Despite the emergence of new methods of heat supply, gas heating is still the best option for both a country house and an apartment. But it is not always possible to connect to the distribution line. The way out of this situation is the heating of a private house with gas cylinders. To do this, you need to choose the right boiler, calculate fuel consumption and read reviews.
The nuances of heating with gas cylinders
Properly organized heating with gas cylinders is relevant for homes with permanent residence, as well as for summer cottages. As an energy carrier, liquefied gas is used, which in its properties differs from natural gas.
In order to make heating a private house from gas cylinders with your own hands, you need to familiarize yourself with the features of its organization. An important step is the choice of the boiler, since it must be adapted specifically for this type of gas. In addition, the following factors are taken into account:
- Estimated Consumption. Directly affects the flow rate during heating with gas cylinders and their supply to ensure heat supply;
- Preparing a storage location for containers. Be sure to observe safety measures;
- Organization of gas transportation from cylinders to the boiler. Properly organized individual heating from gas cylinders should be safe;
- Selection of a supplier for filling gas into cylinders.
If you carefully read all the reviews when heating a house with gas cylinders, it can be noted the complexity of the assembly and installation of this type of heat supply. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate in advance the parameters of all elements so that after their installation they can ensure the normal operation of the system.
For heating the cottages with gas cylinders, it is recommended to use containers with a maximum volume of -50 l. But at the same time, you should consider how to transport them to the place of refueling.
Choosing a place to store gas cylinders
Before deciding on the method of storage of gas cylinders, it is necessary to choose their capacity correctly. Currently, you can use containers with a capacity of 5, 12, 27 and 50 liters. If the heating of a private house with bottled gas is regular, it is best to purchase containers with a maximum volume of 50 liters.
To supply gas, make a highway from the storage location of the cylinders to the boiler. You can use several tanks at once by installing on each gas reducer. It should include two pressure gauges. One of them is necessary to verify the pressure inside the cylinder, and the second shows this value at the outlet. By means of a shut-off valve, the fuel flow rate is regulated.
The place of choice for their storage directly depends on how many cylinders are needed for the heating boiler. The estimated number of containers depends on the following indicators:
- The total area of the house;
- Heat losses in the building;
- The minimum temperature in winter.
An important point is the place where the gas boiler will be installed for bottled gas heating. The length of the supply line should be minimal to reduce the likelihood of its depressurization and optimize gas flow.
In addition to heating boilers, gas convectors can be used to heat the house. But they need to be installed in each room, which is not very convenient for a large building.
Separate room for cylinders
The best way to store gas cylinders for heating is to prepare a separate room. The arrangement rules and requirements are described in detail in SNiP 2.04.08-87. Therefore, before installing heating with gas cylinders, you must familiarize yourself with this document.
The best option if the storage room will be located in close proximity to the installation site of the boiler. In this way, the supply line can be made as short as possible. It is also necessary to provide the following storage conditions for containers for heating a private house from gas cylinders with their own hands:
- No combustible or lubricating materials should be stored in the room;
- It is forbidden to use any heating devices - convectors, heaters. The exception is pipes and radiators for water heating;
- Supply ventilation. The average air exchange rate is 12 m³ / h per 1 m² of room;
- Each cylinder should be located on a pallet. This is necessary to maintain stability in case of possible fluctuations in the capacitance during the gas outlet.
To ensure safety, the room must be closed. The supply of fuel for heating a private house with bottled gas occurs through the mains. If flexible hoses are used for this - during installation it is necessary to avoid kinks.
Hot gas boilers can be installed in the kitchen or in a separate boiler room. A place for storing fuel cannot be made in basement or basement rooms.
Requirements for a gas cylinder storage cabinet
An alternative to the above method is the use of special metal cabinets. This is true for heating the cottages with gas cylinders with low fuel consumption.
It is recommended to purchase an already finished design, since it will take into account the requirements of GOST 15860-84. They are as follows:
- Ventilation. To do this, the cabinet must have ventilation openings;
- Exclusion of the probability of sunlight on gas cylinders. This can lead to an increase in temperature on their surface;
- All elements of individual heating from gas cylinders should be made of non-combustible materials. The same applies to storage cabinets;
- Availability of warning signs and labels.
How long is a gas cylinder for heating with a capacity of 50 l? It all depends on the nominal consumption of the boiler. But, despite this, only two cylinders can be stored in one cabinet. The optimal dimensions of the structure in this case will be 2000 * 1000 * 570. Before installing the cabinet, you need to make a separate foundation. Its dimensions should exceed the dimensions of the structure by 15-20 cm.
The installation rules for heating a private house from gas cylinders with their own hands are also observed:
- The minimum distance from doors and windows should be 5 m;
- The wall to which the cabinet will adjoin is made of non-combustible materials.
Be sure to make special ventilation gaps on the foundation surface. Experts recommend grounding the structure to remove possible static voltage.
In the design of the cabinet for heat supply with the help of gas cylinders, fastening elements for containers should be provided.
Calculation of the number of gas cylinders for heating
One of the significant drawbacks of such heat supply is the constant replenishment of fuel reserves. Therefore, you need to calculate in advance how many cylinders are needed for the boiler. There is no exact technique for this. But there are a number of ways by which you can determine the approximate fuel consumption.
To determine the flow rate during heating with gas cylinders, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the technical documentation of the boiler. It indicates fuel consumption for both natural and liquefied gas.Typically, in the latter case, manufacturers give an expense in kg / h. For boilers with a capacity of 24 kW, it is about 3.5 kg / h.
In addition, the intensity of fuel consumption is taken into account. On average, to maintain a normal temperature in the winter, the heating of a private house with bottled gas works from 12 to 16 hours a day. If the heating season is about 100 days, the total consumption for a 24 kW boiler will be:
3.5 * 15 * 100 = 5250 kg
Those. on average, 1 cylinder will be needed per day for a 50 liter heating boiler. This is the maximum fuel consumption, which can be reduced as follows:
- Installation of automation for gas supply;
- The acquisition of modern boiler models with high efficiency;
- Warming the house to reduce heat loss.
But even these measures will not greatly affect fuel consumption. Almost all reviews of heating with gas cylinders indicate the relevance of installing this type of heat supply only in houses with a small area and inconsistent living.
The table shows how many cylinders are needed for a heating boiler, depending on the area of the house.
| House area, m² | Number of cylinders 50 l, pcs. |
| 60 | 66 |
| 70 | 77 |
| 80 | 91 |
| 100 | 112 |
| 120 | 136 |
| 150 | 167 |
| 200 | 223 |
These are not final numbers. For each heating system, an individual calculation is made of how many cylinders are needed for the boiler. It is also necessary to consider the correct filling of the tank. All liquid is preliminary removed, the weight of an empty cylinder is measured.
When refueling a cylinder, you can check its filling level by measuring the temperature level. The area where there is a gas mixture will cool the cylinder.
Choosing a boiler for balloon heating
Currently, manufacturers do not produce narrow-profile heating boilers for bottled (liquefied) gas. However, without preliminary modification it is impossible to use equipment designed for natural gas.
Before purchasing a boiler, make sure that the package includes a kit for adapting propane equipment. The kit includes nozzles with a wider nozzle and a kit for attaching them to the burner. The reinstallation procedure can be performed independently only if it is provided by the design.
There are several types of gas boilers for bottled gas heating, which differ in operational and technical indicators:
- Type of burner - open or closed. It is best to purchase gas-fired boilers with a closed burner. For their work, air is taken from the street using a coaxial pipe;
- Mounting - wall or floor. Most models with power up to 24 kW are mounted on the wall;
- Number of circuits. For heating the cottages with gas cylinders, you can purchase an inexpensive single-circuit boiler. If permanent residence is planned in the house, it is recommended to buy a two-circuit model with hot water supply.
You can preliminarily calculate the flow rate for heat supply with gas cylinders by reading the technical data sheet of the equipment. However, manufacturers often give maximum flow with maximum equipment power. The lower the burner intensity, the less fuel will be consumed.
The best performance indicators are possessed by gas heating boilers for balloon (liquefied) gas with a cast-iron heat exchanger. It will last much longer than steel.
Reviews about home heating with gas cylinders
Familiarization with reviews of heating with gas cylinders will help determine the relevance of installing this heat supply system. But it is necessary to take into account their subjectivity - negative ones are often associated with the wrong choice of equipment and violation of installation rules.
It should be remembered that the operation of individual heating from gas cylinders largely depends on the professionalism of installation and configuration of equipment:
- We bought a small country house of 44 m², there was an ordinary stove heating. There was a lot of trouble with him - constant monitoring of the stove, soot and soot. They tried to switch to electric heating using convectors - it turned out to be expensive. In a month, expenses rose to 6500 rubles. He arranged the final version of the heat supply using gas cylinders. Costs fell to 3,000 rubles / month. The only drawback is that it is necessary to constantly replenish the tanks;
- To heat the house, he installed balloon heating himself. I got two storage boxes, installed gearboxes, and led a pipe to the boiler in the house. But I noticed that the estimated expense is significantly lower than the actual. I installed dependent automation (budget option), replaced the burner in the boiler with an injection one. Consumption decreased by 20-22%;
- After installing balloon heating in the first winter, I was tormented with rearrangement of gearboxes for connecting filled tanks. They suggested a way out - install several cylinders with gearboxes and connect each one to the trunk. As soon as the gas in one of them ends, open the tap and connect the next one. The circuit is convenient and simple. I advise everyone.
An alternative to balloon heating can be the installation of a gas tank - a special tank for storing gas. But for this it is necessary to issue permits. Servicing and filling the gas tank can only be done by a certified company.
In the video you can see an example of balloon heating at home:
