Natural gas continues to be the most profitable coolant, and a gas boiler is the most convenient equipment for heating a private home. Owners of gas boilers have at least once encountered or heard about such an unpleasant phenomenon as spontaneous extinguishing of a gas boiler.
And although the automation of modern devices excludes the supply of gas when the burner flame disappears, the house cools down quite quickly in winter. In the absence of owners, the water in the pipes of the heating system may freeze, which will lead to catastrophic consequences. Therefore, if you observe episodic or regular extinguishing of the boiler, you need to find out the reason and find a way out.
Why does a gas boiler go out?
Unfortunately, calling a gas service technician is not always convenient, and sometimes you have to wait a long time for his visit. However, there are a number of cases when you can fix the problem yourself. In other situations, on the contrary, even a visit from a professional will not save you - if the culprit is the weather with strong squally winds or improper design and placement of the gas outlet pipe.
Tips for proper operation of a gas boiler
Any equipment wears out when used for a long time. Therefore, when purchasing, it is necessary to carefully study the instructions and main elements in order to know what may break. Knowing the design, you can determine which part has failed. The boiler will go out in a strong wind, and therefore it is advisable to cover the chimney with protective caps. If the gas boiler (Conord, Mimax or other popular types) is still under warranty, then the manufacturer should not repair it himself. In this case, you need to contact a specialist who will carry out the appropriate repairs.
About once every six months it is advisable to check the chimney for contamination in a gas boiler.
If you use the equipment correctly and follow the recommendations of specialists and follow safety precautions, then problems with attenuation can be avoided or eliminated on your own. If the damage is serious, you will have to contact a service center, where the failed parts will be replaced. This information will be enough to understand what to do if the gas boiler goes out.
Clogged igniter and burner nozzles
Natural gas, which runs in household pipelines, is not a 100% pure substance - it contains additives and impurities. Some of them are added intentionally (for example, to create a specific “gas smell”), others are formed as a result of careless cleaning.
And the gas itself (a mixture of methane and in small quantities - propane, butane and ethane) does not burn without a residue - hours of operation of the burner generate soot and soot, which gradually settles on the boiler parts and can lead to clogging and clogging of thin channels and holes - jets , through which gas is supplied to the igniter and the burner itself.
An atmospheric boiler igniter is a special device that allows a small flame to burn. When the gas supply is turned on cyclically, it is the gas that ignites the mixture supplied from the burner. A constantly burning “wick” smokes even more than a burner, since the pressure in the igniter is low. If soot clogs the pilot nozzle, the boiler will not be able to turn on the next time.
A sure sign of clogging and sootiness of the igniter is the yellow color of the flame. Therefore, the igniter must be cleaned in a timely manner to prevent the channel from blocking.
Burner nozzles become clogged much less frequently, since gas is supplied there under pressure in large portions, but this situation cannot be completely excluded.
Expert opinion
Filimonov Sergey Vinokurovich
Heating equipment repairman
If you decide to clean the jets yourself, be careful. The fact is that the nozzle channels are made of relatively soft metals - copper or brass. Using steel wire or a brush can damage the equipment. Use copper wire or a brass brush.
Solenoid valve or thermocouple malfunction
Automatic gas supply, even in the simplest floor-standing atmospheric boilers, includes an electromagnetic valve that opens the gas supply and a thermocouple.
A thermocouple is essentially a metal sensor that monitors the presence of temperature, sends a signal about it to the solenoid valve, which, in turn, opens the gas supply to the burner. The thermocouple registers the operation of the igniter.
If the igniter works, but it is faulty, then the boiler will go out and will not turn on again without a restart or never at all (depending on the degree of failure). The same thing will happen if the reason is in the solenoid valve - even if there is a signal from the thermocouple, the gas supply may be stopped.
Both the thermocouple and the solenoid valve can be changed independently if you have the appropriate tools and skill. However, in the absence of experience, it is still recommended to resort to the services of a specialist, since the boiler is operating normally.
Non-volatile boiler goes out
Conventional atmospheric gas boilers also have a number of features that lead to troubles in the form of burner extinguishing.
- When trying to ignite the boiler, the pilot light goes out immediately after releasing the gas supply valve button. In this case, it is worth blaming a malfunction of the thermocouple, which heats up from the wick and maintains the solenoid valve in the open state.
- Even the burner and igniter do not ignite. Most often, this is a weak contact in the electrical circuit between the automation unit and the traction sensor. It is worth cleaning the contacts with fine sandpaper and tightening their connections.
- The wick burns weakly or the yellow flame flickers unstable. The reason for this is a clogged gas supply nozzle, namely the nozzles or strainer, or both at the same time. The problem is solved by cleaning and blowing out the listed elements.
Let's summarize. There are many reasons why a gas boiler goes out. If this does happen, I recommend first trying to determine the cause yourself rather than calling the gas service. After all, everyone wants to make money. It’s as easy as shelling pears to cheat an amateur (owner) out of money from an experienced gas worker. And the reason may not be in the boiler at all.
Lack of air draft in the system
An atmospheric gas boiler operates on the same principle as its ancestors - coal and wood stoves. Natural gas burns when air enters, and combustion products are carried out through the chimney outside the house.
Lack of traction in the system
In order for the entire system to work successfully, draft is necessary - a constant flow of air from the boiler burner to the head of the chimney. If there is no draft, the combustion products will not leave the combustion chamber at the required speed, and the boiler will go out.
Expert opinion
Filimonov Sergey Vinokurovich
Heating equipment repairman
Traction can be checked with a match or lighter. If you bring their light to the burner window (while turning off the gas supply), you can see the deflection of the flame. Inward means there is a thrust, the flame does not move - there is no thrust. Sometimes the light deviates towards the room - this means reverse thrust.
Next, remove or disassemble the outlet pipe to the chimney. In modern boilers, this is simply done by loosening a couple of screws or loosening special quick-assembly clamps. After checking the draft, it becomes clear where the reason for its absence is - in the boiler itself or in the chimney.
During operation, the chimney not only becomes clogged with soot and other combustion products. Birds or collective insects (for example, wasps) can accidentally or intentionally get into it by making a nest. This happens in the summer when the chimney is idle.
Outlet pipe, reverse draft and wind
A case that deserves special attention is the incorrect design of the chimney outlet pipe, which creates reverse draft. The fact is that air flows can, reflected from obstacles located near the head of the pipe, blow combustion products back into the pipe and extinguish the burner flame.
Such obstacles can be densely growing tall trees, the wall of a house or the ridge of a roof. In the second and third cases, the cause is incorrect placement of the end section of the chimney. The correct location is above the highest point of the house.
Sometimes in nature there is such a phenomenon as a downward wind. Its flows are not directed horizontally, but at an angle to the surface of the earth, sometimes almost at a straight line. This means that a strong gust will blow from top to bottom directly into the pipe and, regardless of the location of the tip, return gases to the chimney channel.
In order to compensate for the phenomenon of downward wind, there is only one way - to cover the tip with a fungus, leaving sufficient distance for the burnt gases to escape.
Lack of air for gas combustion
Problem related to lack of traction. Even if the boiler and chimney are in order, the lack of fresh air entering the combustion chamber of the burner can lead to the flame extinguishing.
From our school physics course we know that combustion requires oxygen. The powerful flame of the burner quickly burns it out of the air, turning it into carbon dioxide. If very little new air enters, the combustion stops, the flame subsides, and the automation turns off the gas supply.
The cause of air deficiency in the room where the boiler is located may be:
- tightly closed windows with seals;
- closed solid doors with a high threshold;
- improperly organized ventilation (air is taken in by a hood, exhaust fan or other active devices).
Expert opinion
Filimonov Sergey Vinokurovich
Heating equipment repairman
For the operation of atmospheric boilers, good supply ventilation in the boiler room or other room where the gas unit is located is mandatory!
Why does the gas water heater go out?
The geyser goes out for various reasons, in order to understand why, you need to understand whether it goes out immediately after ignition or during operation. Below we will look at faults that cause the burner to go out. You will also learn what to do in such situations.
As soon as you notice that your water heater goes out after ignition, it is recommended to turn off the gas and remove the batteries from the gas water heater; this will ensure the safety of the residents of not only your apartment, but the entire house until the gas water heater repair technician arrives. We do not recommend making repairs yourself.
You can fix many problems yourself, but you should remember that a geyser is a complex unit that runs on GAS and improper maintenance can lead to an emergency and even an explosion. Be carefull.
Pressure drop in the gas line
If the gas does not supply at the required pressure, the burner goes out and does not turn on. The reason for the drop in pressure may be routine work on the gas pipeline or a leak. The latter can occur outside the site or on its territory.
Carefully check the gas inlet along the entire length of the pipe. If there is a leak somewhere, the smell of gas and hissing will tell you everything. If you find a leak, do not try to fix it yourself! Call the gas service.
Sometimes the cause of insufficient pressure at the boiler inlet can be a clogged or faulty meter. Since it is sealed and it will not be possible to disconnect the pipe, you will also have to call specialists to check it.
Problems with attenuation in closed gas boilers
If in atmospheric boilers much depends on external factors - wind, draft, characteristics of the chimney, then in devices with a closed chamber, air is forced in, using a special turbine, and combustion products are discharged outside in the same way. For these purposes, a coaxial chimney is used, which can be placed in any part of the house.
Therefore, the attenuation of turbocharged gas boilers is specific. Most often it is caused by freezing of the external pipes of the outlet channel, because in a coaxial chimney the cold air inlet is adjacent to the hot exhaust manifold. As a result, ice forms in the winter season, which can eventually clog the channel so much that the automation turns off the burner.
Another reason lies in the design of the boiler itself. A breakdown of the turbine or blower fan will lead to failure of the entire system, since boilers with a closed burner cannot operate as atmospheric ones.
Expert opinion
Filimonov Sergey Vinokurovich
Heating equipment repairman
A nice bonus for users of more advanced volatile boilers is their ability to display an error code on the screen. By consulting the user manual, you can determine the cause of the unit’s attenuation.
Other causes and solutions
If a gas boiler was working properly, and then began to constantly go out, then the problem often lies in a change in air flow in the room with the heat generator. Installing new sealed windows, tightly closing doors, kitchen hoods, ventilation systems - all this leads to a lack or excess of oxygen in the firebox. Initially, the thrust was designed for one set of conditions, but they suddenly changed dramatically.
If the reason cannot be found, call a specialist
Here, it is often impossible to do without arranging a forced air flow into a room with a gas water heater. Moreover, the price of these additional systems often turns out to be such that it is better to look at electric boilers for heating a private home. They need a lot of electricity, but there will definitely be no problems with draft and smoke removal.
Question answer
Does the damping of the boiler depend on the material from which the chimney is made?
No, it doesn't depend. It is rather the configuration and location of the pipe that is decisive.
Are there any restrictions that prohibit changing the design of the chimney of atmospheric boilers?
SNiPs prohibit the installation of overhead deflectors and caps on the chimneys of gas boilers. However, sometimes installing them is the only way to compensate for backdraft caused by wind.
Is it possible to restart if the boiler suddenly goes out?
You need to proceed from the situation. If we are dealing with an atmospheric engine and the burner is blown out by the wind, then a restart is needed. If there is a suspicion of a leak in the house, it is better to wait for the gas service to arrive.
How to arrange ventilation in a boiler room?
The best option is active supply ventilation in the form of a ventilation duct equipped with a fan. For low-power boilers, a passive one is also suitable - in the form of ventilation grilles.
Are there any special reasons for attenuation in double-circuit boilers?
In addition to the reasons listed, double-circuit boilers can go out if the tightness between the heating and hot water circuits is broken.
The extinguishing of a gas boiler is an unpleasant incident that can happen even with a properly designed system and perfect technology. However, systematic attenuation is a reason to look for the cause and eliminate it.
The boiler goes out
Common reasons why a gas boiler goes out include:
- Pressure drop in the gas pipeline;
- Problems with the chimney (clogging);
- Failure of the gas meter and sensors in the boiler;
- Gas leaks and lack of traction;
- Blowing wind into a chimney.
The chimney inevitably becomes clogged with soot, debris, and even birds flying in over time. It needs to be cleaned regularly. However, even if it is absolutely clean, the chimney may simply lose draft due to a sharp gust of wind or improper installation of the chimney as a whole. The wind blew strongly and the torch in the furnace goes out, heating the coolant stops.
The chimney may be clogged and needs to be cleaned.
In some cases, the smoke channel will have to be increased in height. The chimney should not be blocked by trees or the ridge of the roof. At the same time, it should not rise too high above the roof either. There are strict rules. They must be followed accurately when installing a chimney pipe, otherwise the newly installed gas boiler will not even work. The chamber will not have the necessary draft, and therefore no oxygen. And without it, methane does not burn.
Often a gas boiler goes out, simply because the automation switches it off. This is possible due to the detection of a leak by a gas analyzer, the operation of a thermocouple and a malfunction of the meter. That is, protection is activated to prevent fires and breakdowns of heating equipment.
Here you need to look for the root cause - why the protective elements are activated. And only then think about what to do in a specific situation. And often only a specialist from a company servicing gas equipment can identify and eliminate problems. This pumping station for a private home can be serviced with your own hands. Gas-powered equipment must only be inspected and repaired by specialists. These are the requirements of the laws in this area.
