The boiler is flushed when the machine stops functioning normally. At the same time, most users turn to specialists who will clean the boilers for money and make all the necessary settings. But few people think that they can cope with this task on their own. But in vain.
Time to clean the boiler
Cleaning is done in three cases:
- For prevention. Such washing of boilers is carried out by the owner of the house once or twice a year. At the same time, a minimum of funds and effort is spent.
- When the heat exchanger is contaminated with scale or soot, its efficient operation is reduced. In this case, you can fix the problems yourself or call the wizard.
- There was a breakdown of the heat generator. He just stops. In this case, you can not do without a specialist. He fixes the system and flushes it.
Boiler flush options
There are only three ways to flush a gas boiler for repair purposes:
- mechanical;
- hydraulic;
- complex.
The second and third methods are the most effective. If preventive or regular cleaning of the boiler can be done with your own hands, then it is better to entrust the repair to professionals.
Mechanical method is the use of physical force and tools in order to clean the scale in the boilers. These can be scrapers or brushes, as well as modern spreading heads with various types of drives. Tools must be chosen correctly and used with care. If the walls of the boiler are damaged, this will lead to increased corrosion, and then to the rapid failure of the entire system. The least dangerous for the device is flushing with hydraulics. Pressurized water removes scale from all parts of the boiler.
In the complex version, the boilers are flushed with water pressure using tools. Most often this happens if there is too much contamination in some part of the device.
What is a heat exchanger
The gas boiler has in its design an element that is located above the furnace and is a connected tube. They circulate coolant. Its location is not accidental, gas combustion in the boiler must heat the coolant, which is located in the heat exchanger.
The coolant is water. As it heats up, it passes further through the system. But untreated water contains many impurities in its composition, whichcan settle in the tubes when heated. Most often these are s alts and lime particles. When there is a lot of pollution, water is difficult to pass through the pipes, which leads to malfunctions.
Time to clean the heat exchanger
There is a lot of controversy about when the gas boiler heat exchanger needs to be flushed. There are signs that will tell you it's time for a cleansing. The most important ones are:
- constantly on gas burner in the boiler;
- circulation pump began to work with noise, which indicates its overload;
- heating radiators take much longer to heat up;
- gas consumption has increased, although the boiler operation has not changed;
- the water pressure has weakened (pay attention to this sign when you need to flush a double-circuit boiler).
Procedure for flushing the heat exchanger with a booster
Booster is a special apparatus for chemical cleaning. It allows the reagent solution to circulate autonomously in the heat exchanger.
- The first step is to disconnect both pipes of the device from the heating system.
- One of them is connected to the booster hose, through which the reagent will be supplied.
- The second pipe is also connected to the booster hose, but with another one. The spent solution will go into it. It turns out that the system will close, and circulation will occur, and without additional participation.
- The spent solution will remain in the booster, it must be drained. Wash the heat exchanger with water.
Better cleaningbooster several times, as the reagent gradually reduces its properties, and the new solution will increase the cleaning efficiency.
Methods for flushing the boiler and heat exchanger
Flushing of the gas boiler heat exchanger is carried out to maintain the capacity of the apparatus and its thermal qualities.
Appliances may differ in the type of heat exchanger and the quality of the water used, depending on this, and they should be washed in different ways. There are three reliable and proven methods:
- chemical;
- mechanical;
- combined.
Chemical method for flushing the heat exchanger
Boilers are cleaned using reagents, mostly acids, and a special installation is required.
With the help of a similar installation, the acid is dissolved to the desired consistency and heated. Temperature significantly affects the quality of washing. After preparing the solution, it is fed into the heat exchanger, and then it is removed.
Cleaning of heat exchangers occurs due to the presence and circulation of acid in it. Finish rinsing with plenty of water.
There is a possibility that the scale is composed of various chemical components, so cleaning should be carried out using additional washing of the boilers with other chemicals.
Flushing with acid has benefits:
- no need to remove and disassemble the device, which saves time;
- after thiscleaning in the heat exchanger will not remain the most common contaminants - hardness s alts and magnesium hydroxide.
There are also disadvantages:
- apply it with a slight degree of pollution;
- corrosion contamination cannot be removed by this method;
- safety measures are required as the reagents are very toxic and dangerous;
- solution after flushing must be neutralized and disposed of.
Washing reagents
Manufacturers of various types of chemicals provide a choice of several options for cleaning gas boilers.
Several parameters should be taken into account when choosing a particular tool:
- pollution level;
- material from which the boiler and heat exchanger are made, their reaction to the purchased chemical agent.
The following substances are suitable for cleaning a home boiler:
- citric acid - its effectiveness in removing scale is very high;
- sulfamic and adipic acids - effective for preventive cleanings and regular washing, with light pollution;
- hydrochloric acid - this product is used to remove very strong pollution;
- various gels - they need to be dissolved in water (efficiency is in no way inferior to previous products).
Chemical flushing of boilers and heat exchangers is carried out only in compliance with special safety measures.
Mechanical methodflushing the heat exchanger
The main difference from the chemical method is the dismantling of the entire heat exchanger.
After that, each of the parts is washed separately with a stream of water under strong pressure. This method is used in very rare cases, when pollution is not amenable to other types of cleaning.
Benefits:
- effective for severe contamination, even corrosion products can be washed only by this method;
- the use of chemistry is excluded - this is an absolutely safe method;
- no need for additional disposal of wash solution.
Flaws:
- The main disadvantage of mechanical flushing is the disassembly of the whole unit. This is very difficult to do, and some devices do not even have disassembly instructions. In any case, it will take a lot of effort and a lot of time.
- In order for the water pressure to be strong enough, you need to use an additional apparatus.
- Mechanical flushing will cost significantly more than chemical flushing due to the high labor costs.
Second version of the mechanical method:
- The first step is to turn off the power to the boiler.
- Disassemble it and carefully pull out the heat exchanger.
- Immerse the element in a container with a low concentration of acid for 3 to 7 hours, depending on the degree of contamination.
- Rinse the heat exchanger under running water and reinstall it.
Experts advise when washing with water to tap a little oncleaning device. The most effective method is the soaking of parts when cleaning a double-circuit boiler.
Method of combined flushing of the heat exchanger
Serious and neglected pollution cannot be cleaned by only one of the methods, therefore, a combined one is used.
There may be several types of chemical contaminants in the heat exchanger, as well as corrosion products. When washing in any of the ways, you can add special balls to the solution, which will create additional pressure and be able to repel scale from the walls of the device.
Conclusion
Flushing boilers and cleaning them from soot is possible without outside help. But it is a completely different matter with flushing the heat exchanger. Here you will need confidence in success - if it is not there, then for the first time you can call the master. At the same time, carefully monitor his actions so that when cleaning again, be sure that you can handle it yourself.
