Water filter for a gas boiler of a hard domestic hot water heating system in the house: magnetic, with cleaning, softening functions, recommendations

Why use filters for a gas heating boiler

The main purpose of the filter for purifying the water entering the gas boiler in the house is the uninterrupted supply of water purified from impurities into the device, which will not leave scale.

In the process of passing water through the device, it is purified from salts.

If you do not use the device, the throughput of the water units will decrease, the automatic valve on the device will break, and the consumption of gas and electricity will increase over time.

How to clean a geyser from scale: practical tips

An “occupational disease” of all devices whose operation involves heating water is the formation of scale. The gas water heater also suffers from this scourge.

But for this unit, salt deposition is not the only factor that can lead to loss of performance.

In order not to suffer without hot water and not to spend money prematurely on purchasing a new device, the user should learn in advance about all the threats and methods to neutralize them.

In this material we will talk about how to clean a geyser from scale and other contaminants, and also discuss ways to prevent such problems.

Why does a geyser need cleaning?

Pollution enters the column in three “guises”:

1. Soot produced by gas combustion. Soot can clog the nozzles and also accumulate on the heat exchanger, impairing water heating and draft.
2. Contaminants present in water.
   Some of them settle on the mesh filter, as a result of which its throughput is reduced. Impurities that manage to overcome the filtration barrier can accumulate on the membrane. At the same time, it loses the ability to adequately respond to pressure changes, which is why the gas valve associated with it cannot fully open.
3. Scale.
   The problem of scale formation is one that we encounter most often. It is the result of crystallization of magnesium and calcium salts dissolved in water, and the higher the water temperature, the faster this process occurs (begins at a temperature of about 80 degrees). To ensure rapid heating of running water, the heat exchanger tubes of the column are made very thin, so they become clogged with scale quite quickly.

To minimize the rate of formation of salt deposits, follow these recommendations:

1. Do not overheat the column again. It should operate in such a mode that hot water does not have to be diluted with cold water.
2. In columns with a wick, the latter does not need to be drilled out, as some of the home-grown Kulibins do. The wick begins to generate too much heat, as a result of which the water in the heat exchanger becomes hot even when the main burner is not working.
3. If there is an excessive content of calcium and magnesium salts in the water (such water is called hard), a softening filter should be installed in front of the column. As an innovative solution, we can recommend a hydromagnetic system (HMS), which turns the saline solution into a thin suspension held by a fine filter installed behind the HMS. The advantage of HMS is its energy independence, that is, it does not need to be connected to electricity.

Also, ion exchange resins contained in special cartridges for flow filters help remove harmful salts from water. It is most profitable to purchase cartridges that, after running out of life, can be restored at home (this process is called regeneration).

How do you know when it's time to clean your gas water heater?

The following signs indicate that an excessive amount of dirt has accumulated in the water heater:

1. The water from the hot tap barely flows, while the cold tap has sufficient pressure.
2. The column does not respond to the opening of a hot tap or turns on but immediately goes out.
3. The column began to heat the water poorly (scale has the properties of a heat insulator) or, on the contrary, the overheating sensor is constantly triggered (due to the formation of a thick layer of scale, the water flow through the heat exchanger has greatly decreased).
4. There is clearly not enough gas entering the burner.

The column may turn off due to the activation of the draft sensor, even though a check of the chimney showed its serviceability.

Cleaning the water intake unit

Finding the water intake unit is not difficult: it is where the water entering the column from the water supply system first enters. Cleaning is carried out as follows:

1. It is necessary to shut off the water and gas supply to the device.
2. Next, remove the unit from the water heater and disassemble its body, which will require unscrewing several screws.
3. The filter located inside must be cleaned of dirt and rinsed with running water.
4. If there is dirt on the membrane, it should also be cleaned. At the same time, check the condition of the part: if it is flat, everything is in order; if the membrane has a curved shape, it should be replaced.

It is best to install a silicone membrane as it is the most durable.

After completing all the necessary operations, install the cover of the water intake unit in place. After tightening one of the screws, take it as the one located exactly opposite. Then they move on to the next pair, etc. This procedure will make the tension of the membrane uniform.

Removing soot from the heat exchanger

Soot deposited on the heat exchanger is removed with a regular brush. After this, the inside of the water heater can be vacuumed.

Soot does not only collect on the heat exchanger. After a certain service life, it can be detected in the burner jets, on the spark plug electrodes, and on the combustion sensor. The jets can be cleaned with a thin wire, and fine-grained sandpaper can be used to remove carbon deposits from the electrodes and sensor.

Dirty heat exchanger

Deeper interference with the gas system of the water heater is not allowed - this should be done by specialists from the gas industry. However, some users still dare to wash the burner using a soap solution and a brush. In this case, after installing the burner in place, be sure to check all connections of the gas supply path for leaks.

A good indicator is soap suds. Even the smallest leaks will be immediately detected by the swelling bubbles. In this situation, you need to call the gas service.

Descaling

Before starting work, you need to decide whether you will dismantle the heat exchanger. The need for dismantling arises when it is necessary to use a too aggressive agent that can damage parts that are less durable than the copper heat exchanger. The “weak points” include, for example, the gearbox, which is made of aluminum.

If you don’t want to bother with removing the heat exchanger, you can use a product called Antiscale. This substance comes in the form of a powder and is dissolved in hot water before use. According to testimonies from users who have used Antiscale, this product effectively removes scale without harming the parts of the plumbing tract of the device.

Here's how to flush with Antiscaling:

1. Shut off the water and gas supply lines to the dispenser.
2. Having previously removed the handles and other similar elements, the device is freed from the casing.
3. Open the hot water tap on one of the mixers located near the water heater.
4. Now you need to disconnect the tube through which water flows into it from the heat exchanger. As soon as the nut is unscrewed enough to allow air to enter the system, water from the heat exchanger will flow out through the open faucet tap.

It is necessary to drain exactly as much water as is contained in the heat exchanger. The volume of this element can be found in the water heater data sheet. Immediately after the required volume of liquid has poured out, the mixer tap must be closed.

Having slightly moved the disconnected pipe, a rubber hose about 60 cm long must be placed on the inlet pipe of the heat exchanger. The hose should be tightened at the pipe with a clamp or wire. The second end of the hose is raised above the heat exchanger, a watering can is inserted into it and little by little they begin to pour in the prepared Antiscale.

The composition should be poured in a thin stream. When the heat exchanger quickly fills, a violent reaction will begin inside it, which will splash all of the Antiscale out. Please also note that this product contains hydrochloric acid in dissolved form, so it is very important to protect your eyes and skin from it.

To completely dissolve the scale, the product must be kept in the heat exchanger for about 2 hours. If possible, you can light the wick after resuming the gas supply to the column. Due to heating, Antiscale will act more efficiently, which means less time will be required for washing.

After the specified period has expired, you need to place a plastic basin or bucket under the mixer, after which the “hot” tap on it is opened again. In this case, “Antinscale”, together with the scale dissolved by it, will pour into the substituted container. After this, the hose from the heat exchanger should be disconnected, and instead, the water supply cabin should be reconnected. Now you need to slightly open the tap on the water supply line to the column to finish flushing.

When clean water flows through the tap, you need to fully open the tap on the water supply line to the column, and evaluate the flushing result by the pressure force. If the water still flows poorly, the procedure must be repeated.

In addition to Anti-scale, a solution of citric acid (100 g of the product is diluted in 0.5 liters of water) and 9% vinegar (diluted with water in a ratio of 1:3) can help remove scale.

But only the heat exchanger itself can be washed with such compounds, for which it will have to be dismantled.

The holding time is several hours - usually the composition is left in the heat exchanger overnight.

After this, as in the scheme described above, the heat exchanger must be thoroughly rinsed and returned to its normal place.

In each connection that has been disassembled, be sure to replace the gasket (it must be made of paronite).

on the topic

Source: https://aquacomm.ru/vodonagrevateli/protochnyie/kak-pochistit-gazovuyu-kolonku-ot-nakipi.html

Varieties

To reduce the risk of boiler breakdown, increase the accuracy of measuring instruments and ensure a long service life of the equipment, it is important to understand the main types of devices and choose the right one.

Polyphosphate

Polyphosphate units are considered a budget option for pre-purification and softening of water entering the boiler.

The operating principle of such a device is to pass liquid through a flask filled with special crystals. They ensure the formation of a protective film on the inner walls of the boiler and also slow down the formation of scale.

Photo 1. Polyphosphate filter for a gas boiler, filled with special crystals. They slow down scale formation.

The devices have a simple design:

• drain;
• flask;
• filler;
• lid.

The liquid enters the flask with filler through the lid, where it is passed through polyphosphate crystals. Next, it goes through the drain into the gas boiler tank.

Any device of this type requires periodic replacement of the filler - sodium salt crystals. As a matter of fact, this is the only difficulty in servicing them. The average lifespan of such a treatment plant is up to one and a half years.

Electromagnetic or magnetic for softening hard water

Electromagnetic devices are expensive, but the price is completely justified: the installation lasts a long time and allows you to obtain perfectly clean water at the output.

The principle of operation is that when the liquid passes through the flask, the salts in it disintegrate. Thus, scale will not settle on the walls of the boiler. Instead, the filter itself will be clogged with tiny salt particles, which is periodically washed.

Photo 2. Three magnetic filters for a heating system boiler; the scale in them breaks down into tiny particles.

Another characteristic is that under the influence of electromagnetic radiation, not only does the scale disintegrate into small particles, but also a thin film is formed that covers the boiler heat exchanger. Thanks to this, it remains protected and does not corrode for a long time.

We should not forget that electromagnetic and magnetic devices are different installations. At the heart of both is a magnet.

Attention! Electromagnetic devices are more powerful because they require connection to an electrical network. Ideal for gas boilers, as they perfectly soften water of any temperature. Magnetic installations are less strong and are not recommended for use with gas boilers if the water hardness is too high.

Magnetic devices consist of a metal case, inside of which there are a large number of strong magnets. Electromagnetic devices are additionally equipped with an electric drive, the operation of which allows the effect of magnets to be greatly enhanced.

Cartridge for cleaning

Cartridge devices have low throughput. The following device types exist:

• Mechanical - traps small debris. Such devices need to be cleaned frequently, and they do not soften the water.
• Coal - purify water due to activated carbon, which acts as a filler. If you do not change it in time, the water will become even more contaminated as a result of passing through the filter.

Photo 3. Four low-flow cartridge filters are needed to purify the water.

• Ion exchange cartridge devices are considered the best, as they change the hardness of water by entering into a chemical reaction with calcium and magnesium ions.
• Osmotic - allow molecules of water and gas to pass through them. This allows you to clean the liquid from metal impurities and harmful microorganisms, but it will not be possible to soften the water by installing such a filter.
• Membrane - purify water from debris and impurities, but do not soften it.

Important! Cartridge filters are not suitable for gas boilers (with the exception of ion exchange devices). They are more focused on purifying water that is intended to be drunk.

Cleaning a geyser: secrets of professionals

Any heating device is extremely demanding in terms of cleaning and maintenance. This is especially true for gas burners. The fact is that in the process of heating ordinary tap water, the corrosive activity of potassium and magnesium salts, which precipitate in the form of scale, sharply increases. Soot collects on the outside, which also needs to be removed. Why do this, how often the speakers need to be cleaned, and we’ll tell you all about speaker cleaning products below.

Indications for the procedure

The column needs to be cleaned for a number of reasons:

1. The first is scale. The scale itself does not bother anyone, since it does not have a harmful effect on the body. However, scale serves as an additional wall between the flame and water, and a wall with low heat transfer rates. That is, accumulated scale impairs heat transfer, and the water cannot warm up normally. This is especially true for flow columns. Secondly, scale reduces the cross-section of the water tube, thereby increasing the potential energy of the flow. Simply put, the pressure in the column pipes increases, which can lead to either a complete cessation of operation of the device or to the rupture of all tubes in the column.
2. The second reason is soot on the heat exchanger. In general, soot on one side and scale on the other can literally reduce heat transfer to zero. Boiler houses combat this with a complex water purification system, but installing such a system in an apartment or private house is not cost-effective. Therefore, it is better to simply clean the column from time to time.
3. The third reason is contamination of the wick with soot. This leads to incomplete combustion of gas, which, firstly, is not economical, and secondly, increases gas consumption.
4. The fourth reason is the chimney becoming clogged with the same soot. Possible consequences: the draft overturns and, as a result, the device stops working, or even gas enters the apartment.

Cleaning the geyser heat exchanger

Well, now, if we understand the reasons, let’s talk about how to understand that the column needs cleaning.

Signs of device contamination

If we talk about cleaning devices, it is advisable to do it once every 2-3 years. This will keep the column in working condition for a long time. If any of the signs of contamination begin to manifest themselves, it means that prevention was not carried out or was not carried out thoroughly enough.

Signs of device contamination include:

• Decrease in water temperature at the same pressure parameters. Accumulated scale and soot reduce the thermal conductivity coefficient, which ultimately leads to unpleasant consequences.
• Yellow color flame in the wick. In general, the color of the flame depends on the quality of the gas, which in turn is characterized by the area where the fuel is extracted. But within the same region, similar fuel is always supplied. Therefore, if everything was fine for a long time, and then suddenly the flame turned yellow: the wick is dirty.
• Reducing water pressure after the column. As mentioned earlier, scale fills the space of the water tubes inside the column, which can lead to a decrease in pressure. This sign is the most dangerous of all, so after you notice a decrease in pressure, you should immediately clean the installation.
• The smell of burnt gas, soot, and a frequently going out wick are all signs of a broken draft or a dirty chimney. In advanced devices there is a draft sensor, which extinguishes the wick when it detects combustion products entering the apartment. If during operation of any gas appliance, including a water heater, a burning or gas smell appears, this is a clear sign of problems with the equipment. You should immediately call a specialized service and clean the equipment.

Methods and methods for cleaning a geyser

In order to clean the column completely, you will have to disconnect it from the communications, remove it from the mounts, and disassemble it into its components. We will separately analyze each of the cleaning stages a little later. Now let’s note an important point: all seals should be saved so that new ones can be cut according to their sizes during reassembly. When the column is completely cleaned, it is better to replace the rubber seals.

Cleaning products

Let's look at the basic means of descaling. The fact is that there are specialized products, but they are quite expensive and are aimed more at non-professionals or certified large companies that do not have the ability to prepare the solution themselves. Let's go through all the options:

• A very popular myth is that it is possible to use water from a battery to carefully dissolve scale. This is truly a myth, since water does not have the properties of an acid, and therefore is not capable of dissolving scale from a purely chemical point of view.
• Sulfuric, nitric, hydrochloric acid. It would seem that these are the acids that will quickly clean everything from scale, but in reality, this group of acids corrodes copper and, to a lesser extent, steel much more readily. It is from these metals that heat exchangers are made, that is, the use of these acids will simply destroy the device once and for all.
• Acetic acid. Vinegar can really help in getting rid of scale, but the reaction itself will take quite a long time, since vinegar does its job too slowly.
• A solution of citric acid is much more effective. To prepare the solution, 70 grams of powder are diluted with a liter of water. The radiator from the heat exchangers is placed in a container with such a solution, and after 20 minutes it is removed, dried, blown, washed and dried again.

Acetic acid is used to descale gas water heaters.

By the way, citric acid can also be used to clean connection pipes and strainer. However, for fittings a solution of lower concentration is used. 50 gr is enough. Per liter of clean liquid. It is advisable to use filtered water. Also, experienced plumbers and gas workers advise cleaning in hot water; it is advisable to ensure constant heating of the water to 6 degrees to speed up the reaction.

Descaling

The pipes, as well as the heat exchanger and radiator are cleaned of scale. The solution is prepared in advance. For particularly difficult cases, an increased concentration of citric acid per liter of water is used.

The radiator is immersed with the upper partition down into the solution. It is important that 2-3 cm of solution remain above the outlet pipes of the heat exchanger. The radiator is lowered into the water slowly, otherwise it will simply not be possible to completely clean the scale.

After 20 minutes have passed, all washed parts should be blown off. It’s better to do this with a special device for supplying air, but if you don’t have one, you should at least blow it out with your lungs.

The next and final stage: drying. Not a drop of solution should remain on the surface of the devices. After reconnecting, it is imperative to rinse the entire column, and at the same time check its operation.

We remove pollution from combustion products

Combustion products are fought with the same citric acid. But much more often a metal brush is enough. It's worth starting with the wick. It needs to be cleaned especially carefully. After the wick, cleanliness of the chimney is extremely important. To clean the chimney, you can use a long-handled metal brush, followed by a soft brush to remove all the soot.

Strainer filter for heating: design, types, installation

Filter for mechanical cleaning of coolant.

A mesh filter for heating is a device used to clean the coolant from various solid mechanical particles (scale, rust, scale, sand and other sludge) circulating through the heating system.

Design

Dirt trap with drain cock.

The design of the mesh filter consists of the following parts:

1. Brass, bronze, cast iron or stainless steel body. There are models with both flange and coupling connections to the pipeline. Brass and bronze are used to make filters ranging from ½ to 2 inches in diameter. Cast iron and steel are typically used to produce filters with a diameter of 1½ inches, but smaller models are also available;
2. Cork. Connects to the housing either with a flange or thread. Allows you to remove the filter element for further cleaning or replacement. To avoid leakage, the plug is equipped with a sealing gasket (ring);
3. The filter element is in the form of a fine-mesh cylindrical mesh. The mesh is made of stainless steel and connected to each other using electric contact welding.

Universal coupling filter Valtec VT 386: 1) brass body with nickel plated; 2) brass plug with nickel plated; 3) stainless steel mesh; 4) sealing ring.

Some filter models are equipped with magnets that attract iron-containing particles.

Mesh filters can vary in degree of purification:

• rough cleaning (cell sizes from 300 to 500 micrometers);
• finer cleaning (ability to retain particles with a size of 100 microns).

Operating principle

The steel mesh located inside the housing completely covers the passage opening. As a result of this, the coolant passing through the mesh leaves solid particles of contaminants on its walls.

Strainer DN40 installed on the return line in front of the gas boiler.

Cleaning the filter element

The first sign that the filter needs to be cleaned is increased hydraulic resistance in the system, which is recorded by pressure gauges. A clean mesh also creates resistance, but it is nothing compared to the resistance created by a dirty mesh.

It is recommended to wash the dirty mesh with water using a brush with stiff polymer bristles. To begin with, you should shut off the flow of coolant to the section of the pipeline with the filter (turn off the circulation pump and close the shut-off valves). Next, unscrew the plug, remove and clean the mesh. If it is impossible to clean the mesh, it is recommended to replace it with a new one.

Important! The mesh filter will fully perform its function only if the filter element is evenly installed in special grooves. Therefore, when replacing a worn mesh with a new one (or installing an old one after cleaning), you must ensure that its edges do not bend.

Mesh filters for cleaning coolant.

There are types of mesh filters that allow you to remove contaminants without disassembling the device. As a rule, the design of such models includes: a pressure gauge (showing the degree of filter contamination); drain valve with the ability to connect an outlet hose; two-layer filter mesh (the first layer traps large particles, the second smaller ones).

Cleanable nodes

Gas boiler installation. (Click to enlarge)

This type of equipment contains the following components that need to be cleaned periodically:

• igniter;
• burner with nozzles;
• gas filter;
• heat exchanger;
• firebox;
• chimney.

It is worth noting that cleaning each component of a gas boiler has its own specifics, which we will dwell on in more detail.

Igniter

When the igniter is functioning normally, its flame should look like a cone with a blue tint. If the flame turns yellowish, this means that the burner is dirty.

The cleaning procedure occurs in the following sequence:

• shut off the gas supply to the boiler;
• unscrew the igniter;
• Clean thoroughly using a wire brush;
• perform purging;
• Reinstall the cleaned igniter.

Burner with nozzles

This part is the main one in the design of wall-mounted and floor-standing gas boilers, since it is intended directly for supplying fuel.

The sequence for cleaning the burner with nozzles is as follows:

• the gas supply valve closes;
• the burner is removed from its installation location;
• the location of the nozzle is noted, and then it is carefully unscrewed;
• You need to carefully clean the nozzle with a brush;
• the burner is cleaned with a brush, and its hole is purged using available pumping equipment;
• the nozzle is inserted into the burner according to the mark;
• the burner is installed in place.

Gas filter

This device is designed to purify incoming gas from various types of contaminants and impurities.

Therefore, it is very important to regularly clean the filter from accumulated clogging.

Heat exchanger

It is worth knowing that the main purpose of the heat exchanger of a double-circuit boiler is how much water will be heated and at what speed.

It is also necessary to understand that this element of the boiler unit can become clogged both inside and outside.

The outer part of the heat exchanger becomes contaminated with soot, which negatively affects its functioning. This boiler unit can be cleaned of soot mechanically, in other words, cleaning is done with your own hands.

To do this you will need the following set of tools:

• scrapers;
• metal brush;
• various shapes of brushes;
• power tool with cleaning attachments.

The cleaning procedure is as follows:

• gas supply and power supply from the boiler is turned off;
• the heat exchanger is carefully removed;
• cleaning is carried out using convenient tools;
• the device is installed again in its place.

As a result, the throughput of the heat exchanger decreases, which generally affects the functioning of the entire gas boiler. The most optimal way to clean the inside is to flush the gas boiler heat exchanger using chemicals.

In some cases, contamination causes equipment to fade. You can read about other causes of flame problems here: https://teplo.guru/kotly/gazovye/chto-delat-esli-tuhnet.html

Among the reagents that are used to clean the internal walls, the following products can be distinguished:

• adipic acid;
• sulfamic acid solution;
• special gel.

The booster consists of the following elements:

• circulation pump;
• reagent container;
• electric heater.

The principle of cleaning the heat exchanger using a flushing device such as a booster is as follows:

• to improve cleaning properties, the reagent is heated in a container;
• Using a pump, the solution is supplied under pressure directly to the heat exchanger.

As a result of the circulation of the chemical, the scale lags behind the internal walls and comes out along with the waste solution.

Firebox and chimney

Although gas is a clean fuel, over time soot still accumulates on the walls of the firebox and in the chimney. The accumulation of this combustion product interferes with the normal functioning of the boiler, as draft is lost.

Therefore, it is recommended to carefully monitor the formation of soot and regularly clean the chimney and firebox. We hope that the information presented in the article will be useful to you when cleaning your gas boiler.

Watch the video, which shows in detail how to properly clean a gas boiler at home:

Gas boilers are actively used both in country houses and in various industrial enterprises. The equipment is quite expensive and any repair will cost a significant amount.

In this regard, it is important to foresee possible breakdowns and try to prevent them.

A great danger to any heat exchanger is hard water, which will lead to scale formation. Scale reduces the efficiency of equipment and then completely causes equipment failure. In order to avoid an accident, install filters for wall-mounted gas boilers .

Today, different types of filters are used, but the most popular are polyphosphate and magnetic. The first works on the basis of orthophosphoric acid polymers, the second, using a magnetic field, changes the structure of water, preventing scale from forming.

What is suitable for a double-circuit boiler?

Let's start by looking at the features of a double-circuit boiler. Should the filter in front of the double-circuit boiler be some kind of special or not? Dual-circuit means that it has not one type of heating, but two. It heats the water, not only that which is in the heating system, but also that which is supplied to the house as hot water. How does this affect filter selection? Well, first of all, because the quality of the water is still potable, because... The family will use hot water in the kitchen and for bathing. This means that the quality of cleaning must be appropriate. The second feature is greater water consumption, because... it serves two purposes at once, which means the filter cleaner should be more powerful.

Therefore, for such boilers it is necessary to either install one more powerful polyphosphate filter, or combine two devices - electromagnetic and ion exchange, each for its own circuit.

Which filter to put in front of a gas boiler?

Any heating systems engineer, any owner of a house with a private boiler room asks the question - what kind of heating filter to put in front of the boiler? Which system should I choose if the boiler is gas or double-circuit? Where do you even start when solving such an important problem? First of all, you need to select a company that will develop, compose and commission a water purification system for the proposed boiler house. This expensive option will definitely have to be chosen during the initial water intake. Solving problems with boiler breakdowns and replacing incorrect cleaners will cost more later.

If the water is supplied from central water supplies, or it does not appear to be heavily spoiled by the benefits of civilization, you need to start by checking the composition of the water. The analysis does not cost a lot of money, but it allows you to very accurately compile a list of the necessary water purifiers, and will determine not only the composition, but also the capacity of future treatment facilities. To soften water, sometimes you need at least two devices.

The most commonly used complexes are a combination of mechanical cleaning with softening, iron removal and disinfection. Options for stages can be added or removed depending on the impurities in the water.

Which filter to put in front of a gas boiler? There are no special differences for gas or steam boiler houses. Unless water purification for a steam boiler room should be more thorough. A gas boiler does not require such fine cleaning. Therefore, if the water is simply chalky, then one powerful softener will be enough and, best of all, not just a softener, but a purifier. A magnetic or electromagnetic softener is just right for this case.

Electromagnetic filter AquaShield

To soften water in a boiler room, it is best to use a good electromagnetic filter, which is what AquaShield is.
Why is the electromagnetic effect on water so praised, and why is it so much preferable to the same ion exchange? It will perfectly protect boiler equipment from hard water. It works without additional costs and exhausting maintenance, like the same ion exchange filter with all its replacements and restorations. But besides this, AquaShield guarantees practically clean internal surfaces of the equipment, without the involvement of human labor and disassembly of the equipment. This device works by irradiating water with a magnetic force field. The strength of the latter is supported by a good electrical processor. This pair allows you to achieve a long-lasting effect with little effort. The softener-cleaner is not afraid of pressure and temperature changes. In this case, water softening occurs in such a way that the transformed salts perfectly clean the surfaces of the equipment from old sediment. Yes, this happens slowly, but this process is ongoing.

But you won’t be able to obtain drinking water with the help of one such purifier; you will have to supplement it with something. But in the boiler room, potable quality is not required. For industrial needs, the filter clearly performs all the tasks assigned to it. With such a device, the question of which filter to put in front of the boiler is not worth it.

Mud filter or coarse filter

If water for the boiler room is taken from any type of primary source, then it will definitely not be possible to avoid using a coarse filter in front of the boiler.
Any water, even artesian water, contains various types of debris and suspended matter. Even small ones, they can harm the operation of boiler equipment. Damage surfaces, accumulate somewhere, begin to rot, or contribute to the development of rust. That’s why even a banal mud scavenger will be a great help in such a matter. Everything again depends on the fractional nature of the pollution and the degree of this pollution itself. You may have to install not only coarse filters, but also a sorption device that will help clean the gas boiler from scale, as well as cope with odors and very fine dust. All this also needs to be removed from the water so as not to damage the boiler equipment and subsequently the heating equipment.

Polyphosphate filter

To soften water and protect against scale, a polyphosphate filter is often recommended.
It works similar to ion exchange, on the same principle. Only the sodium salt is washed out here more slowly than in ion exchange cartridges, and without replacement, such a device can last almost twelve months. If desired, it can also be used for small boiler rooms, so as not to buy two cleaning devices. But you will have to take care of it, change filters, and check the polyphosphate consumption. That is, there are some conveniences for the consumer. But such a basis as ion exchange helps to obtain good soft water, including drinking water. But at the same time, the internal surfaces from the old lime deposits will have to be cleaned manually. But then you won’t have to install any filters for drinking water in the kitchen.

Do-it-yourself step-by-step repair of gas injectors

To repair 4th generation LPG injectors type Valtek or OMVL, you will need to remove the entire rack assembly:

Disassembly and washing

In order to disassemble and wash the nozzle (let’s look at the example of Valtek type 30), you need to:

Next you need to check for wear: rubber parts, valve seats and rods with liners.

Important! If you plan only to clean gas injectors, without replacing parts, you must assemble all the elements in their places without mixing them up. Also, in this case, it will help to extend the life of the injectors - if you turn over the worn out locking rubbers on the rods .

Carry out troubleshooting of parts. Identify squashed rubber rings, bumpers and seals, and also check the cylinders and anchors for wear. The valve rubber should not have large indentations from the seat. The saddle also tends to shrink over time. Discard unusable parts.

Then clean the injector parts from dirt deposits; this can be done conveniently using a rag or cotton swabs. Using carburetor cleaner (carbocleaner), acetone, gasoline or other similar products. Rubber products (if a decision is made not to change) must be removed and cannot be washed with aggressive substances. Rubber can swell from such compounds. For the same reason, it is not advisable to clean/rinse injectors (non-removable) such as Hana, Barracuda, Brc, the effect of such cleaning does not last long, if they work at all after that.

Selecting and replacing a repair kit

The repair kit for gas injectors, as a rule, is equipped only with rubber products (RTI), a rod and a spring, for one injector or the entire ramp. You can also buy a complete set of parts (rods with core bodies and return springs assembled). Everything happens separately. On average, the price of a standard repair kit for one rail will be about 500 rubles.

Based on numerous reviews from drivers, for Valtek injectors, and these are LPG Tech, GREEN GAS (Green Gas), Atiker (Atiker), WentGas (ventgas), Tomasetto (Tomasetto), Yota (iota), Digitronic (Digitronic) even Lovato ( Lovato), original repair kits from RAIL are best suited.

The peculiarity of r/k is that their piston has a hole in the body; this solution reduces the effect of the syringe. If the choice fell on another manufacturer, you should pay attention to the lack of magnetic properties of the metal parts (this should not happen), dimensions, weight.

The entire replacement process involves assembling the mechanism block in the reverse order:

All seals are recommended to be used once. The outlet calibration nozzles/fittings do not need to be installed at this stage.

Fine filter

Fine filter
In autonomous systems, it is preferable to install an additional fine filter. It differs from the types discussed above in that a cassette is used as the main component. Depending on the design, it can have either a cylindrical or square shape. The latter is very rare, since the production of such species is associated with certain difficulties.

When choosing, you need to pay attention that the filter model for the heating system is designed for sufficiently high temperatures. If you install an analogue for water supply, the housing or filter element may be damaged under the influence of hot water. Another factor is throughput - it should not be less than the calculated pressure in the system. Typically this is 7.2 m³/hour.

What other parameters are important for a fine filter intended for installation in a heating system?

• Possibility of wall mounting. This is important for plastic pipelines, in which an increase in load due to filling the flask with water is not allowed;
• Material of manufacture of the filter element. For heating, it is best to purchase mesh models made of metal;
• Maximum temperature and pressure values.

How relevant is the installation of fine filters for heating? If pre-treatment of the coolant has been carried out, you can do without them. In addition, when using antifreeze, installing a fine filter is prohibited. The density of the coolant will be much higher than that of water. This will make it difficult for it to flow through the filter element. The average cost of this heating component ranges from 2.2 to 4 thousand rubles.

A small increase in the budget for installing or upgrading heating with filters (mud, magnetic, settling tanks) will reduce the likelihood of an emergency.

How to select and install a filter?

When choosing a cleaning installation, you should focus on the frequency of use of the heating device and the quality of the supplied liquid. General recommendations:

• For private use, cleaners and softeners are suitable that do not require constant replacement and cleaning of components;
• if the water is dirty and hard, you should use the double method of purification and softening;
• when choosing a device, you need to consider its size, since some devices require a lot of space;
• it is necessary to purchase cleaners and softeners from specialized retail outlets that provide repairs or replacements during the warranty period;
• you should choose cleaners from well-known manufacturers;
• When purchasing a filter, you need to take into account the diameter of the connection with the pipe and the pipe itself.

Recommendations for selection

Before buying a filter for a gas boiler, you should consult with a specialist who will recommend a suitable device and give recommendations.

General recommendations for selection:

• If you plan to use a gas boiler frequently, it is better to give preference to an electromagnetic device: it will not allow scale to accumulate on parts, and will also work for a long time without additional maintenance.
• If funds are limited, you can use a polyphosphate filter or a cartridge ion exchange filter.

But it should be remembered that you will have to constantly change the filler and the service life of these filters is shorter compared to electromagnetic ones.

• When choosing a device, you need to immediately decide where to install it. Sometimes installation requires a large space, which is not always possible.
• Be sure to make sure you have a warranty card. Good manufacturers of such devices never sell their product without providing a guarantee for it.
• It is preferable to purchase devices from well-known brands, since such products are more difficult to counterfeit. Often, unscrupulous sellers sell counterfeits under the guise of a well-known brand at a very low cost, so you should also pay attention to differences in prices for filters from the same manufacturer.
• If the tap water is hard, then in order to better protect the gas boiler, it is recommended to buy two filters at once, focused on different degrees of water purification.
• To simultaneously soften the liquid and protect the internal parts of the boiler from possible damage, it is better to use devices that soften water and have the ability to create a protective film on the heating elements.

If you follow all the recommendations described above, you can choose a device that is suitable for the price and technical characteristics.

When cleaning is necessary

A gas boiler is a complex device, and disassembling it without a good reason is too expensive. To avoid taking unnecessary actions that could cost you a pretty penny, check out a number of signs that indicate a clogged heating element:

1. The boiler does not produce the required amount of heat, while consuming a large amount of fuel.
2. During operation of the device, extraneous noise appears, the presence of which was not observed before.
3. The water pressure from the tap decreases significantly.
4. The heating process of the batteries is slower than usual.

Gas consumption has increased

One of the key reasons why gas consumption increases significantly compared to the norm is the clogging of the heat exchanger with scale. The boiler requires more fuel to heat the exchanger to the required level. After cleaning the part, the consumption returns to the basic values.

Burner always on

A clogged heat exchanger means that the water takes a long time to heat up, and the turbine constantly pumps in new liquid.

Because of this, the burner is constantly working, trying to bring the water temperature to the required value.

Descaling solves the problem, allowing the boiler to operate normally, without interruptions.

Rumble and interruptions in the operation of the circulation pump

A clogged system makes it difficult for fluid to circulate, causing the pump to overload during operation. Because of this, the following appear:

• extraneous noise;
• interruptions in the operation of the device;
• engine overheating.

Reduced pressure in the DHW circuit

A decrease in pressure in the DHW circuit is possible due to:

• incorrect operation of the heat exchanger;
• leaks in the pipeline system;
• The hot water supply circuit is depressurized.

Note! The above symptoms can occur not only due to the boiler being clogged with scale. This should be taken into account when diagnosing a fault.

How does a filter work to purify water in a heating system?

As the name implies, a water purification filter is designed to protect the coolant from various contaminants that enter the system with the water flow. Installation of devices is recommended, first of all, in private houses where water comes from a well or reservoir.

Filters retain:

• lime,
• sand,
• dirt,
• dust,
• gaseous impurities.

Mechanical models trap particles larger than 0.3 microns. It is convenient to rinse the mesh of such a device by hand under running water and put it back.

On what principle does a filter work in a heating system? Electronic options are more expensive, but trap contaminants up to 0.01 microns in size.

Manufacturers also offer carbon models that absorb unpleasant odors and chemical impurities well.

Cleaning heating systems using filters provides:

• protection of expensive equipment,
• increasing the service life of equipment,
• savings on heating system maintenance.

How to install a filter in the heating system of a country house

Installation, maintenance, and cleaning can be done on your own. In general, the algorithm for installing a filter is as follows:

1. Before starting work, flush the heating system if it is not new. Remove dirt, rust, and sediment from the pipeline.
2. Check the compatibility of the equipment and the purchased filter.
3. Install the device in front of a gas boiler or pump. If there is no pump, then the installation is carried out in front of the pipe entry point into the heating boiler.
4. It is recommended to install shut-off valves before and after the structure, which will ensure ease of replacement and washing in the future.

If possible, the installation location should be convenient for maintenance, since the device will need to be washed regularly.

Purpose

The propane-butane contained in the cylinder is in a liquefied state under a pressure of sixteen atmospheres. Manufacturers add special chemicals to its composition to give the gas a sharp, unpleasant odor. Such actions allow a person to feel the presence of gas in the car interior during a leak, even if its concentration is small. These reagents should not contain harmful impurities, but this is all in theory. In practice, added chemicals can form condensation; they also contain oily impurities that can clog the gearbox or injector jets.

The presence of gas filters in the gas system of a car allows you to purify the incoming gas in the following phases:

Filtering devices purify gas from various types of impurities, prevent clogging of the gearbox and injectors, and indirectly affect fuel consumption.

We recommend watching a video about the need to replace the gearbox filter:

Rough water purification with heating filters

The main component of the system for retaining large enough pollutants is a coarse filter for heating. Depending on the layout and type of heating, its installation in several areas is required. There are several models of coarse filters, which differ not only in design, but also in the material of manufacture.

Dirt filter

Dirt filter for heating
The simplest design is an element installed on a certain section of the system. It contains a mesh catcher located in the branch pipe of the structure.

It is mounted on the connection to the central heating system. For autonomous circuits, its installation is mandatory at branch points, on the return pipe before connecting it to the boiler and on bypasses.

Depending on the design and material of manufacture, a mud filter for a heating system can be of the following types:

• By connection method - threaded, welded or flanged;
• By location - vertical or horizontal.

The most common brass models are designed for maximum temperatures up to 150°C at pressures above 2.5 MPa. Steel types have the same characteristics, but they are more susceptible to corrosion. For plastic pipelines there is a polymer filter for the heating system. However, their operating temperature is much lower than for the others - the maximum coolant temperature is +90°C.

Instructions for installing a mud filter

In order for the heating filter to properly perform its function, proper installation is necessary. The direction of movement of the coolant must be indicated on the body of the device. If you install it the other way around, then in addition to the lack of filtration, additional hydraulic resistance will arise.

It is also necessary to periodically clean the mesh from accumulated dirt and debris. To do this, there is a screw cap on the outlet pipe that can be removed. But first you must block the flow of coolant in this section of the pipeline.

A filter with a mesh for the heating system will protect the circulation pump from debris getting into the blades. If it is not installed, the likelihood of the impeller and motor failing increases significantly.

Sump filter

Sump filter with air separator
This is an improved model that allows you to avoid carrying out maintenance work for a long time. The specific design of a dirt filter for heating with a sump is the presence of a flask located at the bottom. Foreign components, lingering on the metal mesh under the influence of gravity, sink to its bottom. The flask is made of heat-resistant transparent plastic, which allows you to visually monitor the degree of contamination of the element.

Often, to reduce the oxygen content in water, a separator is installed in the same housing with the filter for the heating system. As the coolant passes through the filter, air is released, which is concentrated in the upper part of the structure. When a certain pressure value is reached, the drain valve opens.

The advantages and features of installing a similar model of coarse filter for heating are as follows:

• Possibility to visually control the degree of filling of the flask. A tap is installed below to drain contaminated liquid;
• Reducing the air content in water leads to minimizing corrosion processes on steel elements of the system;
• Installation is carried out almost immediately after the heating boiler. It is in this part of the pipeline that the temperature and pressure of the coolant are maximum, which contributes to better operation of the separator.

But you need to take into account the big difference in cost. The average price of a mud filter for a heating system is about 140 rubles. At the same time, a combined model with an air separator will cost much more - up to 7 thousand rubles.

Be sure to check the material used to make the flask at the settling filter. It should be heat-resistant plastic that will not lose its shape when exposed to high temperatures.

Types of devices

Based on the degree of purification, mud collectors are classified into several types.

Rough cleaning. What is a sediment filter?

The coarse cleaning device is an angular mesh filter with a mesh of up to 300 µm-microns. The device is also equipped with a drain in which dirt accumulates. This product is designed to clean coolant from large and small fractions.

Design

Depending on the design, there are several types of coarse mud collectors:

• According to the method of connecting the device to the pipe. There are flanged, welded and threaded devices.
• By location on the structure. This is a horizontal and vertical device.

The mudguard is made of brass, steel and plastic. The first option will withstand elevated temperatures. A steel device wears out quickly. The plastic product can only withstand relatively low temperatures up to +90 degrees Celsius.

One type of coarse mud filter is a sediment filter. This is an improved design equipped with a flask. It is located at the bottom of the device. When a large amount of dirt accumulates on the mesh, it falls down under gravity. Thanks to this, such debris accumulates in the flask and does not end up in the radiators.

Photo 1. Coarse settling filter for heating systems. Contaminants from the pipes fall into a special flask.

The design is also improved with a separator. Air accumulates in it and enters the circuit. When its level reaches the limit, a valve opens on top of the device. After this, the air leaves the system, which prevents the formation of air locks.

Operating principle

There is a mesh inside the filter. This element blocks the inlet through which the coolant moves. During the passage of liquid through the mud filter, medium and large sized fractions are cut off. After this they move to the outlet. Thanks to this, relatively clean coolant flows to the radiators.

Advantages

Improved designs have the following advantages:

• Thanks to the flask, there is no need to remove the device to assess its degree of fullness. The assessment is carried out visually.
• A tap is fixed at the bottom of the device. Dirty water is drained through it.
• The filter removes air from the system, which prevents rust from occurring. This extends the life of the circuit.

Installation location and features

The installation location of the device depends on which heating system it is used for. For autonomous circuits, it is mounted at branch points, on the return before connecting to the boiler and on the bypasses.

Correct operation of the device is guaranteed by correct installation. Before installing any device, the circuit is cleaned of dirt and rust.

There are special symbols on the mud pan that indicate the movement of liquid through the pipes.

The product should only be installed in accordance with this instruction.

If the mechanism is not fixed correctly, hydraulic resistance will arise inside the structure.

Attention! The mudguard provides the circular pump with protection against debris from penetrating the blades. If you refuse to use it or install it incorrectly, the likelihood of engine and impeller failure will increase.

Fine purification for water

A fine filter is an additional filter designed to remove small fractions.

Design

There are several designs of such a device:

• with metal mesh up to 5 microns;
• with a cartridge made of fabric folded in several layers;
• with polymer porous filler;
• with mineral sorbent backfill.

Operating principle

The operating principle of such filters is as follows: water passes through a cassette and small fractions settle on its surface.

After this, the coolant moves through the pipeline without contamination. A fine mud filter cannot cope with large fractions, so it is not used as an independent filter. This is only the last stage of the heating circuit cleaning system.

Advantages

The main advantage of the filter is that it cleans the coolant from small dirt particles. This increases the service life of the circuit, since the risk of corrosion is reduced.

Where and how is it installed?

This type of mud trap is installed on horizontal pipes. It is located between the taps to block the flow of water during maintenance.

Important! If the heating system uses antifreeze rather than water, then a fine filter cannot be installed, since such liquid does not pass through this device well.

The mud trap for fine cleaning is mounted on the pipe in the direction of water flow. There is no other way to install the filter.

Fine cleaning devices reduce the risk of an emergency.

Magnetic models of mud collectors

A magnetic filter for a heating system is a device of two magnets with polar poles, which are placed opposite each other. Such a device cleans the coolant not from contaminants, but from metals.

Photo 2. Magnetic filter for cleaning heating systems from metals. Installed on a pipe.

Design

By design, there are two types of magnetic filters:

• Removable model. This device consists of two plates that are fixed on the pipe. The advantages of the device are that it is quickly replaced and easy to install.
• Non-removable mudguard. It is a pipe made from ferromagnetic alloys.

Operating principle

The opposite poles of the magnet attract the metals present in the coolant. Once within the filter's coverage area, they settle on its surface.

Advantages

Advantages of a magnetic filter:

• the device slowly becomes dirty, so it is not cleaned for several years;
• prevents the formation of scale on pipes and radiators;
• increases the service life of the heating circuit by freeing the coolant from metals.

Terms of use

Only filtering devices are issued to the civilian population, so the instructions describe them specifically. Those who, due to their position or type of activity, are entitled to an isolating model, receive separate instructions when it is issued.

The device, in conditions of possible threat, is worn in a special bag on the stomach. The buttons on the bag should be undone. If necessary, you can study the instructions on how to put on a gas mask correctly:

• Hold your breath.
• Close your eyes.
• Take the gas mask out of the bag with your left hand.
• Remove the plug from the filter box.
• Place your thumbs on the outside of the gas mask, and the rest on the inside.
• Place the bottom of the mask on your chin.
• You exhale.
• Pull the gas mask sharply from the bottom up and straighten it so that there are no folds left.
• Open your eyes and adjust the position of the gas mask so that it does not interfere with your vision.
• Place your bag on its side so it doesn’t interfere with movement.

If you have been given the device for a long time, then keep it clean - do not forget to wipe the lenses of the mask, especially in safe places where you can remove it. Also monitor the level of exhaustion of the filter box (it will be written on it after what time or under what conditions it should be changed).

And most importantly, try to leave the contaminated area as quickly as possible, especially if your clothing leaves areas of skin exposed.

This is interesting: Gas tank for a summer residence: mini-gas tanks vertical with horizontal

Features of installation in the house

The process of installing a water filter for a gas boiler depends on what kind of filter we are talking about. But there is a general procedure.

Materials and tools

Before installation, you need to prepare everything you need so that the work does not take much time:

• brush for preliminary cleaning of pipes leading to the boiler;
• tool for carving plastic pipes;
• fum tape;
• tow;
• pliers;
• device for soldering plastic pipes.

All of the listed tools must be present in the arsenal during installation. You should also have on hand instructions for installing a specific type of device in front of a gas boiler.

Selecting and preparing a site before installation

The equipment is installed directly in front of the pump, since installation anywhere else would be pointless. The pipes into which the filter will cut must be free of dirt and scale, so you should first clean them with a brush or a special brush.

Important! The place where the device is supposed to be installed must be accessible for further maintenance of the device.

General information

Gas injectors are special gas equipment units that are responsible for the dosage of fuel, essentially being high-speed valves. Thanks to their proper operation, the required gas-air mixture ratio in the internal combustion engine is ensured. Such mechanisms began to be used in the 4th generation of HBO.

Some of the most popular are stock models from the companies Valtek (Valtek), Rail (Reil), Digitronic (Digitronic), OMVL (OMVL), Lovato (Lovato). Their undoubted advantage is that they are easy to repair, which consists of washing, replacing the repair kit and adjusting, unlike non-separable injectors such as BRC (BRS), Barracuda (Barracuda) and the like.