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Do you think it is enough to choose the right water heater? For successful operation, it is equally important to connect it. In the article you will learn how to tie an indirect heating boiler. Our recommendations will help to carry out the installation so that the equipment works as efficiently as possible and does not break.
Types of water heaters and the principle of their operation
Unlike models that run on electricity or gas, an indirect heating boiler (BKN) operates due to an external heat source. If the system is connected to heating, then the coolant is heated by solid fuel. This approach helps out in the winter, but what to do in the summer, when the heating season is over?
Manufacturers produce combined systems: in addition, a heating element is placed in the tank, which can be powered by electricity or a solar collector. How to make an indirect boiler, read in a separate publication.
There are two types of water heaters:
- managed;
- without control.
The first ones are more expensive and easy to use, they work automatically. All that is needed:
- Connect hot water inlet and outlet.
- Organize the supply of cold flow to the tank.
- Install a liquid dispenser.
Even appliances with a thermostat cannot heat up more than the coolant allows. For example, the boiler heats up to 40 degrees, which means that the coolant will warm the water by a maximum of 40 degrees.
Devices without control work automatically, depending on the parameters of the boiler. You will have to mount the temperature sensor yourself and connect it to the heating system. After that, the strapping is performed, which we will discuss in more detail below.
When choosing, pay attention to additional functionality – it can be useful during operation. More expensive models may be equipped with accumulation system. Thanks to improved insulation and a large tank volume, the liquid retains heat well in the absence of electricity.
There are also devices recirculation. Fast heating is provided by three nozzles. Two of them move a hot stream, one cold. An additional pipe can be used to connect things to the dryer.
Features of tanks and their installation
Indirect water heaters are floor and wall. Wall-mounted reach a capacity of up to 150 liters. The shape of the tank is most often round. Mounted on special brackets that come with the kit.
Tanks with a displacement of 200 to 1500 are installed on the floor. They have side or rear hose connections. The base often rests on legs. For large equipment, you will have to allocate a separate room.
Nuances of installation and strapping of the device
It is best to tie the water heater together with the installation of the boiler and other equipment than to embed the device into an already finished system. There are two main connection principles:
- Priority. This scheme requires a powerful boiler. It provides rapid heating of the contents of the tank, pumping the entire volume through the coil. Thus, hot water enters the radiators, which does not allow the temperature to drop.
- Without the priority. It is characterized by prolonged heating, since not all water passes through the coolant.
Binding rules:
- Choose a place to install the tank as close to the boiler as possible. This way you can reduce heat loss.
- Installation must be carried out on a flat and stable surface.
- For the normal functioning of the system, an expansion tank must be installed at the outlet of the water heater. It neutralizes thermal expansion.
- Each individual device (circuit) must be equipped with taps. This will allow you to disable them individually, independently of the rest of the system.
- A check valve is required.
- To reduce water hardness, install cleaning filters.
- Do not place tanks larger than 150 liters on the wall, especially if it is made of drywall.
How to tie a boiler
There are several strapping schemes, which we will give below. Choose the most convenient for you.
Forced circulation and three-way valve
The scheme is suitable for tying a single-circuit or double-circuit boiler with a boiler. If a gas boiler is already installed at the moment, place the BKN nearby. A circulation pump is mounted on the supply. After that, a three-way valve is connected, which is controlled by a temperature sensor.
A tee cuts into the inlet pipe in front of the body, to which a hose is connected to drain fluid from the heat exchanger. How it works:
- As soon as the temperature sensor informs the control board that the temperature has been reduced, the valve turns on the water heater’s coolant. The heating system starts up.
- The content of the coolant passes through the heat exchanger, heats up in the tank.
- As soon as the heating reaches the set temperature, the valve switches to heating operation.
Convenient scheme for regular use of the water heater.
Use of two pumps
If the BKN is installed at a great distance from the boiler or you rarely use it, it is better to include a circulation pump in the system.
Connection diagram for an automatic boiler:
One pump is mounted on the inlet pipe, and the other on the heating body. The piping is done with tees, without a three-way valve. The thermostat controls the start and stop of the pumps.
Non-volatile boiler
For this scheme, it is better to use wall-mounted models, since the boiler should be located above the rest of the appliances.
Installation and floor model is possible. But in this case, the heating of water will be slower.
Priority is provided by a large circuit that is connected to the water heater. It should be one step larger than the one that is supplied to the heating system.
Temperature and flow switching is provided by a thermostatic head with a sensor. It sets the desired parameters. If the sensor indicates that there is cold water in the tank, the heating switches to the boiler – and vice versa.
Hydraulic connection application
Suitable for installations with multiple circuits and large tank volumes. Similar schemes are used in apartment buildings, when, in addition to heating, it is necessary to provide, for example, floor heating.
The hydraulic distributor (hydraulic arrow) helps disperse the pressure so as to avoid thermal shock. It is risky to carry out independent installation, it is better to contact a specialist.
Recycling equipment
If you want to turn on an additional heating device, a towel dryer, you need to organize the connection so that water constantly circulates in the pipes. You can immediately buy a device with a recirculation function or turn it on using tees. However, such a connection has negative aspects:
- Large consumption of electricity, fuel. Passing through the pipes of the dryer, the water cools down, so the device needs to be turned on more often.
- Blending layers. During normal operation, hot liquid rises. The flow that comes out of the pipes mixes the layers, and at the exit you get a lower temperature liquid.
Connection stages
Make the necessary calculations, mark the pipe layout, the installation location of the boiler and the boiler on the floor plan. Prepare a solid foundation for the water heater, especially if it is designed for large volumes. Next, do this:
- Run the wiring, marking the location of the hot and cold nozzles.
- Install tee, relief valve. The latter allows you to get rid of excess pressure.
- Seal all connections securely.
- Connect to electricity, install an RCD.
- When finished, adjust the thermostat settings. Perform a test run.
Watch the connections, pipes. There should be no leakage or suspicious noise. Remember that the source of heat can be not only a boiler, but also a solar collector. Sometimes its installation is much more profitable.
To finally understand the principles of strapping, watch the video on the topic: