Tips & Tricks
When buying heating radiators, it should be borne in mind that bimetallic and aluminum heat exchangers have a small volume in which the circulating heat carrier does not form sediment.
When choosing a heating system, preference should be given to closed types. Such systems are characterized by a constant volume of the coolant, which does not allow the formation of new deposits.
The best connection is at the bottom of the radiator. Since the sediment is formed in horizontal sections, such a connection helps to remove the bulk of the sediments with the flow of the working medium.
It is recommended to install a filter that does not require large investments, but greatly simplifies the cleaning process. Descaling the mud filter is easier than flushing the riser.
Tips for the operation of heating pipes
In order for the heating performance not to decrease below the critical state, it is necessary to adhere to several rules:
- Clean at least once a year.
- If possible, refuse to use untreated water as a heat carrier. In the simplest case, preparation consists in boiling, during which the content of dissolved salts is significantly reduced. Accordingly, the intensity of scale formation is reduced. However, it is more effective to use special inhibitors that reduce the intensity of corrosion and scale deposits. When using inhibitors, ensure that they are compatible with the material of the existing pipes and radiators.
- The heating mains must have coarse filters. They should be installed so that the branch pipe is directed downward. This will make it easier and more efficient to clean, since all impurities will drain together with the water.
- It is advisable to clean the washing filters at least once a year.
If cleaning is carried out by specialists, when choosing a contractor, it makes sense to pay attention to those organizations that provide a guarantee for the work performed.
When is it not necessary to flush the heating system?
In an apartment building equipped with a centralized heating system, the frequency of cleaning should be at least 1 time per calendar year. If we are talking about an autonomous complex, then the frequency of flushing will be determined based on the need. In the case of a noticeable drop in the efficiency of the heating circuit, flushing is imperative.
This rule does not apply to metal water pipes that are coated on the inside with anti-corrosion agents or to aluminum and bimetallic products. This is primarily due to their insignificant internal volume, which is why the liquid circulates at high speed. washing out various kinds of dirt.
In addition, there is no need to flush closed heating systems equipped with special mud collectors. The coolant in such a system does not need external feed and, therefore, there is no influx of new impurities and dirt from the outside. And most importantly, the system is equipped with removable filters.
It has been proven from practice that regular flushing of the heating leads to an increase in the operating life of the heating device up to 7 years, and the improvement in energy efficiency will increase by at least 25%. And, if hydrodynamic flushing can be attributed to a sparing method, then the chemical method is equated with capital repairs.
Only by cleaning all the components of the heating system will it work with lower loads. This greatly facilitates the circulation of water, which leads to an increase in the heat transfer of the batteries.Thanks to this, significant energy savings can be achieved. used for heating the coolant.
Why is it needed
In the vast majority of old houses, the bottling, risers and heating pipes are mounted with steel pipes. Black steel has an unpleasant feature: rough pipe walls tend to collect dirt, gradually overgrowing with scale. The build-up is formed mainly from rust and calcium salts.
Rust is a product of pipe wall corrosion. The source of calcium is sedimentary rocks, which are washed away by water on the way to the water intake.
Not only that: over time, bottling, piping and radiators are clogged with silt - suspended in them suspensions, which enter the heating devices along with the coolant and settle in areas with a minimum speed of its movement.
Typical condition of the supply to the radiator on heating after five years of operation without flushing.
The consequences of a decrease in the permeability of pipes and the appearance of deposits of sludge in radiators are very predictable:
- Decrease in circulation rate. It leads to a drop in the temperature of the return pipe and, accordingly, to a decrease in the temperature in living quarters;
- Cooling of the last sections of sectional batteries. It is there that the water velocity is minimal, therefore, sludge begins to accumulate in the lower collector of the extreme sections and, over time, completely blocks the circulation in them;
If the outer sections are cold, the battery needs flushing.
In the most advanced cases - defrosting the heating system or its individual sections. If the circulation of the coolant stops in cold weather, the water in the pipes and batteries will freeze very quickly. Since when the state of aggregation changes to solid, it increases in volume, pipelines and heating devices will be torn.
Without flushing
Flushing the heating system in a private house is not necessary if three conditions are met:
- The system is autonomous (i.e. not connected to the heating main, but has its own heat source);
- It refers to closed heat supply systems (without taking hot water from the heating circuit and, accordingly, without renewing the heat carrier);
- It is equipped with a membrane expansion tank. An open tank assumes the evaporation of water and its periodic replenishment.
Closed autonomous system with a membrane tank and without hot water connections.
If all the conditions are met, the coolant, in the absence of leaks, circulates in a closed loop for an unlimited time. After the precipitation of a small amount of salts and suspensions that are contained in the water, the contamination of pipes and radiators will completely stop.
Hydropneumatic flushing - common and popular
The composition of deposits in heating networks usually includes salts of various elements - magnesium, sodium, cadmium. They are very "tenacious" on the pipes, while their structure is quite fragile. It is not difficult to destroy it if a hydropneumatic compressor is used. It pumps air, which forms active turbulent vortices in the pipes. And they break up salt deposits without any problems.
The scheme for flushing the system when using such equipment is described below:
- The valve on the return pipe is closed.
- The compressor is connected to the system metering valve.
- The water discharge on the return line is opened.
- We are waiting until the pressure in the compressor equipment (in its ballast tank) reaches 6 kgf / cm2, after which we open its valve.
Hydropneumatic flushing
Then you need to alternately block the risers (or entire groups) and clean them. The duration of the procedure may vary. The need to end the flushing is indicated by clear water going to the discharge.Once it is clean, the second part of the hydropneumatic technique can be performed. The scheme of work is as follows:
- We close the valve to which the compressor is connected, as well as the reset.
- We close the valve on the supply, and open on the return.
- We start the discharge from the supply and connect the compressor on the return pipeline to the metering valve.
- We turn on the equipment and carry out flushing according to the above principles.
The recommended frequency of hydropneumatic cleaning is 5 years. However, it can be produced more often if necessary (every 2-3 years).
Pneumohydro-impulse and hydrodynamic flushing are still rarely used, since in terms of efficiency they are inferior to the methods discussed above.
(Visited 755 times, 1 visits today)
Stages of crimping
Before starting pressure testing, the heating circuit is cleaned of deposits, rust and impurities. For this, the system is flushed, an external inspection of pipes, insulation and connections is carried out for defects. In multi-storey buildings, the circuit is blocked from the common riser to ensure autonomy for the period of inspection.
The system circuit is filled with water. With the help of a pump, air is supplied, the system is checked for leaks. The pressure in the circuit is created more than the operating pressure. Places where air breaks through the joints are marked to eliminate the defect. High-quality connections do not suffer with this check. Water is drained, troubleshooting. After that, the crimping procedure is repeated.
Hydropneumatic flushing of the heating system
Hydropneumatic flushing of the heating system
The easiest way to implement, and which does not require any investment, except for labor.
This is a common mechanical cleaning that is possible in any apartment or house.
Instructions:
- First of all, it is necessary to disconnect the radiator from the system and drain all the liquid from it. Be sure to cover all surfaces with unnecessary rags so as not to spoil or damage the coating. If you have a special crane on your batteries, this will greatly facilitate the task. In the event that there are cast iron batteries in the house, a heating element may be needed to remove them (to make it easier to untwist the connection).
- Next, the radiator must be flushed. The easiest way to do this is in the bathroom, directing water from the shower hose under maximum pressure into the pipes. This should be done as long as rusty water will run. If there is too much and visible deposits inside the pipes, use a metal tool. As soon as the dirt stops flushing out of the battery, the cleaning is finished.
- We wash the pipes in the same way, cleaning individual sections.
- Be sure to clean the threads from corrosion before assembling the system.
Flushing - why is this procedure needed?
The effective functioning of any modern heating system with water as a heat carrier depends on the temperature, magnitude and speed of the water flow through the pipes. When salt deposits form and accumulate on their walls, the gaps in the tubular products become smaller. This is most often observed in the places of tie-ins and bends of pipelines, as well as in horizontal sections. Blockages lead to the fact that the heating equipment starts to work with incomplete efficiency and wears out quickly.
It has been proven that heat transfer is reduced by 13–16% when deposits are formed in pipes with a thickness of only 1 mm.
Over time, the efficiency of the system becomes even lower, but the cost of heating the water increases. There is no point in tolerating this, since the problem is solved, in general, quite simply - by flushing pipes and radiators. Sanitary rules recommend that it be carried out in cases where you notice the following "painful symptoms" of the functioning of the heating system:
- some parts of the battery get very hot, while others remain cold;
- the pipe brought to the battery has a high temperature, and the radiator remains cold;
- the heating system at start-up heats up for a very long time, which was not recorded before.
Most often, steel pipes that do not have a special anti-corrosion coating are clogged. In them, blockages are formed due to rusting of products and mineralization of water on the inner surface. Cast-iron radiators (pipes) are also prone to the formation of deposits, in which hot water often stagnates, which leads to their siltation. For this reason, elements of heating systems made of cast iron and steel must be cleaned regularly, without waiting for the clearance in them to drop to zero, which will require a complete replacement of the pipeline and radiators.
Clogged steel pipes
Equipment made of "stainless steel" and galvanized steel alloys, aluminum and bimetallic radiators need to be flushed much less frequently. But they should also be cleaned more or less regularly, given the low quality of cleaning units and complexes installed at enterprises that supply heat to our apartments.
Full flushing of the heating system of apartment buildings and private houses makes it possible to get rid of deposits and layers that have collected in it during operation. The cost of such an event depends on:
- the length and size of pipes and batteries;
- the degree of contamination of the system and the type of contamination;
- the type of flushing and the equipment used for it.
The specific price for the service can be obtained from the contractor of your choice. The cost of the latter is always determined individually. Typically, flushing the heating system of an apartment building costs at least 2.5-3 thousand rubles.
How to flush the heating system?
This procedure can be performed in several ways, each of them has its own characteristics and conditions of work. It:
- simple flushing of the entire system with water;
- chemical cleaning;
- hydropneumatic flushing.
The first 2 methods are available to every homeowner and do not require special costs, while using the hydropneumatic method, you will need special flushing equipment. It includes a compressor and a device for pumping water into the system simultaneously with air. The process is carried out under a pressure of 6 Bar, the water-air mixture successfully and in a fairly short time cleans all internal surfaces from all kinds of deposits.
A method such as hydropneumatic flushing of the heating system is considered one of the best, the result is almost 100% guaranteed. There are two drawbacks, we have already mentioned the first of them, this is the equipment. It is pointless to buy it, which means you will have to rent or hire a specialized company. In any case, tangible financial costs await you.
After cleaning old steel pipe systems, fistulas may appear in some places. Therefore, it is recommended to observe it for a while after the system is put into operation. However, chemical washing using various acids or alkalis can lead to the same outcome. It is done in two ways:
- a pumping station with a tank containing a reactive liquid for flushing is included in the break of the system (it is possible instead of a circulation pump). Forcing it to circulate throughout the system for a certain time, the station completely cleans the pipes from plaque;
- the system is filled with water containing detergent, after which it is held for a predetermined period of time. The cleaning agent can be vinegar, caustic soda, or a commercially available rinsing agent. Then the dirty composition is drained, and ordinary water is driven through the pipes.
The disadvantage of using acids and alkalis is that the flushing liquid from the system cannot be drained into the domestic sewer, and during the work process, safety measures must be taken when handling caustic substances. But the result is achieved quickly, and the cleaning is efficient.
The pressure flushing method with plain water is the recommended method for annual maintenance. There are still very few deposits on the walls, and if you remove the circulation pump and connect the supply and drain hose to the outlets, most of them will be removed.The main thing is to supply water in the direction opposite to the flow of the coolant in order to flush out plaque in the hydraulic pockets.
In this case, the flushing of the radiators and the boiler is carried out together with the pipelines; nothing needs to be disassembled. And in order to do the operation better, you can add a car radiator cleaner to the system before draining the coolant and keep it for 15 minutes. There are also preventive compositions added to the coolant during operation. You need to use them, following the instructions on the package.
Heating system pressure testing
Manual Pressure Testing Pump
Before starting the system, it must be pressurized. This procedure detects leaks and other weak points.
Pressure testing is carried out using a compressor or pump. The main thing is that the equipment can deliver a pressure higher than the operating pressure for your system. Check with your local utility office for this figure.
The sequence of actions is as follows.
First step. We visually examine the heating circuit for visible defects. We memorize suspicious places.
Second step. We connect the pump to the heating system (the connection manual was given earlier) and supply a pressure that exceeds the operating pressure by 1-2 atm. Pre-disable the emergency pressure relief valve.
Heating system pressure testing Heating system pressure testing
Third step. We connect a pressure gauge to the pump. We fix the pressure indicators within 1-2 hours. If they do not change, the system is fine. If the pressure drops, there are leaks. Finding leaks is easy. It is enough to apply a soap solution to the elements of the system. Bubbles will appear in the defective areas.
Lubricate pipes and connections with soapy water
The detected damage is repaired by a suitable method (cold welding, binder mortar, etc.). After sealing the defects, the tests must be repeated. If the pressure stays at the same level, you have dealt with everything. You can supply a coolant to the circuit and turn on the heating system.
Flushing the heating system removes blockages and scale, thereby increasing the efficiency of the line and extending its service life. Now you have all the information you need to carry out the necessary activities on your own.
Happy work!
What is system pressure testing used for?
The heating system has natural or forced circulation of the coolant. In forced systems, the liquid moves through the pipes with the help of a pump, in natural systems - with the support of a certain pressure in the circuit. Pressure testing - checking the tightness of all connections. It is performed immediately after the installation of the system before commissioning, as well as after a period of downtime in the off-season, repair, redevelopment and modernization of system elements.
A pressure of water or compressed air is supplied to the heating system circuit. This procedure allows you to identify weak points in the circuit, poor-quality connections, leaks. Damaged elements and places with poor-quality connections leak. Thus, it is possible to quickly and efficiently eliminate faults before starting the system. A tightness test is a prevention of circuit breakdown and leakage during sudden pressure drops in the heating system.
Non-standard ways
Elevator without nozzle
How and with what to flush the heating system of an apartment building in the absence of a compressor and a control campaign? Alas, this also happens at a distance from large cities.
In this case, the operation of the elevator unit without a nozzle for two to three days often helps.When the inlet, house and hot water valves are turned off, the water jet elevator is removed, the nozzle is removed from it, and the suction (lower flange of the elevator) is muffled by a steel pancake.
Water jet elevator removed, suction plugged. Water from the supply line of the heating main goes directly to the heating tap.
- The temperature of the coolant in the heating circuit rises;
- Circulation accelerates. The nozzle no longer restricts the flow of water from the supply line of the heating main. The difference between the beginning and the end of the contour is not the standard 0.2 kgf / cm2, but 2-3 atmospheres.
Pressure distribution in the elevator unit. It is explained by the principle of operation of the water jet elevator (right).
Why is this procedure not standard? Because with this mode:
- The heat consumption increases many times (that is, its supplier bears losses);
- The temperature regime of the heating main is violated. Excessively hot water gets into the return pipe. Due to the technological cycle of the CHP plant, before the new circulation cycle, it has to be cooled to the required temperature.
Flush cock
How to rinse the battery with your own hands if the efficiency of the heater has dropped noticeably over several years of operation?
To begin with in the summer, before the start of the heating season, it must be equipped with a flushing valve.
The blind plug of any modern radiator can be easily transformed into a straight through, ready for the installation of a washer. It is enough to unscrew the plug.
The best washer is a male-female ball valve (male and female) screwed into the radiator plug.
Inexpensive and reliable washer.
After starting the heating, a regular garden hose is connected to the flush valve, crimped with a clamp on a 1/2-inch short thread. The hose is directed to the sewer - to the toilet or to the outlet of the bathtub. It is worth opening the tap - and the sludge accumulated in the outer sections will fly out at the front of the water flow.
Faience is afraid of temperature changes. Therefore, it is better to insert the hose into the toilet bowl as deeply as possible, so that hot water flows directly into the riser;
When heated quickly, the toilet bowl, into which hot water is discharged during flushing, may crack.
- Secure the hose. Otherwise, you run the risk of conducting an unscheduled experiment illustrating jet propulsion. Considering that hot and very dirty water will play the role of a jet stream, the result will not please you;
- Wait for the water to clear. As long as there is dirt on the dump, continue flushing.
Why did I classify this flushing method as non-standard? You see, the rules for operating closed heating systems prohibit the withdrawal of water from the heating system. In open systems, discharge is in principle possible, but in our case it goes past the water meter and again leads to the consumption of unpaid hot water.
All consumed water must pass through metering devices.
Flushing is only needed for radiators with side or diagonal connections. The more sections, the faster the last of them become clogged with dirt. With a two-way bottom connection, continuous circulation through the bottom corrector of the device prevents it from silting up.
Lateral one-way connection of 10 sections is guaranteed sludge deposits.
Bilateral bottom connection. The lower collector is constantly flushed with coolant.
Hydropneumatic cleaning of heating pipes
This method can be called the most affordable, since it does not require material costs, it is enough just to make a little effort. This simple mechanical pipe cleaning can be performed in any living space.
Principle of operation
Hydropneumatic cleaning of heating system pipes is carried out independently, without the involvement of experienced specialists.
The process of flushing heating pipes in this way is as follows:
- The element to be washed is disconnected from the system and water is drained from it. It is best to use an unnecessary rag so as not to spoil the flooring by accidentally leaking liquid. The presence of special taps for draining water will facilitate and speed up the process.A heating element can be used to remove cast iron batteries to facilitate the disconnection process.
- Then the battery should be flushed with water pressure directed into the cell. The flushing process continues until rusty water stops flowing from the radiator. Metal tools can be used to remove large amounts of deposits. The cleaning is finished when clean water begins to flow out of the battery.
- Pipe cleaning is performed in the same way, dividing the entire system into separate sections.
- Before assembling the system, the centers of corrosion are removed from the threads.
Flushing options - how to get the heating system back working?
Technologies and rules for cleaning thermal and sanitary-technical communications of residential buildings are described in Sanitary Standards 3.05.03–85 and 3.05.01–85. These standards require flushing of heating systems after the heating season and before it starts. This cleaning, performed every six months, is called preventive cleaning.
There is also active flushing. It is carried out as needed at any time. At the same time, the rules require that the water supply to the house be shut off, and the heating is completely turned off.
Heating system flushing process
Now flushing is carried out using several technologies. She may be:
- hydrodynamic;
- chemical;
- hydropneumatic;
- pneumohydropulse.
Any of these techniques is designed to return the system to high functionality. The choice of a specific technology for cleaning pipes and batteries is made after thorough diagnostics, which aims to find out the nature, exact composition and special properties of the formed scale. On the basis of these data, the equipment is selected that will be optimal for flushing the system, as well as a technological map and rules for carrying out cleaning activities are being developed.
Note that conventional flushing techniques have their own pros and cons. The frequency of application of each of them is different. Some technologies are not suitable for cleaning systems from any particular material. For this reason, the selection and implementation of flushing operations should be carried out exclusively by specialists in such matters. They generally advise consumers to use chemical and hydropneumatic technology.
Heating system diagnostics
Example of uneven heating of the battery
How to flush an aluminum radiator and when should it be done? First of all, it is necessary to determine the appropriateness of the system cleaning procedure. It depends on several factors that can be identified independently.
The main sign of the relevance of solving the issue of how to flush the heating system in an apartment building is the uneven heat transfer of radiators. Those. in some areas the heating temperature is correct, while in others it is not. The relevance of flushing heating batteries can be determined by touching (which is not entirely correct) or using a thermal imager and chiseled thermometers.
Since it is possible to flush the heating system in a private house only after comparing its current indicators with the required ones, you should check the pressure in various parts of the circuit. In places where pipes and radiators are blocked, the wire diameter decreases, which entails pressure surges. This is also one of the mandatory cleaning factors.
What other external signs can indicate the presence of a blockage?
- Increased noise level. It is a consequence of a change in the volume of hot water passing through different sections of the system;
- Frequent actuation of the safety group - air vent and drain valve.
Having found out that it is necessary to flush the heating system in a private house, you should choose the right technology. It depends on the material of manufacture of pipes and radiators.
Rules for flushing heating in an apartment building
Compliance with the frequency of flushing the heat supply system in an apartment building is an important step in heating maintenance. However, not every tenant knows who should be responsible for this procedure and the procedure for its implementation.
Washing heating in an apartment building
It should be noted that the entire heating system in an apartment building is divided by ownership. Everything that is located in the apartment must be serviced by its owner. The Management Company is obliged to maintain the working condition of all other highways and elements, using special installations for flushing heat supply systems. In case of non-observance of the maintenance rules, she bears full responsibility for the occurrence of emergencies or failures in heating.
To clean the heat supply, it is best to use chemical agents for flushing heating radiators and pipes. This can be done independently or with the help of the services of specialized companies. They will be able to choose the right solutions for flushing heating and carry out this procedure in accordance with established standards. After completing the cleaning, you need to request a document. A sample of the heating system flushing certificate can be taken in advance to familiarize yourself with it.
Sample rinsing certificate
For the owner of the apartment, he is essentially not needed. This document may be required if, in the event of a heat supply failure, the Management Company tries to accuse the tenant of improperly flushing the radiators and heating pipes in the apartment. The presence of an act will indicate compliance with the implementation standards. In other cases, filling in the heating system flushing act is done only when ordering the cleaning of the general house heat supply.
The following items must be completed in the sample heating system flushing certificate:
- The selected cleaning method is chemical or hydraulic;
- Tools used for flushing pipes and heating radiators - pumps, compressors, chemical components;
- The effect of cleaning is an increase in heat transfer, an improvement in the quality of the system, saving thermal energy;
- The responsible organization and its representatives performing hydraulic or chemical flushing of the heating system.
All these nuances should be reflected in the document. Residents of the house have the right to demand from the Management Company an act of flushing the heat supply system in order to make sure that it performs the functions assigned to it.
How often to flush the heating system
There are two types of cleaning works:
- The first flushing is carried out immediately after the installation of the heating system. This is due to the fact that during the heating equipment, various kinds of debris or oily contamination could get inside the pipes. Therefore, the flushing procedure must be carried out until the drain water is completely clean.
- Regular flushing in systems equipped with metal pipes is recommended to occur twice a year - before the start of the heating season and after its end. For plastic pipelines, it is recommended to clean it once a year - before the start of the heating season.
Knowing now the reasons for the contamination of heating systems, as well as the regularity of cleaning, the question involuntarily arises: is it possible to flush yourself?
And we will give an affirmative answer to this: cleaning the heating system can be done by hand. To do this, you just need to choose the optimal flushing option, which will be discussed further.