Gas boilers Proterm Bear - review of floor-standing models

The Proterm Bear series of heating boilers is popular due to its high performance, stable operation and favorable price. This is European quality equipment, which is produced in Slovakia with detailed control at all stages of assembly. The coefficient of performance (efficiency) of Medved boilers is ~90%. The range of heating capacities of models in the line is from 17 to 49 kW.

Before purchasing, it is important to make sure that heating costs will be reasonable. To do this, you need to study the planned fuel costs. In this article we will look at the standard indicators of gas fuel consumption, as well as ways to reduce them and save on heating.

Gas consumption of Proterm Medved boilers 20, 30, 40, 50, 60

The manufacturer provides the following information in the operating instructions for boiler equipment:

After studying this table and comparing the models, you can make an approximate conclusion about how economical and cost-effective Protherm Bear boilers are to operate. However, these data provide only a rough idea of ​​future heating costs.

Advantages and disadvantages

Bear boilers have microprocessor control.
Proterm products are popular in 25 countries around the world. The demand for equipment is explained by its many advantages:

• In production, strong and durable materials are used - stainless steel and cast iron.
• An environmentally friendly heating option does not pollute the environment.
• The operation of the equipment is controlled using microprocessors.
• The units have a built-in security system. They provide the following functions: anti-freezing, protection against pump blocking, a sensor for the release of combustion products and overheating of the boiler.
• A wide range of models provides the opportunity to find an option suitable for an individual heating project.
• Availability of management and maintenance. An informative display and a thermostat help control processes.

The advantages of the equipment include its versatility. Depending on the power, the models are installed in country houses, apartments, cottages, institutions and industrial workshops.

The disadvantage of the units is the inability to connect control via a remote control. This function is only available on more expensive Proterm models. Another disadvantage is that you will need free space to place the boiler.

What determines the gas consumption of the Bear boiler from Protherm?

In addition to the characteristics of the heating boiler, heating efficiency is affected by:

• insulation of the house;
• wall material;
• characteristics of the attic and basement;
• ceiling height;
• number of windows and doors;
• errors during installation and configuration of boiler equipment;
• other potential heat losses.

The better the house is insulated, the less thermally conductive its walls are, the less gas needs to be spent on heating the room. An abundance of windows and doors helps to cool the house and requires an increase in heating intensity.

The boiler and type of heating system should be selected during the process of building a house. In this case, you can achieve maximum efficiency and reduce gas consumption.

On average, heating 10 m2 of a house with standard height ceilings (~2.5 meters) requires 1 kW of boiler power. However, you need to make an allowance of 10-15% for heat loss.

In terms of efficiency, the most economical fuel is main gas. If it is not possible to gasify the house, then the boiler can be converted to use liquefied gas in cylinders. Heating costs in this case will increase, but will be lower than when using electrical energy.

Who is the manufacturer

The international company Protherm was founded in 1991 in the Czech Republic. The initial production line was located at a plant in Prague and specialized in the production of electric boilers.

Proterm produce quite a few modifications of boilers

The high popularity of the products forced the company's management to increase production, so the company moved its workshops to the Slovak city of Skalica.

The rapid growth of production led to the fact that by 1993 the Medved concern occupied 65% of the market for electric heating boilers in Eastern Europe.

A year later, Proterm begins production of boiler units operating on liquid fuel and using two types of gas: liquefied and main gas. In 1997, the company acquired the European quality certificate ISO 9001 and began exporting boiler equipment to England and Germany.

At the same time, the company is launching a production line for the production of solid fuel and condensing boilers, as well as boilers for heating and storing hot water. In 2013, Protherm began manufacturing solar collectors.

Since 2010, the Protherm brand has been part of the group of red brands of the trading company Vaillant Group, which has thoroughly redesigned the corporate identity of the boilers.

“My neighbor pays less for gas than I do. What to do?"

This question comes up quite often, but it is not entirely correct. Think for yourself: most likely, your homes are not identical, and neither are your ideas about a comfortable temperature.

Different thickness and type of insulation, the presence of a room thermostat, the number of windows and doors, the thickness of double-glazed windows and insulation of door panels, the type of foundation and roof, the operating time of the gas stove and oven in the kitchen, the frequency of cleaning the boiler... all these and many other factors affect gas consumption .

Only in rare cases can replacing a boiler lead to significant savings. To truly improve your home's energy efficiency and spend less on gas, there's a lot of work that needs to be done. Below we will give some tips for reducing fuel consumption.

Insulate your house

If the building has already been completed, you need to inspect it for zones of maximum heat loss. The house loses heat:

• through the roof (up to 25-30%);
• through ventilation (up to 25-30%);
• through walls (up to 25-30%);
• through windows (10-20%) and doors (10-20%);
• through the floor and basement (up to 5-15%).

These are averages and may vary in specific cases.

Then you should select insulation (penoplex, mineral wool, polyurethane foam, etc.) and decide whether the walls will be insulated from the inside or outside (facade thermal insulation is considered more preferable, but the choice depends on many factors and is always individual). It may be necessary to insulate the roof, replace double-glazed windows and entrance doors.

After a comprehensive thermal modernization, less heat will escape from the house. Thanks to this, gas consumption will decrease.

Properly equip the air supply and smoke exhaust

~12÷14 m3 of air must be consumed to burn 1 m3 of gas. If less air comes in, the gas will not burn completely. Due to incomplete combustion, soot begins to settle on the heat exchanger, which makes it difficult to transfer heat to the heating system. The boiler works much worse than it could. Visually, you can understand that there is not enough air when the flame on the burner turns yellow-red.

An excessive excess of air supplied to the burner also increases gas consumption.

The optimal coefficient of excess air mass for Protherm Bear boilers (and most other household gas boilers) is up to 1.8.

Error and fault codes

Proterm boilers are very reliable equipment, which is confirmed by more than ten years of experience in using units in Russia and the CIS countries. Almost the majority of failures are caused by disturbances from the outside, in external utility networks: water, electricity and gas.

Errors on Bear boilers can be easily removed

Failures occur in the control unit due to violations in the grounding system of the boiler equipment. The boiler software package has a good diagnostic system, which will not only identify malfunctions in the operation of components and mechanisms and report them to the user so that corrective measures can be taken

Basic fault codes for Proterm boilers:

• F00 - the line of the primary sensor NTC2 is open, the temperature of the supply pipeline.
• F01 - NTC5 primary sensor line is open, return pipe temperature.
• F10 - short circuit in the line of the primary sensor NTC2.
• F11 - short circuit in the line of the primary sensor NTC5.
• F20 - high coolant temperature in the supply circuit above 90 C.
• F22 - low pressure in the heating circuit.
• F23 - high temperature difference between forward and return.
• F24 - low circulation in the heating circuit.
• F25 - flue gas leak in the room.
• F27 - separation of the torch from the burner.
• F28 - low gas fuel pressure.
• F33 - low air supply to the firebox.
• F49 - low voltage in the mains and at the Ebus terminal, less than 15 V.

Regular heating system maintenance helps save money

Owners often think that their heating boiler does not need maintenance. They install it and forget about it until failures and breakdowns occur.

Even such reliable boilers as Protherm Bear need:

• be sure to remove soot every year;
• check for proper air supply and smoke exhaust.

Also, as part of annual maintenance, the integrity of the system, the tightness of joints and seams are checked, minor faults and calibration problems, if any, are identified.

Proterm Bear is a high-quality heating equipment, but it must be monitored as part of scheduled periodic maintenance.

Installation features

Bear boilers are installed in a room protected from sub-zero temperatures, not far from the chimney. The permissible temperature of the internal air in the combustion chamber is from +5 C to +40 C.

The boiler is placed on a reinforced concrete foundation or on a concrete floor, which must support the full weight of the boiler filled with water and auxiliary equipment and not be slippery.

To remove boiler gases, it is allowed to install a fan and a smoke exhauster, which will ensure their forced movement. The size of the outlet pipe for connection to the chimney varies depending on the heating capacity of the model, for example, for KLZ 30 - 133 mm, and for KLZ 40 - 152 mm.

Before starting Proterm Bear for the first time, thoroughly wash the internal surfaces of the heating system. A safety relief valve is installed on the cold water supply line to the indirect heating boiler to protect against high pressure. It is prohibited to install any shut-off valves between it and the housing.

The unit must be equipped with a drainage line to drain water from the heating circuit during repair of the Proterm Medved boiler. Installation of the expansion tank is carried out by the safety group.

All main and auxiliary boiler equipment is tied according to the diagrams indicated by the boiler design and technical documentation of the manufacturer.

Use automation for Protherm Bear boilers

An automated control system with temperature sensors allows you to take into account all temperature changes in the house and quickly adjust the heating. For example, by lowering the temperature by just 1-2 degrees, you can achieve gas savings of up to 4-8% per hour.

It is impossible to achieve cost-effective regulation manually. For example, turning on a gas stove can raise the temperature in the kitchen and dining room, but the owners may not notice it. Temperature changes during the night cannot be constantly monitored manually since everyone in the household is asleep. Thermostats do not need rest and are able to respond to even subtle temperature fluctuations, bringing tangible savings and maintaining an optimal microclimate.

A room temperature controller (for example, Exabasic, Exacontrol, Thermolink P (eBUS) and Thermolink B) and an outdoor temperature sensor can significantly reduce the gas consumption of the Bear series boilers from Proterm.

In addition, thermostatic valves (temperature regulators) can be installed on radiators for more flexible regulation of thermal conditions. The modifications to the heating system do not end there. To carry out thermal modernization of a house, we recommend engaging experienced specialists who will perform calculations and provide justification for all types of work.

Types of models

The models do not differ so much from each other, and you can choose the right one if you adhere to the following criteria for choosing the optimal device:

1. Peak power output. For two-story private houses there is no point in taking single-circuit boilers, but if we are talking about ordinary houses and apartments, then their needs for boiler power will vary. A two-room apartment will not require anything more than 24 kW, but a normal plot will need at least 40.
2. Form factor, which may vary slightly between models of the same series. Take a closer look at whether the heaters will suit your interior, because you have had them for more than one year.
3. Additional functionality. Everything here is individual, you simply won’t need some of the tools, but you may be looking for something specific for a long time. The main thing is to check the necessary auxiliary functionality before making a purchase.

We have figured out how to choose a device model for ourselves, now let’s look at the technical characteristics of the devices provided by Proterm. Unlike the same Chinese companies, it is worth considering that they are often slightly downgraded in order to have a reserve in terms of power and volume of fluid passed through.