How to flush the heating system in a private house with your own hands. How to clean the heating system Flushing the heating system
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The quality of the heat supply systems may deteriorate over time, for sure most people had to deal with this at one time. Many people now have to live in houses built at least twenty years ago.
It is in such buildings that this problem is most often encountered. Poor circulation of the coolant, the role of which is most often played by water, causes poor heating. The corrosion process degrades the quality of water, impurities in which are deposited on the inner walls of pipes and radiators, preventing the normal passage of heat.
Naturally, there is a way out of this situation - or, for more "neglected" cases, its chemical purification (read also: ""). The photo clearly shows the difference between pipes with a layer of deposits accumulated over the years of operation of the system without regular cleaning, and pipes cleaned by one of the above methods.
We will consider a detailed description of such a problem, the reasons for its occurrence and a description of how to solve it in this article. Following the instructions below, you can independently learn how to clean the heating pipes and establish a high-quality operation of the heating system in your house or apartment.
Why you need to clean your heating system
By cleaning the heating system, you will make it work more efficiently, and the heating of your own home will become much better. The problem of pollution of heating equipment lies mainly in inadequate water quality.
Scale, gathering on the inner walls of pipes, radiators and other components of the heating system, is the cause of:
- Acceleration of mechanical wear of pipelines and batteries
- Reduced heating efficiency.
According to experts, scale only one millimeter thick reduces heat transfer by fifteen percent. This significantly reduces the quality of the system and its efficiency. The throughput and heat dissipation of the system deteriorate. This result is explained by a decrease in thermal resistance, the decrease of which is caused by deposits.
Cleaning the heating system - work technology
The complex of works related to the cleaning of the heating system consists of the following stages:- Primary diagnosis. As a result, the nature of the formed scale and the composition of the deposits are determined.
- Selection of necessary.
- Drawing up a technological map.
- Anti-corrosion treatment is necessary to prevent further formation of various kinds of deposits and scale. Its execution follows the cleanup.
- Hydrodynamic
- Pneumohydropulse
- Chemical
Chemical cleaning of the heating system
According to experts, the latter type of cleaning is so popular and in demand precisely because, in comparison with other methods, it removes almost any deposits most quickly and efficiently.
As a rule, aqueous solutions of organic and mineral acids, solvents, and alkalis are used as cleaning agents. When using this kind of cleaning agent for heating systems, you must be extremely careful and attentive, use eye and skin protection equipment in your work, since each of the solutions listed above is toxic.
For systems equipped with aluminum radiators, these are not suitable, as they can violate the tightness of the nodes.
To carry out the work requires special equipment:
- Pumps
- Hoses
- Capacities
- Powder and liquid cleaners
Hydrodynamic cleaning of the heating system
Or - flushing the batteries. The desired result is achieved here with the help of high-pressure water, which destroys deposits and removes them from the system (more: ""). Special adapters and nozzles are used to connect the pipeline to external equipment that directs water into the system for cleaning.The disadvantage of this method can be considered higher, in comparison with the previous one, the cost of work, which is offset by the safety of work and high quality cleaning. For heating systems with cast-iron batteries, this method is the best, since cast-iron radiators are more prone to contamination with deposits, it is quite difficult to rinse with chemical solutions.
Pneumohydropulse cleaning of the heating system
It is the best way, if necessary, to clean the system without stopping its operation. A compact water pneumatic gun is able to clean a pipeline with a cross section of up to fifteen centimeters. Additionally, you will need a connecting hose, "American" and adapters.There are two most common cleaning methods:
- Flushing of boilers with chemicals preheated to a certain temperature. The solution is fed into the system with the help of a pump and, reacting with scale and destroying it, goes further along with the deposits to the outside (read also: "").
- Mechanical cleaning of boilers is carried out using brushes, scrapers and special mechanical devices. Before cleaning the gas boiler in a similar way from soot, it is necessary to fill the system with water, which should be brought to a boil, drained and then walked over the contaminated surface with a metal brush.
Cleaning the heating system of a private house will allow its owners to extend the period of its effective uninterrupted operation, reduce the cost of heating the mansion and eliminate damage to heating equipment.
I have been living in my house for 7 years, but I have never cleaned the pipes. I know that it needs to be done. Can this amount of work be done on your own? How to flush the heating system in a private house?
Our expert answers:
Coziness and comfort in a residential area directly depends on how stable the heating works. If the operation of the boiler does not raise any doubts, and the air temperature in the house does not rise, the pipes are much hotter than the batteries or they heat up very slowly, then such phenomena mean one thing - the heating equipment needs immediate cleaning.
One of the problems of clogging is the formation of rust, which prevents the movement of water.
In recent decades, plastic pipelines have become especially popular. This type of material has an anti-corrosion property, and their service life is several times higher than that of metal ones.
The main types of clogging:
- scale;
- rust;
- various small debris.
After installation of the entire heating system, the water in the coolant is untreated, with small impurities. Junctions may contain debris. Therefore, it is imperative that before turning on the heating system, it is necessary to thoroughly rinse it until the water flows out completely clean.
It is advisable to flush metal pipes in early autumn and spring. For plastic pipelines, this period is 1 time per year.
Washing process
You can do the cleaning work yourself. There are the following ways to perform flushing.
With the help of special chemical cleaning agents. It is used only for metal pipelines and gives a 100% result. Actions are as follows:
- the coolant is completely drained;
- pour the chemical reagent;
- connect the circulation pump.
After a few hours, the pump is turned off, the liquid is drained into a separate container for further disposal, and the system is filled with clean water. Before using the chemical, you should carefully read the instructions so as not to spoil the radiators.
The use of special equipment - hoses with nozzles, through which, under strong pressure, water washes out the inner surface of the pipes. A compressor, a hose, a ball valve and a drain tank are used.
Video: Chemical flushing of the heating system of a private house
According to statistics, already after several months of operation of the heating system, the efficiency of its operation and heating can be reduced by up to 10%. The reason for the decrease in efficiency is the numerous chemical processes inside the heating pipes of the house, which lead to the formation of scale and rust.
Pollution settles on the inner surface of the pipes and reduces the performance of the heating system at home. Over time, the situation is aggravated and if the flushing work is not carried out in time, an emergency situation may occur.
When to Rinse
With excessive accumulation of scale occurs significant reduction in heat transfer, since a large layer of scale is a good heat insulator. It has been proven that the appearance of deposits with a thickness of only 7-9 mm reduces the quality of the heating system at home by 40-50%. If not washed in a timely manner, then over time there will be a significant decrease in heating efficiency. In exceptional cases, a complete replacement of the heating elements may be required.
It is necessary to rinse when the first signals appear. The signal for the need for work is the appearance of the following symptoms:
If even one sign from this list appears, you should think about cleaning radiators and heating pipes.
The appearance of uneven heat transfer from radiators and the appearance of extraneous noise during operation are the main signals about the need to clean pipes and radiators in a private house. The frequency of flushing depends on a number of factors:
- coolant composition;
- temperature regime of the system;
- pipe materials;
- radiator materials.
The first flushing is carried out immediately after the installation of the heating structure. Whether or not there are clear signs of a malfunction, periodic cleaning is recommended:
- for metal pipes 2 times a year, immediately before the start of the heating season and after it ends;
- for plastic pipes 1 time before the start of the heating season.
The choice of cleaning technology largely depends on the materials for the manufacture of pipes and radiators and the operating time of the heating system.
How to flush the heating system in a private house
Chemical cleaning system
Chemical washing involves the use of special drugs that may have:
- biological origin;
- chemical origin.
Biopreparation purification technology is highly efficient and environmentally friendly. The action is based on the principle of introducing microbiological agents into the heating system, after which the deposits are split. This technology does not require disassembly and shutdown of the entire heating system at home.
The undoubted advantage of chemical cleaning with biological products is the possibility of painless use in old heating systems. Means for cleansing are made on a water basis, the drug serves to separate pollution from the walls. The desired cleaning result is achieved after a few days.
The advantage of this technology is:
- no need to turn off the heating system;
- possibility of use in old heating systems;
- high efficiency and achievement of the desired result in a few days;
- security;
- no negative impact on the pipe material.
The mechanism of chemical flushing consists in the effect of the drug on the pollution of the heating system of the house and its purification by dissolving precipitation and scale. Chemical preparations act on deposits, which are subsequently removed from the heating along with the fluid flow.
The cost of a chemical reagent depends on the composition and popularity of the manufacturer. The most popular drugs are:
DOCKER TERMO
The cost for 1 liter is 180 rubles, the drug cannot be used for aluminum.
Metalin
The price for 1 liter is 105 rubles, the drug cannot be used for non-ferrous metals.
Master Boiler Power
The price for 0.6 kg is 475 rubles, the drug has no contraindications for use.
Compositions brand SP-OM
Dont Have contraindications for use, may be used with aluminum and non-ferrous metals. G main advantagewashing liquid brand SP-OM is the possibility of using it for flushing systems containing polymer components, non-ferrous metals and aluminum. Also, SP-OM is relatively harmless. when draining the spent solution. Each SP-OM grade is designed for use with certain metals and under certain conditions. More detailed information about the application and grades of the SP-OM composition can be found on the website https://spomcom.ru/
Significant disadvantages of the method include the difficulty in self-selection of the correct volume of the drug. The possibility of using chemicals is also complicated by the fact that in most cases the components of the heating system are made of different materials. Chemicals have varying degrees of impact on metal or polymeric materials. In most cases, preference is given to the method of mechanical impact on the pollution of the heating system.
Physical cleaning methods
Physical cleaning methods are:
- hydrodynamic washing;
- pneumohydropulse washing.
For hydrodynamic flushing, you will need special equipment, including special nozzles and thin hoses.
The cleaning mechanism consists in supplying water under pressure to the nozzle, which is responsible for generating thin jets of water.
The advantage of hydrodynamic flushing is its efficiency, but in practice the method is used quite rarely due to its high cost.
Cleaning by pneumohydropulse washing is an effective means of combating pollution in the heating system. For better cleaning, the procedure is recommended to be carried out several times. The essence of the method is to create an increased pressure, due to which the contaminants are chipped off the walls.
Do-it-yourself chemical washing
For chemical cleaning, it is important to choose the right preparation and carefully study the instructions before starting work. To self-clean the heating system in a private house, you need:
- pump;
- liquid container;
- preparation for cleaning;
- hoses.
Most chemicals are diluted with a certain amount of water before use. In stores, if desired, you can purchase ready-made liquid, which is the best option for flushing a small system. For large standalone systems, it is recommended to purchase a concentrate. Procedure for cleaning as follows:
- draining water from the heating system;
- filling the tank of the treatment plant with the prepared composition;
- switching on using pump nozzles and filling the elements of the heating system with a chemical composition.
To destroy scale usually 2-3 hours is enough. Circulation is carried out until the absence of deposits in the filter tank. It is mandatory to flush the heating system with water to completely remove the chemical reagent. Please note that the used chemical solution must not be discharged into the sewer.
At the end of the flushing, the heating is pressed and the tightness is checked.
When carrying out work, pay attention to the precautions with the chemical preparation. Precautionary measures:
- gloves must be worn when working with the solution;
- the concentration of the reagent can be very dangerous for humans, therefore, before starting work, it is necessary to protect the mucous membranes with a respirator.
Do-it-yourself pneumohydropulse flushing
To clean the heating system with your own hands you will need:
- compressor;
- hose and outlet pipe;
- collar;
- ball valve;
- liquid drain container.
The procedure is as follows:
- draining water from the heating system;
- connection of the outlet pipe to the "return";
- connection to compressor outlet;
- pumping pressure up to 5 atmospheres;
- blocking the outlet pipe and disconnecting the compressor;
- connecting the hose, after opening the valve, the draining of impurities will begin.
If you notice the problem of uneven heating of the radiator, then you should not take decisive action to clean the heating system. Uneven heating of the radiator is not always a sign of contamination of the heating system. In some cases, this may be a consequence of the fact that it got too much air. In this case, it is necessary to bleed air from the radiator.
To reduce the physical and time costs for periodic flushing, it is recommended to fill the system with soft water, that is, water with a minimum salt content. The softest water is rain and snow water, as close as possible to distilled water. Such water can be prepared at home with your own hands. The recipe for its preparation is simple and does not require large expenditures. For every 10 liters, 30-50 grams of soda ash must be dissolved. Before pouring water, the solution must be allowed to settle, while precipitation should not be present in it.
An effective solution for flushing the heating system can be prepared by hand. For this it is necessary prepare a solution based on- 40 grams of concentrated soda or washing powder per bucket of water. The volume of the prepared solution must correspond to the volume of water withdrawn from the system. As a rule, for the heating system of a private house, 15-20 liters is considered sufficient. After a week of heating, the solution must be drained from the system.
To prepare a solution for flushing the system, vinegar, caustic soda, citric acid, and a special agent can be used. When flushing the system with a chemical preparation, the spent solution must not be poured into the sewer system or into the backyard.
The choice of method depends from the materials of manufacture of the elements of the system, the terms of its operation, the size and length of the pipes. In a private house, it is much easier to perform the flushing procedure once a year than, after several years, to deal with a layer of deposits of a few millimeters or centimeters.
At the heart of any water heating system are pipes and water. And over time, the pipes rust, the scales of rust fall off, and the pressure of the water carries them through the system until they are held up by some pipe bend or joint. And even if the pipes are plastic and not subject to corrosion, then the water itself, when heated, forms limescale on the surface of the pipes and sediment. And if the heating often boils and you have to constantly add water, then this accelerates the process of sediment formation even more. Another source of pipe clogging is microorganisms and their metabolic products, which can develop in the heating system during the inter-heating period. As a result of their vital activity, a black sediment may appear at the bottom of the system, which is also a source of blockage.
But whatever the source of clogging of the heating system, the result of this is always the same -
Later some time the pipes are clogged,
Their throughput is reduced and then even the water pump is not able to pump water through the heating system. Not to mention the thermosiphon system operated without a water pump. And then not only do the batteries remain cold or almost cold, but also the boiler begins to overheat, which can disable it.
Some owners practice annual blockage prevention. by changing the water. Those. drain the old, dirty, rusty water and fill it with fresh water. There is logic in this - with old water, some of the scale and rust leaves the heating system. However, there is a flip side to the coin here. The fact is that iron and oxygen are necessary for the formation of rust. When these two components interact, rust is formed. And if there is always iron in the pipes - these are the pipes themselves, then oxygen is supplied with water. In water that has been poured into the heating system for a long time, there is very little oxygen left and the process of rust formation is greatly slowed down. But if the old water is drained from the system and fresh water is poured in, then the system will receive an additional influx of oxygen and the rust formation process will begin with full force. So it turns out that by replacing the water, we will remove a little old rust from the system, but we will speed up the process of forming a new one.
So how do you deal with clogged heating systems?
If desired, you can a priori get rid of the occurrence of blockages. To do this, it is necessary to fill the heating system not with tap water, but with a special antifreeze for heating systems. It acts exactly like an automotive one - it provides good thermal conductivity, protects metal parts from oxidation and rust, and prevents the formation of limescale and other types of sediment. This option is the most expensive, but it allows you to forget about the maintenance and cleaning of the heating system.
cleaning
The easiest way to clean the heating system is chemical cleaning (chemical flushing). To do this, you need to purchase a product that can dissolve rust and lime scale. As such a tool, you can use ordinary citric acid from the grocery store. A few glasses of citric acid (the more the better) is dissolved in water and poured into the heating system. After that, the boiler is turned on, the temperature is set more and left for a day. Then we drain the water with the deposits dissolved in it. We fill the system with clean water and drain it again to get rid of chemical residues and sediments.
You can also use vinegar for this purpose. But to get at least some effect, you need a lot of vinegar. A more reliable result is obtained when using hydrochloric acid (10 or 20 percent). It cleans the system well, but you should be careful with it so that the strong concentration of acid does not damage the pipes.
Well, it is best to use for this purpose special flushing agents designed for flushing heating systems, such as inhibited hydrochloric acid. They are based on all the same acids and additional additives that enhance the flushing properties and, moreover, protect the pipes.
But such chemical cleaning helps only with weak blockages. If the heating system is clogged more seriously, then chemical pressure flushing will save. For this, a water pump is used, which is connected to the heating system and provides increased circulation of water with chemicals. But a conventional pump is not suitable for this purpose, because. aggressive chemistry, which he will have to pump, will render him unusable.
You can also resort to hydropneumatic cleaning. For this, a compressor is used, which is connected to the heating system, and flushing with water is combined with pneumatic shocks, which make it possible to get rid of all deposits and sediments even better. To remove precipitation, the “return” is disconnected, i.e. a pipe that enters the boiler from below, and dirty water is removed through it. At the same time, fresh water is constantly supplied to the riser.
If such equipment could not be found, or if its use did not help in solving the problem, in this case, the dismantling of each boiler will help. Because it also accumulates plaque and deposits. Moreover, even in even greater quantities than in other pipes, because. it heats up to higher temperatures.
To clean the boiler, it is disconnected from the heating pipes. Further cleaning is carried out by the method of chemical washing. Those. the boiler is connected to a pump and water is passed through it, with the corresponding chemistry dissolved in it (inhibited hydrochloric acid, etc.). After that, the boiler is washed with clean water and connected back to the heating system.