Which heating boilers are better: the basics of selecting

14-02-2018

Heating

When planning the installation of an autonomous heating system, many of us study vast amounts of information in search of the answer to the question which heating boiler is better. However, it is important to understand here that there is no universal solution for all situations, and therefore the best device will be that will meet the requirements as much as possible.

In our article we will tell you what to look for when choosing heating equipment for an apartment and a private house.

To keep the house warm, you need to buy a suitable heater.

Main selection criteria

Before turning to the discussion of specifics - which solid fuel boiler is better or which model of electric heater is worth buying - you need to systematize the general requirements for equipment.

They will be as follows:

First, the performance of the device must meet our needs, and preferably with a small margin. If we acquire an insufficiently powerful boiler, then during the cold season it will not be able to cope with maintaining an optimal microclimate. On the other hand, to overpay for equipment that will work no more than 50% of the rated capacity is also not worth it.

Note! Constant work at the limit of capabilities leads to increased wear of the device. That is why the manual recommends making a performance margin of about 10-15% of the calculated value.

Secondly, the device should use a cheap and affordable type of fuel in your region.. Agree, it would be irrational to buy the best solid fuel boiler, and at the same time spend significant sums on the purchase of imported coal or firewood. So the price of fuel and the possibility of its prompt delivery is very important!
Thirdly, the instruction recommends paying close attention to safety.. Failure of the heating system can lead to disastrous consequences, because of the purchase of products from questionable manufacturers should be abandoned, no matter how low their cost.

Naturally, these are only the main factors. When buying a particular model, you should pay attention to its dimensions, and ease of management, and the ability to customize. However, here the needs of each owner will be purely individual.

Analysis of the available range

Fuel selection

If we come to a specialized store, then the first thing we will be asked to decide is the source of energy used.

The following options are relevant here:

Electricity. Such products are usually used in apartments and small houses. In the product lines, you can find both compact wall-mounted models and full-size devices with additional tanks for hot water storage.

Note! For country plots the use of electric heating boiler will be effective only if the house is connected to power lines. The use of a generator greatly reduces the economic efficiency of the use of such devices.

Gas. Products operating on "blue fuel" are the most profitable, since gas in most regions of the Russian Federation is relatively cheap. Here, as with electricity, everything comes up against the presence of a main line: it is also possible to heat with liquefied gas in cylinders, but expensive.
Liquid fuel (fuel oil, diesel). The most expensive option, which is usually used as a temporary measure in the period before the gasification of the site. This is due to the fact that many oil-fired boilers can be transferred to gas with their own hands, simply by replacing the burner assembly.

The question of which solid fuel boilers are better can often be solved only after the final selection of the type of fuel: some work well on coal, others - not wood, etc.

Coal, firewood or pellets for heating. The ideal solution for remote areas, or areas that are characterized by interruptions in the supply of electricity. The best solid fuel boilers can work equally well on any fuel, but they are quite expensive. So it makes sense to install a more specialized model.

With or without electricity?

Choosing the best heating boilers, we should pay attention to such a parameter as volatility:

Non-volatile devices that can operate without the use of electricity. All settings are performed in manual mode, so that you can use the product only after a fundamental study of the documentation.

Devices with an adjustment block are more difficult to install, but easier to control.

To simplify the control of the boiler, an adjusting module connected to the power grid is installed in it. It provides an easier starting of the heater, allows you to program the on and off, automatically maintains the set temperature.
Naturally, in the absence of voltage in the network, the system will not work, so in case of a shutdown you must either purchase a generator or install a high-capacity battery.

If you decide “Solid fuel boiler - which one is better to choose?”, Then you can buy both the first and the second type. But for gas models, the presence of a control unit would be highly desirable.

Power Selection

Finally, having decided on the functional scheme, you can proceed to the selection of the model for power. To determine the needs of the house for heat most often use special programs, calculators, but you can cope without them.

An example program for calculating the performance of the boiler for heat

So, for homes in the middle zone of the Russian Federation, made of standard materials without additional insulation, a ratio of 1 kW of power per 10 m will be fair² heated area. Knowing this pattern, to choose the appropriate model is not difficult.

However, there are a number of factors that influence the heat loss up or down. To facilitate the analysis, we presented them in the form of a table:

A more powerful boiler is needed if:	A less powerful boiler is sufficient if:
The house is located in the northern region. The structure is located on a hill or on an open blown area. Under the house lie wet soils. The design provides for the presence of high and wide windows. Thermal insulation measures (wall insulation, replacement of windows and doors) were not carried out.	Cellular concrete (foam concrete, gas block) or similar materials (polystyrene concrete, wood concrete) were used for the construction of supporting structures. The walls of the room are finished with heat-insulating and wind-proof materials. The windows have a small area. Under the living quarters there is a qualitatively heat-insulated underground or basement floor.

Based on these factors, it is worth making the choice of the power of the purchased boiler.

The performance margin will maintain heat even in extreme cold

Conclusion

As you can see, to answer the question which boilers for heating are better, you need not only to analyze the range of products available for sale, but also to assess the condition of the building for which we buy the device. In more detail the technique of selection of thermal equipment is covered in the presented video.