The desire for energy independence in engineering and communications ensures that owners of private houses independently think over many technical nuances in organizing heating and water supply systems. The slightest miscalculation in the characteristics of the equipment or the choice of fuel can adversely affect the practice of operating the created infrastructure. In particular, the issue of optimizing the costs of maintaining and maintaining the heating system of a private house is becoming increasingly acute. Economical boiler units that can provide the proper level of heat transfer, this is the best solution for a lean homeowner.
Boiler Features
Modern boilers have a wide range of varieties and modifications, however, most of them are evaluated according to traditional technical and operational parameters, among which power occupies a central place. The higher this indicator, the greater the efficiency and fuel costs. Moreover, a comparison between the influence of specific power indicators on the efficiency of equipment is correct only within the framework of one boiler class, since the principle of operation and type of fuel do not allow directly drawing parallels between different categories of equipment. One way or another, the most economical boilers for heating a private house are more likely to have underestimated performance. But not lower than standard values, according to which 10 m 2 of area should be served by an energy potential of 1 kW. That is, for a suburban cottage with a total area of 250 m 2, a 25 kW boiler is required. It is worth noting the need for a small margin in case of congestion - about 10-15%.
Now you can turn to the power indicators that characterize the main groups of boilers operated in Russia:
- Gas - from 10 to 150 kW.
- Electric - from 3 to 450 kW.
- Solid fuel - from 20 to 50 kW.
The average values of boilers for power are presented above, but even these indicators are conditional both from the point of view of estimating the volumes of heat energy output from a particular model, and in terms of equipment efficiency in specific application conditions. For example, the most economical heating of a private house according to the criterion of compatibility of the power indicators of the unit and the heating requirements will be unsuitable if an outdated control system is used or there are problems with the logistics of regular fuel supply. Indirect operational nuances sometimes have a decisive influence on the choice of heating systems even outside the framework of a direct assessment of their energy efficiency.
Gas boilers
Gas is the cheapest fuel available to the average homeowner. As a result of burning propane-butane (in cylinders) or main natural gas, thermal energy is generated with subsequent heating of the coolant. Together with such boilers, the system can be formed by radiators, underfloor heating circuits, conventional batteries and mobile heaters - depending on how the coolant is organized in the connected pipeline. How economical gas heating of a private house will pay off in each case will depend on the amount of fuel consumed. For example, domestic installations consume on average about 2 m 3 / hour. If you convert this value into an area, then the same 2 m 3 will be enough to maintain the premises for 10 m 2 . By the way, 1 m 3 of gas in Russia costs about 5-6 rubles, which is a little in comparison with the costs of other types of fuel.
But if gas is so beneficial, why are there still questions about alternative heating systems? The fact is that the principle of burning blue fuel also causes a number of disadvantages that go beyond the concept of energy efficiency. We are talking about the nuances of the technological organization of the gas supply system, the need to equip the chimney without fail and the high requirements for ensuring safety during operation of the equipment. If these moments do not bother, then you can pay attention to one of the most economical gas boilers for heating a private house - the GENUS PREMIUM EVO 24 FF model from Ariston. The capacity of this boiler with a power potential of 22 kW is enough to service a large house, and a kit with a circulation pump and an expansion tank will allow you to realize a full-fledged heating infrastructure with high productivity and modest costs.
Electric boilers
This type of domestic boilers is characterized by simple installation, convenient management, the absence of harmful waste and the highest level of safety. Among the most economical electric boilers for heating a private house of a new time, one can single out the Vaillant eloBLOCK VE line with a power of 6 to 28 kW. How good are these units in terms of financial savings during operation? Firstly, there are wide control options with smooth adjustment, which allows you not to waste extra resources on heating. Secondly, the design of such models is quite flexible in terms of compatibility with heating equipment like the same radiators and underfloor heating systems, so you can count on optimizing integrated heating when serving large areas with different heating points.
But in this case, it can not do without equipment weaknesses. Even economical electric boilers for heating a private house from the eloBLOCK VE family cannot compete with gas counterparts of the corresponding power in terms of financial costs for maintaining the system. Gas is cheaper than electricity, so in direct comparison it obviously wins. But again, other operating factors will have to be taken into account, in which electric boilers can give more significant advantages. Many of the advantages will be manifested in the functionality, economy and ease of use of the equipment. By the way, electric power units are the most quiet, compact and undemanding in terms of maintenance.
Solid fuel boilers
Traditional coal and wood heating units do not go out of fashion, but are improved - functionally and technologically. A special stage in the evolution of this segment was the spread of biofuel systems that operate on pellets, granules and peat briquettes. This is the most economical heating of a private house without gas, the power of which is enough to maintain an optimal microclimate in dozens of rooms. Are there any downsides to such models? As with gas equipment, solid fuel units cannot be operated indoors without a chimney. In addition, the classic wood and coal models still require the owner to take part in “dirty” maintenance processes - soot, soot, ash are still forced to clean the unit from the inside, although not everything is clear in this regard. More ergonomic solid fuel boilers with automatic processes for supplying fuel materials, self-cleaning systems and unloading of combustion products appear.
Oil boilers
Structurally, such equipment is in many respects similar to gas equipment, both in terms of burner design and in the design of a heat exchanger with a combustion chamber. The differences are in the cost of fuel and the technique of supplying the burner with this material. As for the first point, economical boilers for heating a private house, due to the high consumption of diesel fuel or diesel, lose to gas analogues in terms of reducing financial costs. But this concerns operation in the infrastructure of large houses, where high power and corresponding indicators of liquid fuel consumption are really required. However, in the case of small houses or even city apartments, the costs can be comparable. And especially when it comes to country houses without access to the gas pipeline, the need for regular purchase of propane-butane cylinders will allow diesel units to come out on top in terms of economy.
At the same time, relatively economical liquid fuel equipment is considered the most problematic in terms of technical equipment. Experts recommend that at the stage of development of the building project provide a separate room for the boiler room under the "diesel". This is due to the fact that the economical heating of a private house using such fuel requires the design of a full-fledged chimney with a forced-air ventilation system, as well as a safe place for containing the same diesel fuel in large volumes.
In what cases do hot water boilers pay off?
Almost in the line of each manufacturer of heating boilers contains hot-water modifications. Often they form the basis of model families, which is quite logical given the growing demand for such units. What is the peculiarity of water-heating equipment in the context of reducing the cost of maintaining a home heating system? To understand the differences, it is necessary to introduce the concept of single-circuit and double-circuit boilers. In the first case, it is directly ensured that the heating system operates, and in the second, the function of hot water supply (DHW) is also supported. The complex thus achieves the most economical heating of a private house, since heated water is used as a coolant for a variety of heating points. These may include the same batteries, convectors, heated towel rails and underfloor heating pipes - all this infrastructure will be served by the boiler along the secondary circuit of the heat exchanger.
The class of hot water boilers also has its own divisions by type of unit, depending on the principle of operation and the type of fuel used. As an example of an economical electric boiler for heating a private house with the function of supporting hot water supply, we can mention the model Evan Warmos IV-5. Cost optimization in it is achieved by regulating power in the off-season, and when serving several consumers, it is possible to set different heating modes in the range from 5 to 85 ° C. As for alternative solutions, the boiler with indirect heating, which is not a boiler in itself, but can be connected to the same gas and liquid fuel heat sources, using their energy for the conditional “second” circuit, will most likely deserve attention.
Pyrolysis units and long burning boilers
Understanding the relevance of the topic of energy conservation, boiler manufacturers also strive to design new devices with higher efficiency based on existing designs. Thanks to new developments of this type, pyrolysis boilers and modifications of heating equipment with long-burning burners appeared. If we talk about pyrolysis units, then their feature is the processing of substances already released in the combustion process in an additional furnace. Roughly speaking, we are talking about economical heating of a private house with gas and firewood at the same time. These are the same solid fuel boilers, but in a combined form - at the first stage of burning wood, coal or pellets, a gas mixture is released, which is also processed in the next special chamber. Accordingly, with the same energy resources, additional generation of thermal energy occurs.
Boilers of long burning give their advantages. Their features include an offset configuration of the flow direction of the gases emitted during combustion. They are sent not up, contributing to the normal combustion of fuel raw materials, but down, which saves burning material. One of the most economical boilers for heating a private house of this type is Stropuva S 40. As tests show, this solid fuel unit from the total load of firewood of 500 kg provides 70 hours of continuous heat generation, which is enough for an area of up to 400 m 2 .
What else to consider in choosing?
When buying a boiler, it will not be out of place to evaluate its dimensional parameters for compatibility with the immediate place of operation. Not only dimensions are taken into account, but also the installation principle itself - floor or wall. All this will play a role in the formation of the heating network, so it is important to think in advance what place in the general scheme will be assigned to the boiler after it is connected and the piping is completed. It is also worth considering the presence of useful protective systems, since economical heating of a private house is impossible without preventing emergency situations. For this, electrical and structural devices are provided - for example, a safety block, adjustable valves, self-diagnosis and shutdown systems in case of voltage drops in the network.
Boiler Energy Efficiency Tools
Special attention should be paid to the automation of the boiler and the associated set of devices, the operation of which will ultimately affect the economical operation of the equipment. The automatic control complex includes a panel with control bodies, sensors, measuring devices and mechanical regulators that directly change individual parameters of the boiler. What is the significance of the above equipment in terms of providing economical heating of a private house? Through this complex, even without the participation of the owner himself, the automation selects the optimal modes of operation of the boiler, taking into account the predefined requirements for heating and the current dynamics of changes in microclimatic conditions. In essence, it is an intelligent regulator that, based on weather-dependent sensors, sets the operation power of the boiler at a particular moment. This is a basic function, but it can also be supplemented by fine-tuning the operation of individual components of the system - a boiler, radiator, circulation pump, etc.
Conclusion
The power, type of fuel used, energy efficiency and other characteristics of the heating equipment will not play a big role, if we are initially talking about improperly designed network infrastructure. It is important to keep in mind that the boiler is only one part of the system, in which pipes, regulators, air vents, plumbing fixtures and pumps are also involved. If it is planned to economically heat a private house with electricity, then the general complex should also include wiring circuits provided with grounding and short-circuit protection. Their own features of the layout of the heating system are present in the case of the use of other types of fuel. In addition, the performance of the units will also depend on maintenance measures and heaters operating on hot water circuits with a hot water supply. These and other nuances can increase or decrease the energy efficiency of the system as a whole, depending on the quality of operation already on the part of the homeowner.