Boiler for water heating equips hot water in the right amount, which is also valuable for residents of apartments, where seasonally turn off hot water supply, and for houses in which there is no centralized supply of hot water.
The boiler can be:
- accumulative( collects water and heats it),
- is flowing( heats the water that flows through it),
- is poured( water is poured in by hand, so the model is in demand in villages and at the dacha).
The source of energy for the boiler can be both gas and electricity, but in most cases an electric model is purchased home. It has a smaller capacity, does not require gas pipes and a chimney device, and costs less.
How the boiler works
The boiler is constructed with a special tank, which receives cold water. Due to the operation of the TEN, the water heats up, rising upwards. From the top, it is taken up by a pipe that feeds hot water into the mixer.
The boiler operates with a temperature range of 45-85 degrees.
All boilers have a thermostat that performs the function of temperature control. It is supplemented with a thermometer showing the temperature inside the tank. The thermostat switches off the appliance when the temperature reaches the set values, and as the water cools, it turns on the heater again.
You can set the water temperature manually or by electronic control.
Pros and Cons of the
All the advantages of the boiler will be appreciated by people who are faced with the lack of hot water supply centrally. Such a device makes it possible to always receive hot water for your needs. Each type of heater has its advantages and disadvantages.
Types
Cumulative
A storage boiler heats a large volume of water and spends less energy than a flowing boiler.
The drawbacks of the storage heater are large dimensions and slow heating of water.
In addition, it heats the water when it is not required. And the desire to save, because of which the user reduces the temperature regime or regularly turns off the device, can cause a rapid breakdown and the appearance of an unpleasant smell of water coming from the unit.
Flowing
The main advantage of a flow-through boiler is its small size, , which makes the device more convenient to place indoors. Such a boiler can be installed under the sink in the kitchen or above it, as well as in the toilet or inside the wall( hidden version).It heats the water quickly, but the minus the is that it consumes much more electricity than the storage option.
Bulk
The water tank is the best choice for the countryside. Its tank is ergonomic, but such a device is inexpensive.
The minus of of this type of boiler is the risk of overheating of the heater.
The more expensive the device, the more additional options and benefits it has. For example, in expensive boilers there is a possibility of express heating and there is a protection against freezing. They can also be equipped with a digital indicator that notifies the user about the time of the next warm-up.
Product form and tank volume
The most common cylinders are cylinders with several advantages:
- compact dimensions,
- maintain the water temperature for a long time due to the fact that hot and cold water contact the inside of the container with the maximum area.
There are heaters-slims - their form is more elongated and thin. Due to the reduced cross-sectional area, such a boiler provides more hot water at the outlet. In addition, such a device takes up less space, but it is worth the price of a cylinder as usual as a cylindrical one.
You can also purchase a rectangular water heater, the , which fits more easily into the interior in small rooms. Such a boiler can even be hidden in a locker in the kitchen. The cost of such boilers is also high.
If there is not enough free space, it is necessary to buy a horizontal boiler, which is mounted under the washbasin, on a shelf or even under the ceiling. However, if space is saved, your energy costs will increase, since the output of hot water from such a heater is rather low.
Also when buying, you should inquire about the volume of the heater, taking into account the purpose of the device.
Having determined the amount of water your family needs every day, you can choose the heater of the desired volume( it can be from 5 to 400 liters):
- For 1-2 people, a device of up to 50 liters is enough,
- for 3-5 people --100 liters.
Typically, a heater with a volume of 5-15 liters is installed in the kitchen, and a device with a tank of 30-100 liters - in the bathroom. Boilers with a large volume are used in hot water supply at home.
Housing material
The quality of the material directly affects the service life of the device. At models of boilers which buy most often, a covering inside enameled. Such water heaters are inexpensive, but they are also damaged faster due to the action of high temperatures.
If the tank is made of stainless steel, such a boiler is more durable and resistant to corrosion, but due to the thinness of the walls it is more sensitive to the pressure drop in the water pipe.
Tanks in the most expensive boilers are covered from the inside with titanium. They last for a long time, they are less resistant to corrosion, but they have vulnerabilities( welding places).
Thermal insulation
Modern water heaters can be equipped with thermal insulation of the tank, thanks to which the heated water retains its temperature longer. The presence of such thermal insulation will reduce the waste of electricity and extend the life of the system, which turns the device on and off.
The most common thermal insulation is carried out using polyurethane. Even with its 3-centimeter layer, the daily heat loss of the device will be reduced to 25 degrees, and if the insulation layer is 7-8 centimeters, the daily heat loss will not exceed 5 degrees.
Security
In order to operate the boiler without problems, it is important to observe the following safety conditions for its use: the
- should never be turned on if there is no water inside;
- any manipulations( for example, draining the water) should be carried out only after disconnecting the device from the mains and shutting off the water;
- should take care of a good wiring that will withstand the load, as well as grounding. It is good if the boiler is connected to the network via an RCD;
- it is important that there is an opportunity to drain water in the boiler;
- at a non-constant pressure in the water supply, select a model that can withstand 9 bar.
Corrosion and scale
Any boiler has a problem of formation of scale and destruction from corrosion, especially if the water entering the device has increased rigidity, and the internal surface of the boiler you purchased is enameled.
In order to protect the water heater from scale, manufacturers add special anodes( magnesium rods) to the device. Their main action is to dissolve the salt deposits on the TEN.During operation, it is important to regularly clean the boiler and check the condition of the anode, replacing it with a new one, if necessary.
The power of the
heater element in an electric boiler can be represented by two types:
- wet,
- dry.
Wet type is also called submersible, since it is placed directly in water( externally it is similar to a boiler).
Minuses of this type are frequent breakdowns, a tendency to overheat, damage and corrosion.
Plus wet TEN - low cost.
The dry type of the heating element is protected from water ingress by a glass or ceramic tube. It is more resistant to corrosion, durability and reliability, but its cost is much higher than that of wet.
The power of the device primarily depends on how quickly the water will heat up.
A more powerful device will quickly bring water of the right volume to the set temperature. Most models have a power of 1.5 kW, but some manufacturers in the range have devices with a capacity of 1.4 or 2 kW.
How to install?
Before proceeding with installation, make sure that the boiler fits in the space planned for it, all pipes are conveniently located, and the tools are assembled at hand. Try to imagine the installation process so that the general scheme helps you in your work.
The boiler for the installation method is:
- wall mounted,
- outdoor.
The floor model is often represented by large volume boilers, and small devices are often attached to a wall. We will focus on installing wall heaters, as they are more common.
Procedure:
- Close the water.
- Fix the boiler to the wall. Here you can not do without a partner, which helps first to mark the location of the device, and then hang the device.
- Flexible pipes will leave the boiler - one of them will be a pipe, supplying cold water to the unit, and the second one will remove the heated water. On the supply pipe it is necessary to install a special valve to cover the water that enters the boiler. This valve is useful to you when you are going to clean the device or turn it off for a while, draining the water.
- After ensuring that the unit is securely attached to the wall, each pipe is connected at one end to the heater( do this not very tightly), and the other end to the water pipe.
- To check the correctness of the installation, it is necessary to open the water supply valve and make sure there are no leaks.
The equipment can be connected to the network when the cold water has completely filled it.
