One of the important elements of equipment that ensures comfortable living in a home is an efficient heating system. It is based on a boiler. Today the market offers a wide range of similar equipment. Products are offered by foreign and domestic manufacturers.
When choosing such a device, it is important to focus on several factors, among them the following should be highlighted:
- Type of fuel;
- boiler placement;
- number of circuits.
Heating units are diesel, electric, gas, pellet, solid fuel and combined. As for the location of the device, it will depend on the layout. Taking this into account, you can purchase floor or wall equipment.
When choosing the number of circuits, you should pay attention to whether, in addition to heating problems, you need to solve the issue of hot water supply. In the latter case, you should purchase a dual-circuit model. If you cannot decide on a choice, then you need to consider boilers from one of the manufacturers. Among others, there is Zota brand equipment on the market, which will be discussed below.
Manufacturer information
is a heating equipment and automation plant. It was founded in 1992, and the main products of the company are solid fuel and electric heating boilers. They are intended not only for heating, but also for hot water supply to premises for various purposes. Products under the Zota brand are well known in many parts of Russia and abroad.
Review of solid fuel boilers from: Pellet 15S PL
If you want to purchase a Zota pellet boiler, then you should pay attention to the Pellet 15S model, the cost of which is 162,000 rubles. This equipment is equipped with a water cooling circuit. The unit is used to supply heat to buildings that are equipped with a forced circulation water heating system.
Wood processing products serve as fuel for the device. The raw materials are sawdust from deciduous and coniferous species. No binding components are used, and the result is pellets.
Technical characteristics of the Pellet 15S model
The above-described Zota pellet boiler has a power of 15 kW. The chimney diameter reaches 15 mm. Operating pressure is equivalent to 3 bar. The equipment weighs 333 kg. The water volume is 96 l.
Fuel consumption is 2.08 kg per hour. Using logs, you can load them taking into account the 400 mm length. Before purchasing a device, it is important to pay attention to its dimensions. In the case of the described model, the body parameters are 1060x1140x1570 mm.
Owner reviews
The solid fuel boiler Zota Pellet 15S PLa, according to consumers, has many positive features, among them the following should be highlighted:
- presence of a water cooling circuit;
- the ability of the device to operate in a system with minimal pressure;
- high degree of automation;
- excellent performance characteristics;
- ability to function in tough conditions;
- the presence of automation to maintain temperature;
- ability to adjust power;
- ability to track fuel consumption per day.
Consumers also like the described model because it enters standby mode when the set temperature is reached. Consumers emphasize that the circuit has an automatic ignition system. The boiler has adjustments that can be controlled from the remote control.
This Zota solid fuel boiler receives many positive reviews also for the reason that it has a chronothermostat, as well as a weather-dependent control program. The operator will have the opportunity to monitor the heating process remotely using a GSM module.
If the house is temporarily disconnected from electricity, the boiler can be heated with briquettes or firewood, but to do this it is necessary to remove the secondary air supply tubes. Grate bars are installed in the firebox. If the bunker runs out of pellets, the equipment can be equipped with block heating elements.
Consumers like that the device’s automation is designed to withstand adverse operating conditions. The combustion chamber is designed for efficient combustion of pellets and sawdust from coniferous and hardwood. This Zota boiler has a hopper, the volume of which can be increased by installing additional modules. The bunker can be located to the right or left of the boiler.
Principle of operation
To automate the work, install a controller with a fan.
Fuel in the Zota furnace is supplied in small portions, if it is small in size.
The amount of fuel required is determined by the boiler automatically, taking into account the required volume of fuel to heat the house. The principle of operation is that fuel from the bunker is sent to the burner in such a volume as is needed to create a certain temperature in the room. The exact temperature is calculated by the built-in controller.
Another option is gravity feeding of raw materials. Fuel spills onto the burner due to its weight. This happens after the previous portion burns out and makes room for a new one.
With the help of a fan, air is supplied to the burner; the controller also calculates the required amount and adjusts the rotation speed independently.
The heat resulting from combustion is transferred to the heat exchanger, then to the water and distributed through the pipes of the house, warming it. The heat is then removed in the form of gases through the chimney.
Review of the solid fuel boiler "Topol-M 14"
In order to make the right choice, you should consider several equipment models. An excellent example is a solid fuel boiler of the “Topol-M 14” brand, the cost of which is 31,300 rubles. This device is used in autonomous heating systems in which the operating pressure does not exceed 3 atmospheres.
The fuel is wood or coal. The water jacket of the unit is hidden under the decorative cladding and has a coating in the form of basalt cardboard. This reduces heat loss. The Zota boiler body has effective thermal insulation. For ease of use, three doors have ergonomic handles.
What to look for when choosing
Formula for calculating the power of a solid fuel boiler
Heating devices must be selected taking into account the following characteristics:
- Type of fuel;
- maximum power;
- efficiency;
- area of the heated room;
- presence of automation mechanisms;
- weight;
- combustion chamber depth.
The main characteristic of any Zota boiler is power. The area of the room that it can heat depends on it. The manufacturer produces equipment from 3 to 400 kW.
Technical characteristics of "Topol-M 14"
The power of the above-described equipment model is 4 kW. An hour of work will consume 1.75 kg of coal. The volume of water held is 46 liters. You may also be interested in the overall dimensions, which are 690x440x845 mm. The device weighs 113 kg.
When connecting, it is important to know the diameter of the chimney, which is 150 mm. When using firewood, their consumption will be 2.3 kg per hour. The maximum log length is equivalent to 380 mm.
Consumer reviews about the Topol-M 14 model
Before purchasing a Zota Topol boiler, you should familiarize yourself with consumer opinions about it. Among other positive features, buyers highlight:
- ease of use;
- impressive volume of the loading chamber;
- the ability to use not only firewood, but also coal to operate the unit;
- new design;
- high gas density;
- the presence of a blower damper on the ash pit doors.
Buyers choose the described model of equipment also for the reason that the device can be used as electric heating provided by block heating elements with an external control panel. The oxygen supply can now be regulated. The combustion cycle on one load is extended to 12 hours.
The combustion chamber has been changed. It was supplemented with a heat exchanger, which is located horizontally and is combined with a damper. This made it possible to make the gas duct three-pass. Due to this, the heat exchange area increases, and the heat transfer efficiency increases.
Owner reviews about Zota boilers allow consumers to understand whether it is worth purchasing a particular model. For example, “Topol-M” has a removable damper, which allows you to clean the heat exchanger, making operation of the device easier. The flue has a cleaning hatch through which soot can be removed. There is a thermometer on the top panel that measures the temperature of the water supply.
A gas burner can be installed in place of the screw door. Its presence allows you to get additional convenience when loading firewood into the firebox. Consumers like that the separate ash door allows you to get rid of ash at any time without stopping the operation of the boiler.
If we compare this model with budget options for combined and solid fuel boilers, we can see that it has certain design features of the combustion chamber, as well as increased gas density. Thanks to this, it was possible to achieve a high efficiency, which is also facilitated by the quality of the device.
Advantages and disadvantages
Boilers have their advantages and disadvantages that should be considered before purchasing.
Advantages:
- economical fuel consumption;
- the design in the combustion chamber allows increasing efficiency up to 70%;
- high-quality assembly;
- maintains the required temperature for a long time;
- ability to use a variety of fuels;
- automatic switching to long burning mode;
- affordable price;
- resistant to power surges;
- built-in security automation;
- There are three options for choosing power;
- the presence of a hob in some models;
- durable parts.
Flaws:
- sometimes marriage occurs;
- fuel burns out quickly;
- The power is not enough to heat a large house.
Reviews about the MASTER-20 boiler
Among consumers, MASTER-20 is a fairly common model. This fact cannot be called an accident, because controlling the operation of the device is quite simple. This opportunity is ensured thanks to a thermometer located on the front casing.
Consumers consider versatility and traditional design to be additional advantages. Gas tightness and thermal insulation in this equipment are excellent. The body has an insulated lining, which improves its performance characteristics.
The door has ventilation holes that allow the outer surface to cool. Reading reviews from owners about the Zota boiler, you can understand that it has a combined heat exchanger, which has proven itself to be a very reliable and easy-to-clean unit.
The boiler can be set to semi-automatic mode, which is ensured by the possibility of installing a mechanical thermostat. The build quality is excellent. Consumers also like the water-cooled ash pan.
Heating system with solid fuel apparatus
The use of devices of this type, although in demand, is not as popular as gas ones. This is due to the need to constantly add fuel to solid fuel boilers and monitor the operation of the device. However, there are several ways to simplify the operation of a solid fuel boiler:
- Carrying out automatic fuel loading
- Turning on the device together with the electrical
- Automation of water supply
The first is easily accomplished by connecting pellet equipment to the heating system. In it, fuel is supplied automatically and human participation in this process is not required. Such heating of a private house with a solid fuel boiler is acceptable even if you do not live there permanently.
The second method is considered the cheapest in terms of labor costs and the most popular. Two devices are connected in parallel to the primary ring of the system. At the same time, the electric one only maintains the minimum water temperature. And the main source of heat is solid fuel.
The last method involves turning on the accumulation tank. It accumulates the coolant prepared by the boiler during the day, with the aim of further consuming it at night, when there is no manual loading of fuel. Such a system can be automated.
Each of the schemes has the right to exist and the choice of the optimal one depends on various factors.
Review of the MAGNA 20 MG boiler
You can purchase this model of equipment for RUB 92,300. The device is a unit that is capable of reaching the nominal operating mode much faster than its competitors. This allows you to achieve greater efficiency and eliminates active smoke in the external environment.
The boiler operates in semi-automatic mode and is designed to burn:
- coal;
- firewood;
- fuel briquettes.
The Zota Magna boiler can be supplemented with a GSM module and block heating elements with a control panel, which allows you to expand the functionality of the device.
Reviews about the model
After reading the owner reviews about the Zota boiler of the Magna brand, you can understand whether you should purchase this model of equipment. Consumers emphasize that the device can optionally be made more functional. Another advantage is semi-automatic operation. Electricity can be an additional source of energy.
Fuel is loaded manually, while combustion is supported by a fan. The control module and sensors are a standard part of the boiler, which allows you to control and maintain the combustion process. Reviews from owners about the Zota Magna boiler indicate that the design of the unit is original and makes it possible to solve one of the main problems of semi-automatic machines, which is expressed in reaching the normal combustion mode. Within just one hour, the boiler will reach its nominal operating mode. At the same time, at rated power the device will operate for 12 hours, while the long-term mode lasts up to 32 hours.
Electricity consumption
Volatile boilers have advanced functionality
There are two types of boilers according to the method of feeding.
- Non-volatile. These are devices in which there is no need for a circulation pump, since the process occurs naturally. Non-volatile units include classic units and some long-burning devices.
- Energy dependent. Models containing a fan in their design. It directs air currents into the chamber. Automated devices also operate on electricity.
It is better to install non-volatile boilers in houses where there is no stable power supply. They can act as the main and additional heat source.
