The modern city dweller is quite whimsical, and therefore he does not live very comfortably in the country or in his hometown without hot water. Of course, boiling water for tea is not at all difficult, but heating its large volume for washing can be very problematic.
Electric and gas water heaters will help you solve the problem with hot water supply.
Today we will learn how to choose a water heater. This should be taken seriously, because if you make a wrong purchase, you risk not only not having hot water, but also without a home, as cases of fires due to overly powerful heating devices are far from rare.
What are they like?
Such a technique can be classified by size, performance and principle of operation. In addition, these devices differ in the method of installation and the features of their design. Generally speaking, the following types of heaters are distinguished:
• Gas.
• Electric.
• Compact.
• Oversized.
They can be designed to heat both 10-15 liters and thousands of liters of running water per hour. There are models with banal manual control, but lately there are more and more varieties equipped with complex electronic units, with the help of which the water temperature can be kept within strictly defined limits. Some heaters are installed on the floor, some can be hung on the wall ... In a word, there are plenty of options! So how to choose a water heater and not get lost in all this diversity?
About the principle of action
As we have said, according to the principle of action, they can be divided into gas and electric. If there is gas in your house, then it is preferable to use the first variety, since this equipment is much more economical, and it is much cheaper to operate. In addition, a gas burner is able to heat water several times faster than electric heating elements. This is what a gas water heater is good for. How to choose the most optimal model, starting from the basic characteristics of various types?
Flowing and cumulative: which is better?
Both gas and electric water heaters are divided into storage and flow models. The storage heater is a kind of “thermos”. The tank is protected by heat-insulated walls, under the protection of which heated water can remain warm for a long time even if the gas or electricity is turned off. In everyday life, the term "boiler" can be heard much more often.
The advantages of this type of device are quite extensive: they are economical, safe, simple and cheap to operate. Their choice will be ideal if you need to bring hot water to several points at once. Unlike flow varieties, they can give out a different pressure of water, while maintaining its set temperature.
The most economical and cheap to operate storage gas heaters. They consume a tiny amount of electricity, which is spent only on the operation of automatic control systems. However, today we’ll talk about how to choose an electric water heater: these models are much more common due to the fact that gas is not in every village in our country.
Storage water heaters differ in tank sizes, power and design features. Tanks are small, medium and large capacity.Small-capacity water heaters are compact enough, making them convenient for installation in any apartment. Large-capacity models can be used for heating multi-room apartments and offices, in cafes and shops.
Disadvantages of drives
Among the disadvantages of this technique are its large dimensions, the need for long work to heat all the water in the tank (less true for gas modifications), as well as the need for periodic monitoring of the state of the heating element. The fact is that in most regions of our country there is very hard water, the scale of which tends to quickly disable powerful heating elements.
When you completely use up the portion of hot water accumulated in the tank, you will have to be patient, as the new volume may well heat up for several hours (depending on the power and principle of operation). Note! If your heater is installed in a country house, which is not heated in the winter, then you must completely drain the water before leaving.
As for the installation method, the best things are with storage electric heaters: they are wall and floor, with a horizontal and vertical arrangement of the tank. Many models are universal. They can be installed in any way, depending on your preferences and specific situation. If we talk about gas varieties, then they can be installed only vertically.
Now we’ll talk about how to choose an electric instantaneous water heater. It is not so difficult.
Advantages of flow models
As the name implies, such models are designed to heat running water. Their advantage is that they allow you to get hot water immediately after opening the tap. Despite their compact size, they are able to meet the water needs of any household. In addition, they can be easily disguised, which is especially impressive for lovers of modern minimalism in home decoration.
Unlike the varieties described above, these water heaters can be wall and floor, with a vertical and horizontal arrangement, have a very different shape of the body. But how to choose a flowing water heater, if you also remember about their shortcomings?
The disadvantages of the "flow-through"
The only, but extremely serious drawback is the fact that for this kind of heaters to work, an electrical network is required that can withstand very significant loads. Accordingly, we are no longer talking about saving electricity. In addition, few models of flow heaters can heat water to the same extent as their accumulative "colleagues." In a word, before choosing a water heater for a private house, think carefully: can your wiring withstand such a load?
General characteristics of flowing varieties and problems associated with them
Such devices are able to quickly heat running water. From here we can draw a simple conclusion about their high power. It is quite fair - even household models can be rated at 27 kW. Of course, even half the value of such power can not withstand wiring in most of the domestic apartments and houses, but such varieties are in demand among construction contractors: to meet the needs of the construction team, these heaters are perfectly suited.
Needless to say, to equip your apartment with something similar, you will have to completely replace the wiring and spend money on a 380 V network, since with a power of more than 5.5 kW the standard 220 V is no longer suitable. In principle, before choosing a flow-through water heater, in any case, we strongly recommend that you make a complete audit of the entire house wiring, since its unsatisfactory condition even in a short period can lead to very big troubles!
Important! Thus differing from their accumulative "relatives", flow-through heaters are largely dependent on the temperature of cold water at the inlet. The difference between the indicators should not exceed 25 ° C. Please note that it is better not to heat the liquids to a boil, since in this case the heating element very quickly fails due to the mass of scale formed on it.
If you organize the supply of pre-heated water, then this will not only increase the maximum temperature of the liquid at the outlet, but also save a significant amount of electricity. Modern automatic heating systems allow you to accurately maintain a given water temperature even if its pressure in the water supply changes dramatically. If the fluid supply stops at all due to some kind of malfunction, then the same systems will automatically turn off the equipment.
Since the owners of country houses who may be empty for weeks most often want to choose an electric instantaneous water heater, this option is extremely important and useful.
Amount of hot water
However, you can change the heating modes depending not only on seasonal factors, but also on your own preferences and needs. It should be remembered that the average 7 kW water heater can produce a maximum of four liters of hot water in winter, and in summer, when the temperature of the inlet liquid can reach 18 degrees Celsius, this volume can be increased to 5.5 liters. This performance is not only sufficient for taking a shower, but also for a relatively quick filling of the bath.
By the way, how to choose a storage water heater?
Choosing a storage heater
If you are going to choose a boiler by tank volume, then you definitely need to know your daily need for hot water. Do not forget that the pressure in the storage models is maintained due to the constant influx of cold water! Thus, if you need 10-15 liters per day, then it is advisable to buy a boiler with a capacity of at least 30 liters. So how to choose a storage electric water heater, focusing on the needs of people living in the house?
Experts say that 10-15-liter models are enough for periodic washing of dishes and hands, but it is unlikely to be able to take a shower with their help. Of course, if you are not a supporter of cold water tempering. In the case when you still want to stand under streams of hot water, keep in mind that in one minute a person spends about four liters of water in a shower stall. Of course, these are average statistics, since everyone is fond of water procedures to varying degrees.
So which water heater is better to choose? On sale, you can even find tanks of 300 liters, which should be enough to meet the needs of a large family in the face of frequent power outages. If we talk about boilers that connect to the heating system, then they can have more than a ton of water.
As for their cost, a rather interesting situation is observed: a large water heater costs a lot, but the cost of heating a liter of water in it is much lower than for less capacious models. This is due to the fact that large containers cool more slowly, and therefore the water remains hot much longer, it does not need to spend additional electricity to re-heat it.
Here's how to choose a storage electric water heater when it comes to meeting the needs for hot water.
Operating principle
The principle of operation of this technique is as simple as possible: when the tap is opened, hot water leaves one pipe in the direction of the consumer, and to balance the pressure, cold liquid begins to flow into the container. Note that the latter enters the tank from below.
Many people think that cold water can only come from the water supply, but for many models the pressure that can be created using some kind of storage tank of a suitable volume is quite enough. In the latter case, the height difference should be at least two meters.
So how to choose a storage water heater if your house does not have a central water supply? Is such an option real in this case?
However, in this matter the situation varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. As a rule, four to six atmospheres are considered the optimal value. In the event that this value may be exceeded in your home, it is better to put a special gearbox that will protect your equipment.
In addition, in this case, you must definitely choose a model that has a safety valve. If the water overheats and rupture of the walls of the storage tank is possible, the device will simply discharge excess liquid and steam through a special drain valve.
The exit at accumulative boilers happens open and closed. If you plan to buy a water heater for supplying water only to one point with a large consumption of liquid (a kitchen sink in a cafe, for example), then it is more advisable to purchase a variant with an open outlet. Please note: when you turn on such a heater for the first time, you must wait until the tank is full, and the hot water tap must be fully open! However, much more often wiring is required for several points at once, and for this purpose modifications with a closed output are excellent.
On the durability of the storage tank
Note that the period of the operational period directly depends on the material from which the container is made. Durability is especially important for those buyers who do not know how to choose a water heater in their apartment: if the tank flows in a private house, nothing bad will happen. But if 100-300 liters pour on the heads of your neighbors from below ...
Please note that a leaky tank cannot be repaired, since it is unrealistic to restore the insulation layer at home in any case. Accordingly, special attention must be paid to the quality of the paint and the characteristics of the anti-corrosion coatings.
The most durable are those tanks that are made of normal stainless steel that has undergone passivation. As a rule, they are given a guarantee of at least eight years. Where are more common models with a case from carbon steel coated with titanium oxide enamel. Such paint does not crack even with significant temperature differences, and therefore the warranty period for the tank is at least five or six years.
But the cheapest are tanks made of ordinary steel coated with standard enamels. They are not suitable for serious operation, and the guarantee for such models does not exceed three years. However, in recent years, storage heaters made of plastic are becoming more widespread. They are durable, lightweight, not afraid of corrosion. The warranty on them is set within five years, but experts say that the practical life of their service is much longer.
Here's how to choose a storage water heater, focusing on the characteristics of the paintwork of its body.
Note that to increase the durability of the heating elements, which are very vulnerable, good manufacturers install magnesium anodes inside the containers. Their service life is about two years, after which a mandatory replacement is needed. Before buying, you need to ask how costly this operation will turn out and how realistic it is to get new anodes from this manufacturer.
Characteristics of thermal insulation materials
More expensive models use hard polyurethane (PUF) for thermal insulation. In ordinary varieties, ordinary basalt fiber is most often used, the characteristics of which are very far from optimal. PPU insulation is much stronger, more reliable and more durable.In addition, due to the excellent heat-insulating qualities of this material, tanks based on it are obtained smaller and lighter. Before choosing a water heater for the apartment, be sure to take this into account! Homeowners on the top floors will especially appreciate this feature.
Water heating time
In a normally insulated tank, the water cools by about half a degree in one hour (provided that the electricity is turned off). Heating can vary from 30 to 90 degrees. This indicator does not depend on the temperature of the incoming water. In expensive models, there is often an additional electronic unit responsible for maintaining this temperature within ± 0.5 degrees Celsius. Experts say that 100 liters in the standard model warm up to 70 degrees in about four hours.
About equipment power
If you are going to buy a model with a power of 2.5 kW and below, then you do not have to worry about the state of your finances, since you can get by with the existing wiring (if it is in good condition, of course). Devices with a power of 2.5 to 5.5 kW need a separate cable from the distribution panel and a separate block of reliable fuses. If for your purposes you can’t do without buying something even more powerful, then in this case you have to shell out for a network of 380 V.
Before choosing a water heater for a summer residence, consult with electricians. Even if you install a low-power storage model, it does not hurt to stretch a separate cable with an automatic machine from the distribution panel.
Today on the market you can find many quite expensive models with electronic control units that can operate on power from two to six kilowatts and at the same time be operated in networks of both 220 and 110 V. In our country, today it is most often found 80-100 liter boilers up to and including 2.5 kW.
Characteristics of used heating elements
Heating elements are “wet” and “dry” types. As you might guess, in the first case, the heating elements are immersed in water, and therefore the fact of the presence of a magnesium anode, about which we spoke above, is especially important for them.
Of course, when the heating elements fail, you will have to completely drain the water from the storage tank and disassemble almost the entire device. On the contrary, “dry” heating elements do not have direct contact with water, no scale deposits on them, and for their repair there is no need to turn into a professional mechanic, since this procedure is carried out without a complete analysis of the boiler.
If there are two such elements in one heater at once, then this significantly increases its overall reliability. Even if one of them fails, in any case, the backup element will remain. It is even better when the heater allows you to choose how many heating elements can be turned on in one or another case: to quickly heat a large amount of water (provided that other consumers of electricity are turned off), it is better to use two at once, while at night you can leave only one heater. It is better to leave the boiler on one element in the “thermos” mode, when the set temperature needs to be maintained for a long time.
If we talk about how to choose the right water heater, one cannot but mention various additional options that sales consultants love to talk about.
Necessary and convenient additional functions
Oddly enough, but for once the telling stories of marketers turned out to be true: the digital control unit is really worth it to overpay for it. With it, you can control the filling of the tank and the water flow to the nearest liter, set individual heating modes for the water and do other things.In addition, in an emergency or malfunction, the display will show an error code, which will speed up and reduce the cost of the diagnostic and subsequent repair process.
Here's how to choose a water heater, paying attention to the most diverse functions of these devices. To summarize, we can formulate the basic principles that should be followed. First, you need to accurately determine the family's need for hot water. Secondly, take into account the condition of the electrical wiring in the house. Thirdly, choose only those heaters whose casing is painted with titanium dioxide-based paint.
By the way, which company to choose a water heater? We urge you to opt for the products of well-known companies: Bosh, Ariston, Siemens, Aquatex and the like. Their equipment is reliable and will last you a long time.
