Unlike residents of apartment buildings, owners dachas and cottages You have to take care of efficient independent heating. Let's leave aside traditional stoves and fireplaces and consider a more modern version of the heating system, the main component of which is household boiler. To select the best one for your home boiler, we advise you to familiarize yourself at least in general terms with the principle of its operation.

SOME BASIC CONCEPTS
Heating system - this is a closed cycle consisting of heating devices (boiler, radiators, expansion tank, circulation pump, pipes] through which the coolant circulates - water or antifreeze. Which one is better, there is no consensus. Some experts believe that preference should be given to antifreeze , since it is not afraid of an emergency shutdown of the heating system in the winter (unlike water, which, when frozen, can burst pipes. Others object that this liquid causes corrosion on the inside of pipelines and heating radiators. And even the addition of reagents that reduce it impact, not a panacea.

To date, many technical and engineering solutions for water heating of cottages have been developed. Existing systems have one of two types of circulation: natural or forced. In systems of the first type, the coolant moves through the pipes due to the difference in the mass of the heated liquid in the supply riser and the cold liquid that has cooled in the radiators and downpipes (the density of the water increases, it becomes heavier and returns to the boiler through the return pipeline).

In the second case, the liquid moves under the action of a circulation pump, the power of which is designed to overcome the resistance of the heating system, so its power consumption is no more than that of a light bulb.
Each option has its own advantages and disadvantages. Natural circulation is not amenable to automatic regulation: if the house is hot, the burner in the boiler will have to be tightened manually. The forced circulation system is more comfortable, but requires electricity.

GENERAL INFORMATION
Now, actually, about the boilers. The fuel for household boilers is gas, diesel fuel, coal, wood and electricity. The unit can operate on one type of fuel or be universal - the so-called combined.
One of the main characteristics of the boiler is its efficiency, which usually ranges from 85-98%. Only condensing boilers can have higher efficiency; in addition to the energy of fuel combustion, they use the energy of condensation of water vapor (in this case, the term “conditional utilization factor” is used).

The main part of any household boiler is a heat exchanger, thanks to which the coolant is heated. Its design depends on the material. Heat exchangers are made of cast iron, steel or copper and they can have different volumes. Which is better? There is no clear answer here. Each option has both pros and cons. Cast iron models are not afraid of rust, but they weigh a lot, and at the same time they are very fragile, so microcracks may appear in them if they are not transported correctly or if there are sudden changes in temperature.

In addition, cast iron is sensitive to the quality of the coolant - hard water can lead to its deformation, or even complete destruction. Steel is not subject to such risks, but it can suffer from corrosion caused by condensate from combustion products. But he is not terrible. However, for the operation of a copper heat exchanger, a pump is required that constantly circulates the coolant (to avoid scale on the walls of the heat exchanger).

Due to the high heat transfer coefficient, low weight and dimensions, copper heat exchangers are often used in mounted boilers. In floor models, cast-iron, less often steel heat exchangers are usually installed. It should be noted that the advantage of small volume and mass is that the heating system is regulated more efficiently and quickly, in addition, the coolant moves at a faster speed when heated, which eliminates the formation of scale.
Stainless and silumin heat exchangers stand apart.

First- very expensive, because it is immune to thermal stress, it is distinguished by high corrosion resistance, and hence durability. Such heat exchangers are used in premium diesel and condensing boilers.
Silumin It is an alloy of aluminum and silicon. Such heat exchangers appeared on the market not so long ago. They are also used in condensing boilers due to their increased resistance to chemically aggressive condensate.

Boilers can be used for insurance

on different types of fuel

Boilers can be single-circuit and double-circuit. The first - on various types of fuel - are intended exclusively for heating only the coolant or water. The latter are designed to provide both. It would be strange if there were no disagreements here. How many users, so many opinions. But there is one indisputable fact: during an emergency or planned shutdown of a double-circuit boiler, the consumer loses both heat and hot water. In the case of a single-circuit model, there is not only heating, since such installations are usually equipped with a tank for storing hot water.

All boiler equipment divided into floor and wall. The first type is mounted on a floor base and can operate on almost all types of fuel. Wall-mounted boilers are mounted on the wall and use only gas or electricity as an energy carrier.

Floor-standing units are chosen when it is necessary to heat several rooms of a large area, which means that a considerable number of radiators and other devices, such as underfloor heating, are expected. They are more powerful and, as a rule, have several coolant or water circulation circuits (one circuit is responsible for heating, the other for underfloor heating or hot water supply). If the house or cottage is small, a mounted boiler is enough - it is both cheaper and more compact. If a separate boiler room is needed for the floor model, then the hinged one can also be installed in the kitchen.

WARNING
Let's make a reservation right away that chasing cheapness, choosing such sophisticated equipment, is very risky. Here, the price is directly related to quality, and therefore, to reliability. In inexpensive models, the cost reduction is due to more simplified design and technological solutions (thin walls, weak automation, lack of a control system, low burner reliability]. When the time comes for seasonal tests in the form of severe frosts, such a boiler can easily fail. And its repair will cost more expensive than its cost.

By the way, about automation: it is needed for significant savings, since it allows you to accurately control the temperature in the room (reduce it when there is no one in the room, or at night when everyone is sleeping). According to the most approximate calculations, air cooling by 1 °C saves 2-4% of fuel. This, of course, is not a cheap option, however, by equipping your boiler with electronic regulators, there is a chance to save up to 15% of gas.

second moment - independent installation of the boiler. Doing this is not worth it. It's not a shelf to nail. Even if all permits are in order, it is better if specialists do this, especially if the boiler is under warranty. Otherwise, you will not see warranty and post-warranty service. And no one is immune from breakdowns. You can take a chance only if we are talking about an electric model or solid fuel boilers, which, in fact, are a fireplace, which means that their installation is not standardized for private houses.

Homeowners themselves take care of safety (provide a high-quality chimney and supply and exhaust natural ventilation, isolate the boiler from flammable and combustible materials, stock fire extinguishers).
If this is a gas boiler, please note that it belongs to gas equipment and only a specialized organization with the appropriate licensing has the right to install it.

WHAT POWER TO CHOOSE
It is clear that the heating system must be designed individually - taking into account the material from which the house is built, in what mode it is operated (year-round or seasonally). It would be useful to consult with a specialist in the field of gas or heat supply. The simplest calculation assumes the following ratio: for heating 10 m2 of an insulated house with a ceiling height of up to 3 m, approximately 1 kW of power is required. Some experts advise to adhere to certain norms.

In most of Ukraine, the rate of consumption of thermal energy in houses with medium thermal insulation is 41 W/m3. To calculate the required power of the boiler, it is enough to multiply this figure by the volume of the house. To avoid constant operation of the boiler at maximum power, it is necessary to add 20% to the obtained power value.
If the boiler is planned to be used to produce hot water, you will need a model with almost double the power.

SOLID FUEL
Solid fuel boilers are appropriate primarily where there is no gas and electricity. As a rule, they cannot work without human assistance - the loading of solid fuels (lignite or hard coal, briquettes, wood or wood waste) and ash removal is done manually. They produce models with automatic fuel supply, but due to the high cost and expensive maintenance, they are not common in our country.

A few decades ago it was impossible to maintain the required coolant temperature without human intervention. Modern units are advanced equipment designed to solve the problems of autonomous heating where other devices cannot cope. They are environmentally friendly, easy to operate and accessible to the average user. The most advanced models automatically maintain the set temperature of the heat carrier (water) due to the use of a mechanical thermostat directly connected to the air damper.

If the temperature rises above the set temperature, the damper is closed and the combustion process slows down.
Some boilers are equipped with a thermometer, a manometer to control the pressure in the heating system, overheating protection - the design provides for a cooling water circuit. Moreover, the efficiency of solid fuel appliances has approached the level of gas appliances and is 80-90%. All these undoubted advantages made this group of boilers very popular in Ukraine, and high environmental performance ensured their popularity in Western Europe, primarily in Germany and Austria.

The chimney must be arranged in compliance with all requirements. Good traction depends on it.

The range of solid fuel units is not so wide, but there are quite a few manufacturers: Buderus, Junkers, Viessmann (Gzrmania), Atmos, Dakon, O pop (Czech Republic), Roca (Spain) Thermia, Jama (Finland), Ferolli (Italy), Agroresurs CJSC "(Ukraine), "Altep Center" (Ukraine).

By design, these are floor-standing models (power range 6-80 kW]. They are considered ideal for small houses. There are universal non-volatile (not requiring connection to the mains) and gas-generating boilers (with pyrolysis combustion of wood).

Most Models the first type work on brown and hard coal, wood, coke or briquettes. As a rule, they are made of cast iron, less often - of steel. They are produced by many reputable companies specializing in the production of heating equipment. For example, Junkers offers the domestic consumer models of the Supraclass series. There are also modifications designed exclusively for highly efficient combustion of wood and wood waste (efficiency up to 78%; one bookmark of fuel is enough for 6-10 hours).

"Wood" models often marked with the letter D (for example, Dakon, DOR D series). The combustion chamber of such a boiler is supplemented with heat-resistant segments and fireclay boards, which play the role of catalysts in the process of burning wood. For more convenient maintenance, these units are equipped with an enlarged ash pan and a large feed opening. Another advantage is the ability to burn firewood with a moisture content of up to 35%. The main advantages of gas generator models (made of steel) include high efficiency (up to 85%) and ease of power control.

They burn not only firewood, but also wood gas, which is released under the influence of high temperature. With a normal heating load, the loaded fuel is enough for about 8-12 hours of operation. The disadvantages of such equipment are the need for power supply and a higher (about two times) price compared to traditional solid fuel boilers.

Pyrolysis devices differ from surface combustion boilers by lower emissions of harmful substances and the almost complete absence of ash. A wide range of power modulation of such models (38-100%) improves serviceability, since it significantly increases the interval between fuel loads (up to 15-20 hours). With the help of fittings of large diameter, the boiler can be connected to an existing heating system with natural circulation of the coolant. However, the model is more suitable for forced circulation operation, since it is equipped with a built-in protective heat exchanger to limit the supply temperature.

To increase the efficiency of such a boiler between it and the heating system, it is advisable to install a storage tank of 400-500 liters (or about 25 liters per 1 kW of power). During the active combustion of the fuel, it takes water from the boiler, and when the device cools down, it feeds its water “jacket” and the heating system with hot water. Thanks to this, not only a constant temperature is maintained in the house, but also the conditions for better fuel combustion are preserved. And you can throw it into the boiler less often, which gives significant savings.

Experts recommend use solid fuel boilers as a backup source of heat - to maintain the temperature in the house at 10-15 ° C during a long-term shutdown of gas and (or) electricity. For this, Buderus boilers (power range from 13 to 42 kW) are the best suited, in particular the cast-iron Logano G 211 model, which runs on coal, coke and wood (modification D). The unit is equipped with a receiving hopper and a feed gate designed for logs up to 68 cm long. It is very compact, so it does not take up much space.

Please note that when buying and installing a solid fuel boiler, it is necessary that the chimney be arranged in compliance with all requirements (they must be specified in the instructions that came with the device]. Good draft depends on this.
At one time, the so-called granular (pellet) boilers were very actively promoted, in which wood pellets (pellets) compressed on a special press from wood chips, sawdust and other residues of the woodworking industry are used as fuel. In terms of efficiency, they are quite comparable with natural gas boilers and significantly surpass them in environmental friendliness.

Pellet boilers have a high level of automation and provide programming of operating modes and maintenance of the set temperature. Fuel enters the furnace in the required volume using a screw conveyor as needed, so that the boiler can operate without human intervention, for example, as long as there are pellets in the operational bunker (up to 7 days or even more). By the way, residual ash can be used as fertilizer.
The power of pellet boilers, usually installed in cottages, ranges from 15 to 500 kW. Some models can be equipped with an additional DHW (hot water) circuit. Pellet boilers do not require special maintenance. Ash cleaning is carried out, as a rule, once a month.

The last argument "for" is the "life" of the boiler, which is 20 years or more.
Such boilers are produced by Hargassner, Herz (Austria), Faci (Italy), Kostrzewa, Klimosz (Poland), Sia Grandeg (Latvia), Dozamekh Ukraine, Ecoterm-Crimea.

However, not everything is so rosy in this sector. First, in European countries, the purchase and installation of biofuel equipment is subsidized by the state. Secondly, those who nevertheless ventured to purchase this very expensive unit complain about the lack of guarantees for the supply of pellets and a normal service for their delivery. Again, the pellets themselves cost a lot. In addition, their storage requires a room with a volume of approximately 10 m3 - on the basis that on average the mass of one cubic meter of granules is 600-700 kg, approximately 200 kg will be needed per day (with a maximum flow rate of 10 kg / h). Total average consumption per month - 6000 kg.

If you really want to experience the benefits of "pellet" heating, you can purchase a pellet burner and equip a solid fuel boiler with it. In the event of interruptions in the pellet years, you can switch back to wood and coal.

ON NATURAL GAS
Gas boilers are the most popular, so the market offers many modifications - for every taste and budget. Let's try to navigate in this wide range. A gas boiler is effective where there is a main gas pipeline. It can operate on both natural and liquefied bottled gas, it is enough to replace the nozzles and reconfigure the gas automation. This makes it possible to use it even if the area is not gasified. Such a boiler has a high efficiency and is easy to operate: there is no need to monitor whether there is enough fuel, since the gas is constantly supplied, the process can be controlled automatically.

Wall-mounted gas boilers do not spoil the kitchen interior

Gas boilers of small capacity, which serve houses with an area of ​​​​50-300 m2, are produced in a wall-mounted version, they can be mounted anywhere. They are a mini-boiler room equipped with an expansion tank and a circulation pump, which eliminates the need to purchase and install them separately. For the floor model, a boiler room with an area of ​​​​at least 8 m2 is required, while the unit should not stand close to the wall or between two walls.

The gas boiler must be equipped with automation that “responds” to a gas leak and completely shuts off the gas pipe if this happens suddenly.

Let's say you have a dacha, but there is no smooth-walled insulated chimney with a diameter of at least 150 mm (namely, these are the building codes]. And, frankly, there is nowhere to arrange it. But there is gas. The way out is the so-called turbocharged boilers, in which Combustion air is supplied and combustion products are removed from the street using a built-in fan through special small-diameter air ducts.

Coaxial pipes for forced outlet through the wall are included in the scope of delivery and in the price of the gas boiler. A coaxial chimney consists of two pipes of larger and smaller diameters, located one in one (internal - for removing combustion products, external - for supplying air to the burner]. The fan is located inside the boiler. This system is used for wall-mounted boilers with a power of no more than 30 kW. turbocharged boilers efficiency up to 95%.

Boilers are equipped with two types of burners: atmospheric and pressurized (fan). Atmospheric burners are easy to maintain, silent in operation and cost less than pressurized ones. They are often interchangeable and can be used for several types of fuel.

Pressurized burners are more efficient and do not depend on pressure drops in the gas pipeline. However, they are not included and are sold separately. This option is convenient if a gas main has not yet been connected to the site, but this may happen in the very near future. Diesel can be used as additional fuel. Please note that an oil forced draft burner costs no less than a boiler.

Advice
When buying a gas boiler, make sure that it is certified, otherwise there may be problems with registering the device. Compare the serial number and specifications of the boiler on the accompanying documents with those printed on the inside of the door. And one more thing: only an employee of the gas facilities has the right to open the gas valve and put the boiler into operation after checking the quality of its installation and the compliance of the boiler location with existing norms and rules.

All regulatory requirements for the installation of gas equipment are specified in the State Bud1velny Norms - DBN V.2.5-20-2001 Gas Supply. For owners of private houses, when building a boiler house on gas equipment with a capacity of not more than 200 kW, it is enough to comply only with these requirements. For gas boilers, the room is selected in accordance with section 6 "Internal gas supply device" (DBN V.2.5-20-2001].

Turbocharged boilers have high efficiency
Owners of elite houses choose the products of such German companies as Vaillant, Bosch, Junkers, Viessmann, Buderus. The less expensive price category includes boilers from Italian companies Hermann, Immergas, Bongioanni, Ferroli, Fondital, as well as equipment from Slovakia (Рrothegm, Attack). Chinese and Korean manufacturers are increasing the volume of deliveries to Ukraine. The domestic manufacturer does not lag behind: they are produced by Agroresurs CJSC (Rivne), Barsky Machine-Building Plant (Bar, Vinnitsa region), Agroteplomash (Zhytomyr), Krasilovsky Machine-Building Plant (Krasilov, Khmelnitskaya region), CJSC Mayak (Zmiev, Kharkiv region), DANI (Novogrodovka, Donetsk region), Ross (Kharkov) and others. By the way, about a hundred enterprises are engaged in the production of heating boilers (for all types of fuel) in Ukraine.

BOILER ROOM
A number of strict requirements are imposed on the room in which the gas boiler will be installed, failure to comply with them can lead not only to significant penalties, but also to accidents. Remember that gas is extremely flammable and explosive, so you need to be extremely careful with it.

Installation of gas equipment in living rooms, bathrooms and toilets is prohibited. A single-circuit boiler with a power of up to 60 kW can be installed in any of the rooms of the house. A double-circuit boiler cannot be installed in the kitchen. It is possible to install a boiler with a power of 150 kW to 350 kW only on the first or basement floor. The boiler room must have the following characteristics:

• Ceiling height - not less than 2.5 m.
• Volume - not less than 1 5 m3.
• The fire resistance limit of the walls is not less than 0.75 hours.
• The presence of a window, the minimum area of ​​\u200b\u200bwhich must be calculated based on the fact that 0.03 m2 of window area should fall on 1 m3 of room volume.
• Ventilation grill at the bottom of a door or wall to an adjacent room. Its area can be calculated based on the following formula: 8 cm2 / 1 kW of boiler power.
• Door width - at least 80 cm.
• The presence of a gas analyzer and a valve in the room that automatically shuts off the gas supply in case of leakage.

LIQUID FUEL
Liquid fuel boilers operating on diesel fuel (diesel fuel), with an efficiency of up to 90%, are close in performance to gas ones and are appropriate in the case of a rather large area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe house, in the absence of a gas pipeline nearby. If you also provide an autonomous power source (for the operation of automation, burners, pumps), independence will be complete.

To install such a boiler, permits are not needed, but a container for storing a fuel supply (for 2-5 tons for seasonal heating of a house with an area of ​​​​300-400 m2) must be attached to it. Usually these are tanks that are sold with the equipment. If the size of the site allows, you can not keep the fuel storage tank in the boiler room, but dig it into the ground. In this case, they dig a pit, fill it with concrete and install a tank. It must be properly fixed so that in the spring it does not float due to melt water. The fuel line from the tank to the boiler burner is also laid in the ground.

The floor heating boiler Viessmann Vitola 200 is designed to run on gas and liquid fuel

Like any boiler liquid fuel has a few “buts”: such a unit requires a separate room equipped with a hole for the chimney and an exhaust hood, besides, it smokes and requires periodic cleaning. In addition to the fact that the boiler itself costs a lot, the mounted burner is also expensive. The cost of diesel fuel is also high. This, of course, is cheaper than electricity, but much more expensive than gas and firewood. Plus, you need to take care of the constant availability of fuel, for which it is recommended to immediately purchase a tank at a gas station.

Basically, liquid fuel boilers are single-circuit. A boiler is needed to heat water. So that it does not enter into a technical contradiction with the selected boiler model, it is advisable to purchase a boiler from the same manufacturer (they are usually available in the “boiler” assortment). But if you wish, you can also order a double-circuit unit (with a capacity of up to 45 kW), which includes a built-in storage tank or a flow-through plate heat exchanger, as well as all the necessary piping elements for hot water supply.

By the way, unlike more powerful models, where the diesel burner is mounted and purchased separately, it is often built into low-power ones. You can buy a boiler from one company, and a burner from another, it does not matter. But engineers assure that it is more reasonable to pick up all the elements of the same brand - so that the “boiler-automatics-burner” system works one hundred percent.

Fuel consumption (kg/h) = burner power (kW) x 0.1.

High-quality boilers of this type are produced by Buderus, Vaillant, Viessmann, Wolf [Germany], De Dietrich, Chappee (France), Biasi, Ferroli, Fondital (Italy], CTC (Sweden), Roca (Spain), ACV (Belgium), NGO " Cleaver”, AOZT “Mayak” (Ukraine).

ELECTRICITY
Electric boilers are divided into electrode and heating elements. The latter are more popular because they are more reliable and do not really depend on the quality of the coolant.
In addition, they are divided into single-phase - 220 V (up to 7 kW) and three-phase - 380 V (more than 12 kW). Efficiency - not less than 96%.
An electric boiler is structurally much simpler than a gas boiler. Its main elements are a heat exchanger, consisting of a tank with electric heaters (heaters) fixed in it, as well as a control and regulation unit.

One of the types of electric boilers is an energy-saving electrode heating boiler.

The main advantage of such boilers - possibility of automation of their work and simplicity of maintenance of the set temperature in each premise. In addition, electric models are affordable, easy to install and operate, do not require regular maintenance, weigh little and are compact - they do not need to allocate a separate room. In addition, they are safe because there is no open flame, and they are environmentally friendly (have no emissions into the atmosphere). The most advanced models are not “capricious” and can easily withstand voltage fluctuations in the mains, and are also equipped with automatic protection against overheating and draining the coolant.

In general, the equipment is very different: some models are equipped with a circulation pump, an expansion tank, a security group, a remote programmer (ready-made boiler room). Others are not equipped with anything more than it should be.

Many solid manufacturers try to make such boilers as economical as possible. So, models with a power of more than 6 kW are designed with several power levels, which makes it possible not to turn on the boiler at full power when it is not required, for example, in the off-season.

If you connect a remote thermostat or programmer to the electric boiler, you can easily adjust the temperature in the room or change it according to a given schedule. This is also - in the treasury of savings, since the operating time of the heating elements is approximately 34% of the total operating time of the boiler.

And yet very popular the population does not use these boilers. Their operation is still quite expensive due to high electricity prices, and it is not always possible to get the right amount of kilowatts of electricity in a summer cottage. In this case, a high-power cable must be connected to the house, which will require special permission. Relying on a boiler that can “strike” due to power outages is too big a risk, so you have to think about purchasing a backup heat source (usually a solid fuel unit).

Wespe Heizung (Germany), Kospel (Poland), Dakon (Czech Republic), Protherm (Slovakia) specialize in the production of electric boilers.

SUCCESSFUL COMBINATION
In some situations, a combined boiler is the most acceptable. It is effective for heating houses up to 200 m2. This equipment does not have a built-in burner. It can be replaceable - for gas or diesel fuel, or it can be universal: a hinged gas forced draft burner, which is selected separately, is an excellent option for both types of fuel. Moreover, it is possible to install a burner that automatically switches from gas to liquid fuel and vice versa. Burners from well-known manufacturers are not cheap, but they are omnivorous (they consume diesel fuel of any quality and are not afraid of even severe frosts).

Adjusting the system when switching from gas to liquid fuel, as a rule, does not cause difficulties, but it is better to entrust the reverse transition (from liquid fuel to gas) to specialists.

Even combined boilers are produced, in which, depending on the situation, all types of fuel can be used: gas, diesel fuel, electricity, and firewood. Solid fuel is recommended to be used as a backup in case of burner failure or as an additional one in extreme cold. Heating elements are launched at night, when a cheap night rate is in effect, or as a safety net when firewood has burned out or burners have turned off. However, such multifunctionality often becomes the object of criticism of heating specialists: the more complex the design, the more vulnerable it is.

Dacha for many of us today is not just a garden plot located in the countryside, but in most cases, a full-fledged housing. Gone are the days when country houses were a modest shelter in which it was hardly possible to hide from rain and wind. Today, for many of us, a dacha is a capital structure in which, if desired, you can make it a year-round dwelling, both in summer and in winter. Boilers for summer cottages allow to solve this problem. Today, these are no longer ordinary, primitive metal barrels like "". Today, in the country, you can put a heating unit, which is a high-tech equipment.

Solid fuel boiler equipment for summer cottages is the most suitable option. No one will stay in the country for a long time in the winter, but spending a weekend in the countryside, in the bosom of nature, is quite acceptable. Pulling the gas pipeline to your site, connecting a gas boiler in this case is not cost-effective. For temporary heating and creating comfortable conditions inside the country house, a wood-burning heater, or any other available form of solid fuel, is quite enough.

Which heater is best for summer cottages

One desire to equip your country house with an autonomous heating system is not enough. For this purpose, not only funds will be required, but also technical skill and ingenuity. As a rule, in dachas quite often they solve the problem of heating, using for this purpose fireplaces or conventional stoves - heaters. This method is quite simple to operate, but inefficient and extremely uneconomical.

On a note: when a fireplace is operating in a residential building with an area of ​​30-50 m 2, almost 50% of the thermal energy is wasted. The Russian stove is able to heat a fairly large room, and for a long time, but doubts are caused by high fuel consumption and the dimensions of the structure itself.

A boiler, a heating device, whose task is to purposefully heat the living quarters in the house, will work much more efficiently. The heating boiler is designed in such a way that the design itself is already focused on the fact that it would be better to use the resulting heat to heat the room. Autonomous with the help of a solid fuel boiler according to the principle of operation and in its essence is no different from similar systems installed in private households. The only condition that you should pay attention to is related to the type of heater and the dependence of the heating system on other communications.

When choosing a solid fuel boiler for your dacha, consider the following aspects:

• what speed of heating the room will suit you;
• what is the duration of the boiler with a single bookmark;
• is it possible to connect a hot water system to the boiler;
• what is the fuel consumption;
• whether it is convenient and practical to operate the equipment in a suburban environment.

As a rule, the most common boiler connection schemes are used, with forced and natural circulation.

Most modern models manufactured by domestic and foreign companies are compact and economical products. The units are specially designed for quick heating of residential premises in the field, if you can say so about the cottage. In terms of price-quality ratio, foreign models look preferable to domestic products. In terms of their functionality, solid fuel boilers for summer cottages can vary greatly, depending on the model chosen.

We are considering various options for heating equipment for summer cottages

Pyrolysis boilers

For reference: in foreign models, the burning time of a pyrolysis boiler from one refueling is 100-120 hours, while domestic units are able to operate smoothly for exactly half the time.

But domestic heating equipment is unpretentious to operating conditions, this is especially important in terms of the low quality of the fuel resource. Often, domestic models are also equipped with a hob, which is very convenient and relevant for a country house. Most solid fuel products are pyrolysis boilers or, in other words, gas generators. In boilers of this type, combustible pyrolysis (wood) gas does the main work on heating the coolant. The principle of operation of heating devices of this type is quite simple and understandable.

For reference: The main heat is obtained not as a result of the combustion of the fuel placed in the combustion chamber, but as a result of the secondary combustion of the air-gas combustible mixture. Solid fuel at this moment only smolders, releasing a large amount of gaseous volatile matter under the influence of high temperature and a small amount of air. This process is called pyrolysis.

This method of combustion is characterized by a high intensity of the process, and the heating temperature of the coolant is correspondingly high. What is no less important is the low fuel consumption. One bookmark is enough for long-term operation of the boiler without human intervention. they have great power, so if you decide to equip a full-fledged autonomous heating system with hot water supply in your country house, such a unit will be the best choice.

Read also: ? Overview of 10 options.

It is possible to increase the efficiency of pyrolysis-type units by installing a heat accumulator in the system. Hot water from the boiler will flow into the storage tank, giving out a coolant of a certain temperature to the system. If there is still a desire to get hot water in the house, put a container with coils located inside, through which water will be heated for domestic needs.

Such heat accumulators are usually installed in all autonomous heating systems where high-power solid fuel units are present and hot water is supposed to be used. Tanks play the role of a buffer, cooling or heating the coolant in the system, at the same time being a source of hot water. A significant disadvantage of the units operating due to pyrolysis is the need to lay only dry firewood. In the country, this issue is not always possible to resolve quickly.

Long burning boilers

Another type of heating equipment that can be successfully used in the country is long-burning solid fuel units. A pyrolysis boiler can also be attributed to this type of equipment, however, from a technical point of view, there are serious differences between the units in terms of the method of loading fuel.

• solid fuel boilers of pyrolysis type;
• top loading machines.

The main difference is in the principle of combustion. In pyrolysis units, combustion can be divided into two stages: fuel smoldering, gas formation, and subsequent combustion of the air-gas mixture. In long-burning boilers, everything happens quietly and calmly.

For reference: Fuel, unlike classic and pyrolysis boilers, burns from top to bottom. In the process of burning firewood, burning firewood occurs in layers. First, the top layer, then the next one, and so on until the entire bookmark is completely burned.

This technique is characterized by high productivity and has significant technological characteristics. Typically, long-burning boilers are installed in large-scale houses where heating of large areas is required, there is a large consumption of hot water for domestic purposes. Firewood, charcoal or fuel briquettes are usually used as fuel.

As expected, a storage tank must be present in the boiler piping. A warm floor can be connected to this type of heating device. The ability to adjust the intensity of heating of the coolant, the presence of a heat accumulator provide the necessary temperature conditions for the operation of the entire heating system.

For reference: One load of fuel is enough for a day or more. This is very convenient, especially at night, and due to the complete combustion of the fuel mass, a high efficiency is achieved. To avoid premature boiling of boiler water, do the first load at half the volume. After 30-40 minutes, fill the entire combustion chamber with the remaining fuel.

A significant drawback of this technique is their large inertia. A heated boiler that has reached the optimal operating mode cannot be immediately stopped. Therefore, for the purposes of fire safety, it is necessary to allow the boiler to cool down completely before leaving. This will take an average of 8-10 hours. During this time, the heating in the house will work due to the coolant accumulated in the storage tank.

Air solid fuel boilers

Probably, this is one of the options for a heating device that is best suited for a country house. The main advantage of air heaters is a quick heating and reaching the required air heating temperature. Not each of us can invest a sufficient amount of funds necessary for the installation of a solid, capital heating system in the country. Complicated installation, the presence of a large number of additional devices and mechanisms, all this and much more makes it inefficient.

Air solid fuel boilers are another matter. Working on the principle of a fireplace or stove, such a unit is able to fill the house with the desired warmth in a matter of minutes. Installation of equipment is not associated with significant costs. In rooms with a small area, it is enough to simply continue the air ducts through which warm air will circulate. Such a boiler is absolutely not afraid of severe frost. The absence of a liquid heat carrier as an intermediary greatly simplifies the heating task itself, reduces the cost item associated with heating equipment.

Boilers of small power, working on wood and warming up the air, are very practical and easy to use.

On a note: to obtain the required temperature in the room, 20-30 minutes are enough, in contrast to 2-3 hours, until the solid fuel water boiler reaches the calculated values.

Moreover, often such units are equipped with a hob. In the country, this fact is of great importance. Given the short stay in the country during the cold period, an air boiler on wood or coal will be a good help in everyday life.

Conclusion

When considering heating appliances that you can install in your own summer house, you should approach the issue in a practical and pragmatic way. If the duration of your stay in the country is quite significant, you should not skimp on the installation of a powerful heating unit that will fully supply the country house with heat and hot water. If for you the dacha is only a temporary shelter, for one or two days for the purpose of relaxation, then it is better to get by with the simplest and most reliable models.

Air heating boilers, a solid fuel boiler for long-term burning, traditional pyrolysis-type boilers, all this equipment is capable of solving exactly the range of tasks for which it is designed. It is not worth overpaying and buying expensive equipment if you can get by with an affordable, simple and reliable device. It is important to consider fire safety and the degree of equipment controllability.

Recently, more and more often you can find universal combined heating boilers in private homes that can operate simultaneously on two types of fuel. The combination of electricity and firewood is an excellent choice: such a boiler is very compact, practical and reliable. In the event of a power outage or lack of fuel, you will not be left without heat and hot water in winter.

Design features

Externally, the combined boiler is practically no different from a conventional solid fuel unit. In principle, this is the same wood-burning heating boiler, in which a heating element is installed in the heat exchanger. Another important difference is the design of the water jacket. One of the walls of the furnace of such a boiler has a complex configuration and is made by cold stamping. Heating elements are mounted between the walls of the jacket, and there is a special contact hole to which the contacts of the electrical wiring wires are connected.

Combined boiler: wood - electricity

Combined boilers that run on wood and electricity are designed very competently and thoughtfully, the main working units are:

• solid fuel loading hatch - solid fuel is loaded into it, the volume of fuel loaded at a time depends on its size;
• ash pan - supplies oxygen for burning fuel and collects ash;
• burners allow you to switch from one type of fuel to another;
• draft damper - regulates the intensity of fuel combustion. The chain drive opens or closes the ash chamber damper;
• heat exchanger - provides warm water supply;
• temperature sensors - automatically regulate the operation of heating elements, which ensures the continuity of heating.

The automation system allows you to adjust the operating mode of the boiler, as well as its power. There are models of boilers that have hobs for cooking, they are installed above the firebox. Boilers with two circuits allow you to connect the "warm floor" system, for this there are special outlets for installation.

Combined boiler device

They produce boilers with one circuit and with two circuits. In the first case, the boiler is used only for heating, in the second case it will provide hot water for household needs. Also on sale are units with a manual control system and with an automatic one. Boilers with a manual control system are cheaper, and automatic control makes maintenance and the life of the owner easier.

Advice. When choosing a boiler for heating a house, it is necessary to correctly calculate the power of the device based on the area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe room. This will affect fuel consumption.

Principle of operation

The principle of operation of a combined heating boiler is quite simple. The heat generator, powered by the mains, starts the electric heater. Pipe electric heaters begin to heat the coolant (water) in automatic mode according to the principle of a boiler. This process is automated by a special device, only firewood is loaded into the firebox manually.

While the heater is heating the water, you need to fill the combustion chamber with firewood and set it on fire. The combustion chamber is located below and transfers heat from burning firewood to the heat exchanger. When the temperature of the coolant reaches a predetermined level, the heating element turns off, and then only firewood generates heat. The burning power of firewood can reach 30 kW, which is enough to heat the house.

Combination boiler operation

When the firewood burns out, the heating element turns on again and maintains the set temperature. You can only heat with firewood, and turn on the heating element only for safety. If firewood runs out, then only the heating element will provide heat. But often electricity and firewood are used simultaneously, this is especially convenient at night, when it is not possible to constantly put firewood in the firebox. Then firewood is laid in the evening, and the heating element is turned on to maintain heat not at full capacity.

If electricity is used as a priority for heating, and firewood is used only as a reserve, then boiler maintenance is simplified to a minimum. The desired temperature is set automatically and the heating element is responsible for maintaining it. When the electricity is turned off, as is often the case in our country, you put firewood in the furnace, and the boiler starts to work on solid fuel.

Important. When operating the boiler on wood, make sure that the damper on the chimney is open. When working on electricity, the valve can be closed.

Advantages of combined boilers

Advantages of boilers firewood and electricity compared to single-fuel devices are obvious.

Combined boiler with built-in heating element

1. Versatility. You can use one of the two types of fuel as you wish.
2. Profitability. Electrical energy is the most affordable type of fuel, and so is wood. In addition, coal and waste from the woodworking industry can be used as an alternative. It turns out the perfect union: wood - electricity.
3. Thoughtful design. Heat is intelligently distributed and energy losses are minimal, which makes these boilers very efficient.
4. Long service life. With proper operation, such a boiler will serve you faithfully for a very long time, at least 20 years.
5. Autonomy. There is no need to constantly monitor the process - automation will do everything for you. Especially when working on electric fuel, the heating mode with the help of a heating element is limited by an uninterrupted supply of electricity.
6. There are models with pre-built pipes for connecting the "warm floor" system.

Important. Combined boilers that run on wood and electricity work efficiently even in low-power modes.

Flaws

And yet, with all the advantages, combined boilers have their drawbacks, like any other heating equipment.

It is better to install the combined boiler on a pre-strengthened base

1. It is necessary to equip a separate room - a boiler room, it is also necessary to store fuel reserves.
2. Weight. Devices made of cast iron can weigh several hundred kilograms; before installing such a boiler, a concrete pad may be required to reinforce the subfloor. Due to the significant weight of the product, there are no models for wall mounting, only models for floor mounting.
3. The design of combined boilers is more complex, which affects the cost of installation and service repairs.
4. Another disadvantage is the low power of the electrical component. The power of electric heaters should not exceed the power of the wood burning chamber. The power range of a wood-burning firebox is within 6 - 25 kW.
5. The cost of models of combined boilers is 20-40% more expensive than similar solid fuel boilers, but their purchase is much more justified than installing one type of boiler and then replacing it with another.

The manufacturer offers combined heating boilers powered by electricity and wood of various capacities, configurations and performance. When purchasing such equipment, pay attention to such moments.

Think about how much fuel you need to put in at a time

1. Power - depends on what kind of fuel is used. Decide in advance on what type of fuel the priority units will operate.
2. The size of the combustion chamber - the volume of the combustion chamber depends on how often you need to load fuel.
3. Noiselessness - installation of a special valve ensures quiet operation of the unit.
4. Number of circuits - for some models, water is heated only by a heating element. More economical than models in which the coolant coil is mounted in the combustion chamber.
5. Heat exchanger. It can be made from cast iron or steel. Cast iron devices are resistant to corrosion, heat up for a long time, but they also give off heat for a long time, have a significant mass and can crack with a sharp temperature drop. Steel is subject to faster oxidation and corrosion, lighter in weight and resistant to temperature extremes.
6. Grids. They are made from various materials. It can be cast iron or ceramic. Cast iron is more heat resistant and suitable for the combustion of any solid fuel. They use honeycomb cast iron grates with ceramic coating, they are suitable for bulk materials that use more oxygen during combustion.
7. The weight and dimensions of the boiler. It may be necessary to reinforce the surface area on which the unit will be installed with a concrete screed.

Installed combined heating boiler

Advice. If your house is 80 sq. m, then you should not purchase a unit designed for heating an area of ​​\u200b\u200b400 sq. M. This will entail an overspending of funds for the purchase of a boiler and its further operation.

Currently, electricity and solid fuels are the most affordable and affordable types of fuel. Combined heating boilers combine this advantage. In addition, their design is reliable and efficient - this favorably distinguishes them from the number of heating boilers that are on the market.

Connecting the combined boiler to electricity: video

Combined boiler: photo

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As you know, heating is one of the most important communications of both an apartment and a private country house, so you need to approach its device very carefully. Next, we will talk about how the equipment for heating a country house should be designed, as well as what devices it is customary to use for this.

The principle of operation of heating in the country

Do not confuse concepts such as a residential cottage and a summer residence, since the latter building usually serves exclusively as a place of rest, and not permanent residence.

If we talk specifically about heating, then a country house is distinguished by the following features:

• almost all country houses do not have access to a gas main, which explains the need to install a different type of heating. That is why gas boilers for summer cottages are used much less often than other models;
• in the event that electricity is available in the country, then it usually has a power limited to two phases and the possibility of wiring. In the warm season, you can heat the building with an air conditioner, but in cold weather, the use of such equipment will not help in any way;

It is important to remember that equipment with a power of more than 3.5 kW is strictly forbidden to be connected to a central outlet, since the current strength is too high for connection. Devices with power ranging from 3.5 to 7 kW must be connected using a separate cable;

• it is most correct to heat the cottage not regularly, but at some intervals. Do not forget that a prerequisite for country heating is that it should not defrost if the temperature drops to 0 °. So, in winter, the house is unheated most of the time, which explains such a need. The inertia indicators of the heating system of a country house should be minimal so that it is possible to heat the entire building as quickly as possible.

Boiler options for heating a country house

In different designs, a variety of heating elements can be used, which are the boilers. Each such device has its own specific technical characteristics, so you should consider in more detail what heating boilers exist for giving and how they function. See also: "".

Solid fuel boilers

As mentioned earlier, gas heating boilers for summer cottages are installed extremely rarely, which explains the need for other systems.

One of the popular varieties of this equipment is the work of which is based on the use of energy obtained in the process of burning firewood.

The advantages that such heating boilers for a country house have are as follows:

• despite the need to regularly purchase firewood, such fuel will not cost much more when compared with a design such as, for example, a gas boiler in the country;
• in order to save heating costs as much as possible with the help of firewood, in the fall in the nearest forest you can collect a decent amount of deadwood, which is also capable of performing the function of fuel;
• wood, as you know, is an environmentally friendly material that can also provide a unique aroma when burned, which will be very useful in a country house.

However, solid fuel boilers for heating a country house also have some negative sides, which include the following:

• the need for frequent replenishment of the combustion chamber with fuel. Wood burns quickly, so with one laying of heat, it lasts no more than 6 hours. The exception is boilers operating on the principle of pyrolysis combustion, however, their installation in a small summer cottage will be extremely unprofitable;
• temperature control in such structures is not possible. The only thing you can use is a damper;
• a large stock of firewood needs quite a lot of space to store properly. In this case, it is especially important to equip a canopy over the fuel so that it does not get wet.

Oil fired boilers

A diesel boiler for a summer residence is very popular, the main type of fuel in which, as it becomes clear, is diesel fuel, as well as waste oil, while the latter option is very cheap.

The advantages of such a heating element are:

• the equipment is equipped with a temperature indicator control function, while in simpler designs it is possible to control only the heating of the coolant, then in advanced models it becomes possible to change the air temperature in the room as well;
• the operation of the diesel boiler is fully automated, so there is no need to regularly load fuel manually;
• modern development technologies offer a completely new, innovative option for turning on the boiler - via SMS. This means that the equipment can be turned on remotely, for example, a few hours before arriving at the cottage, however, in this case, the boiler must be equipped with an automatic ignition function.

Among the disadvantages that diesel boilers have, the most obvious are:

• the cost of solar oil is very expensive;
• in the event that the temperature is low, then the boiler burner simply cannot ignite properly, and the fuel will become viscous. However, this problem can be solved by using the so-called winter diesel fuel as the main fuel. Moreover, if there is electricity at the dacha, you can always pre-heat the room before turning on the main heating equipment;
• during operation, a diesel boiler creates a rather loud and unpleasant noise, so there is often an inevitable need to place the structure in a separate room.

Coal and peat heating of the cottage

Most often, these energy sources are operated in combined-type boilers, which are able to operate not on one, but on several types of fuel (more: "").

But at the same time, there may be some separation: there are models in which the furnace for two heat sources is common (for example, for coal and wood, for gas and diesel fuel), and there are such samples in which the combustion chambers are arranged separately. Of course, the first option will be more economical.

When installing heating in the country, it is important to remember that the comfort of living in the house will depend on the quality of its implementation. Therefore, in order not to overshadow your rest with a low temperature in the house, it is recommended to study in advance various photos of options for heating boilers and determine which one is suitable for a particular structure.

Video tips for choosing heating boilers for summer cottages:

If the owners plan to use the cottage in the winter, then they will have to think about how it will be heated. In order to reasonably choose the heating of a summer residence, the options of which can be peeped on the Internet, you need to consider some of them and determine which one is most suitable for a particular house.

If earlier there were only two options available for use in the countryside - a wood-burning stove or electric heaters, provided that electricity was supplied to the cottage, today the choice of ways to heat a country house is much wider.

In addition, each owner of a country house, who has a little bit of imagination and certain knowledge, can independently figure out how to economically and efficiently heat a house using one or more methods, combining them with each other. Perhaps, consideration of the heating systems below will help someone make a choice from ready-made solutions or even design their own innovative version.

First you need to decide what functions the heating devices should perform, since sometimes you can’t do just the usual heating of rooms in country conditions.

• The main criterion, of course, should be effective heating of the house, maintaining a comfortable temperature in the premises in any weather.
• For the comfort of living, it is advisable to consider heating the bath (if any) or heating the water for the shower.
• Cooking and boiling water for food needs - brewing coffee, tea, etc. .
• Drying wet things and shoes, which is especially important in inclement autumn or winter weather.
• Drying vegetables and fruits for the winter.

Having highlighted those functions that we would like to have in combination with heating, we can proceed to consider its various options.

Heating system powered by a boiler

Heating system. which uses a heat carrier heated in a boiler and supplied to radiators for heat exchange, it is advisable to install it in the country if it is used for housing all year round. At the same time, you need to remember that very often you will have to go through all the instances to obtain permission, draw up and approve a system installation plan, so you need to immediately estimate the cost of not only buying all the necessary equipment for installation, but also completing the documentation.

In terms of convenience, the best option is heating using a boiler

Choosing a heating boiler

The choice of a heater depends on several factors:

• Availability of the necessary source of fuel or energy carrier on the site. For example, if gas supply is connected to the dacha, then the most optimal will select a gas-fired unit. In addition, boilers are produced that can run on electricity or on solid or liquid fuels, as well as mixed-type heating appliances, in which, if necessary, the energy carrier can be replaced one with another.
• The area of ​​​​heated premises, that is, it is necessary to determine the required power of the unit. To do this, calculate the amount of thermal energy required to heat 10 m² of the house. Such a parameter, of course, largely depends on how insulated the building that is planned to be heated, and with high-quality thermal insulation, you can build on the proportion of 1 kW of energy per 10 m², with an average ceiling height of up to 3 m.

If the country house has thin walls without thermal insulation, then the heat will not linger in the house for a long time, even if what form of heating and which boiler power. Funds spent on the purchase and installation of all elements of the system, as well as on energy carriers, will simply be thrown to the wind.

• The availability of space for the installation of equipment, since some boilers necessarily require a separate room or a reliable foundation due to their technical characteristics.

In specialized stores you can find on sale not only floor heating boilers, but also wall-mounted ones, which are small in size.

As a rule, compact wall-mounted options do not have excessive power, but if the country house is small and well insulated, then it is possible to choose such a boiler with suitable parameters.

Floor boilers have a massive shape and a fairly large weight. For them, it is necessary to prepare a special solid platform or even make an extension to the house, in which the boiler room will be located.

• For any boiler (except electric) a chimney is required. Its specific structure and parameters will depend on what fuel the unit runs on and what its power is.
• The price will largely depend on the type and power of the heating installation.

It is worth considering in more detail the positive and negative aspects of units operating from different energy carriers. First, about the obvious virtues :

• The natural gas boiler is quite economical, has high power and is reliable in operation.
• Solid fuel boilers do not need additional connection to the gas pipeline or to the power supply system (if not equipped with electronic automation). Solid fuel is much more affordable in many regions of the country for the price compared with electricity and gas. In addition, in such boilers it is often possible to use various types of fuel - coal, firewood, peat briquettes, pellets.
• have a relatively low cost, compact in size, and easy to install, do not require special intervention during operation. (more about the features of electric boilers - in the hotel publication of the portal).

Now let's go through shortcomings various units:

• The obvious "cons" of installing a gas heating system include the expensive and requiring numerous approvals procedure for drawing up a plan and directly supplying gas. In addition, not every dacha village has a gas main.
• A boiler running on diesel fuel requires a large volume of it. And although diesel fuel has a relatively affordable price, the lack of storage capacity for at least a minimum stock can create a problem. In addition, the fuel itself has a specific smell, which intensifies when it is burned. Another big disadvantage of such units can be called a lot of noise during operation, so you can’t do without an additional separate room for a liquid fuel boiler.

A modern diesel boiler cannot operate without electricity consumption (albeit minimal), which means that if there are frequent interruptions with this, then you need to think through a backup uninterruptible power supply.

• A solid fuel boiler needs to be loaded quite often, and an appropriate place and conditions are needed for fuel supplies.
• An electric boiler (with the exception of induction) is not very durable, and, of course, is completely dependent on the availability of electricity. Unfortunately, in holiday villages, a complete power outage or surges with a large voltage amplitude are not at all uncommon. Therefore, in this case, it is necessary to have an alternative, not electric heating option, which will inevitably entail additional costs.

For ease of perception, a table is provided that summarizes some distinctive features various types of heating installations:

Specifications	Room heating method
	Gas boiler	Oil boiler	electric boiler	Geothermal heat pump
Equipment cost (price)	average	average	low	high
The area of ​​the boiler room for the installation of equipment in sq. m	6	6	3	6
Energy source	Natural gas	Diesel fuel	Electricity	Electric current and heat of earth, water, air
Energy costs	medium	large	very big	The heat of the earth is unlimited and free of charge, the cost of electricity for the operation of the equipment is minimal
Lifetime	15-20 years old	15-20 years old	5-8 years old	Up to 50 years old
Fire hazard of the boiler during its operation	dangerous (constant fire)	dangerous (constant fire)	dangerous in terms of the likelihood of shorting the wiring	safe
Explosiveness	dangerous	dangerous	safe	safe
The level of environmental hazard during operation	harmful, emits CO and NOx	harmful, emits CO and NOx	harmless	harmless
Ventilation	needed	needed	need not	need not
Service	regular inspection	regular inspection	inspection if necessary	inspection if necessary
Reliability	high	high	high	very high
Autonomy in the absence of energy supply		redundant power supply required	does not work	works in the presence of a backup electric generator of 6 kW
Possibility of room cooling	does not provide	does not provide	does not provide	provides

Combined boiler

Separately, it is worth saying a few words about the combined type of boiler can, if necessary, switch from one fuel to another.

The options here can be different: “firewood - gas”, “wood - electricity”, “liquid fuel - electricity” and others. This can be very convenient - if, for example, the electricity is turned off, then the boiler can continue to be heated, say, with firewood or peat briquettes, or switch to diesel fuel. Sometimes combined boilers have special replaceable or built-in burners, equipped with a hob, which is simply irreplaceable in country conditions. Therefore, often it is the combined boiler that becomes the best option for a country house, provided that the place is properly prepared for it.

In any of the modern combined boilers, an automatic system is built in that controls the health of the unit, the supply of fuel and controls its operation. For example, if the boiler was heated with solid fuel, and it burned out, and the temperature in the heating circuit dropped below the set value, electric heating is connected.

Hot water supply

In the country, hot water is also indispensable - if you live there permanently, then for daily hygiene needs it is simply necessary. Of course, in the summer, you can use the summer shower, where the water is completely heated by the heat of the sun, but in winter this option will not work. If you don’t want to heat water on a hob in the old fashioned way, then it’s best to install a double-circuit boiler when installing heating, which will provide not only space heating, but also supply hot water for a variety of needs.

You can use another option - this is a single-circuit boiler with an indirect heating boiler attached to it. In this case, a pump is built into the system, since the natural circulation of the coolant will not be enough. This option requires a lot of space to install all the necessary elements, so it will be necessary to allocate a room for this purpose or make a small extension.

In any case, if you decide to make heating from the boiler, you need to carefully consider all the nuances, and when buying it, carefully study the characteristics and clarify incomprehensible information from the sales assistant.

Video: recommendations for using boilers in the country

Geothermal heat pump

In the comparison table above, the rightmost column is occupied by the characteristics of the heat pump. It is currently being talked about a lot as an alternative source of thermal energy. Since this method of heating is not as popular and known as heating from a boiler, it is worth devoting a few lines to it.

A geothermal heat pump is a system for creating a microclimate in the house, which operates from the heat of the earth.

At its core, it is a kind of air conditioner with two circuits - an evaporator and a condenser. In winter, it works as a source of heat, and in summer it produces coolness. The process takes place due to the difference in soil temperature at different depths, and to increase the efficiency or reduce the costs of the cooling and heating system, a geothermal pump can be used in combination with heating a house from solar energy.

The work of geothermal heat pumps is based on thermal inertia, since the temperature of the earth at a depth below 6 m is approximately the same as the average annual air temperature in the region, and it practically does not change regardless of the season.

In addition, there are similar systems that can use the thermal energy of air or water.

• "Earth-Water" - the most common type of heat pump extracts heat from the ground with the help of a coolant circulating through pipes buried in the ground, and then, after conversion, transfers it to heating devices .

• "Water-to-water" - this type of pump receives heat from water, in which case the primary heat exchanger is immersed in a natural reservoir, or a deep well is drilled for the probe, reaching groundwater .

• "Air-to-air" - a heat pump operating on this principle receives energy from the air. This option does not require excavation, drilling of wells or the presence of a nearby reservoir. Energy is obtained with the help of a probe-block, which uses the temperature amplitude of the surrounding air. All the main elements of such a system are located inside the building, which eliminates the risk of damage. .

Economical geothermal heating system

A home heating system using a heat pump will justify the cost of installing it only after a few decades. It cannot work on its own and requires electrical energy to keep it running. So, for production of 10 kW T thermal energy, the heat pump will need to consume 2.5 ÷ 3 kW of electricity, that is, the net gain will be in the region of 7 ÷ 7.5 kW, which, in principle, is not so small. However, if you look at this issue from the point of view of payment, then it turns out to be slightly cheaper than when operating a conventional electric boiler, but the material costs for installing these devices are simply incomparable. In addition, to install a heat pump system, you need do a great job, and the electric boiler connects quickly and easily.

If frequent power outages occur in the village where the country house is located, for the operation of the geothermal heating system, it is necessary to provide a backup power source - a generator that runs on a different type of fuel, with a capacity of about 6 kW. The acquisition and stationary installation of such a power unit will also lead to considerable costs.

To sum up, we can say that this way of heating the house is without a doubt environmentally friendly, and it has a very big future. But its current frugality must still be questioned. Therefore, before undertaking such a business, it is worth making careful calculations and soberly assess the profitability of such an undertaking.

Infrared cottage heating

This type of space heating is based on the use of special infrared emitters or infrared film as a heat generator. A similar method of heating a house can be used both as the main one and as an auxiliary one, in combination with other types of heating.

The principle of operation of infrared heating is that the heater transmits radiation thermal energy in the infrared range (similar to thermal energy Sun) to all the surrounding elements of the interior, as well as the floor and walls, and they, in turn, heating up, conduct a vast heat exchange with air over the area.

It should be immediately noted that this type of heating of a country house will be effective only if all elements of the structure - the ceiling, walls, floor, windows and doors - are well insulated. If this condition is met, then heating with infrared radiation will achieve the following results:

• To create a comfortable microclimate, that is, the temperature and humidity in the premises corresponding to the normal state of health of the residents.
• Ensure the most favorable temperature distribution along the height of the room.
• Preserve clean air, since with this method there is no intensive air circulation, horizontal convection currents, especially along the floor, which always carry a lot of dust with them.

Infrared heaters

This type of heater is fixed on the ceiling, on top 2.3 ÷ 3.5 m, usually in the center of the room. The main thing to consider is that the residents of the house should not be constantly directly under them, that is, they should not be hung over the bed, dining or writing desk, children's play area, etc.

Infrared film

In addition to heaters with infrared radiation, special film elements can be used for heating a country house, which are located both on the ceiling and on walls and floors.

Another option is film IR emitters

The film can be placed under various decorative coverings. So, on the floor it can be parquet or linoleum, carpet or laminate, on the walls - ceramic tiles or wooden lining, on the ceiling - plasterboard or the same lining.

However, there are also some limitations. For example, you can not install an infrared film on the ceiling, it is planned to decorate with a cloth. It is incompatible with a stretch ceiling, PVC panels or materials containing metal (for example, foil).

Advantages and disadvantages of infrared heating

This type of home heating has its pros and cons. You need to know about them before choosing just such an option for installation in the country.

Advantages of IR heating

The advantages of using infrared heating include the following:

• Providing heating of the room in a short time after switching on the system, as the surfaces quickly heat up and give off heat to the air.
• The heat thus obtained does not dry the air at all, so the required level of humidity is maintained in the rooms.
• The system does not make any noise during operation.
• The temperature in the room can be maintained in the desired mode, very precisely setting the desired one using a thermostat.
• For the infrared system, voltage drops are not terrible, which often happens in holiday villages.
• Installing the film is quite simple and fast, so this work can be done independently.

• The system does not require conservation for the winter period - it only needs to be turned off from the network. Upon arrival at the dacha in winter or early spring, you can be sure that it will not be cold in the house at night. One has only to turn on the system to the network - and literally in half an hour the house will have an acceptable temperature.
• In addition, if the need arises, the film can be easily dismantled and transferred for installation in another room or building.
• The system is easy to use and does not require after-sales service.
• longevity operation - manufacturers guarantee that, with proper installation, such elements will last for several decades.

Negative qualities