What to do if the chimney of a gas water heater freezes: ways to protect the chimney from freezing

It is not uncommon for a gas boiler or water heater to stop working due to freezing of the gas pipe. But nobody wants to stay on a winter evening without hot water or even without heating, right?

Therefore, let's talk about why the chimney of a gas water heater or boiler freezes, what measures need to be taken, to deal with this problem, and what can be done to avoid repeating a similar situation in the future. We will supplement the presented material with thematic photos and videos.

The main causes of freezing chimneys

Among the reasons for freezing chimneys, first of all, adverse weather conditions: wind, low air temperature, high humidity. All this leads to freezing of the gas boiler pipe. Among the reasons are

falling into the pipe of snow, and mistakes made on installation stage. In this case, the result is the same: the mini-boiler room stops functioning.

The most important rule that must be observed strictly: strictly follow the recommendations of the manufacturer, take into account the length and angle of inclination of the pipe, its location.

Another reason - condensation. Condensate - the presence of water vapor in the combustion products. Moreover, its temperature is lower than the dew point. When water droplets freeze, an ice crust forms. It prevents the entry of air to support the combustion process. If the boiler is located on the upper floors of the house, it is impossible to get to the terminal to get rid of the ice crust.

The main signs that the chimney pipe of a gas boiler is freezing in a private house are as follows:

• the appearance on the boiler display of the error "Flame separation";
• the formation of condensation on the surface of the duct;
• after switching on the boiler, it goes out after a short time.

There are such ways to reduce the amount of condensate: insulation chimney channel; thorough care of the system (timely cleaning); application condensate drain.

The latter is a container made of stainless steel. Its purpose is to collect the moisture that appears.

If we talk about preventive measures, the following can be noted:

• at the stage of building a house, comply with all standards;
• chimney installation is carried out in strict accordance with the project;
• do not forget about cleaning the smoke channel using special means;
• improve existing pipes (insulation measures, use of stainless steel liners);
• monitoring the power of the equipment and, if necessary, cleaning the chimney.

This approach is entirely justified, since preventing a problem is always easier to fix it. We recommend that you familiarize yourself with prevention methods condensation

Ways to get rid of icing

The purpose of the chimney is to remove the compounds formed during the combustion of fuel. The consumption of fuel, that is, the efficiency of the boiler, largely depends on its design.

The efficiency of the system depends on the following factors:

• material of manufacture chimney;
• height, diameter and location of the pipe.

Decrease in efficiency, excessive consumption of gas, wetting of walls, penetration of carbon monoxide into the room, freezing of the chimney - all these problems can arise due to the fact that the chimney is selected and installed not right.

Now let's talk about what measures can be taken to prevent the formation of ice. Partial solution to the problem - plug removal at the top of the boiler. Combustion products, as before, will come out. The air required for the combustion process will be directed into the system from the room. Therefore, for safety reasons, it is so important to equip the correct ventilation for gas boiler.

However, the plug must be returned to its original location when the ice build-up melts. Such a regime cannot be constantly maintained. The fact is that the impurities contained in the air of the room (dust, soot from the kitchen) will quickly disable the heating unit. This method can be used if cases of icing are rare, no more than twice a year. With regular freezing, use the set "anti-ice».

In addition to drawing air from the room, there are other ways to remove icing.

Method # 1 - reducing the temperature difference

If the boiler equipment does not include regulators and (or) programmers, then it is switched on according to the difference between the temperatures of the heating circuit lines: supply and return. If the equipment model is programmable, then the indicator can be adjusted.

To prevent the coaxial chimney from freezing in winter, set the value of the temperature difference to a minimum. Thus, the time interval between switching off and switching on of the unit is reduced. It is advisable to perform the work at an air temperature below -10 degrees.

Method # 2 - increasing the boiler power

An increase in boiler power leads to an increase in the temperature of the gases, which heat up the pipe more strongly. Of course, fuel consumption will increase, but there will definitely not be a problem with icing.

Adjusting the power of gas equipment without professional skills is a risky and dangerous business. If changing the gas flow rate at the valve is an unfamiliar process for you, then it is advisable to use the services of a representative of the organization with which you have contract signed for service. The specialist will perform the work efficiently and promptly.

Method # 3 - improving the coaxial pipe

For column and boiler coaxial pipes installed with a slope to the street. This is necessary so that the condensation formed in the air channel flows out.

Sometimes the reason for the accumulation of water is that the outer part of the duct has been severely deformed. Good results can be achieved by cutting off the outer part of the pipe by 150-200 mm or making holes in it. The length of the inner tube remains unchanged.

Method # 4 - chimney insulation

The chimney is insulated to prevent condensation from occurring due to the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures. In addition, thermal insulation serves to protect the roof in the immediate vicinity of the boiler chimney or column.

For insulation, the following methods are used: plastering slag mortar, brick, mineral wool, slag concrete slabs.

The benefits of thermal insulation include:

• a significant reduction in the settling of chemically aggressive combustion products on the inner walls of the pipe. The stream of smoke and heated air takes them out almost completely;
• reducing the temperature difference between the walls of the pipe and the hot air that comes out of the furnace;
• minimization heat loss, height energy efficiency systems - heat losses in the presence of an insulator are significantly reduced;
• additional stability of the chimney - thanks to the insulating casing, it becomes more resistant to bad weather and wind, the pipe is less destroyed by external factors.

If the insulation is selected correctly and all the work is done correctly, one should not be afraid of freezing even in forty-degree frost. In addition, sections of the roof in the immediate vicinity of the chimney suffer much less from high temperatures. Next, we will consider the main methods of insulation.

Applying a layer of plaster

Application area plastering on the grid - external insulation of brick pipes. If the work is done correctly, the level heat loss decreases by about a quarter.

For this, a mixture is prepared based on slag, cement and lime. The solution is applied to the reinforced mesh with a layer of 30 mm. After the mixture has dried, mineral wool is placed on top of it. This is followed by a layer of plaster and glass mesh.

When the whole multi-layer structure is dry, the pipe is covered with a layer of primer and painted - any paint can be used for outdoor work. As an external cladding, you can use a metal siding.

To the benefits plastering pipes include: low cost of work, aesthetics of the final result, the availability of implementation for almost everyone.

Use of mineral wool

The field of application of mineral wool is insulation of pipes made of asbestos or metal. Compared to the usual plaster, the use of mineral wool has a number of advantages: low weight, minimal labor intensity, material resistance to high temperatures, incombustibility and low cost.

Warming procedure mineral wool next:

• cleaning the outer surface of the pipe;
• manufacture of lathing from profiles - guides are fixed with dowels;
• fixing uprights, connecting them to the rails - the spacing between the posts corresponds to the thickness heat insulator;
• laying mineral wool in the crate - a layer of polyethylene is placed on top of the heat-insulating layer, the joints are sealed with aluminum tape.

The final stage is the installation of cladding from corrugated board.

Brick shell construction

Building a brick casing is one of the most common methods of insulating metal chimneys.

This design has many advantages: beautiful appearance, durability, moisture resistance, the ability to use scrap materials. There are also disadvantages: high labor intensity of work, the need for certain construction skills. In addition, additional costs for thermal insulation cannot be avoided.

To make the structure reliable and durable, you need a small foundation.

• Dig a hole below the freezing level of the soil. Otherwise, after the first frost, the structure will deform and collapse. The length of the pit and its width should exceed the parameters of the same name by 100-150 mm.
• The bottom of the pit is tamped, the walls are leveled. A 100 mm sand cushion is poured onto the bottom and tamped.
• Formwork is mounted inside, it can be fixed. To do this, buy a ready-made structure or make it yourself from foam. The formwork also serves as additional waterproofing.
• Using a 10mm fiberglass or metal reinforcement, a crate is made with crossbars every 400 mm and dimensions 50 mm smaller than the pit.
• The bottom is laid out with a brick, on which the prepared crate is placed. The resulting structure is poured with concrete and tamped with a vibrator. The foundation is left for 3 weeks to harden.

After the base is completely ready for use, proceed to the installation of the casing. Its dimensions are such that the internal distance to the pipe is about 50 mm. For masonry, use a ready-made building mixture or mix cement, chamotte sand and crushed brick in a ratio of 1: 3: 1. First, dry components are mixed and only then water is added.

Before starting work, the foundation is protected from water with a layer bikrosta or roofing material. Brickwork is performed in a circle with a binding. A metal mesh is laid out every 3-5 rows. The plane is constantly controlled by the level. As the casing is laid out, the void between the pipe and the masonry is filled with insulation.

Usage extruded expanded polystyrene

Scope of plates from extruded expanded polystyrene - external insulation of chimneys made of bricks. Properties penoplex and technoplex - high level of strength and impermeability to water.

It is desirable to use as heat insulator heat-resistant grades with flammability class G2. Class products G3 and G4 it has less refractoriness, therefore, at high (more than 600 degrees) temperature of the outlet gases, it is not used.

For the production of works on insulation penoplex will be required:

• insulation (the required amount is calculated individually);
• suspensions;
• metal profile;
• fasteners;
• construction foam;
• from tools - a drill or perforator.

The plates are fastened to the pipe surface using non-combustible glue (it is also used to seal the joints). You can also use construction foam.

The algorithm is as follows:

1. Suspensions are fixed at the corners of the chimney from all sides. The vertical distance between them is chosen so that it can be fixed heat insulator. The suspensions are U-shaped.
2. Sheet penoplex apply and lightly press down so that traces of the fasteners remain.
3. The insulation is unfurled and through cuts are made in the places of the tracks.
4. The reverse side of the insulator is covered with polyurethane foam.
5. Metal plates are threaded through the insulation, the sheets are tightly pressed against the pipe.
6. A profile is mounted to the suspensions. It is imperative to align it, since it is he who serves as the basis for the cladding.
7. Sheets are fixed self-tapping screws with press washers or rubber seals. The corners are closed with special strips. This is necessary to create a monolithic effect. The gap between the insulator and the profile is closed with a tin plate that prevents water penetration.
8. A visor is mounted in the upper part.

To form the thermal insulation of an asbestos pipe, a galvanized casing is installed at a distance of at least 60-80 mm from the pipe. Glass wool is used as a heater. To fill the remaining gaps, cement mortar is used.

You can do without a casing, then as heat insulator it is better to choose mineral wool - its consumption will turn out to be twice as much.

Sandwich chimney arrangement-pipe

This is an excellent solution that allows you to solve the problem of chimney insulation by almost one hundred percent. The disadvantage of sandwich pipes is one: the channels will need to be completely redone or, as an option, provide for their installation at the design stage of the house.

A sandwich consists of 2 pipes with different diameters, the smaller of which is inside the larger one. They are separated by a layer of insulating material. Condensation does not form on the sleeves, overheating also does not occur, therefore the system is completely fireproof.

Installation of such a chimney does not cause any particular difficulties, sandwich system assembled according to the principle of the constructor. The panels are inserted into each other to the required size. The connection to the boiler is carried out by means of special additional adapters.

Common insulation mistakes

The main indicator that a mistake was made during the arrangement of thermal insulation is the heating of the external parts of the structure to high temperatures. If there are flammable materials nearby, this situation is a fire hazard.

The reasons for this are as follows:

• an incorrectly selected or poor-quality insulator shrinks;
• violation of the integrity of the inner part of the pipe (this happens quite rarely);
• non-compliance with work technology;
• uncoveredheat insulator in the chimney head.

Thus, the ways of thermal insulation chimney there are quite a few pipes. Materials are available for sale, so there will be no problems with the purchase.

How to protect the column from freezing?

Do you have a gas water heater freezing through the chimney pipe, and you do not know what to do to avoid this problem? Let's take a closer look at this issue.

The instructions for the equipment contain temperature regimein which the equipment functions normally. When the outside temperature drops, individual components of the water heater may fail. If the device is under warranty, this does not mean at all that there is absolutely nothing to worry about. The manufacturing company clearly prescribes the operating standards, violation of which threatens to void the warranty.

Freezing can be avoided if drain water in a timely manner. This applies not only to country speakers, but also to devices that are located in private houses or apartments.

It is necessary to drain the water in the following cases:

• abnormally frosty weather;
• frequent power outages;
• unheated room.

Such a measure will not hurt if you are leaving for a week or more, which means that the gas water heater will not be used.

To drain the water, close the gas valve and the inlet water tap. Then open hot water on the mixer and wait until the water is completely drained.

Another case is possible when the column is in a warm room and still freezes. The part of the pipe in the room remains warm. And that part of it, into which the "street" air enters, goes into minus. Condensation in the pipe turns into ice, which, in turn, fetters the check valve. The removal of gases from the column will thus be blocked - the fan will not be able to open the valve. It will be impossible to turn on the column in such a situation.

The solution to the problem is quite simple. You can use a regular household or building hair dryer. The device must be turned on in the maximum heating mode. Now it remains to heat the pipe. The ice will melt quickly and the valve will be released. Now you can turn on the column and let it run for 10 minutes to smoke exhaust the line is completely warmed up and dried out.

Sometimes the cause of freezing is problems with ventilation or flaws in the manufacture of the case. If the device is under warranty, you should contact the service center. If the warranty period has passed, sealing the case helps.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

A kit to protect coaxial pipes from ice overgrowth in the following video:

Chimney insulation - part 1, video

Chimney insulation - part 2, video

Fixing a broken speaker is quite an expensive pleasure. Simple manipulations and precautions outlined in the article will help you save equipment from breakdown, and save yourself from unnecessary expenses. And the column will delight you with stable operation and hot water for a long time.

Have you also encountered the problem of chimney freezing and want to tell you about your method of solving this problem? Write about your experience, participate in the discussion, ask your questions to our experts and other site visitors - the feedback form is located below.