Gas boilers Navien: floor and wall-mounted, single- and double-circuit

Korean Navien gas boilers, like other equipment, are distinguished by good efficiency and the presence of many “tricks”: a remote control included, a functional menu and even external sensors for weather-dependent operation. All this for a fairly affordable amount. However, the manufacturer’s heating boilers are not without their drawbacks.

In the article we will look at the best models of Navien gas wall-mounted and floor-standing boilers, how they behave in practice, what advantages and, most importantly, disadvantages are noted by the owners, as well as what malfunctions may arise during the operation of boiler units in real conditions.

About the manufacturer

KD Navien Co., Ltd. has been producing heating equipment for more than 30 years and has established itself as a manufacturer of optimal technical characteristics and multifunctional equipment. It is present on the Russian market in the form of the official representative office of NAVIEN RUS LLC. The service structure is extremely developed and covers all regions of the country, not only the Moscow region.

Gas boilers of this brand have a fairly standard, simple but effective device with an average efficiency of 90-92%, depending on the model. First of all, the emphasis is on lower cost; in comparison with analogues, Navien boilers are always at least 5-10% cheaper. Therefore, even in the middle price segment, the manufacturer saves significantly on materials. The heat exchangers are steel, not copper, the pipes are also usually steel, the circulation pumps are quite noisy, like all switches, there is no thermal insulation. However, at an affordable price, this is more of a post than significant disadvantages.

Device using Navien DELUXE ONE as an example. Standard efficient layout, steel pipes, plastic hydraulic group. There is no thermal or noise insulation layer.

What else the manufacturer’s gas boilers are known for is their wide automation functionality. Even the most budget models costing 30-35 thousand rubles have a programmer that allows you to set the boiler operation settings for the next day or week. More expensive models already have a remote control (room thermostat) and external temperature sensors as standard. The controls and menus themselves are quite clear and convenient.

However, despite all the advantages, the reliability of heating boilers, especially mounted ones, raises questions. According to the statistics of service requests, products are not the leader in the number of breakdowns, but the opinion that Korean equipment is unreliable is not prejudice. Most often, the boiler displays errors 02 and 03, associated with circulation or ignition problems, respectively. Almost all existing components fail, most often these are: a three-way valve, a circulation pump, a turbine.

In recent years, models 8-10 years old often have problems with heat exchangers, which in general is practically the norm for steel structures when using hard, contaminated coolant.

There are many cases of problem-free operation over many years; it would be more correct to say that they are the majority. However, statistics of service calls show that the manufacturer’s wall-mounted gas boilers are among the least reliable in the price segment, along with Italian Ferroli and others. It is worth noting that floor-standing models are almost completely problem-free.

Disadvantages of devices

Like any complex equipment, Navien gas boilers, the technical characteristics of which indicate the specific use of the device, have a number of features. Thus, for domestic buyers, a significant disadvantage may be the manufacturer’s ban on pouring antifreeze into the heating system circuit. The design of the boiler is not designed to interact with a chemical solution, so the system must be filled with ordinary water. You can learn how to prepare water for a heating system from our article “Why is it necessary to prepare water for a heating system?”

In addition to the fact that the water can be hard and will lead to clogging of radiators and valves, the decision to refuse to use antifreeze can lead to more serious consequences - defrosting the system in severe frosts. The manufacturer tried to compensate for this shortcoming by introducing a special option into the boilers. It is represented by a set of devices that prevent the coolant from freezing in winter.

If we do not take into account this drawback, which is not critical for residents of the southern regions, the Navien double-circuit gas boiler is characterized by an optimal combination of price and consumer qualities. This device is one of the most worthy offers available on the domestic heating equipment market and can become the basis for designing a heating system for an apartment, country house or private apartment.

A wide range of boilers, characterized by power, efficiency and functionality, allows you to select heating equipment in accordance with the individual needs of the buyer and the specifics of the room that needs heating.

Owner reviews of Navien gas boilers: advantages and disadvantages

Many features depend on the model, since it is impossible to generalize the entire model range. However, after analyzing the experience of installation and operation, and many reviews from owners, we have identified general advantages and disadvantages that apply to each model.

Smooth operation of boilers from the line

When buying a Navien double-circuit wall-mounted gas boiler for your home, reviews about which indicate consumer satisfaction with the quality of the device, the owner can count on making the right choice. Korean heating equipment is manufactured taking into account the smallest details and is distinguished by its adaptability to work in difficult conditions.

For example, a double-circuit wall-mounted gas boiler Navien, the price of which depends on power, is equipped with systems that prepare the optimal composition of the gas-air mixture. By getting a certain amount of gas and air into the chamber, manufacturers allowed the boilers to operate more efficiently. When burned, a properly prepared gas-air mixture releases maximum heat and allows for efficient use of resources.

Korean boilers are distinguished by their compliance with environmental requirements and ensure a minimum amount of emissions into the atmosphere during their operation.

They will be a worthy choice for homeowners who want to make their personal contribution to preserving the planet. Consumers should take into account that with compact body dimensions, Korean boilers produce the required amount of heat and spend a minimum amount of gas and electricity for this process.

The best and most famous models: characteristics and prices

Wall mounted

Ace (ATMO)

The most budget-friendly in the line, a classic atmospheric double-circuit wall-hung boiler. The model clearly stands out from the rest of the series, since it is the only one equipped with a primary copper heat exchanger: its heating rate and thermal conductivity are many times higher, and its durability is also longer by an average of 5 years. However, due to the design with an open combustion chamber, the boiler efficiency is optimal, but not high, only 86%. The productivity of the DHW circuit is also low, in addition, the prepared water is supplied for quite a long time (from 30-40 seconds, also depends on the length of the pipeline), and its temperature is often unstable.

However, what’s nice is that already in the basic configuration, the most budget atmospheric model is equipped with a room thermostat. There is protection against overheating and freezing, autodiagnostics. But there is no protection against stopping the circulation pump. The manufacturer states that the boiler is adapted to voltage surges. Regarding reliability, in most cases the model works without problems for at least 7-10 years. However, there is enough negative operating experience; there are cases of failure, including the control board. In any case, the boiler is demanding on the quality of the coolant and the electrical network and needs regular cleaning.

How to choose a room thermostat and save up to 30% per month on heating

Deluxe S COAXIAL

A slightly more expensive, but much more optimal in terms of functionality and technical characteristics, is a dual-circuit model with a closed combustion chamber. The efficiency of the design is quite good - 91.4%, there are all standard protection systems, including against pump blocking. However, the primary heat exchanger here is already made of steel: less durable and more susceptible to corrosion.

The basic package includes a room thermostat. Owners often note almost silent operation; this is one of the quietest boilers in the Navien wall-mounted line. A special feature is that there are no controls on the boiler body itself; all parameters are set using a remote control panel, which has its drawbacks (the wire is only 2 meters, there is no display backlight).

As for reliability, it will be simpler with this model; the only common fault that can be noted is the failure of the control board. The boiler is extremely demanding on grounding; it is advisable to connect it through a voltage stabilizer. Otherwise, the model usually does not cause any complaints; service specialists note the ease of maintenance.

SMART TOK

Multifunctional, more expensive double-circuit gas boiler with a closed combustion chamber. Efficiency is 91%, the burner is modulated, in practice, gas consumption is lower than that of previous models. All modern protection systems are available.

The basic package includes a room thermostat and an outdoor temperature sensor. The room thermostat has a programmer that allows you to set the boiler operating schedule for the next day or week, which can significantly reduce fuel consumption. The control unit also has a built-in Wi-Fi module, and there is an official application through which you can control the boiler remotely from a smartphone. Such rich equipment is typical for 2-3 times more expensive models costing from 60-80 thousand rubles, however, SMART TOK also has enough disadvantages.

First of all, owners often complain that the control panel is problematic; it often buzzes or makes an unpleasant whistle, and there have been cases of failure. Often the time on the control panel is reset, which does not allow normal operation according to the schedule specified in the programmer. Also, some owners complain about incorrect readings from the thermometer built into the remote control. Among service workers, the model is also not considered reliable; the circulation pump, control board, three-way valve, and turbine fail. It is worth noting that spare parts are also extremely accessible and inexpensive. The DHW circuit is the same as that of previous models: the same low performance, often unstable water temperature.

NCB 700

Double-circuit condensing model with a closed combustion chamber. The condensation principle of operation implies the presence of an additional heat exchanger that removes heat from the exhaust gas condensate. Therefore, the boiler efficiency is 107.7%, which is the average among condensers. It is important to note the high productivity of the DHW circuit, 10 l/min at a water temperature of 40°C; analogues in the price category produce similar indicators at 30-35°C. There are protections against overheating and freezing.

This model is not equipped with an external control unit or a room thermostat. It appeared on the Russian market recently and there is no extensive operating experience yet; in the first years of operation, the presence of problematic components was not noticed. Available in 24 and 35 kW versions.

All operating features and selection criteria for condensing gas boilers

Floor-standing

GA

Double-circuit floor-standing gas boiler with a closed combustion chamber and a steel heat exchanger. It has a fairly high efficiency for floor-standing gas boilers - 91.5% (due to the turbocharged design). Equipped with protection against overheating and freezing, auto-diagnosis, auto-ignition. Please note that the boiler is volatile, that is, it requires connection to the electrical network. The basic package includes a room thermostat and programmer.

It can operate on both natural and liquefied gas, the permissible operating pressure is up to 3 bar, which allows the boiler to be installed in the heating systems of two-story houses.

Unlike the wall-mounted boiler range, the GA is known to be virtually hassle-free. The only difficulties arise with heat exchangers, which, when using hard, unrefined coolant, burst and leak quite quickly. Clean water from a well as a coolant and a softening filter are a necessity. Otherwise, there are no complaints about the boiler; at such an affordable price, there are practically no floor-standing boilers with similar characteristics and functionality. Available in 23 and 35 kW versions.

Design and principle of operation

The design of the Navien gas heating boiler includes a large number of different parts and components. That is why, when choosing a specific model, you should know its structure and operating principle.

Boiler structure Navien Deluxe

Heating devices produced by the South Korean manufacturer are practically no different from Italian, German and other European analogues, which include unique components. Navien wall-mounted and floor-mounted gas boilers are available for sale. Let's consider the main elements that are included in the design of the device:

1. The body is made of two parts. On the back wall there are parts for installing and fixing the components of the device, as well as mounting holes for mounting to the wall. The front cover acts as a protective cover. There is a window for the pressure gauge and equipment controls on it.
2. Water circuit. The components of this unit are several pipes: for supplying cold water, the outlet of heating fluid from the boiler to supply the heating system, the return inlet from the heating circuit, the outlet for connecting the hot pipeline. The water line inside the device is made of stainless steel. There is a circulation tank that ensures unhindered movement of the heating fluid to the water circuit. Compensation of excess pressure is carried out using a membrane expansion tank.
   

   The Navien company completes its gas boilers with elements that are produced at the company's facilities. Due to this, the cost of products is much lower than European analogues, which have units from various manufacturers installed.

3. The combustion chamber. This includes: the burner, electrodes for ignition and ionization, which are connected to the ignition transformer, the burner nozzle manifold and the chamber body itself.
4. Heat exchanger; dual-circuit units have two of them. One is used to heat the coolant circulating through the heating circuit - the main one. The other provides the house with hot water - the secondary one. The first is located directly in front of the combustion chamber, the other is located at the bottom of the unit. The manufacturing material of both heat exchangers is stainless steel.
5. Control. Navien heating devices have an electronic control system.
6. Protection. The design includes sensors for monitoring the temperature and flow of heating fluid, the flow of hot water. The package also includes an automatic air vent and a safety valve for emergency discharge of heating fluid.

The operating principle of the equipment is identical to all analogues. The control system selects the desired temperature conditions for the heating circuit and hot water. The main heat exchanger heats the coolant.

More information about the types of heat exchangers for gas boilers is presented in this article

The circulation pump ensures its movement through the internal pipeline to the coil, which provides heating for the hot pipeline and then into the heating system.

Heat exchangers made of stainless steel. characterized by a longer service life than conventional steel or bithermic ones.

Official website: where to view all models and operating instructions

A snapshot of the official Navien website in Russia.
In Russia, the official website of the manufacturer is located at: navien.ru/

By going to the “Equipment” section → “Wall-mounted boilers”/“Floor-standing boilers” → you can see all available models and their descriptions. Each model is accompanied by electronic copies of full instructions for use, installation, configuration, technical data sheets and certificates. The manuals for each model describe the characteristics, installation diagram, algorithm for switching on and adjusting the operation, maintenance features, and contain clear schematic images.

Which boiler model is ultimately better to choose?

In our opinion, the most optimal among wall-mounted ones is the atmospheric model Ace (ATMO). It has a fairly simple design, making it more reliable, while its cost is as affordable as possible. Already in the basic package there is a room thermostat. It is only important to connect the boiler through a voltage stabilizer and use high-quality coolant. More technologically advanced and expensive models often raise many questions regarding reliability.

An even better option, if boiler room conditions allow, would be to choose a floor-standing GA; this is one of the best Navien gas boilers for heating a private home. It is quite economical, functional and reliable, and costs only slightly more than the Ace.

Navien, Baxi or Protherm

These two European manufacturers are often compared not only by sellers, but also by buyers themselves. Generally speaking, there are not many differences between the products of Baxi and Protherm, but the difference between them and Navien is noticeable. All similar Navien gas boilers are at least 10-15% cheaper; only some Baxi and Protherm models are equipped with room thermostats and programmable operating modes; in terms of the efficiency of converting gas into thermal energy, the boilers of all three manufacturers are similar. However, models from European manufacturers do not have most of the disadvantages of Korean boilers.

In our opinion, functionality and lower cost do not justify spending time and money on further maintenance and repairs; moreover, problems with the boiler in the middle of the heating season are an extremely unpleasant situation. According to service statistics, there are several times fewer calls for Baxi boilers (in percentage terms), and even less for Protherm boilers.

No matter what gas service workers or store managers claim, you can find out at least some real information by analyzing the number of problems described on forums, in comments to videos, or by talking with owners or service specialists. Therefore, in our opinion, it is worth choosing Navien boilers only if you have a really limited budget, and it is better to choose only the models described above (Ace or GA). Of course, we do not deny the trouble-free operation of the entire model range in most cases.

DIY house

The boiler heats up, life goes on, but something told me that everything is not so rosy, first of all, a mistake was found among many buyers of gas boilers, they all buy with a reserve of power “just in case,” well, I, like everyone else, I took it with a reserve, with a reserve for hot water supply and frosts, i.e. It turned out that in warm weather outside, the Navien boiler continues to cycle, which is very unfortunate for it, and can lead to breakdown, first of all, there may be a breakdown of the ignition system, since it constantly lights the boiler, and most often wears out, this is not for me I want to.

As an inquisitive researcher, with a stopwatch in my hands, I studied the cycles of the boiler in different modes of its operation, in warm weather, in cold weather, and decided to test the capabilities of the boiler at work depending on the temperature in the room, for this I selected the room mode in the boiler settings.

At first everything was happy, the boiler obediently stood up, waiting for the set temperature to drop, but the joy was short-lived, cold was already creeping across the floor (the heat from the radiators, which cut off the cold air from my many windows, disappeared, and the house became not very comfortable, in the upper part the room where the remote control for the boiler, in which the temperature sensor is located, hung. It was in a warmer zone, we immediately understood that this was not suitable for us, at first there were thoughts of hanging the remote control down, closer to the floor, but, firstly, this is inconvenient for control, secondly, it can be ruined by domestic cats, thirdly, the boiler may not turn off at all, trying to catch up with the temperature below, when it is already hot in the middle part of the room in height.

The room temperature test did not pass and was not suitable for me, at the same time I remembered the person who connected the gas, who advised that the boiler should not be turned on in this mode.

Time passed, but the cycles did not give me peace, and one day it occurred to me, while regularly observing the boiler, that the hysteresis (delta) in the turn-on-switch-off segment of the gas boiler was probably too small, and I would like the boiler to drive the coolant longer to a higher level. low CO temperature, but it was unclear how to do this, I certainly know how to program, but programming languages ​​for this boiler are inappropriate, and I don’t have equipment to connect to the “brains” of the boiler, and one day, purely by chance, I came across one well-known forum for a person who knows how to do this, and with the help of only one remote control, by entering the engineering menu of the Navien boiler!

This is literally what needs to be done. to change the delta between boiler start-stop.

1. With the Navien boiler remote control turned off, press the + and - buttons for 5 seconds

2. The number 8 or 9 or 10 will appear on the remote control display (for me)

3. Again, use the + or - buttons to change the value (this is delta) in the range from 2 to 20 (I set it to 12)

4. We wait 5 seconds, after which the boiler remote control goes out

5. Turn off the boiler by removing the plug from the socket for at least 10 seconds

6. Temperature difference value saved

Having done all this, I immediately realized the difference, the intervals between starts and stops of the boiler increased, although it raised the delta by only 2 degrees!, a useful thing, the engineering menu of the Navien boiler!

But, as it turned out, this is not all that the engineering menu of the Navien boiler can do; it turns out that the run-on time of the pump and blower after stopping the boiler can also be set!

Known faults of Navien boilers

The list of faults is quite wide, almost all of them are unique to wall-mounted models. Most often, due to even small voltage drops, the control board (automation) fails; boilers must be connected to the electrical network through a voltage stabilizer. A less painful, but also common problem is the breakage of the make-up valve or its leakage, since it is made of rather fragile plastic. Less likely to fail are: DIP switches, circulation pump, flow sensor, turbine.

Separately, it is worth examining problems that are not always associated with a breakdown (click to expand):

+ The boiler does not heat hot water

If the treated water does not arrive after 30-60 seconds depending on the length of the pipeline, the situation is not normal. The most common reason is clogging of the heat exchanger with scale, which is especially typical for budget twin heat exchangers. Often replacement may be required, but if the contamination is light, the heat exchanger can still be washed. Less commonly, the problem may be a failure of the three-way valve that switches the heating, or a failure of the flow sensor.

+ Pressure drops / does not maintain pressure

A drop in pressure clearly indicates a leak in the heating circuit: pipeline, safety valves, expansion tank, make-up tap, etc. Normal operating pressure in most Navien models should be 1.2-1.5 bar. Most often, the cause is a leaking make-up tap; to correct the situation, you need to check and seal all elements of the system. All possible reasons for a drop in water pressure in domestic gas boilers

+ The boiler does not start at all

The problem is almost guaranteed to be a control board that has failed due to a voltage drop. Despite the manufacturer’s assurances, the wall-mounted model range is extremely vulnerable to the domestic unstable power grid and requires connection through a stabilizer, which is neglected by almost all buyers.

Most common error codes

All models are equipped with an autodiagnostic function, which has quite a lot of measured parameters and makes it easy to diagnose a malfunction using the corresponding error code. Let's look at the most common ones:

+ 02

Problems with coolant circulation in the system. First of all, fill the system with coolant through the make-up tap; the pressure gauge should read 1.2-1.5 bar. Make sure the values ​​are maintained throughout the day. The second main reason may be the failure of the circulation pump, which cannot reach the required speed or turn on at all. Rarely, the cause may be a clogged dirt filter or a faulty flow sensor blocking the operation of the boiler.

+ 03

Open circuit of the flame sensor or lack of signal about the presence of a flame. If all the shut-off valves are open, the burners have not been adjusted and gas flows normally, the problem is in the ignition electrode, which sometimes can be simply cleaned, but more often it will need to be replaced.

+ 10

Incorrect operation of the smoke removal system. First of all, carefully clear the chimney of ice if there is any on its head. If the problem is not solved, the design of the chimney has not been changed in any way, then a possible reason could be strong gusts of wind or problems with the turbine.

+ 13

Short circuit of the flow sensor. Usually, if such an error occurs, the flow sensor must be replaced, but sometimes the problem can be resolved by careful dismantling and cleaning of the mechanism.

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Type - gas, wall-mounted. Purpose: heating and hot water supply. Thermal power for heating is 9.0-24.0 kW, for hot water supply 24 kW. Heating area 240m2. Gas consumption: natural 0.95-2.58 m 3 hour, liquefied 0.79-2.15 kg hour. DHW capacity at ∆t = 25°C 13.8 l./min., at ∆t = 40°C 8.6 l./min. Height 695 mm. Width 440 mm. Depth 265 mm. Weight 28 kg. The chimney type will be offered to you when you click the buy button.