How to choose a heating boiler?

You can independently choose and buy a heating boiler in the corresponding catalog. Below we will talk about what is important to pay attention to when choosing a device.

The heating boiler generates heat energy by burning fuel. All models on the market are divided into several key classes: solid fuel, gas, electric and liquid fuel. When choosing a boiler, it is first of all important to determine the type of fuel. It is quite obvious that it is worth buying the boiler, the fuel for which is most available in the area.

A modern wall-mounted heating boiler will easily "fit" into the design of the kitchen

Solid fuel heating boilers

Solid fuel heating boilers can use wood, coal, peat, as well as special granules or pellets as fuel. But at the same time, devices of this type are the least convenient in operation and are not always economical. The number of forests is decreasing, the cost of wood is growing, and the use of firewood as fuel is not always profitable and environmentally friendly. During the combustion of coal and especially peat, substances are released that are harmful to human health and the environment. Different types of coal and peat may have different calorific value and ash content.

The pyrolysis model boasts the highest
Efficiency among all solid fuel boilers

As for fuel granules or pellets, they are obtained from the waste of the woodworking industry and agriculture. They are crushed and pressed sawdust, shavings and other wood residues, as well as straw, husks, and various biomass. Fuel pellets are easy to store, they have water-repellent properties, have a high calorific value, and when they are burned, a minimum amount of ash is formed. Of all types of solid fuel, pellets are the most environmentally friendly and clean.

As we already mentioned, household solid fuel boilers are not always convenient to operate, since they require manual loading of fuel and subsequent unloading of ash, a separate warehouse for storing resources and a fairly powerful system for flue gas removal. The process of solid fuel combustion itself is difficult to control, therefore solid fuel boilers are single-circuit and are used only in heating systems. As for the efficiency (Coefficient of Performance), it is noticeably lower than in electric or gas models. The main advantage of solid fuel heating boilers is a relatively low price.

Pyrolysis models deserve special attention. As fuel, they use wood, peat, pellets, sometimes brown gole. But at the same time, the fuel and volatile substances released during the combustion process are burned separately, while using a special smoke exhauster, the amount of air in the combustion chamber is regulated. This makes the combustion process manageable and allows you to adjust the power in a fairly wide range, automate the operation of the boiler and increase the efficiency (up to 85-90%). Pyrolysis boilers are the most efficient, economical and environmentally friendly among all solid fuel models on the market. But with them they cannot be called as affordable, since the price is significantly higher, and far from any log can be stuffed into the furnace — there are special requirements for fuel moisture.

Heating boilers for liquid fuel

These devices use fuel oil or diesel fuel, which are products of the secondary distillation of oil, as fuel. Not the most expensive types of fuel, of course, but the price for them is constantly growing. In addition, more harmful substances are released during combustion than, for example, during the combustion of gasoline, which is also not very good. But in terms of savings, it may still be a better option than electricity.

In terms of power and performance, they are similar to gas models. But at the same time, they need regular refueling, which requires the user to be especially careful in handling. An interesting fact: there are a number of models on the market that can use the same natural gas as fuel.

Gas heating boilers

Domestic gas boilers use natural gas to operate. Perhaps this is one of the most convenient and efficient options, especially in urban areas. Natural gas has a good calorific value, relatively few harmful substances are produced during combustion, control is often fully automated on a “plug and play” principle, which is very convenient, and the efficiency reaches excellent 90%. Despite the constant increase in gas prices, more than half of the domestic heating boiler market is occupied by gas boilers. Gas heating boilers can be single-circuit and double-circuit, therefore, on their basis it is convenient to build heating and hot water supply systems for an object. On the market there are models with power from small 5 kW to 50 kW, which allows you to choose the most optimal model for almost any apartment.

In a conversation about gas heating boilers, it is impossible not to mention condensing models in a separate category. To obtain thermal energy, such solutions use not only the energy of fuel combustion, but also the energy of condensation of superheated water vapor, a large amount of natural gas contained in the combustion products. Manufacturers of gas condensing boilers indicate a conditional efficiency exceeding 100%, and therefore this option is the most efficient and cost-effective in most cases. But that's just not to rank it among cheap solutions, this is the first drawback. In addition, gas is still not available everywhere, the user needs to take care of installing a chimney and ensuring constant ventilation, and in order to obtain permission to install a boiler, a lot of documents will have to be obtained.

Electric heating boilers

One of the most convenient solutions in terms of installation and operation. It does not require connection to a gas main, does not need a chimney, does not form harmful emissions, the user does not need to stock up on fuel or take out combustion products, and, relatively speaking, electricity is available almost everywhere. But at the same time, it is important that the boiler power supply system be created using high-quality electrical equipment and equipped with powerful fuses. Usually, a three-phase voltage of 400 V is required for operation.

In electric heating boilers, thermal energy is generated by the passage of electric current in tubular electric heaters or heating elements, the water washes the heating elements and is heated to the required temperature. Electric heating boilers are easy to operate. At the same time, they can be used both for heating and for preparing hot water with a single-circuit connection scheme. Modern electric heating boilers are electrically safe. It is advisable to use such equipment in areas with high-quality centralized power supply.

Gas and electric boilers are the most convenient in terms of operation,
because they do not require the user to regularly "refuel" with fuel

How to determine the required power?

The calculation of the power of the heating boiler is determined on the basis of many criteria, which may include the climatic characteristics of the area, the area of \u200b\u200bheated premises, the presence of a hot water supply system, the characteristics of the elements of the heating system, and others.

On average, for our climatic zone, the following dependence is used: 1 kW of boiler power per 10 m2 of the room, regardless of the type of fuel used. If the boiler also works in the hot water supply system of the house, the value must be additionally multiplied by a factor of 1.2-1.5. However, manufacturers in the technical characteristics of the device often independently indicate the maximum area of \u200b\u200brooms that can be heated by this model — this parameter can serve as a good starting point for selection.

Another very important characteristic of a heating boiler is the coefficient of performance (COP). It is defined as the ratio of useful thermal energy to the total energy expended and is expressed as a percentage. For modern solid fuel boilers, the efficiency is in the range of 75-80%, and for pyrolysis-type boilers it can reach 90%. Heating boilers for liquid fuel and gas boilers have an efficiency of around 90%. The efficiency of electric boilers approaches 100%. And the conditional efficiency of gas condensing boilers can exceed 100%.

What type of combustion chamber?

There are two options: with an open or closed chamber. An open chamber uses air from the room to support combustion, and combustion products are removed through a chimney. Naturally, such a decision can have a negative impact on air quality and indoor climate. In this case, you need to worry about high-quality ventilation in advance.

To ensure the operation of boilers with closed combustion chambers, air is pumped in from outside using a special fan. Such models are also called turbocharged. They are equipped with coaxial chimneys consisting of two pipes. Some models support the possibility of air intake both outside and inside the room.

For efficient operation of boilers with open and closed combustion chambers, it is important to choose the right length of the chimney. Too short or too long a chimney will lead to incomplete combustion of the fuel and, consequently, a drop in efficiency. It is noteworthy that for traditional gas heating boilers, the chimney must be made of heat-resistant materials: stone or metal, while polymer pipes can also be used as a chimney for gas condensing boilers.

Is hot water required?

Modern boilers can be used both for space heating and for preparing hot water. If you only need to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature, then single-circuit models will do. But for heating and preparing hot water, double-circuit will be needed. Some double-circuit models have a special "summer" mode, in which the heating circuit is turned off, and the hot water circuit continues to work, which provides additional savings.

Solid fuel boilers are used only for heating and are connected according to a single-circuit scheme. Electric heating boilers can provide heating and hot water.

Also note that there are single-circuit gas condensing boilers on the market with the ability to connect an external boiler, which is purchased separately — another option for providing both space heating and hot water preparation.

Among other things, modern models can also be used for floor heating.

Floor mounting or wall mounting?

Heating boilers can be mounted on the wall or installed on the floor. Usually, wall -mounted ones have the necessary power to provide heat and hot water to both a small room and a private household. They have a beautiful appearance and convenient operation.

But heating boilers of high power are mainly produced in the floor version. Usually, they are used in large office or industrial premises, where numerous people can be at the same time. Note that boilers with a power of more than 30 kW should be installed in separate rooms — boiler rooms.

However, the modern market in most cases can offer a device of the required power, both in the form of a floor-standing and wall-mounted version. Therefore, the solution of this issue largely comes down to what will be more convenient in each specific case.

What protection systems are provided?

A modern heating boiler is equipped with mandatory protection systems. Most models are equipped with systems for monitoring the temperature of the coolant and its circulation. If the temperature of the coolant exceeds a certain limit or the circulation is disturbed, the boiler turns off. This protects it from damage. All models have an electronic control system, and in the event of a power outage, the operation of the boiler also stops. Gas heating boilers are equipped with systems that prevent gas leakage. The draft control prevents the accumulation of combustion products in the room.