Features of the selection and connection of electric boilers

It is impossible to imagine human life without communal amenities, one of which is hot water supply. However, this service is not available everywhere, plus seasonality and emergencies. Installation of an electric water heater allows you not to depend on these factors, having at your disposal a sufficient supply of hot liquid at any time of the year or day. To install an electric boiler in your apartment, you do not need to obtain a permit. When choosing, you should take into account a number of criteria, therefore it is recommended that you familiarize yourself with the designs, device, volume and other indicators of the equipment on sale.

Varieties of electric boilers

Electric water heaters on sale differ in power, capacity, orientation, mounting method and types of heating elements. The main difference lies in the design of the equipment.

Domestic boilers are divided into the following categories:

• Accumulative. If you look at the device in section, it resembles a food thermos. The product consists of a tank and an outer casing, between which there is an insulating material. Heating of water is carried out by heating elements of open or closed type. The temperature level is monitored and regulated by a thermostat that turns the power on and off when the set value is reached. The non-return valve prevents the liquid from flowing back into the pipeline and ensures that it is vented at a critical tank pressure. The power of the products varies in the range of 1.2-2.0 kW with a capacity of 50-150 liters. The floor electric boiler can have a capacity of 300 liters and a heating element of 3 kW. Since the equipment is equipped with a valve, a strong head is required for its operation.
• Flowing. Products of this type are more compact, but consume more electricity. Inside the body there is a tubular electric heater with a power of up to 5 kW. Based on this, it is necessary to carefully approach the issue of wiring to the device. As a rule, a separate line is made for flow-through devices directly from the distribution board. The advantage of such heaters is that there is no need to lay a pipeline to connect them. Products can be connected to a kitchen sink or instead of a mixer in the bathroom.
• Combined. An electric heater for heating a house provides hot water recirculation in a system consisting of piping, radiators and an expansion tank. At the same time, a double-circuit electric boiler provides sanitary consumers with hot water passing through a built-in heating element or from a tank. Products of this type are large and powerful.

To make the right choice of an electric water heating boiler for a bathroom, you need to make accurate calculations of the need for hot water and evaluate the features of the room.

Pros and cons of using

Modern boilers have the following advantages:

• A wide variety of models.
• Thermal sanitization of the liquid. Under the influence of high temperature in the tank, pathogens are destroyed. The water in the container does not deteriorate, even if the product is not used for several days.
• Excellent thermal insulation qualities of accumulative models.Frequent heating is not required, since cooling occurs at a level of 1 degree per hour.
• Independence from seasons and breakdowns on utility lines. Hot water in the house is available all year round and at any time of the day.
• The ability to adjust the heating temperature. This reduces energy consumption and extends the life of the appliance.
• Safety. The electrical circuit of the boiler is simple and reliable. With proper assembly and maintenance, electric shock is excluded. The mounts are powerful, made with a double safety factor.
• Affordable price. The product can be purchased by people with low incomes.

Domestic water heaters have their own disadvantages:

• The bulkiness of storage devices. They take up a lot of space, limiting the functionality of the room.
• Long period of time for heating cold water after the product has been idle in standby or conservation mode.
• High electricity consumption. Heating water by heating elements costs several times more than natural gas.
• The need for frequent maintenance. The tank and heating element need regular descaling and replacement of the magnesium anode.

Mains-powered boilers do not lose their popularity, as they continue to remain indispensable and versatile devices for producing hot water.

Criterias of choice

It is recommended to pay attention to the following criteria:

• Mounting method. If there are practically no restrictions on floor models, then with wall models it is more difficult. Only thick concrete walls can support the weight of the appliance filled with water. Wood, brick and gas blocks are not suitable for this.
• Heater power. Products up to 1.5 kW are allowed to be connected to sockets or junction boxes. If the power is higher, the switching devices will fail or a new line will have to be laid.
• Manufacturing material. Standard tanks are made of glass-coated black iron. The service life of such tanks is 3-5 years. It is better to take boilers with stainless steel tanks, the resource of which is almost unlimited.
• Availability of protection. You should purchase devices with automatic shutdown in case of breakdown to the case or short circuit.
• Manufacturer reliability. Priority should be given to products of well-known brands, without fail checking the availability of a quality certificate.
• Orientation in space. There are vertical and horizontal models on sale. They do not differ in functionality, but the location option will help overcome some of the installation difficulties.

If you follow these recommendations, the heater will last a long time, effectively and safely performing its assigned tasks.

Connecting the boiler to the mains

Connecting the boiler to the power grid is a fairly simple event that even a beginner can easily cope with. First, you need to choose a method of supplying energy to the device. This can be an ordinary socket or a packet switch installed on a separate line. The second option is more preferable, convenient and safe, but it involves an increase in time and effort, since it is necessary to first lay, then close up the grooves, and then restore the finishing. A grounding line should also be laid. But in most of the old-built apartment buildings, such an opportunity is absent, since the line was either not laid or fell into disrepair over the decades.

To connect the boiler to electricity without grounding, follow these steps:

1. Fix the product to the floor or wall.
2. Lay a line, install a packet switch. It is better to use a cable with copper conductors, which have the best technical characteristics.
3. Remove the plastic cover from the boiler. Disconnect the wires from the indicator.
4. Cut off the insulation from the wires by 10-12 mm. Twist the bars and solder them. This will protect the metal from oxidation and improve the quality of the contacts. An unnecessary green-yellow ground wire must be twisted and wrapped with insulating tape.
5. Loosen the fixing screws on the terminal board. Insert the ends of the wires into the holes as far as they will go and tighten the bolts securely. When finished, pull the wires towards you to make sure that the connection is good.
6. Insert the indicator contacts into the slots, attach the cover and fix it on the housing.
7. Disconnect the power supply on the panel, connect the cable to the line in the mounting block. If it is made of aluminum, a special rail with a plastic housing should be used.

After connecting, the boiler must be filled with water, and then voltage supplied to the device. If everything is done correctly, the indicator will light up, the arrow of the thermometer will slowly change position. Evidence that the heating element heats is also the apartment meter, which shows high electricity consumption.

User's manual

Water heaters do not require daily maintenance, but if used incorrectly, they quickly deteriorate. You should not set the temperature above 70 degrees, as this accelerates the processes of corrosion and plaque formation. If the plug heats up in the outlet of electric heaters, this is a sign of poor contact or power mismatch. It is necessary to replace the products, strip and tighten the wires in them. Depending on the acidity of the water, the anode should be changed every 6-12 months.

Boiler quality rating

Rating of electric boilers by quality:

• Buderus (Germany);
• Bosch (Germany);
• Mora (Czech Republic);
• Proterm (Czech Republic);
• Galmet (Poland);
• Kospel (Poland);
• Ariston (Italy).

The products are of high build quality, reliability and long service life.