Any heating equipment has its own life. Therefore, when choosing a technique, we pay attention to the quality of materials, strength and place of production. Every customer wants their heater to work as long as possible. For this, it is important to understand what the standard life of gas boilers depends on. On average, he works for 7-12 years.
What factors negatively affect work and contribute to wear and tear? How to prevent a breakdown? This article will help you understand how to choose and operate a gas boiler in order to avoid quick wear.
What affects the life of a gas boiler
It is believed that the duration of the unit depends on its class. So, economy-class models on average serve from 7 to 12 years. In this case, the device is repaired as necessary. Middle-class models (middle price category), as manufacturers promise, will last 10-15 years.
Why does the class count? Because cheaper devices use less quality materials, mechanical control, often there is no display. They are not so efficient in work and are not equipped with the latest features.
Boilers of the middle and highest price category are equipped with units of high-quality materials. They have built-in sensors, automation, self-diagnosis and useful functionality. Electronic controls and a display make use comfortable. But at the same time, the price of these devices is often "wound up" in the name of the manufacturer.
For example, such well-known brands as Ariston, Bosch, and Vailant are much more expensive than less well-known ones. This is used by dishonest firms, which instead of expensive components use lower-quality Chinese. As a result, you overpay, and the lifetime of the premium boiler is the same as in the economy segment.
What factors should be considered
In addition to the class and price segment, other aspects also affect the duration of operation of gas equipment.
Heat exchanger material
Why is the service life of a wall-mounted appliance shorter than a floor? Perhaps the type of placement matters? No, just floor units are equipped with cast-iron or steel heat exchangers. Over the same period of operation, their percentage of wear is much lower than that of copper radiators, which are installed in mounted boilers.
Copper is thinner than steel, and during operation it lends itself to oxidation and corrosion. The backlash in the heat exchanger can be sealed, but the unit will not last long. The average working life is from 5 to 10 years maximum. Practice shows that copper radiators serve no more than 7 years, after which they must be repaired or replaced. They are more sensitive to the quality of tap water.
The equipment mounted on the wall has less power than the floor. This leads to continuous operation at maximum power and quick wear.
The type of heat exchanger also matters. An ordinary coil can be self-descaled and the boiler will continue to work. Bithermic radiators cannot be cleaned, and replacing a unit is almost equal to the cost of a new device.
Burner type
Gas appliances have two types of burners:
- Atmospheric - take air from the room to maintain the flame. Combustion products are discharged naturally through traction.
- Supercharged or forced (turbocharged chambers) - clean air is taken from the street through a coaxial chimney. The power of the flame can be regulated, smoke is removed by a fan.
And here is the operating time? Forced removal of combustion products is more efficient. The boiler works with greater efficiency, which increases the efficiency and reduces the load on its units.
In devices with an atmospheric combustion chamber, a lot of soot accumulates in the holes and on the elements. As a result, the equipment spends more power to maintain operation, heating temperature, so the nodes fail more quickly.
Electronics and Automation
Electronic models are equipped with control sensors, self-diagnostics and require a network connection. Instability in the network, power surges lead to damage to the elements. We recommend installing a voltage regulator.
Operational Features
The life of the heating equipment initially depends on the right choice. To do this, it is necessary to select a boiler taking into account the characteristics of the room in which it will work, and the planned peak loads. It is recommended to choose a boiler with a power reserve of 15–20%.
Choose a room for installation of equipment in accordance with the standards. It should not be wet inside. Corrosion quickly destroys the heat exchanger, so mount an air vent to bleed excess air.
To prevent scale formation, install magnetic filters. They soften water by attracting heavy salts.
Also, the duration of the "life" of the unit is affected by pressure. To ensure stable performance, include an expansion tank in the piping.
Recommendations for the selection of heating equipment:
- The maximum service life of devices with steel and cast iron radiators.
- Supercharger devices are more efficient.
- With a voltage stabilizer, the technician will last a longer time.
The manufacturer’s forecasts do not depend on how many years the boiler will operate. Of great importance is its maintainability. Therefore, it is better to choose domestic brands so that, if necessary, it is easier to find service centers and spare parts.