Geysers are considered one of the cheapest ways to solve hot water problems. This equipment is installed in most private houses. If the house is old, most likely, an old-style column is installed here, which can be not only inefficient, but also dangerous. Replacing the geyser with a newer one will allow you to prepare hot water as cheaply as possible. With the new device, you can not worry about security, and using them is very convenient.
Norms and requirements that govern the installation of gas water heaters in apartments
Having decided on a replacement, the first step is to familiarize yourself with the rules for installing gas water heaters in apartments and houses. Questions on the installation and connection of these units are covered in SNiP. The document is called "Gas distribution systems", and its number is 42-01-2002. If distribution systems or internal wiring were made onbased on polymer pipes, then in addition to this document there is one more - SP 42-101-2003. These are “general provisions for the design and construction of gas distribution systems from metal and polyethylene pipes.”
The main requirement for replacing gas water heaters in an apartment, which is described in SNiPs, suggests that any work related to the organization of gas supply can only be performed by specially trained people from gas facilities or private organizations. The latter must have a license for these works. By law, any independent changes can lead to explosions. Also, independent work is punishable by serious fines.
If the installation of the geyser will be carried out for the first time, then it should be located in the kitchen. However, when this unit is being replaced in the bathroom (and such an installation was previously allowed by the standards), then there is no need to transfer the device to the kitchen.
The room in which the installation will be carried out must be equipped with a vertical chimney. Each apartment has exhaust ventilation ducts.
If a geyser is being replaced in an apartment where a chimney is not provided for by the project, installation of special turbocharged units is allowed. They remove all combustion products of the fuel forcibly. This equipment can be connected to horizontal chimneys with an outlet to the street through a hole in the wall.
There is also a requirement for area. So,the minimum area must be at least seven square meters, the minimum allowable ceiling height is two meters. The room must have good airflow. It can be a window, a supply ventilation system, supply valves.
The pressure in the water supply system must be no less than 0.1 atmospheres. The speaker should be mounted on a wall that is finished with non-combustible materials. It cannot be closer than ten centimeters to the stove or above it. This is strictly prohibited.
Do I need to issue?
Replacement of a geyser with a new one is not specially issued. But if a new one were installed where there was no water heater before, then official projects should be developed. They are ordered from gas utilities or companies licensed for such work. Before the approval of the project, any installation work is prohibited.
If the column has already been installed before
When replacing a gas water heater due to a malfunction, not only the unit itself, but also its passport should be changed. When performing the installation on your own, a mark on putting the device into operation and inspections will not be entered in the passport of the new dispenser.
According to the requirements for fire safety in residential buildings, an annual inspection of gas equipment is carried out. It will not be possible to hide an independent replacement of a gas column from specialists. In this case, the equipment will be turned off forcibly, and the pipe will be sealed.
After the notice is received, you will have to reinstallwater heater. But this is done with the involvement of certified firms and specialists. They will examine the ventilation ducts. In old buildings, the channels are often clogged with various debris. Exploitation of such moves can be dangerous.
What threatens self-assembly?
Even if the old geyser is replaced with a new one, this is not a guarantee that everything will be fine. If during installation a tie-in was made at the gas pipe past the meter, then this falls under the article of the administrative code. There is a fine for this.
In addition to the fact that an administrative pen alty is provided, there is also an article from the law "On Fire Safety". According to it, the owner of the property may even incur criminal liability (depending on the severity of the consequences).
Materials and tools
To replace the geyser, you will need a hammer drill with a concrete drill. You should also prepare a set of open-end wrenches for 27/30 and 32/36, gas pipe wrench, sealant, FUM tape.
In addition to the column, you should purchase an outlet. This is a decorative element with which they make out the entrance to the chimney on the wall. Need a water filter. Alternatively, you can buy a water softener system. To connect the water heater to the water supply system, various branches, tees, hoses, taps are purchased. Experts advise purchasing flexible wiring. It is easier to work with due to the absence of the need for sealing joints.
To connect to the gasline will need a gas hose. It must be of sufficient length and threaded for connection to the gas appliance. It is worth making sure that the thread on the hose is like the one on the column. To connect the latter to the chimney, they buy a galvanized pipe with a wall thickness of at least one millimeter. Such requirements are due to high gas temperatures. Thin-walled pipes burn through quickly.
Dismantling the old heater
First of all, shut off the gas supply valve to the column. Next, use a wrench to unscrew the nut that holds the gas hose to the column nozzle. The hose should be carefully inspected. If it is worn or damaged, it is best to replace it.
Before disconnecting the device from the water supply system, it is recommended to turn on the counter tap. In the absence of the latter, shut off the valve at the entrance to the apartment. Pipes and flexible wiring are disconnected using wrenches. It remains only to disconnect the pipe connected to the chimney. After that, the device can be safely removed from the wall.
On some dispensers, the gas supply may be in the form of a steel pipe. The coupling that connects the pipe and pipe is difficult to unscrew. If you make a big effort, you can ruin the pipe. The clutch does not turn well because of the paint. First, the paint layer is removed, and then the sleeve is unscrewed.
Installing a new heater
Replacing the gas column with your own hands should begin with the installation of fasteners. They are screwed using standard dowels. The place for the column is chosen,based on the requirements of SNiPs.
When a suitable place is found, holes are marked on the wall. They must be strictly horizontal. This can be checked with a building level. Further on the markup, holes are made. If there is a tile on the wall, then a separate drill should be purchased for it.
When the tile is passed, install a conventional concrete drill. You can turn on the shock mode on a drill or puncher. After the holes are ready, screw the dowels. The entire mounting kit is hung on the latter. Connection is the most important step when replacing a geyser. Mistakes are not allowed here. We will look at how to connect the unit to water and gas.
Plumbing connection
To do this, a tee cuts into a pipe with cold water. A filter, a cut-off valve and other devices are screwed to the latter. This is true for installing a column for the first time - when replacing a tee, there is already a tee in the pipe. Then a hose is attached to it, which, with its second end, is connected to the inlet pipe on the heater. It is worth doing this carefully so as not to confuse the inlet and outlet pipes.
The exit is marked in blue and the exit is marked in red. The outlet element is usually connected to a tee and a faucet through a hose that is connected to a hot pipeline.
Final stage: gas connection
When self-connecting to the gas, the nuts should not be tightened too much. So you can easily crushgaskets inside the hoses. After installing and tightening all the nuts, both ends of the hose are covered with soapy foam and the gas valve is opened. If bubbles start to grow, then there are leaks. The nuts are tightened. This is repeated until all leaks are fixed.
