Building and furnishing your own home consists of many processes. It is important not only to build strong walls, but also to create a cozy atmosphere in them, to provide it with all the amenities. A modern house cannot be provided without constant hot water supply. But in a number of houses there is only a main supply of cold water, but at home. Those connected to hot water mains are often deprived of it due to interruptions and repairs. A reasonable solution in this case may be the purchase and installation of your own boiler - a device for constant heating of hot water. However, how to understand all the variety of models, how to understand which boiler is better? This is where we will help you!
Which boiler is better?
Content
How much hot water do you need?
The main characteristic of the boiler, which affects the competent choice, is the volume of hot water it produces.If you choose an insufficiently large boiler, then queues for hot water may form in your family’s bathroom, and if you choose a device with an excessively large volume, then simply throw some money down the drain.
In order to understand the amount of hot water you need, you need to sum up the amount of hot water consumed daily by all members of your family. The daily consumption figure ranges from 20 to 80 liters, depending on your requests. Also remember that such a volume of water is not consumed immediately, but throughout the day, and not synchronously by all households.
After calculating the required water consumption, estimate how much it will cost you to heat this amount of water. On average, to heat 20 liters of water, you will have to spend about 1 kilowatt of electricity.
Multiplying the amount of energy needed by the cost of a kilowatt-hour, you get the cost of operating an electric boiler. For gas-fired heaters, the numbers will be different.
The main types of heating devices for water
Boilers can be divided into several types:
According to the type of energy with which water is heated, boilers are divided into:
- electrical;
- gas.
If we consider the very moment of heating the water, then the boilers are divided into:
- accumulative;
- flowing.
In storage boilers, water is heated in advance and accumulates in a special container for 20, 50, 80, 100, 120, 150 or 200 liters. Special automation ensures that the temperature of the accumulated water in the tank does not fall below a predetermined level!
Flow-through boilers do not have special containers and heat water directly after you open the hot water tap. A special coil made of a specific metal alloy and a large capacity of a flow boiler cause instantaneous heating of water to the desired temperature, thereby eliminating the need for its accumulation in tanks.
According to the type of contact of the heating element with water, boilers can be divided into:
- dry;
- wet.
So let's take a look at the pros and cons of each individual species so you can figure out which one is right for you!
What is a flowing electric boiler good for?
Scheme of a flowing electric boiler
The undoubted advantage of this type of device is the instant start of hot water supply to the tap. Such a boiler has a relatively small size, which allows you to install in any free space. However, the speed of heating in such a device is caused by the high power of the heating element, which dictates increased requirements for the power cable. Perhaps, to install such a boiler, you will have to lay a separate electrical line with grounding from the switchboard with a separate circuit breaker.
Why do many people choose a storage electric boiler?
Scheme of the storage boiler
Such a device consumes relatively little electrical energy, but you have to pay for this with a long waiting time for hot water at the tap. However, modern devices may have a storage tank, arranged according to the principle of a thermos, which keeps water heated for a long time, as well as a timer that can heat water by a certain date.
The main advantages of flowing gas boilers
Scheme of a flowing gas boiler
Such a device is able to supply hot water to the tap immediately after it is turned on and therefore it is very often installed in apartment buildings equipped with central gas supply and in private mansions. There are modifications that can also work from interchangeable gas cylinders. But, like any gas equipment, such a device requires professional installation and constant inspection and verification. The gas flow boiler is larger than its electric counterpart and should only be installed in special places.
Or is it better to take a gas storage boiler?
storage gas boiler
Such a device also works either from a gas line, it is unlikely that you will be able to find a modification of such a device that works from a replaceable gas cylinder, which sharply limits its scope.
Why are indirect heating boilers needed?
Scheme of an indirect heating boiler
Unlike the types described above, such heating devices do not directly heat water, but transfer heat from heating systems. That is, initially, a heated coolant is supplied from the main heat supply or from an autonomous system, which transfers heat to the hot water supply system in the heat exchange unit. Such systems involve the installation of circulation pumps and are quite complex in terms of engineering.
Many of the boilers incorporate a thermostatic unit that automatically turns off the heating when the set water temperature is reached and turns on the heating again when the liquid is cooled.
So after all, what type of boiler is better to choose?
So, having familiarized yourself with the main types of heating boilers, you can start choosing it.In order to stop the preference on a particular model, answer a few questions for yourself.
You're better off buying an instantaneous boiler if you're not willing to wait for hot water for a while, or if your home's hot water consumption schedule is unpredictable. In a maximum of half a minute when using such a device, you will receive hot water from the tap. You can also recommend such a purchase in case of limited space for installing a boiler, and you are ready to overpay for the increased power consumption of electricity needed to quickly heat water in such a device. Do not forget that you may need to lay an additional electrical wiring line to install it.
Then, your choice may be an electric storage boiler if you have a large consumption of hot water per day. An additional reason for acquiring such a device may be the presence of small children in the family. A large storage boiler will allow you to even take a bath. In principle, such a device can also ensure the constant availability of hot water, since its cooling in a boiler with good thermal insulation will be no more than a quarter of a degree per hour. Such an acquisition will also be beneficial in terms of reducing electricity bills, especially if you have a special "night" tariff and the boiler is equipped with the ability to automatically turn on. At the same time, such a boiler can be connected to a conventional outlet, since the power of its heater does not exceed the power of a kitchen kettle. But keep in mind that for such a device it is necessary to provide a place for installation - it is quite large.
The main gas supply almost immediately determines the need to install a gas storage column. But in addition to dimensions - such a device also imposes special requirements on the installation site - there must be a window in the outer wall in the room.
Devices with indirect heating are purchased in the case of installing an autonomous heating system, in addition, such devices, complete with boilers, are much cheaper.
Some useful nuances
Before connecting an electric boiler to a conventional outlet, be sure to check the condition of your wiring. A mismatch between the power of the heater and the old wiring can lead to a short circuit and even a fire.
It is necessary to check not only the outlet, but also the distribution meter. In old Soviet-built houses, it may be necessary to install an additional circuit breaker.
Most models of storage boilers are wall-mounted - but some of them can be installed in the space under the sink.
The shape of tanks in storage boilers can be not only classically cylindrical, but also oval. The boiler can also be installed horizontally, so you can fit into almost any interior.
It is desirable that the inner surface of the boiler tank has an antibacterial coating. This will prevent the water from "blooming" when it stagnates or the formation of mold.
The coating in the boiler tank made of the following materials most effectively prevents the development of corrosion:
- Glass porcelain will delay the formation of rust for 3 years.
- A tank enameled from the inside will last up to 5 years.
- Titanium-based enamel will protect the tank for up to 7 years.
- A stainless steel tank will last about 20 years.
In any case, regular maintenance and cleaning will help prolong the life of your heating device, preventing the formation of limestone deposits.
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