How to reduce the power of a gas boiler: the best options to reduce gas consumption by the boiler

Protherm technology

It is more efficient to reduce the power of boilers of this brand if you reduce the fuel supply to the burner. To do this, readjust the gas valve.

For example, the Proterm Cheetah model is taken.

It uses a Honeywell valve. Outwardly, this is a yellow connector with wires.It is mounted on a stepper motor, which helps to change its settings.

The specified electric motor is controlled through the control panel: you need to go to the service menu. Access to it appears after entering the code.

The procedure is as follows:

1. Press and hold the "Mode" button for 6-7 seconds. The display will show the number 0.
2. Use the + or - buttons to enter the number 35. This is the code. Press the indicated button again.
3. When the first line of the menu with 0 signs appears on the screen, also use the + or - buttons to enter a number with the required line number: d.**.
4. Change of parameters. Press "Mode" again. This is a transition from line numbering ** to the indicators themselves. The screen displays the “=” symbol and the power parameter in turn. Change the values ​​using + or -. After three seconds, the new setting is automatically confirmed.
5. Return the display to its original state: press "Mode" for three seconds. After 15 minutes, the screen will automatically return to the functional mode.

Gas valve regulation

Useful heat output can be reduced by reducing the fuel supply to the burner as a result of changing the valve setting.

It is important to remember that the power of the burner is controlled by a complex electronics algorithm that takes into account several key indicators, represented by start time, temperature indicators, temperature difference in the direct pipe and the "return"

The power indicators of the gas boiler burner are adjusted by turning the special adjusting screws located on the valve body counterclockwise. More modern models are equipped with special automation that easily blocks clocking and changes power indicators.For this purpose, the button with a wrench is held down (5 seconds), the optimal duration of the intervals (0-15 minutes) is selected using special buttons.

What is the danger of a power outage

When the power supply is interrupted, all electrical appliances that are in the gas heater system lose their functionality. There is no electricity - the water pump stops, the shut-off and control valves, driven by an electric drive, do not work. And most importantly, the automation responsible for equipment control and safety is turned off.

From the moment the heating is turned off until the house cools down completely, three days or more pass - the exact period depends on the initial temperature, the weather outside, and the degree of insulation of the building. Therefore, the heating system will not have time to freeze even after several days. What is the danger of a power outage?

Disconnecting the power supply of atmospheric and turbocharged boilers

The key danger to users of atmospheric boilers during a power outage is the gas supply independent of electricity. After a power failure, the automation does not work, while the gas enters the combustion chamber. The combustion process continues. The circulation pump connected to the mains also does not work, all sensors are turned off.

The coolant in the heat exchanger can heat up to the boiling point and break it. In this case, the water from the heat exchanger will flood the burner, the flame will go out, and the gas will continue to flow. The controller is de-energized - it will not be able to signal a re-ignition. The room will be filled with gas.

When using pressurized (turbocharged) burners, the danger is somewhat less.They use a fan that stops when the power goes out. If the air flow stops, the fire quickly goes out, without having time to harm the heat exchanger. Gas from a closed combustion chamber will not enter the room - it will go outside through the chimney. But such a situation is quite dangerous.

How to avoid danger

A gas cut-off valve helps to prevent an emergency in the security system - this is a valve that instantly shuts off the gas supply to the burner

It does not require maintenance, it is important to replace it in time if it breaks or wears out. During each maintenance, check how fast the shutoff works and how tight the valve cover is.

Turbocharged models are less dangerous than atmospheric models, which threaten the flow of gas into the room in the event of a power outage

In the matter of supplying a gas boiler with electricity, it is very important to ensure a stable voltage. One of the conditions for the safe operation of volatile devices is the installation of an uninterruptible power supply.

Use of other economical sources

Saving gas supply in heating is also possible by connecting alternative heating methods. These include:

• underfloor heating in rooms, bathrooms and shower rooms, which allow for more efficient energy recovery from the coolant;
• the use of a foundation based on an insulated Swedish plate. The method is effective for small, one-story buildings;
• heat pumps. Installing them is currently not cheap, but they quickly bring economic benefits. The principle of operation is based on the use of the heat of the earth's interior;
• solar heating, allows you to save up to 20% of costs even in winter.The effectiveness of this method depends on the number of sunny days per year.

How to save gas when heating a house, additional methods

However, no matter what modern heating system you install, people will always use it. Therefore, ceteris paribus, the gas consumption of different owners differs quite significantly. There are many related tricks that will help you achieve the desired savings:

• Insulation of the external walls of the house, attic and basement.
• Installation of new energy efficient windows and doors or thorough sealing of old ones.
• The use of energy-reflecting screens made of aluminum foil between the wall of the room and the heating battery, which allows you to return part of the heat back to the room.
• Conducting thermal insulation of cold bridges.
• Curtains should not cover running radiators, this steals heat.
• Insulation of the boiler and boiler, as well as pipes extending from them, if the equipment is located in an unheated room.
• The gas boiler heat exchanger should be cleaned at least once a year. The dirt and dust accumulating there causes the unit to consume more energy.
• The burner in an idle geyser should not be in an active state. The issue price is 1 cubic meter of gas per day.

During the heating season, a lot of gas can be spent on heating a private house. And although this is one of the cheapest heating options, the costs can be impressive. Hence the question of many owners, how to reduce gas consumption on the boiler. Obvious methods are ineffective, and more radical methods can harm the system.Consider the reasons for the high gas consumption in a gas boiler, ways to reduce it without consequences for the owner. If the problem needs to be solved urgently and effectively, contact Profteplo. We will diagnose, service and, if necessary, repair the system.

Automatic temperature control in a house with underfloor heating

In a house with underfloor heating, it is necessary to have three automatic temperature control systems: 1 - underfloor heating according to the air temperature in the room, but with floor temperature limitation; 2 - radiators according to the air temperature in the room; 3 - weather control of the boiler according to the outdoor temperature.

As is known, a warm floor can be either "comfortable" or "heating".

"Comfortable" underfloor heating slightly warms the surface and provides a pleasant feeling when a person is on the floor. The main supply of heat to the room is provided by radiators. For a comfortable warm floor, it is necessary to maintain a constant temperature of the coolant.

"Heating" underfloor heating, in addition to comfort, provides full heating of the room.

In the conditions of the Russian climate, the relatively small thermal power of the warm floor makes it suitable most often only for comfortable heating.

An air temperature sensor in the thermostat housing and a sensor in the floor provide room temperature control and protect the floor from overheating

In a house with a comfortable underfloor heating, three automatic control systems are required to control the temperature.

One system that regulates the operation of a warm floor should be controlled by the air temperature in the room until the temperature of the floor surface reaches a comfortable level.That is, in the off-season, the house will be heated with the warmth of a warm floor.

If the floor temperature has reached the upper limit, and the air temperature in the rooms decreases, then the automatic radiator control system comes into action. Radiators will warm up the air in the room, adding their heat to the heat that will constantly come from the warm floor.

The mode of heating the heat carrier by the boiler must be regulated by another automatic weather control system that responds to the outside air temperature.

Given that the underfloor heating system has a high inertia (slowly heats up and slowly cools down), it is recommended to use weather automatics to control its operation. Then the temperature of the heating medium supplied to the system will be adapted to the outside temperature. Due to this, along with a change in the outside temperature, the temperature of the coolant circulating in the floor changes.

Mixing unit with circulation pump - on the left. On the right, a collector of underfloor heating pipes is attached to the mixing unit. Control valves with servo drive are installed on the manifold. The valve is controlled via a servomotor by a thermostat that regulates the supply of heat carrier to the underfloor heating circuit depending on the temperature of the floor surface and the air temperature in the room.

Each room with a "warm floor" is at least one circuit (one pipe loop). All these circuits must somehow be combined into one and connected to a boiler or other heat source. Both ends of the pipe of each underfloor heating circuit are connected to the collector.

To control the temperature of a warm floor, it is necessary to select and install a collector equipped with servomotors on control valves.

A servomotor is a device that, when an electric current is applied to it from a thermostat, acts on a valve, opens or closes it. The servomotor works as a switch, fully opening or closing the valve. The surface temperature of the warm floor will be maintained with an accuracy of +/- 0.5 - 1 °C.

How to reduce gas consumption?

If suddenly gas costs do not suit you, then the following recommendations will help you optimize them:

• Start insulating your home. The better you insulate the house, the less heat you will lose to the street.
• Check windows and doors for possible gaps. A lot of heat is lost through such structures.
• If you use an open heating system with a tank on the roof, then convert the heating system to a closed one. A significant amount of heat is also lost through the roof.
• If you have a simple floor boiler, then replace it with a wall-mounted one. Costs can also be reduced by 10-30%.
• Have your heating system serviced. Sometimes this can also have a positive effect on gas consumption. This is especially true for the boiler itself.

Keep water hot

In addition to heating costs, blue fuel in a number of houses is used to heat hot water. The following measures will help reduce the amount of gas consumed:

• installation of a separate flow type gas heater. Its inclusion is made only when the hot water tap is opened, and fuel is not wasted;
• inclusion of a hot water boiler in one circuit with a heating system. With this option, the cost of heating water for domestic needs will be minimal;
• use of thermally insulated storage tanks for hot water. In such devices, heated water does not cool for a long time, and there is no need for frequent heating;
• use of solar collectors in water supply systems.

The combination of all the considered methods allows to significantly, up to 25-30% or more, reduce the cost of paying for the services of gas supply organizations.

Factors affecting gas consumption

To understand how to influence gas consumption in gas heating boilers and reduce it, you should consider what fuel consumption depends on.

The power of the unit affects the gas consumption - the more powerful the device, the more fuel it needs. This factor cannot be influenced in any way. In any case, a 24 kW unit will consume more fuel than a 12 kW unit.

Gas consumption increases as the outside temperature drops. Weather-dependent equipment detects a cold snap and the gas boiler starts to turn on more often to maintain the set temperature in the room. In severe frost, the house cools down faster, and then the owners set their boiler regulator to the maximum. The amount of gas passing through the gas burner increases significantly.

The calorie content of gas also affects its consumption. Fuel that is of low quality will need more than good gas. Often, gas distribution organizations sin by supplying undried fuel with a large amount of moisture and other impurities. On low-quality fuel, the unit will heat up longer and, accordingly, consume more gas.

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Another significant factor is the technical condition of the heat exchangers. They heat the coolant, which is distributed through the heating and hot water supply systems. During operation, scale accumulates in the circuit, which worsens its heat transfer.In this case, more fuel will be required to heat the coolant to the optimum temperature. If such a problem occurs, the heat exchanger should be cleaned, then the gas flow will return to normal.

The presence of additional functions - if the boiler works not only for heating, but also produces hot water, then it will consume more fuel. The more water needs to be heated, the more power and, accordingly, gas it will require. When connecting additional devices, such as underfloor heating or a heated towel rail, fuel consumption will increase.

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Certain factors can be adjusted independently, while others cannot be influenced. To reduce gas consumption, you should control at least those that can be adjusted.

Reducing power through the menu

The task of adjusting the power of the equipment is to exclude excessive cyclic operation of the boiler in the absence of adaptation of the equipment settings to the heating system. It is allowed to limit the maximum power indicators through the service menu if there is computer automation in the design.

In manual mode, you need to enter the service menu using a special code (not for all models), after which the required values ​​\u200b\u200bof the gas boiler power indicators are easily set. The transition to the service is carried out through the control panel. A similar adjustment option is also suitable for effectively eliminating the pulsed operation of heating equipment (clocking).

All modern gas boilers with a modulating burner allow you to reduce the power through the menu. To do this, just study the passport of your boiler and understand how to do it.

Room-by-room adjustment

Not all rooms need to be heated equally.It is not necessary to maintain the same temperature in rooms for different purposes. Those requiring higher gas costs include:

• bedrooms and children's;
• showers and bathrooms, toilets;
• living rooms and offices.

Non-residential rooms will require less heating:

• storerooms and warehouses;
• sports or gyms;
• garage premises;
• work workshops.

Regulators are installed separately for each radiator. These are small devices. Their task is to reduce or increase the flow of coolant volume in the battery. Or a complete shutdown. There are several types of thermostats. Each of them works according to a special principle, has advantages and disadvantages.

1. Mechanical. They imply manual adjustment of the volume of the coolant. The main advantage of mechanical regulators is the low price and simplicity of the device. The degree of heat transfer of the radiator is regulated manually. You can independently determine the amount of coolant entering the battery.

1. Electronic. Readings are taken from remote sensors. The device is based on a programmable microprocessor. The control buttons are located on the controller. With their help, the desired temperature is set. Some models of electronic regulators can control both the pump and the mixer. There are two types of electronic temperature sensors:

1. Mechanical thermal heads. This is a valve that, at a certain moment, squeezes a special liquid. It expands when heated and shrinks when it cools. The adjustment error remains.

The installation of thermostats allows you to optimize the gas flow by choosing the mode of heating water in the boiler. In each room you can create comfortable conditions.At the same time, from 5 to 10% of the funds that you pay for gas will be saved.

How much gas is used on average per month, day and hour

Consumption per day is determined by the formula: Rsut = Rsf × 24.

In the example above, consumption per day would be 1.58 x 24 = 37.92 cubic meters. m.

You can go the other way. A properly selected boiler operates at a nominal capacity of 17-18 hours per day. Let it be decided to install a Protherm Medved 20 PLO heater at 17 kW with a heat loss of 15 kW. For him, the passport gas consumption is 2 cubic meters. m/h During the day, he will spend 34-36 cubic meters. m of fuel, which roughly corresponds to the result obtained above.

Monthly consumption will be: Rm = Rsut × 30 × 0.9, where 30 is the number of days; 0.9 is a reduction factor, taking into account that the lowest temperature lasts an average of 1-2 weeks.

In the above example, Rm = 37.92 × 30 × 0.9 = 1023.84 cu. m.

Consumption for the heating season lasting 7 months: Rsez = Rsut × 30.5 × 7 × 0.6. The latter coefficient is used for the reasons that on average the heater operates at 50-70% of the power required in the coldest period of the year.

For the example above: Pcez = 37.92 x 30.5 x 7 x 0.6 = 4857.6 cu. m.

How to reduce gas consumption and pay less

First of all, as with water, electricity, etc., it is highly recommended to install a gas meter in the house. Payment for gas according to the meter is always made less than according to average indicators. Therefore, if you still do not have a gas meter installed in your house, then save money, we recommend starting with its installation.

Now with regard to cooking, space heating and water preparation. If you decide to save gas, then you need to do it wisely.For example, make it a rule not to cook small meals using a gas oven for this purpose. Sometimes, in order to bake your favorite dish, a microwave is enough. Do not light the gas oven because of this.

By the way, a considerable amount of gas is used for cooking. At the same time, few people think about it, and do not pay due attention to this action. When cooking on gas, use a gentle burner setting, such that it is enough for cooking a particular dish.

After the water boils, reduce the gas so as not to use up the excess. And remember that at the tips of the flame the highest temperature. You should not allow the flame to envelop the dishes, as this is ineffective, and, moreover, spoils it greatly.

Average gas consumption per month, day, hour

How to calculate how much gas is consumed? You can make an approximation, it is impossible to take into account all the factors. Data:

• calorific value of gas;
• heater efficiency;
• building heat loss;
• additional costs (for example, a DHW hot water system).

A simplified version, you can get an idea of ​​the upcoming expenses. Explanation of designations:

• V is the calculated volume of gas;
• Q is the required heat;
• q is the calorific value of the gas.

The volume of gas strongly depends on temperature, pressure, the volume of gas vapor at normal atmospheric pressure is taken into account. Approximately 450 liters of vapor are obtained from 1 kg of the liquid phase of the gas. To calculate how much heat is needed for heating, the heat loss of walls, doors, windows, floors, and ceilings is calculated. If there is ventilation, add an indicator.When using hot water, the V indicator is multiplied by a factor of 1.15. The calorie content of gas is determined according to the tables, converted to kW.

As an example, you can calculate for a house with an area of ​​100 m2. Based on the table, we determine the average loss value of 120 W / m2 h, translate into kilowatts, it turns out 0.12 kW / m2 h. We multiply by the total area of ​​​​the house, it turns out 12 kW / h - the Q indicator.

A liquefied mixture of propane-butane gas is used, with a calorific value of 11.5 kW / kg. Boiler with a closed chamber, productivity 92%. It remains to insert the indicators into the formula. V \u003d 12: (11.5 x 92: 100) \u003d 12: 10.58 \u003d 1.13 m3 / h. It will turn out 1.13 x 24 \u003d 27.12 per day, 813 m3 per month.

Electricity costs for heating a house of 100 m²

It is known that you have to pay a lot for electricity in a private house. Above, we have already given calculations for heating a house of 100 m²

It is worth mentioning that climatic conditions in Russia should also be taken into account.

Protracted frosts do not exceed one or two weeks, but there are exceptions when the winter is especially severe. During such periods, the electric boiler operates at full capacity. The rest of the time, at an air temperature of -15 - 20º C, only by half, thus reducing heating costs.

The practice of European countries, despite the mild winters, shows that it is possible to save on electricity significantly, because their tariffs are higher than in our country.

Basically, Europeans maintain the temperature in the house at a level where it seems to our person that the house is very fresh.

And indeed, in this way, they pay less. The same applies to water tariffs. Maybe we should adopt their practice, and not fire in houses to the fullest.Then you won’t have to complain that it’s expensive to heat a private house.

Important! Summing up, we conclude that the total cost of heating a house, subject to good thermal insulation, with a total area of ​​100 m² in the central regions of Russia and the Urals, will be about 50-60 thousand rubles for the entire heating season.

Factors that affect electricity consumption

To correctly calculate the consumption of electricity for heating the house and decide on the installation of the boiler, you need to pay attention to the following nuances:

1. space for heating;
2. boiler type;
3. current value;
4. network voltage;
5. section of the power cable;
6. boiler power for heating housing;
7. boiler capacity;
8. the duration of the heating period and the operation of the boiler;
9. cost of 1 kW/h;
10. time of daily operation at maximum load.

Installing an electric boiler for heating a private house is the most profitable option. To install it, you do not need to select a room for it, besides, you do not need a chimney. The efficiency index is equal to 100% and remains at this level for the entire period of operation.

Other heat sources

To reduce the cost of electricity for heating the house, you can use the boiler together with other heat sources. To maintain the desired temperature in the house, it is necessary to adjust the operation of the boiler at night (23:00 - 6:00).

At such times, electricity consumption is minimal, and the price of payment is lower than in the daytime. The flexible tariff allows consumers to save about one third of their monetary costs. The maximum loads on the network occur during the periods of 08:00 - 11:00 and 20:00 - 22:00.

In order to achieve the maximum efficiency of the heating system, it is necessary to install circulation injection equipment.

The pump is connected to the return network, thus reducing the contact time of the boiler walls with the hot coolant. This method increases the life of the equipment for a long time.

Also remember that good home insulation during construction helps to reduce electricity and heating costs. Placing solar panels on the roof of a house or installing windmills to generate electricity are effective methods of saving.

Connecting a thermostat and an outdoor temperature sensor to a gas boiler

The wires from the room thermostat - thermostat are connected to the terminal block marked as X17 (in the black figure on the left) in the 24 V compartment of the Protherm Gepard (Panther) gas boiler control panel.

The wires from the on/off thermostat are connected on the block to the RT terminals, instead of the jumper.

The wires from the Thermolink P interface thermostat are connected to the same block, but to the terminals marked "e-Bus". The jumper between the RT terminals is left in place.

An outdoor temperature sensor can be connected to the Toext terminals.

Connecting a two-position wireless thermostat to the boiler - video

The wireless room thermostat consists of two units.

The executive unit is installed near the boiler and connected to the boiler with wires, to the same terminals as a conventional wired thermostat. To power the executive unit, it is also connected to a 220 volt power supply.

The measuring (controlling) unit with the display is mounted on the wall of the heated room. The signal from the measuring unit goes to the execution unit via a radio channel.

An unexpected problem is the clocking of the boiler.

As you know, if you constantly turn on and off any device for no good reason, it will quickly fail. It is this fate that most often suffers automatic gas boilers. Automation is unable to adapt to changeable conditions, every 10 (or even 5) minutes activates the heating. The equipment does not withstand such jumps and literally burns out in a few months. Oddly enough, this phenomenon especially affected wall-mounted gas boilers that are sensitive to temperature changes.

This phenomenon quickly took root among gas boiler users and craftsmen under the name "clocking" - too frequent repetition of the heating-cooling cycle.