A gas boiler is a common option for many homes when it comes to heating. But what happens if you are unable to obtain a supply of natural gas? Is it possible for a gas boiler to give your family the necessary warmth and comfort? This post will discuss whether it’s feasible to run a gas boiler off of a cylinder, provide information on how it functions, and assess whether it’s a good choice for your heating requirements.
To begin with, let’s define what a gas cylinder is. Portable propane or butane cylinders are typically discussed when discussing gas cylinders in relation to home heating. These are frequently utilized in stoves for camping, outdoor grills, and other devices that need a portable fuel supply. Questions concerning practicality, safety, and viability arise when considering the use of a gas cylinder to power a boiler.
Compatibility of the equipment is a major consideration when determining whether a gas boiler can run off of a cylinder. Conventional gas boilers are built to be connected to a pipeline-delivered, fixed natural gas supply. To ensure correct combustion and efficiency, modifying a boiler to run on propane or butane from a cylinder may need the use of specialized equipment.
Moreover, the most important thing to remember when using any gas-powered appliance is safety. To avoid mishaps and protect occupants, proper ventilation, gas leak detection, and adherence to manufacturer’s instructions are crucial. Although gas cylinders are generally thought to be safe when used properly, using them indoors or in small areas necessitates cautious thought and adherence to safety regulations.
There are circumstances in which using a gas cylinder to power a boiler might make sense, despite the possible drawbacks. For example, propane cylinders provide a practical substitute in rural areas with limited or no access to a natural gas supply. Additionally, a gas cylinder setup could offer flexibility and autonomy for off-grid locations or for temporary heating needs.
In conclusion, even though it is technically feasible to operate a gas boiler using a cylinder, there are a few things to consider before doing so. These consist of suitability for your particular set of tools, safety concerns, and practicality. You can evaluate the viability and choose the best course of action to satisfy your heating needs by speaking with a trained heating specialist.
- The subtleties of organizing home heating with gas cylinders: the rules of fuel storage, boiler selection and owner reviews
- Nuances of heating with gas cylinders
- Choosing where to store gas cylinders
- Separate room for cylinders
- Requirements for a cabinet for storing gas cylinders
- Calculating the number of gas cylinders for heating
- Choosing a boiler for cylinder heating
- Reviews of home heating with gas cylinders
- How the gas boiler on cylinder gas works, features of operation
- Is it possible to connect the gas boiler to the cylinder
- Cylinders as the main source of propane
- Connecting the cylinders to the standby
- How to connect a gas boiler to a propane cylinder
- Is it possible to install gas cylinders in the boiler room?
- Is it necessary to reconfigure the boiler for propane??
- What is required to switch the boiler to gas from the cylinder
- How to calculate the volume and number of cylinders for the boiler
- Which boiler is better to choose when heating with propane cylinders?
- Video on the topic
- Heating with gas cylinders.
- Setting up a gas boiler for Propane Butane
- Heating with a gas boiler from a cylinder
- Everyone should know this! Gas in the dacha, the cause of the fire. Show it to all dacha owners.
- Heating the house with gas cylinders. Personal experience over 2 years
- Heating of the house with cylinders – gas cylinder installations
- How much is enough for one cylinder of gas for heating in the workshop?
- Simple gas boiler with high efficiency and Gas Economy. Make one for yourself!
The subtleties of organizing home heating with gas cylinders: the rules of fuel storage, boiler selection and owner reviews
For both a country home and an apartment, gas heating remains the best choice despite the advent of new heat-supply technologies. However, connecting to the distribution mains isn’t always possible. The solution to this predicament is to use gas cylinders to heat a private residence. You must accurately choose the boiler, compute fuel consumption, and become familiar with reviews in order to accomplish this.
Nuances of heating with gas cylinders
Heating cylinders at home
Both dachas and homes with a permanent occupant should have well-organized gas cylinder heating. The characteristics of liquefied gas set it apart from natural main gas for use as an energy carrier.
Understanding the ins and outs of a private home’s structure is essential if you want to perform the heating of the place yourself using gas cylinders. Selecting the boiler is a crucial step because it needs to be tailored to this particular gas type. Furthermore, the subsequent variables are considered:
- Estimated consumption. Directly affects the consumption when heating with gas cylinders and their reserve for heat supply;
- Preparation of storage place for tanks. Safety measures must be observed;
- Organization of gas transportation from cylinders to the boiler. Properly organized individual heating from gas cylinders should be safe;
- Choosing a supplier for filling gas cylinders.
When using gas cylinders to heat the house, you can see how labor-intensive the installation and completion of this kind of heat supply is if you carefully read through all the reviews. As a result, it is essential to determine each element’s parameters beforehand in order to guarantee the system’s proper operation following installation.
It is advised to use containers with a maximum volume of 50 liters when using gas cylinders to heat the cottage. However, it’s also important to think about how they’ll get to the refueling location.
Choosing where to store gas cylinders
Diagram for connecting cylinders
It’s important to choose a gas cylinder’s capacity carefully before choosing how to store it. You can currently use containers that hold 5, 12, 27, and 50 liters. It is recommended to buy containers with a maximum volume of 50 liters if heating a private residence with bottled gas will be done on a regular basis.
Create a main line from the cylinder storage area to the boiler in order to supply gas. If a gas reducer is fitted on each tank, then multiple tanks can be used simultaneously. Two pressure gauges have to be installed. The first one is used to measure the pressure inside the cylinder, and the second one displays the value at the outlet. A shut-off valve is used to control the fuel supply’s intensity.
Cylinder reducer
The number of cylinders required for the heating boiler directly determines where to store them. The following metrics determine how many tanks are needed:
- The total area of the house;
- Heat losses in the building;
- Minimum temperature in winter.
The location of the gas heating boiler on cylinder gas installation is crucial. The supply line should be as short as possible to maximize gas consumption and lessen the chance of depressurization.
Gas convectors can be utilized for home heating in addition to boilers. However, installing them in every room is necessary, which is inconvenient for large buildings.
Separate room for cylinders
Gas cylinder storage inside the home
The ideal way to keep gas cylinders for heating is to set up a different room. The requirements and rules of arrangement are outlined in detail in SNiP 2.04.08-87. Thus, you must become acquainted with this document before installing heating using gas cylinders.
The best choice, provided the storage room is situated close to the boiler installation site. Making the supply main as short as possible is feasible in this way. In order to store containers for manually heating a private home using gas cylinders, the following requirements must also be met:
- Flammable or lubricating materials should not be stored in the room;
- It is forbidden to use any heating devices – convectors, heaters, heaters. Exceptions are pipes and radiators of water heating;
- Providing supply ventilation. The average air exchange rate is 12 m³/hour per 1 m² of the room;
- Each cylinder must be placed on a pallet. This is necessary to maintain stability in case of possible fluctuations of the vessel during the gas outlet.
The room needs to be closed for safety. A main line is used to supply fuel for heating cylinder gas in a private residence. If flexible hoses are utilized for this, it is imperative to prevent their kinks during installation.
Cylinder gas heating boilers can be placed in a separate boiler room or in the kitchen. Basements or cellar rooms are not the best places to store fuel.
Requirements for a cabinet for storing gas cylinders
Cylinders kept in cabinets for storage
Using specialized metal cabinets is an alternative to the above method. This is pertinent to low-fuel-consumption heating of dachas using gas cylinders.
Buying a ready-made construction is advised because it will comply with GOST 15860-84 regulations. They are listed in the following order:
- Ventilation. For this purpose, there must be ventilation holes in the cabinet construction;
- Exclude the possibility of sunlight reaching the gas cylinders. This can lead to an increase in the temperature on their surface;
- All elements of individual heating from gas cylinders should be made of non-combustible materials. The same applies to storage cabinets;
- Presence of warning signs and inscriptions.
What is the lifespan of a 50-liter gas heating cylinder? Everything is dependent on the boiler’s nominal consumption. Nevertheless, only two cylinders can be kept in a single cabinet. In this instance, the construction’s ideal measurements will be 2000 by 1000 by 570. The cabinet must be installed after a separate foundation is built. Its measurements should be 15-20 cm larger than the structure’s measurements.
The following installation guidelines are also followed when using gas cylinders to manually heat a private residence:
- The minimum distance from doors and windows should be 5 m;
- The wall to which the cupboard will adjoin is made of non-combustible materials.
Make sure the foundation’s surface has designated ventilation gaps. Experts advise grounding the building to eliminate any potential static electricity.
Elements of container fastening should be included in the design of the cabinet used for gas cylinder heating.
Calculating the number of gas cylinders for heating
Types of heating cylinders
The continuous refueling of fuel reserves is one of the major drawbacks of such a heat source. As a result, it’s essential to determine how many cylinders the boiler will require in advance. There isn’t a precise process for this. However, there are several methods available for estimating fuel consumption.
It is required to become familiar with the boiler’s technical documentation in order to calculate the consumption for heating using gas cylinders. It details how much fuel is used for both liquefied and natural gas. In the latter instance, manufacturers typically provide the flow rate in kilograms per hour. For 24 kW boilers, that comes out to roughly 3.5 kg per hour.
Furthermore, consideration is given to the intensity of fuel consumption. In order to keep a private home warm during the winter, cylinder gas heating typically runs for 12 to 16 hours each day. For a boiler with a 24 kW capacity, the total consumption will be the same if the heating season lasts roughly 100 days:
For example, a 50 l heating boiler will require 1 cylinder per day on average. This is the maximum fuel consumption that can be decreased in the ways listed below:
- Installation of automatics for gas supply;
- Purchase of modern models of boilers with high efficiency;
- Insulating the house to reduce heat losses.
However, the fuel consumption won’t be significantly impacted by even these actions. The majority of reviews pertaining to gas cylinder heating suggest that this kind of heating should only be installed in homes with limited space and temporary residents.
The table illustrates the number of cylinders required for a heating boiler based on the house’s area.
There are fifty-liter pieces of cylinders.
These are not the final numbers. An individual calculation of the number of cylinders required for the boiler is made for each heating system. It’s also important to consider whether the vessel is filled correctly. Prior to use, the cylinder must be completely empty and its weight must be determined.
By monitoring the temperature as you fill the cylinder, you can regulate how full it gets. The cylinder will cool in the region of the gas mixture.
Choosing a boiler for cylinder heating
LPG boilers for heating
As of right now, cylinder (liquefied) gas manufacturers do not make narrow-profile heating boilers. But you cannot use equipment meant for natural gas without first modifying it.
Verify that a propane adaptation kit is included with the boiler before making a purchase. Wider nozzles and a kit for attaching them to the burner are included in the kit. Reinstallation can only be carried out independently if the design allows for it.
Gas heating boilers come in various varieties, each with unique technical and operational indicators.
- Type of burner – open or closed. It is best to buy heating boilers on cylinder gas with a closed burner. For their operation, air intake is carried out from the street using a coaxial pipe;
- Installation – wall or floor. Most models with a capacity of up to 24 kW are mounted on the wall;
- Number of circuits. For heat supply to the dacha with gas cylinders you can buy an inexpensive single-circuit boiler. If the house is planned for permanent residence – it is recommended to buy a two-circuit model with hot water supply.
The technical data sheet of the apparatus can be used to familiarize oneself with the preliminary calculation of the flow rate for heating using gas cylinders. On the other hand, manufacturers frequently state the maximum flow rate at the equipment’s maximum capacity. Fuel consumption will decrease as the burner’s intensity decreases.
Gas heating boilers on cylinder (liquefied) gas with a cast iron heat exchanger have the best performance. Compared to a steel one, it will last far longer.
Reviews of home heating with gas cylinders
Cylinders connected in parallel
It will be easier to assess whether installing this heating system is necessary if you are familiar with reviews regarding gas cylinder heating. However, it is important to consider their subjectivity, as the negative ones are frequently linked to improper equipment selection and disobedience of installation guidelines.
It should be kept in mind that the efficiency of individual gas cylinder heating is primarily dependent on the skill of the equipment’s installation and adjustment:
- We bought a small country house of 44 m², there was a conventional stove heating. There was a lot of work with it – constant control of the stove, soot and grime. We tried to switch to electric heating with convectors – it turned out to be expensive. In a month the costs rose to 6500 rubles. Settled the final option of heating with gas cylinders. Costs fell to 3000 rubles./month. The only disadvantage – it is necessary to constantly replenish the tanks;
- For heating the house cylinder heating installed myself. I bought two storage boxes, installed reducers, ran a pipe to the boiler in the house. But I noticed that the calculated consumption is significantly lower than the actual one. I installed a dependent automation (budget option), replaced the burner in the boiler with an injection burner. Consumption decreased by 20-22%;
- After installing cylinder heating in the first winter, I had a lot of trouble with rearranging the reducers to connect the filled tanks. Suggested a way out – to install several cylinders with reducers and each connected to the main line. As soon as the gas in one of them runs out – we open the tap and connect the next one. The scheme is convenient and simple. I advise everyone.
Installing a gas holder—a specialized tank for storing gas—can be a substitute for cylinder heating. But authorization documentation must be created for this. The gas holder can only be filled and serviced by a certified business.
An illustration of cylinder heating at home is shown in the following video:
In our post about whether a gas boiler can operate without a cylinder, we address a frequently asked topic by homeowners searching for adaptable heating options. Although gas boilers usually require a fixed gas supply, there may be benefits to using a cylinder for people who don’t have access to mains gas or who want portability. It is imperative to comprehend the technical and safety aspects involved, though. We examine the viability, precautions, and possible drawbacks of using a gas cylinder to power a gas boiler, offering insightful information to anyone thinking about using this alternative for their heating requirements.
How the gas boiler on cylinder gas works, features of operation
Is it possible to connect the gas boiler to the cylinder
Numerous domestic and European manufacturers offer gas boilers for heating homes via cylinders. Universal and able to run on both mains and bottled gas are German Buderus, Viessmann, and a few other European models.
However, most boilers that are offered to consumers are made to run only on main gas. In this scenario, re-equipment of the system will be required in order to use liquefied gas: either replace the nozzles or change the burner entirely.
Cylinders as the main source of propane
Installing an autonomous gas boiler on gas cylinders is very easy. Similar to the main pipe, the connection scheme is the same. The only regulations that need to be considered during installation are those related to fire safety, which differ slightly from those governing natural gas operation.
The necessity of routinely refilling household cylinders is a major drawback. The tank will usually last no longer than two days, at which point you’ll need to disconnect it and take it to a gas station to fill up again. By linking multiple cylinders to one network at once, the frequency of trips can be decreased. With contemporary boilers, two to six tanks can be connected simultaneously.
Through the use of a unique reducer, cylinders are connected indirectly but steadily enough to support the continuous operation of gas heating boilers powered by cylinder gas.
Up to ten connected tanks can be connected simultaneously thanks to propane cylinder mating ramps.
Connecting the cylinders to the standby
The fact that the heating system, which uses liquefied gas, requires continuous cylinder fill monitoring, is another drawback. The owners of the house are inconvenienced when their gas runs out in the middle of the night and the heating system quickly cools down.
You can install one to ten cylinders in reserve by connecting the propane cylinder’s boiler supply through a special ramp to avoid this from happening. The node operates according to the following scheme:
- The ramp is a two-arm manifold dividing the tanks into two groups.
- The initial gas intake comes from the main group.
- After the propane runs out, the ramp automatically switches the boiler operation to the reserve tanks and gives a mechanical signal.
- After refueling and connecting the tanks to the manifold, the main working group of cylinders is automatically switched on.
The row gas cylinder installation is very easy to use and extends the boiler’s autonomous operation period by maximizing boiler automation.
How to connect a gas boiler to a propane cylinder
It is far simpler to install a gas boiler for independent heating when using cylinder gas as opposed to primary fuel. Strict adherence to a number of regulations is necessary for power calculations, equipment reconfiguration, and fire safety.
It’s not advised to install anything without permission. It is preferable to invite an expert. It should only take a few hours to install the boiler, assuming it is connected correctly and converted by a professional.
Is it possible to install gas cylinders in the boiler room?
The Fire Safety Regulations’ requirements govern the standards and guidelines for installing the cylinder. It specifically states that heated appliances and liquefied gas tanks cannot be in the same room.
- The cylinders should be taken to an adjacent room or to the street, installing them in a special cabinet.
- Empty gas cylinders should be stored outside the building. Optimally, if the containers are immediately refilled.
- If cylinders installed in an outdoor cabinet freeze, the walls of the storage room should be insulated with non-combustible thermal insulation. It is strictly forbidden to heat containers or a cabinet with an open flame.
- The gas cylinder can be installed from the heating boiler at a distance of at least 2 meters.
- It is forbidden to store cylinders with compressed gas near the boiler room. The containers can be stored only in a specially equipped room, located not closer than 10 meters, and also equipped with ventilation and not having pits, and basement room. This requirement is due to the fact that propane is heavier than air and accumulates at floor level in case of leakage. If there are pits or a basement, the concentration of gas will become critical, enough to cause an explosion.
- Operation of cylinders – it is not allowed to completely exhaust LPG from the tank. Every 4 years it is necessary to certify the tightness of cylinders and the integrity of their walls.
Is it necessary to reconfigure the boiler for propane??
A standard cylinder boiler will only function provided specific requirements are fulfilled and the conversion is completed. The equipment does not need to be reconfigured, but more fittings will need to be installed in order to stabilize the gas pressure.
Not all boilers can operate on LPG. The technical documentation requires careful consideration. One essential requirement is that the unit must be able to operate at a reduced gas pressure of 3–4 mbar.
What is required to switch the boiler to gas from the cylinder
The LPG boiler must meet a few crucial requirements in order to function properly:
- Replacing the nozzles or burner. Gas-balloon water heating equipment designed to work exclusively on LPG is not produced. Some manufacturers make universal units equipped with an electronic processor.
To convert from mains gas to cylinders, you simply need to change the cartridge. But more often, conversion will require replacement of nozzles or the entire burner. - Installation of the reducer. Liquefied gas is pumped into pressurized cylinders, which causes it to convert from a gaseous to a liquid state. To convert it back, the pressure will need to be depressurized. A reducer is designed for this purpose.
- Gas valve – in some models, connection and operation of a domestic gas boiler on cylinder gas is possible only if this unit is replaced.
For conversion, a regular gas reducer is not appropriate. The only way a gas heating boiler that runs on regular cylinder gas can be installed is if it has a flow rate of 1.8–2 m³/hour.
How to calculate the volume and number of cylinders for the boiler
Experience indicates that a 100 m² home will use about 2 cylinders of gas per week. As a result, the consumption will rise to 4 units for a 200 m² house. Depending on the total heated area, a gas heating boiler uses nine (100 m2) to eighteen (200 m2) propane cylinders per month. This coefficient is taken into consideration when calculating the necessary number of tanks.
Therefore, in order to install a gas boiler in a home using propane cylinders for 100 m², at least 4 cylinders (two operational and two backup) must be connected simultaneously for a total of 200 m² (8–10). A ramp should be part of the connection equipment set to guarantee optimal user convenience.
Using the manufacturer’s technical documentation, one can determine precisely how much cylinder gas a boiler needs to operate. After the unit is converted, European concerns at least specify the LPG consumption in the equipment’s instructions.
Propane gas cylinders should be filled 90% empty before being filled with propane. The complete production of gas is prohibited.
Which boiler is better to choose when heating with propane cylinders?
Utilizing boilers made from gas cylinders revealed that not all equipment functions as well on LPG after conversion. Increasing efficiency while operating presents some challenges. Consequently, selecting the appropriate heating equipment is essential.
- Principle of operation – condensing equipment is the most economical and adapted to operation on LPG. Boiler operating time from the cylinder increases on average by 15-20%. Condensing equipment is designed for operation at low gas pressure and often burner and nozzle replacement is not required.
- Number of circuits – solely for space heating should choose a single-circuit boiler, for water heating a two-circuit boiler.
- Purpose – the best option is the equipment, in the instruction manual of which there is permission to connect the boiler to the cylinder. Conversion of conventional hot water heating units usually leads to overconsumption of fuel and is not economically viable. Boiler manufacturers offer all the necessary fittings for connecting cylinders, it comes in a set, or purchased separately.
Condensing boiler: This is the best choice for long-term LPG home heating. If it is feasible to operate at lower gas pressure, you can use other kinds of boilers for short-term heating in order to eventually switch to main gas.
It should only be done by a specialist to switch the boiler from natural to cylinder gas. Self-reconfiguration raises the risk of explosion and fire scenarios and causes equipment to fail more quickly.
Question | Answer |
Can a gas boiler work from a cylinder? | Yes, some gas boilers can work from a cylinder, commonly known as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) boilers. However, not all gas boilers are compatible with cylinders, so it"s important to check the specifications of your boiler and consult a professional if needed. |
When determining whether a gas boiler can run off of a cylinder, there are a number of considerations to make. The main reason homeowners who are looking for alternatives to traditional boiler setups find it appealing are its convenience and flexibility. Nonetheless, a number of factors require close attention to guarantee practicality, effectiveness, and safety.
First and foremost, it is essential to comprehend the mechanics of how a gas boiler runs from a cylinder. Even though it is technically possible, it is crucial to determine whether the boiler is compatible with cylinder systems and to guarantee that the installation is done correctly by a trained expert. Any departure from local laws or manufacturer instructions could result in malfunction risks or even dangerous situations like gas leaks.
Second, consideration needs to be given to how practical it is to use a gas boiler with a cylinder. Considerations include the cylinder’s size and capacity, refillability, and long-term cost-effectiveness. To make an informed choice, one should also consider the practicalities of installation, upkeep, and any necessary adjustments to current heating systems.
Moreover, when thinking about using a gas boiler with a cylinder, safety precautions cannot be emphasized. To reduce the danger of carbon monoxide poisoning, fire hazards, and gas-related mishaps, adequate ventilation, correct gas cylinder storage, and routine maintenance are essential. In order to protect their property and occupants, homeowners need to prioritize safety measures and follow suggested protocols.
In conclusion, using a cylinder to operate a gas boiler offers flexibility and convenience, but it also necessitates close consideration and adherence to safety procedures. Before deciding, homeowners should weigh the pros and cons, speak with trained experts, and give safety the highest priority. In the end, an informed strategy guarantees the household’s peace of mind in addition to effective heating.