Hydropneumatic washing of residential heating systems

The content of the residential building is inextricably linked with the use of communication systems, including the heating infrastructure. The branched network of pipelines, through which hot water circulates, is subjected to serious stresses, both mechanical and chemical. Under the influence of scale and additives contained in the coolant, the pipes are clogged and, as a consequence, the failure of the maintenance equipment. As a result, it is necessary to flush the heating systems of a residential house, which will restore the previous operating state of the system. One of the most effective means of such maintenance can be called hydropneumatic cleaning.

When should I flush?

Since the operation is very time-consuming and requires the appropriate technical organization of the process, it is not advisable to conduct it as a routine preventive measure. Nevertheless, there are certain rules for washing the heating system of a residential building. The instruction, in particular, requires it to be carried out immediately after the installation and repair of the heating system, and also to carry out cleaning to remove dirt after the end of the heating season.

Usually, intervals of this procedure are followed by service providers, but owners of private houses can independently determine the need for hydropneumatic washing according to the following features:

• Uncharacteristic sounds in the boiler equipment.
• Uneven distribution of coolant.
• The difference in temperatures on the individual components of the system.
• Increase the time to achieve the optimum temperature regime.

All these signs indicate that there are disturbances in the circulation of the liquid - as a rule, this is due to contamination in tees, docking areas and crosses.

Preparation for washing

In order to achieve maximum productivity during hydro-washing, it is necessary to prepare for it accordingly. The greatest effect of flushing the heating systems of residential buildings demonstrates when working in conditions where there is an accurate calculation of the volume and pressure head for specific parts of the system. For this, it is necessary to conduct a survey of all elements of the heating infrastructure.

In the course of the implementation of this measure, the areas to be washed separately or by groups are also identified. For example, the riser may be cleaned together with other pipeline components or separately. If necessary, provision should be made for the presence of a stop valve. When the flushing of the heating systems of apartment houses is carried out, the shut-off elements are used to shut off sections of the pipeline and remove the washed particles from the system. It is also necessary to determine whether a crimping, that is, a hydraulic test, is necessary.

Hydropneumatic washing technology

In essence, this method provides the bubbling of the medium under the action of compressed air. As a result, flushing the heating system of a residential house with a compressor generates a rapid movement of the coolant in the water supply. The discharge of water for the rinsing operation can be carried out directly into the drainage, or, if such devices are not available, to the most accessible stormwater or to a special chamber. Then it is necessary to pump the water with pumps. At the time of the entry of compressed air into the serviced zone, water should not penetrate into the receiver of the compressor station. It is necessary to check this condition with the help of the gate valve on the water pipe - it should be opened only at the moments when the pressure of the receiver exceeds the similar value in the pipeline.

Applied equipment

In the process of cleaning the thermal communications, mobile compressor stations are usually used, the capacity of which can reach 6 m ³ / min. The pressure level in the compressors is about 6 atm. Such facilities include the DK-9 and VKS-1 models, as well as other representatives of similar diesel stations. It should be borne in mind that hydropneumatic washing of the heating system in a residential building can be carried out in different modes. The choice of one of them is determined by the capacity of drainage, the capacity of the equipment and the planned flow of water. Optimal mode is considered to be the movement of the mixture, in which there are tremors, as well as alternating slips of air bubbles and water.

Methods for washing

There are two ways to flush - the filling method and the flow technique. In the first case, a clear sequence of actions is envisaged. First the pipeline is filled with a coolant, after which the valve must be closed. Compressed air is then fed to the second branch pipe for 20 minutes. This time may be different, depending on the degree of contamination and the diameter of the pipes being washed. After the air supply ceases, the valve closes and the water is drained through the drain pipe. When the hydropneumatic flushing of the heating systems of apartment houses by the filling method is completed, the system is again cleaned with circulating water.

The second method also involves filling with water, after which the valve closes and the supply of compressed air begins. The heating pipeline receives both water and air. Rinsing is completed when purified water without impurities begins to pass through the branch pipe. Then the liquid enters the drainage.

Three-stage washing of heavily contaminated systems

Typically, this method is applied to heating systems that have not been washed for a long time. Three stages allow coping with most common contaminants, as well as prepare conditions for further preventive cleaning measures. At the first stage, the standard flushing of heating systems for residential buildings is carried out hydropneumatically, in which compressed air is supplied for each served riser from bottom to top. The operation is performed when the pipeline is filled with water, providing the effect of loosening sediments. In the second stage, the risers are cleaned with a mixture of water and air. The final stage involves flushing with water-air pressure of the distributing pipelines.

Crimping

This operation is performed after each repair of the heating system. As a rule, it is also the next step immediately after the flushing of the heating system of a residential building or a premise has been completed. The purpose of the crimping is to check the pipes for leaks. This is done by monitoring the pressure readings of the manometer and visually inspecting the system. You can start the procedure by turning on cold water. While the pressure remains within the optimal operating range, the manometer data should be checked - in case of deviations, it is necessary to audit the most dubious places (junctions, junctions, junctions, etc.) with the help of napkins or toilet paper. If there are no leaks, you can enter the heating system into operation.

Conclusion

Maintaining an optimal operating condition in the heating system inevitably provides for preventive measures to clean the pipeline. Each of the existing methods can show a qualitative result only with proper technological preparation. In this regard, flushing the heating system of a residential house with their own hands using the method of hydropneumatic cleaning gives good results at minimal cost. Of course, special compressor equipment will be required, but it can also be rented. Anyway, but similar washing results can not be achieved by alternative methods, without professional adaptations.