In order to make life in the house as comfortable as possible in the winter, it is imperative to perform such an operation as installing a circulation pump in the heating system. The procedure is not too complicated and, if necessary, can be performed independently. But, of course, you will first have to choose the equipment that is suitable for all parameters, as well as get acquainted with the technology of its installation.
Benefits of using
Systems with natural circulation of the coolant have a number of disadvantages. Firstly, in the house you have to install pipes with too large a diameter. This is necessary so that the water circulates freely through them, without stopping anywhere. Secondly, when installing such a system, it is necessary to calculate the angle of inclination of the pipes. And thirdly, this type of equipment is not very convenient to use.
Installation of the circulation pump in the heating system allows you to solve all these problems. Pipes when using it can be set thin. The tilt in such systems is not necessary, the heat is distributed evenly throughout the rooms. You can install such a pump, including in a system with natural circulation of the coolant. In this case, during a power outage, the house will not remain without heating.
Varieties
At the moment, only two main types of circulation pumps are manufactured: wet-running and conventional. The first variety is not very powerful, it runs silently and is usually used in country houses and cottages. Most often this is a single-phase equipment.
Installation of the circulation pump in the heating system of an apartment building is carried out in the same way as in the network of a private small building. However, conventional equipment is used, that is, one in which the rotor and stator are separated from the cochlea by a waterproof membrane. At the same time, installation is carried out on the highway in a separate room - a boiler room. The fact is that such pumps work very noisily. This is a three-phase powerful equipment requiring, inter alia, periodic lubrication.
How to choose the right
Before proceeding with such a procedure as installing a circulation pump in a heating system (it is quite possible to do this with your own hands, as you can soon see), you should, of course, purchase all the necessary equipment. So, in the event that you need a pump for a private house, you should buy a single-phase model with a “wet run” rotor. Three-phase powerful pumps are suitable for an apartment building or a very large cottage.
In any case, when buying, you should study the technical passport of the model. In this case, first of all, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:
- Performance. This indicator is usually expressed in liters or cubic meters. It means the volume of liquid that the pump can pass through itself in an hour. In order to choose a suitable model, you should know about how much water is pumped into the system. The performance value should exceed this figure by about three times.
- The pressure. This parameter shows with what force the pump can draw in the coolant. The device can easily cope with pumping water through all bends of heating, if necessary, raise it to the upper floors, etc. For example, for an apartment building, it will be necessary to purchase equipment with a pressure of about 20 m. A less powerful model is also suitable for the cottage.
Very convenient to use are circulation pumps with automation. Such a model can be put on a timer, and it will turn itself off and on if necessary.
Basic installation rules
Most often, the circulation pump is installed in the heating system through a bypass pipe called a bypass. In this case, when a power outage occurs, the system switches to natural circulation without any problems. In order to let the water flow directly, you just need to close the valves on the bypass.
The circulation pump is installed only on the return pipe between the last radiator and the heating boiler. This is due to the fact that the pump does not push water, but sucks it. In addition, under the influence of a very hot coolant in the supply pipe, its mechanisms quickly fail.
Only a pressure gauge, thermometer and pressure relief valve are installed between the pump and the boiler. Directly next to it, a filter is mounted on the bypass. In any heating system, there are a lot of different debris: scale, silt, etc. Without a filter, the pump impeller will quickly clog, as a result of which it will simply fail.
Performing such an operation as installing a circulation pump in the heating system of a private house, the following recommendations should be followed:
- If the insert is made into an existing network, water should first be drained from the lines. In this case, the pipeline must be thoroughly flushed.
- After completion of the complete installation cycle, the system is again filled with water.
- All connections must be lubricated with sealant.
- At the final stage, open the central screw on the pump casing and release excess air from it.
How to install
Do-it-yourself installation of the circulation pump in the heating system as follows:
- In the intended area of the return pipe, a piece is cut, the length of which should be equal to the width of the bypass.
- On both loose ends, tees are installed.
- These elements are connected by a piece of pipe with a valve mounted in it.
- Each tee is connected by a L-shaped piece of pipe with nuts at the end and valves.
- A filter is installed on one of the L-shaped pieces (between the valve and the pump).
- The nuts are screwed to the nozzles of the circulation pump.
Install the device in such a way that the coolant subsequently moves in the direction indicated by the arrow on the case. In addition, the place for its insertion should be chosen in such a way that subsequently it was not difficult to access.
How to connect to the mains
When using the installation method of the circulation pump described above, its shaft will be located in a horizontal position. In this case, air will not accumulate in it, preventing the lubrication of the bearings. Among other things, when installing the device, be sure to ensure that the terminal box is located on top.
Connect the electric pump to the mains in compliance with all safety rules. The power cable must be equipped with a plug or switch. The minimum distance between the contact axes is 3 mm. Cable section - not less than 0.75 mm. Of course, the pump must be connected to a grounded outlet.
One or more?
Usually in a private house only one circulation pump is mounted in the heating system. The power of modern equipment of this type is quite enough to ensure a sufficient flow rate of the coolant. Two pumps are included in the system only if the total pipe length exceeds 80 m.
Can I install without a bypass
On the bypass pipe, a circulation pump is usually installed in an open heating system. At the same time, if necessary, the owners of a country house have the opportunity to switch the network to the natural coolant current. If the system is planned without slopes, the pump can be mounted in the pipe without bypass. In this case, the installation is made directly to the return line. At the same time, stop valves must also be installed. This will make it easy to remove the device for repair or replacement without having to drain the water from the system.
A procedure such as installing a circulation pump in a heating system without a bypass is usually done only if the house has an alternative source of electricity. It can be, for example, a modern gasoline or diesel generator. In this case, with a sudden power outage, the building will not remain without heating.
How to install on polypropylene
Now let's see how the circulation pump is installed in the heating system in this case. Polypropylene - the material is quite lightweight and easy to use. Equipment connection in this case is done as follows:
- Special joints are soldered to the ends of the line (3/4).
- Next, cranes are attached to them using flax.
- Then the latter with the help of overhangs are connected to the pump assembly.
Terms of Use
Modern circulation pumps are reliable and have a long service life. But, of course, sometimes this equipment also fails. Such a nuisance can happen, for example, due to:
- too strong or weak water supply,
- operation without coolant in the system,
- in case of prolonged downtime
- if the water is heated too much (over +65 g).
How to dismantle
So, we have examined how the circulation pump is installed in a closed and open heating system. Now let's discuss how to remove this equipment if it is necessary to repair or replace it. This procedure consists of only a few steps:
- the pump is de-energized
- bypass valves are shut off
- the crane on the main highway opens,
- fastening nuts are unscrewed.
In the event that the pump has been installed in the system for a long time, it is likely to be stuck. Therefore, it will have to be knocked out by tapping a mallet.
Repair the pump yourself, if the owner of the house does not have enough experience in this matter, it is unlikely to succeed. Most likely, he will have to be carried to a repair shop. But most often, the owners of suburban buildings nevertheless install new equipment in the system, since pumps today are not too expensive.