Characteristics and principle of operation of the Navien gas boiler

The range of gas boilers offered by our stores today is very wide. Choosing the most suitable model, in terms of reliability and quality at the lowest price, is a very difficult task. Among the manufacturers of such equipment, the South Korean company Navien occupies not the last place. Giving the potential buyer the necessary information about what a Navien gas boiler is is the purpose of this article.

What is the operating principle of Navien boilers?

The operation of Navien boilers is based on the same principles as similar devices from other manufacturers.

Composition and types of boilers

Each such device includes the following main components:

gas stove;
gas supply control mechanism;
heat exchange device.

In a single-circuit modification, hot water immediately enters the heating system of the house. Double-circuit models include an additional water heating circuit for the home hot water supply system (DHW). When this circuit is turned on, the operation of the heating system is suspended.

Exhaust gas removal

Gas combustion chambers in boilers are open (atmospheric) and closed (turbocharged). In atmospheric models, smoke independently leaves the room through the chimney. In turbine engines, exhaust gases are removed by force using a fan through a pipe through the outer wall of the house.

Important! In rooms where a gas boiler is installed, constant exhaust ventilation is required. This is especially important for atmospheric models.

Gas-burners

One of the main components of a gas boiler is, of course, a gas burner. As a rule, modern models are equipped with modulating burners. They allow you to modulate the flame, controlling the gas supply depending on the need to adjust the air temperature in the premises or water in the hot water system. When the device is equipped with an automatically adjustable modulating burner, the heating system will accurately maintain the set temperature.

Control and protection systems

When there is a power failure, the gas boiler stops working; when electricity appears, it starts automatically.

If the gas supply stops, the automation will close the solenoid valve, which will block the possibility of fuel entering the device. In such situations, it is only possible to open the gas supply to the boiler manually.

Modern models have energy saving and freeze protection capabilities. The water temperature is controlled by sensors that ensure automatic heating of the coolant when its temperature drops to a set value.

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Most gas devices, including the Navien wall-mounted gas boiler, include self-diagnosis systems. These systems monitor the operation of all nodes and display information about problems that have arisen on the display using codes.

Where is it used?

Gas double-circuit boilers Navien Ace series are designed for organizing heating and hot water supply of residential premises or offices of the appropriate area.

This limits the scope of use of these units, although they can be installed in any premises. The main task is to ensure that the serviced area matches the capabilities of the equipment and the availability of all the necessary resources - gas, electricity and water (coolant).

Characteristics from the technical side

In our market, the Navien company offers double-circuit wall-mounted gas boilers with the following characteristics:

Combustion chambers of any type - both open and closed.
The power range of manufactured devices allows heating rooms with an area of 30 to 400 square meters. m.
The dual-circuit modification makes it possible to heat water for the domestic hot water system.
Heat exchangers are made of stainless steel.
Both liquefied and natural gas can be used to operate boilers.
The amount of water produced for the hot water system is determined by the power of the device. For example, a 13 kW device produces water in a volume of up to 11 liters per minute, and with a power of 30 kW - about 17.
The electronic control unit has the function of protecting the device from voltage surges in the electrical network.
Most models of heating boilers are equipped with a remote control unit that has the following capabilities:
the display provides information about any problems that have arisen in the operation of the units;
buttons on the unit turn the boiler on and off, set the temperature;
The built-in air temperature sensor provides information for regulating the gas burner.

The delivery package for each Nevien gas boiler includes an instruction manual, which describes in detail the rules for working with the control unit. More detailed technical characteristics of the device are also given there.

Common malfunctions and their elimination

Let's look at the main ways to eliminate errors that have arisen.:

E 01-02

This error indicates overheating of the equipment due to the lack of coolant in the system. The solution to the problem is to clean the pipelines or check the pump. Alternatively, it is necessary to remove air from the system (primarily from the pump).

E 03

The functionality of the flame sensor is checked. Cleaning ignition electrodes.

It is also necessary to check the presence of gas in the line or cylinders.

E 05

A malfunction of the temperature sensor can be eliminated by checking its condition. The resistance of the sensor is measured at a certain temperature. If the readings correspond to the standard ones, it is necessary to clean the contacts.

If the sensor readings do not correspond to the table values, replacement with a new, functional unit is required..

E 09

First of all, you should measure the resistance on the fan windings, which should be 23 Ohms.

Check if there is power supply at the terminals. If serious problems are detected, the fan is completely replaced.

E 10

Most often, the problem lies in the sensor itself. It is necessary to check its condition, clean the contacts, and replace it if necessary.

E 13

The flow sensor often gets stuck due to clogging of the actuator with small debris, lime deposits, etc. If cleaning the sensor does not give the expected result, a possible breakdown to the control board is checked.

If there is no result, the sensor is replaced.

E 16

Overheating of the boiler can have several reasons, the most common of which is clogging of the heat exchanger and poor flow of the coolant. The protection is triggered at 98°, the alarm is switched off when the boiler cools to 83°.

There are two ways to solve the problem - first you should clean (in difficult cases, replace) the heat exchanger; if there is no positive result, replace the sensor.

E 18

Overheating of the smoke exhaust sensor occurs when the chimney is blocked . The cause may be condensation freezing, strong winds from outside, or foreign objects or debris getting into the chimney. If eliminating interference with the output of combustion products does not bring any results, the sensor should be replaced.

E 27

Lack of air pressure when the fan is running most often indicates a clogged air duct or the need to replace the sensor . Most often, the reason lies precisely in this, since the entry of foreign objects into a closed air channel is extremely difficult.

Installation features

Before purchasing a gas boiler you must:

Prepare the installation site. Atmospheric apparatus requires a separate room, at least 2x2 m in size, with exhaust ventilation.
The device must be powered from a stabilizer connected to a circuit breaker or outlet that has an emergency shutdown feature.
The boiler body must be grounded, so you need to connect a grounding wire to the installation site.
The wall where the device will hang, if it is flammable, must be sheathed with non-flammable material.

After purchasing a boiler, the difficult task of connecting it arises. The factory operating instructions recommend engaging an authorized service center specialist for this.

But if you have skills in working with pipes and taps, you can try hanging it on the wall and connecting the device yourself. The factory instructions describe this in detail.

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But we must not forget that in any case, you will need to call a gas service specialist to conclude a service agreement and obtain a special permit to operate gas equipment.

Important! Unauthorized connection of gas to the boiler may result in penalties and even criminal prosecution.

Connection instructions

Installing the boiler is not difficult - you just need to install anchor bolts and hang the unit on the wall.

It is recommended to install elastic gaskets between the housing and the wall to dampen noise. Do not install the equipment on fragile or weak structures - plasterboard partitions or other similar surfaces.

You need a solid brick or concrete wall that can support the weight of the boiler (about 30 kg).

Communications should be connected to the appropriate pipes. It is necessary to carefully monitor the compliance and tightness of connections.

The main attention should be paid to connecting gas pipes. Check all connections for leaks using a soapy solution.

If there is a common chimney, separate pipeline connections are used - the air channel is led out into the street through the wall, and the smoke channel is connected to the common chimney of the house.

Coaxial chimneys are led outside through the wall, which is much simpler and more convenient for installation.

Advantages and disadvantages of Navien boilers

A careful study of models from different companies allows us to conclude that the Navien gas boiler has many advantages over competitors’ products. Namely:

good quality at a relatively low price;
a large number of service centers for their maintenance;
the company's enterprises have strict quality control mechanisms;
heat exchangers are made of high-quality stainless steel, which ensures a long service life;
the presence of an air temperature sensor built into the remote control unit;
protection against voltage surges in the electrical network;
very large selection of models;
inexpensive spare parts.

There are noticeably fewer disadvantages:

noises and dull knocks during operation;
Only original spare parts are suitable for replacing failed parts.

What's included

The unit components include the following elements:

Heat exchangers (primary and secondary, the primary can be made of copper or stainless steel, the secondary can only be made of stainless steel).
Remote control panel.
Circulation pump.
Expansion tank.
Three way valve.
Safety valve.
Traction sensor.
Automatic air vent.
Connecting pipelines, other structural elements.

In addition to the main elements, the boilers are equipped with mounting brackets and other additional parts.

Customer Reviews

Nikolai V. “When choosing a gas boiler for myself, I read a bunch of reviews about these units. I liked the reviews on the Navien gas boiler. Apart from complaints about periodic dull tapping, there is almost nothing about other shortcomings. Well, I decided to take Navien. I’ll say it briefly – I don’t regret it.”
Andrey O. “I took Navien Deluxe Coaxial 20k for my dacha. The area of the rooms is about 80 square meters. m, there is enough heat to spare even at minus 25 outside. Now you don’t need to heat the stove or chop wood – it’s beautiful! It makes a little noise, but I hung it in the kitchen - if the door is closed, you can hardly hear it in the bedrooms.”
Oleg Kh. “I purchased the Navien Deluxe on the advice of a colleague. The first thing I immediately liked about this boiler was its price. Compared to other companies, the difference is noticeable. Well, of the functions, I am most pleased with the heating mode with temperature control in the rooms. I haven’t noticed any shortcomings yet.”