To ensure that heating and water supply work without interruption: how to choose a water filter for a gas boiler?

For normal operation of a gas boiler, soft water is needed, the supply of which is ensured by installing special filters. Today, there are 3 types of devices: electromagnetic, cartridge and polyphosphate.

Why use filters for gas heating boiler

The main purpose of a filter for cleaning water entering a gas boiler in a house is uninterrupted supply of purified water to the device, which will not leave scale.

As water passes through the device, it is purified from salts.

If you do not use the device, then the capacity of water nodes will decrease, the automatic valve will break down if present on the device, and over time, gas and electricity consumption will increase.

Varieties

To reduce the risk of boiler failure, improve the accuracy of measuring instruments and ensure a long service life of equipment, it is important to understand the main types of devices and choose the right one.

Polyphosphates

Polyphosphate plants are considered budget option preliminary cleaning and softening of water entering the boiler.

The principle of operation of such a device consists of passing liquid through a flask filled with special crystals. They provide formation of a protective film on the inner walls of the boiler, and also slow down the formation of scale.

Photo 1. Polyphosphate filter for a gas boiler, filled with special crystals. They slow down the formation of scale.

The devices have a simple design:

• drain;
• flask;
• filler;
• lid.

The liquid enters the flask with the filler through the lid, where it passes through polyphosphate crystals. Then, it goes through the drain into the gas boiler tank.

Any device of this type requires periodic replacement of filler – sodium salt crystals. In fact, this is the only difficulty in their maintenance. The service life of such a cleaning plant is on average up to one and a half years.

Electromagnetic or magnetic for softening hard water

Electromagnetic The devices are expensive, but the price is fully justified: the installation serves for a long time and allows you to obtain perfectly clean water at the output.

The principle of operation is that when the liquid passes through the flask, the salts in it disintegrate. Thus, scale will not settle on the walls of the boiler. Instead, the filter itself, which is periodically washed, will be clogged with tiny particles of salt.

Photo 2. Three magnetic filters for the heating system boiler, scale in them disintegrates into tiny particles.

Another characteristic will be that under the influence of electromagnetic radiation not only does the scale disintegrate into small particles, but also a very thin film is formed, which covers the boiler heat exchanger. Thanks to this, it remains protected and does not corrode for a long time.

It should not be forgotten that electromagnetic and magnetic devices are different installationsBoth are based on a magnet.

Magnetic The devices consist of a metal case, inside which there are a large number of strong magnets. Electromagnetic devices are additionally equipped with an electric drive, the operation of which allows for the action of the magnets to be repeatedly increased.

Cartridge cleaning

Cartridge devices have low throughput. The following types of devices exist:

• Mechanical - trap small debris. These devices need to be cleaned frequently and do not soften the water.
• Carbon - purify water using activated carbon, which acts as a filler. If it is not changed in time, the water will become even more polluted as a result of passing through the filter.

Photo 3. Four low-flow cartridge filters are needed to purify the water.

• Ion exchange cartridge devices are considered the best because they change the hardness of water, entering into a chemical reaction with calcium and magnesium ions.
• Osmotic - allow water molecules and gas to pass through them. This allows you to clean the liquid from metal impurities and harmful microorganisms, but it is not possible to soften the water by installing such a filter.
• Membrane filters clean water from debris and impurities, but do not soften it.

Recommendations for selection

Before buying a filter for a gas boiler, it is worth consult a specialist, who will advise on a suitable device and give recommendations.

General recommendations for selection:

• If you plan to use the gas boiler frequently, It is better to give preference to electromagnetic device: it will not allow scale to accumulate on the parts, and will also work for a long time without additional maintenance.

• 

  In conditions of limited funds You can use a polyphosphate filter or a cartridge ion exchange filter.

But it should be remembered that you will have to constantly change the filler, and the service life of these filters is shorter than that of electromagnetic ones.

• When choosing a device, you need to immediately decide where to install it. Sometimes installation requires a large space, which is not always possible.
• Be sure to check that you have the warranty card. Good manufacturers of such devices never sell their goods without providing a guarantee for them.
• It is preferable to purchase devices from well-known brands, as such goods are more difficult to counterfeit. Often, unscrupulous sellers sell counterfeits under the guise of a well-known brand at a very low cost, so you should also pay attention to the differences in prices for filters from the same manufacturer.
• If the tap water is hard, then for greater protection of the gas boiler It is recommended to buy two filters at once, oriented towards different degrees of water purification.
• To soften the liquid and protect the internal parts of the boiler from possible damage, it is better use devices that soften water and have the ability to create a protective film on heating elements.

If you follow all the recommendations described above, you can choose a device that is suitable in terms of price and technical characteristics.

Features of installation in the house

The process of installing a water filter for a gas boiler depends on what kind of filter we are talking about. But there are general procedure.

Materials and tools

Before installation, you need to prepare everything necessary so that the work does not take much time:

• brush for preliminary cleaning of pipes leading to the boiler;
• tool for threading plastic pipes;
• fum tape;
• tow;
• pliers;
• a device for soldering plastic pipes.

All the listed tools should be present in the arsenal during installation. And also on hand you need to have installation instructions a specific type of device in front of the gas boiler.

Selecting and preparing a site before installation

Equipment installed directly in front of the pump, since installation in another place would be pointless. The pipes into which the filter will be cut must be free of dirt and scale, so they should be preliminarily clean with a brush or a special brush.

Installation

The installation involves several stages:

• 

  cutting the pipe;
• installation and soldering of the first shut-off valve, which should be fixed with fum tape or tow;
• installation of the filter, its fixation;
• installation of the second shut-off valve and its fixation.

It is recommended to check in advance whether the diameters of the pipes, filter and taps are compatible with each other. In addition, experts advise mount pipes and filter on special brackets, thanks to which the installations will hold securely.

Starting the DHW system and checking

After the filter is installed, the DHW system is checked. To do this, first turn on the water: If nothing leaks anywhere, the gas is connected.

The operation of the electromagnetic device will be immediately clear, since it operates from the mains.

But how effective a filter of another type is can only be understood after some time has passed.

To avoid mistakes, both when installing the filter on the boiler and when checking and starting the system, It is better to invite an experienced specialist.

Useful video

The video shows the process of replacing a filter for cleaning and softening water in a heating system.

Conclusion

Water filters are an integral part of the normal operation of a gas boiler. Their absence can lead to premature failure of the boiler. due to scale formation and accumulation of debris in the system.

To ensure that your cleaning devices work as long as possible, they need to be properly maintained and replaced periodically for new ones. The frequency of replacement depends on the specific type of device.