A gas water heater is a necessary device in any apartment. It doesn’t need much time to heat the water and does the job very quickly. First of all, you need to remember that a geyser, like any device with gas, is a high-risk device. It ensures the supply of hot water to the house as a result of gas combustion.
After installation, you need to know how to properly start the gas water heater.
How does a gas water heater work?
Any user must understand how a gas water heater works. This is necessary for correct and safe use.
The speaker contains a metal casing, as well as:
The device can be installed both in the kitchen and in any non-residential premises with a ceiling height of at least two meters. In addition, the ventilation in the room must work properly.
Important! It is prohibited to place a gas water heater above the stove.
Gas devices of the Beretta, Electrolux and Neva brands operate in the same way:
- When turned on, water enters the system;
- Due to pressure, the membrane stretches and opens the gas supply valve;
- The burner is ignited, which begins to heat the liquid circulating through the heat exchanger;
- Combustion products are removed through the chimney and ventilation.
There is an opinion that installing a geyser is unsafe. This was during the time of using a device with manual ignition. Currently, the devices have sensors that control water heating and draft in order to prevent an emergency. However, do not forget about safety rules.
If you notice the smell of gas in your apartment, you must:
- Close the gas supply valve;
- Open window;
- Do not turn on electrical devices until the room no longer smells of gas;
- Contact the gas service.
Preparing documents before connecting the gas water heater
The first installation of a geyser requires a lot of fuss with documentation and quite high costs. However, this fact does not scare most apartment owners.
To install a water heater in an apartment where there is no gas supply, you will have to install these lines yourself. Such work alone will cost you quite a lot, so it’s better to team up with neighbors who, like you, want to install a speaker.
Particular attention should be paid to preparing the documents that are needed to connect the gas water heater
The first installation of a column includes the following “Paper” steps:
- You need to obtain consent to supply gas from distributors and transporters and install a land allotment for the gas pipeline. You also need to calculate consumption and get a list of technical conditions.
- Next you need to do the design. This stage consists of concluding an agreement, collecting and examining documents, as well as obtaining permission from several authorities.
- After installation work is completed, an agreement is concluded between GORGAZ and OBLGAZ.
To obtain all the necessary permits, you need to collect a whole list of documents. We'll give you the most complete list, but depending on the area you live in and how often you install the speaker, the list may get smaller.
List of documentation required to obtain permission:
- A copy of a document confirming that you are the owner of the apartment;
- Copy of pages 2, 3 and 5 of your passport;
- A copy of your TIN;
- Permission to process your data;
- A document confirming the purchase of gas, as well as a letter confirming the conclusion of a work contract;
- Gas equipment service agreement;
- Specifications for connection to gas and documents on the implementation of specifications;
- Copies of gas equipment;
- A copy of the act on the division of property between the owner of the apartment and the distributor;
- Copies of gas meter technical passports and confirmation of their verification;
- A copy of the gasification project and a stamp from the metrology department of Gazprom.
The prepared list of documents is submitted to the appropriate authorities. After some time has passed, you should receive a verdict from the gas services.
Terms of use
If the column is open type, then you should adhere to the following recommendations:
- When installing the speaker, you should take care of ventilation;
- It is strictly forbidden to turn on the device if there is no draft in the chimney;
- There is no need to leave the device on if no one is at home;
- You cannot change the design yourself;
- There is no need to leave the valve open if the burner is not lit.
Important! Only a professional can reinstall a geyser.
How to ignite the device
After the device has been installed, the gas water heater is started for the first time. First of all, open the water and gas supply taps. Then, the column is turned on, presented in three ways.
Manually
This method was used in older type columns. You can start the gas water heater only with matches. Fireplace matches are considered the best option for ignition.
In this case, the following actions are performed:
- Open the tap on the water pipe related to the column;
- Turn the gas supply valve;
- The wick is lit with matches;
- The fuel supply valve is turned and the water temperature is adjusted using a special lever.
Reference! The device cannot be turned off until the tap is closed manually.
It is not difficult to light an old gas water heater. Switching off is done exactly the opposite. First of all, you need to turn off the wick, turn off the gas, and then turn off the water.
It is worth working with the old type samples very carefully. Otherwise, an explosion, device failure, or gas leak will occur.
Using piezo ignition
A semi-automatic device with no batteries, having mechanical switches in the form of handles. To ignite it, you need to get a spark.
The following manipulations are performed:
- Open the fuel transfer;
- Clamp the solenoid valve for twenty seconds to obtain a decent amount of gas for the flame;
- Press the piezo ignition key;
- As soon as the wick lights up, set the required indicators on the temperature regulator.
Gas water heater device
Gas water heater design
In flow-through units there is no storage tank. The temperature of the water rises as it passes through the heat exchanger, under which there is a burner with an igniter.
Standard installation modules :
- two distribution blocks for gas and water;
- ignition device and switch;
- chimney connection unit;
- valve with membrane;
- liquid flow sensor, display;
- operating power regulator, thermostat;
- hood, rear wall.
Air to maintain the flame is supplied forcefully, or it is supplied naturally , depending on the type of column. Hot water leaves the unit and enters the water supply pipes.
Mandatory Precautions
When switching on, safety precautions are important. Ignition of the wick or burner is carried out using the instruction manual.
What you need to know:
- Advanced devices have several levels of protection. The work happens automatically. There are no special rules for use. The wick is lit after opening the hot water tap.
- Old models of geysers have problems in use. These include ignition with matches and the inclusion of brands with piezo ignition.
- You should not operate the device “at random”; the instructions for the device should be read first.
- It is forbidden to change the design of the column with your own hands.
- Do not light the device if there is no draft or if there is reverse draft.
How to check the draft of a gas water heater
Equipment with an open combustion chamber requires proper chimney arrangement and good draft.
Almost all modern models are equipped with an automatic safety system that prevents the equipment from starting in conditions of lack of traction.
As a rule, a competent traction test requires the use of a special measuring device, which helps to verify the presence of air movement and determine the traction force. If such a device is not available, the following check can be performed:
- remove the horizontal part of the chimney pipe from the entrance to the shaft channel and fix paper strips, the movement of which will signal the presence of draft;
- light a match, then point it vertically towards the viewing window on the front panel of the gas water heater. The deflection of the match flame indicates sufficient draft.
If there is no draft in the chimney pipe, operating the gas burner is strictly prohibited.
If the chimney pipe is in working condition, but there is no draft at all, it is necessary to ensure air flow in the room by opening the window sash.
Reasons for turning on the speaker yourself
Any geyser of different years of manufacture has an automatic system that does not allow the device to turn on on its own. Accordingly, spontaneous activation should not occur. The “frog” control system does not allow you to ignite the dispenser without water.
If the column turns on without water on its own, then there is a problem in the hot water pipeline. The main reason is considered to be a leak. As soon as the problem is resolved, the column will work as before.
In most cases, users are faced not with the wick igniting on its own, but with the fact that it continues to burn when the tap is turned off. This is due to the diaphragm being “crippled” by hard water. It is located in the water regulator. As soon as the water is turned off, the membrane remains in the same place and presses on the gas supply rod. The problem is solved by replacing the diaphragm.
When to turn on the column
It all depends on what type of gas water heater is installed. The instructions for use indicate:
- Columns with a constantly burning wick - ignition is performed at the beginning of the day. Most consumers light the wick in the morning and leave it running throughout the day. After ignition, the column is completely ready for use. The first switching occurs with the opening of the hot water tap.
- Columns operating in automatic mode (without a wick) turn on independently after opening the DHW tap. Classic models refuse to work if there is no pressure in the pipeline. In modern water heaters, they turn on at low water pressure (0.3 atm).
Instantaneous gas water heaters, regardless of type, have a common drawback: time passes from the moment the hot water tap is opened until hot water is supplied to the user. It takes several minutes to reach the set temperature.
If the column does not turn on well, the burner and wick go out during operation and there is a smell of gas in the area of the piezoelectric element, this indicates a serious breakdown. You should turn off the water heater, turn off the gas and call a technician to fix the problem.
At what time should the column be turned on?
It all depends on the type of inclusion of the column.
The instructions for the device indicate:
- Columns with no wick. They work automatically. The operating instructions for the gas water heater say that it ignites itself after opening the hot water tap. In the absence of pressure, classic brands do not work. Improved models turn on with low water pressure.
- With a wick that burns continuously. The operating instructions for the gas water heater indicate that it must be turned on in the morning. Users light the wick in the morning and leave it in this state until the evening.
Review: how to turn on the gas water heater
Almost all modern models are characterized by the presence of basic mandatory elements, represented by:
- a unit with gas equipment;
- water connection unit;
- smoke exhaust system;
- electrical appliances.
Depending on the design features, the inclusion of a geyser from different manufacturers may vary slightly.
Bosch
The German manufacturer accompanies the equipment it sells with intuitive instructions.
All models with the index “B” in the name are equipped with electric ignition.
Before starting, you need to open the water and gas valves, and also check for the presence of a type R battery with a power rating of 1.5V.
The equipment is turned on by pressing the power button, which is located on the front panel.
Neva
All Neva gas water heaters are sold fully configured for a specific type of fuel and gas pressure.
To turn it on, you will need to install an LR20 battery with a voltage of 1.5V in the battery compartment, after which the shut-off valves in front of the device are opened and the toggle switches are moved to the minimum position.
The gas regulator knob on the front panel is moved to the “Ignition” position, pushed down to the limit, after which the power button is pressed.
Electrolux
After visually checking all connections on your Electrolux model to ensure there are no leaks, open the tap and drain a little water.
Then the gas valve opens, which is accompanied by the characteristic sound of a gas jet entering the system.
The pressure should be about 0.15-10 atmospheres. To make the water a little hotter, you will need to reduce the water flow.
Aster
The burner at the gas water heater of this model is located under the central fitting.
This is not the most convenient option for water heating equipment.
To turn on the device, move the handle to the left, press the power button and, holding it in this position for several seconds, light the igniter.
Junkers
The rules for switching on water heating equipment produced under this brand directly depend on the features of the model.
When marked “P”, piezo ignition is used, in which power indicators and water pressure are adjusted using knobs on the front panel.
Marking “B” implies battery ignition and automatic operation.
A special feature of models marked “G” is automatic ignition by the Hydro Power system.
Read about the types and characteristics of the Beretta gas boiler in our new material. Find out about the various reasons why gas boilers fail here.
