Electric boiler for heating an apartment

Residents of apartments who have decided to abandon centralized heating, as well as owners of private houses, have plenty to choose from. For autonomous heating, gas and electric systems are used - boilers, underfloor heating, infrared and oil heaters, convectors. In medium or large rooms, it is advisable to install boilers that run on electricity or gas. Let's look at the first type of heaters, the features of their installation in the apartment, the rules of choice, as well as all the pros and cons that have electric boilers.

It is written about how to abandon central heating and switch to individual heating here.

Why is an electric boiler better than a gas boiler?

Despite the fact that gas is a cheaper source of energy than electricity, the installation of gas equipment is not always preferred. The main obstacles to the installation of this type of boiler are:

• Difficulties with obtaining permission, coordination and preparation for installation. The room should have a properly organized ventilation and exhaust system.
• The high cost of equipment and the complexity of installation. And if we are talking about a private house where gas is not supplied, then the costs increase at times.
• Potential danger of the fuel itself and its combustion products.

The advantages of electric heating systems

Electric boilers have many advantages, including:

• High reliability in terms of fire safety (of course, subject to the availability of high-quality wiring and fuses).
• Low installation costs, easy installation.
• Wide price range, choice of functions. In general, electric models are cheaper than gas ones. You can choose the simplest boiler, consisting of a set of heating elements and a primitive control system, which will cost quite cheap. In the absence of financial constraints, you should pay attention to automated devices. They are able to maintain a given temperature with minimal energy consumption and have several modes programming, a GSM-controller that allows you to adjust the operation of the device at a distance, and other useful options.
• Compact and aesthetic appearance. In many modern models, all the necessary elements - the circulation pump, expansion tank, air vent, protection systems - are hidden inside the case. If desired, the electric boiler can be installed in any room of the apartment. The most common wall varieties.

• Ease of use. To control the device you only need to press a few buttons. Electric boilers do not need control and participation in their work.
• Noiselessness. The owners can hear only the quiet hum of an induction device or the buzz of automation units.
• No need for coordination with relevant organizations with a device power not exceeding 9 kilowatts.
• High efficiency.

Cons and difficulties of operation of electric boilers

The advantages of electricity-fired boilers look attractive. But they also have drawbacks, and very significant ones.

• The high cost of electricity.

Note! Costs can be reduced several times due to the insulation of the apartment, the use of preferential electricity tariffs and the choice of devices with fine adjustment.

• Requirements for the type of radiators. In an electrically heated system, it is not economical to use cast iron and steel batteries. It is advisable to choose bimetallic or, in extreme cases, aluminum heating devices.
• Fully dependent on power.
• Demanding on the quality and composition of the coolant.
• When installing equipment that consumes more than 9 kW, instead of a standard 220 V network, a three-phase 380 V network is required. If it is not in the apartment, special permission must be obtained for the arrangement, which is not always possible to do in old houses.

Before deciding on the purchase and installation of an electric boiler, you need to weigh all the pros and cons, calculate the approximate energy consumption per month and think about how tangible it will be for the budget.

Choosing an electric boiler

If you decide to purchase an electrical device, it's time to start searching for a suitable model. The efficiency of the heating system, as well as the amount of monthly electricity bills, depends on the correct choice.

Types of boilers by type of heater

All electric boilers can be divided into 3 types according to the type of liquid heating principle used.

Electric boilers with electric heating elements (tubular heaters)

Such boilers work on the same principle as most home electrical appliances - kettles, boilers, irons. They are most in demand among consumers and are represented by a wide variety of models. There can be several tenov, and they turn on together or alternately.

Pros:

• simplicity of construction;
• reliability of the circuit, ease of repair.

Minuses:

• high inertia of boilers - slow heating at startup;
• exactingness to the quality of the coolant. The tendency to the appearance of scale, which reduces the heating efficiency, forces you to take special measures. You can install the anode rods, which will collect the salt deposits on themselves, and at certain intervals to change them, like the tena themselves. But it is better to use specially prepared water or a special coolant.

Induction devices

Induction boilers are energy-efficient and reliable devices that can work for years without maintenance and repair.

Pros:

• due to the phenomenon of self-induction, they significantly save energy (up to 30% during the heating season);
• undemanding to the composition of the coolant (scale does not appear in such boilers);
• service life - from 30 years, the probability of failure due to the design features is very small;
• quick heating of the coolant;
• the ability to fine-tune.

Minuses:

• large mass (from 30 kg) - strong brackets are used for hanging, the wall must be able to withstand the load;
• circulation pump, expansion tank, safety group are bought and installed separately;
• relatively high cost;
• vibration noise during operation.

Ion (electrode) heating boilers

Such devices heat the coolant by applying voltage through the electrodes, resulting in ionization of the molecules and their movement to a conductor with a different polarity. In a single-phase network, one electrode in the form of a rod is used, the surface of the metal cylinder acts as the second, with three-phase voltage - 3 electrodes.

The sizes of ion boilers range from very small, capable of heating only one battery, to voluminous installations designed for a large house. Available both in the case and without it.

Pros:

• compactness. A device without a case takes up little space;
• rapid heating of the coolant;
• low inertia, making it possible to very fine adjustment;
• resistance to voltage drops;
• high level of safety - in the absence of a coolant in the boiler, it simply cannot work;
• low price (without control unit, pump and expansion tank).

Minuses:

• complete incompatibility with batteries of steel and cast iron;
• exactingness to the quality of the circulating fluid, which should have a balanced composition. It is recommended not to do it yourself, but to purchase it;
• the need for a specialist to check the state of the coolant before the new heating season;
• special requirements for grounding;
• heating temperature - not higher than 75 ° C;
• the need to replace the electrodes at regular intervals.

Single-circuit and double-circuit boilers: what is the difference?

We will understand the differences between the two modifications of these units.

1. Single-circuit boilers are designed only for space heating. At the same time, it is possible to connect an indirect heating boiler to all modern boilers and provide hot water supply.
2. Double-circuit, in addition to participating in the heating system, heat water for domestic purposes. An additional heat exchanger is provided in their design, which can be flow-through or storage-in the form of an integrated water heating tank.

Note! The double-circuit boiler cannot work on 2 circuits at the same time. When the hot water tap is opened, the heating medium for heating stops heating.

Briefly describe their advantages and disadvantages.

Advantages of a single-circuit boiler:

• relatively low cost;
• high efficiency and high power;
• less power consumption (without boiler).

Minuses:

• if necessary, heat the water will have to install an additional boiler;
• Together with the indirect heating boiler, the design looks bulky and unaesthetic.

Advantages of a dual-circuit device:

• compact enough size;
• simple installation.

Minuses:

• instability of pressure and temperature of water;
• high requirements for the quality of the coolant, maintenance;
• great cost.

Note! If we compare the prices of a double-circuit boiler and a device with one circuit and an additional boiler, then the first one will be cheaper.

It’s hard to say which boiler is better. If it is important to save electricity, as well as space in the apartment, it is worth choosing a dual-circuit version. This device heats water only when there is a need for it, the single-circuit will turn on every time after the cooling liquid. At the same time, a single-circuit boiler is considered more reliable and convenient in operation.

Tip. If there is an additional storage tank at the automated boiler, it can be programmed to heat water at night, when electricity tariffs are lower. In the afternoon, when the cost of electricity is higher, you can spend already heated water.

Power

The power of the boiler is its most important characteristic, which means that you need to choose it correctly. Sometimes it is tied to the footage and calculated, focusing on the value of 1 kW per 10 m2. This formula is only suitable for a very rough estimate.

In fact, you need to focus on heat loss. If, for example, they are 8 kW, then you need a boiler of the same power. The calculations take into account:

• area and height of the room;
• degree of insulation of walls, floor, ceiling;
• the number of external walls and their location on the cardinal points;
• number, dimensions and type of windows;
• battery connection diagram;
• region of residence and other parameters.

To correctly calculate the boiler power, it is recommended to use special calculators or consult a heating engineer.

Additional functions

The following functions of electric boilers can be useful:

• protection systems - from overheating, short circuit, overpressure;
• the ability to install a GSM-controller, which will allow you to remotely adjust the temperature in the apartment, change the settings of the boiler, teach notifications about possible problems;

• a control unit with energy-saving modes that allow lowering the temperature at certain intervals - at night, when tenants are not at home;
• smooth power adjustment. This option is more convenient and more profitable step.

Note! Often control units are not included in the scope of electric boilers. In this case, they will have to be purchased separately.

Popular models

Among the variety of brands, the leading manufacturers in the ranking are the following manufacturers:

• Protherm (Slovakia),
• Vaillant (Germany),
• Kospel (Poland),
• Buderus (Germany).

Among Russian brands, buyers give preference to 4 brands, among which:

• TEPLODAR
• EVAN
• ZOTA,
• RusNIT.

The best models from the category of medium-capacity boilers that are suitable for apartments, based on user reviews:

• Teplodar Sputnik 6 (8.1 thousand rub.);
• RusNit 208M (average price - 16 thousand rub.);
• EVAN Warmos-IV-5 (16.5 thousand rub.);
• ZOTA 12 Lux (21.4 thousand rub.);
• Kospel EKCO L2 12 (37 thousand rub.);
• Protherm Scat 12 KR 13 (32.5 thousand rub.);
• Vaillant eloBLOCK VE 12 (35K rub.);
• Buderus Logamax E213-10 (9.3 thousand rub.).

Conclusion: some useful tips

2 main disadvantages are attributed to electric boilers: high cost of operation and frequent breakdowns. But if you approach the matter wisely, these problems can be solved. A programmable boiler will help reduce the cost of heating, allowing you to reduce power, when necessary, use preferential rates, thorough insulation of the apartment. And so that the device does not break down and lasts for a long time, care should be taken to install a stabilizer, an inlet water filter, and do not forget about regular maintenance.