Maintenance of geysers is a set of procedures aimed at ensuring uninterrupted and long-term operation of the specified equipment. Moreover, timely implementation of preventive and repair procedures ensures the safe operation of dispensers and boilers operating on gas.
Maintenance process
Maintenance of geysers should be carried out exclusively by employees of specialized services who have all the necessary knowledge and relevant experience. This event includes the following main operations:
Each operation involves performing specific actions regarding certain parts of the gas water heater.
Prevention
Signs of the need for unscheduled prevention
Typically, maintenance of a gas water heater is periodic and is carried out at least once a year. However, there are times when unscheduled cleaning of the unit is necessary due to the occurrence of certain defects. The main signs indicating the need for a preventive examination are the following circumstances:
Periodic prophylaxis
Such preventative maintenance allows you to increase the service life of the device, since timely detection and elimination of minor faults helps to eliminate the occurrence of major breakdowns in the future.
Planned prevention involves performing the following tasks:
Checking the traction and overall performance of the unit.
Inspect the surface of the column to determine the need to clean the housing.
Assessment of the condition of the heat exchanger.
Cleansing manipulations
Cleaning the heat exchanger is the most common preventive operation. In order to carry it out, it is necessary to disconnect the column from the pipes through which it is connected to the system. Next, the unit is removed from the wall to provide easy access to the element being processed.
To clean the heat exchanger from scale, it should be filled with a special substance that helps soften and peel off the plaque. After a few hours, the cleaning agent is drained and the column is installed in place.
If the radiator becomes clogged, it is necessary to remove the soot that has collected on the surface of the heat exchanger. This requires a mandatory shutdown of the fuel supply.
Sometimes it becomes necessary to clean the injectors. Typically, combustion problems arise as a result of clogging of these parts with soot. Quite often such problems are accompanied by the presence of a gas smell in the room where the unit is operated. This circumstance makes it necessary to call a technician to inspect the equipment and then correct the defect.
Epilogue
The main operations when carrying out maintenance of a gas water heater are:
This is explained by the direct dependence of the performance of the device on the functionality of the mentioned elements.
How to increase draft in the chimney of a gas water heater in a Khrushchev building on the fifth floor?
In the so-called “Khrushchev buildings” that you write about there are chimney columns, so to speak, “from birth” of the house, there is no hot water there, during the construction of the house two shafts are laid, one for the columns, the other for ventilation, there are columns in every apartment.
If you have such a house, then you need to start looking for the “missing” draft by cleaning this very shaft.
The cleaning is carried out by specialists from the gas office, it’s surprising why your draft is bad, they have to come to check such houses once every six months. Call them.
If you have an individual hose with a hood that is not included in the house design, then you will have to look for the problem of poor draft in stages.
The most common reason for poor draft is an incorrectly installed chimney hood, the hood pipe must be without unnecessary turns and turns, do not use angles of ninety degrees, try to get by with forty-fifths, if the hood is corrugated, then do not allow sharp bends during installation), than The more angles, the worse the traction. We need to fix this problem.
The exhaust pipe must be of the same diameter, without any narrowing.
You may have to remove the hood and clean it from the inside, there may be fumes in there.
The second reason is that the diameter of the hood pipe is not correct (you need to familiarize yourself with the parameters of your column, the power of the columns is different, then select a hood with the necessary parameters), most likely it is too large, the larger the diameter, the worse the draft.
The third common reason is poor sealing of the hood; the problem must be checked and, if necessary, corrected.
The material used to make the hood also plays an important role; you need to buy a high-quality hood.
If your hood goes out onto the roof of the house (you are writing about the fifth and last floor), then the outlet pipe should be at least a meter higher than the roof level, this is an extremely important point for traction, the traction force depends on the height of the outlet pipe.
As you can see, work to improve traction is a whole complex of works.
We will proceed from the fact that according to the laws of physics, the higher the chimney, the better the draft. And therefore, one of the best ways to increase draft in the chimney is, if possible, to make it as high as possible (including using corrugation). In addition, ideally, the chimney should go directly to the street, and not, as in modern buildings, between the walls. There are other options: to resort to a special device - a deflector. This is a traction enhancer. They come in different designs: Wolpert, Grigorovich, Astato. But we must keep in mind one of their features: in calm conditions, on the contrary, they worsen traction.
Without the normal draft of a stove, fireplace, heating boiler or gas water heater, you can forget about everyday comfort forever. The issue is relevant not only for residents of a private house, it is also close to townspeople. Let's talk about the reasons for traction failure, the intricacies of ventilation and installation of heat-generating systems using different types of fuel.
To denote the reverse movement of air flows (not through the chimney, but back into the room), there is a term - overturning the draft. The name speaks for itself: the flow of gases from burning fuel tends back into the room, and not out. There are many videos about this on the Internet with detailed descriptions.
Before each start of heating devices, it is recommended to determine the strength and direction of draft with the ventilation devices turned off (if any are installed).Traditional methods
Professional methods
There is measuring equipment that allows you to measure the draft in the chimney with maximum accuracy, in pressure units. Indicators within 10-20 Pa are considered normal.
However, this technique is hardly relevant for a private home - most people make do with traditional visual methods.
The anemometer does not provide objective information at wind speeds below 1 m/sec. That is, in calm weather there is no point in using such a device.Visual cues
Of the reasons and factors why traction goes in reverse, the most common ones should be highlighted. In turn, they can be divided into simple (temporary, easily removable) and complex (requiring drastic intervention).
Complex reasons
Simple reasons
There are times when the thrust “overturns” for just a couple of days, although before that everything worked fine.
Reverse thrust occurs due to the fact that:
How is this physical phenomenon explained? Very simple:
Solution to the problem:
Ventilation force during air outflow
Providing ventilation with supply air
If there is a gas water heater
To summarize, let's once again clarify how to increase weak traction and prevent it from tipping over. The choice of method depends on the reasons for the disruption of air flow. Sometimes it is recommended to adopt more than one method - consult with professionals so as not to make even more mistakes.
Such defects must be eliminated.
A reliable chimney draft stabilizer is one of the most effective solutions. Modern devices are equipped with automation. It is enough to turn on the device when problems arise in the chimney with the direction and strength of air flows. As soon as the pressure level reaches the optimal level, the device turns itself off.
The purpose of these devices is to increase traction by deflecting air flows. The operating principle is based on the fact that when air flows over obstacles, pressure decreases. The disadvantage of the products is almost zero efficiency in calm weather.
A turbine is installed above the chimney head. Wind energy rotates the turbine head. Rotation always occurs in one direction - due to this, a vacuum is created above the smoke channel.
Unfortunately, in calm weather the effectiveness of the rotary tube is minimal. But the entry of debris and sediment into the chimney is almost completely eliminated. A video with step-by-step instructions will help you understand all the intricacies of this method.
An additional advantage of rotary pipes: the turbine continues to operate even when the heating is turned off.
The operation of instantaneous gas water heaters has its own characteristics. In order for the device to serve reliably in your home for as long as possible during use, you must adhere to certain rules. Your safety also depends on this. The purpose of this material is to tell you how to properly use a gas water heater, depending on its type.
Any gas-using installation is a priori considered a source of increased danger, and instantaneous gas heaters are no exception. For this reason, they are subject to all rules for handling household gas equipment. So, if you smell gas in the room, then:
Typically, the rules for using a gas water heater are set out in the operating instructions that come with it. We will present them again, since compliance with these rules is the key to the safety of all people living in a house or apartment. This is especially true for those homeowners in whose homes chimney-type water heaters are installed:
Now let’s talk about how to extend the life of your water heater. The heat exchanger is one of the most expensive elements of the installation, on the surface of which scale forms when the hot surface comes into contact with running water. Based on this, using the column correctly means protecting the heat exchanger from scale in all available ways.
You should not set the maximum heating temperature; in most devices it is 70 ºС, and the minimum is 30 ºС. For example, the instructions for the Russian-made NEVALUX unit states that the optimal operating temperature is 45-50 ºС. In this case, it is recommended to limit the flow through the column using a special control valve. The goal is simple: to reduce sudden pressure changes in the device when opening taps of various consumers.
It is risky to constantly use a gas water heater with water whose hardness is above average. Magnesium and calcium salts contained in such water will very quickly create scale in the heat exchanger. This will at least lead to a deterioration in its performance, and even to failure of the element. Of course, it is easy to give advice on purifying water, but the process of desalting is a very expensive pleasure. You will need to purchase appropriate equipment and constantly purchase consumable reagents for it.
It is best to turn on the device at the minimum heating temperature and not use mixers to obtain warm water from the tap. The point is to prevent the heat exchanger from overheating when salts are deposited very intensively.
Since a chimney and good draft are needed for units with an open combustion chamber, we will talk about them. Turbocharged water heaters force combustion products out and do not need a classic chimney. It must be said that all modern atmospheric columns are equipped with automatic safety systems that prevent the device from starting in the absence of draft or turn off the gas supply if it disappears during operation.
In general, to check the draft you need a special measuring device, such as is used by professional stove-makers. They allow you not only to determine the presence of air movement in the pipe, but also to calculate the traction force. It is clear that the average person does not have any instruments; the arsenal of verification is limited to two ways:
Important. Very often the chimney is in perfect order, but there is no draft due to the fact that access to supply air into the room is blocked. You can easily verify this by opening a window during the test. A positive result will indicate to you that the room needs to be ventilated.
Let’s say right away that turning on a gas water heater with a closed chamber and automatic ignition is not difficult. But there is a rule that is important for heaters of all types when first started: the heat exchanger must be filled with water. Therefore, you need to open the water tap before and after the device, and then drain the water a little in the kitchen or other place. After this, the gas valve opens and the turbocharged unit is connected to the electrical network. Then she will do everything herself, you just need to adjust the temperature.
Another thing is a heater with an open chamber. In this case, in order to light the column, you must first turn on the igniter. To do this, open the gas supply valve and press the manual piezo ignition button, the wick is ignited by a spark. Next, the desired water temperature is set using regulators or buttons, while the igniter remains lit. As soon as a hot water tap opens somewhere, the main burner will start from it.
If the device has an automatic battery-powered ignition system, then the start-up algorithm is as follows:
At the first start-up or after a long break, an air plug forms in the gas pipe at the entrance to the device. You can remove it by repeating the ignition operation several times.
Using a modern gas water heater, especially a turbocharged one, is not at all difficult. The main thing is to follow safety rules and treat the device with care, avoiding overheating of the heat exchanger.
Any household appliance breaks down periodically, and the gas water heater is no exception. With timely cleaning and compliance with operating rules, such a device works properly. But if the device does not turn on, or the flame goes out immediately, a serious breakdown may occur.
To understand why a geyser goes out, let’s look at the features of its design and operation. Also in this article we will consider the popular reasons for the fading of the speaker and ways to restore its performance. We supplemented the presented material with visual photos and informative videos.
Inside the column there are two main elements: a gas burner and a heat exchanger, which looks like a long narrow pipe, usually made of copper, rolled into a snake or spiral. Cold water flows from the water supply to the coil, is heated above the burner and leaves the device in a hot state.
Of course, everything is not so simple, since the safe and efficient operation of the device is ensured by a number of important components, such as:
The ignition device often looks like a so-called pilot burner: a small tongue of flame that burns constantly. With the electronic version of this unit, immediately before turning on the column, a spark occurs, which ignites the igniter. This is a more modern version that even allows for some gas savings.
To produce a spark, a piezoelectric element is most often used, which can also be started manually. In models of previous years, such conveniences are not provided: the igniter is lit with an ordinary match. In order for the gas to turn on automatically, a water-gas unit is needed when starting water. It consists of a membrane, which is mounted in the water supply, and a valve in the gas path.
When the tap is opened, the water begins to move, the membrane changes position under the influence of the flow and transmits a signal to the valve. It opens and releases a stream of gas to the burner, which ignites. When the water is turned off, the membrane returns to its original position, the valve shuts off the gas flow, and the burner goes out.
If gas does not flow to the main burner of the column, it is most likely blocked by one of the safety elements that has responded to some kind of malfunction
Thanks to the water-gas unit, you don’t have to manually open the gas every time you turn on the water. The solenoid valve also regulates the gas supply in accordance with the readings of various sensors that detect the presence of flame, draft, dangerous overheating, etc.
This node is required to increase system security. Sensors react to system failures, and the valve shuts off the gas flow if serious problems arise in the operation of the device.
In addition to the sensors, a thermocouple is connected to the valve. This element reacts to the presence or absence of a pilot burner flame. If there is no fire, the gas entering the column will not ignite, but will accumulate, which is very dangerous.
If the column needs to be disassembled, you must first decide on the water and gas connections in order to shut off these pipes with the appropriate valves
Any of the nodes described above can cause the speaker to attenuate. The flame goes out if the security system detects a violation of normal operation. To start the device, you will need to determine and eliminate the cause of this violation.
Here are the most common possible problems:
If the column does not produce a flame, you first need to make sure that its operating conditions have not been violated and check the manufacturer’s warranty periods. The necessary information is contained in the technical data sheet of the product and the instructions for its use.
Checking traction is the easiest way to diagnose the condition of the device. You just need to bring a strip of thin paper or the flame of a lighter, match, etc. to the viewing hole of the column. But if there is even a slight suspicion of a gas leak, it is better to avoid using open fire.
If the paper or flame is pulled inward, everything is in order, there is a draft. The absence of changes in their position indicates the absence of traction, and a deviation in the opposite direction indicates that .
To verify the causes of the problem, you need to disconnect the column and check the draft in the same way only in the chimney. After this, it will become clear whether there are faults in the chimney duct or inside the column too.
When the chimney structure is in order, the “culprit” for the lack of draft is the heat exchanger, or rather, the soot particles that clog it and interfere with normal air exchange. You need to remove the protective casing from the column and clean the heat exchanger with a stiff brush.
Improper installation of a geyser chimney can lead to decreased or absent draft, rapid clogging with soot and soot, as well as other dangerous problems
If the chimney is dirty, all that remains is to simply clean it and reconnect it to the device. If there is no positive reaction, you need to make sure that the chimney structure is assembled correctly from suitable materials. Sometimes the reason for the lack of traction can be flaws in the installation of this section of the system.
Often problems of this type arise for external reasons, such as lack of normal ventilation of the room. Plastic windows and a tightly closed door practically seal the room in which the speaker is located. There is no influx of fresh air flows, so there is no movement in the chimney duct.
It doesn’t hurt to check the ventilation system in the entire house or apartment.
Then you should make sure that air flows not only enter the house, but also move freely throughout all rooms. To do this, you need to install ventilation grilles on the doors or make a small gap at the bottom.
The absence of a pilot burner flame is detected by a sensor, after which the gas supply is immediately shut off. This situation can occur if a small light was knocked down by a strong gust of wind. There is no need to create a draft in the room while working, especially if it is very windy outside.
Strong air currents can penetrate not only through windows and doors, but also through the chimney duct. The result may be the same - the burner goes out, the automation shuts off the gas flow.
To restore normal operation of the device, you need to turn off the column, check the condition of the pilot burner (a flame should appear here), and turn on the device again.
This occurs when the pressure of the water flow passing through the heat exchanger decreases, but the heating intensity remains unchanged. In some cases, water may even boil, which is dangerous for the integrity of the device.
The pressure decreases when cold water is opened to dilute the flow to a comfortable temperature, and cold water displaces hot water. It is better to regulate the heating using the column settings.
Another reason for this phenomenon is limescale deposits accumulated inside the narrow heat exchanger pipe. To restore normal pressure, you need to regularly descale the device and ensure that the water is not too hot. For domestic needs, it is enough to warm the water to 45-50 degrees.
This mode helps reduce the formation of solid sediment. If the water in the system is too hard and you have to frequently clean the heat exchanger, it makes sense to think about installing a special filter that will remove salt from the flow. The heat exchanger is cleaned using special products or household chemicals: soda, vinegar, etc.
You will have to remove the protective casing from the column, and also turn off the gas and water. Then the heat exchanger is disconnected from the water supply and dismantled. A cleaning compound is poured into the coil pipe and left for a while. After this, the heat exchanger is washed, replaced and the column is reassembled.
Inside the water-gas unit there is an elastic membrane that wears out over time. In this case, it needs to be replaced, although sometimes simple washing helps.
The mesh filter installed at the tap water inlet into the heat exchanger periodically becomes clogged with contaminants. It also needs to be cleaned. To remove ordinary contaminants, it is enough to simply rinse the mesh in water, but sometimes you have to use chemicals. If damage is found on the filter, it is better to replace it immediately.
If upon inspection it turns out that the contamination is not too large and the element remains elastic, you can simply wash the membrane and install it in its original place.
In modern models with a large number of electronics, the control board may burn out, after which the column, of course, will not light up.
The reason for such a breakdown is the low quality of power supply, for which foreign devices are not designed. In addition, some electronically controlled models should not be turned off at night, but must be turned on at all times. To solve the problem of voltage drops in the network, you can use a stabilizer.
A clogged coarse filter can lead to a dangerous decrease in the pressure of water flowing to the gas water heater. This element must be cleaned regularly and replaced if necessary.
Even speakers from well-known companies can break down over time for a variety of reasons. During operation, device owners noticed breakdowns that most often occur with specific models.
For example, the weak point of the Junkers WR 13-P device manufactured by Bosch is the thermocouple.
Two to three years after the start of operation, it stops responding normally to heat from the pilot burner. As a result, the igniter flame constantly fades, and over time it will simply stop lighting normally.
Sometimes carefully cleaning the thermocouple with fine sandpaper helps, but when this method no longer brings the desired effect, the element will have to be replaced.
Displacement of the igniter tube, which in such models is not secured too tightly, can also lead to similar problems. The tube can be moved accidentally, even just by touching it with a match during ignition. There is a gap between the gas tube nozzle and the burner through which air flows.
When displaced, this gap decreases, and the air required for normal combustion becomes insufficient. The flame does not reach the thermocouple, it does not heat up, and gas does not flow to the main burner. If you restore the normal position of the tube, the column will work properly again.
For Vector speakers, a typical problem is oxidation of the contacts in the power supply. If this is the case, then replacing dead batteries with new elements will not give the desired result; a spark will not appear until the contacts are cleaned. Sometimes in such columns the microswitch rod on the water valve becomes sour.
If the column hisses or whistles a little during operation, the fastenings of the coil tubes may be loose, you need to check them and solder them
After cleaning, normal operation of the device is usually restored. If a characteristic whistle appears soon after turning on the column, you need to check the condition of the gas outlet tube connections; they may need to be resealed.
In Neva brand dispensers, sometimes the rod jams in the gas valve. As a result, this element stops working normally.
To eliminate such a malfunction, you need to remove and disassemble the water-gas unit, and then move the rod with a regular screwdriver. If the part cannot be mechanically affected, the element should be completely replaced.
This video demonstrates troubleshooting for a NEVA speaker:
Finding the cause and ways to eliminate the problem of speaker attenuation can be found here:
Column attenuation is a symptom of an internal malfunction or violation of the operating conditions of the device. You need to correctly find out the cause of the problem, after which a significant part of the described breakdowns can be eliminated yourself. But to solve complex problems you will have to contact a service center.
Do you have any questions when searching for the cause of speaker attenuation? Ask them under this article - our experts and site visitors will try to help you.
Or maybe you want to tell other users about the problems that arose with your speaker during operation, and how they were successfully resolved? Share your experience and leave recommendations in the block below.
