Many are accustomed to the fact that the centralized supply of hot water can be stopped for more than one day. So why endure it if you can become absolutely independent by installing a storage water heater? In this article, you can learn in detail about the different types of electric water heaters, their device, the principle of operation, as well as understand all the pros and cons.
This information will be useful to absolutely everyone, especially if the municipal authorities are not able to supply hot water to your area. But to complete the overall picture, I will also tell you about instantaneous electric water heaters, which serve as an alternative to storage water heaters.
The main device and principle of operation of electric heaters
Several types of electric heaters fall into this category, which we will discuss separately. Each of them has a unique heating device, although they all have a common goal. Many of us are used to calling everything boilers, but this is wrong. In fact, a boiler is only a generalizing meaning, and translated from English means “boiler”.
Therefore, it is necessary to correctly classify electric water heaters as follows:
- Storage electric heaters.
- Running water heaters.
- Boilers of indirect heating.
Looking at their structure and principle of operation, it is already possible to form a definite opinion, namely, the size and cost of the structure. Most buyers of such devices want them not only to do their job, but also to have a compact size. Well, now you will see everything.
Electric boiler device
This device is one of the cheapest, most popular and widespread. They have appeared on our market for a very long time, so many saw them clearly. This storage electric water heater has a very simple device, consisting of several key elements. In appearance, this is an ordinary enameled tank, equipped with a sensor and a device for connecting pipes. But inside it is a very efficient heating system. In the diagram below, you can see the basic principle of most storage boilers.
Now let's take a closer look at each element involved in the workflow.
- Water supply device. As you may have guessed from the name, this device is designed to provide water access to the boiler tank. There is a valve inside it, and as soon as the filling sensor is triggered, the water supply automatically stops.
- A heating element or a tubular electric heater is the main heating device made in the form of a metal tube. Inside it is a nichrome thread that has a certain degree of resistance, depending on the required power. It is surrounded by a heat-conducting insulator, so it is not afraid of external influences, and the mode temperature does not drop quickly.
- magnesium anode. It is a kind of "lightning rod" that protects not from lightning, but from corrosion. The vast majority of storage electric boilers are made of metal, which is susceptible to corrosion. As soon as the water inside the tank begins to heat up, oxygen will be released, which will start the process of metal oxidation.
The magnesium anode has a more active degree of exposure to oxygen, therefore, the released air will primarily interact with it without touching the walls of the tank.
Having bought an electric boiler, be sure to pay attention to the condition of the magnesium anode during operation. If it becomes completely covered with rust, but try to replace it soon. Without a magnesium anode, the life of the boiler will be significantly reduced. Approximate replacement time is 1 time in 2-3 years.
- Enameled tank. Designed to store warm water, it can be made of enameled steel, plastic or just stainless steel. Despite all the protective layers, the inner coating is susceptible to corrosion. Everything will depend on the time of operation, as well as the quality of the water. In the photo you can see a great example of such a tank:
- Water intake tube. It is intended for selection of hot water from the upper part, concentrating cold water in the lower part near the heater.
- Thermal insulation. Allows you to keep the temperature of heated water for a long time.
- Water heater body. It has decorative properties and can be absolutely anything, depending on the manufacturer.
The general principle of operation and the device of this type of water heater are quite easy to describe. Cold water is heated in the lower part to 75°C, and then, thanks to the water intake, it is supplied to the upper part. If there is no water intake, the heater continues to maintain this temperature. You can open the faucet at any time and get access to hot water that has warmed up during this time.
But you can not keep the boiler on all the time, you need to turn it off from time to time. This will help you not only save money, but also extend its life.
The device has a protective system that prevents the temperature from heating above 85°. If this happens, the boiler will automatically turn off. But basically, 55 ° C is considered the optimal mode for operation.
Indirect heating device system
I will tell you about indirect heating only partially, as an introduction, since it is not an electrical system as such. By itself, such a system does not have an independent heating device at all. This is just one of the elements of hot water supply using a boiler.
In principle, the system is intended for a large number of consumers, as well as for heating rooms. Therefore, it is used in private homes, or in enterprises.
The principle of operation is based on heat exchange between the temperature difference of different containers. But in order for the temperature to be stable, such a boiler must heat it above the required level. The boiler itself serves only as a kind of “support”, which is its device:
As you can see for yourself, a boiler is basically more capacity than a full-fledged heating device. All the main functions are performed by other devices, up to the circulation of water.
Instantaneous electric water heaters
Flowing electric heaters radically differ from accumulative not only in appearance, but also in the principle of operation. They are designed to quickly heat running water and do not have any containers for storing it. The main principle of operation is based on a powerful heating element (thermal electric heater) installed in the device, which is capable of instantly heating the supplied water.
The device of an electric instantaneous water heater consists of:
- switch relay;
- valves and water connection systems;
- regulators;
- TEN and breaker.
It is able to maintain the set temperature for a long time, while there is a flow. Also, the device is equipped with safety elements designed to work in case of malfunctions. You can see a general view of the entire system in this diagram:
Due to the high consumption of electricity, the water heating system copes with the task in a matter of seconds. She appeared much later than other heating devices, but quickly gained her fans. However, not everything is as “smooth” with her as it seems, and further on I will tell you why.
Advantages and disadvantages of different types of electric heaters
As I said above, each of these devices has its own advantages and disadvantages. Many of them are not only obvious, but also hidden, so inexperienced buyers can make mistakes when choosing.
Pros and cons of storage heaters
An electric storage heater used to be really considered one of the best devices for heating water. It is quite economical, does not take up much space, and most importantly - has an affordable price.
I suggest you look at all the advantages:
- Easy mounting method compared to other devices.
- Moderate price.
- Ease and convenience in use.
- Safety.
- Small consumption of electricity.
But, despite such a number of good advantages, it was not without serious drawbacks:
- Lack of heating capacity. Often, if a family consumes a large amount of water, then the boiler must be constantly heated, since there is simply not enough hot water for everyone.
- "Floating" service life. Of course, this term mainly depends on the manufacturer, but water quality and user service also play a big role. If the anode is not replaced in time and the water quality is too low, the boiler will not last long.
- Dimensions. This term is a little controversial since it all depends on the chosen capacity. But one way or another, the boiler occupies a large area, in comparison with gas water heaters and other devices.
- Expectation. Before using it, you need to wait for the water to heat up.
In general, most of the shortcomings rest on the volume of the tank and the guaranteed quality of the manufacturer. Therefore, we can safely say that this device is worth your attention.
Pros and cons of instantaneous water heater
A tankless water heater is one of the most modern devices for heating water.
Thanks to a powerful electric heater, you get hot water almost in a matter of seconds, but its advantages do not end there:
- Compact dimensions. Instantaneous water heaters occupy the smallest area and are the smallest water heating devices.
- Easy installation. If you are familiar with connecting electrical devices and running a power cable, then you can connect the device yourself.
- Convenient adjustment. You can adjust the water temperature almost instantly, and the switch is often located on the device itself.
Now let's move on to the disadvantages, since these devices are also not without them:
- For use, it is necessary to install a circuit breaker, as well as to run a separate electrical cable.
- They are not the most economical device because they consume a lot of electrics. Devices with a power of 2 kW are often not able to heat more than 2 liters of hot water per minute. For stable operation, it is best to install devices with a power of 5 kW.
- Price. As I said, their cost is relatively higher than the cost of ordinary boilers.
If you are satisfied with all these conventions, then you can safely be interested in instantaneous water heaters.
How to choose the right storage heater
If you decide to choose storage water heaters, then you definitely need to learn some useful tips for choosing them. First of all, you need to calculate the amount of water consumed. We will build on this indicator when choosing the capacity of the boiler. Naturally, the larger the capacity, the more hot water we will get. However, do not forget that the more water - the longer it will heat up.
Having decided on the capacity, find the place where the boiler will be installed and mark it. Consider the volume of the tank, the approximate type of construction, as well as the conduct for connecting water.
Now the last point remains - the choice of the manufacturer and the material of the tank. In this case, it all depends on your money. Read reviews about manufacturers, as well as the guarantees they give for these products. Plastic tanks are not subject to corrosion, however, unlike enameled ones, they have poor interaction with thermal insulation.
Such a simple instruction will help you in the future to avoid the troubles associated with both the purchase and operation of boilers.
Grand total
After reading the article, have you already convinced that storage electric heaters are one of the most economical devices for heating water? Not only do they have a comparatively low price, but they are also very easy to install. The main thing is to make the right choice and calculate all the parameters according to your requirements. And the video in this article will help you delve even deeper into this topic. If you have any questions, you can leave them in the comments below the article.
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