Currently, gas heating remains one of the best. However, it is not always possible to connect to a natural gas pipeline. Alternatively, a propane gas boiler is used to heat the house. Due to the specifics of the energy carrier and methods of its conservation, the design and installation of such a scheme have a number of features.
Propane Heating Characteristics
First of all, it is worth noting that the propane heating boiler is practically no different from the standard. It has the same equipment: burner, flame control system, chimney. The difference is only in the nozzles. They have a smaller diameter, since when propane is burned, more energy is released than that of the main gas.
Another feature of such heating is the gas storage method. It can be in cylinders with a capacity of up to 50 liters or in special containers - a gas tank. For the proper organization of heating a house with propane, the following factors must be considered:
- The choice of gas storage methods taking into account fluid norms and rules;
- Installation of the line from cylinders or gas tank to the boiler;
- Creating a gas replenishment scheme.
The main advantage of heating a private house with propane is access to cheap energy. Such a technique is much more economical and efficient than installing a solid fuel boiler or, all the more, electric heating. The main disadvantage is the need for self-replenishment of gas reserves. This can be done by refueling or filling the gas tank.
The choice of autonomous gasification
First you need to decide on the method of gas storage. Since each of them has a specific specificity, their positive and negative aspects of application should be analyzed.
Bottled gas for heating
Gasification of the house and garage using propane gas is acceptable for a small area of heating. To organize such a scheme, you should familiarize yourself with the rules set out in SNiP 2.04.08-87. According to them, propane heating in cylinders can be carried out only observing the following conditions.
Storage location for gas cylinders
If the number of cylinders does not exceed 4, then a special iron cabinet can be used as their permanent location. With a larger number, a separate room should be equipped.
In a place of storage of cylinders, it is impossible to install a heating boiler on propane. This is prohibited by safety regulations.
Since propane is an explosive substance, the following requirements must be observed:
- The building must be separate from the apartment building or adjacent to it. The exit should also be separate, and in the case of a common wall with the house, you can make an additional one;
- It is forbidden to store flammable materials and substances - gasoline, diesel fuel, engine oil and so on in the room. Those. heating the garage with propane and finding cylinders in it is prohibited;
- Ensuring natural air circulation at the rate of 160 m3 / hour. Also, the room should have at least one window giving normal lighting in natural light;
- The volume of the storage room should exceed at least 8 times that of all cylinders;
- External and internal walls are made of non-combustible materials.
Having fulfilled these conditions, the propane heating system will function not only efficiently, but also safely.
Balloon gas flow control device
These include a gas reducer mounted on a cylinder or on a trunk connecting several tanks. The pressure gauge allows you to control the level of gas flow and prepare for timely replacement. It is best to mount the device with two pressure gauges. One of them shows the pressure in the tank, and the second - in the line. Thus, it is possible to regulate the volume of gas in the pipeline and provide the required pressure for the propane heating boiler.
Also, stop valves are mounted on each cylinder. If you connect all the containers into one common network, then with the help of the valves full cylinders are connected alternately as the gas flow rate.
To determine the relevance of using the balloon gas storage method, it is recommended to use the data from the table showing the ratio of the area of the house to the average propane consumption in 50 liter cylinders.
Gas holder for heating on propane
It is a sealed container of large volume with a propane reception and transmission system. The gas holder can be installed on the surface or underground. In the latter case, only the access hatch cover will be visible. This design will provide a large amount of gas for heating not only the propane garage, but also the entire house.
For its installation, the following conditions must be met:
- The minimum distance from the gas tank to the foundation of the house is 10 m;
- The outer line must have safety elements, while it is necessary to use special pipes for transporting gas;
- When planning the heating of a house with propane using a gas tank, access roads to it are provided for a refueling machine;
- Performing self-filling of the tank is prohibited. To do this, use the services of a specialized company.
The advantages of using a gas tank include a long service life of structures. It is also recommended to select a container of such a volume that refueling is carried out once for 2-3 years. Compared to balloon heating, which method of propane storage is more expensive - this is due to the initially high cost of the equipment and the cost of its maintenance. To reduce them, two or three houses can be connected to one gas tank.
How to choose a propane boiler
What should I look for when choosing a gas propane heating boiler? The technical parameters for it are in many respects similar to traditional models using natural gas. However, there is one significant difference - the minimum pressure indicator. It is necessary to select models that work even at 0.3 bar.
As operational parameters, we can distinguish the presence of a second circuit for hot water supply. In this case, not only heating of the private house with propane will be carried out, but also heating of water for the bathroom, kitchen and so on. The main indicators for choosing a propane boiler are:
- Rated power. Not only the degree of heating of the coolant depends on it, but also the flow of propane. On average, 0.5 l of gas is consumed to obtain 1 kW of power;
- Automation and Control System. With their help, the safe operation of the gas burner is carried out, as well as the ability to control the temperature of the water in the pipes, depending on the degree of heating of the room;
- Open or closed combustion chamber. It is recommended to purchase models with a closed chamber, since their operation does not require air intake from the room.
Among the manufacturers, there are two companies that produce gas boilers for heating on propane - Westen, Ferroli and Roda. The simplest model with a capacity of 22.2 kW will cost about 35 thousand rubles.
Practical tips for propane heating
Since the installation and maintenance of heating with propane in cylinders has a number of specific points - it is recommended to adhere to the recommendations. The main one is the constant monitoring of the presence of gas in the tanks. To do this, you must first calculate the average consumption of one cylinder per number of days. It should be remembered that the refractive index directly depends on the temperature in the street.
To optimize the system with a propane boiler, you can use the combined method - install gas convectors. They are mounted in small remote rooms, most often for household purposes. This will save on the installation of pipelines and energy consumption. Such a scheme is most often used in the organization of heating a garage with propane.
In addition, you must follow these rules:
- For cylinder heating with propane, it is recommended to use containers with a maximum volume of 50 l;
- The optimal number of cylinders at the same time is 2-3 pcs. At the same time, as much should be in stock;
- The installation of equipment for a propane heating system should be trusted only by specialists. Even minor disturbances during installation can lead to dangerous situations.
Constant operation of heating only on propane is economically disadvantageous. It can be considered as an auxiliary system, or installed in houses with non-permanent residence.
