One of the most important household problems of autumn and winter season – carrying out scheduled maintenance in heating system. For ensuring trouble-free operation of the pipeline the molding is carried out it. So call system testing on durability in the pneumatic or hydraulic way.
General information about molding
Molding of heating services is carried out as in multifamily houses where heating is centralized, and in private possession. At observance of rules molding it is possible to run the hands, without resorting to the help of experts. Survey of system and debugging will give the chance to prevent leak in places where adjusting and shutoff valves are installed, and will help to avoid leakages in radiators.
Reliability of the system consisting of set of elements is defined by condition of the weakest component: if it has failed, all system stops. Molding which is called differently hydraulic tests just and allows to reveal weak points in heating services.
Molding represents some kind of tightness test and serves for quality test of mounting of heating services. This complex of events is held in the following cases:
- at input of new system in operation;
- after repair of heating services;
- during preparation for the beginning of new heating season;
- after replacement of elements of heating system.
You carry out independent molding of heating services when there is confidence in good condition of the equipment when in pipelines obviously there are no salts and harmful deposits if you do not need the act of carrying out hydraulic tests.
The principles of molding are simple. For leak check in system by means of special pumps air or pressure water is pumped. If the integrity of system is broken, in places of low-quality assembly water or air will break outside. At detection of fault and defects of mounting they are eliminated and carry out repeated molding. Only that heating services in which it is not revealed leakages can be allowed to operation. Moistening of connections also should be considered fault of system, as well as their fogging.
Molding: preparatory work
Prior to molding disconnect system, remove from it the heat carrier. Parameters at which tests will be carried out, are defined by technical features and condition of the tested heating system.
Before molding of system in owner-occupied dwelling switch-off the heating boiler, expansion tank and air bleeders in the beginning, close plug cocks. Temperature regulators on radiators are recommended to be removed for a while as they are not calculated on high pressure. Sometimes subject to testing only part of the general system; in that case the necessary site is cut by means of crossing points-sgonov.
In any heating system certain pressure which will provide the movement of the heat carrier necessary for heating of radiators and pipes has to be supported. Pressure force in system has to allow the heat carrier to rise by the necessary height. For this reason in high blocks pressure of system will be more considerable, than in one - or two-storeyed construction.
Stages of preparatory work when molding:
- check of locking devices on all sites of system;
- leak check, consolidation of problem sites glands;
- survey and adjustment of elements of isolation of the pipeline;
- disconnection of the building from the general heating services.
Molding of heating services
Define type and parameters of the heat carrier. When carrying out molding the heat carrier has to be in heating services of owner-occupied dwelling under the working pressure of 2 atmospheres. Coming to system, the heat carrier forces out the air which has accumulated in pipes. In this quality antifreeze or normal tap water can act, but anyway working substance has to fill one and all elements of the pipeline. Antifreeze is at operation more expensive, but it gives the chance to avoid damage of system at its emergency freezing.
Prepare the equipment. The qualified molding of heating services is conducted with use of the special device called by opressovshchik. It is the hydraulic pump which can be manual or electric. The high cost of professional equipment does unprofitable its acquisition in private use for single molding. Usually opressovshchik are got by the firms specializing in works such. The hose departing from opressovshchik comes to an end with captive nut. Attach this hose to heating system on the place of expansion tank, drain cock or in any other suitable point.
Those who intend to execute molding by the hands can use cheap pumps of vibration type. Pumps of the following brands quite will be suitable for this purpose:
- "Streamlet";
- "Kid";
- "Беламос";
- "Cricket".
Manual opressovochny pumps are independent, they allow to force pressure by means of the lever. The manometer, as a rule, is built in the device. It is the most convenient to carry out by such devices molding of small heating services. Electric pumps are more difficult on the device, but allow to create the pressure level set by the operator.
The choice of specific way of molding depends on season in which mounting of heating system has been executed. For example, if mounting is made during the winter period, then fill in water in system can be dangerous: if something goes not so, liquid can freeze in pipes.
Pneumatic molding of heating services
At pneumatic molding to any place of heating services connect the compressor via which will be air is pumped. Control pressure in system on the manometer. It is recommended to maintain pressure about 40-50% higher than the worker. The manometer is put on login. If during molding of his shooter falls, in system the tightness is broken.
After carrying out molding check all connections to reveal places of possible leakages. Control is necessary both for detachable joints, and for solder (if in system there are propylene pipes). At air molding of connection are processed by soap solution for identification of places from where air is pitted. When molding by means of water of it it is not required – the leak will be visible at once.
In accuracy observing molding order, you without effort will be able to find malfunctions in system. The main attention should be paid to places of threaded connections, laying, locking devices, radiators. The most weak spots – the system elements hidden in floor. If during molding it was succeeded to reveal problem sites, after removal from the heating medium system the defects need to be eliminated.
Hydraulic molding of heating services
For carrying out molding in the hydraulic way prepare by the hands additional implements. The pumps of submersible type used when molding heating services by the hands demand the separate capacity from where water will be pumped. Most often for this purpose use deep basin or big bucket. Connect the pump by means of collars to that crane of system via which water descent is conducted, then lower the device in basin or bucket, open spuskny the crane and connect the pump.
In process of operation of the pump it is required to trace constantly pressure in heating system by means of the manometer. In capacity with the pump it is necessary to add water all the time. When pressure in system rises up to 2-2.5 atmospheres, the pump can be switched-off. The system brought to working pressure is maintained in such state by about 10-15 minutes. When checking the system consisting entirely of plastic pipes about half an hour is required to sustain control pressure. Now from system it is necessary to pit air. For this purpose use Mayevsky's cranes or special otvodchik of air.
When pressure falls in system up to 1 atmosphere, again fill system with water. It is necessary to force out all air from system. As soon as the arrow of the manometer is established on one value and will cease to fluctuate, molding can be considered ended. When pressure is established within 1.2-1.5 atmospheres, it is necessary to survey the pipeline. If there are no leaks, it is possible to pass to final adjustment of parameters of system.
Upon termination of works leave heating services under pressure approximately for day with guarantee to reveal all problem places. Remember that repairs of the pipeline are made after full or at least partial conclusion of the heat carrier from system.
End of molding
On completion phase of molding wash system with water. If necessary this operation is performed repeatedly. The pressure level in heating system corresponding to utilization properties will testify to successful completion of works on molding.