How to increase the efficiency of a gas boiler with your own hands: the best ways to increase the efficiency of the boiler

The owners of gas boilers do not have the desire to overpay for space heating. But no one will put up with the insufficient efficiency of the heating device, leading to a decrease in living conditions, right?

Moreover, the situation can often be corrected, and independently. But for this you should have knowledge on how to increase the efficiency of a gas boiler with your own hands. This is what we will talk about in our article, considering the reasons for reducing efficiency and the best ways to eliminate them.

Reasons for reducing efficiency and their elimination

The lack of efficiency of gas boilers leads to many different reasons. Therefore, the procedure for increasing efficiency should begin with their identification.

The task is facilitated by the fact that all the reasons fall into only three categories.

Which are:

• Chemical burnout - arises due to a general lack of oxygen in the furnace, poor mixing of air with combustible substances released from the fuel, or low temperature in the furnace itself. As a result, incomplete combustion of gas occurs, and, therefore, less heat is generated. The reasons for this underburning lead to the fact that efficiency can decrease by a considerable 7%.
• Mechanical burnout - arises as a result of the fact that part of the fuel for various reasons, including due to poor mixing with air, falls out of the process of mixture formation with air and does not participate in combustion, but is carried away into the chimney. Which leads to a decrease in efficiency by 3-7%.
• General heat loss. They are not caused by the malfunctioning of the boiler itself, but of other elements of the system that directly affect the efficiency of the heater. For example, radiators, ventilation. And often, the total heat loss leads to the greatest decrease in boiler efficiency.

It will help to identify the cause and increase the effectiveness of knowledge of the nuances.

Manufacturers in technical data sheets traditionally indicate the efficiency of their gas boilers. But, by and large, such a figure is a reference and the maximum possible. And whether the heating equipment reaches the value indicated at the factory by and large depends on the owner, his knowledge and skills

Method # 1 - elimination of chemical underburning

Since a sign of chemical underburning is the incomplete combustion of fuel, it is easy to determine how to increase the efficiency in this case. To do this, it is enough to perform a visual inspection of the structural elements of the boiler. As a result, significant deposits of combustion products will be revealed on the surfaces of the heat exchanger, gas burner, and heat shield.

Any gas boiler is part of the heating system. Therefore, in many respects its efficiency does not depend on its own settings, technical condition, performance, but on power, condition, correct selection and installation of other structural elements. For example, from heating radiators

There are several reasons for the lack of oxygen due to which there is a chemical underburning.

The main ones are:

• clogged chimney and / or ventilation ducts;
• poor-quality commissioning when connecting the boiler.

A considerable amount of soot and other products of combustion are deposited on the surfaces of the channels of smoke exhaust systems. Over time, this leads to the fact that the process of exhaust gas removal from the combustion chamber of the boiler slows down. As a result, less clean air enters there, which leads to underburning.

In this case, it will be possible to increase the efficiency by cleaning the chimney channels, ventilation system, burner surfaces and other contaminated structural elements. In order to avoid similar problems in the future, careful monitoring of the condition of the pipes and the boiler should be regularly carried out. Such a procedure should be performed before the start of each heating season. More about servicing gas boilers we talked here.

Poor commissioning, failure to perform them can lead to the fact that the electronics will not be able to choose the optimal operating modes, for example, to control the size of the flame. As a result, the gas will not completely burn out, especially at the stage of ignition.

It is possible to eliminate the indicated reason, and, consequently, to increase the efficiency, if the necessary commissioning works are performed.

Method # 2 - elimination of mechanical underburning

Most often, several reasons can lead to incomplete combustion of gas as a result of mechanical underburning and subsequent loss of efficiency.

Although the combustion processes in gas boilers are more efficient than in their solid-fuel counterparts, some of the fuel still does not burn. This phenomenon is called “underburning” and it is one of the main reasons for reducing the efficiency of a gas boiler

The main ones include:

• high traction;
• incorrect setting of boiler power.

High draft results from excessive exhaust system performance. As a result, the combustion products are discharged at such a rate that the gas simply does not have time to burn.

To eliminate the cause of the burn in this case is quite simple. Why you just need to block part of the smoke exhaust channel with a traction limiter. If such a device is not provided, it has lost working capacity, then to increase the efficiency it should be installed or replaced. That when using modern modular chimneys is easy. Otherwise, to achieve the desired result does not work.

Incorrect setting of the boiler power most often manifests itself in the form of a phenomenon called clocking. It is an operating mode in which start / stop cycles occur too often. And since the gas supply when the boiler is turned on is the largest, a significant part of it does not have time to burn out.

The situation is compounded by the fact that the electronics are always programmed so that the command for the piezoelectric elements to start generating a spark is given with some delay. This is done to ensure high-quality ignition.

In the latter case, it will be possible to increase the efficiency quickly and without any costs. It is enough to enter the service menu of your gas boiler. And then use the “-” button to set a lower power value.

In some cases, it will be possible to increase the efficiency of your gas boiler using the settings in the service menu. But it should be remembered that for the most part they belong to the category of thin ones and therefore will increase the efficiency of the heating device by only 3-8%. To enter the service menu, you must enter a special code set by the manufacturer

Efficiency will reach optimal values ​​if the boiler power and the total heat output of the radiators are approximately equal. The necessary data on the operating characteristics of the equipment can be found in their technical data sheets or from the manufacturer, seller.

Sometimes it happens that the power of the boiler will be significantly lower than the similar total parameter of the radiators. In this case, the efficiency can be increased by increasing the power of the heating unit. What can also be done independently by going to the service menu.

It is possible to change the performance of boilers, because they have a maximum and minimum power value. And come tuned for average performance.

Method # 3 - reduce heat loss

General heat losses are the reasons most often leading to a low boiler efficiency indicator. And it is no coincidence that experts assure that the efficiency of the heating device itself by an impressive 80% depends on the correct choice, installation and performance of radiators.

Change in total heat output

At the same time, manipulations with these elements of heating systems are costly. But it should be remembered that without them, the boiler will not reach maximum efficiency values.

That is, if, using the methods described in the previous sections of the article, it was not possible to bring the efficiency of the heating device to optimal values, then it will be necessary to get out of the situation by performing a series of procedures with radiators.

By several percent, the gas boiler will become more efficient after cleaning the external surfaces of the gas burner, heat exchanger from combustion products, caked dust and other types of pollution

Which include:

• change in total heat output;
• proper installation.

This method of increasing the efficiency of a gas boiler, such as changing the total heat output of existing radiators, is quite complicated. But it will have to be used if the desired result could not be achieved with the help of the adjustments of the heating device, defeated by the clock.

The method is the addition to the composition of the heating system of radiators - one or more. Or replace existing batteries to more powerful ones.

This is done in order to equalize the power of the boiler with a similar total indicator of radiators. In order to eliminate frequent starts / shutdowns of the boiler. This leads to increased efficiency, reduced wear and tear of equipment and the consumption of expensive gas.

It is necessary to resort to the described method in cases when the low total power does not allow increasing the boiler productivity in order to increase the efficiency. Such a need arises when the temperature of the coolant reaches 70-75 ° C. The fact is that with such heating of the water on the surface of the radiators, dust particles begin to burn up, which does not create comfortable living conditions.

And the worst thing is that at the indicated temperature, high wear of the structural elements of the heating system made of polymer plastics, actively used in recent years, begins. As a result, instead of the expected increase in efficiency, it is possible to obtain a coolant leak, and not even in one place.

The photo shows a chimney clogged with soot and other combustion products. And even at first glance it is clear that in this form this equipment will not be able to provide the expected efficiency. Therefore, the condition of the ventilation system and the chimney must be monitored regularly. And to approach the procedure not formally, but quite responsibly. Since the efficiency of the entire heating system depends on this

Checking the location of the radiators

If adjusting the boiler does not help to increase efficiency, and the power of the equipment is similar and sufficient for heating the premises, then you should pay attention to the location of the radiators. Since their effectiveness will be optimal when observing a number of requirements.

Namely, radiators should be:

• in places of premises where heat losses are most significant, for example, at windows;
• 12 cm from the floor;
• 10 cm from the windowsill, in addition, it should overlap the radiator by 2/3;
• 2 cm from the wall.

Subject to the above requirements, natural convection will occur. At the same time, a small part of the heat is spent on heating the walls, blocking heat loss, and all the rest of the energy serves to solve the main problem - heating the rooms. In this situation, the load on the boiler will be the smallest, which significantly increases the efficiency.

It should be remembered that a skewed installation of more than 1 ° heatsink will affect the efficiency of any gas boiler. And, if there are several improperly installed devices, then no adjustments to the boiler will compensate for this. And the only right solution will be to eliminate defects, although this is unprofitable

But with high heat losses due to the low energy efficiency of the building, it will not be possible to achieve high efficiency of heating equipment. So, most of the heat goes through old windows with cracks, not insulated walls, doors and roofs.

That is, in such cases, due to cracks, drafts and other shortcomings, the efficiency of even modern boilers drops by tens of percent. What to compensate for the settings or in any other ways will not work. In such a situation, you have to think about replacing windows, wall insulationgender or the ceiling, and better - about everything at once.

Method # 4 - Maintenance and flushing the heat exchanger

It is possible to achieve and maintain the high efficiency of any gas boiler not by spontaneous actions (after revealing its low efficiency), but with the systematic implementation of certain procedures - maintenance of the heating unit. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the features of choosing a gas company and conclusion of a maintenance contract gas boiler.

This set of operations consists of inspection and verification work. They will allow to identify and eliminate all kinds of flaws that reduce efficiency, even in the early stages. This eliminates not only a decrease in efficiency, but also wear on the boiler and other elements of the heating system.

Particular attention should be paid. flushing heat exchanger. The reason is that a plaque begins to form rather quickly on its internal surfaces. It resembles settled lime on the surface of an ordinary teapot. As a result, after some time, the gas boiler needs more time to warm up the coolant to the desired temperature. That is, there is a decrease in efficiency, in addition, with clogging, the heat exchanger overheats, which is fraught with its premature failure.

The photo shows that the channels of the heat exchanger are clogged with carbonates (salt deposits). Which leads to a significant reduction in efficiency and early failure of the boiler. You can avoid these negative consequences if you regularly clean the channels

The gas boiler can be flushed in three ways.

Namely:

• manual cleaning (mechanical way);
• using a special solution for washing the boiler heat exchanger (chemical method);
• hydrodynamic method.

For mechanical cleaning, after shutting off the gas supply and draining the coolant, the boiler is disassembled. Which ends with the dismantling of the heat exchanger.

Further, using a scraper, brushes, a conventional vacuum cleaner, deposits are removed from its internal channels. It is necessary to exercise caution and accuracy, since the heat exchanger is easy to cause damage.

After cleaning, the boiler is assembled and the tightness of the heat exchanger and its connections is checked.

Cleaning chemically (using a washing solution) - the procedure is simpler and more effective. But the heat exchanger will still have to be dismantled. And then special equipment is poured into it, which copes even with the most persistent deposits (trivalent iron, salt carbonate). After draining the acid, its residues from the heat exchanger should be removed with water, driving it through the heat exchanger with a booster.

The only significant drawback of the chemical method of cleaning the heat exchanger is the need to use special equipment (booster)

Hydrodynamic flushing is the easiest way to clean a gas boiler in order to increase efficiency. Since the dismantling of equipment is not required, all that is needed is to pump ordinary water (with abrasive filling) into the heating system and pump it. And with a gradual increase in pressure. To perform the procedure, you need a pump and special nozzles.

The heat exchanger must be cleaned at least once every 2 years, which will help to keep the efficiency of the gas boiler at a stable high level.

The most affordable way to clean the coolant is the mechanical method - manual brush cleaning

The most affordable way to remove plaque from the heat exchanger is to clean it with brushes and other improvised materials. But the most effective and not time-consuming method is the use of special solutions

Method # 5 - cleaning the coolant

Another affordable way to increase the efficiency of heating equipment is to installation of filters into the heating system.

It is recommended to start this procedure with an analysis of the quality of the coolant, and laboratory. You will have to spend money on this, but it will become known which filters you need to use.

Today, the following varieties are actively used:

• rough cleaning;
• fine cleaning;
• magnetic.

The first variety (filters rough cleaning) are effective if large particles of dirt (from a half-micron) are in the coolant. Filters fine cleaning serve to purify water if suspensions with the smallest particles are found in it. Often, products of both types are used together.

Magnetic filters successfully cope with cleaning the coolant from metal particles. They do not protect gas boilers from other types of pollution.

Cleaning the coolant, together with flushing the heating equipment, allows you to get a significant increase in efficiency. And most importantly, this result will be stable throughout the life of the boiler.

Safety measures for increased efficiency

Even 20-30 years ago, the price of energy in the post-Soviet space was low, so no one paid attention to such a parameter as efficiency. After all, performance could decide everything. But, when gas began to rise in price, and modern technology was still inaccessible, craftsmen began to modernize gas boilers, in order to increase efficiency, in affordable ways.

When performing any work with gas equipment, it is necessary to observe safety measures and have special skills and tools. And also do not use methods prohibited by law to increase efficiency

For example, attaching copper, aluminum plates to heat exchangers to improve heat transfer.Reduced heat loss of the structural elements of the heating devices by welding of third-party elements. Automation and heat exchangers were changing. Other similar methods were used. Efficiency increased, and the state and gas service did not respond to the "creativity" of craftsmen.

Now everything is different and relevant laws prohibit changing the design of gas boilers, which must be certified, like all their individual elements. As a result, it is impossible to increase the efficiency by replacing the mechanical, electrical and other components of the heating devices with third-party ones.

For violation of these requirements may occur:

• Administrative responsibility. If Gorgaz employees detect interference in the boiler design, and there are no incidents, then a fine of 10-15 thousand rubles will have to be paid. This is indicated by the article. 7.19 CAO. In severe cases, the gas service has the right to even terminate the service contract and stop the supply of fuel.
• Criminal liability. As evidenced by the Federal Law of No. 229-ФЗ dated 07/29/2018 “On amendments to the article 215.3 UKRF and articles 150 and 151 Pack of the Russian Federation". These standards will come into effect if changes in design have led to serious consequences.

That is, it is not worth risking the lives of people in order to increase the efficiency of the boiler by several percent.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The first video material will help to understand how the boiler heat exchanger is cleaned, which will significantly increase its efficiency.

The next video will provide an opportunity to understand how to clean a gas burner in order to increase the efficiency of the boiler.

Experience shows that the maximum efficiency from the boiler can be achieved with its system maintenance with timely cleaning of burners, heat exchanger from combustion products, dirt. And also with proper placement, use of radiators. In addition, only modern high-tech equipment can be highly efficient.

Did you see a discrepancy or want to supplement our material with useful recommendations for increasing the boiler efficiency? Leave your comments, participate in the discussion and ask your questions to our experts - the feedback form is located below.