What determines the service life of a gas boiler and is it possible to extend it?

At the final stage of construction of a country house or winter cottage, the question arises of arranging individual heating, selecting and installing heating equipment. Every buyer wants his heating device to work as long as possible and not break down often, so when choosing equipment you should pay attention to the service life of the boiler, the strength and reliability of the materials, the build quality, and the name of the manufacturer. The operation of domestic boilers installed in residential buildings is subject to special standards and requirements, compliance with which is carefully monitored by gas workers.

Gas boiler service life

The service life of a gas boiler depends on many factors, and first of all, on the class of the device. Inexpensive heating equipment will last 8–12 years without serious breakdowns, while mid-price models will last 15 years or more.

Economy class	Price – up to 40 thousand rubles. The device provides only a basic set of functions, without unnecessary bells and whistles, but ensures reliable and safe operation. Budget equipment is not capricious and is adapted to pressure drops and power supply failures. Manufacturers BAXI (Italy), Navien (Korea) and others.
Middle segment	Price – up to 100 thousand rubles. Heating devices included in this group are distinguished by increased performance, high build quality and functionality.They are equipped with automation designed to regulate fuel consumption and heating power depending on the area of the house and other parameters. Among the advantages are silent operation, an auto-shut-off function, and a display on which the problem code is displayed. Manufacturers: Protherm (Slovakia), Bosch, Buderus (Germany).
Premium class	Price – up to 200 thousand rubles. This is the case when, having invested a significant amount in the purchase, you can save significantly during further operation. Premium class devices are 100% efficient and consume a minimum of electricity and fuel. Such boilers are fully automated and can operate in a smart home system. Manufacturers – Wolf, Vaillant, Bosch (Germany).

Several other factors influence the operating time of heating equipment.

Installation method and heat exchanger material

According to the installation method, heat generators are divided into two types: floor-mounted and wall-mounted.

Floor-standing - powerful units, for the manufacture of which they use durable materials that can withstand high pressure and temperature. Heat exchangers for such devices are made of steel or cast iron.
Mounted - more compact and lightweight devices made of thin metal. Wall-mounted boilers use a copper heat exchanger, which conducts heat well and at the same time is lightweight. A significant drawback of this design is that copper is susceptible to corrosion, which is why the heat exchanger often fails, which shortens the life of the boiler.

Burner type

Gas boilers use two types of burners:

Atmospheric - in order to maintain the flame, air is taken from the room, combustion products are discharged through the ventilation shaft.
Forced boost — air is taken in through a chimney from the street; a special fan is installed to remove smoke.

A boiler with forced ventilation operates more efficiently, while the load on the main components and parts is much less than in devices with atmospheric burners. In addition, the nozzles are not clogged with soot, and the device does not have to be cleaned again, which extends its service life.

Electronic control

Many modern models of gas boilers are equipped with electronic sensors that monitor the operation of the equipment.

It is very convenient when the device has an automatic switching function after stopping due to a temporary interruption in gas supply. But all these “conveniences” require connection to an electrical network, an unstable voltage in which can lead to damage to the device or shorten its service life.

Correct operation

The service life of heating equipment depends on compliance with operating rules. Usually the boiler is installed in a separate room, the area of which is 5–7 square meters. m. The boiler room must have a window and a good exhaust hood. It is important that there is no high humidity in the room, otherwise the metal parts of the boiler will quickly rust and the device will fail. To reduce the formation of scale in the boiler tubes, water softening filters are installed.

Period of technical examination of the boiler and fittings

The operation of a gas boiler must not only be stable and efficient, but also safe. Therefore, each owner must submit his heating device for inspection in due time, which is carried out by Kotlonadzor inspectors.They check the technical condition of the device, compliance with the rules for installing and operating the heater.

The examination is carried out according to the following plan:

Once a year, the inspector conducts an external inspection of the operating boiler and fittings, if necessary, identifies external defects and sets a time frame for their correction.
Every three years, an internal inspection of the boiler is carried out. It is necessary to prepare for this event in advance: the boiler is stopped, cooled, cleaned of scale and soot, the condition of the walls, rivets and welds is checked, and the metal is checked for cracks or corrosion.
Once every six years, a hydraulic test of the heater is carried out. This is necessary in order to check the tightness of pipes, as well as riveted and welded joints. If the inspector has no doubts about the performance and safety of the heating equipment, the event may be postponed for three months.

Based on the results of the inspection, a resolution is made on the possibility of using the boiler in the future and an entry is made in a special journal.

Time frames for the industrial safety examination of boilers

The examination of industrial safety of boilers is carried out by specialists from Rostechnadzor. This event allows you to assess the safety of heating equipment and determine whether the device used complies with current regulations.

Only boilers with a pressure above 0.07 MPa that are classified as hazardous production facilities require an industrial safety examination.

In addition, an examination of the industrial safety of boilers is necessary in the following cases:

the end of the service life established by the manufacturer;
expiration of the previous examination;
after an emergency stop;
if the boiler operating conditions are violated;
according to special instructions from technical supervision.

The service life of a boiler used to heat a home or office depends on many factors. Devices that use steel or cast iron radiators and forced air burners will last a long time. If the device is equipped with electronics and requires connection to the mains, it is better to install a voltage stabilizer. It’s good if the boiler is easy to repair and there are centers nearby that provide servicing of heating equipment and, if necessary, repair, flushing or replacement of worn parts.