The duration of the heating period and the preparation of

Our country is geographically so located that the season with low temperatures, on which the heating period depends, lasts most of the year. In different regions it may be different, which is reflected in the regulatory documents, for example, the average duration of the heating period is SNiP 23-01-99. Below we will look at what is called the heating period, on which this indicator depends, and how the equipment is prepared for the heating season.

General information

The heating period is the time of year when the average daily stable air temperature is less than +8 degrees Celsius or equal to this indicator.

The following are its main indicators that are important for the organization of heating:

• The number of days with an average daily temperature below eight degrees;
• The average temperature of the cold season;
• Degree-day heating season.

The last indicator is calculated by the formula - GSOP = (t_ext-t_{from per.}) x_z.per. Where:

All these indicators in different cities are different and are defined, as mentioned above, SNiP 23-01-99.

I must say that the duration of this season is primarily an important indicator for centralized heating systems. In addition to the direct costs of operating equipment and energy, this parameter also determines the time for repair, maintenance and conservation of equipment and networks, which are carried out by the relevant services.

The owners of country houses and apartments, equipped with autonomous heating, deal with these issues independently.

Features of the preparation of heating

Preparation procedure

So, as mentioned above, with the completion of the autumn-winter season, it is time to conduct a number of technical and organizational measures. In different regions, service can be carried out in different periods, however, it is determined taking into account the fact that by the onset of cold weather, all work must be completed. Therefore, in the northern regions, where the heating season lasts a very long time, very little time is allotted for servicing networks and devices.

The rules for preparing heat farms for the heating period are established by regional authorities. This document is mandatory for execution by housing and utilities enterprises engaged in ensuring the functioning of life support systems.

Maintenance begins, first of all, with the inspection and testing of such important components as:

• Boiler rooms;
• Heating plants;
• Internal and external networks.

The rules for assessing readiness for the heating period have been developed by the relevant ministry, which also determines the procedure for conducting inspections and the authorities that are authorized to carry them out.

Features of the maintenance of autonomous equipment

Of course, the owners of houses and apartments equipped with autonomous systems are not affected by the decisions on the beginning and end of the heating season. They themselves determine when the heating period begins, on the basis of weather conditions and when it ends.

Note! The beginning and end of the season in housing with autonomous systems depends on the reduction and increase in temperature in the room. This indicator is influenced not only by the air temperature outside, but also by the level of heat losses. Therefore, to save money, it is necessary to warm the housing carefully.

Accordingly, as in the case of centralized heating, the beginning and end of the heating period determines the time of the maintenance, which includes the following activities:

• A thorough inspection of all items of equipment and networks. Particular attention should be paid to the joints of pipes with the boiler and other devices for leaks or other damage.
• Coolant draining and troubleshooting (if they were identified).
• Functional check of electronic devices for automatic boiler control. It should be noted that this procedure is rather complicated, therefore it should be performed by specialists. As a rule, the electronics of the boiler are checked by representatives of the service center of the manufacturer of this device.

Doing all these works with your own hands will allow you to save a significant amount on the maintenance of networks and equipment and, importantly, to prepare it well for the new season.

The advantage of autonomous heating is that the payment of heating in the summer period is not made, and there are also no additional maintenance costs.

Note! The cost of operating the system depends not so much on the number of “cold” days, as on the consumption of energy. Therefore, when arranging heating, it is necessary to pay attention to its efficiency.

Preservation

As a rule, equipment maintenance is carried out immediately when the heating period ends. Therefore, to ensure the safety of all components and devices during downtime, the equipment is properly prepared.

In fact, the preservation of the heating system for the summer period consists in filling the system with a coolant, which can be water or antifreeze. At the same time, air is necessarily removed, which not only interferes with the normal operation of the heating, but also causes corrosion on the internal metal surfaces.

Note! The operating instructions of the radiators prohibit leaving them for a long time without heat carrier, since this leads to the formation of corrosion on the internal surfaces.

Conclusion

Regardless of the duration of the cold season, after its completion, equipment maintenance is required. In centralized systems, this procedure is regulated by the authorities, while autonomous systems are serviced by their owners individually (see also the article “Do-It-Yourself Heating System: Tips for a Beginner”).

From the video in this article, you can get some additional information on this topic.