14 Best Floor-standing Gas Boilers

Russian-made gas boilers cannot be compared with well-known foreign brands, no matter how much we would like the opposite. They are less efficient and only a few models have an efficiency above 90%. They have simple automation, which in most cases does not provide protection against overheating or freezing, or stopping the circulation pump. The heat exchanger is often made of the simplest short-lived steel alloys, and much less often cast iron.

However, there are also significant advantages in the form of a 20-60% lower cost, ease of installation, availability of spare parts and a developed service structure. Some of the most successful domestic models have excellent characteristics, even by European standards, and have been serving without problems for more than 7 years.

Which brand of floor-standing gas boiler is better to choose?

On the consumer market you can find domestic and foreign models from different manufacturers. Russian companies produce simple floor-standing gas boilers for the home. Products from foreign suppliers are convenient, but their prices are higher. The review covers the products of the following companies:

Lemax - the products of this company are in great demand due to their quality. Modern Italian and German equipment is used in production.
Protherm - equipment is assembled at factories in Slovakia and Turkey. The first boilers of this company were imported to Russia in 1996.
Siberia – the brand presents a line of devices with different characteristics. The boilers are made using basalt fiber, which is used to insulate spacecraft.
Borinskoe - the company supplies heating equipment to regions of Russia and neighboring countries. The range includes more than 30 models of gas equipment for home heating.
Baxi - today the Italian brand is owned by the BDR Thermea Group corporation. The company produces non-standard heating and hot water supply systems. The quality of the products is confirmed by certificates.
Ferroli is an Italian company that has been producing heating and air conditioning equipment since 1955. Products are supplied to dozens of European countries. The boilers of this company are durable, reliable and safe.
Viessmann is a large international concern that supplies equipment for heating and cooling of premises. The main priority is the technological development of the industry and concern for the environment. Products are supplied to 74 countries around the world.
Buderus , a European manufacturer of heating equipment, began producing the first boilers in 1731. The trademark belongs to Bosch Thermotechnik GmbH. German technology is reliable and efficient.
Alpenhoff is a German company that produces heating equipment. Production and research centers are located in Germany and Slovakia. The products of this company are imported to 30 countries around the world.
Atem - the first equipment of this company was released in 1988. Since then, the brand’s products have become popular in Ukraine and other countries. Heating appliances are included in the IQenergy energy saving program.
Termomax is a Ukrainian company that produces more than 100 thousand products for space heating every year. Simple equipment is in demand among Russian buyers.
Navien , a Korean brand, has been providing comfort and coziness for 40 years, producing high-quality heating equipment. The main goal of the company is to create favorable conditions for the environment. Products are supplied to 35 countries around the world.

The brands have a long history, good reputation and worldwide fame. Domestic manufacturers are valued no less than foreign ones. In addition, delivery of Russian goods is cheaper.

Conord plant - good quality at a reasonable price

The Conord plant is another domestic manufacturer of double-circuit gas boilers and the Russian market leader in production. The first boiler was produced in 1979, and already in 2007 the number of boilers produced exceeded the 1 million mark. The key feature of the boilers from this plant is their quality, comparable to foreign analogues, but at a significantly lower price. To improve the quality of its products, the company regularly introduces new high-precision technologies into production. The products are used for heating premises with an area of 30 to 300 square meters, power from 8 to 50 kW.

Gas boilers of the Conord brand use three types of automation: domestic AGU-T-M, Italian Euro SIT and American Honeywell.

Gas boilers are equipped with either steel or cast iron heat exchangers. The power range of boilers with steel heat exchangers is higher than that of boilers with cast iron. So the power of the first is from 8 to 31 kW, and for the second - from 16 to 33 kW.

The manufacturer positions the boilers as non-volatile, due to piezo ignition and an igniter that is constantly burning.

Conord products are equipped with atmospheric burners; there is no pressurization. The manufacturer guarantees that its boilers operate even if the pressure in the main line is half the nominal pressure.

Product manufactured at the Conord plant

Rating of floor-standing gas boilers

If you need to heat a room with an area of no more than 900 square meters, install a floor heat source. The TOP of the best included the most reliable and energy-consuming models. Before purchasing, you need to study the characteristics of floor-standing gas boilers. It is important to pay attention to the following parameters:

Functionality. If a double-circuit boiler provides heating and water heating, then a single-circuit boiler can only provide heating.
Control method. The electronic model works autonomously and does not require settings, while the mechanical one is easily repaired.
Efficiency. Modern condensing boilers have high efficiency, while convection boilers lose a lot of heat.
Power. Ability to heat the declared area of houses.
Ignition type. The electronic type ignites the fuel system automatically, and the piezoelectric element with the help of a person.
Type of burner. The modulated element saves fuel, while the single-stage element is durable and silent.
Material. The heat exchanger is made of copper, cast iron and stainless steel. The weight and power of the model depends on this.
The combustion chamber. Compared to an open chamber, a closed chamber requires the installation of a coaxial chimney for air intake.
Method of release of processed products. To remove substances, a natural way or forced draft is used.

Good boilers are sold in specialized stores, on the Internet, and in markets. But you shouldn’t buy cheap equipment; it’s better to buy a model with full functions. This option will be convenient for use at home.

The best economical boilers

Design and principle of operation

A modern double-circuit gas heat generator is a rather complex structure, which includes many individual elements, the coordinated operation of which is ensured by an electronic control unit.

Gas boiler design

Regardless of the operational characteristics, the dual-circuit installation consists of the following main modules:

Gas burner
, which can be installed in either an open or closed combustion chamber. Thanks to this element, the coolant is heated in the heating circuit and the DHW circuit. The automatic control system (ACS) regulates the intensity of fuel combustion, which allows maintaining the coolant temperature within specified limits.
Combustion chambers,
open or closed. When using a closed chamber, a fan is located above it to supply air to the combustion zone and remove combustion products.
Circulation pump
, with the help of which forced circulation of coolant is carried out through the heating circuit and hot water pipelines.
Three-way valve
designed to switch the unit to the DHW circuit.
Main heat exchanger
. This element is located in the combustion chamber above the gas burner. When the coolant passes through the internal section of the heat exchanger, intense transfer of thermal energy occurs from the walls of the heat exchanger to the coolant. In modern gas boilers, this module can be made of stainless or galvanized steel; some premium models use copper heat exchangers.
A secondary heat exchanger that
provides heating of running water.
An automatic control system
that regulates combustion intensity and coolant temperature. It is the electronic control unit that ensures timely ignition of the burner, switching on and off the elements of the unit, and ensures the possibility of autonomous operation of the boiler.

The supply pipes for cold water, gas, hot water outlet and heating system coolant are located on the bottom panel of the device body.

Operating principle of a double-circuit gas heat generator

A distinctive feature of double-circuit boilers is that mixing the coolant with running water from the DHW circuit is impossible under any circumstances. The heating system is filled with coolant through a special neck, and running water is heated by circulating part of the coolant in a secondary heat exchanger.

Since the simultaneous operation of the unit in two modes is impossible, we will consider the operation of the system in heating mode and in hot water supply mode.

Heating mode

If the boiler is connected to a heating circuit, the essence of its operation boils down to the following: the circulation pump ensures the movement of coolant through the pipelines of the heating system. When the gas burner is turned on, the coolant is gradually heated due to intensive heat exchange with the walls of the heat exchanger. When the set temperature parameters are reached, the electronic control unit shuts off the gas supply. When the temperature in the heating line decreases, the burner re-ignites.

If there is a temperature sensor in the house, the automated control system will adjust the operation of the system taking into account the data received from it. All the heat generated by the burner, in this case, is spent on the heating circuit, and the position of the three-way valve prevents the coolant from entering the secondary heat exchanger. Depending on the type of combustion chamber, exhaust gases can be discharged either through a natural chimney or forcibly.

DHW mode

To switch to the hot water supply mode, it is enough to open the mixer tap, while the three-way valve blocks the circulation of the coolant through the heating line, and the automatic control system ignites the gas burner.

The three-way valve ensures the flow of heated coolant into the DHW heat exchanger, where thermal energy is transferred from the walls of the heat exchanger to running water. When the tap is closed, the three-way valve returns to its original position, and the installation switches to the heating mode discussed above.

However, it should be remembered that in case of prolonged operation in DHW mode, the efficiency of the heating system may decrease.

Which floor-standing gas boiler is better to buy?

Floor-standing boilers are able to operate autonomously and regardless of the availability of electricity. If you choose a model with a cast iron heat exchanger, it will last more than thirty years. Powerful equipment heats a large area without any problems, but its price is much higher.

Mechanical models can be easily repaired in case of breakdown, while electronic ones provide comfort in operation. When choosing the best floor-standing gas boilers, it is recommended to choose the following models:

Among single-circuit devices, the Baxi Slim230 iN is most often chosen. The equipment has a modern design, compact dimensions and the highest efficiency.
The most popular boiler with a water heating tank is Buderus Logano G124 WS-32.
Lemax Premium-30B is considered the most reliable double-circuit boiler. It heats a large area using fuel economically.

In order not to make a mistake in choosing, you need to calculate the living area for heating. Based on this, the power of the device is determined. Domestic-made equipment is cheaper than imported ones, but foreign products have convenient functions.

Why is it worth paying attention to domestic products?

Of course, one cannot deny the numerous advantages of heating boilers produced by European and some Asian companies. However, all imported models have one drawback in common - high price.

At the same time, the production of domestic heating units is becoming more and more high-tech; enterprises are actively introducing the latest production technologies. That is, Russian models in terms of quality and level of comfort are close to the products of the most famous brands, while differing favorably in price.

It should also be noted that Russian producers are well aware of the peculiarities of gas and electricity supply in the countries of the CIS. In practice, the most modern European models often refuse to work if the gas pressure in the mains is low, and their automation instantly fails even with minor power surges.

Russian heating boilers are adapted to the following specific factors:

Insufficient gas supply pressure. Such conditions are often observed in remote settlements.
Gas contamination. Unfortunately, in many places the gas pipeline pipes are worn out, so particles of oxides formed due to corrosion can enter the gas.
Power surges in the network. In remote areas, power supply is not always stable.

What does the law say?

Today, all owners who have entered into a gas supply agreement are required to carry out annual maintenance of gas equipment. The consumer must provide the gas service with documents confirming the conclusion of a maintenance agreement with the relevant company.

It is noteworthy that in Europe there is no practice of boiler maintenance - this is an exclusively Russian norm.

Who can carry out maintenance?

Both legal entities and individual entrepreneurs can provide services. The list of approved organizations is published in the register of the State Housing Inspectorate for your region. Specialists from authorized companies and firms undergo training at special plants, in our case, “UKK Mosoblgaz”.

What happens if you don't carry out maintenance?

Everything that is in the apartment (house) is the responsibility of the consumer. That is, it is the consumer who is obliged to find an organization to carry out maintenance, conclude an agreement with it and send the necessary documents to Mosoblgaz or Mosgaz.

If the regulatory authorities do not receive the necessary papers, then you may face a fine, and in the future, the gas supply will be turned off. They will cut the pipe and put a plug on it.

Discontent aside, is the maintenance justified?

If the customer and the contractor treat the need for service not as a mere formality, then it definitely makes sense.

First of all, this is a diagnosis of possible problems. Before the heating season, you can assess the condition of the boiler and other components so that in an unexpected moment you do not find yourself without heat.

Over time, the performance of the heating system may deteriorate:

The boiler turns on and off frequently.
Everything works, but the batteries are cold.
The pressure in the system jumps.
The hood doesn't work.

During maintenance, the operation of all boiler components is checked and scheduled work is carried out:

Testing the wiring.
Clean the internal parts and filter.
Set up the burner.
Check the pump.

Regular maintenance helps to be on the safe side and identify possible problems in advance.

If something happens to the boiler, then quickly replacing it during the heating season will be problematic.

If problems arise in winter, you will have to urgently seek specialists. Winter is a “hot” season for companies; queues for orders are long and prices are high. The heating operation will stop until the boiler is repaired or replaced. If you have carried out maintenance, you have peace of mind for the entire heating season.

The question is rather what is more comfortable for you: play it safe and feel calm or hope that the boiler will work as long as possible without intervention, and the gas services will not remember about you.

Potential problems

The main problem that you may encounter after painting a lamp is high temperature. A 25-watt incandescent lamp or fluorescent device heats up to 100 degrees. The surface of a halogen 275-watt light bulb heats up to 250 degrees. The LED device heats up quite moderately - up to 35 - 50 degrees Celsius.

Halogen appliances cannot be painted. As for other types of lamps, in most cases the paint coating does not withstand the temperature and is destroyed. After losing transparency, the lamp will heat up unevenly, which sharply reduces its service life.

What do the manufacturers say?

Some manufacturers recommend maintenance, others say nothing about it.

Will the boiler be removed from warranty if a service company gets into it?

If the service is carried out by specialists, the warranty will not be removed - according to the law. Moreover, some manufacturers may increase its duration if you carry out maintenance in a timely manner. Information about this is contained in the warranty card, please read it carefully.

I want to install a new boiler in my house - which one should I choose?