Flushing and crimping of the heating system

To ensure that the heating system retains its efficiency and performance for the longest time, it must be periodically rinsed. This simple measure in its carrying out allows to eliminate scum and various garbage from the system elements.

According to the rules, the washing of the heating system must be carried out by specially trained people. But if you want, you can do it yourself. Study the guide and proceed.

Why flush the heating system?

Did you notice that some of your friends or neighbors have a much warmer batteryat your home? There may be several reasons for this, but the most common is the presence of clogging in the heating mains. It is to eliminate such troubles and prevent their further appearance and flushing is performed.

The efficiency of heating is reduced due to two main factors, namely:

• the appearance of mineral deposits in the pipes. Most often this problem is observed in systems equipped with non-galvanized steel pipes. On the surface of the pipes, calcium and magnesium salts begin to be deposited, which leads to a significant reduction in the throughput. In systems built using galvanized pipes, this problem usually does not appear;
  

  Appearance of mineral deposits in pipes

• siltation of radiators. Most often, the areas where the coolant moves at a low speed are silted.
  

  Sintered radiator

Cast iron batteries, as well as radiators with a large number of sections, are exposed to the greatest degree of silting. The dependence is simple: the more sections and the more bulky, the slower the coolant moves through the system and the higher the probability of silting.

Cleaning instruction for the heating system

There are 2 basic methods for flushing the heating system, namely:

• using special hydropneumatic equipment;
• using chemical reagents.

Hydropneumatic washing

This method is actively used by domestic ZhEKs and is quite effective. You just need to do everything in accordance with the technology.

The principle is extremely simple: first the water is discharged from the system, then it is fed back. A special pneumatic pump is used to "adjust" the water flow. As a result, under the influence of a rather powerful head, scaling of the scale and other deposits occurs, and when draining the water, they are removed from the system.

To perform this procedure on your own, you will need a pneumatic pump capable of injecting pressures over 6 kg / cm2.

The sequence of actions is as follows.

key. The first step. We overlap the "return" valve.

The second step. We connect the air pump to the valve installed after the valve.

The third step. Reset the "return".

Fourth step. We give the pneumatic pump to apply pressure above 6 kg / cm2, and then open the valve to which it is connected.

The fifth step. Sequentially overlap all the risers. We do this so that at a time no more than 10 risers are blocked. Compliance with this rule will make the washing procedure as efficient as possible.

The sixth step. We translate the system to the drop in the opposite direction. To do this, we do the following:

• close the reset and close the valve connected to the pump and turn off the device;
• close the open latch, and then open the similar on the "return";
• reset the heating system. To do this, we connect the pneumatic pump to the valve in the reverse direction, then open the valve and turn on the pump. The fluid will move in a different direction.

It is possible to determine the required washing time by eye. A clean, clear liquid started to come out of the system? You can finish! Return the valves and valves to their original position and turn off the pump.

Prepare a suitable container to collect dirty water. If you want, you can connect the hose to the battery and ensure that the dirty coolant is diverted to the sewerage system.

Chemical flushing

pipes The use of this method can be resorted to only in two cases, namely:

• , if necessary, to clean the heating system with natural circulation built using steel pipes. It is advisable to use chemical reagents in situations where, for any reason, there is no desire to wash the entire system. Most often, blockages are deposited in heat exchangers. The system can be silenced on the entire perimeter. In the second case, there will not be a special kind of chemical washing;
• if necessary to restore the old heating system. Over the decades of operation, the pipes can become clogged and overgrown so that the capacity of the pneumatic pump will not be sufficient for effective cleaning. It is possible, of course, to take a more powerful pump, but no one will guarantee that the pipes will not burst under such pressure.

Important! If the pipes are very old, with traces of corrosion and deformation damages, there can be no positive result from washing. Chemical reagents will simply dissolve the rust, as a result of which the pipes will begin to leak. The only effective solution in this situation will be the replacement of the served roads.

The cleaning principle is simple: instead of a coolant, a special solution containing acid and alkali is poured into the system. Then the mixture is circulated for 2-3 hours( if it is not the natural circulation line that is being cleaned, it will be necessary to connect the pneumatic pump), after which it merges and the pipes are filled with a standard coolant.

Important! According to the requirements of SNiP, reagents of this kind are prohibited from draining into the sewerage system. The best option is to neutralize the mixture using a special formulation. You can buy it in the same place as the washing solution.

Never use chemical mixtures for cleaning aluminum pipes. If the products remain intact after such a washing, they will serve much less.

Is it possible to flush a separate battery?

Now you know how to flush the heating system. However, sometimes it becomes necessary to clean an individual battery. There is a solution for this situation.

Important! It is necessary to rinse out a separate heating radiator strictly before the start of the heating season.

Buy a wash valve in the sanitary ware shop. In addition, you need to purchase a rubber hose and a threaded fitting corresponding to the diameter of the purchased flushing valve. Install the connector on the hose.

Direct flushing is carried out in the following sequence.

The first step. We connect the flushing valve to the radiator.

The second step. Connect the hose connection to the flushing valve.

The third step. The second end of the rubber hose is sent to the toilet.

Fourth step. Open the flushing valve and leave for 20-30 minutes. In the waiting process, hold the hose so that it does not jump out of the toilet.

Important! Although it is recommended to cleanse individual batteries strictly before the start of the heating season, in some situations the need for washing occurs when the heating is in full swing. If at you such case, thrust a hose more deeply, directly in a riser. Otherwise, the hot coolant can destroy the toilet bowl.

Video - Flushing the heating radiator

Pressurizing the heating system

Before starting the system, it is necessary to perform its crimping. This procedure allows you to detect leaks and other weaknesses.

The crimping is carried out using a compressor or a pump. The main thing is that the equipment can give out pressure exceeding the working one for your system. Please check with your local communal service.

The sequence of actions is as follows.

The first step. Visually inspect the heating circuit for visible defects. We remember suspicious places.

The second step. We connect the pump to the heating system( the connection manual was given earlier) and apply a pressure exceeding the operating pressure by 1-2 atm. Preliminarily turn off the emergency relief valve.

The third step. We connect a pressure gauge to the pump. Within 1-2 hours we fix the pressure indicators. If they do not change, everything is fine with the system. If the pressure drops, leakage occurs. Detecting leaks is very simple. It is enough to apply a soap solution to the system elements. Bubbles will appear in defective places.

connections. The detected damages are eliminated by a suitable method( cold welding, binder, etc.).Once the defects have been fixed, the test must be repeated. If the pressure remains at the same level, you have coped with everything. You can supply the coolant to the circuit and turn on the heating system.

Flushing the heating system allows you to remove blockages and scale, thus increasing the efficiency of the trunk and prolonging its service life. Now you have all the necessary information to independently conduct the necessary activities.

Have fun!

Video - Hydropneumatic flushing of heating system

Video - Chemical flushing of heating system