How to choose a water heater for an apartment and for a country house

If hot water is often turned off in an apartment building, you should buy a device for its uninterrupted supply. How to choose a water heater for an apartment or your own house, taking into account the needs of the family?

For this, it is necessary to take into account many characteristics on which the life of the equipment depends. It must be chosen taking into account the free space in the bathroom or kitchen. In the apartment, this issue is especially relevant.

In this article we will outline all the nuances of the choice of water heaters, we will understand the types of heating elements, and the principles of operation of various types of equipment.

Case material as a guideline

The service life of the device for heating directly depends on the material from which it is made. If the heating elements and anodes are still to be replaced, then corrosion on the case will ruin the device permanently without the possibility of restoration.

If the hinged heating unit breaks from the fasteners, this will also lead to failure due to the poor quality materials used in the manufacture.

On sale there are a variety of options for metal cases with various types of internal coatings. You can choose an acceptable quality option for relatively little money, but you should give preference to well-known manufacturers who value their reputation.

In this case, the probability of failure of the device due to the low quality of the starting materials is minimized.

Enamelled coating is a market favorite

Enamel and its variations are the most popular coatings for the case of devices that heat water (mainly storage type). It ideally protects the steel base from contact with water and the emergence of foci of rust.

However, enamel without the addition of other components is brittle and can peel off from the walls of the container. Most often, the coating does not withstand exceeding the temperature regime. In this case, cracks form.

Cracked enamel exposes the metal, which is exposed to water. This leads to corrosion, which will soon make further use of the device impossible.

To prevent cracking and destruction of the protective shell with subsequent corrosion of the body, titanium or cobalt is added to the enamel. These metals increase strength and increase the life of the water heater.

If the heater case is qualitatively coated with enamel protection (especially joints), then the steel case will not yield stainless steel in its properties.

Super resistant stainless steel

One of the most practical materials for the body of the water heater is stainless steel. She has a number of key advantages over any enamel coating. The first of these is heat resistance.

If it happens that the boiler is plugged in without first being filled with water, then the housing will not be affected. Only the heating element will burn, which can be replaced and continue to operate the device.

The second advantage of stainless steel is its resistance to mechanical stress. In case of accidental impact or falling, the case and its technical filling will not suffer damage. In an extreme case, light dents can be straightened in the workshop.

If the connecting seams are welded using corrosion-resistant metals, as is done by some Scandinavian manufacturers, the service life will be many times longer than the warranty.

In low-quality models of boilers, welds are a weak point. They are not corrosion resistant. In addition, it is not known for certain whether the type of stainless steel is safe. In order to reduce the cost of the composition, heavy metals can be added to the composition, which cause poisoning

Some manufacturers plated stainless steel with silver plating. This is an advertising move based on the bactericidal property of this non-ferrous metal. The water in the boiler is heated enough to kill the pathogenic microflora, so it makes no sense to overpay for silver plating.

Innovative glass-ceramic and bio-glass porcelain

Glass ceramic differs from enamel in that it reduces the thermal conductivity of the tank. A water heater treated with this material will not radiate heat, which means that the water in it will cool slowly. This reduces power consumption. The disadvantage of the coating is the sensitivity to pinpoint mechanical stress.

Despite the high thermal insulation properties, boilers with a glass-ceramic coating provide a shell. It also serves as protection against falls.

Bioglassceramics or bioglass porcelain is a rather expensive material that is not used in budget models. Unlike enamel and glass ceramics, it does not contain toxic substances that harm the human body, and is completely biologically safe. It does not interact with moisture, and is also resistant to temperatures from 60 to 70 degrees Celsius.

Overview of water heating elements

The heating method is an important characteristic of the device. TEN can be in direct interaction with water, or be protected from it by a metal element.

You need to choose based on financial capabilities. Boilers with a non-contact heating element are more expensive than with contact ones.

Wet heating element

If the water that enters the house has good sanitary and epidemiological indicators, does not contain fine suspension from old metal pipes, then you can save and buy a water heater with a wet type heating element.

Additionally, you need to make sure if the water contains a high content of mineral salts (as is often the case in private country houses), and install a filter. The need for a filter is simply determined, if scale often occurs in an electric kettle, the salt content in water is increased.

If you neglect the filter, then after 5-6 years of operation, scale will appear inside the boiler, and a dirty precipitate will form in the tank. Over time, the device will completely go out of operation

In addition, with such a breakdown, replacing a wet heating element will require additional costs and time. In models of different manufacturers, heating elements differing in size and power are installed. The necessary parts will have to wait, as they are not always in stock.

Dry heating element

If financial means allow, it is better not to save and buy a boiler with a dry type water heater. It is also necessary to choose a unit with a tank of wear-resistant material, otherwise there will be a risk that the boiler will fail due to depressurization of the body, and this will inevitably lead to the purchase of a new device (even with a working heater).

The heating element is fenced off from the water by a metal case that fits snugly against it. The air gap does not exceed 1-2 mm. This does not lead to a significant increase in power consumption and maintenance costs.

Another advantage is simplicity. replacement of TEN. It can be performed independently without resorting to the services of specialists.

The disadvantages include the fact that the use of this element makes the device more expensive by 15% -20%, but in the long run it pays off and even allows you to save on repairs.

Heating control system

All models of water heaters are equipped with a sensor that allows you to obtain reliable values ​​about the degree of water heating. If it is noticed that the boiler began to heat water longer than it should be, this will give a signal to replace the heating element.

In addition to the sensor, devices are often equipped with a temperature controller. They allow you to control the heating. This is done to save energy.

Simple mechanical temperature controller

In budget models, an ordinary switch is installed, which can be made in the form of a round knob or buttons. With it, you can change the heating from 60 degrees to 30. It is impossible to set the exact temperature value, it will be observed with an error of several degrees.

As a rule, these mechanical regulators are interchangeable, it is often possible to choose an analog in the event of a breakdown. Their replacement is simple and does not require the help of service specialists. This is where their virtues end.

Automatic thermostat with advanced features

Such boilers are equipped with additional features, including programming for a certain period of switching on or off. It is possible to set the required heating temperature with high accuracy.

The disadvantages of these models include the difficulty of repair, in case of failure of the electronics. If the water heater is made by a little-known company, there is always difficulty in ordering parts and microcircuits

If the company leaves the market, then spare parts will be impossible to get. A minor malfunction in the electronics can lead to the need to buy a new device. It is worth giving preference to trusted manufacturers.

Principle of Operation and Performance Comparison

In addition to the body material, the heating element and the thermostat, there are significant differences in the device and the principle of operation of water heaters. They can use gas or electricity for heating.

It’s worth considering gas water heaters are more expensive, they are cheaper to operate, but can not be used in the apartment. Their purpose is to provide private country houses with hot water. Electric, respectively, are cheaper, but expensive. They can be used in the apartment. Now more about all.

Electric instantaneous water heaters

The principle of their work is to heat the water that flows through the heater with the tap open continuously. In the device of these models, the material that was used to manufacture the tank does not play a leading role.

Their advantage is the supply of freshly prepared hot water, for the reason that there is no need to wait long for its heating. You can get unlimited volume.

The main disadvantage of these water heaters is their high energy consumption. With prolonged use, they create an increased load on the wiring. Old wiring will not withstand such loads, especially if, in addition to the water heater, other household appliances are turned on

Another minus of the device electric water heaters is heating for only one water supply point. The one to which it is directly connected. If the appliance is connected to a shower or bath, hot water will only be supplied to them.

Using two instantaneous water heaters is extremely disadvantageous in terms of electricity bills. This option is only suitable for apartments where seasonal breaks with hot water supply occur periodically.

Accumulative electric water heaters

The principle of operation of boilers is to heat a certain amount of water, and maintain its temperature. The maximum power consumption is recorded when filling with cold water, because the body of the water heater has a thermos design.

There are different options for the shape of the device. It can be cylindrical, rectangular and round. The shape of the container does not affect production

In addition to the form, boilers are divided into horizontally oriented and vertically oriented. This diversity is due to the popularity of these water heaters, which can be placed in any room, kitchen, bathroom or toilet. The form is determined exclusively by available space.

An essential characteristic of the device is the volume of the tank. The most popular are water heaters with displacement:

• 30 cc liters;
• 50 cc liters;
• 80 cc liters;
• 100 cc liters;

Size is determined by the number of people who live in the house or apartment. If the number of people is higher than what the boiler is designed for, you will have to wait a long time until the water heats up to an acceptable temperature.

It is inconvenient to use boilers in country houses where more than 5 people live. It is better to choose another option for heating water, it takes too long

When choosing a mounted boiler, it is important to ensure the reliability of the mounting method. Fasteners must be made of high quality steel. This is necessary for secure fixation on the supporting wall.

In some cases, it is better to choose a floor heater if the partitions cannot support the weight of the appliance filled with water. A floor boiler is safer, so families with children are better off choosing similar models.

Read more about choosing storage water heaters Further.

Gas instantaneous water heaters

If a country house is heated with gas, it is better to opt for gas water heaters, since they are cheaper to operate. The most popular type of gas water heater is instantaneous. It has all the advantages of an electrical analogue, but does not create a significant load on the wiring to the wiring.

Another disadvantage is the monitoring of the status of the device. Devices are sensitive to pressure fluctuations in the natural gas supply source.

Unlike an electric water heater, several points of analysis of hot water can be connected to a gas unit.

The disadvantages of this type of water heaters include the need to conduct a ventilation pipe. The heating principle is based on the combustion of natural gas, which is impossible in the absence of oxygen supply and removal of combustion products.

Geysers are distinguished by the method of ignition. Since the equipment is a source of increased danger, it has a built-in function to automatically turn off the gas supply if reverse chimney occurs in the chimney and the wick goes out. There are geysers that require a spark to be supplied by pressing a button, and there are models where this happens in an automated mode.

We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with the best models of instantaneous gas heaters. More details - go to the link.

Double circuit gas boiler

Which water heater to choose for installation in a country house, if it does not yet have heating, but there is a gas inlet? In this case, a double-circuit gas boiler will be the best solution.

This is a complex device that solves two problems in a country house at once:

1. Residential heating.
2. Water heating for domestic use.

This is a great way to save money, because buying a double-circuit boiler is cheaper than the total cost of a boiler with a solid fuel boiler.

The main advantage of this device is that its operation does not require a separate room. It can be positioned anywhere in the house where the vent pipe can be pulled out.

Boilers can be wall mounted and outdoor, it depends on their size. In country houses with a large area, you need to install floor, as they are able to completely solve the problem with heating spacious rooms.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video describes the general principle of selecting a boiler:

Practical tips for choosing a water heater:

Video on how to choose a gas instantaneous water heater:

Choose a water heater based on personal needs. If gas is supplied to the apartment, then it is better to purchase gas column. It will fully satisfy the need for hot water in an uninterrupted mode, unlike electrical analogues.

If there is no gas in a private house or apartment, you should opt for electric storage water heaters, as they are more productive than instantaneous ones.

What kind of heater do you use? Please tell us in the comments which device you chose, are you satisfied with its work? You can also ask questions on the topic of the article, and we will try to give an extremely clear answer.