Storage water heater how to choose - 3 energies to choose from

What is a gas water heater

Gas water heater

A gas column is called a device that heats water due to the combustion of gas. The fuel is natural or liquefied gas.

Instantaneous water heaters are used in homes where there is no hot water supply. Due to the cost of the fuel consumed, these devices are much cheaper than the structures powered by electricity.

Advantages and disadvantages

In houses with low-power wiring, water can only be heated with a column, since a kitchen boiler cannot be installed in them. Such units are used in Khrushchev and Stalin buildings. There are models that can be lit with matches, temperature controlled or electronically controlled.

The advantages of the device are as follows:

quickly heats up a large volume of water;
the dimensions of the device are small, so it will not take up much space;
hot water can be obtained immediately after turning on the column;
relative economy of use, but it all depends on the cost of fuel.

A large number of installation requirements are due to the risk of disaster if misused.

Among the disadvantages are:

the risk of fire or explosion, although most modern units are equipped with protection systems;
the need for good ventilation, as can be poisoned by carbon monoxide;
inability to install in the bathroom;
the need to coordinate the installation with the water supply and gas service.

Modern technologies make it possible to obtain the most efficient devices, while maintaining the reliability of the unit and all components involved in the system.

Gas storage boiler

Storage water heaters consist of a gas combustion system (gas burner) and a tank containing water. The tank has thermal insulation, because high-quality heat retention allows you to save up to 50% of fuel.

The tank, switched off from gas, maintains the water temperature for up to 7 days, and all thanks to the multilayer thermal insulation cushion.

A storage gas boiler for heating water is subdivided according to the volume of water in the tank. For example, for the kitchen and shower (provided that no more than two people live), 50-80 liters are enough.

If a family consists of 3-4 people, there is a child, a bath is often typed, then the volume of the storage boiler cannot be less than 100 liters. For technical work, as well as in production, an ariston gas boiler is used for 200 liters or even more.

The advantage of storage boilers is that they work perfectly with a weak gas flow, and also store a large amount of hot water for a long time. Well, the disadvantage of such water heaters is that they have a large volume of construction, such a boiler spoils the whole view of the bathroom. That is why it is often installed in attics or basements. Another disadvantage of such a boiler is the hot water limit. If you took a bath and used up all the water, then you will need to wait at least an hour for the other person to wash.

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The storage gas boiler has a power regulator that sets the temperature to which the water is heated. It also shows how much was spent during use and how much hot water is left. If you start taking a shower or washing dishes, do it for more than a few minutes, the boiler automatically turns on and starts heating the newly arrived cold water.If you no longer bathe, it continues to work until the water heats up according to the set indicators, then it automatically turns off and stores ready hot water for you.

Technical requirements and operation

There are clear regulations regarding the installation of water heaters. Violation of the rules will lead to the fact that the gas will be turned off. You can count on its inclusion only after correcting all the shortcomings. Then a check is carried out and a permit for installation is issued. Manipulations should be carried out by organizations that have the appropriate certificates. Gas can be connected only with permission, so it is important to issue them on time.

The requirements for installing a gas water heater in an apartment are as follows:

The size of the kitchen must be at least 8 square meters. m.
It is important that non-combustible materials are used for the walls and masking panels.
The ceiling is over two meters high.
The diameter of the ventilation opening is at least 120 mm.
Pipes up to 2.5 m long and 13 mm in diameter.
Gas pipes must hang freely or be masked with an opening box. They cannot be walled up, since free access is needed.
The gas shut-off valve should be located next to the heater and have a yellow handle.
Chimney pipe made of steel or galvanized, its thickness is not less than 1mm.
There should be a door in the room.

The device is operated according to the following rules:

Gas devices are put on the balance sheet and checked once a year.
There are models that are not serviced by gas workers. In this case, you need to contact the service center and call a specialist.
When buying devices with a closed combustion chamber, the chimney does not need to be installed, but more attention should be paid to ventilation.

If the kitchen is combined with living rooms, then it is illegal to use gas appliances in this case.

Recommendations for ensuring air exchange

The connection of a gas boiler is necessarily accompanied by the installation of an air exchange system. If the capacity of the equipment is 23.3 kW, then for an optimal temperature it will be necessary to provide 2.5 m3 of gas per hour. For such a volume of fuel, 30 m3 of air is needed. If it is not enough in the room, then you will face a problem, which is expressed in incomplete combustion of gas. This will lead to inefficient use of fuel, and the combustion process will be accompanied by the release of substances harmful to human health. If they are not taken outside the premises in time, then the person may die.

An important point is to ensure the distance from the surface of the equipment to the wall, which should be 10 cm. This is true if the surface of the wall is finished with non-combustible materials.

Installation algorithm and what is required for this

Construction installation diagram

It is possible to install a gas water heater only after collecting documentation and obtaining all permits.

If the model changes, you should:

Purchase a device from a manufacturer who can confirm its quality with certificates.
Take in the housing office the schemes of the gas and water supply system, which will indicate the place of the future location of the device.
Go to the gas service with a statement to replace the unit, but the installation location must remain the same. It is also necessary to provide an application for the repair of water and gas pipelines.
The gas service will carry out all the work and issue documentation confirming that the equipment meets the requirements and has been put into operation.

If they replace not only the device itself, but also rearrange it to another place:

Change the scheme of gas, water and air outlet.
They take an act from the fire inspection, which will confirm that the chimney is in good condition.
The transfer project is ordered from GORGAZ or certified organizations. For apartment buildings, a redevelopment permit will be required, which is obtained from the city administration.
With all the documents, they once again apply to the gas service, whose specialists will install and connect the device, and launch it for the first time.

After that I will seal the meter and issue the commissioning documents.

At the first installation, if gas has not yet been supplied to the house, you will have to build a gas supply line. This is an expensive procedure, therefore solid fuel boilers are more often chosen for a private house.

If there are many apartments in the building, then the developer, housing office or owners supply gas. After collecting all permits and documents, construction and installation work is carried out and put into operation. Then they conclude an agreement on gas supply.

Connection diagram

A gas boiler, the connection diagram of which must be studied by you before starting installation work, is installed in several stages. The final step is the chimney device. But first, the property owner should conclude a contract for the supply of gas. If we are talking about the simplest equipment, then it consists of a heat exchanger and a gas burner. Gas and water must be connected to such a device, and the exhaust will be discharged into the chimney system.

Before installing the boiler, it is necessary to thoroughly clean the walls of the inlet pipes from debris that may remain after the completion of the assembly of the equipment. A filter and shut-off valves should be installed on the water supply pipes, which should be located before and after the filter. Next, a chimney is installed, certain requirements are imposed on this system. The gas boiler must contain an exhaust pipe with a diameter that meets the requirements specified in the manual. The pipe should rise above the ridge of the roof by 0.5 m; it is better to use a steel cylindrical chimney for this, in which there is a hole for cleaning.

The master should check the traction, because the automation will not allow you to continue working if it turns out to be insufficient. A special squeegee and a steel pipe will allow the boiler to be embedded in the gas pipeline system. To perform these manipulations, you should resort to the help of specialists. The gas boiler must be connected to the power supply system and an automatic overload protection device must be connected.

List of required documents

To install a gas instantaneous water heater, it is important to collect a number of documents:

Evidence will be required to prove that the person is the owner of the home and pays taxes.
You need to allow the processing of personal information.
Present a gas passport and a letter confirming that the contract for work has been concluded.
Indicate which devices in the house are operated with gas.
Show passport to gas meter.

You also need to make a copy of the page of the gasification project with the appropriate stamps.

Installation Requirements

A gas water boiler must be installed according to certain rules. They say that the width of the door in the room should be 80 cm, and the boiler itself should be installed in such a way that it is naturally illuminated. For every 10 m2 of the boiler room, there should be 0.3 m2 of the window, this value is the minimum. The area of the opening for the intake of external air should be 8 cm2 for each kilowatt of device power.

Types of columns and boilers for apartments and a private house

Flow device

Gas heaters are flow-through and storage. But gas boilers are rarely given preference, since they are not so convenient, are expensive and take up a lot of space in the room. They are recommended to be installed with too weak gas supply.

Therefore, most often, flow-through gas heaters are installed in apartments. Modern models are equipped with an open or closed combustion chamber. The first option is more secure, therefore it requires fewer documents during installation.

Such units are used in houses in which there is no chimney. If you need to replace the old device with a new one, all checks have already been carried out and the condition of the gas supply and chimney meets the standards, it is recommended to buy devices with a closed combustion chamber.

Manufacturers offer devices with different types of power:

17-20 kW. They are suitable for one-room apartments with one occupant. But, if you take a bath, then there is not enough water to wash the dishes.
20-26 kW. This power is enough for four people. The devices allow you to get 15 liters of water.
26-28 kW. They are suitable for private houses and apartments on two levels.

Before buying a device for heating water, it is advisable to weigh all the pros and cons, calculate how much water is needed to choose a device with sufficient power. This will avoid re-purchase and installation of the device.

Which gas boiler to choose?

To answer this question, you must first decide on the type and type of water heater. You already know about storage and flow-through, and you can choose for yourself what suits your needs and capabilities.

A gas boiler has a number of advantages over an electric one, namely, its low cost. However, mains-powered water heaters are safer and do not need a chimney.

When you decide which gas boiler to choose, pay attention to the manufacturer. The following brands of boilers are currently on the market:

When heaters are not allowed to connect

In some cases, the use of gas water heaters is prohibited. This applies to:

One-room apartments in which the living room is combined with the kitchen.
Living rooms, bathrooms or loggias. Heaters must not be used in these rooms.
The length of the water and gas hoses is more than 2.5 m.
Walls adjacent to the living room. You cannot hang a column on them.
Premises with missing ventilation slots.

It is important to remember that spontaneous installation of gas equipment entails administrative and criminal liability, the amount of which is determined depending on the consequences.

Thanks to the columns, you can enjoy water at a comfortable temperature regardless of the season. Although strict requirements apply to the installation, this is necessary in order to avoid disaster. Therefore, it is better to immediately carry out the procedure in accordance with all the rules and avoid additional costs for moving the column and reconnecting the gas.