It is impossible to imagine comfort in a living room without constant access to hot water. In urban areas, it is possible to connect to centralized city networks, but even this does not guarantee an uninterrupted supply of hot water. Network crashes, preventive maintenance can lead to the inability to use the resource. In country houses, cottages and summer cottages this problem is repeatedly aggravated. For this reason, the owners of the houses decide to install various water heating complexes. Different types of boilers have their own characteristics, characteristics, working principle and positive qualities. The internal composition also differs, which can be seen by looking at the boiler in section. All these parameters must be considered when buying a device home.
Types of Electric Heaters
Modern water heaters operate on different types of energy sources. It can be electricity, gas, liquid or solid fuel. The most cost-effective way is to heat cold water from a gas column. But in most cases it cannot be installed due to the lack of a gas or exhaust system. Therefore, the most popular were electric models. Electricity is an almost uninterrupted way of feeding, which can be carried out in country houses.
Electric heaters can be divided into two groups:
- Boilers or cumulative. It is a tank in which fluid is collected and heating elements (TEN) are installed. The tank has thermal insulation, which significantly saves energy. Heating occurs under the influence of electric heating elements automatically, therefore the principle of operation is static. How the boiler is arranged inside depends on the type of heating.
- Flowing. Unlike boilers, flowing 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 power, which should 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 the boiler electric and storage water heater are 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, boilers are used. The following points can be attributed to their advantages:
- The convenience of use.
- You can heat a large volume.
- One device can be used to supply several rooms.
- The operation of the device does not depend on the pressure.
- Possibility of heating to high temperatures.
- Maintaining high temperature for a long time due to high-quality thermal insulation of the tank.
Among the disadvantages, the following can be distinguished:
- Long time for initial heating.
- If the water flow is small, maintaining a constant temperature will be associated with energy costs.
- A large tank requires sufficient territory.
- The cost is higher than that of a flowing product.
Periodically drain the water from the tank. Otherwise, its quality will deteriorate.
For problems with water supply, you can put a boiler in an apartment building. The device and the principle of operation will depend on the type of device, its functionality and additional functions.
Boiler device
The storage heater is arranged quite simply. Its main element is a water tank, which is made of stainless steel or aluminum. A heating module is placed in the tank, which consists of one or more 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 whole structure is placed in a shell and insulated with heat-insulating material to protect the boiler. What the electronic part consists of depends on the functionality. To automate the process, the device of the water heating tank consists of various sensors that are connected to the modules. On the outer shell, control systems are installed, which are mechanical and electronic. You can look at the boiler in the context of 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 running, water is supplied below. It is heated from the inside and then rises up and is removed from the tank through the heated fluid intake pipe. Recycling continues as long as the device is plugged in. The heating temperature is controlled by a thermostat. Temperature sensors can also be installed that display data on an electronic screen or thermometer. Cold water is supplied through a tap with a non-return safety 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 or more liters are used, because they can heat a lot of water. Dimensions of houses usually allow the use of such massive boilers, unlike apartments.
To choose the right boiler for the apartment, you need to pre-calculate the flow of water and take into account the individual characteristics of the room.
Tips for choosing a storage heater device type:
- First of all, the theoretical flow rate should be determined. The average consumption per minute is about 3-6 liters. Half of this volume is made from the tank. If the water heating device serves several sources, all costs should be added up.
- Determining the time of use of the sink and shower faucet. For one shower session, 10-40 liters of water are spent. Half is hot water, i.e. from the heater tank. It is important to consider the pressure of the soul, as well as the time spent in it.
All data obtained should be adjusted taking into account the individual habits of people living in the house. You also need to consider that the absence of dishwashers increases water consumption. The maximum flow rate is observed in the morning and evening.
Power must be considered. If you need a lot of hot water, and the size of the room does not allow the use of a volumetric tank, you should choose a model with increased power. This will quickly heat up to the required temperature. Power data can be found in the device description or on the packaging.
Various well-known companies are engaged in the production of water heaters: Ariston, Samsung, Bosch, Termex and other world brands. If repairs are necessary, the manufacturer provides a product warranty.
Safety
Any water heater, regardless of model and type, requires compliance with operating conditions, as well as safety precautions. Gas models have an increased danger, as there is a risk of gas leakage.
Contact with water is a major risk factor for any electrical product. The boiler has an automatic shutdown system in contact with liquid, but this does not preclude compliance with the simplest fire and electrical safety requirements.
It is important to make grounding in advance.The installation of a grounding wire is the main and prerequisite for the safety of an electrical appliance.
