Installing a gas water heater allows you to forget about seasonal shutdowns and interruptions in water supply. But for comfortable and safe use, it is important to connect the equipment correctly. If you have already found a place and are ready to carry out installation work – do not rush. First prepare the tools and materials. And also find out what hoses are needed for a gas column. The correct choice depends on the efficiency of the device and your safety.
What hose is needed to connect the gas
Previously, strict requirements were applied to the installation of gas equipment. Even 15-20 years ago, no one thought about the choice of hoses, because there was only one standard. All devices were fastened “tightly” with a steel pipe. For corner placement, knees or corners were used. Of course, this method had a number of advantages: strength, safety.
However, there were enough shortcomings, because it was impossible to move the equipment. Washing the floors or choosing a furniture set became an impossible task. Fortunately, time is running out. There is a wide range of products on the market.
The first thing you should pay attention to when choosing a gas hose is the material of manufacture. Can water pipes be used? This is strictly prohibited. Only specialized accessories are required for gas connection. So, the gas hose has a yellow marking, while the water hose has a red or blue marking.
What eyeliners are better to choose? Consider their varieties.
Flexible rubber hose reinforced with textile thread. One of the budget options. On sale you will find products of any length and diameter. Rubber has good flexibility, ease of installation, dielectric properties. In addition to the above advantages, there are also disadvantages. The material quickly collapses, cracks appear in places of bends over time.
The recommended period of use is no more than two years, preferably in the private sector and individual boiler houses.
Hose reinforced with steel threads. It is believed that they are also based on rubber, but in fact there is a polymer material under the threads. Externally, the product looks like a water supply. The woven yellow thread will help to distinguish them.
However, in Europe they have long abandoned the use of such components. And that’s why:
- The polymer is subject to the same degradation as rubber.
- Steel conducts current well, so installation is possible only with dielectric gaskets.
- The base is not visible under the braid, it is impossible to inspect it. Therefore, when leaking, damage is difficult to detect.
Metal bellows connection. It is the best choice for gas pipe connection. The sleeve is resistant to mechanical damage, temperature effects, pressure increase. The shell is made single or multilayer. The inner part is made of steel, and the coating is:
- Made of metal braid. If the device is additionally connected to electricity, then dielectric gaskets are used during installation.
- Made of yellow polymer. This coating has dielectric properties, reliable and safe.
Despite the high price, the bellows sleeve has undeniable advantages:
- The manufacturing method corresponds to GOST.
- Approved for installation by gas services.
- PVC coating is resistant to aggressive environments and mechanical damage. Provides protection against electric shocks in excess of 1 V.
- Service life more than 25 years.
How to choose and connect a gas hose
Buy the product only from a specialized store. Consult with the seller, let him show you the certificates of conformity of products to GOST.
Why it is better not to go shopping to the market:
- Sellers offer fakes made of thin rubber.
- It is difficult for an ordinary buyer to distinguish a fake from the original.
Of course, you are unlikely to receive a guarantee or a check, to say nothing of certification. This is important to know, because a gas leak can lead to an accident.
What other recommendations should be followed:
- The hose should have a yellow marking.
- The maximum allowable length is +20% to the distance from the pipe to the column. Do not take a sleeve with a margin.
- Diameter – ½ and ¾ inches.
- At both ends, the hose is equipped with threaded nuts (in a simple way, “mother-mother” or American). There is another variety: on the one hand, a nut with an internal thread, and on the other, a sleeve with an external thread (“mother-father”).
How to connect and extend the hose? Permitted installation is carried out in accordance with the rules of SNiP 42-01-2002.
Important! Tapping and connection to the gas pipeline is carried out only by the gas service.
You can prepare components for work, but we do not recommend doing it yourself. The main reason is that a minor mistake can lead to an emergency. Sooner or later you will have to show the technique to a specialist. Then you may face a fine and denial of service. And even completely cut off from the highway.
But you need to know how the connection is made correctly – in order to control the work of the wizard. This video will help: