How to equip gas heating in an apartment

Fireplace for gas heating at home

At the cost of equipment, gas fireplaces are comparable to electric or wood-burning counterparts. But gas fuel is much cheaper.

And, unlike firewood, gas heating with a fireplace in a country house assumes that there are no problems with ash. Plus, you don’t have to constantly monitor the operation of the firebox and take care of splitting logs.

Fireplaces that convert gas into heat energy are used in heating systems, because. are not equipped with devices necessary for servicing two circuits

By type of installation, gas fireplaces are:

• wall-mounted;
• island;
• embedded.

According to the general design and internal content (burners, automation, combustion chamber arrangement), they completely repeat gas boilers. In both cases, the technology for connecting to networks is identical.Differences exist only in the principle of space heating.

According to the principle of connecting and organizing the heating system, gas fireplaces are similar to floor heating boilers

A hot water boiler was originally designed to heat water, and an ordinary fireplace was designed for air convection from the body and front screen, behind which fuel is burned.

Centralized or autonomous gas supply?

Without combustible fuel, there will be zero sense from any version of the in-house heating system in an autonomous version. Gas is the first thing to think about when planning gas heating in a country house.

Not all settlements in Russia are supplied with gas. However, “blue fuel” can be obtained not only from a pipe or cylinder with liquefied fuel, but also from a gas tank.

Natural gas, which consists mainly of methane, is supplied to private homes through pipes. Its liquefied counterpart is a propane-butane mixture, which is pumped into containers for transportation and storage. The pressure in such cylinders and gas holders is about 15–18 atmospheres.

When organizing heating in a private house using balloon containers of 50 liters, the latter will have to be changed every 2-3 days in winter. If an autonomous gas supply is chosen for a country cottage, then it is best to prefer a gas tank, which can be up to 20 cubic meters in volume.

The choice of capacity by cubic capacity depends on the level of consumption of liquefied hydrocarbon gases (LHG). Here it is necessary to take into account not only the boiler, but also the fireplace and gas stove, if they are used in the house.

For a cottage of 150 sq.m. it is recommended to install a gas tank with a volume of 2000-3000 liters. And for a country dwelling of 300 sq.m. you will need an option for 8000-9000 liters.

If there is no gas main in the village, you can use the option with autonomous fuel supply from a gas tank designed to store gas in a liquefied state

In terms of connection costs, a gas pipeline is in most cases more advantageous than a reservoir in the ground. But only when the settlement is already gasified.

There are also situations in which the installation of a gas tank will cost less than connecting to the main pipeline. It all depends on the specific connection conditions in the region and the remoteness of the village from a large gas pipeline.

When using a gas tank, you do not have to worry about the presence of pressure in the pipe. It is extremely easy to operate. It is only necessary to regularly call specialists to check it for safety, and also do not forget to refuel. It will take no more than three days to install the entire system.

If an autonomous gasification option is chosen, then the gas boiler should be purchased one that is designed to run on LPG. There are models on sale that are designed to operate exclusively on mains natural gas.

But most gas heat generators are designed to burn both types of this fuel. You only have to change the jets, as well as reconfigure the valve and electronics to a different mode.

The main disadvantage of the gas tank is that it can only be installed on a large area, the tank, according to the requirements of SNiPs, must be at least 10 m away from the house

Pros and cons

Advantages

Let's take a closer look at the second option and determine its positive and negative sides. To begin with, let's figure out what an autonomous heating point is.This is a separate room where boiler equipment is located, the power of which is enough to provide heat and hot water to the entire apartment building. This is a kind of mini-boiler room with a full range of necessary appliances, fixtures and systems. Modern technologies for providing heat to residential buildings began to be used in autonomous systems. The latter worked for one or more houses, which was doubly beneficial. Why?

• Firstly, the distance from the heat generator to the heating devices in each apartment has been significantly reduced. This means that heat losses have decreased due to the transportation of the coolant.
• Secondly, the time of heat supply to the consumer was reduced, which is again associated with a decrease in distance.
• Thirdly, the costs of maintenance of heating networks, their repair and installation have changed downwards.
• Fourth, the economic performance stemming from previous benefits has declined. This means that the cost of the supplied coolant has changed to a minimum.

Autonomous System Diagram

There is another advantage of the system. When a house is being built, the developer is required to obtain a large number of permits that will allow him to crash into the central highway.
Bureaucratic delays sometimes take more than one month. Yes, and the installation of a meter will cause a lot of disputes between developers and the host, that is, the operating company. So for builders, the option with, even for the largest house, is ideal.

And the last advantage - the boiler house for the microdistrict occupies a place where not only buildings and water tanks will be erected, but also an electrical substation, access roads, warehouses, office buildings, office buildings and so on. That is, under it will have to allocate a fairly impressive area. And if there is no need for a boiler room, the district administration can use this area for its own needs. For example, to build another residential building, a school, a clinic, and so on.

Flaws

gas boilers

Cons exist in any system, but they are usually less:

• An autonomous boiler room should be located in a separate building, so it is necessary to allocate a site near the house for it. Sometimes such a building looks like an extension.
• Mini-boilers pollute the environment to a certain extent. Therefore, modern cleaning devices are indispensable here. And being inside microdistricts obliges to create conditions for environmentally friendly performance indicators. They exist and are stipulated by the norms and rules of SNiP. Hence the increase in the cost of the equipment itself.
• An autonomous heating system is not yet as popular as a centralized one, so the production of equipment and related components has not yet been put on stream. Hence the high cost of such systems. So, not all developers can afford them.

Heating regulator

However, experts say that engineering developments today can eliminate some of the shortcomings. For example, if an autonomous boiler room is used to heat only one apartment building, its equipment can be placed in the attic - the dimensions of the devices allow this.In addition, the attic immediately becomes heated, which is undoubtedly a plus. In addition, the area in the territory between the houses is freed up. The only requirement for such options is the presence of a flat roof, which is not a problem. If you plan to install just such a heating system, then you can add a flat roof to the project. Experts have already carried out preliminary calculations, which showed that even if the cost of equipment and installation costs are high, all this will pay off in a few seasons.

We heat the country house with natural gas

Natural gas among other types of fuel is the leader. With a modern, efficient boiler, a well-insulated house is heated at minimal cost. Of course, there are cheaper sources of energy, but they are not autonomous: solid fuel must be constantly supplied, electricity can be turned off, gas in cylinders runs out from time to time.

Features of using gas boilers

When choosing a boiler, you need to proceed from the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe house and the hydraulic calculation. A wall-mounted convection boiler can cope with heating a three-hundred-meter house. You can install condensing equipment. It is suitable for houses up to 400 m2. Such boilers use not only fuel energy, but also steam condensate. Their energy efficiency is much higher. If suddenly the performance of the equipment is not enough, you can use the "cascade connection" function.

A few years ago, the cost of a heating boiler was very high. But now that this equipment has become quite affordable, using natural gas to heat a house and organize hot water is more profitable than any other fuel.

Hot water can be provided by an electric boiler, but if the heating of a private house is based on the use of natural gas, it is more economical to use it to heat water. To do this, you need to purchase either a double-circuit gas boiler, or supplement the existing tank. You can choose the volume based on domestic needs. Boiler columns keep a stock of water of the necessary temperature. The flow gas boiler heats the water at the time of supply. After opening the tap, cold water will first go down, and only then hot water will go.

Diagram of the device of such a system

The scheme of the gas heating system of a private house includes a heat source, from which the coolant first diverges through the collector through pipes to the radiators, and then, cooling down, returns to the boiler. The fluid is under pressure. The circulation in this case is forced. Additionally, air vents, stopcocks, flow and temperature sensors, thermal heads can be installed. The automatic control helps to regulate the temperature.

The system can also be designed for natural circulation, then the expansion tank at the highest point of the house is included in the circuit. Here you can save on temperature sensors, air vents and expensive pumps.

Heating wiring can be radial or tee. The first is more expensive due to the larger footage of the pipeline, but more efficient and mobile, it is easier to repair during the heating season. The second one is cheaper due to the smaller number of pipes, but it does not provide such wide opportunities for temperature control in individual rooms as radiant wiring.

The number of radiators in the system is determined on the basis of thermal and hydraulic calculations. This is the most correct option both from a technical and economic point of view.

You should not rely on the advice of unskilled sellers and outsiders: the number of sections does not need to be selected based only on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room.

Natural gas heating equipment requires minimal maintenance, which, by the way, can be done on your own. The fuel burns without forming a solid residue. In order not to install a chimney, you can purchase a boiler with a closed combustion system.

If there is no gas main by the end of the construction of the house, you can purchase a boiler for two types of fuel. After gasification, the transition to economical and efficient natural gas will not require significant material costs. The maximum will need to call a specialist from a service company.

Types of gas fuel

Gas fuel for heating houses is supplied centrally through the main pipeline or supplied in liquefied form. For its storage, special containers are used - gas holders - with a volume of 5-10 m³, which are installed next to the house.

Natural gas methane is 4-5 times cheaper than liquefied gas. Refueling or complex maintenance of equipment is not required, as when using gas tanks. But, unfortunately, residents of not all regions have access to the highway. Then the use of sealed containers or cylinders is economically justified, since heating with diesel or electricity will cost 30-50% more. For autonomous heating, a mixture of propane and butane is intended, which is stored in liquefied form at a pressure of 16 bar.

Is it possible to install independent heating in the apartment?

Residents of apartment buildings often think about how to abandon the state heat. But is it possible to install autonomous heating in an apartment?

To do this, the state must issue a number of permits. The arrangement of individual heating in an apartment is regulated by a number of laws and regulatory and technical acts:

• Federal Law "On heat supply";
• Articles 26 and 27 of the Housing Code;
• Government Decree No. 307.

The complexity of the situation lies in the fact that permission for individual heating in an apartment can only be obtained with the consent of local authorities. The opinions of neighbors are also taken into account, and these are tens and hundreds of people. Municipalities meet residents halfway if they refer to Federal legislation and present arguments for the need to connect individual heating.

What makes tenants take this step?

Every time when heating tariffs increase, a number of residents think about switching to autonomous heating. Despite the considerable expenses for the implementation of such a reorganization of housing, the money invested is returned in a short time.

But, in addition to inflated tariffs, there are other reasons for switching to autonomous heating:

• unreasonably high cost of space heating services;
• heating is of poor quality, it is not enough to maintain a comfortable temperature in the home during cold weather;
• the need to use additional heat sources, which increases the cost of paying for services;
• due to the inconvenient location of the apartment, more heat is required (for example, the apartment is corner or located on the ground floor);
• depending on the timing of the beginning and end of the heating season.In autumn, tenants are cold, and in spring they suffer from heat and at the same time also pay for the service;
• the need to maintain a comfortable temperature in the room at any convenient time;
• willingness to pay only for actually consumed heat;
• if you need to leave the city, autonomous heating is simply turned off, without having to pay for a service that you did not use.

Advantages and disadvantages of individual heating

The procedure for switching to autonomous heating has both advantages and disadvantages. They should be considered in more detail in order to weigh the pros and cons, and make a decision.

Advantages:

• Saving. Residents who have switched to autonomous gas heating say that their apartment heating costs have decreased by about 7 times;
• Independence from the established dates for the beginning and end of the heating season;
• The ability to set the desired mode and adjust the temperature at your discretion. Modern systems allow you to set the time intervals in the settings when the temperature in the room will drop (for example, everyone at school or at work), and when it will rise by several degrees (in the evening, at night, when all residents are at home). This allows you to save additional money;
• Uninterrupted supply of hot water;
• The ability to choose any battery, as there is no possibility of water hammer.

The disadvantages include the following:

• High cost of equipment;
• Dependence of modern equipment on power supply;
• The need to install a new heating circuit;
• The need for arranging a suitable exhaust duct.

Disadvantages of individual heating

Of course, along with serious advantages, autonomous heating systems also have a number of disadvantages. For example, the impossibility of the system to work without gas supply. Yes, today there is an accelerated gasification of the entire country, but do not forget that gas is an irreplaceable natural resource with limited reserves. Let's hope it's enough for our lifetime, and exporting to China won't affect future apartment rates for our children.

Speaking seriously, the economic component of this issue lies in a slightly different plane. When settling in a new building with autonomous heating, not all tenants immediately move into their new apartments. Well, if this is the case in the summer. But in winter you will have to pay for cold walls from your absent neighbor, which will not be very pleasant for further relationships between some residents of the house. In addition, gas consumption for heating will be different for residents of medium and corner apartments.

The layout of the heating structure in the apartment

When a heating boiler is installed in an apartment and an autonomous system is arranged, the circuit is laid along the perimeter of the room, making a passage through the internal walls and partitions. Radiators are cut into it in parallel. Breaking the contour is not allowed.

Each battery is embedded according to the scheme, which can be diagonal or from bottom to top. In any case, the thermal head is installed on the return pipe of the wiring, and the supply is completed with a valve. The Mayevsky crane is mounted in the upper radiator cap. All heating batteries and connections are located strictly according to the level.

For the installation of pipes, clips-clamps are used, allowing them to move in the event of thermal expansion.If, during the arrangement of the bottling, the horizon is maintained for aesthetic reasons, then if the radiators are not installed correctly, the apartment owners will face the formation of air bubbles and, as a result, hydraulic noise.

Choosing a gas boiler

Before you put the boiler in the apartment, you need to make the best choice. In a multi-storey building, wall and floor boilers can be installed. Wall models are considered more aesthetic and convenient in terms of placement. Their dimensions are comparable to the dimensions of kitchen wall cabinets and therefore they fit well into the interior of the room.

With the installation of floor units it will be more difficult, since they can not always be pushed close to the wall. This nuance depends on the location of the smoke outlet. If it is on top, then the device, if desired, is moved to the wall.

Boilers also come in single and double circuit. The first of them work only for heat supply, and the second - for heating and water heating. When other equipment is used for DHW, then a single-circuit model will suffice.

If the water is heated by a gas boiler, then you will have to choose one of two methods: an indirect heating boiler or a flow coil. Both options have drawbacks. When a coil is used, which means flow heating is carried out, not all units are able to maintain the set temperature.

For this reason, it is necessary to set special operating modes in boilers; they are called differently in different devices. For example, in Navien models (read about Navien boiler malfunctions), Beretta is “hot water priority”, and in Ferrolli it is “comfort”.

The disadvantage of boiler heating is that gaseous fuel is consumed to maintain a stable water temperature in the tank. In addition, the reserve of heated water is limited. After its consumption, you have to wait until the new portion heats up.

The choice of the above methods is an individual matter, but you need to remember that with the flow option, you will have to focus on the water heating capacity per minute, and with the boiler - on the volume of the tank.

Gas units differ in the type of burner used, which are:

• single position;
• on-off;
• modulated.

The cheapest are single-position, but at the same time they are the most uneconomical, because they always work at full capacity. Slightly more economical - on-off, which are able to function both at 100% power and at 50%. The best burners are considered modulating, as they have many operating modes, which saves fuel. Their performance is controlled automatically.

The burner is located in the combustion chamber, which can be open or closed. Oxygen for open chambers comes from the room, and combustion products are removed through an atmospheric chimney.

Closed chambers are equipped with a coaxial chimney structure, and oxygen for combustion enters them from the street. In this case, combustion products are discharged along the central contour of the chimney, and air enters through the outer one.