Choosing an electric water heater

It is difficult to imagine a comfortable living in a city apartment or a cottage without hot water in the faucet. It is not always possible to use centralized systems, the ideal option for obtaining heated water is an electric boiler. But in order to choose a water heater for a dacha or an apartment it is necessary to take into account many factors - the type of the boiler construction, the capacity, the material of manufacture and even the shape of the water heating unit.

Types of boiler construction

The basic principle of work, which unites all types of water heaters, is concluded in the qualitative and continuous operation of the heating element - the ten. Tan is placed in a container in which water is heated to the set temperature. The location of the tenon in the tank can be of two types:

• the work of the tan occurs directly in the tank into which water enters
• the work of the tan occurs without contact with water.

Variants that exclude contact with water are considered more durable. In water heaters with this principle of operation, scale is not formed and, as a consequence, it does not require frequent replacement of the tan or the entire device as a whole. Its cost is much higher than the cost of a boiler with similar characteristics, but with a ten-immersed in water.

In order to determine which boiler is more practical and convenient to use, you need to familiarize yourself with the principle of its operation. The price policy of this type of equipment depends on the internal content of the unit. The principle of operation of all boilers is based on the following:

1. Heating of water to a certain, desired temperature takes place directly in the thermostat, i.e. equipped in a certain way with a capacity capable of maintaining the temperature of the liquid for a long time.
2. After turning on the faucet standing on the hot water supply or after a certain amount of time, the water temperature decreases and, as a consequence, the thermostat switches on automatically, that is, the water is again heated to a certain temperature.
3. The owner sets the desired water temperature manually (manually), setting the regulator (mechanical handle) in a certain position.

In inexpensive boilers, on the temperature control panel, the numbers denoting degrees are absent. The setting of the desired temperature is based on symbolic icons that give the opportunity to understand "cold" or "hot."

In more expensive models, the temperature is controlled by an electronic system, which makes it possible to set the necessary temperature down to 1 to 2 degrees. It is worth noting that the cost of such equipment is much higher than the cost of water heaters with a mechanical adjustment system.

The most expensive water heaters include those who regulate the temperature regime by means of an electronic system, in addition, their functionality includes the ability to automatically turn on the heating of water at certain times of the day.

How to save energy by using an inexpensive boiler

The disadvantages of water heating equipment include forced heating at a time when the consumption of hot water does not occur (for example, when there is no one at home, the water temperature after a certain time is reduced by only a couple of degrees and automatically turns into an active mode of operation). As a result, there is a useless expenditure of expensive energy.

There is an option that will help to partially solve this problem. You can, for example, leaving home or knowing that hot water will not be needed for a while, reduce the heating temperature to a minimum or turn off the water heater completely. But you need to remember that when you come home and turn on the device you will have to wait for some time until the temperature of the water becomes the maximum desired.

How to choose an electric water heater for a dacha or an apartment - we take into account the volume of the tank and the power of the tan

In order to understand which (in terms of capacity and capacity) the water heater is necessary, you can consult with the seller in a specialized store or get acquainted with the approximate scheme:

• a boiler with a capacity of 80 liters and a capacity of one and a half kilowatts will heat very cold water to a hot state in 3.5 hours
• volume 80 liters, but at a power of two kilowatts will heat up in about two hours
• a smaller volume of 50 liters with a power of two kilowatts will heat the water to hot for 1 hour 10 minutes.

Buying a boiler for an apartment of medium and slightly larger sizes, do not consider options with a displacement of more than 80 liters. On sale there are boilers with a volume of 120 liters.

Their price is at least twice the price of a similar model with a capacity of 80 liters. And another not unimportant issue concerning models with a displacement of 120 is the choice for them of location and installation.

The leader in sales of this type of equipment are boilers with a volume of 50 and 80 liters. They are quite enough for bathing a family of 2 - 3 people. There are boilers and with a smaller displacement - 10 and 15 liters. They are suitable for use in the kitchen.

How to choose a storage water heater correctly

When choosing this type of equipment, the first thing to pay attention to is the ratio of power and volume. In cases where the volume is large enough, and the power is relatively small, the water will heat up very slowly, electricity bills will not rejoice.

Variants when the volume is not large, and the maximum power is also not desirable. Such options are likely to lead to burning wiring, which in turn is very dangerous. The optimal version of the water heater for an apartment - with a capacity of one and a half or two kilowatts.

Such electrical stress can withstand the wiring of the old horseshoe. However, experienced experts advise: in old apartments to lay an additional power cable, stretched from the meter, and it is to him to make the connection of the water heater.

In order to be sure one hundred percent that when connecting to the electric network of boilers by the residents of the whole entrance and simultaneous active use of them, there will be no voltage fluctuations and ignition of the wiring. The variant with the laying of an additional, separate cable from the counter for the water heater will be ideal. Only when these recommendations are implemented can you safely use electrical appliances of this kind.

When choosing a boiler, we take into account the material of manufacture

Most of the existing models on the market are equipped with a tank made of steel. Producers, to prevent corrosive formations, the inner part (in contact with water) is coated with a special compound. The most common and budgetary type of coating is enamel and its various variations.

But, taking for example and considering the usual enamel saucepan, which almost every family uses to prepare food, it becomes clear that this type of coating is not very durable: deformations and cracks appear over time. The maximum period without a problematic service of a boiler with enamel coating is 3 years.

The operating period can be extended. To do this, you need to reduce the maximum temperature of heating to 55 - 60 degrees. But in this case, another problem immediately arises: such a temperature regime is very favorable for the multiplication and active life of microorganisms of all kinds.

As a consequence, an elementary, everyday brushing of teeth can lead to negative consequences for the whole organism. Some manufacturers offer a solution to this problem. In their assortment there are water heaters with tanks from the inside coated with an antibacterial agent.

The work of this coating is based on the active state of silver ions, which perform the disinfecting action. The silvered tank does not greatly affect the cost of the device. Its price will be more than about one-fifth of the cost of a similar water heater without silver ions.

The most ideal and practical in the use of coating is considered to be sputtering from titanium. Stainless steel tanks also have many positive characteristics. In addition to indifference to the corrosive changes, a fairly long operating period is more than 10 years. But the price of such a product is much higher than similar counterparts: at least three, three and a half times.

It is also worth noting that boilers with a stainless steel tank are almost always equipped with a power of 2.5 kW and a multifunctional system for electronic control.

Which water heater to choose - we take into account the form

The most popular were boilers with a vertical installation and a cylindrical shape.

To their pluses it is possible to carry:

• the first - this equipment does not require a large area for installation,
• second - this design guarantees a small area of ​​contact between hot water accumulating in the upper part with cold water in the lower part; From this we can conclude: a decrease in the temperature of hot water is much slower.

In addition to barrel-type water heaters with a cylindrical shape, appliances of elongated form - slimy - are equally popular. Their shape and location of the tank promotes faster and more efficient heating, compared to barrel-shaped.

The dimensions of this boiler allow it to be placed with less loss of usable area of ​​the apartment. The cost of the slime is not much higher than the cost of a similar in volume barrel-shaped boilers.

Also there are rectangular boilers designed for horizontal installation and others. The number of negative reviews about them in terms of technical characteristics and operational problems is quite large. This is why they are not in great demand among buyers.

Installation

Often, the installation of a water heater is performed on one of the walls in the bathroom or toilet. During installation, the main thing to remember is that the weight of the boiler itself (about 25 kilograms) and the weight of water (10 to 120 liters), which must be put into it, must be securely attached to the wall. Making fasteners on any of the walls (internal or bearing) is better to be reinsured and use anchors made of steel.

In principle, delivery, installation and connection to a centralized water supply can be performed independently. But the specialized service store performs warranty maintenance of the water heater only in cases when the installation and connection were performed by their employees.

Detailed information about installing the boiler:

Destruction - how to avoid

Heating elements that come into contact with water to a greater or lesser extent (depending on the state of water) suffer from scale. In those regions where water is particularly severe, only filters aimed at cleaning and softening water will help out of the situation.

The second major problem for boilers is corrosion. For productive struggle with it magnesium-anodic rods are used, which also have anti-corrosive effect. Over time, they are destroyed. Especially fast in those regions where the level of iron in water is very high.

For prevention, you need to call a qualified specialist once a year and a half - two years to assess the condition of both the ten and rod, if necessary, he will suggest the replacement of components.

How to choose an electric water heater for a summer residence - we will consider a variant of a liquid water heater and a flow

There are several types of liquid water heaters. All of them are easy to use and compact. The simplest type, such as "Moidodyr", has in its construction a cabinet with a washbasin, a capacity for recycling water and a storage tank-thermostat of a small volume.

Among the shortcomings of such a device can be called a small amount of hot water and the impossibility of taking a shower. More expensive, but optimal in terms of functionality will still be a wall-mounted liquid water heater for a summer residence.

Pour water into it with buckets or with a pump, the volume of such a tank will be enough for taking a shower, the preset water temperature in it is maintained by the thermostat.

At the cottage it is also convenient to use flowing water heaters, how to choose the right one we will now clarify.

More information on the benefits of a flow-through boiler on video:

Flowline models attract small weight and compactness. But the power consumed by them is quite large, it is necessary to acquire such models only if there is a good electrical wiring and additional automata on the electricity meter.

To provide one-tap water heated by water, a device with a capacity of 3 kW will be required, and if a 12 kW or higher heater is installed, the connection must be made to a three-phase network.

Connection of a flowing water heater into the water supply system is of no particular complexity.