Comfort in a living space cannot be imagined without constant access to hot water. In urban conditions, it is possible to connect to centralized city networks, but even this does not guarantee an uninterrupted supply of hot water. Network failures, preventive work can lead to the inability to use the resource. In country houses, cottages and summer cottages, this problem is magnified many times over. For this reason, the owners of the houses decide to install various water heating complexes. Different types of boilers have their own characteristics, characteristics, principle of operation and positive qualities. The internal composition is also different, which can be seen by looking at the boiler in section. All these parameters need to be considered when buying a device at home.
Types of electric heaters
Modern water heaters operate on different types of energy sources. It can be electricity, gas, liquid or solid fuels. The most cost-effective way is to heat cold water from a gas water heater. But in most cases it cannot be installed due to the lack of a drainage system or gas. Therefore, the most popular are electric models. Electricity is an almost uninterrupted way of supplying power to country houses.
Electric heaters can be divided into two groups:
- Boilers or storage. It is a tank in which liquid is collected and heating elements (TEN) are installed. The tank is thermally insulated, which significantly saves electricity. Heating occurs automatically under the influence of heating elements, therefore the principle of operation is static. How the boiler works inside depends on the type of heating.
- Flowing. Unlike boilers, flow-through devices work dynamically. Water is heated in special pipes with a constant flow of water through them. There is no storage capacity. The disadvantages of such a device include the power, which must have a large value for the rapid heating of running water.
Both types of devices can have different designs, so they will look different. The principle of operation of an electric boiler and a storage water heater is different. Depending on the complexity of the device and its functionality, the cost of the product will also change.
Pros and cons of boilers
In the absence of a centralized hot water supply system, it is boilers that are used. Their advantages include the following points:
- Ease of use.
- Large volumes can be heated.
- One device can be used to supply several rooms.
- The operation of the device does not depend on the force of pressure.
- Possibility of heating to high temperatures.
- Retention of high temperature for a long time due to high-quality thermal insulation of the tank.
Among the disadvantages are the following:
- Long time for initial heating.
- If the water flow is low, maintaining a constant temperature will incur energy costs.
- A large tank requires ample space.
- The cost is higher than that of a flow-through product.
The water tank should be drained periodically. Otherwise, its quality will deteriorate.
In case of problems with the water supply, you can put a boiler in an apartment building.The device and principle of operation will depend on the type of device, its functionality and additional functions.
Boiler device
The storage heater is quite simple. Its main element is the water tank, which is made of stainless steel or aluminum. A heating module is installed in the tank, which consists of one or several heating elements. They are "wet" and "dry". The former are in contact with water, the latter are placed in a special tube that heats the liquid.
The entire structure is encased and insulated with thermal insulation material to protect the boiler. What the electronic part consists of depends on the functionality. To automate the process, the device of the water heater consists of various sensors that are connected to the modules. Control systems are installed on the outer shell, which are mechanical and electronic. You can look at the boiler in section in the diagram in the documentation for the device. All the main elements and their functions are displayed in the photo and have the corresponding captions.
When the boiler is in operation, water is supplied below. It heats up from the inside and then rises up and is removed from the tank through the heated liquid intake tube. Recirculation continues as long as the device is connected to the network. The heating temperature is regulated by a thermostat. Temperature sensors can also be installed, which display data on an electronic screen or thermometer. Cold water is supplied through a tap with a safety check valve.
Selection recommendations
The most important structural element is the tank. The capacity of household models is 5-150 liters. For country houses, volumetric models of 80 liters or more are used, because they are capable of heating a lot of water. The dimensions of houses usually allow the use of such massive boilers, in contrast to apartments.
To choose the right boiler for an apartment, you need to calculate the water consumption in advance and take into account the individual characteristics of the room.
Tips for choosing a storage-type electric water heater device:
- The first step is to determine the theoretical flow rate. Average consumption per minute is about 3-6 liters. Half of this volume is produced from the tank. If the water heating device serves several sources, all costs must be added up.
- Determination of the use time of the sink and shower faucet. One shower session consumes 10-40 liters of water. Half is hot water, that is, from the heater tank. It is important to take into account the pressure of the shower, as well as the time spent in it.
All data obtained should be corrected taking into account the individual habits of the people living in the house. You also need to take into account that the absence of dishwashers increases water consumption. The maximum consumption is observed in the morning and in the evening.
Power must be taken into account. If a lot of hot water is required, and the size of the room does not allow the use of a large tank, a model with a higher capacity should be chosen. This will quickly heat up to the required temperature. Power data can be found in the description of the device or on the packaging.
Various well-known companies are engaged in the production of water heaters: Ariston, Samsung, Bosch, Termeks and other world brands. If repairs are required, the manufacturer provides a product warranty.
Safety
Any water heater, regardless of model and type, requires compliance with operating conditions, as well as safety measures. Gas models are at increased risk as there is a risk of gas leaks.
Contact with water is a major risk factor in the operation of any electrical product. The boiler is equipped with an automatic shutdown system upon contact with liquid, but this does not negate compliance with the simplest fire and electrical safety requirements.
It is important to make grounding in advance.Installation of a grounding wire is a basic and prerequisite for the safety of an electrical appliance.
