How to choose the best water heater

We install an electric boiler in the system

Selection of a suitable model

Almost all electric boilers on the modern market for heating a private house are suitable for use in everyday life. what can you say about water heaters. And yet on the market you can pick up a device that can cope with uncharacteristic loads:

Tanks of various capacities

• Inlets and outlets on the tank must be located in a special way. The optimal combination includes a bottom entry and a top exit. So the heated coolant will enter the system without mixing with the cold liquid.
• Outlets must be at least 2 inches in diameter. This will allow you to connect directly to the heating pipes, without adapters.

Note! Most household heaters have a 3/54 inch inlet and outlet - this is not enough to connect to radiators

• The optimal power of the storage electric water heater is 1 kW per 10 square meters of area. As you can see, household models can only be used in small houses.
• Flowing electric water heaters for home heating should be chosen for the same reasons. At the same time, the power of the heating element should be at least 10 kW, since models of 5-7 kW are only suitable for a washstand or shower.

heating requirements

In addition to the electric boiler itself, other parameters will also affect the efficiency of heating.

The instructions for installing electric water heaters advise paying attention to the following points: Piping and radiator configuration

The more knees and branches in the system, the worse the heating will work.

Configuration of pipelines and radiators. The more knees and branches in the system, the worse the heating will work.

Advice! Try to mount radiators as efficiently as possible, reducing heat loss and hydraulic resistance. The technology of such installation is shown in the video.

• The less leakage of warm air from the room, the lower the load on the heating elements. Therefore, before starting the design of heating, it is necessary to ensure high-quality thermal insulation of all elements of the building.
• The key to the durability of the installation will be timely care and periodic preventive maintenance. Before the start of the cold season, you must call a specialist, or carry out maintenance of the heating elements yourself.

Timely cleaning is the key to effective work

Types of electric heaters

Consider the most common below:

Electric boilers

1. They are usually used for heating private houses on an ongoing basis. The instruction allows the use of equipment in heating systems with a liquid coolant.
2. A heating element:

• • TEN - used with oil, water or antifreeze. The design is the simplest, it makes it possible to smoothly adjust the power. Allows a step change in the intensity of heating, thanks to the inclusion of one or more devices;
  • electrode - compact, used only in water systems, while strict requirements are imposed on the coolant. Additional equipment is required, which increases the cost of the system. Thermal energy is obtained due to the potential difference between the electrodes due to salts dissolved in water;
  • induction - the most expensive, but the most reliable and durable type of electric heating boilers. They are used for any type of coolant, the work is based on the principle of electromagnetic induction.

1. Electric heaters are characterized by the highest energy consumption, but at the same time they have a number of advantages:

• • simple installation;
  • no need to allocate a separate room;
  • compactness;
  • noiselessness of work;
  • no emissions of combustion products;
  • high efficiency.

Tip: before using electric boilers, you must make a reliable grounding.

Electric heating boilers in the interior of the apartment

Convectors

1. Compact mobile devices - are used in country houses and city apartments as an additional or independent source of heat. They can be mounted or floor-mounted (often both use cases are provided in one model). The operation of the device is based on the fact that cold air, which enters naturally or forcibly into the device, passes through the heating elements and, being heated by the heating elements, rises up through a special grate. There are no restrictions and special conditions when using the equipment.

Flowing electric water heaters for heating Pahlem

Flow devices

Such electric heaters are classified as a separate category of devices.

Structurally, they differ from storage boilers:

• more compact dimensions, as no storage tank is provided;
• water enters the heater through the inlet pipe, and then in a copper flask it is heated by powerful heating elements (5-25 kW);
• when heated, the liquid enters the system immediately, and its flow is controlled by valves of a special design.

The flow heater makes it possible to obtain water of the required temperature in a short time. However, due to uneven and active consumption of energy, heating equipment is hardly used. Wiring is not always able to cope with the increasing load.

In the photo - electrode heating

Tip: if you need to install the device as the main source of heat, perform a complete reconstruction of the building's electrical network.

Most often, electric instantaneous water heaters for heating are used in small country houses. In this case, you need to correctly calculate the power of the equipment and lay reliable wiring.

Available "fuel" for heating devices can turn them into the main or additional source of thermal energy. When installing electric boilers, it is necessary to take care of their reliable grounding. If you doubt your knowledge, entrust the installation of devices to specialists. The video in the article will help you find additional information on this topic.

Criterias of choice

It was said above that flow models can serve only one point in the apartment, but this is not entirely true. All water heaters are divided into pressure and non-pressure. The first can create the necessary pressure so that hot water flows from the tap and shower, but the latter do not have such a function.

The second point is management. There are hydraulic and electronic. The former do not have precise water regulation. It all depends on the amount of water passing through the device. A good example is when you have to turn the knobs for a long time in the shower to find the ideal temperature. The device without electronic control has a given heating element power. The more water passes, the colder it is. For this reason, electronically controlled water heaters are more logical and safer. There is no possibility that, by opening the tap strongly, cold water will pour, and with a low pressure, a person will be doused with boiling water.

Another important parameter is performance. It determines what temperature and at what values ​​the water heater can provide. The performance depends on the power accordingly. The minimum value starts from 2.5 kW. It should be understood that such a device can provide a comfortable temperature for washing hands, but not the body as a whole or dishes. To use the shower, bath or wash dishes, the water temperature should reach 40-45 degrees. To do this, you need a model that has a consumption of at least 5 kW per hour.

To choose the best water heater for an apartment, you need to know exactly for what purpose it will be used.When they tell me in the store - advise how to choose a water heater, I always ask how many people and how they will use it. If the answer is several and for all needs, then we immediately look at powerful devices, if you just wash your hands and rinse the dishes in the country, then you can get by with simpler models. Also, many buyers are worried about which company to buy a water heater in an apartment. Of course, there are a number of famous brands that have made a name for themselves. These include Electrolux, Thermex, Unitherm. In my opinion, when buying and on a limited budget, it is better to look at the functions of the device than the one who made it.

Additional filters, protection against hard water and scale, a check valve, adjustment of the minimum and maximum heating values, prevention of overheating of the device, and the presence of an operation indication can act as useful parameters. All these programs and features are important, and if the choice is between a simple device from a famous brand and a more functional device from a little-known company, I recommend choosing the second option.

Similar functions are found in predominantly expensive models priced from 15 to 20 thousand. Of course, such a device is not cheap, but its service life due to additional options is much higher. There are companies that make models with very specific features. For example, AEG has devices that can be powered by solar panels, a company from Germany, Stiebel Eltron, can offer its customers water heaters with multiple water flow adjustments in the shower.

An important point when choosing a technique is wall mounting. Flow type water heaters are small in size and light in weight, but if you need to install it on a drywall wall, you will need special mounting accessories such as "mol". Connect the water heater strictly according to the instructions.

Given that water heaters are powered by electricity and are located in a humid environment, the presence of protection against electric shock is very important. If not, then you will need a special device that can protect the user from electric shock.

Why is an electric instantaneous water heater better than a geyser

The main advantage of electric heating systems, regardless of type and power, is that the installation of such devices does not require such additional communications as chimneys and a ventilation system. In addition, it is almost impossible to install a gas water heater in an apartment building.

Another aspect that deserves attention is that when installing instantaneous water heaters, you will not have to make contact with representatives of the gas service and the fire inspectorate, which has a positive effect on the nervous system and family budget.

unipump water heater faucet. Is it worth taking? video

The connection and start-up of electric heaters can be performed independently, but the installation of a geyser, even with the necessary knowledge and tools, without the involvement of gas service specialists is contrary to current legislation.

Manufacturer rating

For those people who do not look too much at the price, but want to buy a functional model from trusted manufacturers, I have prepared a rating of the most famous brands.

1. Stiebel Eltron is a German company. The equipment of this brand is not cheap, but it is always quality, accompanied by a 3-year warranty. Devices from the Germans are distinguished by ease of connection and use and wide functionality.
2. AEG is a German company with good quality. The brand has different lines with a flexible pricing policy, but even the most inexpensive models rarely get into the service. This makes them popular in the Russian market.
3. Electrolux. The company is from Sweden, but the assembly is predominantly Chinese. Due to this and cheaper materials, the brand sells equipment similar to German firms, but with a cheaper price tag. Quality at a decent level.
4. Atmor.The technique of the Israeli company is more common than the technique of the brands mentioned above. Advantages - high quality, precise operation of automation, small size, low prices. Appliances from Atmor rarely offer a large set of functions, but for those who need a budget option for a summer residence or an apartment, it is the best fit.
5. Timberk. Another Swedish brand. Of the features - low price, compactness, high-quality assembly and bright design.

Before buying, you should decide on the power, and understand what functions are really needed in a particular case. You will sometimes have to pay a lot for additional, but not necessary options, but there will not be much point in this.

Popular Models

In conclusion of the topic, I will give a rating of popular and inexpensive models that are suitable for everyday tasks, are sold in many stores and have good reviews and ratings.

Electrolux NPX6 Aquatronic Digital

Electric instantaneous water heater with a small capacity of 2.8 liters per minute. It can work with water pressure at the inlet of 7 atmospheres, power - 6 kW. Management is carried out by electronics, there is an indication of work. Equipped with a thermometer, will not turn on without water, and will not overheat the water. Position on the wall - horizontal, color - white. Weight - 1.67 kg. Price - from 8 thousand rubles.

CLAGE CEX 9

Wide functionality, there is control from the remote control. Works at a pressure from 0.5 to 10 atmospheres. The maximum heating temperature is 55 degrees. Power - 8 kW, productivity - 5 liters per minute. There is an indication of work, self-diagnosis, electronic temperature controller. The kit includes a water filter, protection class - 5. Mounted horizontally, there is a lock on the set temperature, that is, the child will not be able to knock down the settings. Weight - 2.7 kg. Price - from 20 thousand rubles. (Moscow).

Zanussi 3-logic 3,5 TS (shower + faucet)

Inexpensive model with a small power of 3.5 kW. Productivity is 3.7 liters. The maximum heating temperature is 50 degrees. Pressure from 0.7 to 6 atmospheres. Mechanical control, no operation indication. Protection class - 4. Heater - copper heater. It is located horizontally, a shower head and a faucet are included. Plugs into a 220W socket. Weight - 1.5 kg. Price - from 2 thousand rubles. (2 store - Russia, Belarus, UA, Kazakhstan, 5 store, Moscow).

Electrolux NPX 8 Flow Active

Flowing water heater with a capacity of 4.2 liters per minute and a heater power of 8.8 kW. The maximum temperature value is 60 degrees. Pressure up to 7 atmospheres. There is a thermostat, display, self-diagnosis. The kit includes a filter to purify water from impurities, which will extend the life of the heating element. Protection class - 4. There are programmable modes and intelligent control of work. Weight - 2.5 kg. Connected via a 220 W socket, mounted vertically on the wall. Price - from 14 thousand rubles. (2 store, Moscow).

Timberk WHE 18.0 XTL C1

Powerful model with a high capacity of 12.6 liters. Power 19 kW, requires three-phase wiring. Electronic control, there are programmable modes, display, maximum temperature limit. Protection class - 4, spiral heater. Pressure type, it is possible to connect several points. Weight - 4.2 kg. Mounted on the wall, vertically. Grounding is required. Price - from 18 thousand rubles. (2 store - Russia, Belarus, UA, Kazakhstan, 4 store, 6 store, Moscow).

Electrolux NPX 12-18 Sensomatic Pro

Device with three-phase connection and consumption of 18 kW. Productivity - 8.6 liters. Heating temperature - 60 degrees. Stainless steel spiral heater. The kit includes water filters. There is an electronic control, a display, there is protection against turning on without water, self-diagnosis. There is a kids mode. Weight - 4.4 kg. Installation is vertical, earthing is necessary. Price - from 22 thousand rubles. (2 store, 3 store, 5 store, 7 store, Moscow).

Timberk WHEL-7OSC

Inexpensive model with a beautiful design. Power - 6.5 kW, productivity - 4.5 liters per minute. Mechanical control, protection class - 4. The kit includes a filter, shower head, faucet. The location is horizontal. Price - from 4 thousand rubles. (3 store, 4 store, 5 store).

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Water heater for electric heating

There are many ways to heat a house using non-traditional methods. However, not all of them are sufficiently effective, although there are those that have proven their efficiency in practice. One of the most effective and proven options in real life is the use of an electric water heater for heating.

The principle of operation of the water heater in heating

Non-standard at first glance, the design is characterized by relative accessibility in installation, as well as operational efficiency. Although this option is not without its drawbacks, it can be found in many domestic apartments.

1. Main characteristics of the device
2. What parameters are taken into account when choosing a storage device
3. Indirect heating boiler
4. Installation of the boiler in the system

Varieties of water heaters which type to choose

Water heaters can be storage or instantaneous. The former are effective, but bulky, and there may simply not be room for them in a small bathroom. In addition, with intensive use, such a drive runs out of water, and you have to wait until the device replenishes and heats up a new portion.

With flow-throughs, this problem will not arise: the water heats up directly while passing through the device.

Both storage and flow mechanisms can run on electricity or gas. But since gas is almost never carried into modern apartments, in this article we will focus on electric models. So, how to choose an electric instantaneous water heater?

How does it work

A tankless water heater is very simple. It consists of a small case, inside of which there is a control unit, several heaters and a protection system. When the tap is opened, water begins to flow through the device, the control unit checks the pressure, and then turns on the required number of heating elements. If the water pressure is weak, then the device uses 1 heating element, if the pressure increases, then more heaters will be required to have time to heat up.

Among the advantages of instantaneous water heaters:

• Small sizes.
• Power consumption only during operation.
• High heating rate.
• Aesthetic design.
• Small price.
• The heater is installed near the water discharge point, which reduces heat loss.
• There is no limit on the amount of heated water.

In other words, instantaneous water heaters are small, they can quickly heat any amount of water, they do not spoil the interior, their price is much lower than that of boilers.

Every device has its own nuances. Flow models often have more power. This requires high-quality wiring and a separate connection point. Instantaneous water heaters cannot serve several points and the maximum can be done to a tap and a shower in the bathroom. It is impossible to use two points at the same time, since the water heater will not be able to give the desired temperature to both flows.

When choosing, you need to consider the following parameter. If the instantaneous water heater is used frequently and for a long time, then electricity bills will increase significantly. The energy consumption here is higher than that of boilers and this can only be compensated for by quick and infrequent procedures. If the family is large and everyone in it likes to swim for an hour, then you will have to pay a lot for electricity. This is an important point.

Boiler as a boiler

The design of the electric water heater

In order to correctly mount a heat supply system based on an electric water heater, it is necessary to carefully study its design.

What does it include?

• The basis of the design is a storage tank in which the coolant is heated. The capacity of the tank determines the efficiency of the entire system, therefore, if we plan to use a device for heating water in order to ensure the optimal temperature regime of the entire room, then it is better to choose a tank with a maximum volume.
• The heating element located directly in the tank is responsible for heating the water. The heater operates in automatic mode, which is set by the control system: as soon as the water reaches the required temperature, the heater turns off.
• Most models on the market have an internal tank in a protective case (pictured).A heat-insulating material is laid between the walls of the tank and the body, which prevents heat loss to the external environment.

Flow devices

Flow type electric heaters constitute a separate category of devices. Their design differs from the design of storage boilers:

• The dimensions of the flow device are more compact, since its design does not provide for the presence of a hot water storage tank.
• Water enters the heater through the inlet pipe, after which it is heated in a copper flask due to the operation of powerful heating elements (from 5 to 25 kW).
• The heated liquid immediately enters the system, and its consumption is regulated by valves of a special design.

Using a flow heater allows you to get water at the temperature we need very quickly - up to two minutes. But at the same time, electric instantaneous water heaters are practically not suitable for the type of active and uneven energy consumption. This is due to the fact that the wiring cannot cope with the increasing load, and in order to install such a device as the main source of heat, it is necessary to perform a complete reconstruction of the building's electrical network.

And yet, for small rooms like a country house, you can design a heating system, which is based on a flow-through boiler. The main thing is to correctly calculate the power of the device and ensure sufficiently reliable wiring.

Choosing an electric water heater

Choosing an electric boiler for water heating and home heating. it is necessary to carefully approach the analysis of its functional characteristics, since it is the heating device in such a system that will be the “weak link”.

What should be taken into account?

• The most important factor is the power of the heating elements of the device. The more powerful the boiler, the more efficiently it will cope with the heating of the room. Household electric boilers have a capacity of 1.5 to 3 kW, semi-professional heating models can reach 6-12 kW. If possible, then such a device should be chosen, since a low-power model will always be on, which means it will quickly fail.
• The volume of the tank is also very important. The larger the volume, the more often the heater will “rest”, and the more electricity you will save. The best choice is a tank of 300 liters or more, but the high price of such models makes them not very popular. So you'll have to look!

When is it appropriate to choose electricity for heating

Electric heaters for heating cannot be considered the most budget option, at least in our country, because the cost of equipment and its operation is quite high.

Usually they are considered as an alternative option, connected to the system in case of interruptions in gas supply or when there is no possibility of laying the corresponding communications at all. Their price depends on the area they can heat.

Electric water heaters for heating EVPM-36

However, this method of heating housing has a number of undeniable advantages:

• ubiquitous availability. since when arranging a suburban area, electricity is carried out almost in the first place;
• quick and easy installation of equipment. which you can do with your own hands;
• compactness;
• ease of management;
• no products of combustion.

Classification of electric heaters

Today, electric heating equipment can be grouped as follows:

1. Mobile - heating convectors and oil radiators.
2. Stationary - electric boilers, boilers, fireplaces, infrared heaters and air conditioners.

1. Air - heating of the space of the room is carried out by heating the air, for which different equipment is used, including radiators, electric fireplaces, and convectors.
2. Liquid - the coolant is water, antifreeze or oil.Electric boilers and boilers are used for this.
3. Solid-state (emitters) - heating is transferred to any solid surface, and then it heats the air in the room. Typical representatives are infrared heaters, as well as radiant ones.

1. Tubular - used in all types of heating electrical appliances. They have a wide range of characteristics, including power and performance. Made from titanium or steel.
2. Tubular with ribs - are used only for heating gas coolants, as well as air. Among the equipment are thermal curtains and convectors. They are usually made of stainless or structural steel.
3. Block or block of electric heaters - used if it is necessary to increase the power of the device. The heat carrier is a liquid or any bulk material. The most common type of household heaters with a coolant in the form of a liquid is with a thermostat. The equipment is made of steel, nickel-chromium alloy or copper.

Electric water heater for heating a private house