On the safe operation of domestic boilers
During the heating season, explosions of solid fuel boilers are observed in private sector residential buildings. The main reason is the violation of operational requirements, namely, the absence of water circulation in the heating system.
It is common knowledge that during fuel combustion in a boiler, water boils, accompanied by a pressure increase. When critical pressure is reached, the pipes or sections of the boiler rupture. Due to the release of a large volume of steam and steam-water mixture from the damaged boiler, the pressure inside the premises increases, which can consequently lead to its destruction, and people inside may suffer burns and injuries. To ensure your safety and the safety of your loved ones, it is necessary to perform at least a minimum set of operations that will prevent boiler explosions.
For this purpose, it is recommended to:
Ensure that the shut-off valves on the supply and return pipelines to the boiler are open, as well as all shut-off devices installed on the heating system.
Remove condensate from the lower pocket of the chimney.
Inspect the chimney heads and flue channels and ensure they are free of icing and blockages.
Before starting the boiler ignition, open the heating system make-up line and the expansion tank filling control line. Water flowing from the control line indicates that the heating system has not frozen. In this case, it is necessary to ensure that the pressure on the manometer installed on the boiler does not increase.
If water does not flow from the expansion tank filling control line, and the water pressure in the boiler increases and reaches the pressure of the water supply network, this indicates that the heating system has frozen. In this case, it is strictly forbidden to ignite the boiler. It is necessary to identify the freezing point of the heating system, thaw it, and only then, when water flows from the control line (with the make-up line open), can the boiler be gradually ignited, continuously monitoring the water pressure in the boiler using the installed manometer.
If the water pressure in the boiler begins to approach the maximum permissible level, it is necessary to immediately stop supplying fuel to the boiler and remove the burning fuel from the boiler to a safe place. In this case, the heating system has not been thawed.
IT IS FORBIDDEN:
to use homemade boilers not equipped with safety automation and measuring instruments;
operate faulty boilers (boilers with malfunctioning pressure gauges, safety devices) and to independently disconnect or dismantle them; to start up a boiler when the outdoor air temperature is below freezing in the absence of water circulation in the heating system;
store flammable, lubricating, and wiping materials near the boiler.
To prevent incidents during boiler operation, it is necessary to constantly monitor their performance, ensure a sufficient amount of water in the heating system and its circulation, replenish the system with water as needed, periodically check the serviceability of safety devices and control and measuring instruments (pressure gauges, thermometers), the condition of thermal insulation, and pay mandatory attention to shut-off valves – the taps on the supply and return pipelines must be open.
It is possible to avoid emergency situations if one realizes that operating domestic water heating boilers is far from a simple task. To preserve life and health, all measures for safe boiler operation must be observed.