How to install a gas boiler correctly

According to the rules, the installation and connection of gas boilers is carried out by authorized specialists who have access to such work. These are technicians from the service center of the manufacturer of the purchased equipment or from the gas supply service. However, installing a gas boiler is not the most difficult procedure. Proper preparation for installation is much more important. First, you must obtain permission to connect the equipment from the local gas service and develop a project for installing the equipment based on the technical conditions provided for by the requirements.

It is possible to carry out all these procedures on your own, but difficult. Therefore, it is advisable to entrust all stages of approval to an organization specializing in solving such problems, or a gas supply service that ensures the presence of the necessary experts. For example, Mosoblgaz is engaged in installing gas boilers and solving similar problems in the Moscow region. Our engineers not only draw up all the documentation and obtain permits, but also help in selecting equipment, preparing layout plans and recommendations for the placement of the facility.

Rules for installing a gas boiler

Despite the fact that only specialized specialists are directly involved in connecting, commissioning and handing over the equipment, the homeowner receives their installation on site. Moreover, there is currently a legislative vicious circle. To obtain a permit, the installation must comply with the technical specifications and all standards specified in the project. At the same time, final documentation is drawn up only after the gas service gives consent to the connection. Therefore, it is almost impossible to install a gas boiler correctly on your own right away, so it is recommended to contact a specialist.

With expert advice, you can prepare your premises to meet general requirements to make the permitting process easier. This also avoids the need to waste time and money correcting deficiencies and resubmitting the application.

Premises requirements

Ensuring that the facility complies with SNiP requirements is one of the key conditions, which can significantly simplify the approval of the installation of gas boilers in the gas service. Low-power appliances (up to 30 kW) can be installed in the interior of the house, with the exception of living rooms, bathrooms and toilets. For example, in kitchens, basements, closets or outbuildings, provided that these rooms are equipped with a ventilation system and meet other requirements. Boilers with a power of up to 150 kW can be installed in another room on any floor of the house, above – only in basements, extensions or separate buildings.

In addition, it is necessary to comply with the dimensions and other criteria for the room in which the gas boiler is installed.

• The total area of ​​the room must be at least 4 m2, the ceiling height must be from 2. 2 to 2. 5 m, and the volume of the room must be 8 m3 (values ​​are given for models with a power of up to 30 kW, see Criteria for powerful boilers, read C 89. 13330. 2016 “Installation of boilers”);
• The room must have at least one opening window or balustrade. Glazing area 0. 3 m+2; room volume 10 cubic meters. m, but not less than 0. 5 m²
• At the bottom of the doorway there is an unclosed ventilation gap with an area of 8 cm² per 1 kW of equipment power. Door width – min. 800 mm, opening outwards.

When arranging equipment, manufacturers’ recommendations are taken into account. Free access is provided for inspection, configuration and maintenance. If the equipment is located in an extension, basement or cellar, the room must have access to the street.

There is also a requirement for the finishing of the room – all surfaces are lined with materials that do not support combustion near the installation of the gas boiler, which do not go out. The location of the equipment is planned in such a way that it does not contribute to the spread of fire. Installing more than one boiler in one room is prohibited.

Chimney requirements

Gas boilers require a chimney, which depends on the model of the equipment. For devices with open gas burners, an external chimney with natural draft is installed, the cross-section of which must correspond to the power of the device.

In devices with closed combustion chambers, coaxial chimneys with forced draft created by the burner fan are used. The diameter of this element is regulated by the boiler manufacturer and is indicated in the accompanying technical documentation.

To install a chimney, it is not necessary to wait for the gas boiler to be installed. The location of its passage can be marked based on calculations. In this case, it is recommended to comply with the following standards

• For chimneys, stainless steel pipes are used, which are practically not subject to corrosion processes. It is allowed to manufacture external chimneys from other non-complex materials, such as ceramics, carbon steel, etc.
• Chimneys are located as close to the boiler as possible, and the horizontal section should not exceed 3 m.
• The cross-section of the smoke exhaust duct must be no less than the size of the boiler connecting pipe. For coaxial chimneys, the diameter is standardized by the manufacturer.
• All pipe connections are sealed to eliminate the possibility of smoke and air leaks in the room.
• When installing a chimney, all fire safety requirements must be observed.
• The pipe connecting the boiler to the chimney must be equipped with a service hatch for cleaning the structure and must not exceed 0. 25 m.
• It is not recommended to place chimneys near window openings. The minimum distance between them is 0. 6 m. There should be no more than three turns in the pipe.
• Chimney ducts can be made inside the main walls or attached to them (when making an extension, fire-resistant materials must be used). It is prohibited to introduce smoke into the ventilation system or connect ventilation and chimney ducts.
• External chimneys are built at a height of about 5 meters, but not lower than the sides of the roof or lines at an angle of 15° from it.

Thanks to the correct organization of the chimney, installation of gas boilers does not present any particular difficulties, and the equipment itself will function normally throughout the specified service life.

Ventilation requirements

In the room where the gas boiler is located, ventilation is inevitably provided. For models with closed combustion chambers, natural air circulation in the house is sufficient. In rooms where equipment with atmospheric burners is installed, supply and exhaust ventilation is installed, providing air exchange in the room per hour. The room is also equipped with a gas sensor, which sends a signal to turn on the fan when the concentration of carbon dioxide in the air increases and shuts off the gas supply system.

Features of installing a gas boiler

The boiler piping can be installed and assembled by the customer. With the exception of gas lines, it is also permitted to connect the device to a communication system. Please note, however, that many manufacturers will reduce or completely void the warranty on self-installed units. Especially in the case of complex high-tech installations, their connection and configuration require a certain level of knowledge and skills.

In such cases, it is recommended to entrust the installation of the equipment to a specialist from an authorized service center of the manufacturer’s brand, who knows exactly how to correctly install a gas boiler.

Preparation for installation

By the time the equipment is installed in the house, the entire heating system must be ready – radiators have been hung, heated floors have been installed, water supply has been installed, etc. The room under the boiler room has electricity, water and sewerage supplied, there is a closed chimney and ventilation. Surfaces in the immediate vicinity of the boiler installation are protected from possible fire by non-combustible plates of steel sheet lined with asbestos or other fire-resistant material with a thickness of at least 3 mm. In this case, the insulation should protrude 10 cm beyond the dimensions of the device body and around the entire perimeter.

Boiler installation

Before installation work, the equipment and technical data of the device are checked and compared with the passport and instructions. If there is any discrepancy, contact the device manufacturer or dealer immediately. Also, before installing your gas boiler, remove all plugs from your gas boiler and make sure the unit is clean and free of debris.

Installation of various models:

• Wall-mounted boilers can be hung on load-bearing or reinforced walls, keeping the distance: from – 15 cm to the ceiling, to the nearest surface – 10 cm. For mounting, use special brackets supplied with the device.
• The floor model is located at a distance of at least 1 meter from the main entrance. A distance of 350 mm is maintained between the device body and the adjacent surface. At the location of the device, a floor of heavy-duty cement screed is laid or a separate foundation is poured.

When installing both stationary and floor-mounted units, a spirit level is used to level the equipment horizontally to reduce noise and vibration during operation.

Watch a detailed video on how to properly install a wall-mounted gas boiler

Boiler piping

According to the rules, after installation, the gas boiler is first connected to the hydraulic system and directed in accordance with the equipment operating instructions. Installation details vary by model. However, there are some guidelines that should be followed

• If the heating system has been operating for a long time and coolant has been poured into it, completely drain the water from the system and flush the pipes.
• Filters are installed on water supply pipes and heating mains, as well as on shut-off valves before and after them.
• On double-circuit boilers, make sure that the pipes are correctly connected to the heating and water supply.
• All element connections are sealed.

The next step is installing the chimney. Some nuances differ between wall and floor models. Attach the adapter to the boiler outlet pipe and connect the device to the chimney. Corrugations can be used for mounting, but for floor-standing units only sheet metal adapters are used. Next, tees and revisions are installed to inspect and clean the device. The chimney is made directly from straight sections and bends and is pulled through the building wall or roof. After installing all parts, the traction is checked.

When installing volatile gas boilers, it is also important to ensure that the equipment is correctly connected to the electrical network. This is best done with the help of stabilizers that protect the device from power surges in the network. At this point, your work is finished.

Connection to gas supply

As a gas supply company specialist who connects and checks gas equipment, I strongly do not recommend that he crash on the highway on his own. This operation must be performed by an acceptable specialist – a master of a service center or gas supply service. We also remind you that only a representative of the local gas service office who is connected and performing startup work should work on the boiler.