How to choose a gas boiler: the main 5 points to look at before buying

Gas, despite regular increases in its value, remains the most economical type of fuel. Its use can significantly reduce heating bills. The main thing is that the gas pipeline passes in the immediate vicinity of the house. Then you can easily install a heater and get heat at an affordable price. The only difficulty is how to choose a gas boiler. The range of devices is very wide and finding among them something that will satisfy all the requirements is quite difficult. However, you can cope with this task. You need to know exactly what characteristics of the boiler you should pay special attention to.

What power do you need to take the device?

The main characteristic of the device is its power. A gas boiler for the house must be selected based on its value. Experts have calculated the minimum value, based on which the required power for the selected boiler is determined. This is 1 kW for every 10 square meters. m of a heated room, where the height of the ceilings does not exceed 3 m. However, it must be understood that this value is taken for ideal conditions and does not take into account the quality of the fuel, possible heat loss, the use of hot water, etc.

In addition, the indicator is designed for a constant pressure in the gas pipeline, which is about 15 mbar, whereas in practice in winter it can decrease by almost half. It turns out that all these adverse factors should be compensated by increasing the capacity of the boiler. A small power reserve is also required, which will help facilitate the operation of the boiler at maximum loads. Thus, according to preliminary calculations, for a comfortable home heating you will need a boiler, the power of which is 1.5-1.7 times greater than that required under ideal conditions.

We have developed a calculator to calculate the power of the boiler. To calculate the thermal power of the heating boiler in this calculator, it is enough to enter the area of ​​the heated room, select the necessary parameters and click the “Calculate” button.

For a more accurate calculation, it is worth contacting specialists who will develop a professional design of the heating system taking into account all the individual characteristics of a particular structure. Pay attention to the indicator of the minimum boiler power. The smaller the value, the more economical and more comfortable the device will work at the minimum of its capabilities. This is especially true during the off-season, in autumn or spring.

Determine the required number of circuits

When wondering which boiler model to purchase, many hope to choose a structure not only for heating their homes, but also for providing it with hot water. This is quite realistic if you purchase a dual-circuit device. Devices are distinguished by the presence of two water circuits: one is for heating rooms, and the second is for heating water. The design of such devices is quite complicated. It includes the boiler itself, the boiler, the burner and the automation system responsible for safety, regulating the operation of the burner and the functioning of the boiler. The latter can be built into the case, in this case its capacity is small, and remote.

Choosing a dual-circuit gas boiler, you must first determine the need for hot water. If it is up to 15 liters per minute and a temperature of up to 30 ° C is acceptable, it is worth considering the option with a flow-type heating device. Tap water passes through the heating system and is immediately supplied to the consumer. Such devices favorably differ in compact dimensions in comparison with boilers with boilers. These containers are mounted above the heater or installed next to it and create a reserve of hot water with a volume of 50 to 200 liters. This option allows you to use the stored warm water for some time even in the event of a gas outage.

Availability of useful adjustments

When choosing a gas boiler, you should take care of the availability of useful options. There are three types of devices:

• Single stage. Designed to work exclusively at the same power level.
• Two-stage. Assume two working power levels.
• With modulation. The device makes it possible to smoothly adjust the power.

Based on the considerations that the boiler will only need maximum power in cold weather, devices of the second and third types can be considered more economical. In addition, a single-stage boiler will inevitably turn off and on more often, which leads to a significant reduction in the life of the device.

The vast majority of foreign-made boilers and some Russian appliances are dependent on electricity. If the device will be operated in the absence of a risk of power outages, this dependence is not critical. However, quite often boilers are installed in country houses or in summer cottages, where shutdown problems are relevant. In this case, you can either completely exclude automation and purchase a device that will maintain a given water temperature without focusing on the microclimate in the room. Or buy a boiler with a generator that generates electricity from which the automation is powered.

Floor or wall unit?

The industry produces two main options for gas boilers.

Option # 1 - outdoor device

The device is relatively large, mounted on the floor. Usually it has impressive power, it can easily cope with the heating of large country cottages and apartment buildings.The material for the heat exchanger of the device may be:

• Cast iron. The parts cast from it are durable, since the metal is not susceptible to corrosion. But at the same time it is heavy and fragile, which complicates the transportation and installation. Over time, it collapses from local overheating.
• Steel. Lighter and more durable material. The main disadvantage is susceptibility to corrosion. If the temperature in the boiler drops below the dew point, this unpleasant phenomenon cannot be avoided.

It is difficult to determine which floor gas boiler is the best, when choosing, you need to consider future operating conditions of the device.

Option # 2 - Wall Mount

Gas heaters designed for wall mounting are smaller and have less power. They are intended for apartments located in high-rise buildings, and for small private houses. Despite its size, wall-mounted boilers are a small heating complex that includes all the equipment necessary for efficient operation.

Last moment - burner type

The type of burner affects the choice of gas boiler. On sale you can find two options:

• With an atmospheric burner. The device with a natural removal of combustion products. Requires a traditional flue system. It has a small efficiency, but it is much cheaper, simpler and works quite quietly.
• With a turbocharged or supercharged burner. It is characterized by the presence of an electric turbine forcing the ventilation of the combustion chamber. The efficiency of such systems is higher; moreover, they are practically independent of gas pressure drops. Floor-standing boilers of this type can alternately work with burners designed for gas or for liquid fuel.

It is almost impossible to answer which one is better to buy a gas boiler. You can correctly select all the parameters of the device only taking into account the specific conditions in which it will be operated. In this case, it is necessary to take into account not only technical indicators, but also the area of ​​the room where the device will be located, the possibility of arranging a separate boiler room, etc. Only taking into account the smallest nuances can you make the right choice. Then the gas boiler will heat the house or apartment without any problems.