Nowadays, people often face the problem of turning off hot water in apartment buildings. Many decide to install a gas water heater so that the issue of water supply no longer bothers the owners of the living space. Before installation, you should find out the principle of the gas column. We will talk about this later in the article.
What are the components?
The composition of the heating elements that run on gas includes the following parts:
- Burner. It is the main component of this design. It is better to buy columns where the burner is made of steel.
- Pipes in which water circulates. There are options in copper and steel.
- The main body on which regulators must be present. They are responsible for setting the power, as well as for the flow and consumption of water.
- Ignition unit It must be connected to the power supply.
- Branch pipes. There are several of them. One pipe is responsible for the timely supply of water, and the other controls the gas supply. The third removes only hot water.
- A gas valve is isolated, it is called a membrane valve.
- There must be a security system. Special sensors signal the absence of water, and also inform when the column is overheated. The most dangerous thing is when traction disappears. Sensors must respond to such situations in a timely manner.
- An equally important detail is the unit for the removal of all combustion products. Usually this part also includes a fan. The latter serves to more efficiently remove combustion products. When buying a gas column, it is advisable to choose models with just such an element.

Based on the above components, we can say that the principle of operation of the gas column depends on the required number of correctly selected elements. We will consider the details of the work further.
The principle of the column
To understand the device and the principle of operation of the gas column, you need to know that water does not accumulate in it. This device is considered a instantaneous water heater. The liquid is heated during the flow through the pipes. As the first step, water enters the apparatus, after which it enters the heat exchanger. It receives heat from a gas burner. During the passage through the pipes, the water constantly raises the temperature, and the already required temperature flows out of the tap. The gases that are generated during the heating process go through a chimney.
How does the burner ignite?
It is difficult to understand the principle of the gas column if you do not know how the ignition occurs. Nowadays, there are many models of gas columns, and they are ignited each in its own way. The options are:
- Ignition may occur from a piezoelectric element. The system owner must press a special button on the speaker body. After that, a spark appears that ignites the system. There must be a pilot burner inside. She consumes gas in small amounts all the time. The nuance of the work lies in the fact that when you turn off the desired burner, you must repeatedly press the system start button to get a spark.
- Many use the electronic method to rekindle a column. The batteries are installed, due to them a spark flares up, which ignites the burner. Batteries tend to wear out, so they need to be replaced every six months. When the device does not work, then gas is not consumed. The principle of operation of the gas water heater on batteries is easy to use.
- Hydroturbines have also appeared that help in igniting the burner. The operation of the turbine is caused by the flow of water. It appears when the column is turned on. The nuance of this type of gas column is that it responds to a small pressure of water. But while such units are not so widespread. More popular today are devices with electronic ignition.

Do I need to consider performance when choosing a column
To understand the principle of operation of a water unit on a geyser, it is necessary to know such a parameter as productivity. This indicator provides information on how much hot water is heated in one minute. Typically, performance is associated with the power of a particular geyser.
To determine which capacity is suitable for the selected location, you need to know how much water is consumed. Typically, six to seven liters per minute flows through one mixer.
In order for hot water to flow simultaneously into two points, for example, into the kitchen and the bathroom, you need to buy two columns. Their productivity should be at least 133 liters per minute.
What are the types of combustion chambers
In gas columns there are two types of combustion chambers:
- Open type. It works through traction. Air is taken from the room where the column stands. All combustion products due to ventilation fly into the chimney.
- Closed type usually occurs in columns with a turbine. The chimney in these models is coaxial. Combustion products exit through it, as well as air from the street.
What gas is used for work
For full operation of the column requires gas. Naturally used. Some models run on liquefied fuels. For them, they specifically buy gas in cylinders. People buy such models for summer cottages or country houses. Gas pipelines do not fit into some villages, and buying a column becomes a solution to the problem of hot water.
How to find out what will be the gas flow rate on the selected device?
The estimated gas flow rate is affected by the column power. On some models, it is possible to independently adjust it. The technical passport for the required device should indicate what gas flow will be after installing the selected model. Indicate the number in cubic meters. A time period of 60 minutes is taken. When people want to buy a piezo-ignition column, they need to add twenty-five percent to calculate the amount of gas consumed.
What should be the water pressure
The passport to the column indicates which water pressure must be maintained for the device to work. Problems arise when installing a column in an old-built house. In them there is a weak pressure in the pipes. The heating element requires more water pressure for the normal operation of the device. When the instructions indicate that the device needs a pressure greater than 0.15 bar, then in the construction of the 70s there may be problems with the operation of the column. It is necessary to monitor the increase in pressure in the pipes, because of this, leaks may occur at the joints.
Pros of acquiring a modulated speaker
When people buy a modulated column, they get comfort when opening the taps. That is, when the second tap opens, the water pressure does not decrease. The temperature of the water flowing from the tap also does not tend to drop sharply. When pressure surges appear, the burner power is automatically adjusted. The outlet water will have the same temperature as before.
The modulation limits should not exceed the allowed column power. When a column is connected without additional modulation, these advantages of using the model disappear.
What are the features in using a gas column?
In order for the column to function without failures for more than one year, it is necessary:
- Remember that water of a certain hardness enters the device. You need to think in advance how to clean and soften the water.
- Set the optimum heating temperature on the device. If the owner of the device will heat the water more than the permissible norms, then there is a high probability of the appearance of scale.
- Once a year, check the operation of the gas column, carry out work on its maintenance.
Distinctive features of columns
When choosing an apparatus, it is worth paying attention to the principle of operation of the Neva gas column. She has a good system of automatic protection against accidental extinction of the flame. The heat exchanger in the Neva should not overheat, and the system controls the temperature. The column is reliably protected from excessively high pressure. If the control system becomes faulty, the Neva security system will disable the mechanism. A plus is the presence of auto ignition when pressed. The system runs on batteries.
The main advantage is the temperature of the outlet water, which does not change. Such an installation is considered the main guarantee of safe use of the system. The danger of burns with hot water disappears.
The principle of operation of the Neva gas column makes it possible to install it even in the smallest apartments. It meets all the requirements of regulatory documents. And the durability of its use depends on the attention and diligence in the work of the owner of the apartment.
There are other brands. So, for example, the principle of operation of the Astra gas column differs little from the Neva mechanism. This unit is widely available, it can always be found in stock. The speaker is considered reliable, so many are happy to buy this unit. It is easy to configure, for this you need to follow the step by step instructions. The advantage of this column is that in the market you can always find spare parts for it. The unit is distinguished by its affordable price. Almost anyone can afford it.
It is believed that the principle of operation of the gas column "Electrolux" is quite simple. It has an electronic ignition system. In it you can find an indicator that shows where you can find out the temperature of the water. This column is warranted for a period of three years. An important detail is that lead is not included in the heating element.
It is worth paying attention to the principle of operation of the Oasis gas column. This model is in great demand in the market and has good reviews.
Many are interested in what is the principle of operation of the traction sensor of a gas column. This element is necessary in order to timely inform residents of a possible fire hazard. If the remnants of the combustion process do not go into the chimney, but enter the rooms, then you need to check the draft sensor of the gas boiler. It can be different. When installing it plays a significant role, what type of camera is placed indoors. It can be open or closed.
If the material from which the sensor is made exceeds the specified expansion rates, then the sensor should work, thereby saving from overheating.
Conclusion
The principle of operation of a gas column is simple enough to understand if you understand it. It is very important to monitor the safety of this device. It is necessary to control the gas supply, external indicators. And at the slightest breakdown, the column needs to be repaired as soon as possible.