The improvement of the living standards of the Belarusian population, technological advancements, and the increased accessibility of trade have enabled the rural population of the republic over the past 20-25 years to transition from stove heating, with an efficiency of 10-15%, to the use of domestic boilers for creating comfortable living conditions in houses and cottages. These boilers provide a higher quality heating of residential and other premises.
A characteristic operational feature of small boilers in the recent past was the use of solid fuels for their operation, for example, wood mass, peat, etc. However, a sufficiently low efficiency, the desire for domestic comfort, and the development of the gas supply network have led many owners to want to purchase boilers that run on gaseous fuel (whose efficiency, according to manufacturers' claims, reaches up to 95-98%). However, such boilers, due to the dangerous substance used for their operation, natural or liquefied gas, must be operated strictly according to the instructions and require a certain level of training for their owners. We would like to strongly advise all those wishing to purchase boilers that run on gaseous fuel for heating needs to categorically exclude cases of installing boilers that do not have certificates of conformity, are not included in the register of gas supply organizations, as well as the operation of boilers by their owners without undergoing relevant training.
When preparing the boiler for the heating season, it is necessary to:
Study the boiler's operating manual.
Check the condition of the thermal insulation of the expansion tank and the connecting pipe between the tank and the return pipeline, which are usually installed in the attic, while checking for drafts that could freeze the tank or pipe and eliminate any deficiencies.
Check for the presence of a safety valve on a closed-type expansion vessel.
Check for the presence of a safety valve on the boiler, which serves to preventto prevent pressure build-up inside the boiler and ensure its operability, make sure there are no shut-off valves between the safety valve and the boiler.
Check the boiler for:
a pressure gauge - to monitor the pressure in the boiler;
a thermometer - to monitor the temperature of the heated water.
Check for shut-off valves on the boiler's inlet and outlet pipelines, the condition of which can indicate whether they are open or not (ball valves or control handles), and a test cock to check for the presence and fill level of the expansion tank.
Check for a condensate drain pipe from the lower pocket of the chimney for boilers operating with natural draught.
If any faults in the chimneys and ventilation ducts are detected, lighting the boiler is prohibited!
In freezing weather, the chimney heads must be inspected to prevent them from freezing over and becoming blocked.
It is prohibited:
To light a gas boiler without ventilating the combustion chamber and gas ducts;
To use flammable liquids (petrol, kerosene) to light a solid fuel boiler;
To allow boilers to operate with unstable combustion and an unregulated "fuel-air" ratio;
To operate boilers with gas leaks in the fittings, burner, and gas supply pipe;
To operate faulty boilers;
To refill the boiler with water if it has lost water;
To arbitrarily disconnect safety devices, safety mechanisms, and audible alarms;
To use open flames when identifying gas leaks from gas-consuming equipment and pipelines;
To store flammable, lubricating, and wiping materials near the boiler;
These recommendations will help to avoid emergency situations during the operation of heating systems both during the heating season and in the inter-seasonal period.