How to choose a water heater for an apartment: guidelines for choice

If in an apartment building often turn off the hot water, it is worth buying a device for its uninterrupted supply. How to choose a water heater for an apartment or your own home, taking into account the needs of the family?

For this you need to take into account many of the characteristics that affect the life of the equipment. It must be chosen taking into account the free space in the bathroom or kitchen. In the apartment this question is particularly relevant.

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

Body material as a guideline of choice

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 body will ruin the device permanently without the possibility of restoration.

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

On sale are various options for metal enclosures with different 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 reputation.

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

Enamel coating - a favorite of the market

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

However, enamel without adding other components is brittle and can peel off from the vessel walls. Most often, the coating does not withstand the excess temperature. In this case, cracks are formed.

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

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

Super resistant stainless steel

One of the most practical materials for the body of the heater is stainless steel. It has a number of key advantages over any enamelled finish. The first of these is heat resistance.

If it happens that the boiler is plugged in without first filling it with water, the casing will not suffer. 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 fall, the case and its technical stuffing will not undergo damage. In extreme cases, 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 exceed the warranty period many times.

Some manufacturers cover 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 pathogens, so there is no point in overpaying for silver plating.

Innovative glass ceramics and biofer glass

Glass ceramics differs from enamel in that it reduces the thermal conductivity of a container. The 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 sensitivity to point mechanical effects.

Bio-glass ceramics 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. 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. Heater can be in direct interaction with water, or be protected from it by a metal element.

It is necessary to choose on the basis of financial possibilities. Boilers with contactless heating elements are more expensive than contact ones.

Wet heating element

If the water that enters the house has good sanitary and epidemiological indicators, it does not contain fine water. suspended from old metal pipes, it is possible to save and purchase a water heater with a wet heating element type

Additionally, you need to insure 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 determined simply, if scale often occurs in an electric kettle, the salt content in the water is increased.

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 funds allow, it is better not to save money and buy a boiler with a dry-type water heating element. 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 come out of due to the depressurization of the housing, and this will inevitably lead to the purchase of a new device (even if the TENe).

Another advantage is simplicity. replacement of heating elements. It can be done 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 to obtain reliable values ​​of the degree of water heating. If it is noticed that the boiler began to heat the water longer than expected, this will give a signal to replace the heating element.

In addition to the sensor devices are often equipped with a thermostat. They allow you to control the heat. This is done to save energy.

Simple mechanical thermostat

In budget models, an ordinary switch is installed, which can be made in the form of a circular knob or buttons. With it, you can change the heat from 60 degrees to 30. It is impossible to establish 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 analogue in the event of a breakdown. Their replacement is simple and does not require the assistance of service specialists. This is where their merits end.

Automatic thermostat with advanced features

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

If the firm leaves the market, then spare parts will not be available. A minor breakdown in electronics can lead to the need to buy a new device. It is necessary to give preference to proven manufacturers.

The principle of operation and comparison of performance

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

Worth considering gas water heaters cost more, they are cheaper to use, but can not be used in the apartment. Their mission is to provide private houses with hot water. Electrical, respectively, are cheaper, but costly. They can be used in the apartment. Now more about all.

Electric flow water heaters

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

Their advantage lies in 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.

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

It is extremely unprofitable to use two instantaneous water heaters in terms of bills for payment for electricity. This option is only suitable for apartments, where seasonal breaks with hot water supply periodically occur.

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 fixed when filled with cold water, because the body of the heater has a thermos design.

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

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

• 30 cu. liters;
• 50 cu. liters;
• 80 cu. liters;
• 100 cu. liters;

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

When choosing a hinged boiler, it is important to make sure that the mounting method is reliable. Fasteners must be made of high quality steel. This is necessary for safe fixing on the bearing wall.

In some cases, it is better to choose a floor heater, if the partitions do not withstand the weight of the device, filled with water. The floor boiler is safer, so for families with children it is better to choose 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 stop the choice on gas water heaters, since they are cheaper to operate. The most popular type of gas water heater is flow-through. It has all the advantages of an electrical analog, but does not create a significant load on the wiring to the wiring.

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

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

Geysers differ in the method of ignition. Since the equipment is a source of increased danger, it has a built-in function to automatically shut off the gas supply if a back draft occurs in the chimney and the wick goes out. There are geysers that require the supply of a spark, 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 flowing gas heaters. Read more - go to reference.

Double-circuit gas boiler

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

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

1. Heating living space.
2. Heating water for domestic needs.

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.

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

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

The video describes the general principle of selection of the boiler:

Practical tips for choosing a water heater:

Video on how to choose a gas instantaneous water heater:

Choose a water heater should be based on personal needs. If the apartment held gas, then it is better to buy gas column. It will fully meet the need for hot water in an uninterrupted mode, unlike electrical counterparts.

If there is no gas in a private house or apartment, you should stop the choice on electric storage water heaters, since they are more productive than flow-through water heaters.

And what kind of heater do you use? Please tell in the comments on which device did you choose? Are you satisfied with its work? You can also ask questions about the topic of the article, and we will try to give a very clear answer.