Hot water supply has become commonplace in the homes of urban residents. However, its shutdown - emergency or for the purpose of preventive maintenance - can seriously disrupt the usual life. The question of buying a water heater becomes especially acute in families with small children and elderly family members. For the first, bathing “from the ladle” can threaten with colds, and for the second it is difficult to carry buckets of water from the stove to the bathroom.
Types of water heaters
Those who are not used to dealing with water heaters have concerns:
- if the heaters are gas, will there be a situation that when the pressure of hot water drops, the burner will go out, and the gas supply will continue? Or another option: when the pressure drops, the intensity of the burner will remain at the same level and the column will “boil”;
- and electric water heaters scare the final electricity bill? Is there any protection to save the family budget;
All these fears have long since lost their basis. Now electric or gas type water heaters are equipped with automated control systems in case of a sharp drop in water supply pressure, as well as thermostats that, regardless of the supply volume, will maintain the set temperature.
Consider the difference between storage and instantaneous water heaters, and which type should be preferred. Is it better to have a constant flow of hot water in the tap, or a limited one? Someone will say "wrap both" and purchase a combined type of water heater. How will they differ:
- flow-type or direct-flow units - they heat the moving fluid and are mounted directly into the water supply system;
- storage water heaters first provide the necessary supply of water, after which heating occurs;
- flow-accumulative type units are a combined option that allows, if necessary, to use a more convenient method, depending on the need.
A good electric or gas water heater can be based on both storage and flow type water heating. In the first case, the required volume enters the boiler and heats up after a while. If it is a flowing water heater, then the water flow is passed through the heating element. Among the electric ones, the so-called induction water heaters are distinguished, which have an exclusively flow-through mechanism for heating water.
Flowing
The same type of water heater can be called "straight-through". The gas unit is economically more profitable in terms of the cost of using the energy carrier than the electric one. However, it can only be installed in houses with gasification. What if there is no gas or electricity? In this case, the "balloon" option remains. It is the gas cylinder that becomes the only source of hot water in the dachas. There are a number of conditions here:
- your geyser must be adapted to connect to the cylinder and the gas that it uses. Otherwise, it is necessary to readjust the unit, replace the manifold nozzles;
- after re-equipment, the apparatus is checked for tightness;
- the date of the changeover is marked on the column, indicating the type of gas that is acceptable for use.
Installation of a geyser is carried out after a tee or manifold, through which hot water is distributed. For comparison: a direct-flow version of an electric water heater is installed under the tap, thereby reducing heat loss during the transportation of liquid to the place of consumption.
The electric direct-flow water heater does not have a storage tank and has a large capacity. Electricity consumption can reach 30 kW. This is a compact unit that allows you to install directly under the washbasin. The use of such a heater is possible only in houses whose wiring is designed for electric stoves. Before installation it is necessary to consult with an electrician without fail.
Another type of electric direct-flow water heater is called the so-called induction columns. Unlike units with heating elements, this type boasts the highest efficiency - up to 98 percent. Saving electricity with such a heater can be up to 30-50 percent. Simple construction. The heating element does not come into contact with water, except for the inner wall of the pipe through which the supply is carried out. An alternating type magnetic field does not allow deposits to form and heats up the entire volume of liquid at once, which saves time. The water heats up very quickly. Long service life - up to 30 years. The only drawback of this miracle unit is the high cost.
Cumulative
A gas-heated boiler is installed only if it is not possible to connect a higher power unit. This is a large and at the same time an expensive option. The power of the device directly determines its performance.
An electric storage water heater is an easy way to solve your hot water problem. Electricity is available almost everywhere. And unlike gas equipment, it does not require any approvals or permits.
Unlike a direct-flow, storage water heater has a special tank equipped with heating elements and thermal insulation. Water from the pipeline enters the tank, and then through the drain fitting it enters the consumer. This can happen both under the influence of pressure and by gravity. A special thermometer is installed on the front of such a unit, which allows you to determine the temperature of the water in the tank.
Depending on the manufacturer, an electric boiler can be equipped with sensors:
- dry run - prevent heating of the heating element if there is no water in the tank;
- pressure control systems - turns off power consumption when the liquid overheats;
- combined approach to security. The mechanical valve is complemented by electronic sensors on the body or fitting.
In addition, there must be a power unit designed for a voltage of 180-240V, and not just the standard 220V.
The boiler is mounted on a pipeline with cold water supply and is supplemented at the outlet with a collector for hot water pipes to consumption points. The main requirement for the body of the water heater is compactness and sufficient thermal insulation. The most effective from this point of view is polyurethane foam. High-quality thermal insulation is the key to efficient operation of the boiler without unnecessary costs for heat loss.
Scheme of storage water heater
Flow-accumulative
The combined flow-accumulative type of heaters can operate both on electricity and on a gas pipeline. Moreover, it is this type of speakers that can be connected to various alternative energy sources - for example, solar panels, heat pumps.
The circuit of such a unit includes both a flow-through and a storage type of heater. It is possible to accumulate a supply of hot water for small needs and provide continuous heating for a bath or shower. Moreover, during installation, it is possible to immediately distribute the water disposal in accordance with the required volume at the points of consumption.
Installation is carried out on a pipeline with cold water with further drainage through the collector.
| Source of power | Type of heater | Advantages | Flaws | Notes |
| Gas | flowing | Suitable for low hot water consumption. | It can only be installed in houses with gasification. Installing behind the collector increases heat loss during the time the water reaches the point of consumption. |
Economical in view of the cost of energy. Requires sufficient water pressure to operate. Installation of a gas water heater requires coordination with regulatory authorities. |
| Cumulative | It will be more preferable and economical at high water consumption. | Justifies the installation only in the absence of the possibility of connecting a more efficient unit. | ||
| Flow-accumulative | Allows you to effectively breed points of consumption according to the method of water heating. | |||
| Electric | flowing | Heat losses during the delivery of hot water to the point of consumption are minimal due to installation directly behind the tap. Compact. | Large power consumption. The wiring must match the voltage, in a house where there are no electric stoves, it will not withstand the voltage. | Electrical consultation required prior to installation. No installation permission required. Fireproof, does not need ventilation. |
| Cumulative | Compact. It has sensors for monitoring pressure and heating heating elements. | With insufficient thermal insulation, energy consumption will increase. | ||
| Flow-accumulative | Allows you to save money by dividing points of consumption according to the method of water heating. Allows the use of alternative energy sources. | Requires installation of two heating systems. | ||
| Electric induction | flowing | Heats up water quickly. Energy savings up to 50 cents. Efficiency - up to 98 percent. Long service life. Simple construction. | High price. | It is possible to assemble by yourself. |
Gas flow
Induction
Accumulative gas
Electric storage
Electric flow
Principle of operation
The flow heater has a simple operation scheme. Water is supplied through a copper pipe. The tube itself in the form of a spiral wraps around an energy source - a gas burner or a heating element (in other words, a tubular electric heater). An induction water heater uses the power of an alternating magnetic field, which, acting on a material with high resistance, causes it to heat up due to the excitation of an electric current. The current from the mains is converted into high-frequency current by means of an inverter and transferred to a coil that generates an alternating magnetic field. The liquid pipe plays the role of the core. The electric current excited in it under the action of a magnetic field causes it to heat up and increase the temperature of the water.
Principle of operation
In a storage heater, water first enters the tank, where it is gradually heated to the desired temperature. Moreover, according to physical laws, the warmer layers gradually move to the upper part of the tank, and the cold ones sink down.
Gas water heaters have open and closed combustion chambers for the output of waste energy products. A chimney or coaxial metal sleeve can be used.
Electric columns can differ in the type of heating elements: tubular or dry. The most common tubular This is a metal tube, inside which is placed a conductor with high electrical resistance. The tube is heated by the conductor and gives off heat to the water. The dielectric in this case is sand, which fills the space between the conductor and the walls of the tube.
Heating elements contribute to the formation of scale, which reduces the efficiency of the heater.
The so-called dry heating element is not a tube, but a special flask, inside which is special oil or quartz sand. It is also called ceramic. Much less scale forms on the walls of the flask and this option is recognized as more electrically safe.
Wiring diagram
Selection rules
When deciding which water heater is better for flow or storage, decide on your expectations.
What specific functions will be assigned to hot water equipment:
- you have hot water supply, but you want to have an additional source of hot water for maintenance periods;
- you are interested in water heaters to simply boil water for small needs;
- or there is no hot water system and you need an electric or gas heater in the bathroom as the main water heating system.
Having decided on the specific purpose of the purchase, proceed to the next step. Calculate the estimated daily water consumption. You can rely on the following values in calculations:
- shower visit - 20 liters per person;
- the cost of cooking, washing dishes and other household needs - 12 liters.
The average Russian family consists of four people. Based on this, we calculate the daily need for hot water: 4 (number of family members) * 20 (hot water costs when visiting a shower for 1 person) + 12 (daily consumption for household needs) \u003d 92 liters.
In our example, water heaters with a tank of 100 liters will be the best choice. It is not recommended to take a smaller volume, since there will always be a risk that someone will not have enough water and there will be a need to reheat. If you plan to use a water heater for a large house or non-domestic use, be sure to get expert advice.
In addition to the price, you need to objectively evaluate the connectivity water heater to the required source energy supply. Checked: the larger the tank volume water heater, the more operational term . Choose a model based on its technical requirements for installation and operation. When buying, the reputation of the manufacturer is important and duration guarantees .
When choosing a water heater, you can not unreasonably save. A poor-quality or inappropriate model will cause many problems in the future, reacting to pressure drops in the pipeline or overloading the power grid. An instantaneous water heater is good in a home with a large flow of water, but trying to save money using a gas storage type is not the best idea. This is going to be a great water pressure dependent unit that should only be chosen if there are no other alternatives. Flow induction heaters are considered the most efficient, but their purchase can be considered a large-scale investment in future energy savings on hot water.
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