How to install a boiler yourself?
Do-it-yourself boiler installation is not a complicated process, but it has its own characteristics. A special tool and a soldering iron are required, and can be purchased at a plumbing store.
Preparatory work before installing the boiler yourself
Installing a boiler is a fairly simple process, but many nuances must be observed when implementing it. Otherwise, it will not work, or it will quickly fail. Before proceeding with the installation, you should reproduce the connection diagram on paper - where hot and cold water will be embedded.
Also, before installing the boiler, you must:
- make room for the boiler itself;
- check the strength of the wall - the stock should be double (if the boiler is 50 liters, then fasteners are needed for 100 liters);
- determine the type of wiring (copper / aluminum) and the cross-section of the cable embedded in the walls - the water heater is a very powerful consumer;
- check the condition of the water pipes.
The installation of the boiler should be carried out by two people, since this process is quite laborious. That is why it is desirable to free up the maximum amount of space for work. This will save you time.
Often the walls in old houses are not very strong. You need to check them. This is done as follows:
- installation of the included fasteners on the wall is carried out;
- a pair of bags of cement are suspended from the hooks.
If the fasteners withstand, then you can safely hang on it a load half the test load.
Before starting the installation of the boiler with your own hands, you should check whether the cross-section of the wiring laid in the walls is large enough. For example, to connect a water heater with a power of 2 kW, a copper cable is required, the cross-section of which is 2.5 mm2 and more. Overloading can cause electrical wiring to melt. This threatens a fire.
To connect the water heater, you must cut into the pipes. Often their condition, especially in old houses, leaves much to be desired. Therefore, it is not uncommon for those who want to install a boiler, at the same time, to change the pipes in the apartment. Read also:DIY laminate laying - step by step instructions + video
Necessary tools for self-installation of the boiler
Self-installation of the boiler is possible only if all the necessary tools are available, which include:
- puncher;
- set of drills;
- spanners and adjustable wrenches;
- a set of screwdrivers of various types (slotted and Phillips);
- pliers;
- nippers.
In addition to tools, materials will be required, without which it will be impossible to install the boiler:
- tow (or other type of winding);
- fum tape;
- shut-off valves (3 taps);
- tees (3 pcs.);
- connecting hoses of sufficient length;
- pipes.
In the event that you need to replace part of the wiring, you need to stock up on the following items:
- 3-core copper cable with a cross-section of at least 2.5 mm2;
- socket block with grounding;
- electrical tape;
- automatic.
Installing a storage boiler
In order to find out how to properly install the boiler, you need to familiarize yourself with the attached documentation. Since each model has its own characteristics, all of them must be taken into account during installation. Most often, storage water heaters are installed in apartments, since they consume less electricity, and their cost is low.
The installation of the boiler itself is carried out in the following order:
- the wall is marked, fasteners are mounted on it;
- the water heater is placed on the wall;
- a tie-in into the water supply is carried out;
- the container is filled with water, the absence of leaks is checked;
- power is supplied, the operation of the device is checked.
Marking is carried out using regular chalk. After the points for fastening are marked, holes should be drilled into the wall with a punch. Further, using a mallet or an ordinary hammer, dowels are hammered. Hooks or other fasteners that come with the water heater are hung on them. The number of holes to be drilled can be 2 or 4.
It is very important to consider the height of the water heater. Since it often happens that the distance from the fastener to the top of the case is very large. And, having missed, you can easily not fit the heater in height. Therefore, before proceeding with the marking, it is worth using a tape measure and checking the height.
In order to find out how to install a boiler with your own hands so as to avoid its subsequent breakdown, you need to contact experienced locksmiths. You should also use their help if the water pipes are rotten - they will need to be completely replaced. If the pipes are in order, then connecting the boiler will not cause problems. When there are already removed taps, it is enough just to connect them to the boiler using the flexible hoses purchased in advance. Outlets for hot and cold water are marked in red and blue, respectively.
If there are no pre-prepared taps for connection, then you need to mount them yourself. This will require metal-plastic or polypropylene pipes, as well as a couple of hours of time.
Particular attention must be paid to the overpressure relief valve. It must be installed correctly, choose the right direction of water flow.
This valve automatically releases excess pressure if it occurs during operation. That makes it possible to avoid boiler breakdown, as well as flooding. That is why the use of such a valve is strictly mandatory. If not included, please purchase separately.
When all the installation work is completed, it is necessary to completely fill the container with water and keep it in this state for one hour. If no leaks are found, you can turn on the water heater in the network and carry out a trial heating of the water.
Instructions for self-installation of the boiler are available on many Internet resources. That is why in most cases the participation of a specialist in this process is not required. For a successful installation, you just need to purchase the required amount of material and the required tool.