Installing a heating boiler

As with any complicated device, the installation of a heating boiler by and large defines how well it will serve You. Therefore it’s important to entrust the installation to a qualified and experienced specialist, who’ll set up the boiler house and all the required connections according to the appropriate standards. To help You avoid unpleasant surprises, here are the most important criteria in the installation of a heating boiler.

Appropriate chimney

A heating boiler may only be connected to an insulated, lined chimney of appropriate size. The cross section of the house chimney must be at least ¼ larger than that of the flue of the heating boiler. A brick chimney must be insulated and lined with a smooth steel shell (corrugated steel should not be used, as it accumulates condensation and soot). You should pay attention that the chimney isn’t used to exhaust flue gases from other heating equipment, except in cases when the chimney has specifically been built for servicing multiple heating installations.

The connecting pipe between the flue of the heating boiler and the home’s chimney can be several meters long, with the condition that it’s easy to clean. The pipe must be made from heat and corrosion-resistant metal, and it has to be insulated with wool at least 50mm in thickness, covered by metal foil or a tin sheet.

Boiler room furnishings

When furnishing the boiler room, you should make sure it meets all fire safety guidelines. There must be no flammable materials or fuel outside its special container in close proximity to the heating boiler. All heating system pipes must be made of metal, in order to reduce the risk of a fire hazard.

The most common heating boiler installation mistakes

Even though the installation of a heating boiler should always be entrusted to a professional, it’s recommended to make sure the following mistakes aren’t made during the montage process:

• Recirculation isn’t connected – in this case, the boiler’s built in recirculation, which protects from corrosion and improves efficiency, isn’t used.
  
• Three-way valves aren’t installed – in this case, the boiler’s heating circuit isn’t separated from the heating system and instead of being heated to a set temperature, the water immediately flows through the heating system. As a result, the temperature in the boiler can fall below the dew point, causing condensation and corrosion.
  
• The floor below the boiler isn’t fire-resistant – during operation, the temperature at the bottom of the boiler can increase, and charring ash may fall out during cleaning. It’s important for the boiler to be placed on a hard, stable and fire-resistant platform to avoid fire risks.
  
• Insufficient expansion tank volume – as the temperature of the water changes, so does its volume. The addition water volume is transferred into the expansion tank, thus preventing dangerous pressure buildups. If the expansion tank is too small, the water pressure may burst the pipes. Also, there must be no lockshield valve between the heating boiler and the expansion tank.
  
• The connecting pipe between the boiler and the chimney has no cleaning hatch – in this case, it’s impossible to clean the pipe. Over time, it can accumulate ash or soot and clog up.
  
• No condensation drain for the chimney – condensation accumulating in the chimney points towards problems in the operation of the heating boiler. Without a condensation drain, this problem can’t be ascertained, and the condensation goes directly into the heating boiler, causing corrosion.
  
• Minimum distances for maintenance aren’t followed – in addition to the dimensions of the boiler, you should also account for space needed to open maintenance hatches. Otherwise, cleaning the boiler becomes difficult or even impossible.
  

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