Do-it-yourself replacement of the heat exchanger in the gas boiler

According to tradition, the gas boiler is cleaned and the heat exchanger is flushed by the user only when it is absolutely necessary: ​​the boiler is faulty or the water has stopped heating. You call the master, he carries out repair work and sets up the technique. When this becomes impossible, do-it-yourself heat exchanger replacement in the gas boiler. However, most gas boilers are designed in such a way that they can be cleaned independently. The topic of this article is how to clean the heat exchanger of a gas boiler.

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When do I need to clean the boiler?

Typically, these are 3 situations:

• Preventive cleaning of the boiler once every 2 years, with minimal costs.
• Cleaning is carried out as the heat exchanger is soiled with soot and lime deposits. In this case, the efficiency of heating and water heating decreases. You can call the wizard, but the option with self-cleaning is also possible.
• Damage to the heat generator. Unfortunately, this situation is not uncommon in the midst of the heating season. The called specialist will fix the breakdown. He also removes soot from the heat exchanger.

As you can see, the last two scenarios are unattractive for the owners of the house. They are associated with additional costs and discomfort. It is impossible to do without a master even if a condensation boiler with a specially designed burner is used to heat the room. It is undesirable to repair such complex equipment on your own. An exception to this rule is if you are well versed in such a technique.

Important! The best option for owners is the preventive flushing and cleaning of the heat exchanger. It does not require large time and financial costs.

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And if you do not rinse the boiler?

To understand the need for preventive cleaning of the boiler, imagine an ordinary kettle that is operated day after day by heating water in it. Over time, the walls of the kettle become scum, and heating occurs more slowly. Approximately the same processes occur in the heat exchanger of the boiler. On its walls a crust is formed of limescale, insoluble salts, etc. If there is hard water in the main, then the process of scale formation is faster.

For this reason, it is necessary to periodically flush the gas boiler with your own hands - an objectively necessary procedure. If you neglect it, the consequences can be deplorable:

• The heat exchanger will constantly overheat. The heat carrier from the return line, designed to cool the internal cavities, is designed to cool the heating elements from the inside. Limescale makes cooling less efficient, so the life of the heat exchanger is reduced.
• Gas is consumed much more. Mineral deposits on the surface of the heat exchanger have low thermal conductivity, therefore, the energy consumption for heating water increases. This helps to increase gas consumption and increases the cost of operation of the boiler.
• Damage to the boiler. Scale interferes with the passage of the coolant, so the load on the circulation pump increases. Ultimately, the pump fails.

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Boiler cleaning frequency

The washing frequency of the boilers depends on the quality of the liquid used in the line:

• When using antifreeze, the frequency of cleaning the boiler is 1 time in 2 years. In addition, the owner must track the expiration date of the antifreeze. After the expiration date has expired, it must be replaced.
• If purified water is used in the main, then the washing frequency is 1 time in 4 years.

Important! It is not recommended to use running water in order to flush the gas boiler, since it is much harder than purified.

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Cleaning Methods

Consider how to clean the heat exchanger in a gas boiler. There are two ways to descale heat exchangers:

• Mechanical cleaning is the removal of mechanical particles and plaque using a scraper, brush or vacuum cleaner.
• Flushing - soaking the components of the heat exchanger in different solutions. This method is especially good for double-circuit boilers, because their channels are contaminated especially quickly.

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How to clean the gas boiler from scale? Procedure

To disassemble the heating unit at home, you do not need any special tools. It is enough to set a home craftsman with pliers, screwdrivers and keys.

Important! The best time for prophylaxis is the off-season, when the heating is off. Disassemble the boiler by first turning off the gas.

The algorithm of actions that allows you to effectively clean the heat exchanger of a gas boiler is as follows:

• Disconnect all wires from the gas valve.
• Remove the thermocouple from the combustion chamber. It is connected to the gas valve using a capillary tube.
• Disconnect a branch pipe for supply of gas fuel.
• Unscrew the four nuts that hold the burner plate.

Important! The gas boiler burner does not need to be disassembled. An old toothbrush can be used for cleaning. Clean the igniter from soot and the ignition device. If there is a sensor for monitoring the flame, you need to clean it too.

• Now it’s the turn of the heat exchanger. To provide access to it, remove the top cover of the boiler, disconnect the chimney pipe and draft sensor.
• After that, carefully remove the insulation, and then unscrew the screws that secure the casing and remove it.
• A heat exchanger is located under the casing. Remove turbulators from it.
• You can clean steel turbulators using a metal brush. And the heat exchanger itself can be cleaned with simple tools that are made with your own hands, in accordance with the size of the smoke tubes.

Important! If they have a rectangular section, then you need to make a scraper or spatula for cleaning from thin metal. If the flame tubes have a circular cross section, then these tools are made curved.

• At the end of cleaning, cover the surface of the heat exchanger with a brush, which is screwed to the handle.
• The last stage of cleaning is the cleaning of the bottom of soot, which crumbled during the cleaning of the smoke pipe.

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Dry cleaning the boiler

Let's talk about how to rinse a gas boiler at home. Its essence is that with the help of a special device (booster), a solution intended for acid washing is pumped into the system. The solution is run through a heat exchanger. Cleaning is done within a few hours.

Important! This method is especially effective if you need to remove the most stable types of scale - carbonic acid salts, ferric iron. After the acid composition has been removed, a solution is injected into the system that neutralizes the acid.

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Hydrodynamic cleaning

This type of gas boiler cleaning does not require disassembly. Water with abrasive particles is pumped into the line under pressure. Water circulates faster. Descaling comes from mechanical stress.

Flushing the boiler heat exchanger, at first glance, seems to be a fairly simple procedure.But you must remember that you will deal with caustic substances and sophisticated equipment.

Important! If flushing is carried out in a hydrodynamic way, then the pressure in the line must be constantly monitored. If it reaches critical values, it is fraught with rupture of the heat exchanger. For this reason, it is advisable to entrust this work to a specialist who has special access to this type of work.

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Stock footage

Regularly cleaning the equipment and replacing the heat exchanger in the gas boiler with your own hands, you will significantly save on energy and increase the working life of gas equipment.