Like any other engineering network, the heating system requires constant maintenance and checks. Otherwise, it will not function normally. For example, water or antifreeze must be periodically added to the heating system. A deficiency in the coolant circuit can lead to boiler breakdown, fire or even explosion. Therefore, in private houses, among other things, valves for automatic replenishment of the heating system are often installed.
Loss of coolant: causes
The amount of water in the circuit of the heating system of a private house may decrease for the following reasons:
- As a result of leaks. Water may flow out of the circuit at the joints of the pipes when they are depressurized.
- When there is a critical increase in pressure in the system and the emergency valve is triggered. In this case, part of the coolant is simply discharged from the pipes.
- In open systems - due to evaporation from the expansion tank. Such elements of the heating system in our time are not completely open. Their design is simpleprovides contact with the atmosphere. But still, in tanks of this type, the evaporation of water is usually quite intense.
- Due to the operation of the air vents. When removing accumulated air bubbles from the circuit, for example, through Mayevsky taps, part of the coolant also comes out (in the form of steam).
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Through coarse filters. Such devices require periodic flushing. During this procedure, some of the coolant from the circuit may also be lost.
Signs of lack of coolant
Water in the heating circuit may decrease for various reasons. And this happens quite often. If the owners of the house have not yet bothered to install an automatic system for replenishing the heating network, you can determine the lack of coolant by the following signs:
- overheating of the water supply and cold radiators;
- gurgling water in the riser;
- frequent starts and shutdowns of the gas boiler burner;
- overheating of the solid fuel boiler and actuation of the safety valve.
Especially dangerous shortage of coolant in the circuit occurs if a TT boiler is used as the main heating equipment in the network. Water in such a unit will boil if it is not enough. After its complete evaporation, a fire will definitely start in the boiler room. Unfortunately, situations like this are far from uncommon.
Also, due to a lack of coolant in the heating system, pipes can melt, radiators can fail, etc. Therefore, it is imperative to follow the pressure in the heating circuits (1.5-2 bar) set for private houses.
The main elements of the automatic make-up unit
You can, of course, manually replenish the loss of coolant in the heating system of a private house. However, in large suburban residential buildings, such a procedure can be quite tedious and technologically complex. Therefore, in such houses, special units are most often mounted that supply water to the heating circuit automatically when the pressure drops in it. The design elements of such devices are:
- reducing valve;
- check valve;
- water treatment filters.
Reducing valve
This device is the main structural element of the automatic feeding unit of the heating system. It is the pressure reducing valve that is responsible for supplying the coolant to the heating circuit of the house in case of its shortage from the water pipe. This device is a rather complex structural device, consisting of:
- valve;
- regulating valve for pressure setting;
- mesh filter;
- manometer.
After inserting the automatic make-up valve into the heating system, the valve is manually, by screwing in, adjusted to a certain pressure incontour. Its rod with a certain force presses the membrane of the device in the outlet.
The pressure reducing valve is activated as soon as the pressure in the system falls below the set value. In this case, the membrane will be pressed away from the inlet due to the pressure in the water supply network. As a result, water will begin to flow into the heating circuit. As soon as the pressure in the mains of the heating network of a private house reaches the required values again, the membrane will shut off its supply from the water supply.
Return valve
This device is an important element in the design of the automatic make-up unit for the heating system. Since during the installation of the pressure reducing valve a direct contact is formed between the two engineering networks of the house, there is a possibility that water from the heating pipes will enter the water supply system. To prevent this from happening, a check valve is installed between the reducing device and the junction of the pipes of the networks. In an emergency, this device simply prevents the coolant from the heating system from entering the water pipe.
Water treatment filters
Quite often devices that purify and soften water in private homes are installed directly at the inlet of the pipe from the well to the house. This allows you to protect the engineering equipment used in the building from the formation of scale and rust. But in some cases, such complexes are not provided for in private residential buildings.
In such buildings, the nodes of automatic make-up of the heating system are usuallysupplemented with water treatment filters. Such devices are also installed before the pressure reducing valve.
Plumbing equipment, unlike boilers and circulation pumps, is usually not as sensitive to scale formation. Therefore, softening filters of various kinds are often not included separately in the hot water and cold water system. Accordingly, the water in the HW and HW pipes in private houses can flow quite hard. For a heating system, since boilers and circulation pumps can break down due to scale, such a coolant is not very suitable. It is to clean it from s alts and mechanical particles that the feeding unit is supplemented with softening filters. Usually in private houses, after the valve-reducer for automatic feeding of the heating system, they install:
- coarse filter designed to remove small particles from water;
- actually the softener itself.
Hydraulic accumulator
In some cases, the pressure in the water supply of private houses may be lower than in the heating network. In such a situation, the pressure reducing valve for automatic feeding of the heating system, if necessary, of course, will not work. There is simply not enough pressure in the water supply to squeeze the membrane.
In this case, a hydraulic accumulator is installed next to the pressure reducing valve. On the one hand, this element is connected to a water pipe. In this place, a topping shut-off valve is additionally installed. From below, a special small pump for pressurizing is connected to the accumulator. Between such equipment and the storage tanka shut-off valve with a check valve is mounted.
As soon as the pump receives a signal from the controlling electromagnetic device about the pressure drop in the network, it turns on. As a result, the automatic feeding of the heating system from the water supply takes place. As soon as the pressure in the circuit reaches the desired values, the pump simply turns off.
What is the bypass for
The unit for automatic feeding of heating systems of private houses is in most cases surrounded by a bypass. Experts advise to include such an additional pipe in the network. After all, like any other equipment, the recharge unit may require repair. In the event of a breakdown of any of its elements, water can be supplied to the heating circuit through the bypass.
Can perform such a bypass pipe in the make-up system and another important function. Through the bypass, it is very convenient to perform circular flushing of the filters included in the design of the unit.
Where is it better to install
The "zero" point of any heating network is considered to be the point of insertion into the expansion tank circuit. It is here that, theoretically, it is supposed to connect the valve for automatic feeding of the heating system. However, in practice, the installation of such equipment in this place may, unfortunately, not be the best option. The fact is that expansion tanks in heating systems are often mounted directly next to the boilers.
In this case, the incoming water in the return will be mixed with water from the water supply and flow into the boilertoo cold. This can lead to malfunctions of the heating unit or even to its breakdown. Therefore, the automatic make-up unit is usually simply carried a little further than the expansion tank and cut into the return line.
It is also possible to connect such equipment to a hot water supply. In this case, the node, of course, can be placed next to the expansion tank and boiler.
In any case, experts do not recommend installing make-up equipment at the feed. This can damage valves and filters. After all, the water in the supply pipe flows very hot.
Installation
Automatic make-up equipment is installed in the heating system, usually using a 13-inch pipe section. Assembly of the node in most cases is carried out in the following order:
- the assembly is prepared by packing all threaded elements;
- an American is mounted on one side of the assembly, and an end sleeve on the other;
- mounting cranes soldered in;
- manometer installed;
- the assembled node is connected at the selected point in the system.
The answer to the question of how to automatically recharge the heating system in a private house is thus relatively simple.
After installation, the pressure reducing valve is adjusted, among other things. In order to set the pressure required for the system, the valve of this device is first completely unscrewed. Then it slowly closes back until it reachesthe desired settings. At the final stage, the valve is securely fixed with a lock nut.
Producers
So that in the future the owners of the house do not have problems with the heating system, it is of course necessary to choose make-up equipment as carefully as possible. When buying all the necessary items, among other things, you should pay attention to the brand of the manufacturer.
For example, very good feedback from consumers deserved units for automatic feeding of the V altec heating system. Pressure reducers from this manufacturer are initially supplemented with check valves, a pressure gauge and a filter. The knot of this brand is made of brass. The company makes the gearbox and check valve springs from stainless steel. V altec gearboxes are designed for a maximum operating temperature of the coolant up to 130 ° C and a pressure of 16 bar.
Also good feedback from consumers deserved and auto-feed of the Watts heating system. This oldest European manufacturer supplies the market with very high quality and durable make-up units. Valves from this manufacturer are also made of brass and are complemented by a coarse filter. Some models also have pressure gauges installed.
Emmeti is another popular make-up equipment brand in our country. The company of the same name, quite new, but already having time to prove itself from the best side, produces these valves for automatic feeding of the heating system. All products supplied to the market by this manufacturer, including pressure reducing valves, haveISO 9001 certified.
Make-up in an open heating system
In the heating networks of private houses with a forced current of the coolant, therefore, valves are used for make-up, which automatically supply water to the circuit. In open systems of small residential buildings or cottages, a slightly different, much simpler scheme for adding a coolant is usually used. Automatic feeding of the heating system in this case, most likely, will be superfluous.
Expansion tanks in networks with natural coolant current are usually mounted in the attic. In order to be able to control the amount of water in the circuit in such systems, in addition to the return and supply, two more pipes are connected to them. One of them is called the control one and crashes into the lower tank. The second (overflow pipe) is connected to the expansion tank at the top. Further, the pipes are extended, for example, to the kitchen.
Checking the presence of a sufficient amount of water in the heating system circuit when using this design is quite simple. If the coolant does not flow from the tap embedded in the control pipe of the tank when it is opened, then it is not enough in the system. In this case, before adding liquid to the circuit, open the valve on the overflow pipe. As soon as the system is filled to the desired parameters, water will begin to flow from it.
Nets with antifreeze
How to make automatic replenishment of the heating system with water, thus, is understandable. To do this, you need to buy a pressure reducing valve and insert it into the circuit, supplementing it with a check valveand filters.
Water is in most cases used as a heat carrier in the heating networks of private houses. But sometimes heated antifreeze can also flow along the highways of such engineering systems. This type of coolant is most often used in dachas with irregular visits in winter.
Antifreeze, unlike water, does not harden at sub-zero temperatures. And therefore, when using it, there is no damage to the equipment. After all, when water freezes, it expands and can break pipes and boiler structures.
The pressure reducing valve when using antifreeze in the circuit, of course, cannot be connected. Dilution of such a coolant with water will lead to a change in its qualities and stop the heating system. When antifreeze is used, accordingly, other make-up systems must be used.
In this case, if necessary, an additional amount of coolant is usually poured into the circuit manually - from canisters, bottles, etc. At the same time, it is filled through a special drain valve. Automatically in such systems, only pressure control in the circuit can be performed. For this purpose, pressure gauges are used in networks with antifreeze.
