What determines the gas consumption in gas heating boilers

A gas boiler is the most common heating equipment that is installed in private houses and apartments. It is compact, economical and easy to operate. When choosing a model, external parameters, power, gas consumption of a gas boiler are taken into account.

The main factors affecting gas consumption

To determine the fuel consumption, it is necessary to take into account the ambient air temperature, the power of the unit, the technical characteristics of the fuel itself, the general condition of the heat exchanger, as well as additional functions of the equipment.

Boiler power

A large boiler will consume more gas. Moreover, it will not be possible to reduce losses. If a 20 kW device is installed in the house, even with minimal heating of the system, it uses more fuel than low-power equipment at maximum. In order not to overpay for heating, you need to choose the device in accordance with the size of the residential building and the need for additional functions.

Outside temperature

In this case, the gas consumption depends on the power regulation. If the winter is relatively warm, the boiler can be set to 1 or 2, reducing the flow. If the frosts reach -20 degrees, then the power of the device increases, it will consume more fuel.

The technical parameters of the gas also affect its consumption, but the consumer cannot independently regulate or control this parameter. Sometimes the composition of the fuel differs from that fixed by the state standard, as some companies add other components to it. In this case, cubic meters will be counted, and the quality of heating the room will deteriorate.

Technical condition of heat exchangers

Heating of the coolant is carried out in a heat exchanger - a copper pipeline, which is located in the combustion chamber of the boiler or outside it. If this element is made of low-quality material, clogged with combustion products or limescale, its heat transfer deteriorates. To compensate for the decrease in heating, it will be necessary to add power to the boiler, which will significantly increase fuel consumption.

Availability of additional functions

In this case, the flow rate depends on the number of heating circuits. The double-circuit unit consumes more gas, since in addition to heating the radiators, it performs the function of providing the house with hot water. The total length of the routing may increase. Such boilers can be used not only in winter but also in summer. In order for the device to work smoothly in cold weather, the throughput of the nozzles in it is increased.

Calculation of gas consumption for a certain period

To calculate the gas consumption by boilers of different capacities, you need to take into account that in cold weather for heating 10 sq.m. living space requires 10 kW of energy, and in severe frosts, this figure increases to 1.2 kilowatts. To calculate the expense, you need to take the following actions:

1. Calculate the area of ​​all premises of a house or apartment, using the technical construction plan.
2. Divide the sum by 10 and multiply by 1.2.The result obtained is the maximum consumption of the heating circuit.

This parameter just needs to be rounded up to a larger value. If you need to calculate how much gas the boiler consumes per day, you need to take into account that the burner does not work for 24 hours. To carry out the calculation, this time must be halved. The consumption rate of a 10 kW unit is 14.4 cubic meters. per day (10 * 0.12 * 12).

If you need to calculate how much fuel will be consumed per month, you need to multiply the daily consumption by the number of days. However, heating devices almost never work at full capacity, so the consumption can be lower. For example, gas consumption per hour for a 24 kW boiler is approximately 3.1 cubic meters.

Features of liquefied fuel

Liquefied gas is produced by converting it from a gaseous to a liquid state. In the process of conversion, the fuel is cleaned of any unnecessary impurities and is cooled to obtain condensate. In this case, the volume of the material is reduced by 600 times. The fuel is stored in special cylinders, which are connected to the heating unit. This option for heating a house is used if it is not possible to connect to a centralized heating network.

The consumption of liquefied gas is influenced by all the same factors as its gaseous form. The hourly rate of fuel consumption in liquid form for a 10 kW apparatus is 0.86 cubic liters. If the power is 30 kW, the flow rate increases to 2.58 cubic meters. at one o'clock.

Reducing gas consumption in gas boilers

If there is no need to use double-circuit boilers, it is better to refuse them, since they consume more gas. However, if it is impossible to install economical options for heating devices, it is possible to reduce the consumption of blue fuel. To do this, you must follow these recommendations:

• install plastic double-glazed windows in the rooms, as well as insulate the walls from the outside;
• if there are a large number of large icicles on the roof, the main heat loss is carried out precisely through it, therefore, it must be blocked or isolated;
• when choosing, it is better to give preference to modern models equipped with automation;
• installation of thermostats and regulators on radiators will reduce fuel consumption;
• the presence of special modes or timers on heating equipment allows you to maintain a minimum power on certain days;
• technical inspection of the equipment should be carried out annually to avoid degradation of its performance.

You can save money by installing a heat accumulator. It stores hot liquid and retains heat like a thermos for a long time. Even in the most severe frosts, you should not set the maximum heating temperature. In this case, the consumption will increase, but the atmosphere in the house may become uncomfortable.

Use of economical condensing gas boilers

When using a 24 kW gas boiler, gas consumption can hit your pocket hard, so it is better to buy modern economical options for heating equipment. Condensing devices are popular. The principle of their operation is simple: water vapor from the ignition of fuel condenses, as a result of which thermal energy is released. Its unit is fully utilized, therefore it saves up to 20% of fuel.

The advantage of such equipment is stable operation even in the event of a decrease in fuel pressure in the network. It works almost silently. However, if it is not possible to purchase such a boiler, simply following the recommendations of specialists will significantly reduce fuel consumption.