Installation standards and requirements
All types of work with gas supply, which involve installing tees, supplying a gas pipe and installing shut-off valves on a gas pipe, should be entrusted to specialists from an organization that has the appropriate license. If this provision is ignored, you may be forced to pay a fine.
Column installation work must be divided into two categories. The first involves installing the device from scratch. The second is replacing the old device with a new one. In the first case, you will need to supply a gas pipe to the location of the water heater. You should also take care of the availability of the project. This work is carried out by gas utilities in each region or by a company with a license for a certain type of activity. In this case, you cannot do anything on your own.
If the project is ready and everything is agreed upon, then you can do some of the work yourself, saving money. It is necessary to begin manipulations after drawing up the project and obtaining approvals and permits. The installation standards for the described equipment are regulated by SP 42-101-2003, which sets out the provisions for the construction and design of gas distribution systems. One should also take into account the SNiP act 42-01-2002, which talks about gas distribution systems.
When replacing a gas water heater, you must make sure that the ceiling height is at least 2 m. There must be a chimney in the room. Its diameter is 120 mm. These do not include “stuffers” in apartments. The water supply must maintain a pressure of 0.1 atmospheres. Geysers should not be installed in bathrooms.
Installation must be carried out on walls made of non-combustible materials. The appliance should not be placed above a gas stove. If this cannot be avoided, then the distance should be more than 10 cm. If the column that was used in the bathroom needs to be replaced and complies with technical standards, then installation is allowed in the same room.
Documentary support of the issue
Make a request to call a technician from the smoke and ventilation duct control service and order through him a report on the condition of these ducts. The service is paid – $30. A technician is typically scheduled to check once every 6 months.
It is recommended to order a certificate of family composition with registration from the passport specialist.
Prepare a photocopy of the technical passport of the premises, which indicates the placement of gas appliances.
Certificate of ownership of the apartment - photocopy, identification code.
Draw up an application and submit, along with the above documents, to the city gas department with an accompanying appeal.
Dismantling the column
Replacing a geyser should begin with dismantling the old device. If you carry out this work yourself, you can save up to 800 rubles. Manipulations should begin by cutting off gas access to the equipment. To do this, the valve at the end of the pipe is closed. Using an open-end or adjustable wrench of the appropriate size, unscrew the hose fixing nut.
Sometimes there is a method of supplying gas using a metal pipe. It is quite rare for a gas pipe to be damaged when the hose is unscrewed. If a piece of metal pipe was used for the connection, then an unpleasant outcome is quite real. This is especially true when the joint has been painted with paint year after year.
You should not use excessive effort to remove the layer. A solvent is used for this. The gas pipe must be held while unscrewing the nut. This reduces the chances of damaging communications. After disconnecting from the gas pipe, the hose is removed from the point of entry into the device. If it has recently been replaced and its condition is satisfactory, you can reuse this part of the system when connecting a new speaker. When there is doubt about the reliability of the hose, you should purchase a new one. When purchasing, you must choose a certified, proven product that will ensure safety.
Who has the right to change a column
At first glance, this task seems simple: disconnect the old column from the water supply and from the gas supply pipe and put a new one in its place, connecting the pipes in the same way.
This is how many people think, believing that if they replace the gas water heater with their own hands, the price of this work will amount to significant savings. But the fact is that the water heater, like any other gas appliance, is a potentially dangerous piece of equipment, and any work with it is legally limited. The requirements for the procedure for replacing a gas water heater are specified in SNiP 42-01-2002 and SP 42-101-2003, and violation of these rules entails serious liability. If the apartment owner did this work himself, then the saved cost of replacing the gas water heater can be covered many times over by fines reaching 15,000 rubles. If the result of incorrect replacement of a gas appliance is an accident resulting in human casualties, the punishment develops into criminal liability up to imprisonment for up to 5 years. Only employees of gas services or enterprises that have a Gorgaz license to carry out such work have the right to officially carry out work on replacing a gas water heater. The organization that performed the work draws up a certificate of completion and makes a stamped note in the dispenser’s passport to confirm its commissioning. This will also allow you to save on fines - the official replacement of a gas water heater in an apartment (price - up to 5,000 rubles) is much cheaper than a possible fine for unauthorized actions. The presence of such a seal will also become the basis for placing the equipment under warranty and will mark the start date of the warranty period.
Features of dismantling: turning off the water supply and purchasing additional consumables
When replacing a gas water heater, the next step is to turn off the water supply system. If taps are provided to turn off the column, you should turn them off. If this is not possible, you need to shut off the supply to the apartment. In the latter case, before installing a new device, you must purchase two taps for the water outlet and inlet. These elements are installed on the part of the pipe where the connection will be made. This should make servicing the device easier in the future.
After disconnecting the column from the water supply system, it is necessary to remove the connecting pipe from the outlet of the device and remove it from the chimney. The column is disabled. It can be removed from the mount. The space for installing a new unit has become free. You can proceed to the next stage of work.
Solution of the problem
Contact the housing department with a request to provide certified photocopies of the design of your apartment in terms of gas supply, smoke ventilation, water supply, installation location and parameters of the gas water heater.
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This means you are replacing the speaker in the same place and in the same room. The parameters of a new gas water heater in terms of gas consumption should not exceed the same parameters of the existing one.
Zhek is the balance holder of your house and is required to have such documents. The administration of the housing estate can safely refuse, citing privatization, change of ownership, lack of an archive, etc.
Then you will have to agree to walk around the offices of the city gas department.
Installation of a new water heater: preparation of materials
Before starting installation, ensure that you have the following materials:
- galvanized pipe;
- rings for entering the chimney;
- asbestos or metal chimney.
Galvanized pipe can be replaced with corrugated pipe. If this item is included in the kit, you won’t have to spend money. Otherwise, you need to determine the diameter of the outlet hole or look at this parameter in the instructions.
When replacing a gas water heater in a house, you will need a pipe made of metal or asbestos. Its diameter should be 120 mm. This value can be increased. The length should be 2 m. By increasing this parameter you can improve traction.
You will also need a standard gas hose. Its size will depend on specific conditions. For example, the step from the end of the gas pipe to the entry into the device. It is important to consider the type of thread at the entrance to the unit. The hose end must fit and match the thread type. The water supply connection point is prepared in advance.
You will need two connecting hoses. This work can be carried out using a metal-plastic pipe. In the latter case, you should decide whether a coupling is needed so that the dimensions of the pipe and the connection point fit together. When replacing a gas water heater in an apartment, you will also need dowels, which will allow you to mount the device on the wall. If there is no coarse filter in the house, it is necessary to install one. The service life of the unit will depend on the quality of the water.
How will the process of dismantling the gas water heater take place and how long will it take?
The replacement process does not occur spontaneously. It involves the work of gas service specialists. You can dismantle a gas water heater in an apartment yourself, but to do this, the homeowner must have experience and specific knowledge.
In what cases is it necessary to resort to dismantling?
Common reasons for replacement include:
- The old one does not turn on or is faulty
- Basic equipment systems do not work
- Replacement with a modern and powerful model.
In some cases, it is dismantled due to redevelopment of an apartment or renovation of a private house.
Preparing tools
Depending on how complex the job will be, some tools will be needed. Among them are:
- adjustable wrench;
- perforator;
- tow;
- sealant;
- open-end wrenches.
The hammer drill should come with a set of chisels and drills. You will need a drill with a drill bit that is designed for working with ceramic tiles.
Column installation
When replacing a gas water heater with a new one, you should mark the points for mounting the fasteners. It is necessary to determine the height of the device so that the connecting pipe has a length of 50 cm from the outlet to the outlet. When the height of the room is more than 2.7 m, this value should be reduced to 25 cm.
The height of the water heater must be such that children do not have free access to the device. It is necessary to measure the distance between the mounting holes on the housing. Using a puncher or drill, holes are made for installing dowels. Next, the hooks are installed. After this, the column can be hung on the wall.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
Violating the rules for using gas can lead to irreparable consequences. This fully applies to situations related to the replacement of gas appliances.
The video explains how you can’t install a geyser, the cost of incompetence, and how to avoid such mistakes and fines:
An example of installation work to replace a column is shown in the following video:
Tips for choosing the right gas supply hose are given in the video review:
Sooner or later, every owner may face the need to replace a gas water heater. Regardless of whether the water heater is installed in its original location or moved to another, compliance with these standards and requirements will be checked by a gas service inspector when putting the device into operation. Properly completed documentation will eliminate claims from regulatory authorities and penalties.
Would you like to share your own experience of replacing a gas water heater? Or do you still have questions that we did not cover in our material? Ask them to our experts and other site visitors, participate in the discussion, share your experience - the contact form is located below.
The geyser is an integral part of our life. But there comes a time when it needs to be replaced. How to choose the right new speaker, install it and care for it, we will consider further.
Connecting the device using hoses or pipes made of polyvinyl chloride
It is necessary to connect the water supply to the input of the column. The hose is convenient to use, because there is no need for tape or tow at the joints. It is necessary to connect the cold water tap in series with the column inlet. The same principle is used to connect the hot water outlet to the tap. After this, you need to open the cold and hot water tap, observing the tightness. If no leak is found, you can tighten the fixing nuts on the hose.
Replacing the membrane in a Neva brand column
To replace the membrane in the Neva geyser, the equipment is turned off, as is the supply of cold water and gas. One of the water taps must be opened to relieve pressure in the pipes. The next step is to remove the casing. Its attachment points are quite easy to find. The mounting screws are located under the pads.
Replacing the membrane in the gas column begins after removing the casing, which opens access to the internal structure of the device. The element is located in the water regulator as a separate part. It's easy to find. It will include a cold water pipe. To remove the regulator, you need to unscrew the union nuts securing the pipes. After this, the water regulator is removed. It must be disassembled to replace the membrane. It is important to pay attention to correct assembly. The element should not be installed upside down, otherwise you will block the bypass channel connecting the halves of the water unit.
