Flushing of boilers and heating systems - always warm and comfortable

No matter what gas or electric boiler is in your apartment or office, no matter what heating system heats your room, no matter how perfect and high-quality your devices are to maintain comfort and climate, they, unfortunately, are technology, which means they are quite can naturally fail. Is it possible to avoid breakdowns and problems during the operation of hot water and heating equipment? Is there an opportunity not to put up with problems, but to prevent and prevent them?
Yes! But for this you need to find professionals who will tell you what to do and recommend how to do it so that your boilers, water heaters, and heating systems do not fail.
We are professionals in the market of hot water boilers and heating equipment, we have many years of experience in installing boilers and their maintenance, and therefore we know what to recommend for you. We have all the necessary equipment for boiler maintenance, and therefore we know how to help you. We know you need a systematic boiler flushing and heating flushing so that your equipment is always ready for use. Let's take a closer look at when and why it is required. flushing of boilers and heating systems.

Flushing of boilers during installation

When installing a boiler, it is important to debug the supply of gas, electricity, water, so as not to have problems with the operation of the equipment, you need to debug the automation. All this is known and understood by every customer. However, not many people know that when installing a gas or electric water heater or a boiler, it is necessary to flush the boiler in order to remove factory dust, soot, harmful compounds that may be unsafe for human health. Here, the boiler is flushed in several stages using alkali and repeated flushing. It is better to entrust this work to a specialist who knows the rules and standards of technologies, and, accordingly, will be able to prepare the equipment for operation, and you will be sure that your equipment will serve for a long time.

Flushing heating systems before the start of the heating season

Special preparation is needed for the heating season. If during the summer you did not operate your equipment, then a corrosion process may begin in the hollow metal pipes, which is why it is necessary to flush the heating system, as well as flush boilers that have not been in operation for a certain period. We will prepare your heating system for the new season, which is included in the service of boilers and heating systems.

Flushing of heating systems as a preventive measure and removal of scale, rust, lime deposits
The water that is supplied to the system has a lot of lime impurities, and often sand, which is why periodic flushing of boilers, boilers, and columns is required. Professionals will carry out a comprehensive flushing of systems, pipes, coils, tanks, which will ensure uninterrupted operation of the equipment.

Types of flushing of boilers and heating
We suggest you flush the boiler and heating in the following ways:
- chemical. In this case, the impact on the blockages is carried out first of all with chemicals, and then flushing with water is carried out. The method is suitable for any boilers and heating systems.
- hydrodynamic. Boiler flushing carried out using special equipment that creates a flow of water under pressure. This method is effective, but more expensive, since a special technique is used.

Is it possible to flush heating boilers on your own?
In order to flush the boiler and flush the heating yourself, you need to have skills and experience, because you want to extend the operating life of your heating equipment. You can periodically flush yourself with chemicals that you can buy from us. However, even in this case, you will need to diagnose the boiler at least once a year. We will help your heating engineer withstand any test.

Heating flushing fluid, heat exchanger cleaning

There is nothing eternal, and this statement is entirely true for heating systems (CO) of any complexity and configuration. The root cause of this phenomenon is most often the clogging of pipes and elements of the heating circuit with solid crystalline, corrosive or oil-mud deposits. There are many ways to remove contaminants from the internal surfaces of the pipeline, among which hydrodynamic methods are most often used (cleaning from plaque with a powerful pressure of water). This method of cleaning is quite simple and relatively inexpensive, therefore it has been used for many decades in the housing and communal services system.

Hydrodynamic cleaning implies the creation of high pressure in CO, which makes its use impossible in some cases. The problem is solved by flushing the system using special chemical and microbiological agents, which will be discussed in this publication.

The need for CO flushing and its frequency

As you know, cleaning the heating system is carried out in two cases: when it is already clogged, or so that it does not clog. In other words: flushing of the heating system can be preventive (planned) or according to certain indicators, the signs of which are:

• Increase in hydraulic resistance.
• Repair or replacement of CO elements.

But, the main criterion for flushing the heating system is a decrease in the efficiency of heat transfer. The frequency of flushing the centralized CO of private and apartment buildings is regulated by SNiP 3.05.01-85 (once every 12 months).

Important! The frequency of flushing autonomous heating systems is not regulated. Cleaning is carried out as needed, independently or with the assistance of licensed specialists.

CO chemical washing technique

The essence of this technology lies in the introduction of an acidic or alkaline reagent (depending on the type of pollution) into the CO, which dissolves or softens the plaque formed inside the pipes. Contaminants are removed from CO by a stream of water. The process of carrying out measures for cleaning the heating system is as follows:

1. Selection of the reagent. This stage is very important and depends on the type of pollution, the current state of the pipeline, the material from which the heating circuit and radiators are made.
2. Installation and connection of equipment.
3. Introduction of the reagent solution into the coolant circulating in CO. An autonomous pumping station maintains the circulation of chemicals through. The indicator of the end of the chemical washing process is a clean filter in the pump coolant filtration system. It usually takes 8 to 22 hours to dissolve and remove solid crystalline impurities (scale).

Advice: When using acidic reagents, the process of solution performance is controlled by the PH level. After increasing the pH of the composition to 7, it is necessary to drain the solution and continue cleaning with a fresh composition. Cleaning of the system usually continues until the acidity level of the solution stops changing.

1. Removing the contaminated solution from the heating circuit and re-flushing with CO with corrosion inhibitors. This stage is necessary to protect the internal surfaces from corrosive manifestations after chemical exposure to the reagent.
2. Removal of solution from CO.
3. Dismantling of equipment and filling with CO with a coolant.

Important! It should be understood that the use of chemicals leads to a thinning of the pipeline walls. That is why it is not recommended to use chemical flushing of the heating system more often than 1 time in 3 years.

Advantages and disadvantages of this technology

Chemical cleaning allows you to remove almost all types of solid crystalline and corrosive contaminants from CO. In addition, this technique has the following advantages:

• Ease of flushing procedure.
• Fast cleaning effect using chemical reagents.
• It does not require stopping the heating system and can be carried out even in winter.
• High quality cleaning.

Despite the many advantages, this method has very obvious disadvantages and limitations.

• Alkaline and acidic solutions cannot be used in CO with aluminum radiators.
• The toxicity of the formulations.
• Quite a high estimate for flushing the heating system with a chemical method.

Another not obvious, but still a drawback is the problem with the disposal of the solution, which cannot be drained into the sewer system. In addition, you should be prepared for the appearance of smudges that did not exist before or that you have forgotten about. Some leaks disappear over time due to the fact that the hole through which the coolant oozed, gradually, "overgrown" with lime deposits. Chemical compounds will dissolve and wash out this "plug", and the flow will resume again. It is possible that after chemical flushing, leaking pipe fragments, couplings, fittings will have to be repaired or replaced.

Advice: Remains of the solution with high acidity are neutralized with soda. Only after this can the composition be discharged into the sewer.

Chemicals for CO self-flushing

Today, on the Russian market of climatic technology, there is a wide range of ready-made solutions and concentrates for chemical flushing of heating systems of various configurations. Among the most demanded:

Advice: to improve the washing process with a high percentage of organic contamination, it is necessary to use the additive DEZOXYL-NO. To reduce foaming during flushing, experts recommend additionally using the FORAL-PG additive.

During the operation of heating and hot water supply systems, due to salts and oxygen dissolved in water, corrosion and scale deposits gradually form on the internal surfaces, especially on the walls of the boiler. This causes a significant decrease in the efficiency of the entire system as a whole, leads to excessive consumption of fuel and reduces the resource and reliability of the equipment.
These problems can be eliminated by using DIXIS LUX heating system flushing fluid, an aqueous solution of which is intended for chemical cleaning of heat exchange surfaces made of ferrous metals, stainless steels and copper alloys, which will ensure the restoration of effective heat transfer.
Recommendations for use:
1. Drain off the used heat carrier and flush the system with clean water.
2. Prepare working solution at the rate of 10 l "DIXIS LUX" - concentrate for 90 l. water. It is advisable to use softened or rainwater.
3. Fill the system with the prepared solution and flush it at a temperature of 60-70 ° C for 2.5 hours, providing communication with the atmosphere for the release of emitted carbon dioxide.
4. Drain the waste solution down the drain and flush the system with clean water.
5. Prepare the required amount of neutralizing solution at the rate of 1 liter. "DIXIS LUX" - 99 HP neutralizer. water.
6. Fill the system with the prepared solution and flush it at a temperature of 60-70 ° C for 45 minutes, ensuring communication with the atmosphere.
Chemical cleaning with DIXIS LUX heating system flushing fluid takes place under milder conditions than cleaning with mineral acids.
Thanks to the balanced formulation of the product, the carbonate deposits are quickly loosened and converted into a soluble state (which excludes the formation of suspension and sediments in the washing solution), and the metal surface is covered with a protective film that prevents the process of acid corrosion.
DIXIS LUX heating system flushing fluid is an aqueous concentrated solution of a mixture of organic acids, a complexone, a surfactant and an acid corrosion inhibitor. Does not contain inorganic acids.
Working solution: 10% aqueous solution of concentrated liquid for flushing the DIXIS LUX heating system. One 10 liter canister of DIXIS LUX heating system flushing fluid is used per 100 liters of the system.
Cleaning with DIXIS LUX Heating System Flushing Fluid does not etch metal or damage rubber gaskets.
DIXIS LUX heating system flushing fluid allows cleaning of heat exchange surfaces in 1-3 stages with deposits up to 1000 g / m2, which provides:
restoration of effective heat transfer;
protection of heating elements and boiler walls from overheating;
saving gas, diesel fuel, solid fuel and electricity;
increasing the resource and reliability of heating equipment.
Manufactured by highly qualified specialists using modern equipment with 100% final control.
The quality and efficiency of DIXIS LUX heating system flushing fluid is confirmed by the successful long-term practice of cleaning various heating systems from scale and corrosion products.
Supplied as a concentrate complete with a residual acidity neutralizer.

Over time, various contaminants appear in the heating system, which settle on the walls, reducing their nominal passage. This leads to , as well as to the violation of circulation, the speed of the coolant decreases. Contamination of the batteries and the boiler greatly reduces their efficiency. To bring the contour into proper form, it needs to be cleaned. In today's article we will tell you which liquid is used for flushing heating, as well as how the process itself goes.

Types of fluids for flushing heating

Heating flush fluid

To clean the heating system from all sorts of dirt and scale, use a different liquid for flushing the heating. At the same time, the equipment for flushing is also different, because each composition has different characteristics. First, let's look at what types of contaminants are found in the heating circuit:

• calcium carbonate deposits;
• iron oxide deposits;
• scale;
• waste products of aerobic bacteria;
• ordinary rubbish.

Generally speaking, there are two categories of fluids for flushing the heating system:

• plain water;
• chemical compositions.

In turn, chemistry is also different. It can be acid or alkali. Both of these fluids for flushing the heating system have a common name - reagents. The difference between alkali and acid is obvious. Alkalis have a more gentle effect on pollution and materials from which the circuit is made, acid, in turn, corrodes everything, even pipes. Yes, if the pipes are corroded from the inside, but this is not visible from the outside, then after using acidic reagents that corrode rust, a coolant leak may appear. make them resistant to acids.

Alkaline heating boiler flushing liquids are mainly used to clean membranes, while acidic reagents are used to clean heat exchangers and pipes.

What is characteristic, the liquid for flushing heating radiators is selected depending on the material from which they are made. The choice of acids is wide enough:

• acetic;
• salt;
• formic;
• orthophosphoric;
• lemon.

This is what settles in the radiators

Also, ordinary acid-containing household products are used, such as "Silit", but this is if you need to flush the battery or the heat exchanger of the boiler. In the case of the entire circuit, this will not be very profitable, since "Silit", which includes phosphoric acid, will cost more than just a concentrate. If you approach flushing heating with acids with all seriousness, sometimes unnecessary, then before the procedure you need to do a water analysis. It will show which impurities prevail in the coolant. Based on this, it will be possible to select the necessary flushing fluid.

It is not necessarily one of the above acids. Most likely, you will need to either mix several ingredients, or rinse with different formulations in turn. Usually, such difficulties are unnecessary and the masters wash with what they are sure of. They use an already proven liquid for cleaning heating systems. Different plumbers have their own, as well as their favorite flushing methods.

There are three types of acid and alkaline reagents:

• powder;
• concentrate;
• ready-made composition.

The powder, like the concentrate, is diluted with water in the proportion indicated on the package. It is not necessary to dilute the finished composition. The composition of the reagents for flushing the heating system includes:

• active substance (acid or alkali);
• inhibitors that prevent corrosion;
• surfactants (surfactants).

Surfactants have detergency. They not only separate impurities, but also retain them, preventing them from settling inside the circuit. The special composition of the reagent does not affect the rubber gaskets.

How to wash with water

Water by itself will not cleanse the system in any way if no chemicals are added to it. After all, water always circulates around the circuit.

To clean the heating system with water, you will need special equipment.

The principle of operation of water treatment plants is different. There are several types of such methods:

• pneumatic cleaning;
• impulse cleaning.

Pneumatic cleaning of the heating system consists in the fact that water is supplied under pressure to the pipes. A jet under pressure knocks dirt off the walls. Then it is drained, and the process is repeated until, after the next filling, a clean liquid flows from the circuit. First, the flow is directed from the supply side, and then from the return side. This approach allows you to more thoroughly flush the heating system.

Pulse cleaning of the heating circuit consists in the fact that the liquid for flushing the heating system is not only supplied under pressure, it also pulsates. In order to create impulses, a special gun is connected to the compressor. It abruptly opens and closes the fluid supply. The speed of such impulses reaches more than a thousand meters per second. The pulsation of the liquid separates the impurities from the walls layer by layer. The procedure is repeated until clean water. After washing, carry out using the same pumps that were used in the cleaning process.

How is chemically washed

A prime example of how badly a pipe can get clogged.

The technology for flushing the circuit with chemical agents is simple. All you need is a pump. With the help of a pump, a liquid for flushing the heating system is pumped into the circuit and circulated for several hours. After that, the agent is removed from the system. Nothing complicated, chemistry does all the work.

To flush the boiler heat exchanger, the heater will have to be disassembled and then filled with the composition. After a few hours, the chemistry is drained. The question is how to determine that the system has already been flushed. There are several options:

• the first is, of course, the experience of a plumber;
• the second is special additives in the reagent.

Such additives are not available in all products, of course, their presence affects the price. When liquid enters the circuit, it begins to interact with pollution, the process is accompanied by foaming. When the solution stops foaming, the rinsing can be completed. Some products form a protective film on the inner surface of the pipes.

When cleaning the system with chemistry, poisonous gases, dangerous to humans, are released - chlorine and nitrogen.

Some other manufacturers provide color indication that shows the chemical activity of the reagent. When the solution starts to work, it can change its color, which means a lack of concentration. By following the instructions on the package, you can tell by color when more reagent needs to be added to the circuit.

Chemical reagents are quite aggressive, which creates difficulties after they have been used. So that the waste chemistry can be discharged into the sewer, manufacturers add special additives to it, which make the composition biodegradable. If such additives are not provided, then after use, a neutralizing liquid must be added to the reagent and only after that the composition must be drained into the sewer.

Summarizing

There are two types of heating system flushing fluid - water and chemical (acid or alkali). Water cleans the circuit due to pressure or impulses, and chemistry due to its active substances. More sophisticated equipment is required to clean the system with water. Modern chemical reagents do not harm pipes and heat exchangers, they do not destroy rubber seals. Additives are added to chemistry, which visually show the degree of activity of a substance. Even household products such as Silit contain phosphoric acid, which can be used to clean the batteries and the heat exchanger of the boiler.

During the operation of the heating system, sooner or later a situation arises when scale forms in the pipes, various kinds of deposits on the inner surface, the diameter narrows due to the sticking of pieces of debris or scale. As a rule, this situation occurs in systems where water is used as a heat carrier. Basically, a not very purified coolant is used to heat houses - pebbles, pieces of rust, scale can come across it. In addition, water contains various chemical formations - under the influence of high temperatures, they settle on the inner walls of the pipes.

In such cases, it is necessary to flush the heating system. As practice shows, 2 mm thick scale reduces the efficiency of the heating system by 48%.

Flushing is a standard service procedure that must be performed periodically - otherwise, you cannot avoid a significant decrease in the efficiency of the heating system, an increase in energy consumption and the destruction of sections of the highway.

If in an apartment building such work is performed by employees of special services, then in a private house the owners have to take care of such things themselves.

Flushing the heating system during installation

When installing the heating system of a private house, it is necessary to check all the elements of the line for the absence of small debris in them. After installation, flushing with water is necessary - we do not use any reagents:

• We start up a strong pressure of cold water and leave it for 2 hours - this way we remove small foreign particles from the circuit.
• We start up the maximum pressure of hot water - it washes out various oil formations.

Then a similar procedure must be performed after 3 months and repeated regularly annually.

After stopping the heating main for the summer period, it is recommended not to drain the water - otherwise all foreign formations inside the circuit will harden and it will be impossible to remove them. In addition, sealed joints can dry out and begin to leak when the heating system is restarted.

Signs of limescale inside the heating circuit

We can determine that scale has formed inside the pipes by the following signs:

• A noticeable decrease in the efficiency of space heating.
• Extraneous noise during equipment operation.
• Radiators are warmed up either only from the top, or only from the bottom.
• A significant increase in the consumption of energy resources - electricity, gas, solid fuel.

All of the above symptoms indicate that it is time to flush the line. For its implementation, you can use equipment for flushing heating systems, as well as special reagents - a means for dissolving and destroying scale and rust.

This method requires a special setup. The device fills the line with a mixture of compressed air and water. This creates a fine pulsation, which removes rust, scale and limescale from the inner surface of the contour. Such an installation very effectively cleans the mains from all extraneous formations, as a result of which the efficiency of heating the house increases and the cost of energy resources is reduced.

Biological reagents are an effective means for flushing the circuit

You can perform such a flushing without stopping the operation of the line - biological reagents are added to the heat-carrying fluid, which, dissolving in it, circulate along the circuit and wash out rust and scale.

This tool is beneficial in that there is no need for a special apparatus, we do not stop the operation of the system, in addition, it is a very highly environmentally friendly method that does not destroy the inner surface of the pipes and does not pollute the environment.

Chemical reagents for flushing the heating line

Chemical flushing is also a very effective means of cleaning the circuit from extraneous formations. Chemical flushing is a liquid containing reagents in the form of various acids. It is used in complex contours, where there are many hard-to-reach places. A liquid of this kind is very successful in dealing with all types of contamination, but you should read its composition very carefully before using it. It must be compatible with the material from which the circuit is made - otherwise, its use may cause destruction of the pipes.

Pneumatic hydraulic impact method

Another method that requires a special apparatus is the pneumohydraulic impact method. It consists in the fact that the hydraulic unit is connected to the line and creates pneumatic water waves. The main impact force is transferred to the coolant - about 98%, the remaining 2% - to the walls of the system. Under the influence of these waves, all scale and rust falls off the inner walls of the pipes. This method is quite safe and applicable to any type of contour, even very old ones.

Conclusion

Flushing the heating main in a private house is a mandatory procedure related to service. It must be performed periodically in order to avoid a decrease in the efficiency of the system, an increase in energy consumption, as well as the destruction of the line due to critical contamination with rust and scale.

The owners of private houses must independently control the degree of contamination of the circuit and take care of the timely completion of all service work.

By flushing the heating system, youth can be restored. Often, a blockage in the radiators leads to the fact that the apartment becomes cool. Below we will consider how you can solve the issue as cheaply as possible ...

It is also important - how to determine that it is no longer necessary to do without flushing? Has the moment come that the heating system needs to be cleaned ...
Further - the main methods of cleaning the heating system in houses and apartments, - how to do it correctly, what to do….

How pipes and radiators become overgrown and dirty

There are salts and metals in the water, dissolved oxygen, which react with steel and cause it to corrode, there is a gradual overgrowth of corrosive deposits of steel pipes. The internal lumen decreases, up to a complete overlap of the section.

Also in the water there are suspended particles of a wide variety of materials, minerals and substances, which settle in places with a slow motion of the jet, forming silt deposits. As a rule, this occurs on the horizontal surfaces of the radiators.

As a result, little coolant is supplied, and the rate of heat transfer through the deposits decreases, therefore, in general, the heat transfer from the heating system decreases many times.

How to determine the need for flushing

The overgrowth of steel pipes and the presence of silt in radiators reduce the performance of heating systems at times. It can be cold in houses and apartments.

But you should not confuse the clogging of the heating with the airing of the radiator (the top is cold) or the whole branch, or simply with the unsatisfactory operation of the central heating.

An obvious signal that the radiators are clogged is significant cooling of their lower part, and the dead-end part may be cold. Obviously, the coolant circulates only along the near sections to the connection points.

At the same time, the supply pipes are hot, which indicates the normal operation of the central heating system - it contains a hot coolant under pressure.

Why flushing heating is rare in private houses

Recently, metal-plastic, polypropylene, copper, galvanized pipes have been installed in private houses. Overgrowth and corrosion do not occur in them. And after 50 years of operation, these pipes are like new.

In private houses, as a rule, the water exchange in the heating system is not significant. Therefore, the addition of salts and sediments is minimal, which could not cause anything serious. And some owners also used distilled, rain, boiled water for pouring.

With only rare exceptions, silting up of the domestic heating network is possible due to the large exchange of water, the use of too contaminated water. A large exchange is possible due to an incorrectly made system, in the presence of leaks, due to a permanent connection to the water supply system, due to the evaporation of water in open containers.

But flushing the entire system of a private house with water is required after using non-freezers in order to remove poisonous and aggressive residues and products of their destructive action.

What Happens to Gravity Home Heating

In the gravity system, which was widely created from steel pipes and cast iron radiators in private houses in the last century, and which is still widely used, one way or another there will be the most significant changes compared to systems created from plastic pipes and aluminum (steel) coated inside with polymer radiators.

Steel pipes were used with large diameters, therefore, corrosiveness, during the usual exchange of water, did not significantly affect the performance. But the low speed of water movement created conditions for the deposition of silt, not only in radiators, but also in pipes. As a result, under certain circumstances (high pollution and high exchange), a domestic steel pipe system can significantly reduce the ability to transfer heat, especially by gravity.

Signs of contamination will be the boiling of the boiler, with relatively cold radiators, which was not observed when the system was young. Then cleaning is needed.

How the radiators in the apartment get dirty

In centralized heating of multi-storey buildings, the speed of the coolant through the pipes is much higher. In this way, a minimum temperature difference is created along the length of the lines, with a large number of connected heating devices.

And in radiators, the speed is much lower. In fact, radiators are sedimentation tanks for the central heating medium. At the same time, the exchange of water in the system is very large, not limited, since a lot of the coolant is lost, users disassemble it, every year it changes with a new one ....

Radiators in apartments are significantly clogged with muddy deposits. Sediments accumulate where the water velocity is slower. With a return flow circuit, the dead end of the radiator is usually always clogged.
Steel pipes of risers also quickly deteriorate.

Rare cleaning methods - chemical reagent

The use of chemicals for cleaning the heating network is possible only if it is guaranteed to be used in a dedicated section of the network, after which it must be completely washed out of the system with water and disposed of in the prescribed manner. Alkaline and acidic solvents are used for the formation of rust and precipitated mineral deposits. The formulations can be purchased at the store. Next, you need to act in accordance with the attached instructions.

In a private house, such flushing is not problematic, but you need special equipment with a pump for filling the reagent. As well as the obligatory removal and disposal of acids. A part of the central heating network can also be flushed in this way by specialists, if such works are planned.
But it is worth remembering that as a result of a chemical attack, defects on pipes can be opened, the service life of these products will be reduced.

Any pouring of corrosive substances inside reduces the service life of the system as a whole, at least. In case of wrong actions, it will disable expensive equipment without the possibility of repair.

What Happens During Chemical Flushing

• There are small diameter steel pipes overgrown with deposits from the inside, so the system does not work.
• Such a system includes special equipment with a container with a chemical-reactive and circulation pump. Usually, the standard circulation pump is removed and instead of it, equipment for its chemical cleaning is connected to the heating system.
• A chemical reagent is fed into the system and circulates through it for some time.
• The spent reagent together with the garbage is drained into containers, taken out and disposed of.
• The system is filled with water several times and rinsed.

Hydropneumatic cleaning of the interior of the radiators

The destruction of sludge deposits in radiators by pneumatic or hydraulic shock is a long-used method of flushing heating systems. But it can be carried out only with special equipment, which creates a water hammer impulse. Therefore, this is done by specialists serving large heating networks. The lower radiator cap is removed and a jet loosening is performed. Then, a coolant is supplied to a number of processed radiators, and the outgoing one is drained into the sewer.

Or the radiator is completely dismantled, taken out into the street, and blown out with the help of devices.
In any case, mechanical destruction in radiators is much safer, technically safer, more environmentally friendly than the use of chemical. reagents.

What Happens With Pulse Cleaning

• The radiator is opened (the plug is unscrewed). The hose of the pneumatic equipment is connected.
• The system is filled with water, the equipment breaks down the deposits inside the radiator by impulses.
• Water is discharged to the sewer along with the garbage.

Folk method of cleaning the heating system

When it gets cool in the apartments, due to the fact that the heating radiators are half cold due to accumulation of deposits, then it's time to flush. If it is not possible to apply hydraulic fracturing, and supply water through a riser with an outlet to the sewer, then proceed as usual. The radiator is dismantled, redirected to the sewer or to the street. The plugs from the battery are unscrewed. Mechanical means, long brushes, destroy dense deposits, the internal surfaces are washed with the pressure of water from the hose.

The flushing operation, as a rule, is combined with the complete replacement of steel risers with plastic options -

Partly because when dismantling radiators, pipes often collapse, since it is difficult to unscrew overgrown threaded connections, and the walls of steel pipelines have become thin.

As an option for flushing, stuff some chemistry into the removed radiator. But such actions do not guarantee the result, it is better not to repeat them.

Simplified method for flushing radiators in apartments

In centralized networks, heating radiators are connected to the risers so that there are areas in them with a slowdown of the water stream. This is where the deposits will be at the bottom. When connected according to the "bottom-bottom" scheme, there will be no contamination, since the jet speed is constant and the area of ​​deposits is constantly washed. But this connection is not recommended and is not used due to the general decrease in the efficiency of the heating device.

But you can create a temporary flushing stream through the bottom of the radiator. The only question is how to organize it correctly without dismantling the device.

In summer, as a rule, radiators are dry, and it becomes possible to open the lower plug, as well as unscrew, possibly with heating with a blowtorch, the cap from the radiator. Then you can simply clean it with a long steel brush and rinse with a stream of water from a hose without removing the device. And this is usually enough for a significant increase in heat transfer for a while.

Additionally, what cannot be done according to the centralized heating norms:

• instead of the plug in the plug, screw in a ball valve with a union securely. After supplying the coolant to the system, you can flush the radiator with the coolant using a hose from the tap to the toilet. Also, periodic flushing will prevent silting. But such a crane is a violation.

Is it worth doing a preventive flush

There is no need to worry about the danger of clogging the heating system. Opening the system, and even more so pouring any chemicals into it, without a very serious reason, should not be.

It is necessary to plan flushing the heating system only after an unacceptable decrease in the amount of heat delivered.
It is recommended to use mechanical (hydro-mechanical) methods for cleaning radiators.

Chemical restoration of the internal section of steel pipes is not worth it - it is better to replace them immediately.

Situations often arise when, after several months of successful operation, the heating system becomes less efficient. Experts say that the efficiency of the heating network by the end of the season may decrease by 10%. Naturally, it is necessary to deal with the problem. But what is causing it? In most cases, the reason for the deterioration of heating is contamination of the heating system, which can only be eliminated by flushing.

Does the heating system need to be flushed?

Hot water circulating through pipes is rarely of high quality, containing an impressive amount of various impurities. Reacting with metal, the coolant causes the appearance of rust, but often the pipes are clogged with sediment from various organic compounds. It is the appearance of plaque that causes a decrease in the efficiency of heat transfer, which makes flushing the system an obligatory stage of competent operation.

Most of all, the horizontal sections of the heating network suffer from siltation, where the coolant passes rather slowly. The problem of the appearance of sludge is often encountered in the presence of cast iron batteries, which differ in the impressive dimensions of the sections. If the inner part of the pipe is made of steel without anti-corrosion coating, then another problem arises - mineral deposits. However, heating networks made of any metal need periodic flushing.

How can you flush the heating system of a private house?

Heating systems in private houses are contaminated with microparticles that remain in the boiler, pipes and radiators after the coolant passes. Gradually accumulating, debris clogs the elements of the heating system, disrupting the circulation of water. If you do not take active action, heating your home will become much less efficient. There are several ways to flush the heating system that will help remove various types of contamination and deposits.

How to flush the heating system in a private house with a pneumohydraulic shock?

This cleaning option is suitable for homes with fairly old heating systems that use cast iron radiators. The method is effective and practical, but requires the use of special equipment. Using hydropneumatic devices, craftsmen create short but strong enough waves that remove dirt from the walls of pipes and radiators.

This method is not dangerous for the system itself, since the blow falls on the water stream. If the length of the heating network does not exceed 55-60 meters, then hydropneumatic flushing will be the best solution with a pipe diameter of 4 inches. The process itself is carried out as soon as possible - after a maximum of 50 minutes, the system will be completely cleaned and ready for further operation.

How to properly flush the heating system of a house with chemicals?

If the heating network has a rather complex design, then the problem arises with the removal of contaminants from hard-to-reach areas. In this case, experts recommend using special chemicals that will help you quickly and permanently get rid of various deposits.

Such flushing is carried out with the help of acids that can quickly cope with contamination. But this method can be dangerous for the heating system itself, since the active substances react with the metal, sometimes leading to damage to the pipe walls. Before using chemical cleaning, it is advisable to objectively evaluate the state of the heating network and analyze the existing deposits.

How to flush an individual heating system with a pulsating water mixture?

This type of cleaning also requires the use of special equipment, with the help of which the heating network is filled with a combination of compressed air and water. The resulting pulsation contributes to the rapid removal of various contaminants. This method makes it possible to quickly and efficiently clean pipes from rust, plaque and sediment. The efficiency of the heating system increases, as does its service life, and the consumption of fuel and electricity decreases.

How to flush the heating system yourself?

Experts do not recommend starting the cleaning of the heating system on your own, as this can negatively affect the state of the entire system. And the quality of flushing without the use of special tools and equipment will not be too high. However, if there are no other options, then you can try to improve heat transfer on your own.

To flush the primary circuit, you must perform the following sequence of actions:

1. Open the water pressure valve supplying the firebox.
2. Open the valve supplying the reserve tank.
3. Open the circulating control jumper.
4. Open the valve allowing the coolant to pass to the batteries.
5. Open the distribution valve.
6. Open the "return" valve.

Then we close the last valve so that the coolant can pass through the drain pipe. When cleaning is complete and all valves are closed, you can start working with the remaining circuits.

What water is used to flush the heating system?

The first step is to clean the system with cold water, which will remove various solid particles. To do this, all taps should be positioned in the maximum open position at 2 o'clock. Then the water heated in the boiler is used, dissolving oils and partially coping with rust. To improve the efficiency of hot rinsing, a little bleach can be added to enhance the cleansing properties of the water. Such processing should definitely be carried out not only during the operation of the system, but also immediately after its installation.

It is advisable to carry out water flushing on its own once a year. It is not recommended to drain the coolant from the system during downtime, since the existing contaminants will harden and can only be removed with the help of professional cleaning.

Cozy warmth in your home largely depends on the stable operation of the heating system. From this perspective, heating maintenance is a very important point.

One of the most significant options for maintaining a heating system is flushing pipelines and heating elements.

You may immediately have several reasonable questions:

Why flush the system?

Can you do this amount of work yourself?

What are the ways to flush the heating?

The purpose of this article will precisely be detailed and comprehensive answers to the questions posed.

When there is a need for flushing

Cleaning the heating system will be needed if you notice the following symptoms in the heating operation:

The manifestation of at least one of these signs may indicate that the heating system is clogged.

Why pollution occurs

Rust is a problem with clogged metal piping. Accumulating inside the system, it prevents the free circulation of the coolant, and as a result, malfunctions appear in the work.

As for plastic pipes, they, of course, are not susceptible to rust, but, nevertheless, scale appears on their walls, which also contributes to malfunctions in the heating system.

One of the reasons for pollution is also the quality of the water, which can contain various impurities that cause pipe clogging.

Thus, there are the following types of blockages:

• scale;
• rust;
• silty sand;
• rubbish.

How often to flush the heating system

Many people who are anxiously caring for their heating system are wondering how often to clean the pipes.

There are two types of cleaning works:

1. The first flushing is carried out immediately after the installation of the heating system. This is due to the fact that during the heating equipment, various kinds of debris or oily contamination could get inside the pipes. Therefore, the flushing procedure must be carried out until the drain water is completely clean.
2. Regular flushing in systems equipped with metal pipes is recommended to occur twice a year - before the start of the heating season and after its end. For plastic pipelines, it is recommended to clean it once a year - before the start of the heating season.

Knowing now the reasons for the contamination of heating systems, as well as the regularity of cleaning, the question involuntarily arises: is it possible to flush yourself?

And we will give an affirmative answer to this: cleaning the heating system can be done by hand. To do this, you just need to choose the optimal flushing option, which will be discussed further.

Flushing methods

Today it is customary to distinguish between four technological methods of cleaning the heating system.

Chemical washing. This cleaning method removes 100% of the system contamination with a minimum of effort. However, this cleaning method is only suitable for metal heating pipes.

To carry out chemical cleaning yourself, you must have the following tools and materials on hand:

• rinsing solution, which may include mineral or organic acids, as well as all kinds of solvents and alkalis;
• container for draining liquid;
• pump;
• hoses.

The procedure is as follows:

• water is drained from the heating system;
• an acid solution is poured;
• a special pump is connected to the system, which pumps the cleaning liquid along the entire heating circuit for several hours;
• the waste liquid is drained and clean water is pumped in.

An important point: the used acid solution is strictly prohibited to be discharged into the sewer. If it is not possible to dispose of it yourself, then you can purchase special neutralization products.

It is also worth remembering that it is not recommended to rinse aluminum radiators with an acidic liquid, as irreparable harm can be done to them.

Hydrodynamic flushing. This method of cleaning the heating system is carried out using special equipment, which includes thin hoses and special nozzles.

The principle of cleaning in this way is that water is supplied under pressure to the nozzle, which generates thin jets of water. With these jets, all grease, rust and scale are removed from the working area.

It should be noted that although this method of flushing pipes is quite effective, due to its high cost, it is used too little.

Pneumatic hydraulic impulse flushing of the heating system. In order to perform this type of cleaning with your own hands, you will need:

The order of work consists of the following steps:

• water is drained from the system;
• a branch pipe is connected to the "return";
• the compressor is connected to the branch, and we pump a pressure of about 5 atmospheres. The strong pressure in the pipes leads to the fact that all kinds of impurities break off from the walls.
• we shut off the branch pipe and disconnect the compressor, and connect the hose;
• open the valve, and as a result, all impurities come out under pressure.

It should be noted that for better cleaning, the pneumohydro-impulse procedure can be repeated several times.

You may also be interested in the article on features.

Read an informative article on flushing a heating boiler from scale.

And in conclusion, I would like to note that after studying our recommendations, you can more confidently flush the heating system with your own hands.

Watch the video, which popularly explains the need for flushing the heating system and the features of carrying out the corresponding work:

Heating systems in private houses and apartments need periodic flushing. In apartment buildings, this work is carried out by employees of public utilities, and the owners of private houses have to do everything on their own or hire outside specialists. During operation, various small particles enter the heating system, which settle in the batteries, pipes and the boiler. Without flushing, these particles will accumulate and condense, which will lead to blockage of heating devices and pipes, disruption of water circulation in the heating system, and failure of the heating system. To prevent all these problems, periodic flushing of the heating system is necessary. Before flushing the heating system with your own hands, be sure to study the rules and features of this work.

Scheme of permanent hydropneumatic flushing of the heating system.

Flushing heating pipelines: why is it needed?

In order to properly flush the heating system, you need to know why this flushing is performed.

The technology for flushing the heating system pipelines is quite simple, so, observing certain rules, you can do everything yourself.

Flushing of pipelines and other parts of the heating system is necessary in cases where a heating system that has not been flushed for more than 5-10 years has low energy efficiency, which is primarily associated with a large amount of deposits of magnesium and calcium salts on the walls of the heating system pipelines. It is known that a layer of deposits with a thickness of only 1 mm reduces heat transfer by about 10%, which immediately affects the overall energy efficiency of the heating system and energy consumption. Moreover, overgrowing of heating system pipelines with scale and deposits leads to a drop in temperature in heated rooms.

Standard flow diagram for flushing a heating system.

In case of refusal to timely flush the pipes of the heating system, the consequences can be simply catastrophic. You need to understand that flushing the pipes of the heating system is a mandatory service procedure. This technology is designed to maintain the heating system in proper condition for a long time. High-quality and long-term operation of the heating system is impossible without periodic flushing, which, of course, must be performed correctly.

In case of refusal to timely flush the pipes of the heating system, breakdown and destruction of expensive equipment of the heating point is possible, the likelihood of various emergencies up to the defrosting of the heating system in winter is not excluded, which ultimately leads to downtime of the heating system and significant financial losses, the processes of mechanical destruction are noticeably accelerated heating pipes, etc. That is why the rules for operating the heating system regulate its mandatory periodic inspection.

Why do deposits form on the walls of the heating pipes?

The main conductor of heat is water. It is she who is the main reason for the pollution of the heating system. Sludge formed by salts of hard water or the smallest particles of sludge, over time, becomes scale, solid sediment. Scale settling on the inner walls of the heating system pipes significantly reduces the efficiency of the heating system.

Heating system flushing scheme.

A thick layer of scale is characterized by high thermal insulation properties, i.e. prevents heat transfer. In addition, scale intensifies the mechanical processes of wear of pipes and other elements of the heating system.

That is why the rules for the operation of heating indicate the need to periodically carry out various preventive work, an integral part of which is flushing.

Flushing the heating system: how do you know it's time?

There are a number of signs, according to which you can understand that it is time to flush the heating system:

• heating radiators do not heat up evenly. Typically, the top of the battery is warm while the bottom is cold;
• when the heating boiler warms up, a characteristic crackling is heard due to a thick layer of scale;
• warming up the premises takes much longer than previously required;
• the power of the boiler is reduced;
• the costs of the coolant increase significantly;
• when the pipes are hot, the batteries remain cold.

The rules for flushing the heating system provide for the use of chemical and physical cleaning methods. The physical methods include hydropercussion and hydroimpulse flushing, which require the use of special equipment - a compressor. The chemical method of flushing is the use of various agents that dissolve sludge and scale deposits.

Scheme of chemical flushing of pipes.

To flush the heating system yourself, prepare the necessary tools:

• construction key;
• chisel;
• spanners;
• basin;
• means selected according to the rinsing method (compressor or descaling agents).

Flushing the heating system with a pulsating water mixture and biological products

This method is based on the cleaning of heating pipes with a pulsating mixture of water and compressed air. The rules and technology are simple enough. Compressed air is supplied to the heating system, the turbulence of which with water picks up particles of salt, corrosion, carbon deposits, sand and other deposits. Further impulse air supply removes sludge from the pipes of the heating system, preventing it from settling on the walls.

Observing the rules and technology of such flushing, you can extend the life of your system by 20 or more years. This method allows you to clean the heating network at any time of the year without dismantling the risers and batteries.

Standard scheme for chemical pipe flushing.

Flushing heating system pipes with biological products is a highly effective and environmentally friendly method, the rules and technology of which provide for the introduction of microbiological products into the heating system.

Circulating through the pipes of the system, biological products break down organic, oily-mud and solid deposits. The rules and technology of this method do not provide for disassembly or disconnection. Another positive point in this case is the safety of modern cleaners for old systems.

Flushing the heating system through pneumohydroimpact and chemicals

This method is usually used for flushing old heating systems. The rules and technology for performing such work provide for the impact on the system of a shock hydro wave, which propagates through the system at a speed of 1200 m / s and breaks through the plugs from scale and sludge. The walls of the radiators and pipes, at the same time, do not collapse, because they are affected by no more than 2% of the total force of the wave impact, and the remaining 98% are accounted for by various deposits, which are destroyed and discharged through a flexible hose into the sewer system.

By observing the rules of hydrotreating, you can significantly reduce operating costs, because there is no need to replace pipes and radiators.

Various chemicals allow you to clean and flush pipelines, risers and other components of the heating system using reagents based on organic and inorganic acids. This method of chemical flushing is considered one of the most economical, and covers not only surfaces, but also hard-to-reach places of deposits.

Heat exchanger device diagram.

In the case of using such reagents, it is very important to follow the rules for their use, which, as a rule, are given on the packaging. Technological means completely eliminate traces of scale and corrosion in the heating system within 5-10 hours.

However, the rules for the use of such funds indicate the need to assess the condition of heating equipment. The physical condition of radiators and pipes, the degree of wear, the thickness of the walls - these parameters must be carefully examined for the risk of damage to them by chemical reagents, the composition of which, as a rule, includes hydrochloric acid.

Consider the fact that, even if you follow all the rules for flushing the heating system, it is not always possible to achieve the desired result. Sometimes, due to particularly large pollution, complex cleaning is needed, the rules for which involve the use of several different methods.

Features of collapsible flushing of the heat exchanger

If the heat exchanger is very dirty or completely out of order, a collapsible flushing can help. The rules and technology for collapsible flushing are quite simple. It is necessary to disassemble the heat exchanger, remove all the plates, soak them in a special solution, rinse each plate by hand, insert the plate pack into the heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is then assembled and pressurized.

By following the rules of this work, you will receive many benefits:

• collapsible heating flushing guarantees the highest quality;
• any contamination is eliminated;
• everything happens clearly, and you can see the whole process of work.

However, there are also disadvantages that cannot be avoided, even following all the rules of work. So, if your heat exchanger worked for wear and tear, in critical conditions, or the service life of the rubber seals has ended, then you may have to change the heat exchanger seals, which will lead to an increase in the cost and duration of the work.

As a rule, the above-mentioned technology for collapsible cleaning of the heat exchanger differs only in the choice of a specific method for cleaning the plates of the device after its disassembly. Several basic methods are used:

• in the case of a collapsible flushing, it is sometimes possible to remove impurities with a jet of water from a special high-pressure apparatus;
• in the presence of more serious deposits, it is first necessary to clean the heat exchanger plates from the upper layer of deposits using a high-pressure washer, then soak them in an acid solution, and then clean them again with the help of a high-pressure washer.

Features of CIP heat exchangers

For the prevention and extension of the service life of heating systems, CIP is used, the rules for which provide for the use of special equipment designed for CIP. This method is used for both gasketed and brazed heat exchangers.

Among the disadvantages of this method, one can single out the fact that if the heat exchanger is clogged with various mechanical impurities (particles of sludge after pipe welding, etc.), CIP heating will not be effective enough, even if all the rules for performing work are observed. And the advantage, in fact, is that you do not need to disassemble the heat exchanger.

Heat exchanger composition.

CIP chemical washing is performed using a special apparatus. This device allows the chemical cleaning of welded, brazed or plate heat exchangers. Externally, it is a tank made of high-strength plastic, equipped with a built-in heating element and a reversible pump. In the course of flushing, for example, a plate heat exchanger, this device is alternately connected to the circuit of the unit through the drain holes.

Inside the device itself, during operation, there is a special detergent made on the basis of organic additives and orthophosphoric acid. Phosphoric acid is very well suited for chemical cleaning and flushing: getting inside the heat exchanger circuit, it dissolves the compounds that make up the scale. In addition, due to the fact that the cleaning solution for chemical cleaning of heat exchangers also contains inhibitors and organic additives, it does not harm the heat exchanger plates in any way.

After all the scale has been dissolved, the washing solution must be drained through the drain holes, and the heat exchanger must be rinsed with clean water. After that, it is ready for use again.

This modern technology, if you follow all the rules for its implementation, has many advantages, namely:

• the ability to perform work without dismantling or with partial dismantling of the heating system at any time of the year, including during the heating season;
• the use of environmentally friendly and certified chemicals ensures safe working conditions;
• economic efficiency and high productivity of use;
• execution of the whole range of works with high quality and in the shortest possible time.

To clean heat exchangers and heating systems, modern preparations are used that can dissolve ferrous and carbonate deposits from the surfaces of copper and steel alloys, and the inhibitor in their composition prevents the aggressive effect of hydrochloric acid. The active substances in the cleaning agent accelerate the rinsing process, which allows you to quickly remove even difficult to dissolve and dense deposits. The dispersant prevents the re-settling of the washed deposits (especially in the places of circulation), and the anti-foaming component does not allow the working solution to foam profusely and prevents the formation of so-called. "Dead zones", allowing you to completely clean the surfaces of heating pipes.