Vaillant do-it-yourself gas water heater repair

In detail: do-it-yourself vaillant gas water heater repair from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Geysers Vaillant (Vailant) have long proven themselves well in Volgograd. Many have speakers of this brand at home. The speakers are very reliable and simple, rarely break, but require maintenance. What does maintenance do? Many try to blow dust off the column with a vacuum cleaner (a kind of TO). Maintenance is imperative. All manufacturers recommend doing it once a year, and not by accident. During operation, a lot of dust and gas combustion products accumulate in the column; hardness salts are debugged in the heat exchanger. How does this affect the performance of the column? Usually, to prepare hot water in a column clogged with dirt with an "overgrown" heat exchanger, you have to add gas. Let's omit the question of saving gas. Let's consider how the temperature rise inside the heat exchanger works. Naturally, all this leads to overheating of the heat exchanger, which reduces its service life. Usually the heat exchanger starts to leak, or its jacket burns out. Thus, saving on maintenance can easily result in the failure of the most expensive part - the heat exchanger. Some are surprised to learn that the price of a heat exchanger is about 8-10 thousand rubles.

1. Remove the adjusting knobs and the gas column housing. Under one of the handles there is a housing fastening bolt. We unscrew it and remove the case by pushing it up.

2. Disconnect the thrust sensor from the intake cap of the gas water heater (it is attached with a self-tapping screw to the body)

3. Disconnect the column overheating sensor located on the heat exchanger tube (fastened with a latch)

Video (click to play).

4. At the top of the column we find two screws securing the column cap to the case and unscrew them.

Image - Vaillant do-it-yourself gas water heater repair

5. The heat exchanger of the Vaillant gas column (Vailant) is connected to the gas column hood by means of 2 collar latches. They detach easily - you just need to lift them up from below. After that we can remove the cap.

6.Disconnect the tube connecting the water block of the gas column from the heat exchanger (right side of the heat exchanger). On the water block, it is enough just to loosen the union nut on this tube, and completely unscrew the nut from the water block.

7. Two pipes of the heat exchanger are fastened to the casing of the gas water heater with special clamps that secure the pipes from twisting when the cap nuts are attached to them. We need to unscrew the self-tapping screw on each clamp and disconnect the clamps.

8.Thus, the heat exchanger is completely disconnected and can be removed.

9. It is not worth climbing into the gas block of the gas column. There is nothing to clean, and in the event of a breakdown, the entire block changes. However, I saw only one faulty gas block, as it was broken by the owner of the column when he climbed there.

10. But the gas column burner just needs to be disassembled and cleaned. To do this, disconnect the bar from the burner, on which the igniter, ignition electrode and thermocouple are located. The bar is attached to the burner with one self-tapping screw. Before unscrewing the bar, unscrew the igniter tube from the gas block and from the igniter itself. You must act carefully so as not to break the tube. When you disconnect the igniter tube, do not lose the jet (in the photo it is in my palm)

11. The burner is attached to the gas water heater body with two self-tapping screws (they are at the bottom of the burner). The burner is also attached with two screws to the gas train, through which gas is supplied to the burner compartments. When we unscrew all this, the burner is still difficult to remove. To remove the burner, we loosen the screws securing the gas block of the column to the body.The burner can then be removed without any problems.

12. We disassemble the water block of the gas column as needed (if it is clogged or it is necessary to replace the membrane of the water block)

The Vaillant gas water heater itself has been disassembled. We clean and wash all disassembled parts from dust.

A lot of dirt accumulates in the column cover, because he's on top. We thoroughly rinse the gas column heat exchanger (this is the most expensive part of the column). Fairy helps a lot if the column smoked. Hardness and rust salts are deposited inside the heat exchanger. It will be useful to fill the heat exchanger with a citric acid solution or a limescale and rust remover. Let it stand and turn sour. Then rinse it with water pressure.

Thoroughly rinse the gas column burner with water pressure. Particular attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the burner openings and the entrances to the burner section, where gas is supplied and air is sucked in.

Next, carefully clean the gas column igniter and the igniter air filter from dust and carbon deposits (mesh in the photo). If the air filter is clogged, the wick will certainly smoke, because the gas mixture will be rich.

That's all. For a longer time, you can collect everything in the reverse order. After assembly, it is necessary to check the ignition tube connections for leaks by soaping. I hope, after all the above, the column will delight you with a noisy blue burner flame and hot water.

One of the important units is the water unit of the gas water heater or "frog". The regulation and safety module is installed in semi-automatic and automatic flow-through gas boilers. A faulty gearbox is reflected in burner startup failures, failure to start and other irregularities.

Instantaneous water heaters turn on immediately after opening the water supply tap and turn off after closing it. The working process regulates the water block of the gas column.

The hollow frog device is divided into two parts by a rubber membrane. One half of the reducer is connected to the cold water supply, the second is a stem connected to the gas valve. On the metal rod of automatic water heaters there are “wings” connected to the electric ignition unit.

The principle of operation of the gas-water unit of the gas column is as follows:

when the cold water tap is opened, one of the cavities is filled with water;
under the pressure of water, pressure is exerted on the membrane of the water unit;
the diaphragm bends under pressure and presses on the rod located in the second cavity;
a metal rod presses on the valve, opening the gas supply;
in the automatic dispensers on the rod there are ears connected to the ignition unit;
a spark is supplied to the burner, igniting the flame;
after the DHW tap is closed, the structure and internal parts of the unit begin to reverse;
the stem returns to its original position thanks to the spring and shuts off the gas supply.

Read also: DIY fusion TV repair

We offer you to watch a video about the malfunctions of the Vilant gas column, which may occur when you turn it on:

Vaillant gas column power regulator

Another representative of the German brand is the Vaillant gas water heater. These speakers from the German manufacturer have high-quality assembly and are reliable in operation.

The main popularity of such a brand is that they continuously provide the consumer with hot water, and they can also be installed wherever there is running water and an uninterrupted gas supply.

Currently, there is a large selection of columns and spare parts for Vaillant gas water heaters. The prices for them should please you, since they are low, if you consider that Vaillant is a purely German quality.

The main parameter of the gas column is its power. For Vaillant columns, the power can start from 10 to 30 kW. Power plays an important role in the choice, since the rapid heating of water in liters in a short time depends on it.

Also, when choosing a specific gas column, you should pay attention to the size of the device, weight, and most importantly, this is the size of the section of the flue duct. We recommend that when choosing this column, pay attention to the ignition system. We believe that this is the main pattern in the choice.

Almost all gas water heaters come with and without a wick.What is a wick? The wick is a kind of small gas burner that is constantly burning inside. But it starts to burn as the consumer turned it on.

From this wick, the main burner also lights up. There are Vaillant columns where the wick can be lit with matches, but this, as we know, is already the last century.

Nowadays, gas water heaters with piezo ignition are popular. How does he work? With the help of a special button, which the consumer presses, the piezoelectric element releases a spark. This spark instantly ignites the wick. Thus, it turns on the gas water heater.

Only the best reviews on the Vaillant geyser about this system. But such a system also has its drawbacks. A column with a wick consumes a lot of gas, and gas is becoming more and more expensive nowadays. That is why we advise you to choose a Wilant gas water heater with electronic ignition.

In this case, the spark turns on automatically when the consumer turns on the column. In this system, the power source is a regular mains or batteries. But let's say you can't get enough batteries in this case, as they quickly become unusable. One plus to this is that they are cheap.

Advantages of Vaillant gas water heaters:

Simple control and operation.
Aesthetic and attractive appearance.
The presence of a color display.
Device safety and warranty period over 15 years.
The price of the Vaillant gas water heater is affordable compared to its counterparts.
Original design, complete noiseless operation.
The body never heats up during operation of the VAILLANT gas water heater.

This gas water heater is designed for any communication system and even with any gas supply capacity, since the gas water heaters have built-in automation.

The Vaillant geyser has an attractive appearance

Thanks to this, all the column sensors work automatically, and you do not have to do any additional unnecessary actions. You just have to click on the button and start the column. Without unnecessary actions, the equipment begins to work, and hot water is supplied to the tap. We also advise those who have low-power gas equipment not to turn on the water in all taps at the same time.
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Often times, any column can come out of fitness. Even speakers from famous brands such as VAILLANT tend to break down too.

Often the wick does not burn, in this case the flue gas sensor is out of order, which requires a complete replacement. The wick may also fail to ignite if the thermocouple and gas valve are out of order. They also require replacement.
The water may not heat up. In this case, your heat exchanger is out of order. The heat exchanger in these gas columns is not repaired, but requires replacement.
The speaker can often overheat and make noise. First, the radiator is checked, which can be clogged with soot and smoke. We can also observe dampness under the column. The reason is that your heat exchanger is leaking. This requires a complete replacement of the radiator.
The ignition spark often does not turn on. Here we change the flame controller, or the ignition spark boiler. In conclusion, I would like to warn you that we do not recommend making independent repair of Vaillant geysers. Since, repairing devices with gases is contraindicated for beginners. We advise you to better contact a service center for the repair of gas equipment.

Disassembled gas water heater Vaillant

If your gas water heater has turned off on your own, and the water, yellow flame, or automatic interruptions are not heating up enough, then it is better to call the gas service. We do not recommend disassembling the equipment yourself, cleaning and experimenting.
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Any geyser can fail. There are many reasons why equipment breakdowns occur. Here are some of them:

Incorrect connection and installation of the initially geyser;
Failure to follow the instructions of the Vaillant gas column;
Incorrect operation, that is, the operation of the column without water supply. Columns also often break down due to poor gas supply;
Often there is a clogging of gas columns, due to long-term operation without cleaning the equipment. In this case, the spare part for the Vaillant gas water heater is worn out;
The least common breakdown occurs due to a factory defect. But as we know, before being sent to the counter, each geyser of the manufacturer Vilant is tested for operability. Hidden marriage is also allowed. If, nevertheless, a breakdown occurs through the fault of the manufacturer, any service center will eliminate the defect without problems.

Geyser Vaillant built into the cupboard in the kitchen

Nikolay Vladimirovich, 54 years old Samara

I bought a Vaillant Mag Pro gas water heater half a year ago. A bit noisy, lighting up for about a minute. I paid money for German quality. But the build and body aren't exactly German. There is a wick in the column. After using it, I realized that it was necessary to take a column with electronic ignition. Has two power modes, but the power is weak. If I turn it on at maximum power, the speaker starts to make noise. In principle, it costs its money. I advise you to take only with electronic ignition from batteries.

Vera Anatolyevna, 34 years old, Minsk

We purchased a Vaillant Mag column gas water heater three years ago to replace the old one. The downside is that it is a semi-automatic. When turned on, the button must be pressed and held until the wick is lit. When pressed, an unpleasant crackling sound is heard. It works silently. Such a small column, in principle, copes with its task. Column is white. The heating level is easily regulated. The water heats up quickly. Once there was one breakdown. Heat exchanger for the Vaillant gas column, weak point. The most important advantage is that the igniter in it can be left on, and then hot water flows from the tap all day. For that kind of money, this is a good option.

Maxim, 22 years old, Belgorod

The Vaillant column was installed in his home one year ago. I have two children. Hot water should be constant. It consumes little gas, although automatic ignition. There were no problems with her. It works very quietly, there are no claps. Maybe initially, when the wizard installed and immediately configured the equipment correctly. Has a white color, the kitchen matched our interior. The wife and I are happy.

Any professional will tell you: "a gas water heater is a potentially dangerous equipment, so you can only entrust its maintenance and repair to a qualified specialist." However, the ability to understand which element is out of order and what it can lead to will definitely not hurt. Image - Vaillant do-it-yourself gas water heater repair

DIY geyser repair

In addition, you can deal with the elimination of some malfunctions that do not specifically affect gas equipment on your own. Read the description of typical breakdowns and recommendations for action in case of their detection.

Gas column device

Equipment can stop igniting for several reasons.

Gas column device

First of all, you must make sure that the igniter is working properly. If it does not light up, contact your gas service. A specialist will clean or replace the failed element. You cannot touch it yourself - it is dangerous.

Gas column device diagram

In modern units with electronic ignition, in the absence of ignition, gas ceases to be supplied - it is cut off by a valve. The user becomes aware of this through the corresponding indicator. In some situations, this problem can be solved by simply replacing the battery. Check this point in the instructions. If the manufacturer does not give such recommendations, it is better to immediately contact the gas service or a third-party repair service.

At one point, the column may not light up

Battery pack for igniting the column

The column will not light up if there is no ventilation draft. To check the level of traction, we bring a strip of paper to the ventilation grill. If the leaf does not change its position, or if it does not change it sufficiently, there are obvious problems with craving.In apartment buildings, utilities are engaged in cleaning ventilation wells - contact them. You can do this yourself with the help of a metal brush tied to a flexible wire (hose, etc.) of a suitable length, however, utilities usually do not approve of such unauthorized actions.

Burners often fail to fire due to diaphragm wear. This structural element deforms rather quickly, the burner starting mechanism becomes less sensitive and does not work when the water is turned on. Even in expensive heaters, membranes wear out in 5-8 years - unfortunately, nothing can be done about this.

Often burners do not fire due to diaphragm wear

To check, turn on the water to maximum. If the column turns on with a strong pressure, the problem is definitely in the membrane. Replacement of this element can be done on your own.

To do this, do the following:

unscrew the fastening nuts from the water unit (usually there are 2 of them);
unscrew the fastening screws, due to which the water unit is held in the gas unit (usually 3 screws);
detach the halves of the assembly and you will see a rubber membrane. If it is not flat but noticeably deformed, replace it. To do this, buy a similar product from a specialized store. If possible, give preference to a silicone membrane - it will last much longer than its simple rubber counterpart.

At the same stage, you can check the condition of the water intake filter. If it is clogged, clean it or replace it with a new one. For cleaning, simply unscrew the nut from the water supply side, remove the mesh and rinse it or replace it with a new one, depending on the condition.

If the heater turns on but goes out, the problem in most situations is the bimetallic temperature sensor needed to protect the equipment from overheating. Also, due to malfunctions of this element, the heater may not turn on at all.

This problem has 2 main development scenarios.

According to the first scenario, the burner lights up properly, the equipment functions for some time without any complaints, and then goes out and for some time does not show any signs of life - attempts to ignite the heater do not lead to anything. Usually, after 20-30 minutes, the equipment turns on again and history repeats itself. This is due to the excessive sensitivity of the sensor. As a rule, it is "congenital", i.e. this is a factory defect. It is extremely difficult to do something on your own. It is better to immediately contact the manufacturer's service for warranty repairs.
According to the second scenario, the column may turn off randomly, and sometimes not turn on at all. The reason usually lies in the wear of the insulating material of the conductor of the bimetallic sensor. There is a banal short circuit to the case, as a result of which the safety valve is triggered, and the column begins to behave abnormally.

Contact the service center for warranty repair

It makes no sense to turn to gas workers - the defect is clearly not a "gas" one. You also don't need to try to get rid of the breakdown yourself - you can only break the unit. Contact the service center for warranty repairs.

Water comes out with a weak pressure

Most often this happens due to clogging of the column heat exchanger with scale. Prolonged “idle” ignitions of the igniter are usually the cause of clogging. The device heats up the heat exchanger to a temperature sufficient to cause the remaining moisture to evaporate.

There is no water flow, scale is not washed out of the heat exchanger, until the next turn on of the equipment, it sets, as a result of which the column ceases to function normally. Cleaning the heat exchanger usually saves. In advanced cases, it has to be changed.

For replacement, it is better to immediately contact the professionals, but you can handle the cleaning on your own. Prepare screwdrivers, rubber hose, open-end wrenches and paranite gaskets.Purchase a descaling mixture from a hardware store. Usually it is called that - antiscale. A more budgetary option is rinsing with vinegar essence. Work in this order.

First step. Remove the fittings and the casing from the heater one after the other.

Second step. Turn off the inlet water and open a hot water tap, preferably as close as possible from the column.

Step three. Unscrew the water supply pipe from the heat exchanger and then move it to the side. After unscrewing the nut, the column heat exchanger will begin to release water. In total, about 1 liter of it will be drained.

Fourth step. Place a hose of a suitable diameter on the inlet of the heat exchanger and lift it just above the heater. Insert an ordinary funnel into the fixed hose and start slowly pouring in the prepared solution in a thin stream (instructions for preparation are given on the package). There is no need to rush. If you pour it too quickly, the antikipine will simply push it back out, and you are unlikely to like it.

Flushing the gas column heat exchanger

Leave the cleaning agent in the heat exchanger of the heater for 2-3 hours (usually the required time is indicated on the packaging).

Place a suitable container under the water tap and carefully re-feed the heater. Observe what comes out of the hose. Was there a lot of slurry coming out, and then the head returned to normal? Things are good. Otherwise, flushing will have to be repeated. Usually, the need for re-rinsing arises only when using vinegar essence. In most situations, decalcification works the first time.

In such a situation, it is better to immediately contact a professional. He will perform the adjustment, which is extremely difficult to make without knowledge of the matter, and the column will start working normally.

You can find out the reasons for the appearance of such a malfunction for the general development. There are two main reasons:

the gas comes under too much pressure. The heater ignites too actively, which leads to the breakdown of the fire;
the gas flow is too low. Air enters the heater burner, resulting in a microexplosion, which is interpreted by human hearing as cotton.

The column does not heat up the water sufficiently

This usually happens due to the insufficient power of the gas column. The user begins to demand more from the equipment than it can do.

There are two options for solving the problem:

we stop abusing and do not open hot taps at the same time at all points of the water intake;
buying a more powerful speaker.

Also, inadequate heating of the liquid can occur due to the clogging of the burner. Look at the color of the fire. Under normal conditions, it is bluish. If the flame turns yellow, contact the gas industry. Such repairs can only be entrusted to a professional, tk. this is already a "gas" breakdown.

The problem is more than serious. Don't even think about any hand-made repairs. Turn off the heater, turn off the gas cock, ensure that there is adequate ventilation at all times, and call the gas service immediately. The arriving team will assess the problem and take appropriate action.

Now you know the main malfunctions of the gas column, and you know how to behave when they appear. The main thing is to remember about safety. There is no need to try to fix breakdowns for which you do not have enough qualifications - this can lead to irreparable consequences.

Video (click to play).