The presence of a water heater in the apartment compensates for temporary water outages. You can connect the boiler yourself if you follow our recommendations. So you can independently adjust the heating power, which means saving on energy consumption. How to carry out the work correctly, read the publication.
Types of Water Heaters
In stores you can find boilers for every taste and color. Manufacturers are also diverse: Ariston, Termeks, Vailant, Buderus and others. But the main attention should be paid to the principle of operation and type of connection. For example, a technique may differ in heat source:
- Gas type.
- Electric.
Not everyone has the opportunity to connect the device to gas. In addition, self-installation of gas equipment is prohibited - it should be carried out only by a specialist. Electric heaters are often used, they can be mounted on their own.
By design, the boiler can be flow and funded type.
The flow drivers are equipped with a powerful heating element, which instantly heats the water flow. The devices are compact in size and easy to place. However, they consume a large amount of electricity (power - from 6 kW). Therefore, it may be necessary to install separate wiring.
Accumulative water heaters have a tank of various sizes. Water accumulates in it, which is heated by a dry or wet heating element. Due to the insulation of the tank, heat loss is only 0.5% per hour. Connection requires a small power - 1.5-3 kW.
In turn, the storage equipment is divided by the type of heating:
- Direct.
- Combined.
- Indirect heating.
If the first two types heat water with the help of heating elements, then the latter (indirect) needs solid fuel, connection to heating or solar panels.
Preparatory work
Regardless of where you intend to carry out the installation: in the apartment or in the house, it is important to choose the right placement. Read more in a separate article: "Installing a water heater with your own hands."
It is best to place the boiler in the bathroom or toilet. It is recommended that you place a small flow-through appliance in the kitchen to use the sink. Make sure that after installation, all nodes of the equipment remain free access. Even if you are installing the housing under a sink or in a niche, leave room for maintenance.
Storage products require regular technical inspection. TEN and tank walls need to be descaled, and the magnesium anode needs to be replaced once a year.
What else to consider:
- The strength of the wall. A tank of 100 liters should be mounted on a solid wall and secured with steel anchors.
- The proximity of communications - cold water. The shorter the pipe, the less heat the fluid loses.
- Heaters with an electrical system must be connected directly to the shield using a copper cable.
What tools and materials will be needed:
- building tape, level;
- drill or perforator;
- adjustable wrenches;
- to connect to the pipeline you will need tees-fittings;
- stopcocks;
- fum tape or tow for sealing compounds;
- flexible hoses;
- pipes for connection - they must withstand hot water.
Also, for safe operation, protective valves must be installed. If they do not come in the kit, you need to buy them. The safety valve saves the device from excessive pressure. The non-return valve prevents fluid from leaking out of the tank if there is no pressure in the line.
The connection diagram is shown in the picture:
How to connect a storage boiler
Connection of water heaters "Baxi" (Baxi), "Drazhice" (Drazice), "Proterm" to the water supply system is carried out in the same way. The difference is only in the material of the water supply. We will describe several types of installations.
To steel or iron pipes
Now you can do without welding, when you had to cut a piece of pipe and weld the adapter. Modern manufacturers have come up with another way - the vampire tee.
It works on the principle of a clamp:
- Choose a place on the riser where the installation will be performed.
- Clean it from paint and rust.
- Position the adapter with the rubber pads.
- Fasten it evenly with bolts.
- Drill a pipe through a special hole with an electric drill.
- Secure the tap and continue turning on.
To polypropylene pipes
In this case, additional tools will be needed:
- soldering iron for soldering;
- scissors for cutting;
- tee and stop valves for polypropylene material;
- couplings.
Working process:
- Choose a place and turn off the water.
- Cut a piece of pipe equal to the size of the tee.
- Heat the ends with a soldering iron and install the fitting.
- Connect the pieces of reinforcement to the tee.
- Place the coupling and connect a tap to it from which a flexible hose will lead to the heater.
It is easier to make a connection when the apartment has only cold water, not hot water.
To pipes made of metal
This is the easiest connection, because you can connect the segments using fittings. In addition, the material bends well in any direction. Such water pipes are usually not walled into the walls.
- Using special scissors, cut a piece of pipe.
- Extend the ends with the calibrator and insert the tee.
- Slide the rings and tighten the nuts.
- Connect pipe cuttings and stop valves to the tee branches. Then install the hoses.
How to connect parts in series
Now you need to connect everything to the boiler. You can look at the instructions from the manufacturer. At the bottom of the tank there are nozzles. For the strength of the joints, a tape is wound around their threads.
Then proceed as follows:
- Using a key, put tees on the nozzles.
- Install stopcocks on the tees. This is necessary to drain the fluid. If you open one tap, the water will merge to a certain level and stop. If the other - the drain will continue.
- A safety valve is connected to the tee that will let in the flow of water. This is to prevent recirculation.
If the pressure in the line exceeds the norm specified in the instructions for the model, then a reduction gear should be installed next to the valve.
- A shut-off valve is installed on the pipeline through which the hot liquid will drain. See the diagram:
Features of connecting a flow heater to water
Installation, unlike the wall-mounted storage boiler, is carried out on a hot riser.
- Shut off the water.
- Cut out part of the pipe. Install stop valves at the ends.
- Connect hoses to fittings and heater nozzles.
In the future, follow the recommendations:
- When dismantling, you do not need to block the water in the entire riser. It is enough to block the inlet and outlet pipe.
- To start the equipment, turn on the water correctly, and then start the boiler.
- Decided to turn off the device? Then first unplug it, and then turn off the water.
How to turn on the electricity
When connecting to the mains, you must adhere to the following rules:
- Devices of this power must be switched on through a separate line.
- Copper wiring should lead to the shield.
- Additionally, the system is equipped with an RCD (16A). He turns off the equipment during power surges.
- Be sure to ground to avoid electric shock. To do this, it is better to invite an electrician.
See the diagram:
When the work is organized, it remains to connect to the boiler:
- Feed the cable through the bottom of the case.
- Finish off the ends with a knife.
- Yellow-green wire connect to ground. The remaining two are with thermostat contacts.
- Install thermal insulation and close the lid.
Work with an indirect heater
Depending on the heat source, the connection may be different. Connection can be made to heating, a single-circuit or double-circuit boiler.
To the heating system
The design of the water heater provides for strapping. With its help, it is connected to water and heating.
What is important to consider:
- Cold water is supplied only through the bottom.
- The heated fluid exits through the pipe through the top.
- Thermal communications must be connected through the top. Exit through the lower pipe.
Via three-way valve
If a circulation pump is provided in the system, then the work is carried out as follows:
- The double-circuit boiler and heater are mounted in parallel.
- A three-way valve is installed behind the pump.
- A tee is connected to the boiler, the hose of which leads to the heat exchanger.
Non-volatile circuit
If your boiler is non-volatile, it is best to position the heater higher. The circulation will be performed under the influence of gravity. If you include a pump in the circuit, then the operation will depend on electricity.