Gas equipment is the most common option in the organization of autonomous heating. It is characterized by reasonable cost, economical fuel consumption and high efficiency. However, any equipment has its own life and requires restoration over time.
The simplest repair of a gas boiler can be carried out personally. And with the implementation of regular preventive measures, any owner is simply obliged to cope independently. We will tell you how to return the equipment to working capacity and how to extend its working life.
What can be repaired without gas workers?
There are several main causes of malfunctions. This is the improper operation of gas equipment, the presence of an unacceptable microclimate in the boiler room, untimely maintenance of all systems or low-quality components.
For self-repair, be sure to observe safety precautions and strictly follow the instructions. First of all, the user should decide which parts of the gas boiler can and cannot be repaired independently.
During the repair of gas equipment, the main danger is a possible gas leak. Therefore, it is necessary to carefully carry out all manipulations on mounting and dismantling the units and parts of the device. Special attention should be paid to the replacement of components associated with the fuel supply system.
Knowledge of typical malfunctions of gas boilers and methods for their elimination allows you to make simple repairs yourself. It is worth remembering that serious repair can only be done by gas workers, but there are procedures available to independent home masters
Boiler manufacturers strongly recommend calling the gas service staff to correct problems related to breakdowns in the gas supply system and built-in electronic devices. An inexperienced person will not be able to independently configure, repair and restore the functions of specific automation in a gas boiler.
The design of a typical gas boiler has three main elements, these are:
- Gas burner closed / open type;
- Specific safety blocks;
- A heat exchange system consisting of one or two internal devices, the number of which is determined by the number of serviced circuits.
If all the components involved in the operation of the boiler are classified according to their functional purpose, then they can be divided into the following groups: control system devices, hydraulic system devices, burner and gas supply unit, chimney, boiler control devices, multi-level safety systems.
Most often, users have problems of the following nature: the boiler emits an unpleasant smell of gas, does not turn on, turns off during operation, does not heat pipes or smokes
Most of the listed items cannot be changed and repaired by yourself. In the event of interference with the boiler design, its owner loses the right to restore performance at the expense of the manufacturer during the warranty period. But what and how to repair the craftsmen from the organization with which the contract was concluded to service the unit and supply gas is necessary to know.
However, the owner of the gas equipment, seeking to extend its service life, can independently produce:
- Chimney cleaning.It is produced in cases of traction weakening by mechanical manipulation or with the use of chemical agents.
- Checking the tightness of the water supply connection points, gas supply lines, heating circuit branches.
- Installing a voltage stabilizer.
We warn again that all actions for which it is necessary to remove the casing from the boiler must be performed by a representative of the gas service.
However, if the guarantee is not important for you, then you can do it yourself:
- Manual external cleaning and internal flushing of the heat exchanger / heat exchangers. They are easy to dismantle, carry out the necessary procedures, and then install them back. In this case, it is effective to use homemade aqueous solutions of citric acid (100g / 1l) or suitable household chemicals that can dissolve calcium plaque.
- Service fan boost. Replace the fuse or the fan itself, check the electrical circuit connected to it, lubricate the bearings with technical fluid.
- Nozzle cleaning. Clogged nozzles cause a low burner flame. They periodically need to be cleaned with no fine sandpaper and remove contamination with rags with household chemicals.
- Adjustment of pressure in the system.
- Search for a problem due to which the boiler does not turn on.
In order to determine how and how to repair a gas boiler, it is necessary to carry out a visual inspection and, if necessary, conduct a series of diagnostic procedures. Self-repair is possible in cases where the warranty from the manufacturer has already expired.
If you smell gas, you should immediately forget about your own intervention. It is necessary to shut off the gas supply, immediately carry out volley airing and cause an emergency warning. The rules for operating gas equipment are detailed in the next article, the contents of which we strongly recommend that you familiarize yourself with.
Self Diagnostics Methods
Often the user is in a situation where he is not sure what exactly broke in the gas boiler. In such cases, there is no need to rush something to remove and repair. It is risky and dangerous. Before work, you should diagnose the equipment and identify the exact causes of the malfunctions.
If the boiler smokes, then usually the cause of this phenomenon is the consumption of low-quality gas or lack of air. You can check the cause of the malfunction yourself
Modern gas boilers are equipped with various sensors that reflect a number of important functional indicators of the unit. They track changes in temperature, pressure and other parameters. In the event of a malfunction in modern boiler models, an automatic shutdown of the device is provided.
The instructions attached to the purchase of the device describe the most common malfunctions in the purchased boiler model and how to detect, diagnose, and eliminate them. It also indicates what a specific error code means and flashing lights on the dashboard.
So the light can flash in different modes: fast or slow. Or burn constantly. The color of the light can be red, green, or yellow.
The manufacturer's instructions indicate all possible error codes that may appear on the display. However, it also explains how to troubleshoot
Do not throw the instruction away from the device, as it may come in handy for the gasman you called to correct the breakdown. It indicates the characteristic features of the model of a gas boiler, the size and location of components and parts.
Basic malfunctions and their elimination
After carrying out diagnostic procedures and identifying a specific problem, you need to start solving it. For this, depending on the situation, you will need some tool and accessories.Most problems are easily fixed with a tool that is always at hand.
Before starting work, it is important to disconnect the gas boiler from the electrical network. It is also necessary to shut off the gas supply by turning off the gas valve. Even in cases where repair procedures do not affect parts in contact with gas, it is necessary to turn off the fuel supply in accordance with safety regulations.
Volatile boilers quite often break due to power surges. As a result, not only the settings are reset, but also sensitive sensors become unusable.
In some cases, it is not possible to roughly estimate the duration of the required repair work. If in this situation the temperature in the street is minus, then a significant decrease in the temperature in the room is possible. And therefore, the water in the system will freeze.
To prevent the appearance of ice plugs in the boiler coils, the anti-icing system is never turned off for a long time. For example, if the boiler is not used for one or two days, all volatile devices are turned off, except for this function. Completely disconnect it from the power supply can only be in the case of conservation of the unit for a long time.
Also, before you start repairing the boiler and dismantling its internal components, you need to make sure that the working surface of the device has an acceptable temperature. During operation, the casing and appliances of the boiler heats up significantly, and contact with some parts can cause burns.
The gas boiler does not turn on
Sometimes when you try to turn on the boiler, it is discovered that the device simply refuses to work. First of all, make sure that the device is connected to the mains. Then you need to check if the switch is on in the dispenser.
If, after inserting the boiler plug into the socket and turning it on, the machine knocks out, then unplug the plug from the socket. Then you need to inspect the wiring for malfunctions.
If it turned out that the device is connected to a working outlet, but still does not start, then you need to disconnect the boiler from the network and carefully remove its protective cover. It is necessary to carefully inspect the internal elements of the boiler for signs of a short circuit. Such signs include the smell of burning and soot on the internal elements.
If there are no signs of a short circuit, then you need to inspect the fuse and electronic circuit board. In case of detection of a burnt fuse, you need to install a new one, turn on the boiler and check its operation. Sometimes after replacing a new fuse immediately blows. This usually indicates a serious breakdown inside the boiler or problems with wiring.
A common problem with an electronic board is getting it wet. It is better to dry it with an ordinary home hairdryer, and then leave it for a couple of days until the final evaporation of moisture.
The electrical wiring must be checked for proper connection and wiring. You need to make sure that there are no bare wires, short circuits.
If the fuse is found to be in order, inspect the varistor. This device protects the boiler from power surges. Perhaps earlier there was a serious power surge and the varistor exploded. Only a small part can remain of it. To solve this problem, you need to solder the varistor with a blowtorch and the right material.
A varistor is a semiconductor resistor. If the voltage rises to a too high level, then it redirects it through itself, thereby protecting the device
In cases where the boiler is accurately connected to the electrical network, and the fuse and varistor in good order and after inspection could not find the visible causes of problems with starting, you should call the master for repairing gas boilers.Most likely there is a serious internal malfunction, which will be problematic to eliminate at home.
A number of gas boiler models, which provide for displaying an error code on the dashboard, do not turn on and do not give an error code at the same time. Such a problem often manifests itself when the circuit of the temperature sensor installed in the room or on the street is broken.
It is necessary to inspect the room sensor, it may be turned off from the outlet or the batteries have run out on it. Then you need to replace the batteries or insert the plug into the outlet. If the temperature is not shown on the boiler panel, then most likely there is a problem with the thermostat and it is advisable to start searching for the problem with it.
Problems with filter and pump
The boiler may malfunction due to a clogged cold water filter. To clean it, shut off the water supply and pull out the filter screen. Rinse it under a stream of water or replace with a new one.
The coarse filter of the water supply system provides reliable protection of the boiler system from large foreign particles. If contaminated water enters the water supply, the filter is often clogged
Boiler users may also encounter a problem with the pump. The pump stops pumping water when the rotor is broken or air accumulates inside it. First of all, the health of the rotor is checked. To do this, unscrew the nut from the pump and drain the water. Then you need to insert a flat screwdriver into the slot and force the axis to scroll. Sometimes the pump sticks or sticks.
If it turns out that the pump is broken, then you will need to disassemble it yourself, find out the cause of the breakdown. Having determined which part is broken, you need to order it in a store with gas equipment or from the seller of the boiler. Parts of the pump change at home or in the workshop.
If air has accumulated in the pump, it is necessary to open the air outlet and wait until excess air comes out. The air vent closes with a tight-fitting cap. The air release process is accompanied by a characteristic sound.
The pump is often installed during the heating system in private homes. It allows you to drive warm water in a closed loop and provides the same heating of all radiators
If the gauge needle is in close proximity to the red zone, it is necessary to turn on the boiler and heat the water in the system. If with small heating the pressure rises strongly in the range from 0.7 to 1.5 bar, then you need to carry out the procedure to add air to the expansion tank.
Adding air is carried out after depressurizing the system to zero. This is done by opening the tap and draining the water. Then, using a pump or compressor, the pressure in the tank is pumped up to 1.3 bar. After that, you need to bring the pressure in the system to 1.5 bar.
Heat exchanger cleaning procedure
The cause of the boiler overheating is often faulty automation or a clogged heat exchanger. If the automation of the gas boiler is likely to be repaired in the service, then the heat exchanger can be cleaned of clogs at home. To do this, turn off the boiler and wait until it cools down. Turn off all taps and remove the device cover.
With a plastic film, you need to tightly close all electrical components and parts, the pump and control devices so that water does not accidentally get on them. By opening the tap or valve of the gas boiler, the remaining water must be drained from it.
Next, you need to dismantle the burner block with the collector, remove the fan from the seat, disconnecting the fasteners that fix it on the combustion chamber. Then the return pipe is disconnected from the heat exchanger.
Water is heated unevenly due to a violation of thermal conductivity. This is due to the accumulation of a large layer of scale on the walls of the heat exchanger. Uneven heating causes the water to alternate at different temperatures
To remove the heat exchanger, you must first disconnect the overheating sensor, then the combustion chamber is removed. For this, three self-tapping screws are pre-twisted, after which the camera, together with the cap, is pulled towards itself. After that, the cap is detached from the chamber and the heat exchanger is disconnected.
The heat exchanger itself is first mechanically cleaned with a brush and an emery cloth. Then you need to hold the item in a 10% solution of citric acid or household chemicals that dissolve mineral deposits. Soaking in the solution should pour for about 10-15 minutes.
Next, the solution is poured into the internal pipeline and hold it there for a similar period. After everything is drained and thoroughly washed with running water. Assemble in the exact reverse order. In order not to forget the sequence, it is recommended to take a photo of each step on the phone during dismantling.
If you first familiarize yourself with the recommendations for cleaning the heat exchanger and the instructions for disassembling the gas boiler, the preventive cleaning process will not take much time
It is recommended to clean the heat exchanger every one and a half or two years.
The solution to the problem of poor traction
Boilers with an open combustion chamber sometimes lose traction. To determine the cause of this malfunction, it is worth looking directly into the combustion chamber. Perhaps she clogged with soot, soot or decay products. It is necessary to clean with a brush and blow out this part with a vacuum cleaner.
Models with a closed combustion chamber are equipped with coaxial flues, which have the following disadvantages. In cold winter time, water drops from the outer pipe fall into the inner one, and there the water freezes and turns into an icicle.
The ice in the space between the pipes blocks the access of air to the gas boiler and, consequently, the flow of fresh air required for combustion is reduced. To solve this problem, the street part of the chimney is insulated or holes are drilled in the outer pipe to drain the condensate.
There are situations when foreign objects or waste get into the chimney. In such cases, you need to carefully dismantle the pipe and clean it from excess contents. Malfunctions in the operation of the gas boiler occur when the coaxial chimney is excessively clogged. Soot needs to be cleaned with a certain periodicity. Then the boiler will work long and efficiently.
It is worth noting that the accumulation of soot in a gas boiler is a rather rare occurrence. Gas during combustion does not emit too much burning. Therefore, the manufacturer usually recommends cleaning the chimney once every two or three years.
A pipe cleaning brush is fairly easy to make on your own. However, it can also be purchased at an affordable price in the store.
Cleaning the chimney is as follows. It is necessary to turn off the boiler, shut off the gas and water supply and wait until it cools down. Remove the external protection of the boiler and disconnect the chimney from it. Cleaning can be carried out mechanically or chemically.
It is convenient to clean the lower part of the chimney pipe directly adjacent to the boiler with a metal brush with a long handle, and then use a brush. After that, you can use chemical solutions. After cleaning the inside, proceed to clean the outside of the pipe.
You can clean the chimney with your own hands, while on the roof, in several ways. Most often, a special metal brush is used on a rope with a weight attached to it. The circumference of the cleaning tool should correspond to the circumference of the chimney.
Alternately lowering and raising the mechanism, the walls of the pipe are cleaned. Soot falls down and needs to be crushed, removed or vacuumed from the inside of the chimney.
You can also clean the chimney with a powerful vacuum cleaner specifically designed for similar procedures. Such a device has pockets for drawing in waste. And the hose has a length sufficient to clean the entire chimney.
In special cases, it is worth calling a chimney sweep, which has a vacuum unit designed for cleaning chimneys. This expensive device will completely clean the chimney from contamination and at the same time will not damage the system.
When cleaning the chimney and other elements of the boiler, you must always wear a mask on your face. It will protect the wearer from inhaling soot and harmful trace elements entering the lungs.
If you do not solve the problem of weak traction in a timely manner, then you can encounter a number of negative consequences:
- Carbon monoxide entering the premises and causing harm to the health of residents;
- Accumulations of soot increase the risk of fire;
- Due to soot on the walls of the boiler, heat loss and gas consumption increase.
Possible problems indicate that regular preventive cleaning of the gas device is necessary.
Replacement of components and elimination of leaks
If leaks and water leaks are detected at the gas boiler connection points, the water supply should be shut off. Then, using the wrench, you need to unscrew the connection, remove the remains of the tow and check the thread for damage. Then you need to apply a new layer of tow or FUM tape and tighten the pipes tightly.
If the inspection reveals that the water pipe is damaged, then you need to replace it yourself or call the plumbing.
The use of FUM tape, plumbing thread, liquid or anaerobic sealant protects pipe joints from leaks. Before re-screwing the pipes, thoroughly clean the threads from foreign elements
If you smell gas in the air, you must turn off the light and all sources of fire. Open the window and ventilate the room. Check for leaks with a soap solution. After applying it to the pipe, a soap bubble appears. Gas leakage is eliminated in the same way as on a water pipe.
Sometimes, after a diagnosis, it turns out that it is necessary to replace the burner in a gas boiler. You can replace the burner yourself, but it is worth installing the exact same burner model. It is necessary to disconnect all communications, and when dismantling it is necessary to remember the correct location of all elements connected to the burner.
If the boiler refuses to maintain the set temperature, then a broken sensor is usually to blame. Temperature sensors can be overhead or immersion. Overheads are easily mounted on pipes and replaced without difficulty. When installing an immersion sensor, drain the water from the boiler and, after installing the sensor, seal the threads.
In order to maximally secure your own space and eliminate the possibility of excess toxins due to the operation of gas equipment, it is recommended to use a carbon monoxide sensor at home. The principle of its operation, the rules of selection and installation are described in the article we recommend.
How to flush the heat exchanger of a gas boiler:
Gas boiler fault detection and correction:
Gas boilers are high-tech and safe devices. Like all equipment, they have their own shelf life. When conducting timely preventive maintenance, the boiler will last a long time. If the boiler begins to junk or malfunction, it is necessary to immediately inspect and diagnose it, to identify the cause of the malfunction.
There are a number of common boiler malfunctions. Sometimes the unit refuses to turn on or its operation deteriorates due to a too dirty coarse filter. Also, users are faced with the problem of pollution of the heat exchanger and chimney.When carrying out repairs, safety precautions must always be observed.
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