No one wants to live in a cold apartment or house. It is even less rational to spend money by paying for resources that are not optimally spent. Unfortunately, even the most advanced individual heating system can become clogged. For a common utility network, this phenomenon is inevitable. Cold or different temperature radiators in the rooms are the first sign that it is worth renting or purchasing a compressor to flush the heating system and carry out the appropriate procedure.

Why pipes become clogged, and when the heating system needs to be flushed

During operation, any heating system in one way or another experiences pipe contamination. This may be a rather small sedimentary layer, the accumulation limit of which is limited by the volume of the coolant in an isolated network. But in public distribution piping systems, the amount of dirt can become so large that water stops moving completely. There are several reasons for this phenomenon:

• dirty coolant, soil getting into the heating network during pipeline repairs;
• accumulation of waste products of bacteria;
• the formation of a sedimentary layer of mineral salts, the concentration of which in the public heating structure is quite stable due to the constant addition of water to the boilers;
• the consequences of the destruction of steel pipes, the remains of oxidized metal.

Advice! Determining that you need to purge the heating system with a compressor or another cleaning procedure is quite simple. The first sign of a clogged radiator is uneven surface temperature. The second manifestation that speaks of clogged pipes is the differences in the heating of batteries in different rooms.

Do not think that the owners of modern individual systems will never need a compressor for flushing heating. An isolated structure, where a limited volume of coolant circulates, is generally stable without adding new portions of water with mineral impurities. However, it plays an important role fluid flow ratethe so-called volumetric pumping of the working fluid per unit time.

A warm floor is especially critical to a change in the nature of the circulation. The effective cross section of its thin tubes falls sharply even with the appearance of a modest coating on their walls. In addition, even a thin layer of deposits that does not significantly affect the fluid flow greatly reduces heat transfer in any system with steel, cast iron, aluminum or bimetallic radiators. Therefore, a compressor for flushing heating can be useful not only for service companies that provide relevant services, but also for individuals.

Compressor Flushing Methods

To do everything quickly and efficiently, it is recommended to use a compressor when flushing heating radiators, piping systems, in order to restore the heat exchanger of a gas or other heating boiler. For some procedures, specialized equipment will be required, for others, a conventional household (for example, automobile) compressor is sufficient.

Hydraulic and hydrochemical flushing

Hydraulic flushing is considered a classic of the genre. For its implementation, a water source is connected to the inlet pipe of the heating circuit after disconnecting the corresponding pipe from the boiler or tapping the outlet. It could be public water supply.

A hose is attached to the drain pipe of the heating system or a specially made tie-in to drain the dirty liquid into the sewer. For the procedure in the simplest case, no equipment is required. Water is supplied to the pipeline.

Important! The minimum pumping volume for cleaning the system must be no less than five times the amount of coolant.

The procedure can be carried out with the addition of chemicals, in the simplest case — soda ash. In this version, it is called hydrochemical. Cleaning can be carried out both manually, with the preliminary preparation of a large volume of the working composition and pouring it into the system, and with the use of a compressor. The most difficult option in the context of the equipment used looks like this.

1. A special flushing compressor creates pressure for the working solution and ensures its movement in the piping system. Instead, a circulation pump can be used.
2. At the outlet of the drain pipe, a filter is installed that traps contaminants.
3. The working solution is circulated for at least an hour.

Advice! To make sure that the cleaning is nearing completion, it is recommended to install a transparent hose on the drain pipe of the heating network. In this case, flushing lasts until the working solution comes out almost clean.

The procedure can be done using the usual car compressor. In this case, a container is mounted, a 19l polyethylene tank is quite suitable, into which purified water is poured. A removable sealing block with a tube equipped with a check valve is installed on its neck. A chemical solution will be supplied through it. An inlet for the compressor is mounted in the bottom or wall of the tank. This is a fairly simple device that you can assemble yourself.

The chemical solution is poured into the tank. A tee is used to enter the system. A water supply or other source of liquid, an outlet tube of the tank, is connected to it. The outlet from the tee will be connected to the inlet pipe of the heating system. The procedure is as follows:

• water is turned on;
• after some time, after pre-flushing, the compressor turns on;
• the chemical solution as the pressure rises enters the system.

By adjusting the performance of the compressor or performing short-term start-stop, it is easy to achieve a fairly uniform supply of the active substance. The best results are achieved with a low capacity compressor. The completion of hydrochemical cleaning should be flushing the pipe network with clean water to remove chemical residues.

Advice! In order to achieve really high-quality flushing by hydraulic or hydrochemical methods, it is recommended that after processing the system as a whole, remove the radiators and carry out a cleaning procedure for each of them separately.

Hydrodynamic cleaning

The hydrodynamic cleaning procedure allows you to remove almost all contaminants from the heating system:

• scale residues;
• soot;
• sediment solids;
• corrosion products;
• fats of organic origin;
• mineral plaque;
• waste products of bacteria.

The procedure is carried out with the help of specialized compressors equipped with nozzles that eject water with high-energy pulses. The jet has a high speed and working pressure up to 200 atm.

However, it is difficult to work with such nozzles inside pipelines. Therefore, hydrodynamic cleaning is mainly used for heating radiators. Services are provided by specialized companies, since for a private person the idea of ​​buying equipment of this class is simply irrational, its price is very high.

Bubbling or hydropneumatic flushing

Hydropneumatic flushing is the most common way to restore the parameters of the heating system. It is a process of feeding into pipes air-water mixture under considerable pressure. Its impact literally breaks plaque, breaks precipitation and perfectly cleans both pipelines and heating radiators.

There are two ways to carry out this procedure.

1. The system is filled with water and left for up to 1 hour. After that, an air compressor is connected to the inlet pipe and pressure is pumped up that pipes and radiators can withstand. The system goes through the sludge again within half an hour. At the end, the drain pipe opens and dirty water is discharged. If necessary, repeat the procedure. The compressor can be used by any, including automobile.
2. An active air-water mixture is supplied to the system. When carrying out this version of the procedure, you need to use a special compressor. The device immediately supplies the finished mixture, allowing you to carry out the washing procedure as quickly as possible.

Hydropneumatic flushing often called purge. The procedure is carried out simply, quickly, without adding chemicals to the water, which can be immediately drained from the outlet pipe into the sewer.

Advice! Hydropneumatic cleaning is recommended before putting the heating system into operation.

[iframe width=»680″ height=»383″ src=»https://www.youtube.com/embed/PoAiUtsHg58″]

Water hammer cleaning

Water supplied with a powerful impulse, at a speed of up to 1200 m per second, perfectly breaks up any deposits and dirt inside the pipelines of the heating system. This method has some danger for modern plastic pipes, non-welded joints, domestic heating boilers and boilers, thin radiators. However, water hammer is the most effective way to clean extremely clogged, old systems built on metal pipes and cast iron radiators.

For the procedure you will need:

• pneumatic gun, pressure accumulator with a pressure gauge and a valve opened by pressing the handle;
• a compressor that creates a working pressure to generate an impulse;
• liquid source, tap water can be used.

The mechanics of work are quite simple. Water is supplied to the heating system in a constant flow. The worker, monitoring the pressure indicator, starts the air gun.

Air pressure creates a hydrowave, which destroys deposits in pipes with an impulse. The time for which you can flush the system of a private house is an hour or a little more. For the fastest possible cleaning, you can use a specialized compressor, which is configured for certain water hammer parameters and the volume of fluid pumping.

Such a plant can be equipped containers with chemicals for automatic addition to the cleaning liquid, has a wide variety of protections, is able to combine water hammer with hydropneumatic mechanics, creating an air-water mixture.

Chemical cleaning

Cleaning with a concentrated active solution is a method that should be used carefully. Aluminum and silumin parts under the influence of even relatively safe citric acid can be significantly damaged. However, for steel pipes, radiators, gas heat exchangers and other boilers, this is the most convenient way to clean.

The procedure is as follows:

• the volume to be cleaned is filled with a concentrated solution;
• after the lapse of time, during which the maximum effect of the drug is achieved, it is removed from the system;
• the procedure is repeated for maximum thorough cleaning;
• the system is flushed with clean water to remove chemical residues.

In domestic conditions, the method is used with movement of the active composition. To do this, the liquid is pumped. It is most convenient to use a special compressor.

However, it is not necessary to look for equipment of this type. You can get by with the usual car compressor.

1. To do this, a container is made with two outlets at the top and bottom. The ideal option is a plastic canister with a tightly screwed lid with a capacity of at least 5 liters.
2. A compressor is connected to the upper outlet, one of the heat exchanger nozzles is connected to the lower outlet.
3. A drain pipe is connected to the second branch pipe of the heat exchanger, the end of which is placed in an open container.

The procedure looks quite simple. 2/3 active solution is poured into the canister. Turning on the compressor, start feeding. The chemical mixture passes through the heat exchanger and is drained into a container. Fluid is pumped in batches for maximum impact.

After the canister is empty, the compressor is turned on in reverse. This provides a vacuum, the active composition reverses. The chemical mixture flows back into the canister. During the entire procedure, make sure that the end of the drain tube is in the liquid. The cleaning process is completed by thoroughly washing the heat exchanger.

Good results come from the following types of active chemistry:

• alkalis;
• organic and inorganic acids;
• solvents.

Advice! With a small degree of contamination of the pipes, citric acid and even a conventional toilet cleaner can be used.

In order to flush not a separate radiator, but the system as a whole, are used specialized means. Their solution is pumped into pipelines and left for a period of 6 to 10 hours for complete dissolution of contaminants.

Choosing a Compressor for Flushing

Today, the retail market has a huge number of models of equipment for various types of flushing. It is almost impossible to formulate specific requirements for the compressor, since it is selected based on future operating conditions. This includes the volume of pumping, the ability to work in a specific mode, the ability to raise water to a height and much more. However, there are brands that have earned a good reputation and offer devices with an attractive price and technical, functional indicators.

Ropulse

Compressors of this brand are characterized by a fairly high versatility, suitable for servicing pipes, individual radiators, heat exchangers. In models there is a disinfection circuit for the pumped liquid, which allows them to clean drinking water pipelines with their help. Ropuls compressors show good performance in maintenance procedures for underfloor heating systems and even solar collectors.

Rocal

Compressors of this brand provide gentle cleaning. The devices are of the manual type, weigh little, are compact, in the operating mode they create a pressure of 1 atm. Their low productivity (on average — 40 liters per minute) allows you to carry out procedures with a minimum consumption of the active composition.

Advice! Compressors of this brand are ideal for cleaning heating systems of a private house with a coolant volume of up to 300 liters.

Cillit Boy

Compressors of this brand are able to solve almost any task. They are suitable for maintenance of systems made of steel and plastic pipes, they show good results when cleaning underfloor heating. Into the functionality of compressors includes disinfectionwhich allows them to be used for flushing drinking water networks.

The advantages of compressors include the ability to carry out hydropneumatic cleaning with a very uniform supply of air-water mixture for maximum efficiency. In addition, the devices are capable of operating in the water hammer mode.

The compressors are electronically controlled, with convenient mechanics for setting and monitoring operation parameters.

Conclusion

Cleaning a heating system using compressors is not a task that should be put off. The maintenance procedure can be carried out even with a simple car supercharger. At its end, the heating in the house will work at its maximum parameters, not only providing comfort, but also helping to save money.

[iframe width=»680″ height=»383″ src=»https://www.youtube.com/embed/zk9EBLbKXD0″]