Reliable and economical floor gas boiler. The choice of economical gas heating boilers for a private house. Rating of the most economical models on natural or liquefied gas

Heating a house is one of the basic tasks of life support.

Unlike European residential premises, where the operating conditions of the heating system are easier, in Russia it is necessary to have a powerful and efficient heating circuit.

Since the capabilities of the system are determined by the characteristics of the boiler, working in difficult and harsh conditions requires a special approach to the development and production of heat engineering.

Most domestic manufacturers follow this path, considering first of all reliability and resistance to external loads.

Let's consider this question more carefully.

Russian manufacturers produce an almost complete list of designs of gas heating boilers. In their arsenal there are a lot of varieties and options.

By feature set:

single-loop. They are intended only for heating the coolant and supplying it to the heating system;
double-circuit. In parallel with the performance of the basic function, these units are able to prepare hot water for domestic needs.

According to the installation method:

wall. They are installed in a hinged way on solid (bearing) walls or special structures - ramps. The specifics of installation require restrictions on weight and dimensions from boilers, so the power of wall-mounted boilers is relatively low;
floor. They are installed directly on the floor, so there are no weight restrictions. This allows you to use powerful and massive knots, details. The power of floor units is the highest. In addition, they can be connected in a cascade, obtaining total indicators close to those of serious thermal power plants.

By type of combustion chamber (burner):

atmospheric, or open. Air is taken directly from the room, and smoke is removed naturally through a traditional chimney;
turbocharged or closed. For combustion, air is supplied by a special fan. An overpressure develops in the combustion chamber, forcing the smoke out through the horizontal coaxial chimney. Fresh air enters the boiler through the outer pipe, and combustion products are removed from the boiler through the inner pipe.

By way of power supply:

volatile. As a rule, these are boilers that are more or less exact copies of European models. They need to be connected to a power supply to work.
non-volatile. They work exclusively on a mechanical principle, which makes them the most preferable in conditions of unstable power supply. The disadvantages are the use of natural draft and coolant circulation, which do not allow developing a given power. However, these problems are easily solved by connecting external devices, and the ability to provide continuous operation in all conditions remains.

Parapet boilers are also manufactured by Russian manufacturers. They are able to heat rooms without a radiator system, distributing thermal energy using the convection method.

Such designs are convenient for heating apartments and other premises of a relatively small area..

NOTE!

The most popular and promising are non-volatile floor boilers. They have high power, are able to provide basic functions (heating and hot water), do not have extra nodes. This makes the units reliable and resistant to any external influences.

Russian brands

Floor gas boilers are one of the main directions in the work of all Russian manufacturers.

Let's look at some of them:

Conord. The parent company is located in Rostov-on-Don. Gas floor boilers are available in single and double circuit versions. In total, 4 series are offered with power from 8 to 30 kW, the difference between which is the number of circuits and the type of automation;
Signal. The plant is located in Engels, Saratov region. Currently, two series of floor-standing non-volatile boilers are being manufactured - S-Term and Comfort. The power of the boilers ranges from 7 to 150 kW, which allows you to choose the right model for any premises and conditions. There are single and double circuit models;
Siberia. Products of the LLC Rostovgazoapparat. This is a group of floor-standing non-volatile units, presented in three series - Economy, Comfort and Premium. Power range - from 11 to 50 kW. There are single and double circuit models;
ZhMZ. These are gas boilers manufactured by the Zhukovsky Machine-Building Plant. The range includes single- and double-circuit models of non-volatile floor-standing units with a capacity of 11 to 68 kW. They are produced in three series - Economy, Universal and Comfort, differing from each other in the type of automation and the shape of the case;
Lemax. Are made in Taganrog. The plant's products are wall and floor models with one or two circuits. There are three series - Premium, Premier and Prime. The power of the units is from 10 to 35 kW.

Most of the boilers are non-volatile, which is determined by difficult working conditions, dilapidated power supply networks or a complete lack of connection in remote villages.

This approach is fully justified - in frost, a sudden power outage will immediately stop the heating system, and if the power supply is not restored in a matter of minutes, defrosting of pipelines is inevitable.

The only solution would be an emergency drain of the coolant, but this measure is not always possible.

Therefore, the presence of heating boilers independent of external conditions is a very useful solution for the domestic user.

Why is the Lemax brand considered the best based on user reviews?

a wide variety of design options, functionality and parameters;
low fuel consumption. In combination with high efficiency, this allows you to get big savings and increase the life of the boiler;
the ratio of price and quality of Lemax boilers is considered the most successful;
the durability and reliability of the units are highly appreciated by both specialists and ordinary users.

Due to these features, Lemax boilers are usually referred to as leaders in domestic heat engineering. However, it should not be assumed that all other products of Russian manufacturers are significantly inferior to these units.

In terms of design and performance, the developments of domestic engineers are approximately on the same level. The main advantage is getting rid of redundant add-ons that few people use.

The fewer unnecessary components and parts, the more reliable the design and the easier it is to repair.. This equally applies to all units manufactured in Russia. Lemax boilers are presented in a larger assortment, but are not so superior to alternative options.

The prices and capabilities of domestic floor-standing gas boilers are at the same level, which makes the products of domestic manufacturers affordable and in demand.

Rating TOP-7 floor-standing gas boilers of Russian production

Consider the most successful models of domestic-made floor gas boilers, which, according to survey results, are considered leaders among such devices:

Lemax Premium-20

Floor gas boiler, 20 kW. It is suitable for rooms of 180-200 m2. The unit is non-volatile, so the installation of the heating circuit should be done with a slope upwards from the boiler.

The boiler is single-circuit, with an atmospheric type combustion chamber. Needs connection to a traditional chimney.

Main technical characteristics:

gas consumption - 2.4 m3/hour;
dimensions - 556x961x470 mm;
weight - 78 kg.

For maximum efficiency, many owners connect an external circulation pump and a turbo nozzle.

Lemax Premium-12.5

A unit designed to heat a relatively small house with an area of 125 m2. The design of the Premium series boilers has a steel heat exchanger 3 mm thick.

The unit is single-circuit, with an open type combustion chamber.

Boiler parameters:

coolant temperature (max) - 90°;
coolant pressure (max) - 3 bar;
gas consumption - 1.5 m3/hour;
dimensions - 416x744x491 mm;
weight - 55 kg.

It is possible to connect a turbo nozzle and an external circulation pump, but installation of the system piping under a slope is mandatory in any case.

Lemax Leader-25

The power of this boiler is 25 kW and allows you to heat a house with an area of 250 m2. A feature of the boilers of the Leader line is a cast-iron heat exchanger, which provides an even and smooth change in heating modes.

Boilers are able to develop increased pressure in the system, have several degrees of protection against overheating, flameout and other undesirable phenomena.

Unit parameters:

coolant temperature (max) - 95°;
coolant pressure (max) - 4 bar;
gas consumption - 3 m3/hour;
dimensions - 515x856x515 mm;
weight - 115 kg.

With all its capabilities, boilers of the Leader series are non-volatile. They will not stop working in the event of an accident on electrical communications.

This allows the owner not to worry about heating in the winter.

Lemax Premium-30N

Non-volatile floor gas convection type boiler.

Provides only a basic function - heats the coolant for the heating circuit. The power of the device, designed to serve an area of 300 m2, is 30 kW.

The main indicators of the unit:

coolant temperature (max) - 90°;
coolant pressure (max) - 3 bar;
gas consumption - 3.5 m3/hour;
dimensions - 470x961x556 mm;
weight - 83 kg.

The independence of the boiler from the availability of power supply allows it to be used in remote villages or areas with dilapidated unreliable power networks.

ZhMZ AOGV-17.4-3 Comfort N

Double-circuit gas boiler manufactured by the Zhukovsky Mechanical Plant. Unit power 17 kW, designed for heating 140 m2.

The main fuel is natural gas, but conversion to liquefied fuel is possible subject to the replacement of nozzles. The boiler provides home heating and hot water supply.

Its characteristics:

coolant temperature (max) - 90°;
coolant pressure (max) - 1 bar;
DHW temperature (max) - 80°;
gas consumption - 1.87 m3/hour;
dimensions - 420x1050x480 mm;
weight - 57 kg.

The units of the Zhukovsky plant are distinguished by a specific body shape, resembling a cylinder with three legs X.

However, this does not impair the operational capabilities of the boilers, and the low fuel consumption makes them very attractive to buyers.

Lemax Premium-25

Single-circuit gas boiler with atmospheric combustion chamber. Designed for space heating up to 250 m2, as evidenced by the power of 25 kW.

The floor-standing non-volatile unit has the following parameters:

coolant temperature (max) - 90°;
coolant pressure (max) - 3 bar;
gas consumption - 3 m3/hour;
dimensions - 470x961x556 mm;
weight - 83 kg.

The design of the boiler differs little from the design of other Lemax units. It is possible to connect an external drive, which allows you to provide rooms with hot water.

Lemax Premium-30B

Floor gas double-circuit copper. It does not need to be connected to the power supply network.

Able to heat rooms up to 300 m2, at the same time provides hot water for domestic needs.

coolant temperature (max) - 90°;
DHW temperature (max) - 80°;
coolant pressure (max) - 3 bar;
gas consumption - 3.5 m3/hour;
dimensions - 556x961x470 mm;
weight - 88 kg.

This boiler is a good option for a heating installation for a two-story house. With high capabilities, it is very economical, which increases the demand and demand among users.

NOTE!

All boilers are guaranteed for 3 years.

Owner reviews

Consider the reviews of users operating floor gas boilers in their homes:

(( reviewsOverall )) / 5 Owner rating (4 votes)

Your opinion

0"> Sort by: Most Recent Highest Score Most Helpful Worst Rated

Be the first one to leave a review.

The choice of a boiler for a heating system is an important and responsible procedure that determines the microclimate at home for the coming years.

Mistakes in such a case are unacceptable, but most users do not have sufficient knowledge on this topic.

It is necessary to clearly enough imagine the design features of gas boilers, to be able to determine the most successful parameters and a set of functions.

Sales assistants often try to sell stock and give misleading information, so it's good to have some margin of knowledge about the most important aspects.

Consider one of the most efficient and popular groups of heating gas boilers - floor models

The basic function of any boiler is heating the coolant (RH) for the heating circuit. All models have it, regardless of what additional features they have..

There are units designed only for the preparation of the coolant. These are single-circuit boilers that perform a single, main task. In addition, there are double-circuit boilers capable of preparing hot water for domestic needs simultaneously with the heating of the OB.

They are equipped with an additional heat exchanger, which uses part of the excess heat energy of the coolant.

These units are called double-circuit. They allow you to get the maximum set of functions, but have some performance limitations on the DHW circuit.

Heating occurs in flow mode, so it is not yet possible to achieve a uniform and stable temperature.

NOTE!

Single-circuit boilers can be connected to external storage boilers. This will require some expenses, but as a result it makes it possible to obtain a stable and even DHW.

Advantages and disadvantages

The advantages of floor boilers include:

no restrictions on the power of the unit;
strength, reliability of all components and parts;
ease of installation;
stability of work, the ability to maintain a given mode regardless of external conditions;
lack of unnecessary additions;
powerful models can be connected in a cascade of up to 4 units, forming high-performance thermal units.

The disadvantages of floor structures are considered:

large weight, size;
the need for a separate room;
for atmospheric models, connection to a common house chimney is required

In addition to a separate room, for floor-standing boilers, it is necessary to provide the possibility of connecting to a vertical chimney or leading a horizontal pipe through the wall.

Convection or condensation?

The traditional way of heat transfer of a gas boiler is to heat the coolant in flow mode. It passes through the heat exchanger, and the gas burner heats the liquid according to the specified operating mode.

This type of boiler is called convection. Relatively recently, a new design of units has appeared - condensing. It uses preheating of the coolant from the heat released during the condensation of the exhausted smoke.

The temperature of the liquid rises by a small amount, but this is enough to make it possible to reduce the heating mode of the main heat exchanger.

The result is a positive effect:

fuel consumption is reduced;
increases the service life of the boiler.

With properly organized operation of the unit, fuel savings reach 20%. However, there are some specific conditions that sharply limit the scope of condensing boilers.

The reason is that the condensation process can only take place when the temperature of the walls of the condensation chamber is higher than the return flow temperature. This is only possible on underfloor heating systems or radiator circuits with a low heat output.

It is estimated that the operation of the first stage is possible only if the difference between the outside and inside of the house is no more than 20 °. For Russia, such a ratio is simply unrealistic. If condensation is not possible, the boiler operates as a conventional convection model.

Given the almost twofold difference in prices, the expediency of such an expensive purchase with dubious effectiveness should be weighed.

What is the difference between non-volatile and conventional boilers?

Conventional (volatile) boilers need a power supply, without which they cannot work. The turbofan, circulation pump, electronic control board need a high-quality and stable power supply.

Particularly capricious are the control boards, which immediately fail when the current parameters change. Manufacturers claim the ability to withstand strong voltage fluctuations, but in practice this is not observed.

At the same time, volatile units have a set of additional features - they can be controlled remotely, integrated into a smart home system, and programmed for some time in advance.

Non-volatile boilers do not have all these additions. They work exclusively with the help of mechanical components and parts, like a conventional gas stove.

The design of such units is devoid of all unnecessary components, it is functional and therefore very reliable. In addition, owners of non-volatile boilers are not threatened with a sudden power outage without heating.

Dilapidated and congested networks are typical for remote villages, so the use of independent heating systems is very valuable for many users.

Types of heat exchanger materials - what to choose?

The heat exchanger is the main unit of the gas boiler. The coolant is heated in it, so the parameters and design of this unit are of great importance.

Used for manufacturing:

stainless steel. This is a budget option, although the parameters of steel heat exchangers allow you to get quite effective results. Typically, such nodes are installed on inexpensive medium-sized boilers;
copper tube (coil). This option is used on expensive models of gas boilers. Copper has a high heat transfer coefficient, so the effect of using such heat exchangers is very high;
cast iron. It is resistant to mechanical and thermal loads. For the manufacture of heat exchangers, gray ductile metal is used, which is resistant to drops or different liquid temperatures at individual points. Massive knots help to even out the degree of heating and soften sudden temperature changes.

Copper heat exchangers are considered the most preferable, but steel and cast iron assemblies are quite efficient and can provide high-quality heating of the OB.

Types of boilers by type of smoke removal and which one is better?

There are two options for the output of combustion products:

atmospheric. This is the traditional way to remove flue gases using natural furnace draft. The technique is well studied, but it is characterized by instability and strong dependence on external conditions. Most often used on non-volatile models;
with a turbofan. The combustion chamber of such boilers is isolated from the outside atmosphere, so the combustion process and the removal of smoke are provided by a turbocharging fan. It supplies fresh air that supports the flame and displaces smoke into a specially designed chimney (coaxial).

Turbocharged boilers are considered more convenient designs for residential use - there is no smell of smoke, oxygen does not burn out, the unit is completely safe.

However, such boilers need to be connected to the power supply network.

The choice of coolant

Usually two options are used:

water. Experts recommend pouring distilled water if the volume of the system allows it. This method avoids the formation of lime deposits, but it will not protect against freezing pipes in winter;
ethylene glycol (antifreeze). It is a liquid that does not freeze when circulation stops. Contains a set of anti-corrosion additives, does not form scale, does not have a destructive effect on polymers, rubber, plastic.

For systems that need to be drained frequently, water is the best and most economical choice. The use of antifreeze is recommended for heating circuits operating in difficult conditions.

Types of boiler ignition methods and which method is the most optimal?

There are three ignition options:

electronic. The burner is ignited at the touch of a button using a special unit. This option is present on all models of volatile boilers;
piezoelectric. The principle of operation of such a system is similar to all piezo devices - for a spark to appear, you need to press on a special crystal. Used on non-volatile boilers. Many users find this type of ignition inconvenient;
manual. The flame is ignited with an ordinary lit match (torch). For ignition, it is necessary to have some supply of such elongated wooden sticks.

Most users unanimously prefer the electronic type of ignition, but it is not possible on non-volatile units. You have to get used to using a piezoelectric element or setting fire to the burner with a burning torch.

Types by type of combustion chamber

There are two types of combustion chambers:

atmospheric (open). They work on the traditional principle - air is taken directly from the surrounding atmosphere, and smoke is removed using natural draft. For the operation of such boilers, appropriate conditions are needed, so they are not in great demand. However, atmospheric units are capable of operating in a non-volatile mode;
turbocharged (closed). The fully sealed design requires an air supply, which is done by a turbofan. This method allows you to control the mode of combustion and the output of combustion products. It is considered the most convenient and safe.

The choice of the combustion chamber is determined by the design of the boiler - all non-volatile models are atmospheric, and dependent units can be both open and closed.

Turbocharged vehicles are preferred.

Rating TOP-10 floor gas boilers

Consider the features of some of the most popular models of floor gas boilers:

Protherm Wolf 16 KSO

The company from Slovakia produces a wide range of gas boilers. The Wolf 16 KSO model is a single-circuit copper with a power of 16 kW. He is successfully able to heat a house of 160 square meters. m.

The heat exchanger of a copper two-pass, is made of stainless steel.

Main settings:

Efficiency - 92%;
coolant temperature - 30-80 °;
gas consumption - 2.1 m3/hour;
dimensions - 390x745x460 mm;
weight - 46.5 kg.

All series of Protherm boilers are named after various animals. By their appearance, you can determine whether a given model belongs to a certain group of equipment.

Lemax Premium-12.5

Floor single-circuit gas boiler of Russian production. With a power of 12.5 kW, it is able to heat rooms up to 125 square meters. m.

Main characteristics:

Efficiency - 90%;
gas consumption - 1.5 m3/hour;
dimensions - 416x744x491 mm;
weight - 55 kg.

Non-volatile units allow you to increase the reliability of work and remove concerns about the safety of heating in the winter.

Lemax Premium-20

Russian heating floor boiler. The power of the unit is 20 kW, being a good choice for owners of houses up to 200 sq.m.

A non-volatile boiler with a steel heat exchanger has the following parameters:

Efficiency - 90%;
coolant temperature - 90 °;
pressure in the system - up to 3 bar;
gas consumption - 2.4 m3/hour;
dimensions - 556x961x470 mm;
weight - 78 kg.

Single-circuit non-volatile models have the simplest design, which increases the reliability and stability of their work.

BAXI SLIM 1.230 iN

Italian engineers have developed a high-quality and productive model of a floor gas boiler with a capacity of 22.1 kW. This allows the unit to heat an area up to 220 sq. m.

Efficiency - 90.2%;
coolant temperature - up to 85 °;
pressure in the system - up to 3 bar;
gas consumption - 2.59 m3/hour;
dimensions - 350x850x600 mm;
weight - 103 kg.

BAXI boilers belong to the group of elite heating equipment and are one of the leaders in European heat engineering.

Lemax Premium-25N

Another representative of domestic heating equipment manufactured in Taganrog. This is a single-circuit non-volatile gas boiler designed for floor mounting.

Its parameters are:

Efficiency - 90%;
coolant temperature - 90 °;
pressure in the system - up to 3 bar;
gas consumption - 3 m3/hour;
dimensions - 470x961x556 mm;
weight - 83 kg.

The warranty for Lemax boilers lasts 36 months, which increases the technical support of the manufacturer by one and a half times and allows the user to receive specialized repair or maintenance of the units.

Siberia 11

Products of the Rostov company "Rostovgazoapparat". The power of this floor-standing non-volatile unit is up to 11.6 kW, allowing you to heat the house up to 120 square meters. m.

All control is mechanical, a power outage will not affect the heating system in any way.

Boiler parameters:

Efficiency - 90%;
coolant temperature - 90 °;
pressure in the system - up to 3 bar;
gas consumption - 1.18 m3/hour;
dimensions - 280x850x560 mm;
weight - 52 kg.

The company's arsenal includes single and double-circuit models of boilers of this series.

MORA-TOP SA 20

Czech floor-standing boilers with a cast-iron heat exchanger provide high reliability and stability of home heating. The MORA-TOP SA 20 model has a power of 15 kW and is designed to work in rooms up to 150 square meters. m.

Boiler characteristics:

Efficiency - 92%;
coolant temperature - 85 °;
pressure in the system - up to 3 bar;
gas consumption - 1.6 m3/hour;
dimensions - 365x845x525 mm;
weight - 99 kg.

The design of the heat exchanger is sectional, consists of 3 compartments. The boiler is non-volatile, but is equipped with two types of nozzles - for natural and forced circulation.

Lemax Premium-10

Floor-standing non-volatile gas boiler with a capacity of 10 kW. Able to heat a house up to 100 sq.m.

Efficiency - 90%;
coolant temperature - 90 °;
pressure in the system - up to 1 bar;
gas consumption - 1.2 m3/hour;
dimensions - 330x748x499 mm;
weight - 48 kg.

The boiler is single-circuit, all controls work on a mechanical principle.

Lemax Premium-16

Floor-standing gas boiler, designed to service the heating system of a private house up to 160 sq. m.

Its power is 16 kW, other parameters:

Efficiency - 90%;
coolant temperature - 90 °;
pressure in the system - up to 3 bar;
gas consumption - 1.9 m3/hour;
dimensions - 416x744x491 mm;
weight - 55 kg.

This model is one of the most popular on the market, since its power is optimal for most private houses.

Lemax Clever 30

Single-circuit floor gas boiler. Its power is 30 kW, which allows you to heat 300 square meters. m. usable area. The unit is volatile, has electronic control and a comprehensive protection system.

Characteristics:

Efficiency - 90%;
coolant temperature - 90 °;
pressure in the system - up to 2 bar;
gas consumption - 1.75 m3/hour;
dimensions - 470x961x556 mm;
weight - 85 kg.

The power of the unit is excessive for one residential building, therefore, owners often purchase such boilers in a pool and use them to work in 2 systems.

Customer Reviews

Consider user opinions:

(( reviewsOverall )) / 5 Owner rating (3 votes)

Your opinion

Most buyers are trying to purchase an economical floor-standing gas boiler for their home, since gas is not cheap today. But, in addition to fuel consumption, there are many criteria by which the unit is considered economical. This is the service life, and the operation of the weather-dependent system, and the efficiency of the unit.

The efficiency of a gas unit directly depends on its service life. Boilers with cast-iron heat exchangers are able to work the longest - their service life is 30-40 years. However, they can "live" for so long only with careful handling. Cast iron is brittle and must be handled with extreme care. It is also necessary to avoid getting cool water on the surface of the hot heat exchanger, as the temperature difference will lead to cracks.

Floor-standing units with steel contours are not as capricious as cast-iron ones, but they are much more susceptible to corrosion. Because of this, steel elements fail faster.

Also, the operational period depends on the availability of spare parts for sale and the quality of the heating equipment. Therefore, when buying a unit of a certain brand, you should ask if it is easy to find accessories for it. As for the manufacturer, German and Slovak units work the longest. Domestic analogues fail faster, but they are better adapted to difficult Russian operating conditions and will cost less.

Note! Many manufacturers recommend installing a voltage stabilizer for their gas boiler. This is a condition for continued warranty service.

Some owners of outdoor gas boilers try to save on maintenance and do not call a specialist for scheduled repairs. However, during operation, the focus of the burner may shift, soot may appear and other minor malfunctions may occur. If they are not eliminated in time, then fuel consumption will increase, and the performance of the unit will decrease. Therefore, it is better not to save on service.

How does automation make a gas boiler more economical?

The efficiency of the gas unit is also affected by the ability to reduce and increase productivity during operation. Modern weather-dependent systems are able to reduce the intensity of combustion depending on the temperature outside or in the room. This significantly reduces gas consumption and, accordingly, the cost of it.

Some modern automation systems can be set to work for a day or a week. You can set the operation of the gas unit so that at night the temperature in the room is lower.

There are floor gas boilers with these types of burners:

single-stage - has one power level;
two-stage - two power levels;
modulating - several power levels.

The last type of burner is considered the most economical, as it has the ability to smoothly switch to different power levels.

Efficiency of outdoor gas units

The main indicator when choosing an economical gas boiler for organizing home heating is the coefficient of performance - efficiency. Its value for outdoor gas units lies in the range of 84-99%. Low-cost devices equipped with a one- or two-stage burner have a low rate. Boilers work more efficiently, in which the power can change smoothly, depending on weather conditions.

The heat that is obtained as a result of gas combustion heats the heat exchanger with the heat carrier. After that, the remaining heat passes into the chimney and irrevocably goes into the atmosphere. The amount of heat lost is shown by the flue gas temperature. If the smoke is heated to 200°C or more at the outlet of the nozzle, then this unit is not considered economical. The best option is flue gas temperature in the range of 100-150 °C.

Condensing gas boilers

The condensing unit is considered the most economical floor gas boiler for the home. This is possible thanks to a special technology for extracting heat from the resulting moisture. To do this, a floor-standing gas boiler is equipped with a cylindrical burner, which is located inside a stainless steel heat exchanger. It is made in the form of a coil with tightly packed coils. Water vapor condenses on the heat exchanger, the heat from which also heats the coolant. Due to this, thermal energy is maximally spent on heating the heat exchanger. The efficiency of such units is 97-99%.

Note! If, due to problems with electricity, you decide to purchase a non-volatile gas boiler, then keep in mind that it will not be economical. For such boilers, the efficiency rarely exceeds 91%.

The cost of floor gas boilers

Another important selection criterion is the price of the device. Condensing models are much more expensive than convection models. It is better to purchase a boiler that can work on both natural and liquefied fuels.

Basically, devices of an affordable price category include models with low efficiency. More efficient units, especially foreign-made ones, are more expensive.

If you cannot afford condensing-type heating devices, you can purchase a cheap domestic boiler with low fuel consumption.

Which gas boiler is better? I answer from my point of view. For 10 years my team has been installing heating systems. We have been servicing gas boilers in the Krasnogvardeisky district of Adygea for more than eight years.

During this time, I have accumulated statistics on the maintenance of gas boilers. I warn you that I will express my point of view and my personal opinion and judgment, it may not coincide with the opinion and point of view of some manufacturers.

The gas boilers I am considering belong to the budget segment. Boilers more expensive than 50,000 rubles, you will not find here.

Gas double-circuit wall-mounted boiler - which is better for heating a private house.

How to make heating in a private house

Any story begins with the fact that a person has a house and needs to be heated somehow. If there is network gas nearby, then everything is fine. It remains to make a heating system in the house.

There are two ways:

Make a heating system for a private house with your own hands
Hire heating installers

How to make a heating system with your own hands, I will tell you another time. Suppose that the customer has chosen the second path and agreed with us on the installation of heating. I meet educated customers, they already know where radiators will be installed, and where there will be a warm floor.

They usually ask me questions like:

Which pipes are better and why?
Why so long?
What's so expensive?

In this article I will tell you how to choose a gas boiler for a private house. What is the most reliable gas boiler and why do I think so.

I will not consider domestic manufacturers of gas boilers, such as Neva, Lemax, Siberia, and others. There are not many of them, they, in my opinion, have a very small market share. It's extremely rare for me, so I can't draw any conclusions.

Gas boilers the best manufacturers

European manufacturers: VIESSMANN (Vissmann), VAILLANT (Vailant), BUDERUS (Buderus). German organizations that have given the globalization of production in Turkey, Russia, China. This trio specializes in thermal equipment. They fill the niche of thermal energy sources. From gas wall and floor boilers to heat pumps. They also produce solid fuel, diesel and electric boilers.

Italian manufacturers: FONDITAL (Fondital), ARISTON (Ariston), BAXI (Baksi), FERROLI (Ferolli).

Korean manufacturers: NAVIEN (Navien), KITURAMI (Kiturami), KOREASTAR (Koreastar) and MASTER GAS SEOUL (Master Gas Seoul).

Chinese manufacturers: OASIS (Oasis) and ROSTERM (Rosterm).

The most reliable gas boiler

In my opinion, the most reliable Viessmann gas boiler. Just as car manufacturers have small, middle class and business class, so boiler manufacturers segment their boilers to capture market share as much as possible, and Viessmann has cheap and expensive models of boilers.

Viessmann has a running budget model of a double-circuit gas wall-mounted boiler VITOPEND (Vitopend), with a capacity of up to 35 kW. They are relatively inexpensive, Viessmann Vitopend 100-W can be bought for 45 thousand rubles.

Rating of gas boilers in terms of reliability and quality 2017

VIESSMANN VITOPEND 100-W
ARISTON EGIS PLUS 24 F
BAXI MAIN 5 24F
BUDERUS LOGAMAX U072-24K
FONDITAL MINORCA CTFS 24
IMMERGAS EOLO MYTHOS 24 2 R
DAEWOO 200MSC

The best double-circuit gas boiler - installer review

In my opinion, VIESSMANN has a balanced balance of simplicity and at the same time reliability and quality. In complex equipment, this balance is incredibly difficult to maintain. Vaillant, in my understanding, is trying to be as technologically advanced as possible. Although Wissmann sometimes slips this too. The last line of Vitopend, it seems to me, they are too clever.

German wall-mounted double-circuit gas boilers

In general, Wissmann has some simple knots, the most reliable. And Vaillant begins to fall into some kind of complex menu, the obligatory participation of a service specialist.

An ordinary user in Vaillante cannot figure it out. To change the simple settings of the boiler, you need to get into the instructions, or contact somewhere, etc. On the one hand, this has a plus, in the sense that it is protection against fools so that the user does not interfere in the operation of the boiler. On the other hand, it makes life difficult for installers.

Read also:

If we consider more budget options, this is Buderus. I can't say anything bad about Buderus. In general, the boilers are reliable. Now a plant has opened in Russia, and boilers are now being produced here. Cheap parts, good build quality. According to my observations, the boilers are reliable.

Vailant, in my opinion, makes good boilers, but I don’t like their service policy, I don’t like the over-sophisticated boiler control logic. The boilers are economical, technologically advanced, but in our operation this may turn out to be a minus. They are picky about poor water quality, poor electricity quality. Those boilers that were installed 8-10 years ago (I have accumulated my own breakdown statistics) break down more often than Wiessmann. Although this is one class device. Vaillant has very expensive parts, and according to my statistics, it breaks down more often than Buderus.

I installed about the same number of boilers from Viessmann and Buderus, and Vaillant was much smaller, and 80% of Vaillant boilers had some kind of breakdown of varying degrees of complexity. But they were all noticeably expensive. Even replacing the make-up valve came out at 2-3 thousand rubles. In Buderus boilers, the make-up valve has never been changed.

Read also:

So I try not to recommend Vaillant. In my opinion, the whole policy of Vailant is focused on service, and to become a service, you need to buy a set of spare parts. For Moscow or for the northwestern region, it is relevant. People there live richer, they think about the service and are ready to pay for it. Guarantee, service on this you can earn.

In the Krasnodar Territory and Adygea, this is a problem, there are few such people, the equipment itself is not very common. Load up with spare parts and try to make money on repairs by pushing additional customers. service is not our style.

Italian wall-mounted double-circuit gas boilers

The Italians are generally not bad in quality, but, in my opinion, worse than the Germans. In general, I liked Baksi, Baksi's approach, service policy. Spare parts are cheaper than those of the Germans, but also quite expensive. Boilers rarely break.

Ariston in general, good boilers, there are nodes that break down quite regularly. This is a three-way valve if there is a split heat exchanger in the boiler. If the water is hard, then the valve breaks once a year.

Fondital and Nova Florida good boilers, rather poorly distributed now. Used to be popular because of the low price. The cheapest boilers according to Italians. I haven't put them on for the last five years. Those boilers that I installed earlier work normally even under poor operating conditions.

Korean wall-mounted double-circuit gas boilers

Boilers Navien very common in our region. Very cheap segment, very well entered the market. The boilers are not bad, but there is a weak knot that spoils everything. This is the primary heat exchanger. He is weak to them. If something breaks in Navien, then 90% is the primary heat exchanger.

Now, when many years of experience in their operation have been accumulated, it is clear that customers do not like it. Negative rumors are spreading. I think that on this occasion, probably, sales of Navien also fell. And they could develop. The boiler has a different design logic, made in Korea, unpretentious, cheap spare parts, but the primary heat exchanger spoils everything.

If they got rid of the design flaw with the heat exchanger, I think they would have captured the market a lot. I would love to put them on myself. It makes no sense to buy a boiler that breaks down on hard water in a year or two. The heat exchanger for this boiler costs from 6 thousand rubles + work to replace it.

Read also:

I installed few Naviens, but served a lot. I have not seen a boiler that has worked for more than three years without a heat exchanger failure. I came across old boilers with a copper heat exchanger that worked trouble-free for 6-8 years.

Kiturami. I can't say anything bad. They are not widely distributed in our country, inexpensive spare parts.

Deo not bad boilers, there was a period when these boilers often and vilely broke down, but then the design was finalized, and in general, those boilers that I encountered and installed myself showed themselves well. Good price, in conditions of poor operation, they showed themselves normally. Better than the Naviens. No worse than the Italians.

Chinese wall-mounted double-circuit gas boilers

Chinese gas boilers break down quite often. But Chinese boiler manufacturers are gradually taking over the market and constantly improving the quality. My prediction: within 5 years they will begin to actively invade the market, because they will improve the quality, the price is low + development has begun in automation, boiler control from the phone. Sensor technology, remote access, all this will be integrated into the boilers.

Now there are such electric kettles that, in terms of functionality, they remind me a little of a spaceship. Gas technology in this sense is a bit conservative. Of course, some models of gas boilers have access via the Internet, some settings can be made from a smartphone. But all this is not the same. I think that in the near future the Chinese will make a breakthrough in gas technology.

Poor operating conditions for gas boilers

Few people know, and even more so, turn their attention to the operating conditions of gas boilers.

Boilers break down quickly due to two reasons:

Chemically and mechanically polluted water. Sand impurities, scale, a lot of iron, increased rigidity.
No grounding, power surges.

Due to the quality of the water, heat exchangers and valves fail. Remember, I talked about Ariston and Navien?

The gas boiler needs to be serviced periodically.

Double-circuit gas boiler for heating a private house

Double-circuit boilers are good for small heating systems up to 100 square meters. With one bathroom and it is desirable that it is adjacent to the kitchen. And the boiler was nearby. For apartment heating, double-circuit boilers are an excellent solution.

If 4 or more people live in the house, two bathrooms, if there is a large distance between the boiler and consumers, then the double-circuit boiler starts to work at the limit of its capabilities, which leads to its breakdown.

I would not recommend installing double-circuit gas boilers with a power of less than 20 kW for a simple reason: such a boiler capacity for heating is excessive, and for hot water supply it will not be enough.

Read also:

In order to heat the water in the duct, you need to apply a lot of power. Many customers and installers do not understand this. Therefore, I would not recommend installing household rulers below 24 kW at all. With a power of 20 kW, such a boiler serves 1 hot water point.

Calculation of the power required for hot water preparation

The cold water entering the boiler has a temperature of 12°C.

The boiler heats water and the hot water temperature will be 50°C at the outlet of the boiler. I put the number 50 degrees, you can substitute your hot water temperature. In wall-mounted double-circuit boilers, it is usually regulated from 30 to 60 degrees.

The difference between the temperature of the water entering the boiler and leaving the boiler is called Delta. In my example 50-12=38 degrees.

I don’t want to explain to you for a long time about the heat capacity of water, to give formulas that no one will understand anyway. To simplify everything as much as possible, we can say:

Important!

It takes 1 Wh to heat 1 liter of water by 1 degree Celsius.

When you turn on a hot water faucet, approximately 8 liters of water per minute flows out of it. Therefore, in one hour, 8l * 60min \u003d 480l / min will pour out of this tap.

In my example the Delta was 38°C. 38*480=18 240 W/h or 18.2 kW/h.

This is the power needed to heat water in the duct. That is why most manufacturers make wall-mounted double-circuit gas boilers with a power of 20 kW or more.

Attention!

Such a power of a gas boiler is needed not for heating, but for preparing hot water!

Additional losses occur for heating pipes. Everything is cold in the morning, the man turned on the water until all the pipes warmed up. This needs power. To heat the boiler itself, power is needed.

Therefore, if you have 2 bathrooms, 4 people live, it is likely that two or even three people will turn on hot water at the same time. The boiler will not be able to heat the water. There will be a big delay in hot water.

A wall-mounted boiler with a power of 24 kW is 1-2 hot water draw-off points. It is very difficult to heat hot water in the duct. This is exactly what installers and customers do not know. What boiler power is needed for the preparation of domestic hot water and not for heating.

Read also:

Very often I encounter situations: 4 people or more live in the house, there is a huge half-ton bath, two bathrooms, one of them on the 2nd floor. Installers installed a double-circuit gas boiler in the basement. The owner of the house complains that it takes a long time to get hot water, and the boiler often breaks down.

This is a matter of equipment selection and system design. This is very often mistaken.

I explain to people this way: if more than 4 people live in the house, the distance of consumers is more than 5-7 meters, bathrooms are on different floors, and you already have a double-circuit gas boiler installed, then you need to recirculate, install an indirect heating boiler.

Which gas boiler to choose for home heating

Now I advise the wall-mounted gas boiler Viessmann Vitopend.

There was a period when I put Wiessmann. He explained to people about quality and reliability. Then the price of Wiessmann rose, people were looking for cheaper options. At that time, I installed Baksi and Aristona and Fonditala boilers.

Then Fonditals rose in price, Wissmann fell in price. The Wissmanns went again. I usually dissuade people from Koreans, but if they insist, put a Korean, there is no money, I put it. And then I prefer to put Deo. They are better than Navien.

I put Aristons at one time, but there was a bad service policy. Perhaps she still has it. I can’t say that the Aristons are bad boilers, but the Equator customer-oriented service spoiled everything. For this reason, I stopped using Ariston.

Price is critical. The state of the market matters. People had more money, they put something more reliable, when there was less money, a crisis, people start saving hard on everything. Choose whichever is cheaper. This is the paradox of the market. A person builds a house for at least 20 years, but at the same time he does not think in terms of 20 years. The choice is based on price.

This is a choice not only of boilers, but also of radiators, pipelines, fittings. If there is a crisis, then they put frankly deshman garbage. Forgetting that the pipes in the walls will be very difficult and expensive to change. Even if the crisis is already over, and there is money.

Wall-mounted boiler - spare parts for gas boilers

What they do not pay attention to when choosing and buying a gas boiler is the cost and delivery time of spare parts.

You need to make heating at home. I don't know how you found people who will make your heating system. Maybe they were recommended to you by a relative, acquaintance or neighbor to whom they did something. Perhaps you do not know anything about them, and saw their ad in a newspaper or on the Internet. It does not matter.

You agreed with them that they will make the heating system for you, and most likely they will also purchase all the materials. It's no secret that many installers have discounts, and they earn a little on the supply of materials, and you save a little.

Now the most important thing: most likely, you will ask them the same questions that customers most often ask me:

Can you tell me a good gas boiler for a private house?
Which pipes are better and why?
Can you recommend good radiators?
How long will it take to deliver the product and install it?
Why so long?
What's so expensive?

What materials do you think installers recommend in 90% of cases?

Most installers advise those materials on which they get the most discount!

For example, some store gave an installer a 15% discount on Ferroli boilers. The heating installer will recommend this boiler to you, and possibly share a discount with you.

Italian boiler at a discount, such a joy 🙂 Winter will come, or maybe it will happen after 5 winters and the boiler will break. It's cold outside and the heating doesn't work. You call the installer or find a person who can repair your boiler urgently.

This person comes, opens the boiler and tells you: the heat exchanger is leaking, or the control board is burned out (or maybe 100500 more reasons), in short, you need to change this spare part.

He finds out, and it turns out that the heat exchanger for the Ferroli boiler will go for three weeks and it costs 29 thousand rubles. And the new Ferroli gas boiler costs 35,000 rubles.

This is real situations from my practice. Imagine: it’s winter and frost outside (even cooler than the New Year holidays), the boiler is broken and now there is no money for a new boiler.

What to do in this situation? Change the boiler to a similar boiler? Or change the manufacturer of the gas boiler, but then you have to redo the project for gas. Wait for a spare part and heat the house with electricity, or what do you have there?

When I advise Viessmann, I know for sure that any spare part for this boiler can be obtained within 1-2 days. Or replace it with something, make the boiler work quickly.

Choose materials for construction wisely, learn materiel or hire responsible and competent contractors like us.

Variety of boiler brands

What criteria should be used to evaluate a gas boiler for a home when purchasing equipment for a local heating system, you will learn from this article.

Efficiency of gas boilers

First of all, it is necessary to understand how the thermal energy of the burning fuel is distributed. The energy carrier for a gas boiler is natural or liquefied gas, while the calorific value of any of these types of fuel must be within the regulatory requirements - only in this case the heating unit will be able to generate heat in accordance with its passport indicators.

The calorific value of gas is a value indicating how much heat is released during the combustion of a unit volume of fuel. The heating unit directs the bulk of this energy to heat the coolant in the building system, i.e., to heat the house. The greater the percentage of energy will be used to solve this problem, the better.

The efficiency of a heat generator (expressed as a percentage) is an indicator of exactly what part of the heat of combustion of the energy carrier is used to heat the house. The higher the efficiency, the more efficiently the fuel is used, the less it is required to maintain the heating system in normal mode.

Efficiency and economy depend on each other

In turn, the more fully the fuel is used and the lower its consumption, the less money is spent on the purchase of an energy carrier. Thus, the efficiency of the boiler is directly related to its efficiency.

During the combustion of gaseous fuels under normal conditions and with a sufficient supply of oxygen, CO 2 (carbon dioxide, also known as carbon dioxide) and H 2 O (water) are released.

Thermal energy obtained as a result of gas combustion is consumed:

for heating the coolant;
on the evaporation of water vapor obtained during combustion;
goes down the chimney along with flue gases.

The most economical gas boilers differ from the rest in that the absolute maximum of thermal energy is directed to heating the house, while losses in the last two items on the list are minimized.

Combustion chambers and burners

The efficiency of a heat generator operating on natural or liquefied gas is usually 90-95%, for premium units this figure can reach 98%.

To a certain extent, the efficiency of the device depends on the characteristics of the gas burner that the boiler is equipped with.

When choosing a heat source, you should pay attention to the type of combustion chamber of the unit - it can be open and closed:

air enters the open combustion chamber from the room;
air enters the closed chamber from the street through a coaxial chimney, and is blown by a fan.

Obviously, in the second case, the combustion process takes place at a higher oxygen supply, due to which the fuel burns out almost completely, giving off thermal energy to the maximum. This not only reduces the amount of flue gases, but also increases the efficiency of the boiler.

The burners themselves are of two types - with step and smooth adjustment, thanks to which you can change the power of the unit. The most inexpensive units are equipped with a single-stage or two-stage burner.

If the gas boiler is equipped with an electronically controlled modulating burner, it is able to save energy as much as possible. This is due to the fact that the degree of heating of the coolant is smoothly regulated depending on the real needs of the house for heat. This is one of the most important conditions for reducing fuel costs during the heating season.

Attention! It makes sense to install an efficient and reliable gas unit with a modular burner and forced air supply to the furnace as part of a heating system with individual microclimate control in each room. This requires serious investments at the stage of purchase and installation of equipment, but in the future the system pays for itself due to serious energy savings.

A little more about the efficiency of boiler plants

This indicator depends not only on the characteristics of the furnace and burner device, but also on how thermal energy is transferred.

At the first stage, the heat received in the combustion chamber heats the water jacket of the unit. Then the flue gases and the remaining thermal energy pass through a heat exchanger made of steel or cast iron, due to which another part of the thermal energy is spent on heating water. The remaining heat, together with flue gases, escapes into the atmosphere through the chimney.

If you measure the flue gas temperature at the outlet of the pipe, you can evaluate the efficiency of boiler equipment. In a heater with low efficiency, the temperature of the gases at the outlet pipe reaches (or even exceeds) 200 degrees - this means that a significant part of the thermal energy is irretrievably lost, that is, a decent percentage of the fuel is wasted. Gas heating boilers can be considered quite efficient if the temperature of the flue gases at the outlet of the pipe does not exceed 150 degrees. For an economical boiler, this figure will be about 100 degrees.

Outgoing flue gas parameters

The lowest temperature for combustion products is for condensing gas boilers. This is achieved due to the design features of the unit, where a system is provided for the selection of heat obtained during the vaporization of water. As mentioned above, water is released during the combustion of gas fuel, and then evaporates - and part of the received thermal energy is spent on this evaporation. Condensation colas differ from classical gas units in that they take this energy back by condensing water vapor.

The condensing model is equipped with a cylindrical type burner, which is mounted inside a stainless steel heat exchanger, made in the form of a coil with coils located very close to each other. The coolant circulates through the coil. The water vapor formed during the combustion chemical reaction passes through the coil, since it has no other way, and condenses on its surface. In the process of condensation, the steam gives off heat to the coil.

When determining which gas boiler is the most economical, one should pay attention to condensing boilers, since the temperature of the combustion products at the outlet of the pipe is the lowest - only 45-70 degrees, while the efficiency is 98%.

What to choose: condensing or conventional boiler?

As already mentioned, the efficiency and reliability of the condensing boiler is beyond doubt. But it should be noted that sellers of such equipment often mislead buyers by declaring that the efficiency of a condensing heat generator is more than 100%. They add to the base indicator of 98% the “percentage of efficiency” obtained due to the condensation of water vapor - that is, the thermal energy that the unit takes back, initially spending on converting water into steam.

A photo of a condensing boiler

Any literate person who studied physics at school knows that the efficiency of equipment cannot exceed 100%. The condensing unit is able to minimize heat loss, but cannot increase the amount of heat energy obtained by burning gas. Thus, the real efficiency of the condensing heat generator does not exceed 98%.

However, when choosing a gas-fired heating unit, it is important to consider the following:

condensing boilers are more economical than conventional ones, but are significantly more expensive due to their more complex design;
maintenance of a traditional gas unit (flushing the heat exchanger, etc.) can be done by hand, technically there is nothing complicated in this, and certified specialists are required to clean the condensing boiler.

If you are looking for an economical gas boiler among conventional units, it is important to understand that savings when buying equipment in the future can result in increased repair and maintenance costs.

Don't Forget to Estimate Installation Costs.

For example, a floor-standing gas boiler with an open combustion chamber requires installation in a dedicated room with a fire-resistant finish. In addition, a foundation and a vertical chimney are mounted for it.

A model with a closed combustion chamber can be installed in any convenient place and lead the chimney through the wall.

Compact gas boilers are hung on the wall and take up a minimum of space - this is the most convenient option.

Please note: it makes sense to opt for a non-volatile boiler only if it is not possible to provide power to the equipment. Such models have a relatively low cost, but do not make it possible to save fuel.

How to make the right choice?

Compare the following indicators:

Efficiency of the unit (indicated by the manufacturer in the product passport);
temperature level of combustion products at the outlet;
design features of the heat exchanger (the more turns, the more heat energy the flue gases will have time to give off);
the quality of the thermal insulation of the water jacket of the boiler (it is important that there are no unnecessary heat losses);
type of combustion chamber;
burner type (smooth adjustment is the ability to switch the boiler to the most economical mode of operation relative to specific conditions).

The installed heating boiler for a private house must be properly adjusted, this must be done by specialists. Practice shows that it is not worth further saving on inviting experienced professionals to adjust the heating unit - even the slightest deviations from the optimal modes of operation of the nodes lead to the fact that the boiler becomes less efficient and more fuel is spent.

The choice you made will not disappoint you if you take into account all the recommendations. But it should be understood that an economical boiler will meet expectations only if the house is well insulated, the optimal heating system option is selected, and fuel with the appropriate characteristics is used.

No matter how high the performance of the boiler unit, it requires regular preventive cleaning - accumulated pollution reduces the power of the boiler and provokes excessive fuel consumption.