Heat exchanger cleaning

A heating boiler is a complex technical equipment that needs regular maintenance, because otherwise a gas leak may occur, a violation of heat exchange. One of the most important operations that must be performed continuously is cleaning the heat exchangers, as well as the boiler itself. The constant use of the thermal system leads to the formation of sediment on the walls from salt, lime and other minerals contained in the water. In addition, if the water in the region is hard, then scale is formed quite quickly and for a short time destroys all equipment.

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How often is boiler flushing necessary?

Conflicting information can be found on the network about how often it is necessary to flush a double-circuit boiler of the heating system. Some say that it is necessary to clean once a year, according to other sources - cleaning should not be more often than once every 4 years. In reality, the need to flush the heat supply system depends entirely on its use.

Here are some signs that the boiler and heat exchangers need to be cleaned:

• Strongly increased consumption of gas, electricity or other energy sources. As a rule, due to scale and deposits of mineral substances inside the heating elements, fuel consumption increases up to 15%.
• Significantly decreased heat transfer performance. So, the radiators have been heating up for a very long time, a constant low temperature of the devices is observed, despite the fact that the burner is constantly working. This is a significant reason to flush the heat exchanger.
• If there is a decrease in the pressure of hot water, then most likely the reason should be sought in the problems with the heat exchanger. Due to the strong layer of scale, water is not able to go under proper pressure.
• Cleaning the heat exchanger of the gas boiler is necessary when the load on the water circulation pump is increased. At the same time, there is an increased noise level, constant shutdowns, interruptions in its operation.

Important! As a rule, the design of the double-circuit boiler system is created from very reliable materials, therefore it does not need constant repair. In addition, the cost of spare parts is very high. Cleaning the system will not only save the budget for maintenance and repair, but also protect the device from serious damage.

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Heat exchanger cleaning methods

Flushing the heat exchange system can be very different. Each method has its pros and cons, which allows you to choose the most optimal for yourself.

Manual cleaning

This is the most simple but effective way that can be carried out without involving professionals. You only need to remove the heat exchanger from the boiler.

Further cleaning can occur in two ways:

1. Mechanical method - plaque is removed with a metal brush or brush, precipitation and other mechanical particles can be removed using the most ordinary vacuum cleaner. But to remove dense dirt you will need a thin scraper.
2. Flushing - the parts of the heat exchanger are soaked in special cleaning solutions with high acidity. This method is especially good for double-circuit boilers, since they are very difficult to clean manually.

Important! Despite the fact that cleaning the heat exchanger of the double-circuit boiler with your own hands is not at all difficult, it is necessary to be careful, especially when disassembling the system. Particular care must be taken to remove seals that are easy to deform.

Chemical cleaning

This method consists in connecting a special device - a booster, to the heat exchanger system. With the help of it, an acid solution is loaded, dissolving even the most persistent contaminants.

Important! The pressure generated by the booster is quite strong, and the cleansing substance is driven through the entire system. Chemical cleaning is designed to remove all types of scale, iron and salt deposits.

Experts recommend that, after washing the boiler, run an alkaline solution in the system so that it neutralizes the acid.

Important! A big minus of the chemical method is the high cost of an acidic substance, which, among other things, leaves toxic waste and can spoil internal metal parts.

Hydrodynamic cleaning

A big plus of this method is that the heat exchange system does not need to be disassembled. With the help of the installation, a huge pressure is pumped into the line - up to 1500 bar. Due to this, all contaminants, including scale, salt deposits and other impurities, are removed under the influence of water jets.

This method is very effective and does not spoil the dual-circuit boiler system. But on the other hand, cleaning boilers using this method costs a lot of money, because it is necessary to attract specialists or rent expensive equipment.

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Flushing fluids

In order not to harm the metal parts and thoroughly clean the boiler and heat exchanger, it is very important to correctly choose the washing liquid:

• Experts recommend using only hydrochloric acid - it is the least harmful to the structure of iron, of which the thermal system consists. In addition, it perfectly removes even the oldest and most stubborn dirt.
• Citric acid, although it has a low pH, does an excellent job of cleaning scale and salt deposits.
• Modern cleaning fluids such as Sanax, Detex and Cilit also successfully cope with flushing the boiler. True, many note that they are not able to remove the strong scale that has already been eaten into the metal structure.

Important! When using acidic substances and purchased cleaners, be sure to use rubber gloves and a mask. This will protect the skin of the hands and mucous membrane of the nasopharynx from chemical burns.

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Stock footage

Timely flushing of the gas boiler from scale is the best way to protect expensive equipment from premature wear and breakage. It is necessary to be attentive to the condition of the heating devices, and at the first signs of a malfunction, do cleaning. If you are not sure that you can clean the system with your own hands, it is best to seek the help of specialists who will efficiently and accurately rid the heat exchanger of contaminants.