Installing a heating boiler
As with any complicated device, the
installation of a heating boiler by and large defines how well it will serve
You. Therefore it’s important to entrust the installation to a qualified and
experienced specialist, who’ll set up the boiler house and all the required
connections according to the appropriate standards. To help You avoid unpleasant
surprises, here are the most important criteria in the installation of a
heating boiler.
Appropriate chimney
A heating boiler may only be connected to an insulated, lined chimney of appropriate size. The cross section of the house chimney must be at least ¼ larger than that of the flue of the heating boiler. A brick chimney must be insulated and lined with a smooth steel shell (corrugated steel should not be used, as it accumulates condensation and soot). You should pay attention that the chimney isn’t used to exhaust flue gases from other heating equipment, except in cases when the chimney has specifically been built for servicing multiple heating installations.
The connecting pipe between the flue of the
heating boiler and the home’s chimney can be several meters long, with the condition
that it’s easy to clean. The pipe must be made from heat and
corrosion-resistant metal, and it has to be insulated with wool at least 50mm
in thickness, covered by metal foil or a tin sheet.
Boiler room furnishings
When furnishing the boiler room, you should make sure it meets all fire safety guidelines. There must be no flammable materials or fuel outside its special container in close proximity to the heating boiler. All heating system pipes must be made of metal, in order to reduce the risk of a fire hazard.
The most common heating boiler installation mistakes
Even though the installation of a heating
boiler should always be entrusted to a professional, it’s recommended to make
sure the following mistakes aren’t made during the montage process:
- Recirculation isn’t connected –
in this case, the boiler’s built in recirculation, which protects from
corrosion and improves efficiency, isn’t used.
- Three-way valves aren’t
installed – in this case, the boiler’s heating circuit isn’t separated from the
heating system and instead of being heated to a set temperature, the water
immediately flows through the heating system. As a result, the temperature in
the boiler can fall below the dew point, causing condensation and corrosion.
- The floor below the boiler isn’t
fire-resistant – during operation, the temperature at the bottom of the boiler
can increase, and charring ash may fall out during cleaning. It’s important for
the boiler to be placed on a hard, stable and fire-resistant platform to avoid
fire risks.
- Insufficient expansion tank
volume – as the temperature of the water changes, so does its volume. The
addition water volume is transferred into the expansion tank, thus preventing
dangerous pressure buildups. If the expansion tank is too small, the water
pressure may burst the pipes. Also, there must be no lockshield valve between
the heating boiler and the expansion tank.
- The connecting pipe between the
boiler and the chimney has no cleaning hatch – in this case, it’s impossible to
clean the pipe. Over time, it can accumulate ash or soot and clog up.
- No condensation drain for the
chimney – condensation accumulating in the chimney points towards problems in
the operation of the heating boiler. Without a condensation drain, this problem
can’t be ascertained, and the condensation goes directly into the heating
boiler, causing corrosion.
- Minimum distances for
maintenance aren’t followed – in addition to the dimensions of the boiler, you
should also account for space needed to open maintenance hatches. Otherwise,
cleaning the boiler becomes difficult or even impossible.