During the operation of the water heating system, limescale forms on the inner surface of the walls of pipes and radiators, and a layer of rust forms. Over time, this will interfere with the normal operation of the heating system. Therefore, periodic flushing of the heating system of a private house and apartment is needed, acts and samples of which are an integral part of the procedure.
The relevance of flushing heating
First of all, it is necessary to determine that it is time to clean the heat supply from deposits. High-quality flushing of boilers and heating systems is necessary if malfunctions are clearly observed, the heat transfer of radiators and batteries has significantly decreased.
During the operation of heating, a plaque forms on pipes and radiators, which includes rust (25%), lime deposits (60%) and components of copper and zinc oxides (15%). To remove them, timely flushing of the heating system in a private house is necessary. According to the current regulations, the frequency of this procedure is determined. It depends on the material for the manufacture of heat supply and the period of its operation. On average, the frequency of flushing the heating system using the hydraulic method is once a year. Chemical cleaning is performed less frequently - once every 5-7 years.
There are certain signs in the operation of the heating that indicate the need for flushing:
- Reducing the estimated volume of the coolant... This is due to a decrease in the cross-section of the pipes due to the formed plaque;
- Heat dissipation has become lower... If the flushing of the heating radiators in the apartment has not been performed for a long time, lime deposits will reduce the heat transfer rate of the battery;
- Frequent clogging of filters, breakdown of the circulation pump... When a certain thickness is reached, the scale begins to break down. Its particles in the coolant will clog the filters and may cause the pump to fail.
If at least one of the above signs is present, it is necessary to flush the heating system with your own hands or with the help of the services of specialized companies. But even if deviations in the work of heat supply are not observed, this procedure should still be carried out. The recommended frequency of flushing the heating system was mentioned above.
If you want to independently clean the heat supply, you will need an installation for flushing heating systems. It is best to rent it as the purchase price will be high.
Hydraulic heating flushing
One of the simplest and most effective ways to clean the inner surface of pipes and radiators is to hydraulically act on limescale deposits. This requires a compressor to flush the heating system with a filtration system.
The essence of this method is to create a high water pressure using special equipment, which destroys plaque on pipes and radiators. For this, no special heating fluid is used. The peculiarity of the technology lies in the use of hoses with nozzles. They have small nozzles that create the required water pressure.
This method cannot be used to descale the entire system at once. First, the areas of heat supply are determined on which you need to flush the heating system with your own hands. Then the inlet and outlet pipes from the pump are connected, forming a closed loop. The degree of cleaning is controlled by clogging of the filter, which must be included in the compressor package for flushing the heating system. Also, when choosing this cleaning method, the following nuances should be taken into account:
- Pressure value... It must be at least 0.6 MPa. Otherwise, the plaque will not be destroyed, which will affect the effectiveness of the procedure;
- Pipe material... In the process of flushing boilers and heating systems, other components of the heat supply must not be damaged. This can happen when the maximum pressure for metal-plastic and polypropylene lines is exceeded;
- Removing air pockets... Before flushing the heating radiators in the apartment, you need to open the Mayevsky tap and wait for the air to exit the system. Only then can cleaning be carried out.
Despite the effectiveness of this method, it is not often used. This is due to the laboriousness and strict rules for performing the procedure. Therefore, most often they use special solutions for flushing the heating system.
In order to avoid the creation of emergency situations, before connecting the compressor to flush the heat supply system, it is necessary to perform calculations of the main indicators - maximum pressure, head speed, etc.
Chemical flushing of the heating system
Almost all types of deposits on pipes and radiators can be dissolved using special chemicals. Chemical flushing of the heating system is less laborious than hydraulic flushing and does not require complex equipment.
The principle of this method is the destruction of the sediment layer. Losing its homogeneity, it is divided into many small particles, which are then removed from the heating system.
To do this, it is necessary to use a special liquid for flushing heating, which will not have a destructive effect on pipes and radiators. Therefore, the correct chemical solution must be selected before performing cleaning.
There are two ways to chemically flush a heating system:
- With connection to the system... It is the same as hydraulic, except for the working medium. Instead of a descaling hose, a radiator cleaner is used. In this way, radiators and heat supply pipes are cleaned;
- Dismantling heating elements... In this case, you will not need to rent or purchase an installation for flushing heating systems. It is important to choose the right fluid. After dismantling the complex gas boiler heat exchanger, it is placed in a container into which a solution is poured to flush the heating system. After a certain period of time, the heat exchanger is rinsed with water and reinserted into the boiler.
In most cases, special chemicals are used to flush the heating. Its composition was not disclosed by the manufacturer. But it is known that sedum is most effectively obtained when using inorganic acids in various proportions - hydrochloric, sulfuric and orthophosphoric. To improve the result, special additives and inhibitors are added to the chemistry for flushing heating. They form an additional layer on the inner surface of steel pipes and radiators, protecting them from oxidation. At the end of the procedure, an act of flushing the heating system must be drawn up, where these funds are indicated.
To neutralize the chemical effect on pipes and radiators, in some cases, soda ash or baking soda is added to the water before flushing the boilers and heating systems. But only a specialist should determine this.
Rules for flushing heating in an apartment building
Compliance with the frequency of flushing the heat supply system in an apartment building is an important step in heating maintenance. However, not every tenant knows who should be responsible for this procedure and the procedure for its implementation.
It should be noted that the entire heating system in an apartment building is divided by ownership. Everything that is located in the apartment must be serviced by its owner. The Management Company is obliged to maintain the working condition of all other highways and elements, using special installations for flushing heat supply systems. In case of non-observance of the maintenance rules, she bears full responsibility for the occurrence of emergencies or failures in heating.
To clean the heat supply, it is best to use chemical agents for flushing heating radiators and pipes. This can be done independently or with the help of the services of specialized companies. They will be able to choose the right solutions for flushing heating and carry out this procedure in accordance with established standards. After completing the cleaning, you need to request a document. A sample of the heating system flushing certificate can be taken in advance to familiarize yourself with it.
For the owner of the apartment, he is essentially not needed. This document may be required if, in the event of a heat supply failure, the Management Company tries to accuse the tenant of improperly flushing the radiators and heating pipes in the apartment. The presence of an act will indicate compliance with the implementation standards. In other cases, filling in the heating system flushing act is done only when ordering the cleaning of the general house heat supply.
In the sample certificate of flushing the heating system, the following items must be filled in:
- The selected cleaning method is chemical or hydraulic;
- Tools used for flushing pipes and heating radiators - pumps, compressors, chemical components;
- The effect of cleaning is an increase in heat transfer, an improvement in the quality of the system, saving thermal energy;
- The responsible organization and its representatives performing hydraulic or chemical flushing of the heating system.
All these nuances should be reflected in the document. Residents of the house have the right to demand from the Management Company an act of flushing the heat supply system in order to make sure that it performs the functions assigned to it.
The procedure for cleaning the heat supply system is performed before the start of the heating season, but before the pipes are filled with coolant. This must be taken into account when flushing the heating system in an apartment on your own.
The procedure for flushing in autonomous heating
The autonomous heating system of a private house is most susceptible to the appearance of limescale on pipes and radiators. Timely cleaning of the system will preserve its original parameters and prevent emergencies.
This procedure can be carried out using chemical reagents or using a hydraulic cleaning method. If obvious and indirect signs indicate the need to flush the heating system in a private house, it is best to plan activities outside the heating season. According to the technology, after cleaning the heating, it is pressurized and filled with a coolant. Therefore, flushing is done before starting the heat supply.
There are two ways to remove blockages from pipes and radiators - with their dismantling and non-separable. The first is used with significant concentration of scale. The second method is easier and takes much less time.
Stages of flushing the heat supply system in a private house without dismantling:
- Draining the coolant from the system. Its reuse is prohibited due to heavy contamination.
- Connecting flushing equipment - pump or compressor.
- Filling the tank with liquid... When using chemical cleaning, you must first read the instructions from the manufacturer. Restrictions on use must be taken into account.
- Turning on the equipment and performing several wash cycles.
- Filter monitoring... If necessary, the cleaning liquid is replaced with a new one.
- For chemical cleaning - mandatory flushing of the system with distilled water, if such a procedure is specified by the manufacturer of the composition.
Correct implementation of these steps will ensure the normal operation of the system and the absence of blockages in pipes and radiators.
Chemical cleaning with compounds based on inorganic acids is prohibited for polymer pipes and aluminum radiators. In this case, it is recommended to use the hydraulic flushing method.
Prevention of blockages in heating
Often, the reasons for the formation of a large amount of scale are non-observance of elementary heating protection means. There are a number of factors that directly affect these processes. Knowing the causes of their occurrence and measures to prevent them can reduce the likelihood of blockages in the heating supply.
The main factor in the appearance of limescale in pipes and radiators is the poor-quality composition of the coolant. This is due to the large amount of salts and metals in the water. Therefore, experts recommend using only distilled water as a heat carrier. But even in it, from time to time, foreign elements will appear - rust particles, decomposition products of polymers. Therefore, before each heating season, it is necessary to change the coolant to a new one.
Another reason for the appearance of plaque is the high oxygen content in the water. This is especially true for open heating systems. Its presence increases the corrosion of metal elements, which subsequently form the bulk of the pollution. To remove air from the heating supply of a private house, it is necessary to install a special filter.
Washing the heating system is the most important step in its maintenance. The performance of all components depends on the quality of this procedure. Therefore, before choosing a specific cleaning method, you should analyze whether it is suitable for a specific heat supply or not. In case of difficulties, it is recommended to consult a specialist.
The video shows an example of flushing a heating system in a public building:
