Tools and materials when turning off the boiler
You can turn off the boiler on the control panel, but you won’t be able to drain the water completely.
You will need a variable-size adjustable wrench with movable jaws made of tool steel to disconnect the pipes. Use a wrench to unscrew the bolts attaching to the partition. No tool is needed if the boiler is hanging on hooks.
A hose is being prepared for the return valve or liquid inlet. Use a Phillips screwdriver to detach the safety cap. Flat-head (slotted) screwdrivers are needed to pry it up and pull it out of a tight socket.
Instructions for turning off the boiler
Before releasing the boiler, preparatory work is carried out.
- De-energize the unit. The plug is pulled out of the socket or the machine is turned off. Take an indicator screwdriver and check the presence of electricity on the contacts.
- The water supply tap in the apartment is turned off. If this is not the case, the flow of liquid is stopped by a valve in the basement.
You can empty the boiler of water only after it has cooled down. After turning off the electrics, you need to wait for the liquid to cool. Then the pipes through which water is supplied are removed from the boiler.
Long term shutdown
To prevent rust from forming inside, the boiler must be emptied of water for long periods of inactivity.
Sometimes you need to turn off the boiler for the winter and drain the water. Microorganisms multiply in liquids without heating. If the unit is located in an unheated building, the water will freeze and the boiler tank will rupture. It is recommended to turn off and dismantle the heater if the unit is to be changed or the room is decorated.
Boiler shutdown sequence:
- stop heating by turning off the heater from the network;
- turn off the cold and warm liquid supply taps going to the unit, the water will remain in the tank and will not drain;
- open the check valve on the housing.
Sometimes there is an auto-valve that provides water supply to other rooms in conditions of hard wiring.
Disconnection with dismantling
Before dismantling the boiler, unscrew the fastenings of the heating element and drain the water.
The boiler must be turned off and removed from the partition. You cannot dismantle a boiler whose tank is filled with liquid inside; it must be drained to reduce the weight of the tank.
Procedure for draining and dismantling:
- close the valve on the hot tube;
- place a vessel for drainage or direct the hose into the bath;
- disconnect the junction of the cold riser and the protective hydraulic valve;
- unscrew the nut connecting the valve to the cold line fitting;
- regulate the flow by opening the valve;
- the water will go away in a few minutes.
It is not difficult to remove the unit if it is located on hooks. Dismantling requires care to avoid damaging parts.
Turning hot water off and on
The city main can start working again, then you can turn off the boiler if you have hot water. The plug is removed from the socket and the contents cool down. You can drain half the liquid and add cool to make the process faster.
To drain, close the tap on the cold pipeline and disconnect the corresponding pipe. A hose is attached to the free end and placed in the sink. The valve is unscrewed and the drain valve opens. The water mixer turns to the hot position. After this, the supply valve from the city water supply is turned on.
Reasons for turning off the boiler and recommendations for self-de-energization
In winter, at the dacha, the temperature may drop below 5 degrees, which is unacceptable for the operation of the boiler - the unit is mothballed.
The mothballing of the unit is carried out in conditions where the temperature in the house drops below +5°C. You cannot leave the heater without water for a long time, as oxygen causes corrosion. Regular use of the unit also requires periodic cleaning of rust.
Scale works as a heat insulator and neglect of cleaning leads to the heater heating itself and the rust layer. This increases electricity consumption by about a quarter. Manufacturers recommend draining the water once a month, then turning it on again.
Water shortages
Sometimes the water utility warns about problems with the supply on a certain branch of the water pipeline. If this lasts a long time, it is better to drain the flow through a protective choke, which is needed for drainage when the internal pressure in the tank increases.
They stop supplying the house. Twist the sleeve from the hot outlet to organize the flow of air. The handle on the valve is opened and a stream will flow out of the spout. Flush into the toilet or bathtub if you put a hose on the spout. So the drainage takes a long time, more than two hours, the time depends on how clogged the spout is.
Lack of hot water
It is necessary to disassemble the boiler and drain the water if the device stops working.
Sometimes a tee with a valve is cut into a section of the tube to the safety valve.
Algorithm of actions:
- turn off the network, turn off the supply, open the tee valve;
- open the hot line tap on the mixer, the flow will flow through it;
- the valve on the tee is not closed to allow air to flow;
- The shut-off valve is closed after the end of the drain.
The procedure lasts several hours. It is accelerated by removing the sleeve from the cold feed tube.
A quick draining method is through two pipes. The cold and hot branches are disconnected sequentially. The liquid simultaneously leaves two pipes, the tank is emptied quickly. With such a drain, there is no control over the flow intensity, so the method is used if the boiler hangs above the bathtub.
Boiler breakdown
Breakdown may appear after 2 - 3 years of operation without cleaning.
At first (about two years), the structure does not require maintenance, then signs of poor-quality operation of the unit appear. The water takes on a rusty tint, there is sand and scale particles. If the tap fluid is of poor quality, cleaning will be required much sooner.
Landmarks indicating the need for prevention:
- The heating element begins to make noise when turned on;
- the device turns on and off more often than usual, the fuse trips;
- heating time increases;
- When used, it gives an electric shock and the housing leaks.
The cover is removed after unscrewing the bolts near the fittings, the power supply circuit becomes visible. The thermostat is located here, which can be removed with a sharp downward movement.
Rules for using the device
You can use the storage type device immediately after the first start. To do this, you need to turn it on and select the operating mode. Throughout operation you will have to follow some rules. They will help increase the service life of the boiler.
- Before turning on, check the presence of water in the tank . This will prevent the heating elements from failing.
- It is recommended to install a filter on the pipe supplying water to the boiler . It will protect against dirt and reduce water hardness.
- During the year, descale the drive at least once.
- Periodically monitor the performance of the protective anode , change if necessary.
Read here how to choose pipes for water supply in a private house.
PVC pipes and fittings for water supply are the key to quality water in the house, read about the benefits.
Flow-type devices require compliance with several other rules.
- Before turning on the power, check the water pressure . A weak stream will not allow the device to function normally.
- If the temperature is uncomfortable, adjust it using the buttons on the body or by rotating the mixer tap.
- If the heater is installed in a bathroom, provide splash protection .
- Hot water is no longer needed - be sure to turn off the device.
Both devices are not recommended for installation in rooms where temperatures may drop below zero. This will cause the water inside the device to freeze and cause it to break.
Equipment reliability depends not only on product quality. Also important: correct installation, switching on and use of equipment. Compliance with the recommendations given in the article will significantly increase the uninterrupted operation of the boiler.
Features of turning off various boiler models
Sometimes the manufacturer does not allow the user to turn off the boiler, otherwise the warranty period will no longer apply. Each model has its own characteristics that you need to know in order to perform the drain yourself.
Ariston
Ariston boiler connection diagram
First, screw off the plug at the top of the mixer and close the cold branch, the water mixer taps, and remove the shower hose. At the outlet and inlet, the valve is removed and the plastic nuts are screwed together. After removing the cap on the mixer, the screw is turned out, the handle and gaskets are removed.
The boiler body is disconnected from the container inside, but cannot be removed. The plug is opened and the drain occurs through the hole that appears. To ensure air flow, the tap does not close.
Termex
To turn off the Termex boiler, remove the touch screen.
To properly turn off the Termex boiler, you need to remove the touch screen. The cable connects the control board and the external board; it is disconnected from the power module and a thin 1.5 meter cord is connected. After this, remove the touch screen sticker, the display device panel on the screws becomes visible.
The hardware is unscrewed, the module and cable are removed using a cord. The heating element is attached to one nut, which is unscrewed counterclockwise.
Electrolux
Draining is done through a standard hole in the safety valve or a pre-cut tap is used. The cold water supply and power supply are turned off. At the level of the drain sleeve, a pipe is placed through which the liquid flows. The hose is placed in the sink, bathtub or toilet.
Other
Gorenje brand boilers are drained according to a standard algorithm. The power supply and the tap from which hot liquid flows are turned off. After the water has been completely removed, a hose is put on the cold pipe and led into the drain tank. The cold supply valve is opened to allow air to enter, allowing any residue to drain out.
Removing liquid from an Acquaverso heater is not difficult if the attachment and connection have been made correctly. The algorithm is standard - turn off the water, turn off the power to the boiler, drain the liquid through the valve.
Starting the boiler after inactivity
Typically, “downtime” of equipment is a period from two weeks to 2-3 months. At this time, the water heater must be completely disconnected from the electrical network and water supply. The period of inactivity is not always accompanied by complete drainage of the water from the tank and drying of the entire water supply system, however, if you know in advance that you will not use the boiler for a long time, it is better to drain the water from the tank. Then bacteria dangerous to health will not multiply inside it. The activation button on the boiler body must also be set to inactive. If the equipment is not used for a long time, microbes can accumulate inside the tank and rust can develop.
- Shut off the hot water supply pipe, otherwise the liquid heated by the boiler after startup will flow into the common pipe.
- Fill the container with cold water from the common riser, then open the heated liquid outlet tap on the boiler (red marker).
- Drain the water and wait until a steady stream appears, indicating that there is no air in the tank.
- Turn on the water heater itself using the “Power” or “On” button (depending on the model).
- Connect the equipment to the power supply system, adjust the temperature settings and perform a test heating.
If your heater model has a protection and self-diagnosis system, if there are problems, the device will notify you of them with a sound or light indication. In other cases, you need to independently check the status of the indicators on the indicator panel every 10-15 minutes until the water is completely heated in order to ensure that the equipment is fully operational.
