An electrical fluid heating system is a simple and reliable equipment and can last a long time. But sometimes it happens that hot water does not flow from the boiler or the power of its flow decreases markedly. This indicates malfunctions that could occur in the water heater itself or in the elements of the supply or distribution system. By checking each node, you can identify the cause of the incorrect operation of the device.
How is the electric boiler arranged and functioning?
The device of the water heater is similar to a thermos - in it the water tank is protected from the environment by a layer of thermal insulation. This allows you to retain heat for a long time, even if the device is currently turned off. The main components that make up the heating installation:
- Base or casing - the external part of the device, on which there are mounting devices for attaching to the wall, and inside the filling is hidden.
- Heat carrier tank - made of metal, has a titanium or other anticorrosive coating, inside there are elements for supplying, withdrawing liquid and the electric boiler itself.
- Supply and intake pipes with threaded connection.
- Heat insulator - a polymer material between the body and the water tank, designed to reduce the heat transfer of the latter.
- The heating element is an electric heater of dry or wet type, designed for different power depending on the volume of the tank.
- Heating control system - a circuit with a thermostat and a regulator, necessary for setting the mode of operation of the boiler.
- Magnesium anode protective action.
- Safety valve - relieves pressure in the tank during overheating and boiling water.
- Indicator of temperature and operating modes.
An electric boiler is an apparatus that is included in a continuous flow circulation system. Liquid enters the tank through the supply pipe at the bottom of the tank. The intake of the heated coolant comes from the top of the flask.
An electric heater warms up the water until it is turned off by a thermostat set to a specific temperature. As a result of the selection of hot liquid, the residue is mixed with a cold influx, the heater is again turned on for heating. This process is ongoing.
Water does not pass through the boiler: reasons
If one of the nodes through which the water flows is out of order, this most often leads to blocking the fluid flow through it. There are enough vulnerabilities in the system. If everything is working fine, but there is no free inflow into the inner barrel, it will also fail to take the coolant - the intake of hot water occurs at the top.
Water retention in the filter
Inlet filters are installed in front of each critical system in order to purify water from coarse impurities. Their working body consists of a stainless mesh. Depending on the purity of the source, filters are more or less contaminated. In some cases, when the liquid has a high metal content, it is likely that the mesh cylinder cells are completely clogged and its functioning is disturbed.
It is not difficult to check the filter - access to the compartment with the mesh is under a special nut on the side.
Check Valve Malfunction
Any non-return valve has a movable element on the stem.This rod moves in the translational direction under the influence of the pressure of the coolant and back under the action of the spring.
The weak point of the structure is the guide hole where the rod goes. If the water heater has not been used for a long time, and there are deposits of salts in the water, they can settle on the stem and block its movement, which makes it impossible to open the valve. As a result, there is no water coming from the boiler.
Incorrect operation of the pressure reducer
When the pressure of the central water supply exceeds the permissible norms of working pressure for which household equipment is designed, they put reduction gears. These elements are equipped with a check valve. The gaps between the valve piston and the channel are very small, which contributes to its rapid clogging and increases the risk of clogging.
Coarse and fine filters must be installed in front of the gearboxes.
Scale inside the tank
Low-quality electric boilers and aggressive composition of the coolant can cause scale and rust to form inside the tank. Gradually settling at the bottom, the latter can completely block the inlet port opening. The absence of water inflow automatically makes it impossible to withdraw it from the outlet pipe.
If the water is obviously hard, the choice of the boiler operation, in which there is no way to bring the coolant to very high temperatures, will help to avoid scale formation.
Clogged pipe channels
Pipes leading water to the electric boiler, especially flexible hoses, have a small channel section. This can also cause clogging. Most of all, we can expect a malfunction in the functioning of the hot line, since scale is intensively deposited due to the temperature on the internal walls. The intake pipe inside the flask goes to this risk zone.
Malfunctioning input and output valves
For the convenience of repair work or maintenance of the water heater, shut-off taps can be installed at its inlet and outlet. These are usually ball, wing valves or dampers. All of these devices have movable mechanical parts that may fail. For example, in a closed ball valve, the control rod may burst. Visually, the valve is open, although in fact the opposite is true, so the boiler will not draw water.
In engineering networks, it is better not to save on components and use high-quality stop valves.
Mixer clogging
The reason for the slow flow of hot water or its complete absence may be the mesh on the mixer tap, if it is made of low-quality metal and is oxidized or clogged with particles of rust and scale. The mesh can be easily removed by unscrewing the nut at the top of the tap.
Troubleshooting
Determine why there is no water coming from the electric boiler, and solve the problem as follows:
- The coarse filter is checked by unscrewing the side nut, removing the mesh cylinder and visual inspection. The contaminated element is cleaned with a stiff brush and washed under running water.
- The non-return valve is removed and purged in the direction of fluid flow. If it is impossible to blow it, it means it is stuck and it needs to be replaced with a new one.
- At the pressure reducer, the adjusting screw is unscrewed and screwed in and watch how the flow at its outlet changes. In the absence of any changes, they remove, disassemble the element and clean, if it does not help, replace it with a new one.
- The mesh on the mixer is brushed or a new repair kit is installed.
- The scale inside the tank can be removed by removing the protective cover and unscrewing the flange at the bottom of the water heater.
All work related to depressurization of the electric boiler and access to its internal parts must be carried out after the unit is de-energized.
Maintenance of a water heater
The boiler will serve properly and for a long time if you clean it at least once every two years.
- Descaling from the inner walls. Deposits on the inside of the case contribute to the appearance of corrosion formations, which in turn can lead to holes and the unit unsuitable for further work.
- Cleaning TENA from salt scale. A large layer of foreign matter on the metal impedes thermal conductivity and contributes to mechanical damage to the tube.
- Replacing the magnesium anode.
For any operations on servicing the water heater, it is better to contact a specialized service, you can do the work yourself, having some experience with this technique.
