Almost every house or apartment has a column. When installing this device, it is very important to properly organize the removal of combustion products. This is necessary not only for the efficient operation of the column, but also for the safety of residents. Carbon monoxide has no color and odor, so it is very dangerous if it gets into the room in large doses. The main condition for good performance of the column is the natural draft generated in the ventilation pipe. Today, many owners of private houses and apartments are increasingly thinking about the question: is it necessary to install a hood for a gas water heater?
Why do you need a hood for the column?
First of all, it should be understood that with the weak draft available in the ventilation pipe, ordinary speakers work perfectly fine. An additional hood performs the following functions:
- enhances traction. But experts argue that not all columns require an additional increase in traction, since the one that is already in the ventilation shaft is enough. If the draft is weak, then the cause of this may be a blockage in the mine. Therefore, in this case, to fix the problem, you just need to clean the shaft. In other cases, a decrease in traction provokes adverse weather conditions. But, since they happen infrequently, it is not advisable to mount an additional hood only for such cases;
- reduces the amount of combustion products entering the room during unit operation. In this case, you can simply check the connections of the nozzles of the unit, and if there is damage, eliminate this drawback. With normal natural traction and the absence of damage to the connections of the pipes, carbon monoxide does not enter the housing.
Thus, the installation of an additional hood is advisable in the event of a clogged shaft and the inability to clean it. A signal that the ventilation is clogged is the periodic attenuation of the column.
When planning the repair of a house and a new kitchen from scratch, do not rush to install an additional hood. First you need to check if your column works normally with natural draft, since an additional exhaust pipe takes up a lot of free space in the room, spoils the appearance of the room, requires additional costs and time.
Operational Features
If there is a need to install a hood, then you need to carefully familiarize yourself with the features of its operation. So, this device may cause an unpleasant odor in the room. When there is no additional hood, there is natural draft in the room: air enters the ventilation shaft, and from there it returns to the room, thus providing the necessary circulation.
When installing a special hood, the amount of air required for it will not be compensated if you do not open the windows or organize an additional ventilation duct. The hood will begin to suck in air from the ventilation ducts of the neighboring rooms - the bathroom and toilet, which will lead to the appearance of specific odors.
In the absence of another ventilation duct, the hood should not be attached to the water heater.
If installation is carried out in an apartment building, it must be understood that improper connection to the mine can lead to unforeseen consequences, so all work must be performed by specialists.
Although installation in a private house with such consequences is not associated, in the absence of the necessary experience and knowledge, it is better to turn to professionals.
Material for the manufacture of hoods
The main qualities that materials for the manufacture of hoods should have are strength and fire resistance. This is necessary so that air and carbon monoxide do not penetrate through the pipe into the room. Most often, such devices are made of corrugated pipes with a diameter of 110 or 130 mm and a length of about 3 m. Such a material is very convenient because it has the necessary flexibility and lightness. To connect the two pipes together, a special metal tape is used.
In addition to corrugated pipes, aluminum or steel pipes can be used. In the latter case, the hood must be coated with enamel, which protects the steel from high temperatures. If the design provides for turns, then they should be performed using adapters and additional pipes.
It must be remembered that the presence of turns in the ventilation pipes helps to reduce traction. With each such turn, the efficiency will decrease by 10%. In total, the number of turns should not be more than three. If you create an angle of rotation that is too large, the traction can disappear completely.
Steel pipes have several drawbacks. So, with significant temperature differences between the combustion products and the surface of the pipe, condensate forms on it. In winter, the pipe needs to be insulated, otherwise it may icy over.
Installation
Install the hood very carefully. It is very important to correctly perform all calculations in order to avoid the entry of harmful substances into the room.
Basic installation rules:
- the correct determination of the diameter of the hood and the length of the pipes: very long can cause weak traction;
- accounting for the power of the unit: the larger it is, the stronger the traction will be required;
- adherence to safety during installation: the design must be integral so that gas does not leak through it.
Any violation of the hood installation rules will appear immediately or after some time. It must be remembered that gas equipment, if thoughtlessly operated, can cause serious harm to both the owner of a private house and his neighbors.
