Heating with a gas boiler is considered the most rational in terms of financial efficiency, ease of use and convenience. The existence of two varieties of such boilers (single-circuit boiler and double-circuit boiler) makes it possible to choose for a particular case the most optimal option for heating a house, taking into account the needs.
Each of the types of boilers on the market today has its own characteristics and can be convenient, based on the specific needs for hot water, the required heating power and the number of people living in the house at the same time.
Characteristics of a single-circuit boiler
A single-circuit gas boiler, also called a single-stage boiler, performs the function of heating only the water that is used to heat a dwelling. For parallel heating of water in order to provide hot water supply, a boiler with indirect heating is purchased separately. In this case, the number of people living in the house is accurately taken into account: the volume of the boiler's water heating chamber must correspond to this parameter.
The power index of a single-circuit boiler is determined by the area. It is also recommended to take into account the fact that with the simultaneous use of the boiler, the consumption of electricity for heating water increases. Today they are very popular gas boilers combined with a boiler in a common housing for them.
Features of a double-circuit boiler
The great functionality that a double-circuit boiler has is the presence of an additional built-in hot water burner: it serves both for space heating and for the domestic water supply system. If there is such a gas boiler in the house, there is no need to additionally purchase a boiler for heating water.
The cost of such a boiler is significantly lower than the total cost of purchasing and installing a single-circuit boiler and boiler. However, it should be borne in mind that when more than 2-3 people live together, the amount of hot water produced by them may be insufficient. This is especially true in houses that have a large area, where there is a large distance from such a boiler to all places of hot water consumption (sinks, bathtubs, washbasins). According to experts, the length of the pipes should not be more than 5-7 m. Attention should also be paid to the diameter of the pipes: if it is too large, consumers will have to wait long enough for hot water to flow from the tap instead of the water that has already cooled down.
A double-circuit gas boiler is more prone to scale formation. The formation of this insoluble precipitate reduces the intensity of water heating, which entails an increase in fuel consumption. It should also be taken into account that the heating of water in such boilers begins only after the tap is opened. When the tap is closed, the water in the pipes cools down.
The choice of the type of gas boiler depends both on the preferences of the buyer and on the composition of the water, as well as on the needs for the amount of hot water and the level of heating of the dwelling. Of great importance when choosing, of course, are the price and brand of a particular heating equipment. Preference should be given to already proven brands, which guarantees the reliability of the equipment for a long time.
Rating of gas boilers and their price
We hope that the following comparison table will help you choose the best boiler for your home.
You can learn more about gas boilers in the following video:
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During construction country house, giving and solving the issue of the heating system, the question arises of choosing a boiler.
In areas where it is possible to bring natural gas to the house, gas boilers are used not only for heating the house, but also for organizing hot water supply.
Gas boilers are among the most popular on the market, as the total cost of space heating and hot water heated by gas is quite low. In addition, installation is affordable, and the cost of gas is much lower than electricity or coal.
Thinking about purchasing a boiler, it is easy to get lost among the wealth of choice offered by the market. Condensing and conventional, single and double circuit, with different control systems and different conditions installation and maintenance - making a choice is not so easy. When choosing a gas boiler, one should start first of all from the needs of the family. What areas and how much is it planned to heat? What volumes of hot water per month are planned to be consumed? Gas consumption, the size of the boiler and a number of other factors will depend on this.
The undeniable advantage of most modern gas boilers is automated system control, with which you can make the operation of the boiler not only convenient, but also economical.
Double-circuit boilers have a large number of functions, while being convenient and compact. They are ideal for single storey and small two-storey houses where there is only one bathroom. As a rule, they are installed in the kitchen, but at the same time not far from the bathroom. It is quite difficult to heat large areas with one double-circuit boiler. If the goal is to provide hot water two bathrooms at once, you will need a mixer.
Floor and wall boilers
For a small single-family home, a wall-mounted boiler is usually the ideal option. It is compact, easy to operate and, most importantly, does not take up such valuable living space. Often, wall-mounted boilers are hung in the kitchen or bathroom at head level or under the ceiling to free up space on the floor against the wall for household needs.
If the consumption of hot water and heating needs are very high, it is recommended to install a floor boiler. Units with a capacity of more than 30 kilowatts and a volume of more than one hundred liters exist only in the floor version. The reason is quite simple - not a single wall can withstand such a weight, and the boiler is so large that it resembles a small refrigerator in volume. Often these are large or separated by a partition.
Scheme of the heating system, hot water supply, "warm floor" system with a wall-mounted boiler
Why do we need such large floor standing boilers? They are able not only to heat large areas and provide a significant amount of hot water, but they can also process a large volume of coolant without installing a boiler - that is, in fact, they save a lot of space and installation costs.
Condensing and conventional boilers - what to choose?
When such a question arises when choosing a unit, the uninitiated in technical details are usually lost in the choice. The difference, however, is very simple. A conventional boiler, generating energy during fuel processing, does not use the entire resource received. Part of the energy is lost “on the way”, goes to heat the boiler and is removed along with the combustion products, without bringing any benefit. Of course, such an approach is uneconomical, therefore, if the amount of gas consumed by the boiler is important for you, it is better to give preference to condensing boilers.
The latter, in order to use the hot water vapor formed during the heating of the coolant, cool the resulting gas and use the resulting steam condensate. Thus, the efficiency of condensing boilers does not fall below one hundred percent.
Manual and automatic adjustment - pros and cons
In order to be able to adjust the operation of the boiler to temperature changes, a prerequisite for any unit is the ability to change the temperature regime. The simplest, but at the same time reliable way - using a thermostat. When a certain temperature is reached, the boiler itself stops working, and resumes it itself if the coolant cools down. This method practically does not require human intervention and is comfortable if there is a need to maintain a stable temperature in the room. There are certain things that you need to follow.
But if it is necessary to vary the temperature of the batteries relative to the time of day or days of the week, here new generation units come to the rescue - programmable gas boilers. Set the required temperature and its difference in different time can be done manually or using sensors. The latter serve to read weather changes and, accordingly, increase or decrease the temperature of the coolant depending on warming or cooling. By the way, with the help of programs, you can set different temperature conditions for wall-mounted batteries and floor heating, if such a function is provided.
Programmable gas boilers of the latest generation are developed taking into account systems such as " Smart House". This means that you can set the program for them from a distance using a smartphone or remote control. This system is very useful for country houses where they do not reside permanently. Before arriving on the weekend, you can give the system a turn-on signal and set the desired temperature - by the time the owners arrive, the house has time to warm up, but the resource is not wasted, as if the room had been warming up all week.
As a rule, it happens on the eve of the heating season, and therefore the settings set by the installer do not change for a long time. Before the start of the next heating season, the boiler must be inspected and serviced by a specialist without fail. He checks the integrity of all systems, if necessary, cleans the chimney and adjusts the boiler.
When choosing a boiler, you should take into account not only your own needs and its economy, but also the possibility of its quick repair, the availability of after-sales service and the availability of parts for units of this type. Therefore, it is best to choose a reliable mid-range boiler from a manufacturer with a proven reputation, and not chase cheapness.
Single-circuit boiler
- For hot water supply you need to purchase a boiler. It is expensive, besides the tank itself, the strapping () require a lot of space. For a private house a good option, but definitely not suitable for an apartment.
- The choice of an "indirect" boiler has a number of nuances. We need an accurate calculation of its parameters, taking into account the heating scheme and the characteristics of the boiler. Without professional advice, the optimal purchase of the device is hardly possible.
- Do-it-yourself installation is fraught with errors. And even if the equipment is not gas, you will have to contact specialists and pay for their services.
- Great risk of leaks. The explanation is simple - complex strapping, many connections.
- Indirect heating means that the coil located inside the tank is part of the heating system. Consequently, part of the thermal energy will be spent on the DHW circuit. In practice, this leads to the fact that the boiler is regularly switched to an increased mode (manually or automatically, depending on the model) as the water in the boiler cools. And this is an increase in fuel consumption.
Convenience is obvious: it is fully equipped and ready to work on 2 systems. The nuance is that in such heaters priority is given to hot water supply. Briefly, this can be explained as follows: while hot water is flowing, the heating agent of the OB circuit is not heated.
The issue is complex and requires a careful assessment of all factors. On the one hand, the inertia of the system does not allow the radiators to cool down during the drawdown. But much depends on the specifics of the structure, the need for hot water. How well the house is insulated, what is the length of the pipes, the scheme and method of their laying, the number and type of radiators, the power of the boiler, the efficiency - it is impossible to independently analyze all aspects. And when it comes to heating large areas(over 100 m2), it is better to consult a professional.
Conclusion
If the house does not have hot water and centralized heating, then it is not worth arguing about whether a gas boiler is needed or not. The gas boiler gained popularity a long time ago and is widespread everywhere. It is placed in private households and high-rise buildings.
wall boiler
There are many manufacturers and designs on the market with perfect characteristics and a wide range of functions. Of course, he is needed, but what? Such a heating device is produced single-circuit or double-circuit. When to choose one or another boiler depends on many factors.
Classification
According to the accepted terminology, a gas boiler can be:
- Floor or wall. One is installed only on the floor, the other is hung on the wall.
- Traditional (convection) and condensation type. The first one does not use the entire combustion temperature of the gas, the second uses almost the entire temperature due to the economizer.
- Single circuit and double circuit.
- With an open or closed type combustion chamber.
- With electronic and piezo ignition. The first are started automatically, and the second by pressing the start button.
The floor double-circuit or single-circuit boiler is popular. Such a unit provides opportunities in terms of choosing the required power and has a longer service life than a wall-mounted appliance. Outdoor works up to 20-30 years, while wall-mounted only up to 10-12 years.
But to install such a unit in a small apartment is not reasonable. In addition to excessive power, it requires a special room, which is difficult to find in our high-rise buildings. This is the ideal solution for large private houses. In contrast to it, a wall-mounted appliance is installed in the kitchen or loggia. It doesn't matter if it's single or double.
It is compact, costs less and is easy to install, although installation is best left to a professional. A wall-mounted boiler of various shapes, which facilitates the design task - matching to the interior.
floor boiler
Therefore, such a boiler is more suitable for apartments.
A traditional type boiler, single-circuit and double-circuit, is less productive than a condensing one. The efficiency is lower, since the condensation heat contained in the exhaust gases and water vapor does not go to heat the street. The cost of such equipment is higher. Although manufacturers claim that the difference pays off in 2-4 years due to heat savings, the demand for them is not so high.
To a large extent, demand depends on functionality boiler. And this is directly related to the number of circuits. To ensure both the heating of the apartment and the supply of hot water, it is required to install an additional boiler - an indirect heating boiler. The double-circuit boiler copes with the tasks without additional difficulties.
About combustion chambers of thermal devices
The choice depends on the type of combustion chamber - open or closed type. In the first case, oxygen is taken from the room air to support combustion, and smoke and oxidation products are removed due to natural draft through the chimney.
For such a device, it is necessary to provide sufficient ventilation with a continuous supply of air, otherwise you can get poisoned by carbon monoxide. Such units are recommended to be installed in separate specially designated rooms.
A gas boiler with a closed chamber does not require such difficulties. They put it everywhere. A vertical flue is not required. Smoke is removed in a horizontal plane by installing a pipe-in-pipe design. Or a coaxial chimney. The workflow is facilitated by a powerful cooler that performs two functions at once - it supplies fresh air and removes smoke.
Scheme of combustion chambers
There are certain limitations due to the stability of the power supply, but with the right attitude, such problems are avoided. In addition, the air comes from the street, which is why the efficiency and efficiency are higher. A gas boiler with a closed chamber costs more.
Ventilation and chimney requirements.
Gas combustion products are dangerous. They are invisible to the eye and almost odorless. Therefore, the ventilation system is given paramount importance. Do-it-yourself installation of a ventilation system is permissible, but with experience and special knowledge.
In the wall of the room where the gas boiler is installed, it is required to provide two holes of a given diameter. One is used for the exhaust pipe, and the other 25 cm lower for cleaning the chimney.
A ventilation grill is required. It is embedded in a wall or a door. The grid area corresponds to the heater power. For one kW - 8 sq.cm. If the combustion air is not taken from outside the building, then the ratio is different - 30 sq.cm per kW.
A mandatory requirement is that the room must be connected to the general ventilation of the building.
When installing a smoke exhaust system, the following rules are observed:
- The cross section of the chimney and its elements is not less than the cross section of the pipe at the outlet of the boiler.
- The chimney rises above the roof ridge by half a meter.
- The chimney is isolated from the room.
- The slope of each section of the pipe does not exceed 30 degrees.
- The chimney has no more than three bends.
- The distance between the elements of the chimney, the ceiling and walls is at least 5 cm (if they are not made of combustible materials).
Smoke exhaust system
Single-circuit gas boiler
A single-circuit boiler is a water heater designed for use in a heating system. If the house is supplied with hot water, then this is a good option for banal heating of an apartment or house. The wall-mounted single-circuit boiler takes up little space and fits into the space.
The floor single-circuit boiler, due to the fact that it is equipped with a cast-iron heat exchanger, weighs more and is installed only on the floor. It is bulky and is unlikely to decorate a living space. But it is more powerful, and together with a boiler, unlike wall-mounted equipment, it is able to provide hot water.
In this case, the temperature sensors of the boiler will be included in the control circuit of the boiler modes. If the water in the boiler cools down, the automation will work, and the liquid from the heating system will go to the boiler coil. The boiler is equipped with a "summer" function, which turns off the water supply to the heating system in the summer.
The boiler delivers hot water directly to the taps in the kitchen and bathroom, without having to wait for heating. The boiler is connected to dryers, which is convenient for the off-season.
Single-circuit boilers with already built-in boilers appeared. When choosing, the power of such devices is taken into account, which is selected depending on the living area, the number of windows and doorways.
Among the main advantages of a single-circuit boiler are the following:
- Low cost, simple design, configuration and high reliability.
The design includes a combustion chamber with a burner and a coil, which is mounted above the heat exchanger. The system provides natural circulation of fluid, sometimes with the help of a blower pump.
Double-circuit gas boiler
This type of boiler is a complex and perfect mechanism. It combines heating and hot water supply. Connection of additional units is not required. One circuit is used by the heating system, and the other is used by the water supply.
It is advisable to take a double-circuit boiler if the house has a central water supply system or at least a main water supply is located nearby. The unit is wall-mounted or floor-standing.
To use a wall-mounted boiler, a chimney is required. Therefore, apartment owners of residential buildings are advised to opt for the option with a closed combustion chamber.
The wall-mounted double-circuit boiler is easy to use and functional. Automation programs a change in the maintained temperature per day, and on some models even weeks. There are options for connecting room thermometers that maintain the temperature in the system and air in living quarters.
The advantage is a flow heat exchanger. It heats a certain volume of water indefinitely in time and number of times.
Dual circuit
In such devices, a bithermic heat exchanger is used as a secondary one.
The advantages of the latter are compactness and speed of heating water. Of the minuses, they emphasize the frequent clogging of small diameter pipes, which requires frequent cleaning (annual). In addition, when working on heat and at the same time hot water, this type of heater heats up quickly. As a result, you can get scalded if you open only the hot water tap.
A boiler with a secondary type heat exchanger heats water more slowly. It costs a little more and is larger in size, but will not provide a chance to get burned.
Benefits of a condensing boiler
Condensing boiler - advanced in technical terms device. The disadvantage of this is the need to remove the resulting condensate. With sewerage in the house, this is not a problem, so the popularity of such boilers is constantly growing.
Why? Because of the high performance. An increase in efficiency up to 98% (efficiency of conventional - 92%) in such systems is achieved by returning part of the heat from water vapor and smoke.
The products of combustion, before irretrievably escaping into the atmosphere, heat the return line of the coolant. As a result, the single and double circuit condensing type generator uses energy resources efficiently (gas consumption is reduced by 20%) and reduces costs.
This type of wall-mounted unit is able to operate at low temperatures.
On the video you can see the differences between a single-circuit and a double-circuit boiler:
Conclusion
Which one to choose? A double-circuit boiler is more economical. It turns on when hot water is needed. For him do not buy and mount optional equipment.
The principle of operation of the condensing boiler
Single-circuit is always on and automatically heats the water when it cools. It heats the water all the time, thus spending more energy.
But single-circuit is more convenient to use. It is placed anywhere. Water comes out of the faucet immediately and does not get colder even if another faucet is opened nearby. The boiler warms up the volume of water evenly and immediately. It is unpretentious in operation.
Choosing a boiler is not an easy task. They evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of boilers, take into account the features of combustion chambers, heat exchangers, installation of a smoke exhaust system, the availability of premises, and so on.
In contact with
A double-circuit boiler is a heating equipment with a flowing water heater. Due to the presence of an additional circuit with a separate heat exchanger, it can heat water in an almost continuous mode, although in relatively small quantities.
Single-circuit boilers as standard are designed for heating only. To meet the needs of the building in hot water for domestic needs, it is necessary to buy a capacitive heater (boiler), a storage tank, a circulation pump and a set of fittings for a single-circuit boiler.
The difference between single and double-circuit boilers
When deciding in favor of a single or double-circuit boiler, it is necessary to take into account the average and peak values \u200b\u200bof hot water consumption in the DHW system
- The needs of a small house are fully covered by a boiler with two circuits. Its power and performance is enough to heat water for a sink, take a shower or fill a bath.
- If the house has several water points that can be turned on at the same time, then it is better to choose a single-circuit boiler with an indirect heating boiler and a tank that contains a sufficient supply of hot water to cover the peak flow.
Between single and double-circuit boilers there is also a difference in price, size, installation and maintenance features.
- A double-circuit boiler is a full-fledged mini-boiler room. It is supplied as a single unit, which includes all the equipment needed to heat the working fluid of the heating system and flow heating water for hot water supply: boiler, circulation pump, safety valve, membrane expansion tank and fittings. Easily and quickly connected and takes up little space thanks to compact size and no boiler.
- A single-circuit boiler providing hot water supply consists of several separate elements, which require much more space to accommodate. To "tie" the system together, you need a qualified master.
Advantages and disadvantages of double-circuit boilers
A double-circuit boiler is cheaper than a single-circuit model of the same power, complete with a boiler, storage tank, pump and fittings. Therefore, for private houses, boilers with two circuits are usually chosen.
But it must be remembered that they are not without flaws.
- Due to constantly changing loads and operating modes (fluctuations in pressure and temperature in the DHW heating circuit), double-circuit boilers require more frequent and thorough service.
- Since unsettled running water enters the DHW system, service technicians note a tendency to scale on the walls of the heat exchanger, due to which it is necessary to periodically prevent and clean the system from deposits.
When deciding whether to install this or that equipment, it is necessary to take into account the expected loads on the system and the actual needs of the facility for hot water. Practical experience shows that double-circuit boilers fully satisfy the needs of small private housing, and single-circuit ones are better suited for houses in which families of 3-5 people live.
