Operation of a gas boiler during a power outage: what will happen to the equipment in the event of a problem in the electrical network

It is quite possible to endure some time without household appliances and TV.The situation is much more serious if the operation of the gas boiler is interrupted during a power outage, even for a short period of time. It is especially unpleasant if the start-up of the power grid is delayed for an indefinite period. Do you agree?

On the forums, many craftsmen claim that if the electricity supply is stopped and the gas equipment is turned off untimely, the boiler may break down. It’s even worse if carbon monoxide, which is life-threatening, leaks into the room. Are you ready to take such a risk or is it still better to abandon an electrically dependent heating source?

We won't let you freeze or empty your pockets by spending money on useless activities. We will tell you in detail about what will happen to a gas boiler if the power supply is suddenly turned off. You will learn how to ensure uninterrupted operation of even the most expensive unit packed with electronics.

Which boiler elements depend on electricity?

Power outages to houses not only in the outback, but also in cities occur quite often. They happen due to emergencies, planned repairs and technical work, and breakdowns on the line. And the most unpleasant thing is that when the electricity is turned off, the operation of the gas boiler is paralyzed if it is of the volatile type.

The non-volatile gas boiler continues to function as usual, even if there is a power outage on the power line.The only exception is if it works in conjunction with it pump, and there is no gravitational coolant circulation system provided.

Non-volatile boilers have the simplest, basic set of functions. They are less comfortable to use than their energy-dependent counterparts. But their operation is absolutely independent of energy supplies to the home electrical network, and they are less likely to fail

In a heating circuit with a boiler of the simplest type, the set of basic elements is something like this:

• smoke removal system with natural draft;
• heat exchanger;
• gas burner with nozzles for supplying gas, which is located in the combustion chamber;
• gas supply and ignition unit;
• expansion tank;
• mechanical temperature sensor;
• control module, which includes a boiler ignition system (mechanical or piezo), temperature control;
• security group (safety valve, pressure gauge, air vent).

Volatile devices are more complex in design. But is electricity really necessary and important for the operation of a gas boiler?

Depending on the model and brand, in addition to the same basic set of elements, in some cases electronic and automatic, they may provide such functions as:

• forced ventilation system;
• built-in circulation pump;
• electronic system control module;
• shut-off and control valves with electric drive;
• various sensors — water flow, temperature, flame supply, water pressure in systems, manostat, emergency systems;
• piezo ignition unit with electric drive;
• automatic temperature regulators;
• notification and remote control system;
• display showing the current performance indicators of the device

Units of this type are more reliable and much more convenient to use, and in addition, they are economical. You can set the automation to turn on and off, reducing fuel consumption, create a comfortable microclimate at home, and not worry about safety and performance.

Modern boilers are crammed with electronics. When choosing a device, also install a voltage stabilizer to protect against surges in the network

The only negative is that after a power outage, the volatile gas boiler will not be able to fully operate. It is difficult to say which functions will be completely absent; it depends on the boiler model. Some units have a combined control system - mechanical and electronic.

It is certain that forced ventilation, automatic adjustment of the flame supply to the burner, pump, display, electronic control module, in general, all devices operating on an electric drive and a constant current supply will not function.

But is everything so scary?

Are power outages dangerous?

Sellers of non-volatile appliances and uninterruptible power supplies tell customers chilling stories that look quite plausible. A person who does not understand anything at all about the design of a boiler will believe that if the current is lost, the gas supply to the burner continues.

What's really going on? When the temperature sensors, electronic control unit and pump are turned off, uncontrolled combustion of fuel occurs in the combustion chamber, which means overheating of the liquid in the heat exchanger.

Accordingly, the tubes cannot withstand, they become deformed, burst, and the water from them extinguishes the burner atmospheric gas boiler. Gas enters the room and creates an explosive situation or simply poisons people and animals. And if a forced-air ventilation system is installed in the boiler, go outside. This is also unsafe and not environmentally friendly.

Do you agree that it sounds plausible and scary? Have you already decided to run for a non-volatile boiler? But in vain!

Do not avoid performing maintenance on gas appliances and their components. Checking will show their performance, especially after power outages

In fact, electrically dependent boilers occupy a leading position in the sales market. They are installed in holiday villages, private houses, with owners spending half a day at work, and in non-residential premises where long-term repairs are being carried out.

Power outages, as mentioned earlier, are quite common. And for some reason there is no data on hourly large-scale tragedies of carbon monoxide poisoning or explosions.

Moreover, such a dangerous device would not be certified and could not in any way comply with GOST, which means that gas workers would not allow it to be used.

And now the technical details. In fact, the devices have a reliable system that ensures that the boiler is turned off in the event of force majeure, including a power outage.

Gas shut-off safety devices

Included gas boiler automation As a fast-acting shut-off system, a shut-off valve is often used, popularly called simply a cut-off valve. Unlike other shut-off valves, the valve operates automatically.

Its main purpose is to supply gas to the burner with the required pressure at a given power and completely stop the fuel supply in the event of a malfunction.This process is carried out using monitoring devices with built-in sensors.

Gas piezo blocks are non-volatile, but can be used for both types of boilers

Automation differs in the type of ignition - there are piezo ignition and electric ignition.

Piezo ignition - this is when the launch is done manually by pressing a button. It controls the operation of the flame - a thermocouple, which is heated by the igniter and, generating a direct current, ensures the open state of the valve.

As soon as, for some reason, the pilot burner stops supplying an open flame, the solenoid valve closes and the gas flow stops. Piezo ignition is an energy-dependent element of automation.

Electric ignition unit connects to a power source. Starting is carried out from an electric spark in automatic mode. This system is volatile and when the current is turned off, the valve of the device shuts off the gas supply.

It looks something like this. The differential relay has two contacts. During normal operation of the heater, one block is closed. When any change occurs in the operation of the boiler, for example, the power is turned off, the second unit is activated, and the first one opens. The relay moves, the membrane bends and the gas supply is cut off.

For how long is the power cut off?

If you, having lived for a year or two in a populated area, have not experienced frequent and prolonged power outages, this does not mean that they will not happen.

No one is insured, almost anywhere. Even in places close to large cities there were cases of week-long blackouts due to weather conditions.

In 2016, due to heavy freezing rain, entire settlements in the Moscow region were left without stable heating for a week.

Typically, the period for which the current supply is interrupted depends on its cause:

1. Short-term shutdown for a period of half an hour to 2 hours due to a scheduled network check or exceeding the consumption limit.
2. Elimination of emergency situations of a simple nature, connection of new subscribers - from 3 to 6 hours.
3. Short circuits, PTS malfunction - 12-24 hours.
4. Serious accidents involving negative weather conditions and the inability to quickly repair the line - from 1 to 3 days.

If the first 3 situations are quite tolerable in terms of timing, then if the thermal insulation of the house structure is weak or there are residents for whom coolness is contraindicated, the last option is extremely undesirable. In addition, even these deadlines cannot guarantee that even after their expiration the power supply will resume; it is better to play it safe.

Many people install an alternative heating source, for example, a stove, a fireplace, and this is, without a doubt, a reasonable combination when someone is at home all the time and can control the heating, but it is much easier and even cheaper to install a backup power supply system.

How to choose a backup power source?

The most popular option is uninterruptable power source, abbreviated as UPS. It provides a secondary power supply to the device in case of a short-term power outage on the line.

Most often, it is used to provide power to a computer so that a person has time to finalize, save information and exit the system in normal mode in the event of a power outage from the main source.

Of course, ordinary uninterruptible power supply from computer not suitable for a gas boiler. The maximum that he can do is extend the functionality of the device by 2-3 minutes, since the output produces an approximation of a sine wave or a square wave, and the boiler requires a pure sine wave. Please take this into account when purchasing a device.

A competent choice of UPS for the boiler will allow you to ensure fuel supply even when there is a power outage on the line

Ideally, an uninterruptible power supply with a power of 300-600 W is suitable, with the ability to connect a battery up to 600 Ah. The capacity of such a battery will last for 3 days.

But if for some reason you want to save money, keep in mind that:

• 50-100 Ah, will extend the operation of the boiler for a period of 3 to 8 hours;
• 200 A*h is enough for about a day of uninterrupted functionality.

Outages longer than a day require a more powerful power source. And here it is best to choose an inverter gasoline generator, which also has a pure sine wave. With the help of these devices, the gas boiler will operate in a stable mode after the load is turned off.

What happens after power supply is restored?

One of the most pressing questions for consumers is whether a volatile gas boiler will turn on automatically after a power outage?

Depending on the boiler model, after the electricity is reconnected, it may ignite automatically or only after manual starting. Devices with piezo ignition will require mechanical activation.

Devices with an atmospheric burner, as well as units with the above-mentioned pressurized system, are able to turn on independently, and even without losing the set automatic parameters, if they are equipped with electric ignition and a pressure switch.

However, auto-start does not always work either.After a large number of subscribers have lost power, when electricity is restored, the pressure in the gas pipeline may drop for some time; accordingly, the pressure switch is triggered, the equipment does not turn on, and then it can only be started manually.

For those for whom this issue is relevant, it is enough to install a delay relay or, as it is also called, “time relay" Then your boiler will not start immediately, but after some time, when the pressure in the gas pipeline is likely to equalize.

A time relay allows you to delay the automatic activation of electric ignition until the gas pressure is expected to equalize

In some cases, the electronic control module displays an error after power is supplied. This means that a minor emergency occurred before the shutdown. The decoding of the code can be found in the instructions for the heating device.

By the way, not all of them can be fixed on their own; to solve certain problems, you will need to call a specialist from GorGaz or the service department.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

How to choose a UPS for a gas boiler correctly. Purchase criteria and details:

So, as we found out, a power outage will not damage expensive, volatile equipment. All systems dependent on electricity will simply turn off, and the gas supply will be stopped by the shut-off valve.

And if you also have a UPS installed, you will not even notice a short-term interruption in the supply of current to the line.

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