Let's imagine an ordinary kettle instead of a boiler: every day water is poured into it, heated, the water is poured into another container and again in a circle. Over time, scale forms on the walls of the kettle and the water heats up more slowly. The same thing happens in the boiler heat exchanger: a sediment of various impurities appears on its walls - salt, lime and others.
If regular, hard water is used in the mains, scale will form faster. Therefore, washing boiler heat exchangers is regular and mandatory procedure. If it is not carried out, you may encounter the most unpleasant problems.
What does this mean:
- Firstly, the heat exchanger will overheat. If you look at the design of gas boilers, you can see that the coolant that comes from the return line must cool internal cavities heating elements. Scale reduces cooling efficiency, causing the heat exchanger to fail faster.
- Secondly, an increase in gas consumption. The mineral deposits that make up the scale have lower thermal conductivity, so it will take more energy to heat the water. This will increase gas consumption and, therefore, increase the cost of operating the boiler.
- Thirdly, boiler breakdown. Due to the fact that scale impedes the passage of coolant, the load on the circulation pump increases and it fails.
How often should you do this?
The frequency of boiler flushing depends entirely on the quality of the liquid used in the line.
If antifreeze is used in the heating system, the boiler needs to be cleaned once every 2 years. In addition, the boiler owner must strictly monitor the expiration date of the antifreeze and carry out mandatory replacement when it expires.
When using purified water - once every 4 years. It is not advisable to use ordinary running water, since its hardness level is much higher than purified water.
Remember that without regular cleaning, the efficiency of the boiler will gradually decrease!
Heat exchanger flushing methods
There are several methods for flushing boiler heat exchangers. Let's look at them.
Manual cleaning
The simplest and effective method which you can do yourself. To do this, you need to completely remove the heat exchanger from the boiler. You can clean it in two ways:
- Mechanical cleaning - removing plaque and other mechanical particles using a vacuum cleaner, scraper or metal brush.
- Washing - soaking the heat exchanger parts in various solutions. This method is best for double-circuit boilers, since their channels are most susceptible to contamination.
The only condition for manual cleaning is accuracy and attentiveness. When assembling the boiler Special attention attention should be paid to its tightness.
Chemical cleaning
Its essence is that, using a special device (booster), a solution for acid washing is pumped into the system. It is driven through a heat exchanger and completely cleans it within a few hours.
This method is most suitable when you need to remove the most stubborn types of scale, such as ferric iron and carbonate salt deposits. After removing acidic compounds, a solution should be poured into the system to neutralize the effect of the acid.
Hydrodynamic cleaning
For this type of flushing, the gas boiler does not need to be disassembled. Using a special installation, water is pumped into the main line (sometimes with admixtures of abrasive particles) and its pressure is injected. Thus, the water begins to circulate faster, and the scale is removed by mechanical action. This is a fairly effective, but expensive way to flush the heat exchanger.
At first glance, flushing the heat exchanger does not look like something prohibitively difficult and it seems that everything can be done with your own hands. However, you should remember that you will have to deal with caustic chemical solutions and use complex equipment. When hydrodynamic cleaning, it is necessary to constantly monitor the pressure in the line, since critical readings may cause the heat exchanger to rupture.
Therefore, of course, it is best to entrust this matter to a specialist with special access to this type of activity.
Be attentive to the condition of your heating equipment and carry out regular checks and cleanings. If you comply with these requirements, you will not only significantly save on energy and the cost of replacing expensive spare parts, but also increase the service life of your equipment.
Any equipment needs maintenance, and gas boilers not an exception. Many home owners for years and even decades do not remember the need to flush the heat exchanger, but sooner or later they have to do it. Regular Maintenance not only extends the life of the equipment, but also saves money for its owner. What are the signs that indicate that boilers need flushing? How to do it yourself correctly?
Why do you need regular gas boiler cleaning?
Most water constantly circulates in the heating system throughout the year. Over time, a coating of salts, lime, and impurities that enter the coolant settles on equipment parts. The harder the water, the more mineral deposits appear on the system elements. They remain in the heat exchanger for gas boiler, which negatively affects its work.
Heating equipment in the house
The operating principle of heating equipment is based on the fact that the coolant is heated as it passes through the curved channels of the coil. To raise the temperature of the liquid, special plates are used. Thanks to these additional elements the coil itself and the water entering it are heated more evenly. When assembled, the system looks similar to car radiator.
The operating efficiency of equipment largely depends on the thermal conductivity of the materials from which it is assembled. Usually copper or alloys with this metal are used. Any growths or deposits on the internal surfaces of the coil tubes lead to a decrease in thermal conductivity and deterioration of the system.
Deposits in the heat exchanger for the boiler
Preventive measures are beneficial
If equipment is not cleaned promptly, problems may arise:
- The heat exchanger of a gas boiler constantly overheats and fails faster. It can be replaced, but such repairs are very expensive. To this amount should also be added the inconvenience and cost of heating the house during the period when the equipment is being repaired. Electric heaters are usually turned on, and this significantly increases the cost of repairs.
- Limescale greatly complicates the passage of coolant through the system. The more scale, the higher the load on the circulation pump. The equipment has to constantly work in emergency mode, which leads to natural wear and tear of spare parts and negatively affects its service life.
- A clogged boiler heat exchanger works less efficiently. It takes more energy to heat it. Accordingly, gas consumption increases (on average by 10-15%). This means that the owner will overpay for heating, and the house will not warm up as well. Simple calculations show that for the season the amount will be close to that paid on bills for a whole month.
Do-it-yourself device for washing heat exchangers
How often do you clean the heat exchanger in a gas boiler?
The frequency of cleaning the heat exchanger depends primarily on the type of coolant and the design features of the unit itself. It is least common to service single-circuit boilers in heating systems that use purified water as a coolant. To keep them in good condition, it is enough to carry out preventive maintenance once every 4 years.
If untreated water circulates in the system, the boiler should be flushed once every 2-3 years. If the water is hard, then the cleaning regime is once every 2 years. The secondary heat exchanger of a double-circuit boiler must be washed with the same frequency, because through it comes unfiltered tap water with impurities.
Most often, maintenance is required for equipment in heating systems where antifreeze is used as a coolant. It should be washed at least once every 2 years. In addition, you have to monitor the expiration date of antifreeze and replace it in a timely manner. Otherwise, the efficiency of the system will decrease and heating costs will increase.
When cleaning heat exchangers, pay attention to appearance boilers, nozzles and, if necessary, carry out renovation work. You should also monitor the condition of chimneys and clean them of soot in a timely manner. These simple measures extend the life of heating equipment and prevent breakdowns.
Antifreeze for heating systems
Contact a professional or do it yourself
Professional cleaning of heating boilers is an expensive proposition. Depending on the condition of the equipment and the specifics of its operation, amounts can range from several tens to hundreds of dollars. In addition, the masters rarely arrive within the next few hours; sometimes you have to wait for them for several days. It is not comfortable.
Expenses for professional cleaning using a special station for washing heat exchangers pays off: the parts are washed from the inside to a shine, and the equipment works much better. But if you want, you can always save money and do the same thing yourself. The result will be no worse, but you will only have to invest own time and strength.
Professional device for washing heat exchangers
Methods for cleaning the heat exchanger of a gas boiler
There are two main types of flushing the heat exchanger of a gas boiler - with and without disassembling the unit. To disassemble the equipment, you will need tools. Which ones specifically - it depends on the design of the heating equipment. In some cases, it is impossible to remove the heat exchanger at all, but you can gain access to it by removing some of the parts.
Before starting work, you should prepare the equipment:
- Disconnect the boiler from all power sources, drain the water from the system and expansion tank. To drain the coolant, special fittings must be provided. If this is not the case, then you will have to turn off the water supply to the house, and then drain it from the system into pre-prepared basins and buckets.
- When there is no water left in the system, you can begin to disassemble the equipment. First, remove the front of the housing to gain access to the heaters. If the boiler is double-circuit, then the second circuit heater is located closer, the main one is further away. To remove it, you need to disassemble the combustion chamber.
- Construction parts are usually dirty. It is advisable to wash them outside with special compounds that remove soot and carbon deposits. If there are no such products, you can take traditional household chemicals that are used for cleaning stoves - gels, cleaning pastes, etc. They should be used only in extreme cases, since even the most aggressive household chemicals cannot remove carbon deposits as efficiently as specialized ones, but they can damage materials.
- The inside of the unit elements can be washed with a strong aqueous solution citric acid. It does not corrode metal, but removes plaque well, calcareous deposits. Most often there is a lot of scale. It is impossible to cope with it by half measures. In this case, you will need equipment for washing the heat exchangers of gas boilers. You can make it yourself easy installation with circulation pump.
Soot and carbon deposits on heater parts
There are three main ways to clean boilers: manual, hydrodynamic, and chemical washing of boilers. Let's look at them in more detail below.
Option #1: DIY manual cleaning
Manual cleaning is called cleaning of boilers without the use of special mechanisms. Only required simple tools, which are found in almost every home. The boiler must be partially disassembled to gain access to the heat exchanger and remove it. Next, you should decide how best to remove the dirt - mechanically or using chemical solutions.
If you decide to remove plaque mechanically, you should stock up on a scraper, brush and vacuum cleaner to remove small particles of deposits. If you plan to chemically flush boilers to remove scale, you can use a citric acid solution, or even better, buy a specialized product.
Well proven trade marks MasterBoiler and SVOD TVN Professional. They are released in different forms. There are liquids that do not require special preparation before use, and powders. When using, you should carefully read the instructions. Some formulations foam, and you need to be prepared for this.
How to clean a gas boiler from scale? Almost all compositions are suitable for removing calcium carbonate deposits, while only certain preparations cope with iron oxide deposits. When purchasing a product, it is important to make sure that it is intended specifically for those types of deposits that are typical for a particular boiler. Among the popular preparations that remove iron oxide plaque, we recommend SVOD TVN Extra.
Advice. When disassembling and cleaning the boiler, try to be extremely careful so as not to damage the parts. When installing them in place after manipulation, check the tightness of each connection.
Option #2: chemical washing
Boosters are often used to flush boilers. These are special installations that pump liquid into the heat exchanger channels. You can make a booster for washing heat exchangers with your own hands by connecting a circulation pump so that it drives the acid solution, washing the equipment from the inside.
A good flush may take up to 10 hours if the channels are very dirty, but usually it takes much less time. Cleanliness indicators: carbonate and iron deposits completely disappear, and the internal surfaces of the channels shine. To neutralize the residues of acid preparations, special compounds are used; they are poured into a booster to wash the heat exchangers at the end of the procedure.
Option #3: hydrodynamic cleaning
Hydrodynamic flushing of boilers and heat exchangers is similar to chemical flushing, since it also uses pumps and acid solutions. The main difference is that the liquid is pumped under high pressure. Sometimes preparations with abrasives are used as cleaning agents.
Since deposits are destroyed by water hammer, the procedure itself is quite dangerous. If the pressure is higher than permissible, the pipes may be damaged, and their repair will cost a significant amount. It’s better not to take risks and entrust this work to professionals.
Condition of the heat exchanger before and after cleaning
Do-it-yourself cleaning from soot and soot
Soot and soot make it difficult for heating equipment to operate. There are models that automatically turn off in such cases. If this does not happen, then combustion products may enter the room. Harmful gases can poison the residents of the house, so it is important to clean boilers on time to prevent similar situations.
Work order:
- Prepare the tools: brushes, screwdrivers, open-end wrenches (most often wrenches size 8-17 are suitable), needle, brush, rags. If you plan to completely clean the channels at the same time, you will also need a means for flushing the gas boiler heat exchanger.
- Turn off the gas, remove the front wall of the boiler, disconnect the wires, ignition electrode, burner tube. During cleaning, it is advisable to immediately replace the pilot burner gasket
- Next, you should get the burner and swirlers. They and the surface of the heat exchanger are cleaned with brushes - soft and for metal. The inside of the channels is blown out using a vacuum cleaner.
- It is convenient to clean the burner with a brush and a needle smaller than the diameter of the burner hole.
Advice. Do not try to widen the burner hole with a thicker needle. It will be easier to clean next time, however, the performance of the heating equipment may deteriorate.
DIY booster
- When cleaning and washing the heat exchangers of gas boilers with your own hands is completed, the equipment is reassembled in the reverse order. First, install the burner, nozzle, tube, connect the ignition electrode, etc.
- The assembled boiler is tested. It is turned on and the connections of the tubes and burners are checked for tightness. If the equipment operates normally, it can be put into operation. If there are any malfunctions, the boiler will need to be disassembled again and the connections sealed.
Replacing the heat exchanger in a gas boiler with your own hands
Video materials to help the novice master
How to flush the heat exchanger of a double-circuit boiler
How to clean the heat exchanger of a double-circuit boiler
Video tutorial: disassembling and cleaning a gas boiler with your own hands
The article offers options for washing the heat exchanger of a gas boiler with your own hands and video materials demonstrating the procedure. It is advisable to carry out all these procedures at least once every 2 years, and cleaning from soot - once a year. Best time- before the beginning heating season. As a rule, equipment is cleaned and checked at the beginning of September, because... It often gets cold by the end of the month and you have to turn on the heating at least for the night.
Attention! If you are not sure that you can cope with flushing the heat exchanger of a gas boiler with citric acid or special means, contact specialists.
To save efficient work gas boiler, it is necessary to take timely measures to care for it. The most difficult and time-consuming part is flushing the unit’s heat exchanger. During long-term operation, especially if there is no water filter, limescale deposits will accumulate in the heat exchanger. To prevent this problem from damaging the gas boiler, it is necessary to periodically clean the circuit. Therefore, many users of the units are interested in how to clean the heat exchanger of a gas boiler.
The heat exchanger of a gas boiler is a curved pipe made of metal or cast iron. It heats up from the flame gas burner, and then transfers heat to the coolant liquid, which moves throughout the heating system. If the heat exchanger is clean, it transfers heat efficiently. When salt deposits accumulate in it, its thermal conductivity decreases. Then the gas boiler has to heat the coolant longer, which entails an increase in fuel and electricity consumption.
If the maintenance element is heavily contaminated desired temperature it needs to remain in the maximum heated state for a long time - this leads to overheating of the heat exchanger and its failure.
Deposits and scale also prevent the coolant from moving along the circuit. As a result, the load on the circulation pump increases.
Thus, a contaminated heat exchanger threatens failure not only of the element itself, but also of other important components of the unit. To prevent damage, the boiler should be cleaned regularly.
Note! In double-circuit models, the secondary heat exchanger, which works for heating, often fails hot water.How often should the heat exchanger be cleaned?
The frequency of cleaning the gas boiler heat exchanger is usually indicated in the operating instructions. If at the entrance water pipe If the filter is installed, you can clean it less often. If there is no filtration and there is hard water in the region, the heat exchanger will clog faster.
Usually, without a water filter, cleaning is done once or twice a year. If there is filtration tap water It is enough to maintain the heat exchanger once every 4 years.
Exist signs that urgent circuit cleaning is needed:
- Fuel consumption has increased - if the circuit is clogged, gas consumption can increase by 15-20%.
- The performance of the heating system has decreased. Signs of this may be the following: weak heating of the batteries, the unit cannot reach the required temperature and operates continuously.
- Low water pressure from the hot water system or insufficient heating.
- Noises in the heat exchanger.
If at least one such “symptom” appears, you should clean the heat exchanger as soon as possible, otherwise inaction will lead to expensive repairs.
Gas boiler cleaning options
There are several basic methods for cleaning gas boiler heat exchangers:
- manual;
- chemical;
- hydrodynamic.
Which method to use depends on the degree of blockage. Let's take a closer look at each of the listed methods.
Not all users of gas boilers know how to clean the heat exchanger of a gas boiler themselves. Manual cleaning is easiest to do yourself. There are two ways to perform this method:
- mechanical - using a brush and brush;
- washing with active solutions – more effective option, is especially relevant for boilers with two circuits.
At heavily polluted They use two methods of descaling - first washing and then mechanical cleaning. This process is carried out in the following steps:
- turn off the gas and disconnect the unit from electricity;
- open the lid of the gas boiler;
- dismantle the heat exchanger;
- place it in an active substance, for example, a solution of hydrochloric acid;
- remove the heat exchanger from the solution and clean the dirt with a brush or brush;
- rinse the element with water inside and out;
- dry and install the circuit back.
Dry cleaning
Dry cleaning is characterized by the use of a booster or its analogues, as well as aggressive chemicals. An important condition for chemical cleaning is maintaining a safe concentration of the substance so that it does not corrode the surface of the heat exchanger.
Chemical cleaning is carried out using a booster, but many craftsmen create its cheap analogue with their own hands. To do this, take a 10-liter container and attach two hoses and a pump to it.
If the scale layer is too large, you can use substances based on sulfuric or hydrochloric acid for cleaning. The simplest cleaning solution is made from citric acid: 200 grams of powder is diluted with 5 liters of water.
The chemical cleaning process is quite simple:
- the chemical solution is diluted in a container and poured into the booster;
- two hoses are connected to two boiler pipes - inlet and return;
- turn on the device and drive the liquid through the heat exchanger several times.
Factory boosters have a heating function, which allows you to flush the circuits with greater efficiency.
After the procedure, it is necessary to drain the reagent and rinse the system again with a neutralizing agent or clean water.
Of course, dry cleaning is more effective than manual cleaning, but the active substances contained in the solutions can lead to corrosion. Therefore, use often this method it is forbidden.
Heat exchanger cleaning solutions
Some owners of gas boilers on the forums are interested in how to clean a gas boiler from scale at home. Usually for dry cleaning the following means are used:
- Cleaning gel - it is considered the mildest product. Afterwards, it is enough to rinse the heat exchanger with running water. Despite its gentle effect, the gel copes well with scale and lime deposits.
- Adipic acid - to flush the heat exchanger of a gas boiler with acid, it is important to dilute it with water in correct proportion, otherwise the substance will damage the metal surface. Adipic acid softens all deposits inside the heat exchanger well. After flushing the system with this product, neutralizing liquid should be driven through it.
- Sulfamic acid - helps cope well with complex stains. The substance is diluted with water and filled into a booster. After completing the process, it is necessary to rinse the heat exchanger with neutralizing liquid.
Hydrodynamic cleaning
This method of cleaning the heat exchanger is carried out only by specialists. There is no need to disassemble the boiler and remove the heat exchanger to do this. The principle of hydrodynamic cleaning is as follows: liquid is pumped into the system and circulated under pressure several times. For greater efficiency, cleaning abrasive substances are added to the water. It turns out that due to fast movement water, the scale disappears and the dirt is washed away.
However, with this method it is important to correctly calculate the pressure force - if it is too great, a pipe breakthrough may occur. That's why hydrodynamic cleaning You cannot do it yourself.
What are the differences between cleaning a double-circuit gas boiler?
How to rinse the secondary heat exchanger of a gas boiler with your own hands? There are no fundamental differences between flushing the DHW circuit and the heating heat exchanger. It’s just that in the case of a dual-circuit model, you will have to clean not one, but two elements.
Double-circuit gas boilers can be equipped with two types of heat exchangers:
- removable secondary;
- bithermic.
The first option is cleaned in the same way as the primary circuit using manual or chemical cleaning using a booster:
- connect the booster hoses to the supply pipes cold water and exit hot;
- The apparatus is put into operation with the reagent heated (t=50-55ºC).
For manual cleaning, the secondary circuit is dismantled and immersed in a citric acid solution. Then brush the outside and dry.
A bithermal heat exchanger consists of two pipes inserted into one another: coolant flows through one of them, hot water flows through the other. Cleaning it is much more difficult, especially since such a circuit cannot be dismantled as a separate analogue. Therefore, flushing the bithermal circuit can only be done using a booster. If such an element is heavily contaminated, then it is simply impossible to clean it. Then you will have to buy a new bithermic heat exchanger and install it in place of the old one.
What is the best way to flush the heat exchanger?
Some people get lost in the variety of substances for contour care and often choose the most powerful ones, which, with regular use, negatively affect the metal. Experts say that such products are best used as a last resort, if more gentle solutions are not suitable. The most universal remedy is citric acid - it cleans scale no worse than all sorts of expensive products, but does not damage the surface of the heat exchanger.
If you flush the circuit in time, and do not wait until the pipes are completely overgrown with salt deposits, then you will not have to use aggressive substances to clean a small layer of scale.
Cleaning the boiler is a mandatory procedure that must be performed regularly. At the same time, you need to know how to clean a gas boiler from soot and scale. Scale collects in the passages of the heat exchanger, and soot collects in the smoke exhaust channels of the boiler itself and the chimney. Thus, in order to maintain heating equipment in working condition, it is necessary to clean both the heat exchanger and smoke channels, as well as the flue and burner.
How to clean the heat exchanger?
Cleaning the heat exchanger depends on its design and on what kind of water is used in the system: prepared - with special additives - or unprepared.
By design, the heat exchanger can be one of three types:
- bithermic;
- lamellar;
- fire tube
Plate ones are further divided into two types - primary and secondary (for heating water). The fire tube heat exchanger is installed in floor-standing boilers, and bithermic - in compact wall-mounted or floor-standing models.
Cleaning can be done in the following ways:
- mechanical;
- chemical;
- electric discharge;
- hydrodynamic,
Service gas equipment, including boilers, must be performed by specialists with appropriate education. If you do not have enough technical skills, it is better to invite a specialist.
How to clean the fire tube heat exchanger of a single-circuit boiler?
Cleaning floor-standing boilers with a fire tube heat exchanger differs from the same procedure for attachments. Here, to carry out the procedure, the heat exchanger is not removed, but only access to it is provided.
To complete the work you will need the following tools:
- open-end wrenches;
- metal brush;
- hand brush for metal;
- screwdriver;
- natural bristle brush or nylon brush.
The first mandatory action is to turn off the gas supply valve. Next, you need to complete three stages of work - providing access to the heat exchanger, cleaning parts, and assembling the boiler. The disassembly/assembly steps depend on the specific model. How to clean boilers of the MAYAK-12 KS model can be seen in detail in the video.
Cleaning double-circuit boilers
For boilers with a water heating circuit, it is mandatory to flush the secondary heat exchanger from scale inside. Moreover, it needs to be cleaned more often, since a flow of untreated water passes through it and hardness salts (mineral deposits) actively deposit on the walls. The same applies to bithermic heat exchangers. Cleaning double-circuit boilers is carried out in two stages. First - mechanical cleaning the outer surface of parts and smoke vents from soot, the second is chemical, hydrodynamic or electric discharge descaling.
Mechanical cleaning of plate heat exchangers
You can clean the boiler from soot without removing the heat exchanger. To do this, just remove the cover, arm yourself with a stiff nylon brush and close the gas injectors so that dirt does not get in there. The whole process is clearly shown in the video:
If soot has stuck to the surface and is not removed by mechanical treatment with a brush, then the heat exchanger is removed and soaked in special cleaning solutions for several hours. Such products are available for sale in wide range, examples include Fauch and MAZBIT+ products. But you can also use household chemicals– gels for cleaning grills and ovens.
Before disassembling the boiler, you need to disconnect it from gas and the igniter from electricity. In addition, it is necessary to drain the water from both circuits and the expansion tank. The secondary heat exchanger is removed first; it is located immediately behind the boiler lid. The primary (main) one is more problematic to remove, since you will have to disassemble the combustion chamber.
How to clean internal surfaces?
Washing the inner surface of a plate, fire tube or bithermic heat exchanger is possible only with the help of special equipment.
- Pump high pressure – hydrodynamic flushing. Used to remove small deposits. Advantages are the speed of the procedure and the ability to clean without removing the heat exchanger.
- Booster (acid resistant pump)– acid (chemical) washing. Removes even old scale. Advantages – removes scale that cannot be removed by other methods. Disadvantages - when incorrect selection reagents (acids and neutralizers) reduces the service life of the heat exchanger.
- Streamer complex for electric discharge cleaning. Used to remove scale of any strength. Advantages - the metal of the heat exchanger is not destroyed, it is ensured high degree cleaning. Disadvantages: noise and duration of the procedure.
Of all the listed methods at home, only chemical cleaning, since the factory booster can be replaced with a low-pressure pump. The rest of the equipment is both expensive and voluminous, so such boiler washing can only be carried out by service centers.
Chemical cleaning
If you have a booster, flushing can be done independently. You can make a booster yourself - it is a pump and a 10-liter container with two hoses. In order for the procedure to help remove scale without damaging the metal surface, it is important to choose the right acid. If the boiler is cleaned regularly and there are small deposits on the pipes, then the best solution would be to use citric acid. The concentration of the solution is up to 200 g of acid per 5 liters of water.
If the scale is old or untreated water with a high content of minerals (hard water) is used, you need to take more radical means - formulations based on phosphoric, sulfuric or hydrochloric acid. It is not recommended to use hydrochloric acid solution without corrosion inhibitors as it may cause equipment damage.
After treatment with acid, it is necessary to rinse the heat exchanger with a neutralizer. The alkaline composition is selected based on the acid used. For example, after citric acid, regular baking soda. If you buy a washing liquid, it is better to immediately purchase a neutralizer for it: usually companies that produce acidic compounds also offer alkaline ones for neutralization.
Washing video:
How often should the boiler be cleaned?
IN technical documentation The boiler indicates how often it needs to be serviced. For closed circuits with the addition of reagents (single-circuit heating boilers), cleaning is required less frequently. It can be performed once every 2-3 years. The bithermic and secondary heat exchanger must be washed every year, and if difficult conditions operation (“poor” water composition) – twice a year.
Signs that the boiler urgently needs cleaning:
- the boiler slowly gains temperature;
- insufficient traction;
- the burner does not ignite or burns poorly;
- with the same gas consumption, the heat transfer is less;
- traces of soot or partially burnt paint in the area of the viewing window.
Don't neglect preventive measures, because the result of this can be not only broken equipment, but also a threat to the safety of all residents of the house. Clogged smoke exhaust ducts and pipes with build-up inside can cause serious accidents. 
A good owner always makes sure that his home is warm and cozy, especially on cold winter evenings.
Most the best option home heating is heating system With . Therefore, it will not be a secret to anyone that the warmth and comfort in the house will depend on the stable operation of this boiler unit.
In order for the gas boiler to function normally, it is necessary to carry out regular maintenance of this unit, which consists of cleaning all components and parts from contamination.
(For more information on how to clean a gas boiler from soot, read. One of the important structural elements of a gas boiler unit is the heat exchanger, from technical condition
which depends on the functioning of the boiler as a whole. In this article we will talk about what a heat exchanger is, as well as what methods can be used to flush it.
What is a heat exchanger
This device is a small pipe structure through which the coolant moves. The heat exchanger in a gas boiler is located just above the firebox. This was done in order to thermal energy
, obtained from the combustion of gas, passed through it, and, accordingly, heated. Thus, hot water passes through the heat exchanger, which may contain various impurities in the form of metal salts and lime particles. chemical substances constantly settle on the inner walls of the pipes, forming a coating.(Read about this in this article).
Over time, this type of pollution only increases, as a result of which the movement of water through the heat exchanger becomes difficult, which leads to failures of the entire boiler unit as a whole. Therefore, it is very important to flush the gas boiler regularly.
How often should the heat exchanger be cleaned?
Many Internet sources on this topic provide very conflicting information regarding the frequency of cleaning the heat exchanger. Some of them advise following the manufacturer’s instructions, others rely on the opinions of experts.
Maybe they are all right, but most real option it will be that The heat exchanger should be flushed when the following symptoms begin to appear:
- the burner in the gas boiler is on all the time;
- the circulation pump operates with a characteristic hum, which indicates overload;
- heating of radiators takes much longer than usual;
- Gas consumption has increased significantly with the same operation of the boiler unit;
- weak pressure of hot water in the tap (this symptom is applicable for double-circuit boilers).
All these points strictly indicate that problems have arisen in the functioning of the heat exchanger, and this, in turn, means that it is necessary to start flushing.
Specialist's note: Irregular cleaning of the device will reduce the efficiency of the gas boiler.
How to clean
Many ordinary people who decide to flush the heat exchanger with their own hands, as a rule, ask two questions. How to clean this device? How to clean it? First, let's tell you what chemicals are used to flush the heat exchanger.
Cleaning products
Modern market household chemical reagents are very well saturated with all kinds of means for cleaning a gas boiler.
Therefore, you need to be very careful when choosing a cleaning agent. First of all, you need to consider the following factors:
- degree of heat exchanger contamination;
- how the reagent will affect the material from which the heat exchanger is made.
At home, it is most advisable to use the following chemicals to flush this boiler element:
- citric acid, which is sufficient effective means to remove scale;
- sulfamic and adipic acids are practical for regular washing of the heat exchanger, when the contamination is not so significant;
- hydrochloric acid is intended to remove fairly strong scale, but when using it, it is worth taking into account the properties of the heat exchanger material;
- gels that dissolve in water - they are not as aggressive as acidic reagents, but no less effective.
For flushing industrial equipment(boilers, heat exchangers, etc.) it is recommended to use special flushing agents and liquids. For example:
- Flushing liquid SP-OM series - can be used in any heat exchange equipment. Each brand of the SP-OM series is intended for use in specific conditions and for cleaning specific metals. There are compositions adapted for use with different metals, incl. with non-metallic equipment elements. Information about the application and manufacturer can be found at https://spomcom.ru/
Washing methods
To clean this structural element of the boiler from scale with your own hands, it is optimal to use the following two methods:
- mechanical;
- chemical.