Properly choosing boilers for heating a private home is necessary for installing an autonomous system. It is heating equipment that will provide housing with heat and hot water. It will create the microclimate necessary for human habitation. In addition, it will work flawlessly. It is so?
We will tell you how to buy a boiler that will meet your requirements and wishes. We have analyzed all the criteria that you should pay attention to when looking through catalogs of online stores or an assortment of specialized retail outlets. Problems that you may encounter before and after purchase are listed.
Basic criteria for choosing boilers
Hundreds of foreign and domestic manufacturers offer thousands of models of heating equipment. It is not easy for an unprepared buyer to navigate all this variety of products. I want it to be cheaper and the quality to be high.
All heating boilers differ in the type of fuel and are divided into the following categories:
- solid fuel (processing firewood, peat, pellets, coal);
- liquid fuel (units running on diesel fuel);
- gas (regular and condensing);
- electrical (requiring electricity supply);
- universal (using either gas or electricity).
Before choosing an option, it would be a good idea to do a little analysis and find out which energy carrier is profitable to use in your region. Then you need to decide how safe, reliable and comfortable the boiler should be in terms of every penny invested in it.
You need to choose one or another type of heating equipment after first familiarizing yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
In order not to make a mistake and not waste your hard-earned money, you need to carefully consider the process of choosing equipment. To do this, it is necessary to take into account a number of nuances that significantly affect the final result.
When choosing a boiler you should:
- understand in detail the advantages and disadvantages of each type of boiler;
- calculate the optimal heating power for your home;
- decide on the number of circuits;
- choose the location where the equipment will subsequently be placed.
The maximum permissible dimensions and weight depend on the future location of the boiler. After all, for a small room it is not advisable to choose a heavy cast iron unit.
The choice of heating equipment must be approached responsibly. This is the only way to buy high-quality equipment that will last for many years.
Rules for calculating equipment power
It’s worth remembering right away that the desire to save money on designing a heating system and performing thermal calculations in most cases backfires on the customer. If you think through everything carefully and trust a highly qualified specialist, then the cost of the boiler, radiators and other equipment will be much cheaper.
The power of the heating boiler is selected to calculate the distribution of approximately 0.1 kW per m2 of living space
To approximate the power of heating equipment required to heat a building and provide hot water supply, you can use special design standards.
It is also imperative to take into account:
- the number of people who will live in the house;
- building materials used for housing construction;
- climate zone;
- number of windows and doors;
- number of floors and other factors.
The opinion that the boiler power is selected at the rate of 0.1 kW per square meter is quite common. But thanks to modern building materials and innovative engineering equipment, heat losses can be significantly lower and, accordingly, the performance of heating equipment can be higher.
Features of single- and double-circuit boilers
When thinking about how to choose the right heating boiler for your home, special attention should be paid to such a characteristic as the number of circuits. Single-circuit technology is intended exclusively for heating the coolant circulating through heating pipes.
A single-circuit boiler is designed to serve only one system: either hot water supply or heating. If it is not possible to install a double-circuit unit, it is permissible to use no more than two boilers in one boiler room, regardless of their floor or wall-mounted design
In this case, to heat tap water you will have to additionally install a boiler. Yes, a single-circuit boiler is convenient, but the disadvantage of this solution is its high cost - you will have to buy not only heating equipment, but also a boiler. Moreover, both devices will take up a lot of space.
As for the double-circuit boiler, here the heating equipment and water heater are assembled into a single structure. Thanks to this structure, you can solve two problems at once, while purchasing only one unit.
In addition, in the absence of hot water, the coolant can be redirected to the second circuit and used alternately - to heat the house and to provide hot water supply.
Operating principle of single-circuit equipment
Single-circuit heating equipment is most often used by owners of luxury country houses. In essence, a single-circuit boiler is the same water heater, but supplies water to the heating system.
The operating principle of this type of equipment is based on burning fuel in a special compartment and heating the liquid. The heating main is connected to the outlet where the hot coolant enters. Next, the water begins to circulate through the pipes and heat the rooms.
The final stage of circulation is the flow of waste coolant back into the boiler through the inlet pipeline.
If you do not need to provide hot water supply, then it is better to give preference to single-circuit boilers
The cost of a single-circuit boiler may be more than a double-circuit system. Even despite less functionality, this type of equipment is less expensive to install, easier to operate and more energy efficient.
Single-circuit equipment is suitable for those buyers who want to spend money once and buy reliable equipment that does not require special care. This type of boiler will be the ideal and only right choice when there is no need for hot water supply in the house.
Design specifics of a dual-circuit unit
A double-circuit boiler is a system where, in addition to the primary heat exchanger, there is an additional one designed to heat water and then supply it to the water supply system. The movement of the coolant is controlled using a three-way valve. It directs the heated water either to the DHW circuit or to the heating system.
It should be noted that in the first case, the coolant will be supplied only if the hot water tap has been opened. The peculiarity of such heating equipment is that while the tap responsible for supplying hot water is open, the system does not work.
If you have a large family and some of its members like to take long showers, then the rooms may become cool. Manufacturers solve this problem by installing a storage water heater in their boilers.
The disadvantages of the double-circuit boiler design include the need for careful and attentive maintenance. This is due to the fact that the secondary heat exchanger can become overgrown due to the use of water containing organic and mineral particles suspended in it, and the small diameter of the pipes.
If you plan to actively consume hot water, then installing a double-circuit boiler is not the best solution. After all, then the house will not be heated well. You should only think about installing this system in a small house or apartment, where there is not enough space to organize a full-fledged boiler room.
Classification by functionality
Heating boilers are single- and double-circuit. They differ in their functionality.
Single-circuit
The main purpose of these models is heating residential premises.
Operating principle: heating water in a container to the required temperature, supplying hot liquid to radiators (batteries) located in the rooms of the building.
Advantages:
- minimal raw material costs;
- significant savings during operation.
The main disadvantage is expensive equipment.
There are different models on the market that can operate on gas, solid and liquid fuels, and electricity.
Dual-circuit
Devices of 2-phase design simultaneously perform several functions:
- equipping the house with warm water;
- heating of residential premises.
A distinctive feature of the design is the presence of 2 separate heat exchangers with a closed and open fluid supply system. In the first case, it is used only for heating the building. In the second, water is additionally heated for domestic needs.
Double-circuit gas boiler.
Selecting a location for heating equipment
All types of heating boilers are produced mainly in a floor-standing version, electric in a wall-mounted version, and gas in both a wall-mounted and a floor-mounted version. The latest variation is best installed in a spacious separate room. Such heating equipment is characterized by great power and massiveness.
A wall-mounted boiler will be an ideal solution for small-sized houses, where every square meter counts
And due to the fact that the weight of floor-standing boilers is not limited in any way, manufacturers install a cast-iron heat exchanger in it, which is much more reliable than a steel one.
Wall-mounted heating equipment is compact in size and fairly light in weight. But this type of boiler is limited in power. This minus is especially relevant for dual-circuit systems - the performance of the heating circuits will be quite low.
You should choose wall-mounted boilers only if the heated area does not exceed 200 m2 and the hot water consumption is no more than 14 l/min. If the needs are greater, then it is better to give preference to the floor-mounted variation of heating equipment.
It should be noted that many buyers, regardless of the size of their living space, prefer floor-mounted systems that are equipped with a cast-iron heat exchanger. After all, such devices are less demanding on the quality of power supply.
How to choose a good gas boiler for heating a private home
Compared to all other varieties, this is the most common. It is convenient and provides excellent room heating when installed correctly. Such units use fuel economically, do not require its preliminary storage and do not require special care. At the same time, the work is automated - the owner does not have to constantly monitor and clean it.
There are floor-mounted and wall-mounted devices - you can save space in the room. They do not create excess dirt and function cleanly.
If you are thinking about how to choose a high-quality heating boiler for a private home, then do not forget that installation will require a permit, which is issued only by a special institution.
Types of gas equipment
All varieties available on the market are divided into 3 main ones:
- Atmospheric. They work with an open combustion chamber and provide an efficiency of up to 90%. Air is supplied in the usual way, and exhaust gases leave through a traditional chimney. The main thing is to install the pipe correctly. Therefore, you should entrust this to professionals and not try to install it yourself.
- Turbocharged. They are also called supercharged. Their combustion compartment is completely closed, and the useful effect is up to 93%. To introduce air there, a fan is required, and smoke escapes through a special hole.
- Condensation. They use the latent heat of combustion of hydrocarbons, so the efficiency does not exceed 96-97%. It resembles the previous version, but the burner and the chamber itself differ in their cylindrical shape.
All types can be equipped with a DHW water circuit. The price also increases from first to last.
Features of condensing boilers
Unlike conventional gas models, this one allows you to use the heat from the fuel as efficiently as possible. In some cases, its efficiency reaches 100% or higher due to its design. This is due to the fact that even the energy that may be released during the condensation process is used.
It is equally important to carefully approach the installation of the chimney, regardless of the type of boiler chosen. If you do not know how to choose the right chimney kit for your boiler, contact FERRUM. We will help you choose the best option and resolve the issue of removing combustion products.
Subtleties of using boilers
The vast majority of boiler models require electricity to function properly. The only exception is solid fuel heating equipment that burns coal or wood. Such devices can work autonomously.
Why is electricity needed? Current is required for the operation of the boiler system automation and its pumps. Therefore, a good solution would be to order an electric generator along with the heating equipment. This solution is especially relevant for those regions where the power is often turned off.
When organizing a boiler room, special attention should be paid to the chimney to ensure proper operation of the equipment and safety during its use
Regardless of the type of boiler used, the manufacturer does everything possible to ensure that the operation of its equipment is as safe as possible.
Therefore, almost any modern model of heating equipment is equipped with the following protection systems:
- a sensor that detects the presence or absence of a flame;
- traction control sensor;
- a device that will stop the operation of the boiler if the pressure in the gas pipeline drops below the permissible level;
- a device that turns off the boiler in the event of a lack of electricity;
- a system that protects equipment from overheating;
- a sensor that stops the operation of heating equipment in the event of a decrease in the volume of coolant.
All the details listed above are the bare minimum that will protect the boiler from breakdowns and the home itself from fire.
As for the location of the equipment, certain models of boilers, the boiler power does not exceed 100 kW, can be installed directly in the kitchen.
Other types of heating equipment must be placed in a specially equipped room of a certain cubic capacity, with a thoughtful and well-designed ventilation system, with fire safety devices, etc.
The organization of a boiler room must be approached with all responsibility and must comply with all recommendations of specialists, as well as fire safety standards
The most commonly used boilers in the CIS countries at present are gas boilers. This demand is explained by the low cost of this energy carrier, as well as the reliability and durability of boilers of this type. But due to regional characteristics, gas heating equipment is not always the most optimal and profitable solution.
You need to choose heating equipment depending on your personal wishes and needs, the size of your living space and the availability of energy.
Economical fuel consumption and reduction in equipment maintenance costs are an important component of choosing the optimal unit for an independent heating system. The rules for organizing energy-saving heating are given in our recommended article.
STEEL OR CAST IRON
Well, we figured out the boiler power. Now you can move on to the next selection points. Often future users choose for comparison such a parameter as the boiler firebox material. And here there are two options - steel or cast iron. At first glance, cast iron boilers seem more reliable and durable. This is partly true. And if these parameters come first in your values, then you should first take a closer look at cast iron boilers. Additional advantages include smaller dimensions with the same power as steel boilers. But it is necessary to take into account several nuances: 1) cast iron is a fairly fragile material, so it can be relatively easily damaged during transportation, impacts, temperature changes (when, for example, in emergency mode the boiler was extinguished not with sand, but with water); 2) cast iron is poorly repairable, and the proposal to replace individual elements of the firebox (they are also called “sections”) in practice turns out to be very labor-intensive, because During operation, these elements become overgrown with combustion products, “sinter” and become almost a single whole. Steel boilers do not have these disadvantages. 1) They, on the contrary, are easier to repair, and in case of emergency conditions (pah-pah, of course) “any person with a welding machine” can restore them. 2) Due to the plastic characteristics of steel, these boilers are impact-resistant. 3) The ratio of the volume of the loading chamber to the power of the boiler is greater for steel stakes, which means that you will have to approach the boiler less often to add fuel. 4) These boilers are more resistant to pressure increases in the boiler, because less sensitive to temperature changes. 5) Plus, steel boilers are often much cheaper than cast iron ones. And they weigh less, which will reduce both delivery and installation costs. You will be able to save about 15-20%. Well, durability is ensured by proper heat removal. Now manufacturers of steel boilers claim a service life of 10-15 years, which is quite enough. For cast iron boilers, this parameter is usually 25 years. The only thing worth paying attention to is the thickness and grade of steel from which steel boilers are made. , for example, manufactures its Bourgeois-K boilers from special corrosion-resistant heat-resistant steel grade 09g2s with a thickness of 5 mm. By the way, you can judge the thickness of the steel by the weight of the boiler. If two boilers of the same power have a weight difference of about 50 kg, guess where thicker metal is used and which boiler will last longer?
