition to selecting a gas boiler for a private home according to its parameters, our clients are also interested in other types of these devices. For example, electric models are very popular. Such boilers must be selected according to their power (this is a universal parameter for any model), type of connection (220V or 380V), principle of power control (stepped or smooth), as well as heating method (heating element or electrode)

Each of the listed criteria can play a rather important role, therefore, we recommend paying increased attention to all of them

Selection of solid fuel heating boiler

Solid fuel heating boilers are no less common; many visitors to the Technodom online store want to purchase this particular type of product

When choosing them, we advise you to pay attention to the fuel used by the boiler (coal, firewood, pellets, pyrolysis boilers are quite successful), the method of loading it (automatic or manual), the heat exchanger material, the volume of the combustion chamber, energy consumption, etc. We will also be happy to help you choose a double-circuit boiler for an indirect heating boiler

Electrical and thermal power

When people first see a boiler plate with a power of 24 kW or more, it makes them dumbfounded.

Mistake #3

Wow, how much electricity will such a boiler “reel” in?

Do not confuse the electrical and thermal power of heating devices. In the worst case, a gas boiler consumes no more than 150-200 W per hour from the outlet.

Therefore, to power it during a blackout, conventional batteries with an inverter or so-called UPS are sufficient.

We are not talking about any kilowatts here.

Which boiler to choose for heating a private house

Any home located in a temperate climate zone requires heating when cold weather sets in. And if in the conditions of multi-storey development of microdistricts this issue is approached centrally, then the owner of a private house has to solve this problem independently. If it is necessary to provide heat to a small hut, the way out of this situation has been known for centuries - an ordinary wood-burning stove. But this option is not suitable for larger buildings that require an individual heating system, an integral and main part of which are boilers for heating a private house.

Currently, the market offers a wide range of these units, varying in design, power and types of fuel used. An incorrectly selected boiler for heating a private home can lead to increased financial costs for ensuring comfort in your home. To select the optimal option for a boiler integrated into the heating system, it is necessary to consider all existing types of devices, their advantages and disadvantages.

Boiler with power reserve

Mistake #4

The greater the power reserve of the boiler, the greater the gas consumption will be.

Therefore, it is not economically profitable to take a gas boiler with a reserve. This is not always true.

First of all, this problem concerns “dumb” floor-standing and obsolete wall-mounted boilers.

This is what the operating schedule for a 20 kW and 30 kW device looks like.

Vertically we have gas consumption, horizontally we have operating time. Two modes, the so-called clocking, are drawn at the top. Bottom – comfortable operation mode with constant power in cold weather.

TOP 5 energy-independent gas boilers

Non-volatile boilers are a good choice for working in remote villages or regions with overloaded and dilapidated electrical networks. They continue to work in the event of a sudden power outage and do not require high costs for repairs or replacement of failed components. Let's look at the most popular models:

Lemax Patriot-12.5 12.5 kW

Single-circuit parapet gas boiler. Equipped with openings in the housing that allow heated air to escape outside.

This makes the boiler itself similar to a convector, heating the room without the need to install radiators . The boiler power is 12.5 kW, which is suitable for rooms of 125 sq. m.

Its parameters:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 87%;
• gas consumption - 0.75 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 595x740x360 mm;
• weight - 50 kg.

Advantages:

• simplicity of design, reliability;
• low fuel consumption;
• easy controls;
• low price.

Flaws:

• there is no complete information about the condition of the unit components. There is only a pressure gauge. indicating gas pressure;
• it is necessary to install a traditional type chimney.

Domestic boilers are optimal for Russian climatic and technological conditions. They are unpretentious and reliable, do not require expensive repairs or maintenance.

Lemax Leader-25 25 kW

Convection gas boiler with a capacity of 25 kW . Designed for use in rooms up to 250 sq.m. The unit is single-circuit, with a cast iron heat exchanger and mechanical control.

Its parameters:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 1.5 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 515x856x515 mm;
• weight - 115 kg.

Advantages:

• strength, reliability of design;
• stability, smooth operation;
• Italian components.

Flaws:

• large weight and size;
• Some users find the ignition procedure unnecessarily complicated.

Boilers with a cast iron heat exchanger are characterized by smooth operation and the absence of sudden temperature changes.

Lemax Leader-35 35 kW

Another domestic boiler designed for large rooms . With a power of 35 kW, it is capable of heating an area of ​​up to 350 sq.m., which is suitable for a large house or public space.

Boiler parameters:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 4 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 600x856x520 mm;
• weight - 140 kg.

Advantages:

• high power, ability to heat a large room;
• stable and efficient work;
• double-circuit boiler provides heat and hot water at the same time.

Flaws:

• large size and weight, requiring a separate room;
• gas consumption is quite high.

High-power boilers are often used to heat several apartments or houses. This reduces the financial burden on homeowners, since fuel payments are shared equally by everyone.

MORA-TOP SA 20 G 15 kW

Gas convection boiler manufactured by Czech engineers. The power of the unit is 15 kW, suitable for work in a house with an area of ​​up to 150 sq.m.

Main settings:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 92%;
• gas consumption - 1.6 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 365x845x525 mm;
• weight - 99 kg.

Advantages:

• independence from electricity supply;
• stability of work;
• The power is suitable for most medium-sized private houses.

Flaws:

• an atmospheric burner requires a normal chimney and does not allow drafts in the room;
• relatively high price.

Compared to their Russian counterparts, European boilers are noticeably more expensive. Users note excessive costs, as well as interruptions in the supply of spare parts.

Siberia 11 11.6 kW

Domestic single-circuit gas boiler. Suitable for small rooms up to 125 sq.m. This is due to the boiler power of 11.6 kW.

Specifications:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 1.18 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 280x850x560 mm;
• weight - 52 kg.

Advantages:

• stable work;
• unpretentious, economical boiler. Fuel consumption is noticeably lower than that of analogues from other manufacturers;
• ease of management and maintenance;
• relatively low price.

Flaws:

• the declared indicators cannot always be achieved, the boiler power is sometimes not enough;
• Difficult and inconvenient ignition.

Non-volatile boilers are optimal in Russian conditions. In cold weather it is too dangerous to remain without heating, so the independence of boilers is highly valued by users.

Timing and solution methods

Typically, clocking is observed during the off-season, when there are no severe frosts and there is no need to warm up the system for a long time.

In this situation, the boiler starts at maximum, quickly heats the water and turns off. Next, the pump removes the coolant throughout the system, the temperature drops, and the burners start up again.

In this mode, both 20kW and 30kW boilers operate. What's the difference?

And the difference is that the first one will consume gas during the launch intervals, conditionally 2m3, and the second 3m3. When the boiler cycles, it does not have time to evaluate anything and reach optimal power.

It starts at maximum and stops at maximum. But all this applies to old, “dumb” models.

In modern wall-mounted appliances with modulating burners (1:10) and smart electronics, the boiler’s operation is designed in such a way that if the automation initially detects overheating of the coolant, the next switching on will occur at a lower power, or you can reduce it yourself.

The only problem is when the minimum power of the boiler is not so minimal.

Therefore, check the instructions and ask the seller whether the gas boiler has a modulation function or not. And the more frequent the adjustment step, the better.

Mistake #5

But there is no need to overdo it with the so-called “brains”.

90% of consumers never use weather-dependent automation or GSM modules in their lives. It's not worth overpaying for them.

It’s better to install a couple of smart and inexpensive room thermostats.

More details

Most people solve the age-old problem with clocking in this way.

TOP 5 single-circuit gas boilers

Single-circuit models are used either only for heating, or in conjunction with an external indirect heating boiler. This option allows you to obtain hot water without restrictions on water volumes and without temperature fluctuations. Let's consider several popular models:

Lemax Premium-10 10 kW

Single-circuit gas boiler of domestic production. Designed to heat 100 sq.m. The non-volatile design allows the unit to be operated without being connected to power supplies.

Basic parameters of the boiler:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 1.2 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 330x748x499 mm;
• weight - 41 kg.

Advantages:

• energy independence;
• well-organized service and spare parts supply;
• The design was created taking into account Russian climatic conditions.

Disadvantages:

• when heated to 50°, condensation appears in small quantities;
• there is no display, there is no way to obtain information about the state of the boiler components.

Non-volatile models are reliable and simple. They are quite safe, but require a high-quality chimney.

Lemax Premium-20 20 kW

Russian-made gas boiler . The power of the unit is 20 kW, which is suitable for rooms up to 200 sq.m. Equipped with fully mechanical control.

Boiler parameters:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - non-volatile;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 2.4 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 556x961x470 mm;
• weight - 78 kg.

Advantages:

• reliability, stability;
• Ease of Management;
• low cost.

Flaws:

• complex ignition;
• you have to adjust the gas pressure so that there is no popping noise when igniting.

Domestic non-volatile boilers are much simpler and cheaper than their European counterparts. This is both a plus and a minus of the units.

Protherm Wolf 16 KSO 16 kW

Slovak gas boiler with a capacity of 16 kW. Optimally suitable for heating a house with an area of ​​160 sq.m.

Main technical characteristics:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 92.5%;
• gas consumption - 1.9 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 390x745x460 mm;
• weight - 46.5 kg.

Advantages:

• simplicity and reliability;
• no need to connect power supply;
• economical fuel consumption;
• stable operation in automatic mode.

Flaws:

• there is no indication of the state of the main components of the boiler;
• ignition using a piezoelectric element is somewhat difficult.

Gas boilers made by Slovak engineers are highly rated by users, which confirms the high demand.

BAXI ECO-4s 1.24F 24 kW

Gas boiler from a famous Italian manufacturer . The power of the unit is 24 kW, which corresponds to a service area of ​​240 sq.m.

Options:

• installation type: wall-mounted;
• power consumption - 220 V 50 Hz;
• Efficiency - 92.9%;
• gas consumption - 2.73 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 400x730x299 mm;
• weight - 29 kg.

Advantages:

• compactness, light weight;
• reliability, stability;
• full control over all systems and components using self-diagnosis;
• There is a display showing all the parameters of the unit, both current and permanent.

Flaws:

• when the power supply is turned off, the boiler operation stops;
• high price for the boiler itself and for spare parts.

Italian heating technology is considered elite . It successfully competes with German models in all respects, enjoys well-deserved recognition and high demand among buyers.

Lemax Leader-16 16 kW

Russian single-circuit non-volatile boiler. Its power is 16 kW, which allows you to heat rooms up to 160 sq.m.

Main characteristics:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 1.9 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 431x856x515 mm;
• weight - 95 kg.

Advantages:

• stable, sustainable work;
• low cost of the boiler and repair work;
• independence from power supply.

Flaws:

• minor flaws made during assembly;
• heavy weight.

Floor-standing gas boilers are not limited in the weight and size of units, which allows you to create more powerful and durable units.

Water volume and gas consumption

Mistake #6

The greater the volume of water in the heating system, the greater the power of the gas boiler should be.

This is not true at all. The final power is affected solely by the heat loss of the building.

The volume of water affects only the speed of INITIAL warming up.

When the temperature reaches the set values, the amount of heat released from the boiler will be the same. It doesn’t matter how much water there will be in the system - 10 liters or 100 liters.

Prices for water softeners for a gas boiler

Gas boilersInstructionsBoilersEquipment for boiler rooms

Manufacturer country

Which wall-mounted gas boiler is better - Korean or European? It is between them that the struggle most often occurs in this segment.

Mistake #7

Korean boilers are more economical than European ones.

Mistake #8

European boilers are more economical than Korean ones.

All wall-mounted turbocharged boilers work approximately the same. Yes, their filling is different, but this does not affect the SAVINGS.

The efficiency of both Korean and European models is the same. Here you need to look at another parameter, namely, the availability in your city of a service for maintenance and repair of a specific brand.

Because sooner or later your boiler, no matter how reliable it is, WILL BREAK.

Based on this factor, it is worth making a choice in one direction or another. Remember a simple rule - the further you live from the service, the simpler the units you choose.

Popular manufacturing brands

The efficiency and economy of gas heating is confirmed by the high demand for gas boilers.

A large number of companies produce this type of equipment. European companies are leading in this direction, but manufacturers from Southeast Asia and Russia are practically not lagging behind them. The number of firms is large, which creates serious competition between them.

The most famous companies are::

• Vaillant . A well-known German brand that produces reliable and high-quality gas boilers;
• Buderus . A company from Germany produces high-quality heating equipment of a high level;
• Viessmann . Another German company whose products are highly valued by users all over the world;
• Ariston . The Italian company is currently a subsidiary of Indesit.
• Baxi . Another well-known company from Italy;
• Protherm . Slovak company. Known for naming a series of gas boilers after animals;
• Navien . Korean manufacturer of inexpensive and high-quality gas boilers;
• ZhMZ . The abbreviation “Zhukovsky Machine-Building Plant” is well known in Russia. Non-volatile boilers from this manufacturer are characterized by stable operation and low prices;
• Lemax . The company from Taganrog (Russia) produces gas boilers of high quality and affordable cost.

The list of companies producing gas heating equipment is far from complete.

New companies are constantly emerging, and companies are merging into single holdings . Changing the situation contributes to the development and improvement of equipment, allows us to achieve better performance and reduce prices.

How to check the manufacturer?

Mistake #9

Often, instead of a gas boiler with European components, you can easily buy a Chinese boiler.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with this, it’s just that sellers should be honest with you from the beginning, and not push purely European quality.

How can you avoid falling for this and check everything yourself? Elementary.

Type the full name of the model into Google and add two words – “CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY”. Download it and study it carefully.

Mistake #10

If you cannot find such a certificate at all, then it is better to immediately avoid this model.

Each product that is imported into the territory of the CIS countries must have a certificate. The “Manufacturer” column indicates exactly where the boiler was actually manufactured. Here are two certificates for a visual comparison.

See the “Products” column for the specific brand.

This applies not only to assembly, but also to components. Already, few manufacturers save only on labor at the expense of the Chinese.

Therefore, you should not believe the sellers that the boiler was only assembled with a screwdriver in China, and all its internals are European. Although, again, we repeat, in the modern world, Chinese components are not always bad.

Here, first of all, we are talking about the honesty of the seller.

What to follow

When asked how to choose a heating boiler, they often answer that the main criterion is the availability of a particular fuel. In this context, we will highlight several types of boilers.

Gas boilers

Gas boilers are the most common types of heating equipment. This is due to the fact that fuel for such boilers is not very expensive and is available to a wide range of consumers. What types of gas heating boilers are there? They differ from each other depending on what type of burner is atmospheric or inflatable. In the first case, the exhaust gas goes through the chimney, and in the second, all combustion products escape through a special pipe using a fan. Of course, the second version will be a little more expensive, but it will not require smoke removal.

Wall-mounted gas boiler

As for the method of placing boilers, the choice of heating boiler involves the presence of floor and wall models. Which heating boiler is better in this case - there is no answer. After all, everything will depend on what goals you are pursuing. If, in addition to heating, you need to supply hot water, then you can install modern wall-mounted heating boilers. This way you won’t need to install a boiler to heat the water, and this will save money. Also, in the case of wall-mounted models, combustion products can be discharged directly onto the street. And the small size of such devices will allow them to fit perfectly into the interior.

The disadvantage of wall-mounted models is their dependence on electrical energy.

Electric boilers

Next, we will consider electric heating boilers. If there is no mains gas in your area, an electric boiler can save you. These types of heating boilers are small in size, so they can be used in small houses, as well as in cottages with an area of ​​100 sq.m. All combustion products will be harmless from an environmental point of view. And installation of such a boiler does not require special skills. It is worth noting that electric boilers are not very common. After all, fuel is expensive, and its prices are rising and rising. If you are asking which heating boilers are better in terms of economy, then this is not an option in this case. Very often, electric boilers serve as backup heating devices.

Solid fuel boilers

Now it’s time to consider what solid fuel heating boilers are available. Such boilers are considered the most ancient; such a system has been used for heating premises for a long time. And the reason for this is simple - fuel for such devices is available, its quality can be firewood, coke, peat, coal, etc. The only drawback is that such boilers are not able to operate in autonomous mode.

Gas generating solid fuel boiler

A modification of such boilers is gas generator devices. This boiler differs in that it is possible to control the combustion process, and the productivity is regulated within the range of 30-100 percent. When you are thinking about how to choose a heating boiler, you should know that the fuel that such boilers use is wood, and their humidity should not be less than 30%. Gas fired boilers depend on the supply of electrical energy. But they also have advantages over solid fuel ones. They have high efficiency, which is two times higher than solid fuel devices. And from the point of view of environmental pollution, they are environmentally friendly, since combustion products will not enter the chimney, but will serve to generate gas.

The rating of heating boilers shows that single-circuit gas generator boilers cannot be used for heating water. And if we consider automation, it is great. You can often find programmers on such devices - they regulate the temperature of the coolant and give signals if there is an emergency.

Gas generator boilers in a private home are an expensive pleasure. After all, the cost of a heating boiler is high.

Liquid fuel boilers

Now let's look at liquid fuel boilers. Such devices use diesel fuel as a working resource. To operate such boilers, you will need additional components - fuel containers and a room specifically for the boiler. If you are thinking about which boiler to choose for heating, then we note that liquid fuel boilers have a very expensive burner, which can sometimes cost as much as a gas boiler with an atmospheric burner. But such a device has different power levels, which is why it is profitable to use it from an economic point of view.

In addition to diesel fuel, liquid fuel boilers can also use gas. For this purpose, replaceable burners or special burners are used that can operate on two types of fuel.

Liquid fuel boiler

Double-circuit or single-circuit?

Mistake #11

If in addition to radiators at home there is also a heated floor, then you must definitely buy a double-circuit boiler.

Double-circuit boilers are needed only for hot water supply (DHW) - heating + separate hot water. The single-circuit device copes well with both heated floors and radiators.

All it does is simply heat the water. What kind of heating system you have doesn’t really bother him.

The main thing is to design and calculate everything correctly. In general, for normal hot water supply it is not recommended to buy a boiler with a power of less than 24 kW.

There are many copies on the Internet about double-circuit and hot water supply.

To briefly formulate the essence, it is as follows:

• one bathroom or two hot water points + all this is not far from the boiler room - your choice is a double-circuit boiler

• three or more water points - single-circuit and indirect heating boiler

How to choose a wall-mounted gas boiler

We have prepared a rating of the best wall-mounted gas boilers that can be found on sale in 2022. WOLF service engineer Viktor Chikalov and technical director of the heating equipment manufacturer FRISQUET Roman Gladkikh were asked to talk about the features of choosing a device .

Before the purchase

Before choosing equipment, you need to decide how much heat and hot water you need to provide for your home. What matters is the number of family members, the heated area, the number of bathrooms and how the room will be heated - radiators and/or heated floors. With these characteristics, go to the specialists.

For a small house where two or three people live, with one bathroom, a double-circuit gas boiler is suitable. It costs more than a single-circuit one, since it heats the water here and now. However, for the first 4-5 seconds it will not be warm enough. Sometimes the temperature starts to fluctuate during the process. On the other hand, there are double-circuit models with a semi-accumulation system for hot water (the boiler always has 1.5-3 liters of hot water) or small built-in boilers. They also provide hot water instantly and maintain an even temperature throughout use.

For a large family , as well as if you have at least two bathrooms, it is better to choose a single-circuit boiler with a boiler (purchased separately or as a set), which provides a constant supply of hot water and will allow you to organize an uninterrupted supply to several points at the same time. Then you can definitely avoid the situation when, when you turn on the faucet in the kitchen, you are suddenly doused with ice water from the shower.

What power to take

You can calculate the required boiler power using thermal engineering calculations - online calculators are available on the Internet. Or leave it to the experts. Follow the rule yourself: if you need hot water supply from the boiler, and not just heating, then choose a model of at least 24 kW. . Or another standard: 1 kW of boiler power per 10 m² of house area.

Traditional boilers VS condensing boilers

This is what boiler operating systems are called. Traditional ones are cheaper and use only the energy of combustion gas. Condensing boilers save on gas costs in the long run, although they are more expensive in the store. To obtain energy, they use maximum internal capabilities: hot flue gases are cooled with water and allow the resulting condensate to be reused. During the heating season they save up to 25% of fuel. In addition, they are more environmentally friendly. In Europe, where they began to care about the environment a little earlier, condensing boilers are mandatory for installation. Perhaps Russia will come to this in the near future.

This is interesting

The best thermostats for boilers

Condensing or traditional boiler?

Boilers are like people, some are traditional and some are not.