Washing of boilers and heat exchangers: technology, chemicals

The boiler is flushed when the machine stops functioning normally. At the same time, most users turn to specialists who will clean the boilers for money and make all necessary adjustments. But few people think that they will be able to cope with this task independently. But in vain.

Time for boiler cleaning

Cleaning is done in three cases:

1. For prevention. Such washing of boilers is carried out by the owner of the house once or twice a year. At the same time, a minimum of resources and efforts is spent.
2. When the heat exchanger is contaminated with scum or soot, its effective operation is reduced. In this case, you can repair the malfunction yourself or call the master.
3. There was a failure of the heat generator. He just stops. In this case, a specialist can not do without. It makes the system work and rinses it.

Boiler washing options

There are only three ways to flush the gas boiler for repair:

• mechanical;
• hydraulic;
• complex.

The second and third methods are most effective. If the prophylactic or regular cleaning of the boiler can be done by yourself, then repair is better to entrust to professionals.

The mechanical method is to use physical force and tools in order to clean the scale in the boilers. These can be scrapers or brushes, as well as modern spreading heads with different types of drive. Tools should be matched correctly, and use them with caution. If the walls of the boiler are damaged, this will lead to increased corrosion, and further to the rapid failure of the entire system. The lowest danger for the device is flushing with hydraulics. Water under pressure removes scale from all parts of the boiler.

In the complex version, the washing of the boilers is carried out with a head of water using tools. Most often this happens if in some part of the device there is too much pollution.

What is a heat exchanger

The gas boiler has in its design an element that is located above the furnace and is a connected tube. The coolant circulates in them. Its location is not accidental, burning gas in the boiler should heat the coolant, which is located in the heat exchanger.

The heat carrier is water. She, being heated, passes further on the system. But unrefined water contains in its composition a lot of impurities that can settle in the tubes when heated. Most often these are salts and calcareous particles. If there is a lot of pollution, water can hardly pass through the tubes, which leads to malfunctions.

Time for cleaning the heat exchanger

A lot of controversy is about when it is necessary to flush the heat exchanger of the gas boiler. There are signs that will prompt that it's time to clean. The most important of them are:

• A permanently switched on gas burner in the boiler;
• The pump for circulation began to work with noise, which indicates its overload;
• Heating radiators heat up significantly longer;
• Gas consumption has increased, although the operating mode of the boiler has not changed;
• Weakened the pressure of water (this feature is taken into consideration when it is necessary to rinse a two-circuit boiler).

Procedure for washing the heat exchanger with a booster

Booster is a special device for chemical cleaning. It allows the solution of the reagents to be circulated in the heat exchanger autonomously.

1. The first step is to disconnect both nozzles of the device from the heating system.
2. One of them is connected to the booster hose, through which the reagent feed will be carried out.
3. The second branch pipe also connects to the booster hose, but with another one. The spent solution will be released into it. It turns out that the system will close, and circulation will occur, and without additional participation.
4. The spent solution will remain in the booster, it must be drained. Wash the heat exchanger with water.

It is better to clean the booster several times, because the reagent gradually reduces its properties, and the new solution will improve the cleaning efficiency.

Ways of washing the boiler and heat exchanger

Flushing of the heat exchanger of the gas boiler is carried out to maintain the capacity of the apparatus and its thermal qualities.

Instruments can differ in the type of heat exchanger and the quality of the water used, depending on this, and they should be washed in different ways. There are three reliable and proven methods:

• chemical;
• mechanical;
• combined.

Chemical method of washing the heat exchanger

Boilers are cleaned using reagents, mainly acids, and a special installation is mandatory.

With the help of such an installation dissolve the acid to the desired consistency and heat it. Temperature significantly affects the quality of washing. After the preparation of the solution, it is fed to the heat exchanger and then to its outlet.

Cleaning of heat exchangers occurs due to the presence and circulation of acid in it. Complete the rinse with plenty of water.

There is a possibility that the scale consists of various chemical components, so the cleaning should be done using additional washing of the boilers with other chemicals.

Washing with acid has advantages:

• Do not need to remove and disassemble the device, which saves time;
• After such cleaning in the heat exchanger will not remain the most common contaminants - salts of hardness and magnesium hydroxide.

There are also disadvantages:

• Apply it with a low degree of contamination;
• Those contaminations that are formed due to corrosion, not removed by this method;
• Safety measures are mandatory, since the reagents are very toxic and dangerous;
• The solution after washing should be neutralized and disposed of.

Reagents for washing

Manufacturers of various types of chemistry provide a choice of several options for the means by which the gas boilers are flushed.

Consider several parameters when choosing a particular tool:

• Pollution level;
• Material from which the boiler and heat exchanger are made, their reaction to the chemical to be purchased.

The following substances are suitable for cleaning the domestic boiler:

• Citric acid - its effectiveness in the removal of scale is very high;
• Sulfamic acid and adipic acid - effective with preventive cleaning and regular washing, with minor contamination;
• Hydrochloric acid - this is used to remove very strong contaminants;
• Various gels - they need to be dissolved in water (efficiency is in no way inferior to previous means).

Chemical cleaning of boilers and heat exchangers is carried out only with observance of special safety measures.

Mechanical method of washing the heat exchanger

The main difference from the chemical method is the disassembly of the entire heat exchanger.

After that, each of the parts is washed separately with a jet of water under a strong head. This method is used in very rare cases, when the pollution is not amenable to other types of purification.

Benefits:

• It is effective at strong pollution, even corrosion products can be washed only by this method;
• The use of chemistry is excluded - it is absolutely safe method;
• No need for additional disposal of the wash solution.

Disadvantages:

• The main disadvantage of mechanical washing remains the analysis of the whole unit. This is very difficult to do, and some instruments do not even have a disassembly instruction. In any case, it will take a lot of effort and a lot of time.
• In order for the water pressure to be strong enough, an additional apparatus must be used.
• The cost of mechanical washing significantly exceeds the chemical due to heavy labor.

The second version of the mechanical method:

• The first step is to disconnect the boiler from the power supply.
• Disassemble it and carefully pull out the heat exchanger.
• Lower the element into a container with an acid solution of a small concentration for a time of 3 to 7 hours, depending on the degree of contamination.
• Rinse the heat exchanger under running water and set to the same place.

Experts advise that when washing with water, a little tap on the device to improve cleaning. The most effective method is with soaking the parts when cleaning the dual-circuit boiler.

Combined heat exchanger cleaning method

Serious and neglected pollution can not be cleaned by just one of the methods, so use a combined one.

In the heat exchanger, there may be several types of chemical contaminants, as well as corrosion products. When washing by any of the methods, special balls can be added to the solution, which will create an additional head and will be able to repel the scale from the walls of the device.

Conclusion

Washing boilers and cleaning them from soot is possible without assistance from the side. But it's quite another matter to wash the heat exchanger. It will require confidence in the success - if it is not, then for the first time you can call the master. In doing so, closely monitor his actions, so that when you re-clean, be sure that you can handle on your own.