Valve on water heater. We select a safety valve for the water heater. How to check whether the valve is working or not

All well-known manufacturers of water heating and heating equipment take their reputation in the market and in the consumer environment very seriously, therefore they do everything to ensure that accidents and accidents when using their products are excluded. All boilers that heat water under pressure of more than 1 bar are tested on special stands and installations. But even in this case, manufacturing companies remind in the instructions that it is mandatory to install a safety valve for the boiler. This is the only way to ensure the required level of security.

Safety valve, device and installation features

From the name alone, you can easily understand that the main function of the safety valve is to control the pressure inside the boiler. In fact, the design of a standard device includes two valves - a check valve and a safety valve, Fig.

To understand how to work with the structure, you need to understand the design of the boiler safety valve:

• Both control valve elements are assembled in a T-shaped body made of nickel, iron-aluminum or brass alloy. A check valve is installed in the vertical part of the housing, and a safety valve in the horizontal part;
• A red or blue control flag is installed on the fuse rod, with which you can forcibly discharge some of the water from the boiler;
• The control plates or petals of both valves in operating condition must be pressed against the supporting surface or “seat”;
• There is an inch pipe thread at both ends of the inlet and outlet pipes of the housing, most often its size on the safety valve for a boiler is ½ inch. For 100-200 liter tanks, a ¾-inch boiler safety valve is usually provided.

For your information! Despite the fact that both valve elements are installed in the same housing, they work and break down in completely different ways.

As an example of a high-quality device, we can recall the safety valve for a Gorenje boiler, photo.

The brass body and high-pressure casting ensure long service life even when installed on cheap Chinese boilers. The only drawback is the high price, at least $15 per piece. But if you consider that installing a valve fuse will avoid major troubles, it makes no sense to skimp on safety.

Safety valve activation

It is worth noting that both valve elements, despite the fact that they are installed in the same housing, operate completely independently of each other. The valve fuse operates in many ways similar to an automatic boiler valve. As soon as the pressure inside the container increases above the limit of 6 bar, the shut-off plate moves under water pressure, compresses the spring and releases the drain hole. Some of the water goes down the drain until the pressure equalizes to normal.

In addition, a safety valve for the boiler with a release handle allows you to clean the container from accumulated salts and sediment. To do this, once every couple of weeks you need to install the handle or flag in a horizontal position. In some models, you will need to press the flag and hold it for several minutes. Water through the drain flushes away particles and sediment accumulated in the valve mechanism.

Advice! Using a valve fuse, you can completely drain the water from the boiler for repair or maintenance.

The check valve is designed to prevent warm water from flowing from the boiler back into the supply water line. As the water in the heating tank is consumed, the locking plate rises under pressure in the line and releases the flow part to fill the boiler.

If the pressure in the water supply system sharply decreases or increases, the valve plate blocks the flow of hot water back into the main line or dampens the water hammer using a spring. It is especially important to install a safety valve for a boiler on cheap Chinese products that do not have thermostats or thermal electric relays.

Without installing a check valve and a safety valve, a Chinese boiler can easily turn into a source of danger - scalding the owners with boiling water or flooding the apartment with hot water. Master practitioners often admit that it makes sense to install a safety valve even for an indirect heating boiler, which by default should not have such problems. For example, repair work on water supply systems is almost always accompanied by water hammer and pressure surges, in which case the boiler is subjected to rigorous testing, regardless of its design.

Features of installation and adjustment of valve devices

Often, when purchasing and installing a hot water boiler, owners ignore the manufacturers' recommendations and refuse to install a safety device, citing the fact that the valve interferes with the operation of the water heater.

Complaints regarding the operation of the safety valve

In fact, abnormal operation of the valve device may have very specific reasons:

• Low quality product;
• Abnormally high pressure in the water supply;
• Incorrect installation and adjustment of the valve mechanism.

As a rule, high water pressure is typical for the first floors of apartment buildings. When installing professionally, technicians are always interested in water pressure. It is impossible to install a boiler and connect it to a water supply with water at 5-6 bar. Therefore, they try to regulate the pressure using an inlet valve or recommend installing a reduction gearbox, which will immediately solve half the problems.

The first and third cases are much more complex and dangerous than high blood pressure. As a rule, manufacturers of well-known brand boilers complete their products with very good, high-quality safety valves. When purchasing, few people check exactly what additional components and materials are included with the boiler, so branded devices are replaced during pre-sale preparation by those that are the same size, but cheaper. Therefore, when purchasing or installing, it is worth checking the operation of the device again, so as not to be surprised later that the safety valve on the boiler is leaking.

High valve quality can be determined by the following characteristics:

• The body is made of cast brass alloy, possibly with nickel plating. Cheaper iron-aluminum or copper-aluminum alloys will be lighter, with thinner body walls;
• Plastic valve plates, when pressed on the stem, touch the inner walls of the body or become wedged in an extreme state;
• The mechanism inside the valve does not ensure reliable closure of the flow even at low pressures. To check, you can press the valve stem with your finger and blow into it. If there is no reliable locking, then it is better to replace the safety valve. Moreover, if the boiler drips from the safety valve, this does not mean that the device is faulty. Most likely, the locking plate is clogged with sediment, but the mechanism itself is in working order and does not require additional adjustment.

If there is no water at all, or the water flows in a stream, this indicates that the valve plate is jammed in one of the extreme positions. The device will require dismantling, cleaning and adjustment.

But even if the boiler and safety valve are selected correctly and of the required quality, there remains a risk of improper installation and adjustment of the system by craftsmen. For example, it is not uncommon for a hot water safety valve to be installed on a boiler. To avoid finding yourself in a similar situation, it is enough to have at least a general understanding of how to install and adjust the safety valve.

Installation diagram of the device on the boiler

There are few requirements for correct installation of the valve device:

• The safety valve is always installed in the gap in the cold water line between the shut-off valve and the inlet to the boiler; no other devices should be placed in this gap;
• The maximum distance from the inlet pipe on the boiler to the valve fuse is 180-220 cm;
• For most models, the device is installed vertically, with water flowing from bottom to top. The direction of movement of the water flow is indicated by an arrow on the body.

The drain fitting on the safety valve must be connected by a transparent PVC pipe to the sewer line. The transparent tube is very convenient to use - you can clearly see how the safety valve works.

In order not to drill or cut the sewer pipe, you can use a special tee for washing machines, as in the video

Before installation, the body is carefully purged with air to avoid a loose fit of the plate to the seat due to debris or scraps of packing tape accidentally getting inside. The valve is assembled according to the traditional scheme - the threads are wound up with a hammer in the direction of tightening the union nut and twisted with the inlet or underwater hoses.

Before starting the boiler, the cold connection is pressurized under operating pressure. If no water droplets appear at the joints within 5-7 minutes, it means the installation was completed correctly.

After filling the boiler, it is necessary to check the operation of the safety and check valves. The test is carried out “cold”. The correct adjustment of the emergency water discharge can be checked with a flag. With a slight pressure, about 1/5 of the full stroke, the first drops should appear, and with full pressure the water runs in a stream. This means that the factory settings are correct.

The operation of the check valve can be checked as follows. It is necessary to fill the boiler completely, then close the shut-off valve at the entrance to the tank and the central inlet. When you open the tap in the bathroom and kitchen, water will run out of the pipes for the first couple of minutes. If the flow does not stop even after 5 minutes, it means that the “return” does not hold and requires adjustment. The flow of water from the boiler can be indirectly monitored by the pressure drop on the pressure gauge.

Only dismountable valve models can be adjusted directly. For this, special thin metal washers with a thickness of 0.2-0.3 mm are used. They are placed under sagging springs, and thereby the elasticity of the part is experimentally selected. Non-separable valves are replaced with new ones.

Conclusion

The service life of a high-quality safety valve is at least 10 years, provided that it is regularly purged and cleaned of magnesium-calcium deposits. Once every five to six years, the valve must be dismantled and washed to remove accumulated rust, debris and salts with a special liquid. Particular attention must be paid to the seal on the flag rod. To prevent the rubber from rotting out, you need to treat the working surface with silicone grease every six months.

Today I will tell you how to choose a safety valve for your water heater.
Why a valve is needed and how it works is already described in the article “Safety valve for a boiler.” Now we will decide what you need to pay attention to first when purchasing a new valve.
The most important issue is the price. In markets and stores, valves are sold for 4-5 dollars apiece. We are talking about the simplest valves that are equipped with most household boilers.
What else should you pay attention to? Let's look at several common types of valves.

First valve model. Ideal in every way. The arrow indicates the direction of water flow. The response pressure is indicated. The valve handle is fixed with a screw (a kind of foolproof protection). Pay special attention to the spout for connecting the drain tube. Any hose can be tightly put on and secured with a clamp.

Next model. The direction of the water is not indicated. Pressure not specified. The hose can be put on somehow, but cannot be fixed. It's nice to have a handle for testing the valve. Despite the large number of disadvantages, valves of this type have one big advantage - they work quite successfully.

And this is a safety valve that can be serviced. That is, clean the boiler once a year; at the same time, the valve was disassembled and cleaned. In fact, the valve lasts as long as the boiler.

Well, the last unit. Cheap and stupid. No maintenance or diagnostics. Everything is at your own risk. Is it dripping from the valve? So you’re wondering whether the spring has soured, or some other reason. But they still work. I change these valves every time I clean the water heater.
By the way, the latter type of valves is most often counterfeited. Therefore, in order not to fall for a fake made of silumin, at least estimate its weight.
What else can you recommend? This is very important! Valves with a handle must be diagnosed periodically, approximately once a month. Simply open the handle several times to flush the valve. Just remember to turn off the water at the water heater inlet.

Not only the service life of the equipment, but also the safety of residents depends on the correct piping of an electric storage water heater (boiler). That's how serious things are. And its correct piping is a safety valve for a cold water supply water heater.

What is it needed for

Installing a safety valve prevents the pressure inside the device from increasing above the standard value. What causes blood pressure to rise? As you know, when heated, water expands, increasing in volume. Since the boiler is a sealed device, there is nowhere for the excess to go - the taps are closed, and there is usually a check valve at the supply. Therefore, heating the water leads to an increase in pressure. It may well happen that it exceeds the tensile strength of the device. Then the tank will explode. To prevent this from happening, they install a safety valve for the water heater.

Maybe there is no need to install a safety valve, but simply remove the non-return valve? At a sufficiently high and stable pressure in the water supply, such a system will work for some time. But the solution is fundamentally wrong, and here’s why: the pressure in the water supply is rarely stable. There are often situations when water barely flows from the tap. Then the hot water from the boiler is forced out into the water supply system. In this case, the heating elements will be exposed. They will heat the air for some time and then burn out.

But burnt-out heating elements are not the worst thing. It’s much worse if they get hot, and at this time the pressure in the water supply rises sharply. The water that gets on the hot heaters evaporates, a sharp increase in pressure occurs - with a jerk - which leads to a guaranteed rupture of the boiler flask. At the same time, a decent volume of scalding water and steam escapes into the room under high pressure. What this could mean is clear.

How does it work

It would be more correct to call a safety valve for a water heater a valve system, since there are two of them in the device.

They are located in a brass or nickel-plated case, which looks like an inverted letter “T” (see photo). At the bottom of the housing there is a check valve that prevents the outflow of water from the water heater when the pressure in the system decreases. In the perpendicular branch there is another valve, which, if the pressure is exceeded, allows some of the water to be released through the fitting.

The working mechanism is as follows:

• While the pressure in the boiler is less than that in the water supply (when filling or when the tap is open), the check valve plate is pressed out by the flow of water. As soon as the pressure is equalized, the spring presses the plate against the protrusions of the body, blocking the flow of water.
• When the heating is turned on, the water temperature gradually increases, and with it the pressure also increases. As long as it does not exceed the limit, nothing happens.
• When the threshold level is reached, the pressure compresses the safety valve spring, and the outlet to the fitting opens. Some of the water from the boiler is released through the fitting. When the pressure drops to normal, the spring closes the passage and the water stops flowing.

Based on the principle of operation, it is clear that water will constantly drip from the fitting. This happens when the water heats up and the pressure in the water supply decreases. If you periodically see water on the fitting, then everything is working normally. But the draining liquid must be drained. To do this, put a tube of a suitable diameter on the pipe and secure it with a clamp. The normal operating pressure of the boiler is from 6 Bar to 10 Bar. Without mechanical fastening, the tube will be torn off in no time, so we select a high-quality clamp and tighten it well. Place the tube into the nearest sewer drain.

One more point: the tube for the fitting needs to be transparent and preferably reinforced (the so-called “herringbone”). Why reinforced is understandable - because of pressure, and transparent - to be able to monitor the performance of the device.

Types and varieties

If we are talking about conventional safety valves for a water heater, then they look almost the same, only the nuances differ. But it is these small details that are responsible for the convenience and safety of operation.

The photo above shows two safety valves with release levers. They are needed for periodic performance checks. The lever flag is lifted up. It pulls the spring behind it, freeing it to release water. This check should be carried out approximately once a month. You can also empty the boiler tank by raising the flag and waiting for everything to drain.

Design Features

The difference in the presented models is that the model in the photo on the left has a lever secured with a screw. This eliminates the possibility of accidental opening and complete discharge of water.

Two more differences are striking. This is an arrow on the body indicating the direction of water movement, and an inscription showing what pressure the device is designed for. Seemingly minor details. But if you can figure out the direction of water movement (look in which direction the poppet valve is turned), then the nominal value is more difficult. How to distinguish, for example, whether it is 6 Bar or 10 Bar? Only checks. How will sellers differentiate them? No way. By boxes. What if they put it in the wrong box? In general, it is better not to take a valve without markings on the body. These are usually the cheapest of the Chinese designs, but the difference in price is not so great that it is worth the risk.

Safety valves - serviceable and not

Also pay attention to the shape of the water discharge fitting. The model on the left has a long fitting and has a non-linear shape. The hose fits on it quite easily and is long enough to install a clamp. The shape of the fitting on the model on the right is different - with an extension towards the end, but more importantly, the fitting is short. You can still pull the hose onto it, but the clamp is questionable. Unless you crimp it with wire...

The following photo shows the safety valves without a forced pressure release flag. The one on the left has a threaded cap at the top. This is a serviceable model. If necessary, you can unscrew the lid to remove clogs, scale and other contaminants.

The model on the right is the worst option. No markings, forced resets or maintenance. These are usually the cheapest available, but this is their only advantage.

For large volume boilers

All of the above models are suitable for water heaters with a volume of up to 50-60 liters. Larger boilers come with other models, many of which have built-in additional devices. Typically this is a ball valve and/or pressure gauge to control pressure.

The water drain fitting here has a standard thread, so there will be no problems with fastening reliability. Such devices already have a fairly high price, but their quality and reliability are much higher.

Not everyone likes the appearance of these devices. For those who attach great importance to aesthetics, very attractive devices are produced. Their price, however, is comparable to the price of an expensive water heater, but it’s beautiful.

Is it possible to install other valves?

Sometimes, instead of a special safety valve for a boiler, a blast valve is installed, which is intended for the emergency release of heating water. Although their functions are similar, the main mode of operation is fundamentally different. The demolition device should only be used in emergency situations. It is designed for volley discharge of a large volume of liquid. It is not suitable for constantly bleeding small portions of water. Accordingly, it will not work correctly.

Another case is to install only a check valve. It will not allow water to drain when the pressure in the water supply decreases, but it will not save you from increasing pressure in the boiler. So this option doesn't work either.

How to choose and install

Select a safety valve for a water heater based on the pressure for which the unit is designed. This number is in the passport. The volume of the tank also influences the choice. They produce devices with operating limits of 6, 7, 8, 10 Bar. Basically, all units are designed for this pressure. So everything is simple here.

Installation is simple: flax tow or fum tape is wound onto the threads, after which the valve is screwed onto the pipe. Twist it all the way by hand, then another one or two turns using keys. It is much more important to choose the right place to install it. In this case, this valve is installed directly on the cold water inlet pipe.

Next there may be a check valve, which is also called a shut-off valve. But this is already reinsurance - the same device is available in the safety device, and often after the water meter at the inlet. The installation diagram is shown below. This is one of the normal options.

The diagram shows a ball valve. It is necessary to empty the tank before storing it for the winter (at dachas) or before dismantling it for prevention and repair. But more often they put it on a tee, which is screwed directly onto the inlet pipe of the water heater. A safety valve is screwed onto the tee from below, and a ball valve is placed in the side outlet.

Actually, these are all normal options.

Breakdowns, causes, elimination

In principle, the safety valve for a water heater has only two failures: water either often flows from it or does not flow at all.

First of all, it must be said that bleeding of water when heating is the norm. This is how the system is supposed to work. Water may also be released when the boiler is turned off, if the pressure in the cold water supply pipes is higher than the valve response limit. For example, the valve is 6 bar, and the water supply is 7 bar. Until the pressure drops, the water will be released. If this situation repeats often, it is necessary to install a reducer, and it is best to use water in an apartment or house, but there are compact models of reducers that can be installed at the entrance to the boiler.

How to check the serviceability of the valve? If there is an emergency reset lever, this is easy to do. With the boiler turned off, you need to lift the lever several times to release excess pressure. After this, the dripping stops and does not resume until heating begins.

If water continues to drain, the spring may be clogged. If the model is serviceable, the device is disassembled, cleaned, and then put back in place. If the model is not collapsible, you just need to buy a new valve and install it.

This is what the reducer looks like - to stabilize the pressure on the boiler

Constantly dripping water is unpleasant and hurts your wallet, but not dangerous. It is much worse if, when heating the water, you never see water in the pipe. The reason is that the valve is clogged or the outlet fitting is clogged. Check both options. If it doesn’t help, change the valve.

For modern people, hot water is the norm, ensuring a comfortable life. If there are problems with hot water supply, you can install heating devices. The most popular designs are electric boilers. The safety valve for the water heater is an important component when installing the unit. The level of safe operation and service life of the device depend on this detail.

The operating time of system elements depends on this device

Purpose of the part

A non-return safety valve for a water heater prevents sudden changes in pressure inside the device. The reason for such jumps is due to the fact that the liquid increases in volume and expands during heating. Due to the tightness of the tank, the resulting excess has nowhere to go, because the tap is turned off.

Subsequent heating may cause an increase in pressure. In this situation, there is a high probability that the permissible strength values ​​of the device will be exceeded and its walls will rupture. To avoid such moments, a check valve is being installed on the water heater.

Many owners are puzzled whether it is necessary to install a fuse if the check valve can be removed. Experts say that with high and uniform pressure levels in the systems, this scheme will work, but not for long.

This does not mean that such actions are a way out of the situation. The error of the technique is that the pressure in the system is not always stable. Excess water flows from the appliances into the water supply system, thereby exposing the heating element. By heating the air, the unit will break down after some time.

In this video you will find out why the boiler is dripping:

Burnt out structures are not the worst problem. It is important that there is a possibility of a sharp change in pressure indicators in the system. The liquid quickly turns into a vapor state, which sharply increases the pressure. In this case, the walls of the water heater will certainly burst. A large amount of hot water and steam will quickly fill the room, threatening serious consequences for the people in it.

Principle of operation

The safety valve consists of several elements. They are housed in a brass or nickel body. Often the part looks like an inverted letter T. A check valve is fixed to the bottom of the electric boiler, which prevents water from flowing out of the system when the pressure in the pipes decreases.

The operating principle of this valve is easy to understand

The perpendicular outlet consists of another valve, which is activated after an increase in pressure and discharges excess water through the fitting. The principle of operation of a check valve on a boiler is as follows:

1. If the pressure in the tank is less than in the pipes, then when the tap is opened, the check valve plate is pressed out by the water pressure. When the readings return to normal, the spring mechanism clamps the plate to the protrusion on the body, preventing fluid flow.
2. During the period of active heating, the water temperature slowly rises and the pressure increases. The mechanism is not activated until the indicators reach maximum values.
3. When the limit level is reached, the safety spring is compressed under the influence of pressure, opening the inlet channel on the fitting. Excess water flows out through this passage. After the values ​​decrease to standard, the spring closes the channel and the liquid drainage stops.

From what has been described, we can conclude that water periodically drains from the fitting. This occurs during heating of the liquid, when the pressure in the water supply system decreases.

If water is regularly present in the fitting, it means that the drain valve for the water heater is fully functioning. But at the same time it is necessary to drain the flowing liquid. To do this, a tube of the appropriate size is fixed to the nozzle; a clamp can be used as a fastening element. Normal operating pressure in the tank ranges from 6 to 10 bar. Without a strong fixation, the pipe will break, so you need to choose this part carefully. You should tighten it tightly and lead it to the drain in the sewer.

Features of different types

If we are talking about standard safety valves for water heaters, then they are not very different in appearance. But there are a number of nuances on which the ease of use of the part depends.

Do not forget about the nuances of these valves

Release lever

Some valves are equipped with a special lever. Periodically you need to check its performance. To do this, you need to carry out the following manipulations:

1. Move the lever from horizontal to vertical position.
2. Wait until the spring mechanism is activated, because the lever pulls it along with it.

After these steps, a duct will open from which water will flow. This procedure should be carried out at least once a month. This is how water is drained from the water heater tank. After raising the flag, you need to wait a little until the liquid drains completely.

On some valves, the lever is secured using a special bolt. This design eliminates the possibility of spontaneous opening and draining of liquid. In addition, some products come without levers at all; on the top of them, a cap is fixed with a thread, which is needed for servicing the valve. As needed, it is opened and various dirt and scale are removed.

The least preferred option is parts without any levers, holes for removing dirt or markers. These are the lowest quality products produced in China. You cannot rely on their strength and long service life. Such devices can be used as a temporary replacement for more durable parts.

Fitting and pressure value mark

There are a number of other differences between the devices. On the body there is an arrow indicating the direction of water flow, as well as an inscription that informs about the maximum possible pressure for a particular product. Such little things may seem insignificant, but if it is not difficult to figure out the direction of water flow, then with pressure indicators the situation is much more complicated.

At first glance, it is difficult to say what values ​​exist for a particular valve, because they can only be calculated experimentally. Suppliers distinguish them only by documents. Craftsmen do not advise buying products without identification marks. Of course, the cost of marked parts is slightly higher than that of analogues, but it is better not to save in this matter.

In addition, you should pay attention to the shape of the water drainage fitting. On some parts it is long and has a non-linear shape. It is easy to attach the tube to such a device; its size is quite enough to securely fix the clamp. If the products are expanded at the end, then the main thing is the size of the fitting. It is better to refuse such an acquisition. This is due to the fact that it will be difficult to fix and secure the handset on the device. Homemade methods do not guarantee the quality of work, and in the future there may be problems with water drainage.

Don't forget about the pressure mark

Products for large appliances

All devices described are designed for small storage water heaters with a capacity of 50-60 liters. For larger tanks, other parts are used, each of which integrates specialized equipment - a valve or ball gauge that controls pressure.

The fluid drain fitting is equipped with a standard thread. This is necessary for better fixation and no problems with clamps. Such devices are not cheap, but their quality level is much higher than that of other systems.

Many consider the appearance of the faucet to be a significant drawback. For such people, fuses are specially produced, which are not only useful in practice, but also decorate the interior of the room. Often their price is equal to the cost of a water heater, so everyone evaluates for themselves the feasibility of such an acquisition.

Other devices

There are situations when, instead of factory safety systems that prevent pressure surges, a blast valve is installed. Its main purpose is emergency drainage of liquid into the heating system. In terms of functional characteristics, such products are very similar, but the principle of their operation is diametrically opposed.

Demolition-type products function in case of accidents. They are necessary for emergency draining of water from the water heater and are not suitable for periodic bleeding of small portions. Such elements should not be expected to function correctly.

In addition, many install only a check valve. Its mechanism prevents fluid from escaping at low pressure, but it does not protect against sudden changes in the tank. Practice shows that such a device is also non-functional.

Selection and installation

It is necessary to select a bypass valve for a boiler based on the pressure value that the product can withstand. Often this figure is recorded in the registration certificate. In addition, the choice is influenced by the capacity of the tank. There are systems whose response threshold varies from 6 to 10 bar. These are the most common indicators for valve actuation. The valve installation process is quite simple, if you follow the step-by-step instructions:

1. Wrap FUM tape or tow around the thread for a tight connection.
2. Fix the tap on the pipe.
3. Tighten the product until it stops by hand, and then make several turns with a wrench of the appropriate size.
4. Do not forget about the installation location of the unit. Experts advise placing it on the cold water inlet pipe.

After this, you can install a check valve, otherwise called a lock. Such manipulations are reinsurance measures, because a design with identical functions is already present in the fuse system; in addition, it is often integrated into water meters.

Then you need to position the ball valve, which is used to remove water from the container when dismantling or preserving the product for the winter. These steps will also need to be performed during preventive cleaning or repairs. Often the tap is mounted on a tee - the connecting link between the product and the safety system.

The safety valve is a mandatory part for the proper functioning of the water heating device. It is undesirable to neglect this design, because inattention can be fraught with serious consequences.

If difficulties arise with selection or installation, it is better to entrust this matter to experienced craftsmen who, within a short time, will make the boiler completely ready for proper and safe operation.

The quality of the water heater piping allows not only to increase its service life, but also increases the level of safety during operation. The boiler is installed according to the manufacturer's instructions and taking into account connection standards. The safety valve for the boiler is an important element of the device belonging to the safety group.

Why do you need a safety element, how to install a water heater correctly, and what operating principle of the device will we consider next. Remember that failure to comply with installation rules can result in not just a minor nuisance, but a real tragedy.

Safety valves (also known as safety valves) are confused with “check valves”. There are some similarities between the two types, but in fact they are completely different elements.

Check valve is responsible for supplying a liquid medium through a pipeline in only one direction. In this case, the task of the safety valve is to protect the sewer pipe and connected devices from failure and destruction, which can occur as a result of excess pressure in the system.

• spring devices;
• lever devices;
• magnetic spring;
• lever-load.

Confusion in concepts arises due to the fact that the functions of these elements include the formation of a barrier that does not allow the liquid medium to move in the opposite direction.

There are several types of shut-off valves that are used in complex household appliances to protect against pressure surges. Highlight:

• spring devices;
• lever devices;
• magnetic spring;
• lever-load.

The use of one or another type of shut-off valve depends on the type and characteristics of the environment, as well as the purpose of the water supply system (for example, sewerage). Most often, gas, oil, flammable materials, chemical and other aggressive mixtures, and steam move through pipes.

On the body you can also find an image of an arrow, which indicates the direction of movement of water in the system through the heating tank in the boiler. Please note that plumbers It is not recommended to frequently use the drain lever to force water to drain to extend the life of the valve. If it is necessary to service the water heater, you can disconnect the water pipes and drain it.

Why is it important to have a check valve and safety valve?

When selling water heaters, the safety valve is already installed, since it is a required component. However, moving the water heater to another wall may result in the loss of a part.

Avoid craftsmen who, when moving a water heater, may install a check valve instead of fuses.

Improper piping of a boiler can become a threat not only to health, but also to people’s lives. This is due to the fact that when water is heated, the thermodynamic action often gets out of control, making the boiler an explosive device. Pressure and a large amount of steam accumulate inside the tank, which leads to an explosion.

The safety valve in the same situation works in a completely different way: when a critical temperature and pressure are reached, the spring in the cylinder is compressed and the liquid and steam come out. This quickly leads to normalization of pressure in the system. Installing a safety element on a water heater is a mandatory requirement!

Under no circumstances should you install and connect the boiler yourself; call a plumber who will quickly and reliably carry out all the necessary actions.

We have already mentioned that water heaters are sold with a safety valve installed. However, you will need to take the trouble to find and install this element in case:

• loss;
• wear or breakage of the element.

How to choose the right element? This can be done from water heater suppliers using the model number. Pay attention to the advice! You should not buy a valve with a small or, conversely, large value of the maximum permissible value.! For example, in the first case, there will be a constant leak on the boiler or from the tank, and in the second case, there is a possibility that the valve will not function correctly when emergency pressure occurs.

The threads on the element must clearly coincide with the mounting fittings. Please note that to form a tight connection you will additionally need linen thread and a rubber gasket.

Tying instructions

The boiler piping includes the mandatory installation of a safety valve. To supply cold water supply you will need a PVC pipe and the element itself. However, the optimal connection option is using an American connection, a drain tap and a tee.

Brass tee

You should not skimp on such a cheap element that provides safety. The safety valve extends the service life of the water heater, performing a protective function, and its operation without this device is strictly prohibited by regulatory documents.