What you need to know when choosing an instantaneous water heater for your apartment? Competent choice of instantaneous water heaters.

The presence of hot water is one of the indispensable attributes comfortable life. Citizens are so accustomed to such conditions that the temporary shutdown of hot water supply becomes a lot of inconvenience. There is also a lack of hot water outside the city, in dachas. An electric instantaneous water heater can solve this problem. This device can provide hot water not only on a temporary basis, but also on a permanent basis: you can build a hot water supply system for a private house.

Principle, device and features of work

An electric instantaneous water heater is a small device that heats water flowing through it. The heating element is a heating element (tubular electric heater) or an open spiral. Heaters with heating elements are more common - they are safer and the heating element is easier to replace. In very compact models- faucet attachments, etc. - there is simply nowhere to put the heating element, therefore an open spiral is used.

The device turns on when the flow appears (the tap opens), turns off when the flow disappears. The set temperature is gained in a few seconds, after which it is maintained constantly (with sufficient power of the heating element).

Outwardly, a conventional instantaneous electric water heater is a small plastic case connected to cold water and electricity. Has one outlet for hot water. Depending on the purpose, it can supply hot water to one (individual) or several (system) points of analysis.

What parts does an electric instantaneous water heater consist of?

Structure instantaneous water heater simple, there are the following elements:

• Entrance cold water. It is connected to the water supply, usually with a braided flexible hose.
• Flow sensor. It monitors the appearance of water in the device (the tap is opened) and turns on the heating element. It also turns off the heating when the flow disappears (the tap is closed).
• Tank with heating element. A small container, inside of which there is a heating element, curved in the form of a spiral. This is where the water is heated.
• Hot water outlet. From the tank with water goes a tube through which heated water is discharged.

As you can see, the device is simple. There is also a control panel on the cover, where the conductors from the flow sensor and the heating element are brought out - so that you can adjust the operating mode and monitor the status of the device (on indication).

Types and connection to water supply and electricity

There are two main types of instantaneous electric water heaters: pressure and non-pressure. Pressure pumps are also called system and often have the word Sistem in their name. They are connected to a break in a water pipe, as a rule, they have more power and can provide hot water to two or more points of water intake.

Non-pressure or individual instantaneous water heaters are connected like ordinary household appliances - through flexible hose or outlet pipe. They supply one point with heated water, have relatively small capacities (3-7 kW) and low cost. They exist in different forms:

If you need to wait a few weeks when the hot water supply is turned off, you can supply an individual non-pressure electric instantaneous water heater of any kind. If a constant supply of hot water is required, it would be more rational to install a pressure unit.

Connecting a pressure water heater to the water supply

Pressure or system electric water heaters are connected to an existing water supply system through a pipe break. They crash with a tee, which installed before the first branch. Cut-off valves are installed at the inlet of cold and hot water. Ball Valves. They turn off the device if there is a centralized hot water supply. These cranes are also needed so that, if necessary, the device can be removed for repair or replacement.

Quality tap water leaves much to be desired and embed the heater better after the filter. If there is no filter at the entrance to the apartment, it is advisable to install it either immediately after the branch to the apartment, or already in front of the water heater.

In a private house, such a unit will work if there is pumping station or a self-assembled system with a hydraulic accumulator. It crashes after all the filters, from the output there is a wiring to consumers.

Non-pressure connection to water

A non-pressure (individual) electric instantaneous water heater of a standard type is connected like a regular household appliance. There must be a branch from the water supply with a tap and a thread at the end. Using a flexible braided hose, the device is connected to the water supply.

Nozzles on the tap for heating water - a small group. They are mainly screwed onto the threads at the end of the spout (gander). To do this, first unscrew the grid, which is usually installed there.

Some time ago there were quite a lot of them, but they differed in low efficiency. The nozzle itself has a solid size and you can’t attach it to a low crane - it interferes. To In addition, faucets with electric water heating have appeared on the market, which heat water better, have the ability to adjust the temperature and are more convenient to use. They are installed in place of a conventional faucet on a sink or sink. The only difference between the installation is the need for an electrical connection.

Electrical connection

Any electric instantaneous water heater is a powerful and requires a separate power line. As an exception, you can connect to the line that goes to the electric stove - the line is suitable for the parameters. Only in this case it is necessary to ensure that the stove and instantaneous water heater are not switched on at the same time, otherwise the machine will work on overload.

The connection of a flowing electric water heater is standard - from the shield, the phase from zero is brought to a two-contact RCD (it is imperative to break both the phase and zero), then the phase is also turned on to the machine and only after that it is fed to the consumer.

The connection itself can be made through a three-pin plug with a socket with a mandatory ground connection. You can also install a contact plate or connect a cable directly to the appropriate heater inputs.

Pulling the power line copper wire(monofilament):

• up to 7 kW section 3.5 mm;
• from 7 to 12 kW - 4 mm.

The machine is selected according to the maximum current consumption (available in specifications Oh). They take the nearest higher denomination (if you take a smaller one, there will be a lot of extra operations - every time you switch to maximum power). RCDs are taken one step higher at face value, the leakage current is 10 mA.

Read more about the selection of circuit breaker ratings.

Control type

You can adjust the operation of the electric water heater (change the degree of heating) using several regulators, which are located on the control panel. Management is hydraulic and electronic.

An electric instantaneous water heater with hydraulic control heats water for a certain amount of degrees. It always turns on maximum power, even if it has several different heating modes. And even if one of the modes was set before turning off, it will turn on again from the maximum.

He also has one more feature - the water heats up by a certain number of degrees. It is necessary to change the degree of heating manually - switching modes after switching on. Moreover, the maximum temperature delta, most often, is 25 ° C. That is, if at the inlet you have water + 5 ° C, then at the outlet of such a device it simply cannot be warmer than + 30 ° C (with full flow). This does not mean that the unit is broken or not working properly. This means that he simply cannot make it warmer. You can slightly correct the situation by reducing the pressure, then you can achieve a slight increase in temperature, but you will not get full hot water in such conditions from such a unit.

Electronically controlled units usually have more power and are noticeably more high price. This is due to the fact that they have heating elements with multi-stage power control, and they are more expensive. In addition, the "stuffing" of such an apparatus is more complicated - there are several sensors, in addition, it also contains a microprocessor that processes data and regulates the operation of the heaters. If the unit is selected correctly in terms of power, it will be able to maintain the set temperature (usually up to 40 ° C) with a deviation of one degree.

Choosing an electric instantaneous water heater by power

Whatever type of electric water heater you choose, you need to choose the right power for it. That's right, in this case, it's so that it lives up to your expectations. The easiest way is to focus on the number of taps that will require the simultaneous supply of hot water:

Not all electrical networks can withstand such capacities. Often the total allocated power per house or apartment is much less. In this case, it is worth considering the possibility of installing less powerful individual instantaneous water heaters or. A great option - but it is for those who have the ability to connect to the gas main.

Selection by water consumption (capacity)

You can choose an electric instantaneous water heater according to the required flow rate. There are norms for the consumption of hot water for different consumers. By adding up the required flow rate for your case, you will get the desired figure. So the average cost is:

When choosing, you must match both the power value and the flow rate. In this case, water at all flow points that can work simultaneously will be supplied at a given temperature. If not, you will have to ensure that only one tap is open at a time.

What the market has to offer

The choice of electric instantaneous water heaters is at least large ... You can easily get confused. What should you pay attention to besides power and performance? On the material from which the tank and the heating element are made. The tank can be copper, stainless and plastic. This information not provided by all manufacturers, but if it is not there, most likely the filling is made of plastic. It is, of course, heat-resistant, but not as reliable as metals.

Also pay attention to the minimum and maximum cold water pressure at which the unit can operate. There are capricious models, for the connection of which it is required to install a reducer on our networks.

Separately, it is worth talking about taps with electric water heating. They are also called faucet-water heater. They appeared not so long ago, but are quickly gaining popularity, as they are easy to use, just connect.

Many urban residents are familiar with the age-old problem of seasonal shutdown of hot water supply. And it’s good if the temporary discomfort lasts only a couple of weeks. It happens that this period is calculated in months. For country estates, you will have to take care of heating the water on your own for the entire season or even a year. In such situations, one of optimal solutions- usage electric water heaters. The best instantaneous electric water heaters are in our today's rating.

Criteria for choosing an instantaneous electric water heater

The list of relevant parameters is not particularly large, but each of them is of no small importance. Competent selection of characteristics is the key to the efficiency of the water heater, its reliability and makes operation truly comfortable.

Device type

There are two main types of flow models:

• Non-pressure. Simple and compact devices designed for only one point. They are convenient to use with low or unstable pressure in the plumbing system. Best and inexpensive option a water heater for summer cottages or as a temporary source of heating when hot water is turned off in summer;
• Pressure. Often they are also called systemic. They are connected to the water supply, work under pressure and can be used to service one or more points of water intake.

Power

The heating capacity of the device and its performance directly depend on this parameter. Optimal value can be determined by the formula:

P=Q x (T1-T2) x 0.073.

Q is the volume of water passed in l / min., and T1 and T2 are the inlet and outlet temperatures, respectively.

There is a simpler method: to get water heated to about 35 ° C, you need to multiply its planned consumption per minute by 2.

Type of heating control system

Few options:

• hydraulic. The temperature is controlled by the pressure of the water;
• Electronic. The required parameters are set on the display and controlled by the control unit by adjusting the power when the pressure changes.

Equipment

The characteristic is more relevant for inexpensive non-pressure water heaters. Nozzle options: faucet only, hose with shower head, faucet + shower. Models up to 3.5 kW are equipped with an electrical cord with a plug having a grounding contact. For more powerful varieties, the cable is usually not provided in the kit.

Hot water for modern man is not a luxury at all. He is in dire need of it. In this regard, many apartment owners in which centralized system water supply cannot be provided with hot water around the clock and throughout the year, sooner or later they begin to think about purchasing such a device as a water heater.

Modern market household appliances offers many models. However, not everyone can answer the question of which water heater is better to buy for an apartment. Let's try to figure it out.

Electricity or gas?

Which water heater is better to buy in an apartment? Reviews of specialists and consumers confirm that when choosing, it is necessary to determine which energy source will be used during operation. this appliance. Depending on what will be brought up to heat the water, the units are divided into two types. They can be gas or electric.

Which water heater is better to buy in an apartment? Consumer reviews indicate that gas appliances are cheaper to operate. At first glance, it may seem that this option would be the most acceptable for apartment owners. However, this is not quite true. The cheaper type will bring the water up to the set temperature very slowly. In addition, to install this device, you will need to involve specialists from gas service. They will charge for laying additional pipes and ventilation ducts. The end result is a pretty decent amount.

Quite expensive and gas boilers, heating an impressive amount of water. In addition, there is no point in placing such units in a small apartment.

As for electric water heaters, all models of this type of device are powered by a network:

220 volts (single phase);
- (three-phase).

Which water heater is better to buy in an apartment? User reviews indicate that the most powerful devices are connected to a 380 volt network. Such devices heat water very quickly, but their cost is quite high. In addition, for such units it will be necessary to carry out powerful wiring, and three-phase networks are not available everywhere. In addition, for old city apartments it is not recommended to choose a water heater that consumes more than 5 kW. Otherwise, the network will simply be overloaded.

If the apartment is located in a new building, then the owner is given the opportunity to choose a more powerful device. How many kilowatts to count in this case can be determined according to the existing project.

Which water heater is better to buy in an apartment? Feedback from many people who decide to purchase this useful device, say that they are afraid of a sharp increase in electricity bills. But you shouldn't worry about it. Electric water heaters with average volume and power indicators, with their permanent job cost the owners no more than a couple of hundred rubles a month.

Installation location

Which water heater is better to buy in an apartment, you need to decide not only based on the type of energy it consumes. Users note that if the project does not initially provide for a place in which the device should be installed, it is quite difficult to find free space. In addition, the entire structure, together with water, has an impressive weight, which makes it difficult to attach it to non-capital walls. All this is taken into account by modern manufacturers who produce wall-mounted and floor-mounted devices.

If you decide to purchase a water heater for an apartment, which of these two types is better? Wall-mounted appliances save space. Floor water heaters are securely installed on the floor and do not cause the risk of collapse even with large volumes of water in them.

When choosing wall variant before buying, you will need to measure the width and height of the free space with a tape measure. This will let you know allowable dimensions water heater and how best to position it.

Wall units are mounted either horizontally or vertically. At the same time, the manufacturer produces universal devices that can be positioned depending on the available space, as well as special models with one configuration or another.

To date, the manufacturer also offers such water heaters that can be installed directly under the sink. However, their main disadvantage is the limited amount of heated liquid.

Volume

This is one of the important parameters that should also be taken into account when choosing a water heater. In order to determine the required volume of the tank, you will need to take into account the required dimensions of the unit, the number of connection points, as well as the number of family members. For those owners who purchase a water heater only for washing dishes, a tank volume of 10-30 liters is sufficient. But to take a shower of water, you will need more (from 50 to 100 liters). If family members are used to taking a bath, then the maximum volume of the tank is required (up to 150 liters).

Device type

Water heaters are of the following types:

Cumulative;
- flowing;
- accumulative indirect heating.

Let's consider them in more detail.

Storage water heaters

Aggregates of this type are the most popular. In such devices, the entire volume of water in the tank is heated. Storage water heaters bring the temperature of the liquid to a certain limit, and then maintain it at a given level. In this regard, such units are the most economical.

Which storage water heater is it better to buy an apartment? One that will allow you to use the required volume of water, because when it is fully consumed, you will have to wait again for the heating of a new portion of the liquid. In this regard, when choosing a model, it is necessary to calculate the size of the tank.

Flow type water heater

As for this type of heater, it has smaller dimensions. However, it should be borne in mind that this device does not allow the water to warm up enough and be very hot. At the same time, such units have more than storage units. However, if we take into account that heating occurs only at those moments when the owners go to the shower or wash the dishes, then the costs will not be very high.

But for apartments with old wiring, it is better not to buy instantaneous water heaters. After all, previously designed networks will not be able to withstand the installation of units whose average power exceeds 6 kW.

Which is better to buy in an apartment? To select a device, you will need to evaluate the load that will be placed on the unit.

What power water heater is better to buy in an apartment? In the event that up to three people will use the water, it should be approximately 12 kW. Such power will allow you to keep the performance parameter at the level of up to three liters of hot water for one minute. Wherein Maximum temperature feed will be at least fifty degrees.

How to determine which instantaneous water heaters for an apartment are better?

The choice of such a unit is also based on the available parameters of its power supply. As a rule, water heaters of this type have it at 220 V with a frequency of 20 to 30 Hz. However, in cases where there are problems in the form of power surges in homes, a model must be purchased at 30 Hz.

Storage water heaters with indirect heating

According to user reviews, such units are the most economical. The fact is that their work is carried out with the simultaneous inclusion of a single-circuit heating boiler. AT winter period such water heaters use the same energy that is intended for heating.

The main disadvantage of such a device is its difficult installation, which involves insertion into heating system. But if we consider the advantages of using this unit, then it is worth noting that there is no need to connect it to the electrical network.

Indirect heating devices are installed, as a rule, in urban private or country houses in which there is an autonomous heating system.

Performance and Power

Which electric water heater is better to buy in an apartment? For selection the best option the device must be looked at in the instructions for its performance, which directly depends on the power.

The strongest dependence of these indicators is observed in instantaneous water heaters, as already mentioned above. In such units, for comfortable consumption of hot water, the power must be above 12 kW. AT storage devices enough power of 2 kW. The performance of this type of device will be at a sufficient level.

heating elements

When deciding on the choice of a heater, this parameter should also be paid attention to. Manufacturers offer models that provide either one or two heating elements.

In the first case, water heaters use energy, which is controlled by automation. At the same time, to maintain the set temperature level, the device turns on the economy mode. After the full use of water in such units, further heating is carried out slowly.

Which water heater is better to buy in an apartment? With high hot water consumption, models with two heating elements are the most preferred option.

Other selection criteria

Modern devices for heating water are distinguished by low heat loss. This figure is only a few degrees during the day. This becomes possible due to the good thermal insulation of the tanks, for which polyurethane foam, fiberglass or expanded polystyrene are used.

When choosing a water heater, you can compare the heat loss rates for different models. To do this, you need to clarify this parameter in the instructions attached to the device.

Equally important is the service life of the device. On average, it is 5 years, but at best, the manufacturer will indicate a period of up to 7 years. This parameter characterizes the reliability of the water heater. After all, the service life will directly depend on the material used for the tank, as well as on the quality of the applied anti-corrosion coating.

When buying a water heater, you need to focus on its price. It will be directly dependent on all the above parameters, as well as the brand of the device.

Manufacturers

Which brand of water heater is better to buy in an apartment? Inexpensive, but at the same time reliable devices are offered to consumers by Ariston. Affordable at their cost are units manufactured by the Swedish company Electrolux. This manufacturer is considered a leader in the segment of gas water heaters. Electrical units of the company "Electrolux" high quality, and at the same time as expensive as Bosch products.

Cheap, but at the same time, sufficiently high-quality heaters offered by Thermex are becoming increasingly popular on the market. Good user reviews are also received by devices from manufacturers such as Drazice and Gorenje. What brand of water heater is better to buy in an apartment if you need to install a compact device? AEG is the leader in this segment. Below are the most popular models of water heaters.

Ariston ABS BLU R 80V

This water heater stands out among other models with scanty heat loss. The device is very convenient in everyday use due to the lower water supply provided in its design. The main material for the manufacture of the tank of the device is hardened steel. At the same time, the manufacturer reliably protected the body of the device from heat loss by covering it with an aluminum plate.

Users note that the water in such a unit reaches the maximum heating temperature in almost 3-4 hours. Pleases consumers and a capacious tank of 80 liters, which can be easily mounted on the wall. During operation, it is convenient for the owners to monitor the temperature of the water in the tank, which is displayed on a special thermometer.

AEG RMC 75

According to user reviews, this instantaneous water heater is very easy to install. In addition, the device is characterized by productivity and practicality of use.

The instantaneous water heater of this model is capable of bringing 4-5 liters of water to the desired temperature in just one minute, while consuming 7.5 kW. According to user reviews, the model is perfect for simultaneously connecting to several water intake points.

The design of the device provides for the installation of a copper heating element. He has an indication of work and mechanics. Users note that the model has reliable protection from overheating, as well as from the ingress of water into it

This quality instrument gets a lot positive feedback and thanks to its compactness, as well as stability in operation and durability.

Timberk SWH RS1 80V

This model, according to consumer reviews, is quite productive, protected and stylish. The manufacturer offers users a device with excellent performance and a pleasant design. The volume of the tank of this model is 80 liters. It heats up water in just two hours. In this case, the device consumes 2 kW.

To solve the problem of hot water in an apartment or a private house, in the country, you can heat water using electric water heaters. There are several types and in order to decide which water heater is best for your situation, you need to know their advantages, disadvantages and features of each type of equipment for heating water.

What are domestic water heaters and how do they differ

• flow type - they heat the water passing through the device;
• accumulative type- the water in the heater tank is heated;
• flow-accumulative - have two modes of operation;
• bulk.

It is difficult to say which water heater is better. If speak about appearance, then the main outward difference is the size. Storage models are large, flow models are small. But size isn't all it takes to figure out what's best for you. You need to know the advantages and disadvantages of each type of equipment.

Cumulative models

The storage water heater (the second name is the boiler) has a solid size capacity - from 30 to 200 liters. Inside is a heating element - heating element. It may be one or more. The heaters can be switched on in parallel (always work simultaneously) or in cascades (turn on as needed). When cascading, there are several heating modes - for more rational use of electricity.

Many more models contain a thermometer to make it convenient to control the temperature of the water and a thermostat to maintain the set temperature. The desired temperature is set by turning the thermostat knob to a certain position.

A certain volume of water is constantly stored in the storage water heater. It is heated by electric heaters. They are of two types:

• heating element ( T ribbed E electro H heater). Inexpensive classic solution. They are quick and easy to change, any specialty store has them in stock. a wide range. The disadvantage is that it takes a long time to heat the water.
• Spiral heating element. More powerful heaters that quickly heat large volumes of water allow you to accurately maintain the desired temperature. But they are more expensive (affects the price of the water heater), and their replacement is also more difficult.

Principle of operation

Regardless of the type of heater installed, the principle of operation of the storage water heater is the same. When the set temperature is reached, the thermostat cuts off the power supply, heating stops. Further, the temperature is maintained automatically. When the water cools down by 1 degree or cold water is added to the tank at a flow rate, the heating is turned on. As soon as the set temperature is reached (or rather, a degree higher than the set one), the heating stops. This is how automatic storage water heaters work. They are convenient because they do not overheat (if the automation is working) and you always have hot water that is heated the way you wanted. Such equipment usually has two modes of operation - with or without temperature maintenance - in manual mode.

To keep the water temperature as long as possible, use a heater. It is laid between the walls of the tank and the body. With good thermal insulation, even with hot water, the case remains cold, maybe a little warm. It is clear that if the temperature is maintained for a long time, the cost of maintaining it is small. Even if you turn off the keep warm function, the water will be hot even after a day.

There are very simple electric water heaters in which there is no thermostat. They are turned on / off by a toggle switch - manually. As you understand, in this case, there is a possibility that the water heater will boil and fail (if you forget to turn it off).

There is one more nuance - the stepped inclusion of heating elements. They are usually installed in the case two or more, they also make several heating modes. One is more powerful, in which all heaters are turned on, the rest are softer - one or two heating elements can work, depending on their total number. What is it for? In summer, you can use heating in a gentle mode - the water heats up so quickly, in winter they usually use all heaters - there is less waiting. And in general, it is possible to regulate the heating rate of the boiler in this way. They drained all the hot water and need the next batch quickly - they turned it on at full power, there is no such need - you can not overload the networks by turning it on at half power.

What materials are tanks made of and features of their maintenance

Tanks of storage water heaters are made of stainless and ordinary steel. Ordinary steel is coated protective layers enamel, stainless does not need them. From this point of view, it is easy to say which water heater is better - with a stainless steel tank. But it's also more expensive. But the service life of such equipment is much longer - enamel, even the highest quality, peels off over time.

To prolong the life of the enameled coating, magnesium anodes are installed in storage steel water heaters. They require periodic replacement - they “melt” during operation, and a special sensor with an indicator displayed on the front panel monitors their condition. The status of the indicator monitors the need to replace the anode.

How to choose and which one is better

In most cases, storage water heaters are installed in private houses or apartments. multi-storey buildings where there is no centralized hot water supply. Equipment is selected according to the volume of the tank. If you do not like restrictions, you can count at the rate of 50 liters of hot water per family member. This should be enough. In the tank, it heats up, say, to 70 °. It is unrealistic to use this, you will dilute it. As a result, there will be 100-150 liters of warm water per person (depending on the temperature of the water in the water supply). This is without taking into account the fact that during consumption, the water is also heated.

Everything is clear about the material of the tanks: there is a possibility, it’s better to take a storage electric water heater with a tank made of of stainless steel. The number of operating modes is not so critical, but also a good option, although such models due to more complex scheme, cost more.

Which company is better to choose. No one can objectively tell you which water heater is better - people have different needs and requests. But here are some conclusions that can be drawn from the operating experience. People speak well of the storage heaters of firms:

• Termex. If we talk about the prices of water heaters with a stainless steel tank, then this company has no competitors for the price. The quality is hard to say, reviews are different.
• Real. Not bad storage boilers, the main thing is that there are consumables in your city.
• OSO. Very good but expensive.
• Electrolux (AEG). Well-known company with stable quality.

Instantaneous water heaters

The instantaneous water heater has more modest dimensions. This is a small box that is attached to the wall. Inside there is also a tank with a heating element, but their dimensions are very tiny, and heating elements usually have the form of a spiral - in order to better heat the passing water.

One of necessary elements flow sensor. It monitors the appearance of water movement in the device (the tap is opened) and gives a command to turn on the heating element. When the tap closes, the flow sensor turns off the power.

There is also a thermostat that sets the temperature of the water. It can be of a rotary type with a scale, there are models with an electronic display with push-button or touch control.

Pressure and non-pressure instantaneous water heaters, their connection

There are two options for instantaneous water heaters - system and individual. The system ones cut into the risers of cold and hot water, they are also called pressure ones. Several points can provide at once - for example, a shower, a sink and a washbasin. There are system instantaneous water heaters for 220 V with relatively low power consumption (about 8-9 kW), but they can heat a small amount of water. There are very powerful installations - up to 32 kW, but they are three-phase - 380 V.

Pressure borers have two broad classes.

Individual instantaneous water heaters - non-pressure - are connected to cold water. At the outlet they have a flexible hose with a nozzle or, alternatively, a faucet for washing. These devices are good for the period of DHW shutdown or as a solution to the problem of hot water in the country.

Note, stopcock only on the supply and you can close the hot water only with its help. Connection stop valves at the outlet, sooner or later it will lead to a rupture of the tank in which the water is heated. This happens when the automation does not work to turn off the water. And it is not designed to track water consumption, but only monitors its appearance / disappearance at the inlet. So sooner or later failure occurs.

When connecting pressure and non-pressure versions, grounding is mandatory. And in general, it is advisable to pull the power supply to such partings by a separate line - a large power consumption, a combination of water and electricity is an unsafe combination. Ordinary wiring may not withstand. Therefore, a separate line is needed from, on which the machine and RCD are located.

Type of control

There are two types of flow type water heater control:

• Hydraulic. When there is a flow sensor at the inlet (the first photo in the section), at the signal of which the heating element is turned on / off. The disadvantage of such a system is that it always turns on at the same power. Some models have several power modes, but they must be forced to change each time (press the buttons).
• Electronic. The work is controlled by a microprocessor, which monitors the status of the device using several sensors. These systems allow you to maintain the required temperature.

Hydraulically controlled instantaneous water heaters can only add a certain number of degrees to the water temperature. Which one exactly depends on the power of the heating element, but on average it is about 20-25 ° C. This means that in the summer you will get completely warm water- about + 40 ° C, and in winter it will only be slightly warmer than + 20 ° C, since the incoming one is very cold and it is simply not able to heat the device to higher temperatures.

More powerful models- system, with the prefix Sistem - have electronic control and can cope with the task of maintaining the set temperature. Their disadvantage is that they require more power and high price. But if you have such an opportunity, the automation will maintain a constant (set by you) temperature at any time of the year. The installation rarely works at full power, but still it is required to pull the power supply line at maximum power and use it to calculate the machine and RCD.

What are flow heaters made of?

The internal filling can be:

• From copper. These models differ in very good characteristics - they quickly heat the water. Copper has a high thermal conductivity, quickly transfers heat.
• From stainless steel. A good option, durable (if the water is not hard).
• From plastic. The cheapest and not the most durable. Although special plastic is used, it is better not to buy such threaders.

The choice of instantaneous water heater on this basis is obvious. If possible, buy with a copper "stuffing", but stainless ones work well.

They pull power with a copper wire with a cross section of at least 3.5 mm (with power consumption up to 7 kW) and 4 mm - up to 12 kW. According to the value of the current consumed, an automatic machine is selected, the RCD is taken a step higher with a leakage current of 10 mA. With this method of connection and normally working grounding, there will be no problems.

Features of choice

When choosing an instantaneous water heater, you need to focus on several indicators:

All these parameters should be in the description. Having picked up several models, you can then, according to reviews, or based on technical characteristics, decide which water heater is better. If we talk about firms, then German and Italian devices are better in quality. With Chinese - as lucky, although many firms have moved production to China. And now most of household appliances has a dual "citizenship" - usually they write - the home of the brand and the place of production. Most of such equipment works reliably, as firms value their name and introduce strict control over product quality.

Specific Models

There are instantaneous water heaters of a non-standard format. The most common is a faucet with instantaneous water heater. This is an interesting option for giving, for example, but it’s hard to say how things are with maintainability - there are not very many users of such devices yet and operating experience is very small.

Which water heater is better: instantaneous or storage

Deciding which water heater to buy - a boiler (accumulative) or a protochnik - in principle, is not difficult. First of all, the limiting factor is the power consumption: for storage water heaters, it is maximum 3-4 kW, for instantaneous water heaters it is pointless to take less than 7-8 kW - they can only provide heating of a very small amount of water. Not everyone has the opportunity to install such powerful equipment.

Secondly, you need to look at whether you will constantly use an electric water heater or only periodically. With occasional use, especially summer period instantaneous water heaters are convenient, and moreover of an open type (individual, which are installed next to the sink). For example, this is a great way to heat water up to comfortable temperature if the sun did not cope with this task. It is also a way to solve the problem in apartments when the hot water supply is turned off for repairs.

For permanent and regular use, storage water heaters are more economical and convenient. Modern models “keep” the temperature for more than a day, so the electricity consumption here will be rather less than more.

Instantaneous storage water heaters

This is a combination of the two devices described earlier. They work in two modes. If the water flow is low, water is supplied from storage tank, if it increases, connects also flow heating. The equipment is very convenient, but expensive. There are not so many options. These are Stiebel Eltron SHD 30 liters and 100 liters. Price - $ 1500-1750.

Bulk water heaters

An excellent solution for giving or in case of lack of tap water in the house. A bulk water heater is a container with a lid in which a heating element is mounted. The container can be made of stainless steel, plastic, ordinary enameled steel. The temperature is controlled by a thermostat. A shower hose is attached to the body.

There are two types of such devices - gravity and with a small built-in pressure pump (Alvin EVBO). Self-flowing bulk water heaters must be hung above the head. You can take a shower, then the flow of water will be weak. Models with a pump have more pressure, but the tank capacity must also be decent and you cannot call such a model a marching one.

The functions here might be:

Bulk water heaters - this is primordially Russian invention and manufacturers are all Russian. There are similar electric water heaters of the following brands:

• Success;
• Alvin Evbo;
• Aquarius;
• Elbet;
• Mr. Hit Summer Resident;
• Story.

The devices operate from a 220 V network, their power is about 1-2 kW, the price is from $20 to $100, depending on the functionality and material of the tank. Which water heater is better in this category? Stainless with pressure, but these are just the most expensive models.

Today we will talk about instantaneous water heaters and give helpful tips by their choice.

Comfort first and foremost

It is difficult to imagine now a comfortable home without hot water. After all, it is one of the components of the amenities in the house.

The first hot water that people began to use were natural thermal springs. Then he began to use an open fire to heat water.

Later, heaters appeared, the water in which was heated by combustion. solid fuel.

Now the most common are heaters, where gas and electricity are used as a source.

A feature of heaters with such heat sources that provide water heating is the use of two types - storage-type heaters and flow-type heaters.

At home, electric water heaters are becoming more and more popular.

Now many houses are being built without connecting it to the gas main, and all the amenities in the house are provided with electricity.

Such water heaters are also relevant for owners of houses and summer cottages, to which it is impossible to conduct gas.

Well, it is worth recalling that in many cities their residents only dream of a centralized supply of hot water and, probably, these dreams are unlikely to come true. Although hope dies last.

In general, where it is not possible to use gas to heat water or there is no centralized hot water supply, electricity is used to heat cold water.

Types of electric water heaters

In both storage and instantaneous water heaters, the main element for heating water is TEN. It's just that they heat differently.

At storage water heaters, water enters a special container, inside of which is located TEN.

With the help of an adjustable thermostat, the temperature to which the TEN must heat the water is set.

Having brought to the desired temperature, the TEN turns off, but with a slight drop in temperature, it turns on again and brings the temperature to the desired value. This keeps the water warm at all times.

With a partial flow of water, a new portion of cold water enters the tank from the water supply system to the level, and it is heated again.

How to connect a storage water heater - diagrams.

Instantaneous water heaters do not have a water tank. Water entering the water heater passes through the supply pipe.

A housing with a heating element is fixed on this branch pipe. Water, passing through the pipe inside the housing, is heated, and goes to the consumer through the outlet pipe.

Advantages and disadvantages of instantaneous water heater

Instantaneous water heaters have a number of positive qualities:

• The absence of a water tank makes it very compact, and since this heater has a stylish outer case, it fits perfectly into the interior;
• The instantaneous water heater provides almost immediately the supply of hot water after it is connected to the network. Because of this, it is convenient to use them in country houses and cottages;
• You can choose heaters of different power, capable of delivering hot water both to one point and to several.

There is only one drawback of this type of water heater - in order to ensure rapid heating of the water flowing through it, it must have good power, which affects its energy consumption.

Types of instantaneous water heaters

Now two types of instantaneous water heaters are produced - non-pressure and pressure.

Non-pressure instantaneous water heaters can be connected to almost any source of cold water, but the main thing is that this source has a tap to shut off the water supply.

Below is the Electrolux SMARTFIX 3.5 S model.

In order for such a water heater to start working, it is enough to turn it on, set the water temperature and open its supply on the tap.

The heater itself will continue to operate on the flow of water, that is, if you shut off its supply, it will automatically turn off.

Due to this feature, these water heaters are unable to provide hot water to several points of intake.

But since they work only for one point, their power is relatively small - from 3 to 8 kW.

Pressure water heaters are included in the water supply system of the house. That is, the water in it is constantly under pressure.

But as long as all the taps in the house are closed and water is not consumed, it does not work.

Below is the Stiebel Eltron DHF 13 C compact model.

As soon as one of the taps opens and a stream of water appears through the heater, it starts working.

Such a water heater is capable of operating at several points of intake. However, to ensure heating a large number he must have water big power– up to 36 kW.

circuit diagram installation of a pressurized instantaneous water heater.

Design

Structurally, both of these types of instantaneous water heaters are similar. All their elements are enclosed in a case.

On the one hand, there are two branch pipes - for supplying water to the heater and exiting it.

There is also a wiring with a plug to connect it to the network. On the outer part of the housing there is a control unit that sets the temperature and operation mode of the heater.

Inside, there are pipes through which water moves inside the water heater, these pipes pass through a copper flask with heating elements located in it, and where it is directly heated.

Also included are fuses, a temperature stabilizer, a power regulator, a thermal cycling interrupter and a flow regulator.

Pressureless water heaters, since they can only provide one point of intake, may come with shower heads or sinks.

That is, it is enough to connect a pipeline with water to it, and on the other hand, a nozzle directly onto the outlet pipe and the water heater is ready for use.

This allows you to use it as a portable one - installed in one place and used, the loan was transferred to another.

Pressure ones are included in the water supply system.

In principle, it can be included in this system and be used only in certain cases, for example, when turning off hot water from central water supply.

At the same time, they can provide hot water to the whole house.

Selecting a flow heater

Having decided to install an instantaneous water heater, you should decide on some features.

So, first you need to decide whether it will withstand electrical network at home with such a load.

And also you need to decide on the purpose of using an instantaneous water heater.

Below is a table, after studying which you can draw certain conclusions for yourself.

In old houses, where the wiring is not designed for heavy loads, it will not work to install an instantaneous water heater. Although it is still possible to install a low-power water heater of 3 kW, it is better to check the network before purchasing by connecting a consumer with the same power to it.

AT modern houses where an electric stove is used, there is not much need to check the network, if it withstands the stove, then it will withstand the heater.

Based on this, the type of water heater is determined. If the network is weak, only a non-pressure water heater should be purchased.

Some owners, if several hot water supply points are needed, purchase several non-pressure heaters, and thereby solve this problem.

Determination of the required power

This indicator is actually calculated according to a certain formula, including the need to determine the flow of water, the temperature of the water supplied to the heater and the outlet temperature.

However, it is possible to calculate the power of the water heater much easier.

It is enough to divide the power of the device in two, the result obtained is that volume running water, heated by them to 20-30 degrees. in a minute.

That is, a 20 kW water heater will heat 10 liters of water per minute to 20-30 degrees. Based on this, it is already determined what the approximate water consumption will be, and what power of the heater is needed for this.

If a water heater is purchased that will provide several points of water intake, then the power is determined by the point with highest expense water.

There is a possibility that water intake will be carried out at several points at the same time, then the result of calculations according to maximum flow from one point should be increased by one and a half times.

Other features when choosing

Before purchasing, you should immediately determine the place, especially for the pressure type.