Flowing gas water heaters are a traditional attribute of the old housing facilities. This type of equipment is little known to owners of apartments in high-rise buildings with a centralized hot water supply. However, the owners of the Khrushchevs are still actively exploiting it. Not all of them know how to install a gas column in an apartment.
Agree, this question needs thorough analysis. Illiterate installation of a gas processing unit will result in a serious threat. The information contained in our very useful article will help to eliminate the slightest risks. We will familiarize you with all the subtleties and details of the installation process.
The thoroughly verified and systematized information presented by us is backed up by photo collections and videos. With us you will receive complete answers to all possible questions that arise when connecting gas units.
If a gas water heater is not provided
In a house where gas equipment such as a stove is allowed, the installation of a speaker may be prohibited. This restriction applies to homes with more than 11 floors. No supervisory authority will issue a permit to install a column in such an apartment, as this is dangerous for residents.
In addition to the number of storeys, a redevelopment may be a reason for failure. Studio apartments are not suitable for the installation of gas equipment, since the devices must be installed in non-residential premises.
If the kitchen is combined with the living room, then this makes the use of gas appliances illegal. Before redevelopment, these limitations must be considered. The same can be attributed to apartments where the kitchen is absent or is common.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Gas water heaters with a flowing principle of operation in apartments are mainly used for the preparation of hot water, in old two-story buildings they can serve as an aggregate for maintaining the coolant temperature
Installation of a gas column is allowed in houses no higher than five floors not connected to a centralized hot water system. In high-rise buildings connected to the central hot water supply, gas equipment is not installed
Small private houses, the area of which does not exceed 150 m², are also equipped with gas channels
Instantaneous water heater processes the water passing through it in the volume necessary for instant use
The geyser is not designed to form a supply of hot water and maintain its temperature, which explains its small, easy-to-use size
Gas flowing water heaters for apartments are produced in a wall-mounted version. They should be positioned so that free access is guaranteed for servicing the column and its connection nodes
In one room it is not allowed to install more than two geysers. It is allowed to use both flow and storage equipment in quantities of 1 pc. Exception - multi-level apartments
Gas heating equipment is only allowed to be installed in private apartments and houses; accommodation in dormitories, gyms, a hotel, i.e. where different people may be allowed to use
Instantaneous gas water heater
Productive small-sized device
Operation of the column in private homes
Geyser Benefits
Compact dimensions of flowing equipment
Features of heater placement
Two gas water heaters in one room
Installation of the heater only in residential buildings and apartments
If the house does not fall under these restrictions, it is necessary to collect a package of documents for registering the device.
The procedure is as follows:
- Write a statement to the gas distribution company.
- Get a plan from BTI or Rosreestr.
- Provide an extract from Rosreestr confirming ownership.
- Contact the relevant organization to draw up the project.
- Find certified specialists from an organization that has access to gas works.
After that, specialists will make an insert into the gas pipe, connect the device and turn the water heater into operation.
To determine the possibility of installation, you need to carefully study the cadastral passport of the apartment. There you can find information about the parameters of the room where the installation of the water heater is planned (+)
It is highly recommended that you do your own installation of a gas column bypassing the lawful order. These actions not only lead to penalties, but also endanger the lives of people.
The gas fuel heater installation project looks like this. It indicates the place of connection of the device, as well as the layout of gas pipes (+)
If the column has already been installed
When changing a water heater in case of a malfunction, the device passport must also be replaced. If you independently install a gas column, then in the passport of the new device there will be no marks on commissioning and inspections.
According to fire safety requirements, homes should be inspected annually for gas equipment. Unauthorized replacement of the water heater will not go unnoticed and most likely there will be a shutdown of the device and a seal
After receiving the comments, it will be necessary to reconnect the column, inviting certified specialists.
Their responsibilities include inspecting the ventilation system. In old houses, they can be clogged with garbage. It is dangerous to operate clogged ventilation ducts. This can cause fatal carbon monoxide poisoning. If the decision on self-installation of the water heater is made, then first of all you need to check the ventilation.
Requirements for a room with gas equipment
The place where the gas water heater will be installed should be more than a cubic capacity of more than 7.5 m3. The height in the room should not be lower than 2.0 meters. This height according to the norms is enough for a geyser. The room must be glazed.
The window cannot be dull; it must be possible to ventilate in the event of a leak. The total glazing area (without frame) is determined by the formula:
C = O * 0.03
Where:
C is the area of glazing.
O is the volume of air in the room.
The window must let in air for emergency ventilation. Ordinary kitchen fully comply with these requirements, if it is equipped with a door. If there is no door in the kitchen, it must be installed.
An approximate layout of the column, taking into account fire standards. The door must have at least 0.8 m square meters of covered area without glazing
It is advisable to install a gas analyzer in the room. It will help to detect a gas leak. This device is optional, but helps to track the operation of gas appliances. It reacts to excess propane in the air, and then warns about it with a signal.
Image Gallery
Photo from
The location of the gas column
Normalized minimum ceiling height
The presence of ventilation devices
Ventilation clearance in the operating room
Ventilation and chimney requirements
To create air circulation in the room, a ventilation hole is required. It should not be clogged, air should pass through it calmly. If you neglect this rule, then in the event of a gas leak, the tenants of the apartment will receive poisoning with serious consequences.
The risk of detonation of domestic gas will increase significantly if it is not removed naturally, since a leak can occur at night, when a person is not able to detect it.
For the normal functioning of the geyser, an additional chimney must be carried out. It can be displayed in a common house system or directly on the street. When constructing the chimney, it must be taken into account that it cannot have more than two bends at an angle of 90 degrees.
The total length of the chimney should not exceed three meters. Three options for the location of the chimney are allowed.
A variant of its location is determined by the location of the water heater. Pipes for the removal of combustion products must be made of non-combustible materials. It is worth giving preference to chimneys with the lowest thermal conductivity (+)
The pipe must have a vertical section at the point of connection to the water heater. The length of the vertical section must be greater than or equal to 50 cm. The length of the horizontal section of the pipe must not exceed two meters.
A chimney can be made from a flexible corrugated pipe, but it is necessary to eliminate its sagging, which can block the removal of combustion products.
The diagram describes in detail how it is possible and how not to install a chimney in an apartment. In addition to the length of the pipes, there are requirements for their slope. For each meter, it is necessary to observe a two degree slope (+)
If the device of the column does not imply a chimney, then you can not be limited to the ventilation hole in the wall. It is necessary to establish a full-fledged exhaust hood, but even in this case, the gas service will have questions about a similar carbon monoxide exhaust system.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Geyser flue
Corrugated chimney pipe
Construction of a gas outlet from a polymer corrugation
Flue from rigid pipes and turns
Chimney device in an apartment with wooden walls
In wooden houses, the use of a blue fuel water heater is allowed, but fire-prevention standards for installing a geyser must be observed. The chimney cannot come into contact with the tree; non-combustible material must be placed between them.
As thermal insulation, basalt or mineral wool can be used. Use of heat-resistant polyurethane foam is allowed.
This is necessary to prevent fire in case of strong heating of the chimney. As a rule, chimneys are not provided for in old wooden houses, or they are designed for stove heating. In emergency homes, the installation of gas equipment is prohibited.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Correct installation on a wooden surface
Column installation violation
Ceramic protective apron
Features of the application of thermal insulation
Column layout rules
The water heater cannot be located on the supporting wall of the building. This is expressly prohibited by the installation requirements for gas water heaters. In the event of an explosion, this may result in damage to the building or its partial destruction.
To clarify the possibility of installing the device, you need to take information from the cadastral passport of the apartment and the general plan of the house. This information can be clarified by calling specialists.
Space requirements are presented from the column itself to the opposite wall. The distance must not be less than one meter. This is necessary for free access to the device for its maintenance and inspection. Also, pipes for supplying gas to the walls cannot be mounted.
This makes it difficult to inspect communications and search for gas leaks in the apartment. If this violation is detected, an order for elimination will be issued and information on how to properly install the gas column and where to go will be explained.
The wall where the speaker installation is planned should be prepared accordingly. Combustible materials such as wallpaper and PVC panels must be removed from it.
The column should be more than 10 cm from the wall. It is not allowed to install a gas water heater on a wooden wall without prior preparation. A steel plate should be installed at the installation site, equal to or larger than the rear wall of the device.
It is not allowed to install the column above the gas stove. These devices must be at least 1 meter apart. Also, it is impossible to use a hood for a gas stove as a discharge of combustion products. Do not use a single chimney for the hood and gas column. This is expressly prohibited by safety standards.
Image Gallery
Photo from
Standards for the distance from the sink
The distance between the stove and the gas column
Gas supply shut-off valves
Mixer location specifics
Gas installation specifics
Pipes in the apartment are the property of its owner, but you can’t make an unauthorized change in the gas supply system. For any changes, you must obtain permission from the gas service, otherwise a fine will be issued.
If the geyser has already been installed at this place, then this will not cause significant changes to the project. It is enough to shut off the gas valve on the pipe and replace it. If the water heater is being installed for the first time, then you need to do the wiring.
The diagram shows a method for properly routing gas and water pipes. Depending on the material of the pipes, you will need tools for welding metal or soldering plastic (+)
When installing pipes yourself, the following rules must be observed:
- Block the gas before starting work.
- Carry out work with an open window.
- Remove debris from pipes arising during installation.
- Do not run pipes through door and window openings.
- Do not use the ventilation shaft for pipe laying.
- Do not mount the gas pipe in the wall.
- Do not use flexible hoses longer than 3 meters.
- Paint metal pipes.
Particular attention should be paid to sealing the connecting elements of the gas pipeline. To do this, use a sealant and sealant. After completing the wiring, you can proceed to install the device.
Gas tightness test
After installing the water heater, check the gas pipes for leaks. If there is a gas analyzer, this greatly simplifies the procedure and improves the quality of the test. If this device is not available, then you can use the old way.
To do this, you need ordinary soap, a jar and a brush. Soap dissolves in a jar to the state of a liquid emulsion. Then, in succession, using a brush, the emulsion is applied to the pipe joints. As you apply, you need to monitor the appearance of bubbles in the treated areas. If they occur, it is necessary to eliminate the leak.
Before checking for leaks, the necessary safety measures must be taken. Be sure to turn off all electrical appliances
In no case should you check the gas leakage with fire. This is dangerous and may cause an explosion. Do not risk your life and the lives of neighbors.
Gas equipment needs regular inspection and periodic cleaning. You can clean the column yourself, but if there is absolutely no experience in servicing such systems, it is better to contact the company that has concluded an agreement with you for the supply of gaseous fuel and maintenance of the devices involved in this.
Analysis of the most common installation errors
The most common mistake is installing a geyser in the bathroom. In this room, as a rule, there is no window. It is especially dangerous to install speakers without a chimney. There are models of water heaters in which carbon monoxide exits through openings, and its removal from the premises occurs through an air vent in the wall.
The second most common mistake is the desire to hide the device so that it does not visually get out of the interior. Often the geyser is installed in a cabinet. This leads to a violation of the correct functioning of the gas column.
Even if a distance of 10 cm from the cabinet walls is observed and there is no bottom bottom, the air flow will still be insufficient to cool the device. It will cool longer, which will significantly reduce its life
The third mistake that is often encountered is the confused connection of the gas pipe in the column. This causes water to enter the pipeline. The liquid gets there through the gas column and then moves down the pipes. So the water gets into the gas equipment of the neighbors from below, completely disabling it.
Liquid removal is carried out by gas services. After finding the source in the owner’s apartment, the gas will be turned off and a fine will be issued. It looks like a gas shutdown order
It is impossible to prevent GORGAZ employees from shutting down. In the event of a refusal, a police squad will be called in because they are in danger of human life.
Responsibility for unauthorized installation
If the insert into the pipe for connecting the column is bypassed by the meter, then such an act falls under Art. 7.19 AK of the Russian Federation. For this, administrative responsibility is provided in the form of penalties.
For individuals, fines range from one and a half to two thousand rubles. This is the smallest possible measure for illegally connecting to the gas system. The official connection to the gas centralized gas pipeline is described in detail in the next article, which we advise you to familiarize yourself with.
In addition to the administrative code, unauthorized insertion and installation of gas equipment is subject to the Federal Law No. 69 “On Fire Safety”. According to the text of the document, the owner of the property bears administrative or criminal liability, depending on the severity of the consequences.
If the actions bring property damage to third parties, the owner will be obliged to compensate it in full. In addition, a fine of 80,000 rubles may be imposed for the violation. If significant harm has been caused to the health of neighbors, the owner may be taken into custody and deprived of liberty for a term of up to two years.
Clip # 1. How to connect and seal pipes:
Clip # 2. What is the danger of connecting the speaker without observing fire regulations:
If it was decided to install a water heater in the apartment on your own, then it is necessary to install in accordance with all the rules. It is strictly forbidden to save on installation materials. This is the case when it is better to hedge and overpay. Otherwise, the consequences can be tragic. It is better to invite a specialist and make a payment once, than to constantly pay fines from the gas service.
Have questions about the topic of the article, find any flaws, or is there any valuable information that you want to share with other visitors to the site? Please write a comment in the box below.