A gas water heater has not been a novelty for a long time, but so far many users do not know how to properly care for it. If you installed the device in a country house, which is not heated in the winter, then you need to take care of its safety until spring. What to do if the gas column freezes? Do not worry: you will learn how to properly prepare the column for the cold without resorting to the help of masters.
How to protect equipment
A flow heater is installed in many houses, apartments, offices. Anyone who decided to put a column in the country is a real lucky one. Come after work in the garden and take a shower, wash the dishes in warm water - it is convenient and comfortable. If you want to continue to enjoy the benefits of civilization, you need to properly prepare the equipment for the cold.
Why is the column freezing? The operating instructions indicate the temperature at which the device operates normally. Water that remains in the heat exchanger, pipes, batteries runs the risk of freezing when the outside temperature drops. There are cases when the batteries were torn, because frozen moisture expands. The same can happen with parts of a water heater.
Is your column under warranty? You think you have nothing to worry about? This is not true. Carefully study the coupon, freezing is not included in the conditions of free repair. The manufacturer indicated clear operating standards that were violated.
What needs to be done so that the column does not freeze? If it is located in an unheated room and equipped with a chimney, be sure to install a check valve. It will not allow cold air to enter the device through the chimney.
Be sure to drain the water. This applies not only to summer residents, but also residents of private houses, apartments. When to drain, be sure to:
- The temperature outside is abnormally low.
- You leave home for at least a week, the device will not work and warm up.
- Frequent power outages occur.
- The room is not heated at all.
How to drain correctly:
- Turn off the gas valve.
- Turn off the water inlet at the column inlet.
- Open the hot stream on the mixer.
- Unscrew the drain plug.
- Wait for all the water to drain.
- Close the mixer; put the plug back in place.
Check that all moisture has escaped from the pipes and parts of the column.
Users recommend avoiding freezing by installing a special chimney sandwich. It consists of two walls with thermal insulation inside. The walls themselves are made of stainless steel. Installation can be carried out both indoors and outdoors.
It is proved: the higher the chimney, the less the likelihood of equipment damage at low temperature.
If the Winter-Summer mode is provided, use it. It allows you to comfortably use hot water in the winter. The principle of operation of the column is as follows: heating is performed to a certain temperature: for example, 25 degrees. If the water inlet is 15 ° C (as in summer), you will get a stream of 40 degrees. But in winter, the incoming temperature is much lower. This mode allows you to increase the degree of heating.
Using the function "Winter-Summer" you can save on energy consumption in the warm season and stay with hot water in the cold.
Following these recommendations, you can avoid the costly replacement of parts, components of the water heater, and in some cases - the installation of a new model. The service center will not undertake repairs if the failure occurred due to the fault of the user. Therefore, take care of your technique in advance.