Which gas boiler to choose for heating a private home?

The most optimal and economical source of heating for a country house is still a gas boiler.
There are a huge number of manufacturers of these products on our market - Bosch, Buderus, Viessmann, Vaillant, Baxi, Navien, etc.

In addition, there are single-circuit and double-circuit models, traditional and condensation, wall-mounted and floor-mounted, with an open and closed chamber. Which one should you choose and what technical issues should you pay attention to in addition to the brand?

Let us help you understand this matter in order to avoid irreparable mistakes when purchasing.

Power calculation

At present, no one questions the project for power supply to the building. This is taken for granted.

Mistake #1

At the same time, not everyone orders the same heating project.

This leads to problems, first with the correct selection of the power of a gas boiler, and then with its operation.

Mistake #2

You cannot select power based on some average parameters.

The most popular way of them is to divide the total area of ​​the house into 10 m2. As a result, the calculated value is supposedly obtained.

In this case, the thickness and material of the walls, dimensions, number and type of windows, doors, the presence of an attic, etc. are not taken into account.

If you want to find out the average power without a project, at least use online calculators. You should choose those that require you to enter the maximum number of parameters.

For example, this one is TYTS.

But still, for a comfortable and quiet life, initially include in your expenses a separate amount for the heating supply project. It should also include a diagram of the entire heating system and calculate the heat loss of the house.

TERMET MiniMax DYNAMIC 24 kW (turbo)

The compact boiler TERMET MiniMax DYNAMIC 24 kW (turbo) has a height of 700 mm, a width of 360 mm and a depth of 300 mm. Weight is 28 kg.

This double-circuit unit with an open combustion chamber has a power of 24 kW and is capable of heating an area of ​​up to 200 m². The primary heat exchanger is made of copper, the secondary one is made of stainless steel. The boiler is equipped with a modulating burner, as well as the necessary control systems for safe operation. The type of combustion chamber requires the installation of a classic chimney. Main characteristics of TERMET MiniMax DYNAMIC 24 kW (turbo) :

• Efficiency=91%;
• DHW productivity at Δt=30 – 11.4 l/min;
• gas consumption – up to 2.7 m³/hour;
• country of origin – Poland.

Electrical and thermal power

When people first see a boiler plate with a power of 24 kW or more, it makes them dumbfounded.

Mistake #3

Wow, how much electricity will such a boiler “reel” in?

Do not confuse the electrical and thermal power of heating devices. In the worst case, a gas boiler consumes no more than 150-200 W per hour from the outlet.

Therefore, to power it during a blackout, conventional batteries with an inverter or so-called UPS are sufficient.

We are not talking about any kilowatts here.

Determining the power of a gas appliance

This criterion is the most important, since it determines how efficiently you can heat your home.

You should know that the technical documentation indicates a specific parameter (nominal performance). In addition, the instructions provide recommendations for what area this model is designed for.

But it is better to entrust the final calculations to professionals.

The power of heating equipment directly depends on the thermal insulation properties of your home. It consists of:

1. volume (space and ceiling height);
2. compactness of the building (number of walls);
3. specifics of the location and arrangement of windows and doors;
4. location and insulation of unheated adjacent rooms (attic, basement, garage, etc.);
5. climatic zone of the room (temperature, wind intensity, humidity).

Heating is greatly influenced by the number of window openings and the area of ​​contact with the external environment. This calculation will be correct for the central strip and, accordingly, insulated walls. For hot water supply, the result obtained is multiplied by 1.2. In order not to put the power generator into the “overload” position, a coefficient of 1.3 is added. As a result, we should obtain the required productivity approximately twice as large as the minimum calculated threshold. We have provided you with an illustration for the cottage. For a building with several owners, the calculation method will be different from this.

On the Internet it is easy to find calculators for calculating the required heat transfer for different types of buildings. All of them, with one degree or another, allow you to determine what power you should install.

In any case, the results will be approximate, so it’s worth adding a performance margin of about twenty percent. We provide you with a video that clearly shows how to determine the required kilowatts yourself.

Boiler with power reserve

Mistake #4

The greater the power reserve of the boiler, the greater the gas consumption will be.

Therefore, it is not economically profitable to take a gas boiler with a reserve. This is not always true.

First of all, this problem concerns “dumb” floor-standing and obsolete wall-mounted boilers.

This is what the operating schedule for a 20 kW and 30 kW device looks like.

Vertically we have gas consumption, horizontally we have operating time. Two modes, the so-called clocking, are drawn at the top. Bottom – comfortable operation mode with constant power in cold weather.

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.

Timing and solution methods

Typically, clocking is observed during the off-season, when there are no severe frosts and there is no need to warm up the system for a long time.

In this situation, the boiler starts at maximum, quickly heats the water and turns off. Next, the pump removes the coolant throughout the system, the temperature drops, and the burners start up again.

In this mode, both 20kW and 30kW boilers operate. What's the difference?

And the difference is that the first one will consume gas during the launch intervals, conditionally 2m3, and the second 3m3. When the boiler cycles, it does not have time to evaluate anything and reach optimal power.

It starts at maximum and stops at maximum. But all this applies to old, “dumb” models.

In modern wall-mounted appliances with modulating burners (1:10) and smart electronics, the boiler’s operation is designed in such a way that if the automation initially detects overheating of the coolant, the next switching on will occur at a lower power, or you can reduce it yourself.

The only problem is when the minimum power of the boiler is not so minimal.

Therefore, check the instructions and ask the seller whether the gas boiler has a modulation function or not. And the more frequent the adjustment step, the better.

Mistake #5

But there is no need to overdo it with the so-called “brains”.

90% of consumers never use weather-dependent automation or GSM modules in their lives. It's not worth overpaying for them.

It’s better to install a couple of smart and inexpensive room thermostats.

More details

Most people solve the age-old problem with clocking in this way.

Boilers by combustion chamber type

The next important parameter for classifying types of gas boilers is based on the design of the combustion chamber. They come in open and closed types.

The first ones are simpler and cheaper, but have limitations on the heating area of ​​no more than 250 m2. The latter are more expensive, energy-dependent and safe, since they do not burn oxygen in the house.

With open firebox

An open firebox means that there is a natural intake of combustion air from the room. This is the simplest design of a boiler unit, in which no electricity is needed to organize the combustion process, as well as the arrangement of air ducts and a blower fan. Boilers of this design are usually low-power and heat a living area of ​​no more than 200 m2.

The disadvantage of this type of boiler units is the high requirements for organizing fresh ventilation in the room where it is located. Legislative requirements for ventilation systems for boilers with an open firebox are to ensure 3-fold air exchange through window and door structures.

Otherwise, the air will become dry and will negatively affect the microclimate in the room. In addition, these boilers often have problems due to imperfect smoke exhaust. If the vacuum level in the firebox drops to zero, carbon monoxide can enter the room, which is deadly for others.

Closed chamber boilers

This is a completely new type of smoke exhaust organization in which the firebox has no contact with the internal air in the room. Oxygen is taken to the burner through closed air ducts from the street.

The supply system is forced through a fan. The air enters through a special channel in which the fan is located. This principle is implemented, for example, in the Turkish Vitopend boiler.

The flue gas removal system in it is organized through a coaxial chimney, which is made of the “pipe-in-pipe” type. Exhaust boiler gases are discharged through the internal pipe, and air from the street is drawn in through the annular space by a fan.

The advantage of this system is that its operation does not affect the climate inside the room; installation of complex smoke ventilation ducts that ensure natural circulation is not required. Low space requirements for installation, allowing installation in standard kitchens.

The disadvantages of this design, users most often include their high cost and dependence on electricity.

Water volume and gas consumption

Mistake #6

The greater the volume of water in the heating system, the greater the power of the gas boiler should be.

This is not true at all. The final power is affected solely by the heat loss of the building.

The volume of water affects only the speed of INITIAL warming up.

When the temperature reaches the set values, the amount of heat released from the boiler will be the same. It doesn’t matter how much water there will be in the system - 10 liters or 100 liters.

What characteristics should you pay attention to?

To correctly and competently choose a gas boiler, pay close attention to the following criteria.

• Power. The most important parameter. It completely depends on the area of ​​the heated room and the specific coefficient for the region of residence. For example, if you live in the middle zone, then the coefficient for every 10 m² is 1-1.2 kW, in the south - 0.7-0.9 kW, in the north - 2 kW. To calculate the boiler power for a house with an area of ​​300 m², located in a temperate climate, you need to make the following calculations: 300 * 1/10 = 30 kW.
• Installation method. Boilers are wall-mounted and floor-mounted. The first ones are compact, do not take up much space, are silent and affordable. The latter are more powerful, bulky, and often require a separate room for installation.
• Number of circuits. Single-circuit devices are intended only for heating, while double-circuit devices also provide hot water supply.
• Safety. It is desirable that the boiler can automatically turn off in all abnormal and emergency situations.

Important factors when choosing a device are gas and electricity consumption, efficiency, the availability of programmable conditions for night and day heating, and price.

Manufacturer country

Which wall-mounted gas boiler is better - Korean or European? It is between them that the struggle most often occurs in this segment.

Mistake #7

Korean boilers are more economical than European ones.

Mistake #8

European boilers are more economical than Korean ones.

All wall-mounted turbocharged boilers work approximately the same. Yes, their filling is different, but this does not affect the SAVINGS.

The efficiency of both Korean and European models is the same. Here you need to look at another parameter, namely, the availability in your city of a service for maintenance and repair of a specific brand.

Because sooner or later your boiler, no matter how reliable it is, WILL BREAK.

Based on this factor, it is worth making a choice in one direction or another. Remember a simple rule - the further you live from the service, the simpler the units you choose.

TOP 5 single-circuit gas boilers

Single-circuit models are used either only for heating, or in conjunction with an external indirect heating boiler. This option allows you to obtain hot water without restrictions on water volumes and without temperature fluctuations. Let's consider several popular models:

Lemax Premium-10 10 kW

Single-circuit gas boiler of domestic production. Designed to heat 100 sq.m. The non-volatile design allows the unit to be operated without being connected to power supplies.

Basic parameters of the boiler:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 1.2 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 330x748x499 mm;
• weight - 41 kg.

Advantages:

• energy independence;
• well-organized service and spare parts supply;
• The design was created taking into account Russian climatic conditions.

Disadvantages:

• when heated to 50°, condensation appears in small quantities;
• there is no display, there is no way to obtain information about the state of the boiler components.

Non-volatile models are reliable and simple. They are quite safe, but require a high-quality chimney.

Lemax Premium-20 20 kW

Russian-made gas boiler . The power of the unit is 20 kW, which is suitable for rooms up to 200 sq.m. Equipped with fully mechanical control.

Boiler parameters:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - non-volatile;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 2.4 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 556x961x470 mm;
• weight - 78 kg.

Advantages:

• reliability, stability;
• Ease of Management;
• low cost.

Flaws:

• complex ignition;
• you have to adjust the gas pressure so that there is no popping noise when igniting.

Domestic non-volatile boilers are much simpler and cheaper than their European counterparts. This is both a plus and a minus of the units.

Protherm Wolf 16 KSO 16 kW

Slovak gas boiler with a capacity of 16 kW. Optimally suitable for heating a house with an area of ​​160 sq.m.

Main technical characteristics:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 92.5%;
• gas consumption - 1.9 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 390x745x460 mm;
• weight - 46.5 kg.

Advantages:

• simplicity and reliability;
• no need to connect power supply;
• economical fuel consumption;
• stable operation in automatic mode.

Flaws:

• there is no indication of the state of the main components of the boiler;
• ignition using a piezoelectric element is somewhat difficult.

Gas boilers made by Slovak engineers are highly rated by users, which confirms the high demand.

BAXI ECO-4s 1.24F 24 kW

Gas boiler from a famous Italian manufacturer . The power of the unit is 24 kW, which corresponds to a service area of ​​240 sq.m.

Options:

• installation type: wall-mounted;
• power consumption - 220 V 50 Hz;
• Efficiency - 92.9%;
• gas consumption - 2.73 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 400x730x299 mm;
• weight - 29 kg.

Advantages:

• compactness, light weight;
• reliability, stability;
• full control over all systems and components using self-diagnosis;
• There is a display showing all the parameters of the unit, both current and permanent.

Flaws:

• when the power supply is turned off, the boiler operation stops;
• high price for the boiler itself and for spare parts.

Italian heating technology is considered elite . It successfully competes with German models in all respects, enjoys well-deserved recognition and high demand among buyers.

Lemax Leader-16 16 kW

Russian single-circuit non-volatile boiler. Its power is 16 kW, which allows you to heat rooms up to 160 sq.m.

Main characteristics:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 1.9 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 431x856x515 mm;
• weight - 95 kg.

Advantages:

• stable, sustainable work;
• low cost of the boiler and repair work;
• independence from power supply.

Flaws:

• minor flaws made during assembly;
• heavy weight.

Floor-standing gas boilers are not limited in the weight and size of units, which allows you to create more powerful and durable units.

How to check the manufacturer?

Mistake #9

Often, instead of a gas boiler with European components, you can easily buy a Chinese boiler.

In fact, there is nothing wrong with this, it’s just that sellers should be honest with you from the beginning, and not push purely European quality.

How can you avoid falling for this and check everything yourself? Elementary.

Type the full name of the model into Google and add two words – “CERTIFICATE OF CONFORMITY”. Download it and study it carefully.

Mistake #10

If you cannot find such a certificate at all, then it is better to immediately avoid this model.

Each product that is imported into the territory of the CIS countries must have a certificate. The “Manufacturer” column indicates exactly where the boiler was actually manufactured. Here are two certificates for a visual comparison.

See the “Products” column for the specific brand.

This applies not only to assembly, but also to components. Already, few manufacturers save only on labor at the expense of the Chinese.

Therefore, you should not believe the sellers that the boiler was only assembled with a screwdriver in China, and all its internals are European. Although, again, we repeat, in the modern world, Chinese components are not always bad.

Here, first of all, we are talking about the honesty of the seller.

TOP 5 energy-independent gas boilers

Non-volatile boilers are a good choice for working in remote villages or regions with overloaded and dilapidated electrical networks. They continue to work in the event of a sudden power outage and do not require high costs for repairs or replacement of failed components. Let's look at the most popular models:

Lemax Patriot-12.5 12.5 kW

Single-circuit parapet gas boiler. Equipped with openings in the housing that allow heated air to escape outside.

This makes the boiler itself similar to a convector, heating the room without the need to install radiators . The boiler power is 12.5 kW, which is suitable for rooms of 125 sq. m.

Its parameters:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 87%;
• gas consumption - 0.75 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 595x740x360 mm;
• weight - 50 kg.

Advantages:

• simplicity of design, reliability;
• low fuel consumption;
• easy controls;
• low price.

Flaws:

• there is no complete information about the condition of the unit components. There is only a pressure gauge. indicating gas pressure;
• it is necessary to install a traditional type chimney.

Domestic boilers are optimal for Russian climatic and technological conditions. They are unpretentious and reliable, do not require expensive repairs or maintenance.

Lemax Leader-25 25 kW

Convection gas boiler with a capacity of 25 kW . Designed for use in rooms up to 250 sq.m. The unit is single-circuit, with a cast iron heat exchanger and mechanical control.

Its parameters:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 1.5 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 515x856x515 mm;
• weight - 115 kg.

Advantages:

• strength, reliability of design;
• stability, smooth operation;
• Italian components.

Flaws:

• large weight and size;
• Some users find the ignition procedure unnecessarily complicated.

Boilers with a cast iron heat exchanger are characterized by smooth operation and the absence of sudden temperature changes.

Lemax Leader-35 35 kW

Another domestic boiler designed for large rooms . With a power of 35 kW, it is capable of heating an area of ​​up to 350 sq.m., which is suitable for a large house or public space.

Boiler parameters:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 4 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 600x856x520 mm;
• weight - 140 kg.

Advantages:

• high power, ability to heat a large room;
• stable and efficient work;
• double-circuit boiler provides heat and hot water at the same time.

Flaws:

• large size and weight, requiring a separate room;
• gas consumption is quite high.

High-power boilers are often used to heat several apartments or houses. This reduces the financial burden on homeowners, since fuel payments are shared equally by everyone.

MORA-TOP SA 20 G 15 kW

Gas convection boiler manufactured by Czech engineers. The power of the unit is 15 kW, suitable for work in a house with an area of ​​up to 150 sq.m.

Main settings:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 92%;
• gas consumption - 1.6 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 365x845x525 mm;
• weight - 99 kg.

Advantages:

• independence from electricity supply;
• stability of work;
• The power is suitable for most medium-sized private houses.

Flaws:

• an atmospheric burner requires a normal chimney and does not allow drafts in the room;
• relatively high price.

Compared to their Russian counterparts, European boilers are noticeably more expensive. Users note excessive costs, as well as interruptions in the supply of spare parts.

Siberia 11 11.6 kW

Domestic single-circuit gas boiler. Suitable for small rooms up to 125 sq.m. This is due to the boiler power of 11.6 kW.

Specifications:

• installation type - floor;
• energy consumption - independent;
• Efficiency - 90%;
• gas consumption - 1.18 m3/hour;
• dimensions - 280x850x560 mm;
• weight - 52 kg.

Advantages:

• stable work;
• unpretentious, economical boiler. Fuel consumption is noticeably lower than that of analogues from other manufacturers;
• ease of management and maintenance;
• relatively low price.

Flaws:

• the declared indicators cannot always be achieved, the boiler power is sometimes not enough;
• Difficult and inconvenient ignition.

Non-volatile boilers are optimal in Russian conditions. In cold weather it is too dangerous to remain without heating, so the independence of boilers is highly valued by users.

Double-circuit or single-circuit?

Mistake #11

If in addition to radiators at home there is also a heated floor, then you must definitely buy a double-circuit boiler.

Double-circuit boilers are needed only for hot water supply (DHW) - heating + separate hot water. The single-circuit device copes well with both heated floors and radiators.

All it does is simply heat the water. What kind of heating system you have doesn’t really bother him.

The main thing is to design and calculate everything correctly. In general, for normal hot water supply it is not recommended to buy a boiler with a power of less than 24 kW.

There are many copies on the Internet about double-circuit and hot water supply.

To briefly formulate the essence, it is as follows:

• one bathroom or two hot water points + all this is not far from the boiler room - your choice is a double-circuit boiler

• three or more water points - single-circuit and indirect heating boiler

How to choose a wall-mounted gas boiler

We have prepared a rating of the best wall-mounted gas boilers that can be found on sale in 2022. WOLF service engineer Viktor Chikalov and technical director of the heating equipment manufacturer FRISQUET Roman Gladkikh were asked to talk about the features of choosing a device .

Before the purchase

Before choosing equipment, you need to decide how much heat and hot water you need to provide for your home. What matters is the number of family members, the heated area, the number of bathrooms and how the room will be heated - radiators and/or heated floors. With these characteristics, go to the specialists.

For a small house where two or three people live, with one bathroom, a double-circuit gas boiler is suitable. It costs more than a single-circuit one, since it heats the water here and now. However, for the first 4-5 seconds it will not be warm enough. Sometimes the temperature starts to fluctuate during the process. On the other hand, there are double-circuit models with a semi-accumulation system for hot water (the boiler always has 1.5-3 liters of hot water) or small built-in boilers. They also provide hot water instantly and maintain an even temperature throughout use.

For a large family , as well as if you have at least two bathrooms, it is better to choose a single-circuit boiler with a boiler (purchased separately or as a set), which provides a constant supply of hot water and will allow you to organize an uninterrupted supply to several points at the same time. Then you can definitely avoid the situation when, when you turn on the faucet in the kitchen, you are suddenly doused with ice water from the shower.

What power to take

You can calculate the required boiler power using thermal engineering calculations - online calculators are available on the Internet. Or leave it to the experts. Follow the rule yourself: if you need hot water supply from the boiler, and not just heating, then choose a model of at least 24 kW. . Or another standard: 1 kW of boiler power per 10 m² of house area.

Traditional boilers VS condensing boilers

This is what boiler operating systems are called. Traditional ones are cheaper and use only the energy of combustion gas. Condensing boilers save on gas costs in the long run, although they are more expensive in the store. To obtain energy, they use maximum internal capabilities: hot flue gases are cooled with water and allow the resulting condensate to be reused. During the heating season they save up to 25% of fuel. In addition, they are more environmentally friendly. In Europe, where they began to care about the environment a little earlier, condensing boilers are mandatory for installation. Perhaps Russia will come to this in the near future.

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Condensing or traditional boiler?

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