On which the effectiveness of its work depends.
Over time, especially if the water in the boiler is hard, it becomes clogged and becomes unusable.
How to clean the heat exchanger gas boiler, can I do this myself or is it better to contact a service?
When is it worth saving on this, and when not? In what cases is intervention required, and when is it worth looking for the cause somewhere else?
During combustion, a layer of soot inevitably forms over time on the heat exchanger, furnace walls and nozzles.
Nozzles are parts of a gas boiler on which a flame is formed and through which gas is supplied for combustion.
Before flushing the heat exchanger of a gas boiler, it is necessary to clean it of soot.
Soot is formed when low-quality gas is used. For example, in those designed to operate from natural gas, use propane-butane gas, other gas.
Usually service departments who offer to flush the heat exchanger of a gas boiler at home, offer flushing without removing the heat exchanger. To do this, they have a special device that allows you to connect and pass a special cleaning solution through it.
As a result, after some time, from half an hour to two hours, the boiler is cleaned of scale.
In principle, the device is quite simple and consists of a small circulation pump and a system of pipes. If you have all the necessary spare parts, you can assemble it yourself. However, if you have to buy something extra, especially a pump, the idea will not pay off.
The fact is that the cleaning procedure itself costs from 500 to 1500 rubles in different cities.
Cleaning is required every 2-3 years.
Buying a pump will cost about 3,000 rubles, and it will pay for itself in 2-6 cleanings and 4-18 years.
Therefore, it makes sense to contact customer service.
The washing solution consists of reagents that dissolve calcium salts.
The advantages of cleaning the heat exchanger without removing it are that you do not need to waste time removing it; it is often impossible to remove this part, and this method is the only possible one.
Disadvantages - if the pipes are connected to the boiler with a rigid connection, or if they are stainless steel pipes that were assembled using inserts by welding, then it is often completely impossible to remove them and connect the cleaning pipes.
How to remove the heat exchanger, disassemble and reassemble it, and put it in place
This procedure may be required before cleaning the boiler from soot, or before cleaning the heat exchanger of a gas boiler at home with removal.
If the boiler is tightly connected to the pipelines, then this method is the only possible without cutting the pipes. Before removing the heat exchanger, you must read the instructions.
In most cases, it is necessary to remove the protective covers and then disconnect the heat exchanger from the pipes by loosening the latches.
Different boilers may have different design, so the heat exchanger must be removed carefully, carefully recording the entire process so that you can then put it back.
In some cases, it is not necessary to remove the nuts, and the heat exchanger has collapsible design on latches or completely non-separable. In the latter case, it can only be cleaned using a special device that passes a cleaning solution through it.
After cleaning, the heat exchanger must be put back in place. The instructions for the heat exchanger and the previously recorded removal process will help with this. You can record it on paper in text, using drawings, photographs or video:
About the dangers of scale in a heat exchanger
Heat tap water for a hot water supply system (DHW) in a double-circuit gas boiler or in a gas water heater, it is produced in a flow-through heat exchanger.
It is known that when heated above 54 o C crystallization of salts dissolved in water occurs chemical elements, mainly calcium and magnesium. Solid salt crystals settle on the heating surfaces of the heat exchanger and form a strong crust on them.
In addition to hardness salts, scale deposits include other solid particles found in water.
For example, rust particles, oxides of other metals, sand, silt, etc.
The amount of salt in water determines the degree of its hardness. There are hard water, which contains a lot of salt, and soft water, with a small amount of salt.
If the source of tap water is a river or other natural body of water, then the hardness of such water is usually low. You are lucky, the water in your home is soft.
Tap water from a well usually contains more hardness salts. And the deeper the well, the more salt there is in the water. the heating temperature and pressure of hot water gradually decreases, and the walls of the heat exchanger overheat, which reduces its service life.
The internal structure of a double-circuit gas boiler using the example of Protherm Gepard 23 MTV and Panther 25.30 KTV (Panther). The secondary DHW heat exchanger is located in the lower compartment.
Dual-circuit gas boilers most often have two heat exchangers. One is the primary one, in which water is heated with gas for heating. Another - secondary heat exchanger DHW, in which heating water from the primary heat exchanger heats water from the mains for DHW.
There are also double-circuit boilers in which both water for heating and water for domestic hot water are heated with gas in one combined bithermic heat exchanger. A bithermic heat exchanger accumulates scale faster, and it is more difficult to clean it from scale.
The geyser has one DHW heat exchanger, in which tap water immediately heated by gas.
Regular descaling is only necessary for the DHW heat exchanger, in which there is a constant accumulation of deposits of hardness salts.
In the channels of heat exchangers with heating water, scale accumulation occurs only when fresh water is replaced or added to the system. This happens quite rarely and in small volumes.
If there is a filter at the entrance to the heating water boiler, then other dirt from the heating system does not enter the boiler and there may be no need to clean the boiler coolant channels during its entire service life. It is not necessary to descale the primary heat exchanger at the same intervals as the DHW heat exchanger.
However, “servicemen”, without proper reason, often insist on descaling the primary heat exchanger, at the same time, just in case. Naturally, they charge for this. 
Secondary plate heat exchanger for hot water supply of a double-circuit gas boiler. Two holes serve to circulate heating water through the heat exchanger. Through the other two, cold water enters and heated hot water exits. Regular descaling of the inside is required. Bithermic heat exchanger of a double-circuit gas boiler. On the right are pipes for heating water. On the left are pipes for DHW water 
.Requires regular cleaning of scale inside and soot outside.
Heat exchanger for DHW gas water heater. Regular cleaning of scale inside and soot outside is required.
How often to descale a heat exchanger Equipment manufacturers require maintenance of a gas boiler or geyser.
Some "owners" do not approach the equipment until something happens. But, as a rule, it “happens” at the most inopportune moment. The severity of the damage and the cost of repairs are higher. Some defects, outwardly invisible, lead to an increase in gas consumption over a long period of time.
In the Russian Federation, there are “Rules for the use of gas in terms of ensuring safety during the use and maintenance of intra-house and intra-apartment equipment when provided public services on gas supply”, approved by Decree of the Government of the Russian Federation No. 410 of May 14, 2013.
In accordance with current rules, in order to ensure the safety of gas-using equipment, household consumers must enter into a maintenance agreement with a specialized organization.
In December 2016, the Code of the Russian Federation on Administrative Offenses was supplemented with Article 9.23, which provides for punishment in the form of a fine of up to 30 thousand rubles for individuals, for violation of security rules safe use and maintenance of intra-house and intra-apartment gas equipment.
Fines are provided for:
- avoidance of concluding a mandatory contract for the maintenance and repair of gas equipment in homes;
- refusal to admit a representative of the organization to perform maintenance; avoidance of concluding an agreement on the performance of work on diagnosing gas equipment;
- avoidance of replacing gas equipment; actions that led to an accident or an immediate threat of harm to human life and health;
- untimely or poor quality of work on maintenance and repair of in-house or in-apartment gas equipment.
I do not recommend home craftsmen to carry out work on the gas duct of the boiler or heater. A home handyman can do some if necessary simple work which are recommended to be performed during boiler maintenance.
The bithermic heat exchanger of a gas boiler, as well as the heat exchanger of a gas water heater, must be regularly cleaned not only of scale inside, but also of soot deposits outside.
A home craftsman can easily clean the DHW heat exchanger of scale inside and soot outside with his own hands.
Depending on the degree of hardness of tap water, the amount of water used and its heating temperature, the heat exchanger must be cleaned of scale at intervals of 1 - 5 years.
I advise you to do this work annually, in the summer. You should not wait several years until the heat exchanger is covered with a thick layer of scale inside and overgrown with soot on the outside.
You will have to pay for a thick layer of scale and soot with increased gas consumption and reduced equipment durability. In addition, a thin layer of dirt can be removed much easier.
Methods for descaling a heat exchanger
Cleaning heat exchangers from scale is carried out by treating deposits with special liquid compounds that dissolve salt, release and wash out rust, sand and other insoluble particles.
For a double-circuit gas boiler (column) use There are two fundamental ways to descale a DHW heat exchanger:
- With removal and dismantling of the heat exchanger from the boiler, column.
- Without removing the heat exchanger from the boiler or gas water heater.
An acid solution is poured into the heat exchanger removed from the boiler or column. Happening chemical reaction, as a result of which the scale dissolves. The intensity of the reaction increases if the heat exchanger with the filled solution is heated. The cleaning process can be made more complete and faster by connecting the removed heat exchanger to pumping unit, which will force the cleaning solution to circulate in the heat exchanger channels.
The second method requires connecting special equipment to the boiler, which includes pumps, solution containers, filters, hoses, and connecting fittings.
The cleaning unit is connected to the boiler inlet pipes. The cleaning solution circulates under pressure in the heat exchanger, dissolving and washing away contaminants.
This method is usually used by enterprises and organizations that provide services to the population.
The best cleaning quality can be obtained if you order the work from specialists.
You can remove the heat exchanger from the boiler yourself and take it to a boiler repair service to remove scale. This service will cost less than calling a technician to your home. Yes, and the quality of cleaning using professional equipment will be higher.
It is easier to remove scale yourself if you remove the heat exchanger from the boiler. Home cleaning Suitable for heat exchangers that have not yet boiled too much. It is beneficial not to delay cleaning.
How to remove a heat exchanger from a gas boiler, column
For all brands of boilers and gas hot water heaters, the heat exchanger is removed in different ways. But this procedure usually does not present any particular difficulties. Some kind of special tool not required. But it will be better to find instructions, a website, pictures or videos on the Internet on this topic. For the first time, you can invite a service specialist and watch how he removes the heat exchanger.
An example for a double-circuit gas boiler Protherm Gepard 23 MTV and Panther 25.30 KTV (Panther).
To remove the secondary DHW heat exchanger, you need to unscrew two screws - shown by red arrows and remove both mounting rails (at the bottom of the figure). Flow sensor(flow) of hot water DHW is shown by a green arrow. An example for a double-circuit gas boiler Protherm Gepard and Panther. The body of the plate heat exchanger is pressed to the base by mounting rails. After the tires are removed, pull the heat exchanger up and remove it.
Before removing the heat exchanger, it is necessary to empty the boiler of water. To do this, close the taps at the entrance to the boiler of the heating pipes (direct and return). Close the inlet valve cold water and disconnect the cold water tube from the boiler. Water will drain from the boiler through the open cold water pipe. Open hot water taps to complete liberation from the water of the DHW tract. Open the drain valve on the boiler, on the right under the pump, to drain the heating water.
When reinstalling, check the correct location of the heat exchanger - the marking inscriptions on its side wall should face forward.
1 — mounting rails, heat exchanger holders; 2 — holder screw; 3 - gasket; 4 - heating water filter at the inlet to the heat exchanger; 5 - DHW heat exchanger of a gas boiler; 
Clean the filter in the heat exchanger inlet pipe on the left, closer to back wall. 1 - gasket; 2 - filter;
Before installing the heat exchanger in place, do not forget to clean the filter, item 2, which is located in the inlet pipe of the heat exchanger on the side of the heating circuit (on the left, closer to the rear wall).
It is recommended to change the gaskets between the heat exchanger and the base, item 1, each time during installation. DHW heat exchanger gasket, rubber ring: 22.2x13.5x5 mm. There is a circular recess on the inside. Article number: 0020014166 (10 pieces).
How to remove scale from a heat exchanger
To descale at home, a 20% citric acid solution (250) is often used as a cleaning liquid. g/liter).
You can also use commercially available special compounds for descaling household washing and dishwashers. Read the contents of the packaging carefully. The chemical should be designed to remove scale deposits, not to soften water (not to prevent scale deposits).
Less accessible, but if desired, you can find and buy special compositions (liquid or powder) for professional cleaning of boiler heat exchangers from scale. The selection of such chemicals should be done with caution. There is a wide range of strong cleaning chemicals available on the market. different types equipment. You can buy a chemical that will corrode metal or protective coating heat exchanger.
Particular care should be taken when choosing a product for cleaning the heat exchanger without removing it from the boiler. Selected chemical composition should not damage not only the metal of the heat exchanger, but also boiler parts made of other metals, as well as parts made of rubber and plastic.
In order not to make a mistake in choosing, home handyman I recommend using a relatively chemically weak and therefore safe, time-tested, accessible and cheap chemical - food grade or industrial citric acid.
If deposits do not accumulate, then to regularly clean the heat exchanger from scale, you can even use conventional toilet treatment products containing acid, for example, oxalic acid.
Removing scale by pouring a cleaning solution into the heat exchanger
Watch the video that shows how to remove and descale the secondary DHW heat exchanger gas boiler "Ariston".
Here, To remove scale, a cleaning solution is poured into both cavities of the heat exchanger. To increase the efficiency of the process, it is recommended to place the heat exchanger filled with liquid in a container on water bath and keep it at temperatures above 60 o C for at least 1 hour. Then the heat exchanger cavities are washed under a strong stream of water from the tap.
To fill all the cavities of the secondary DHW heat exchanger of a wall-mounted gas boiler, it will take approximately 0.25 liters cleaning solution.
The chemical reaction of scale salts with acid leads to the release of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the release of gas bubbles can be observed from the openings of the heat exchanger.
If the gas evolution stops, then the chemical reaction has stopped. This can happen in two cases, either there are no more scale salts in the heat exchanger, or there is not enough acid to continue the reaction with the scale remaining there. The acid concentration in the solution gradually decreases as it reacts with scale salts.
If there are doubts about completely descaling the heat exchanger, I recommend rinsing the heat exchanger with a strong stream of water and pouring a new fresh portion of acid solution into it. Repeat the entire cleaning process. If you see that gas bubbles have reappeared, then you didn’t do it in vain.
Forced circulation of the solution in the heat exchanger removed from the boiler
And from the next video you will find out how to remove a bithermic heat exchanger using the Nova Florida boiler as an example.
In this option, the heat exchanger removed from the boiler is connected to a pumping unit, with the help of which The cleaning solution is forced to circulate through the heat exchanger channels. The bithermal heat exchanger has a complex channel configuration.
This cleaning method allows you to quickly and more efficiently remove significant scale deposits from the heat exchanger.
Descaling without removing the heat exchanger from the boiler or column
The following video shows how to assemble a simple device from available materials for cleaning the heat exchanger without removing it from the boiler.
I would like to draw your attention to the following:
- You can take any of the available pumps, including those from used equipment.
- Be sure to install a filter at the pump inlet or after the pump, at the water supply to the boiler. Otherwise, dirt from the container with the solution will go back into the boiler and clog the filter and flow sensor in the boiler.
- It is better to heat the solution to 60 degrees. To do this, you can even turn on a short time boiler for heating hot water.
In this option, you should not change the direction of movement of the cleaning solution. It must coincide with the direction of water movement during boiler operation.
You should be more careful when choosing the composition and concentration of the solution to remove scale. Solutions can have a destructive effect on other parts of the boiler, including those made of various metals, plastic and rubber.
To save efficient work gas boiler, it is necessary to take timely measures to care for it. The most difficult and time-consuming thing is to flush 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 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 circulation pump.
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 heats hot water, often fails.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 tap water is filtered, 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: low heat batteries, the unit cannot reach the required temperature and operates continuously.
- Weak water pressure from DHW systems 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.
For severe contamination, two methods of descaling are used - 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 chemical cleaning is to maintain 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 flush 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. Typically, the following products are used for dry cleaning:
- Cleaning gel - it is considered the most mild remedy. 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 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 the rapid movement of water, scale disappears and impurities are 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. Therefore, hydrodynamic cleaning cannot be performed independently.
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 pipes for cold water supply and hot water outlet;
- 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: the coolant moves through one of them, and through the other hot water. 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 lemon acid- it cleans scale no worse than all sorts of expensive means, 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.
IN heating boilers a layer of scale forms, which adversely affects their operation. Let's figure out how to clean the boiler from scale yourself at home, what products and tools you will need for this.
How to clean a gas boiler from scale: manual and hydrodynamic methods
The heat exchanger in a gas boiler is one of the main parts. It is he who determines the temperature and properties of the liquid, the quality of the apparatus. Using hard water leads to scale formation. This, in turn, causes overheating of the equipment, increases fuel consumption and increases the load on the pump.
You can descale the boiler yourself
At manual way You must first remove the part, and then remove the plaque using a metal brush, scraper or vacuum cleaner. When cleaning, be very careful not to damage parts and sealing materials. This may cause depressurization and damage to the boiler.
Before manually cleaning the heating boiler, be sure to turn off the gas supply.
The hydrodynamic method consists of running water through the apparatus under high pressure. This method requires constant monitoring of system pressure. Since its critical increase can lead to rupture of the element.
How to clean a double-circuit boiler from scale? You can simply soak the parts in a solution that softens the deposits, and then use the tools at hand to remove all the dirt.
Chemical boiler cleaning
Using chemical method All water should be drained from the heating system, and then a booster should be connected to the boiler - a special washing device equipped with a pump. Pour the cleaning solution into it and run the product through the heat exchanger without stopping for several hours.
For chemical cleaning use:
- Mixtures in powder form with sulfamic acid. These products do not damage metal and sealing materials.
- A solution of hydrochloric acid, but this should be done with great care: the product is very aggressive, and its waste is difficult to dispose of.
- Citric acid - it works quite effectively, but is more gentle compared to hydrochloric acid.
After washing, you need to run it several times clean water. This method helps to cleanse hard to reach places devices.
Periodic flushing of the gas boiler heat exchanger is a basic requirement Maintenance heating equipment. Cleaning significantly affects the smooth operation of the entire system and greatly extends the life of the home heating device. When do you need to do flushing and can you do it yourself?
When a gas boiler operates, a layer of scale forms, which prevents the necessary cooling of the heat exchanger. In this case, the circulation pump takes on a greater load. Therefore, without flushing the heat exchange device, the heating unit may fail.
At home, cleaning should be done every two years. If the water in your home is quite hard, it is recommended to reduce the interval between flushes.
The first signs for the user of the need to flush the heat exchanger are:
- long-term heating of a gas boiler;
- reduction in thermal output;
- partial heating of the system;
- presence of extraneous sounds during operation heating device;
- significant increase in gas consumption.
When scale appears in double-circuit boilers The water may not warm up completely or the pressure level may decrease.
It is advisable to avoid a combination of such symptoms. But if alarming signs appear, flushing should be done immediately.
In addition to internal cleaning of the heat exchanger, external cleaning of its body from soot is used. Socialized services are responsible for eliminating scale and contamination in the gas boiler system. The cost of their services is not cheap. Therefore, sometimes you can wash the heat exchanger yourself.
Heat exchanger flushing methods
The method of cleaning the heat exchanger in a gas boiler depends on the design of the device itself and the quality of the water used in the heating system. For complete flushing, use a booster. With this special equipment you can clean the inside of the heat exchanger without disassembling it.
You can do the flushing yourself, either with or without a booster. There are three main methods for flushing a gas boiler. Each option has its own characteristics.
Manual cleaning
Observing all safety measures, the heat exchanger can be cleaned independently at home using manual washing.
This process can be carried out in two ways:
- Mechanical cleaning. Cleaning clogs and scale from the heat exchanger is carried out with tools such as a brush, a wooden hammer or a metal brush.
- Washing with active solutions. This option is the most effective, especially for boilers with two circuits.
For severe blockages, two types of cleaning can be used - flushing with a solution and then mechanical cleaning.
At home, removing dirt and scale from the heat exchanger is quite simple. First you need to turn off the gas supply, turn off the electrical power and disassemble the boiler:
- remove the boiler door (cover) by unscrewing all fasteners;
- disconnect all wires from the gas valve;
- disconnect the wire from the piezoelectric element;
- remove the injectors, thermocouple and unfasten the gas supply pipe;
- remove the burner from the appliance;
- open the top roof by unscrewing the nuts.
When the device is disassembled and access to the heat exchanger is provided, you can begin cleaning it:
- remove the heat exchanger;
- put it in a solution with the active substance - a light solution of hydrochloric acid;
- thoroughly but carefully remove dirt with a brush or wire brush;
- rinse well in clean water;
- dry.
After such actions, the heat exchanger and dismantled parts are installed in place. Before disassembling the gas boiler, it is recommended to study the instructions supplied with the device.
This washing is performed using a booster. But the device is not cheap at all. That's why many craftsmen do special device on one's own. To do this, use a ten-liter container, a pump and two hoses.
When chemical cleaning, it is important to choose the right acid solution so that the substance does not spoil metal parts boiler For severe scale, you can use products based on hydrochloric or sulfuric acid. Lighter stains are cleaned with citric acid, two hundred grams of which are diluted in five liters of water.
Gas boiler cleaning process chemicals simple enough:
- the washing solution is diluted in a container;
- hoses from a factory or homemade booster are connected to the pipes on the heat exchanger;
- The device turns on and inside closed system chemical fluid moves.
Factory boosters are equipped with a heating mode. This function allows you to increase the temperature of cleaning solutions, thereby improving the quality of cleaning.
Flushing the heat exchanger of a gas boiler with chemicals should last at least two hours. After completing the entire procedure, remove the reagent and rinse the device with a neutralizing agent, which is selected depending on the product used. After the solution with citric acid, you can treat it with soda dissolved in water.
The disadvantage of frequent chemical cleaning is the negative impact of active elements on the metal elements of the boiler. Therefore, it is recommended to do this type of washing no more often than after two or three years.
For chemical removal scale and contaminants from the heat exchanger, use the following means:
- Cleaning gel. This substance does not contain acid, but regardless of this, the gel copes well with various types dirt, salt deposits and scale. After treatment with such a substance, rinsing with neutralizing solutions is not required. All parts can be cleaned with plain water. Gel is considered a more gentle product for metal products.
- Adipic acid. To flush a gas boiler, such a reagent must be properly diluted in water, otherwise the substance may damage metal parts. Adipic acid softens all deposits inside the heating device well. To clean with this product, remove the heat exchanger and allow it to cool. After cleaning, the device must be washed in a neutralizing liquid composition and dried.
- Sulfamic acid. The activating substance is diluted with water and poured into the heat exchanger using a booster. This reagent effectively breaks down complex scale and saturated salt deposits. Typically used to flush out stubborn contaminants. Thorough rinsing after sulfamic acid solution is mandatory.
When working with chemicals, you should adhere to safety precautions. Dismantling of heating devices is carried out only after complete disconnection from the supply of gas and electricity.
Hydrodynamic cleaning
This flushing is carried out without disassembling the boiler. The process consists of pumping water into heating system and pressurization. In this case, sometimes an abrasive substance is added to the liquid.
By increasing the movement of water, scale is effectively destroyed and washed off well. various pollution inside the system.
During such cleaning, it is important to properly organize the pressure level, otherwise pipes may burst. Therefore, it is not recommended to do hydrodynamic flushing yourself. This process is carried out by specialists who have permission to work with gas equipment.
Distinctive features of cleaning a single-circuit and double-circuit boiler
The type of heating device does not affect the frequency of flushing the heat exchanger. Both single-circuit and double-circuit boilers require timely cleaning.
A distinctive feature of flushing a boiler with a water heating function is that in addition to cleaning the main heat exchanger, it is necessary to remove scale from the DHW paths.
The method for flushing the hot water supply path in the boiler depends on the type of heat exchanger, of which there are two for a boiler with two circuits:
- steel secondary;
- combined bithermic.
- connecting the hoses of the cleaning device to the pipes intended for the outlet of hot liquid, as well as to the cold water supply inlet;
- booster launch;
- turning on the boiler.
In this case, you should comply temperature regime heating within fifty and fifty-five degrees above zero.
If in double-circuit boiler If there is a secondary heat exchanger installed, it can be dismantled for cleaning. To do this you need:
- remove the front panel;
- unscrew the fastenings from the control unit and move it slightly to the side;
- remove the fasteners from the secondary heat exchanger and remove it.
After this, the device can be cleaned by immersing it in a solution with an active solution. Citric acid removes scale well. It is diluted in a container with water, a secondary heat exchanger is placed there and boiled over low heat until the deposits are completely dissolved. After cleaning, be sure to rinse all treated parts with clean water or soda solution.
For a single-circuit boiler, only flushing of the main heat exchanger is required. The main thing is to prevent the formation of severe dirt and scale. It is better to carry out light preventive cleaning than to subsequently wash the heat exchanger with strong metal-destroying substances.
Flushing a gas boiler is a mandatory process that should be carried out in a timely manner. The reliability of the heating device and its service life depend on compliance with the frequency of cleaning and its correct implementation. To avoid extra costs You can remove small scale yourself. To do this, you need to select the necessary cleaning method and study the technique of its implementation.