Summer is coming, and with it the planned shutdowns of hot water. It's time to think about buying a boiler. To prevent the choice of a water heater from turning into a tedious search for a compromise between the power of the device and the capabilities of the electrical wiring, some knowledge is needed.
Our article will help you decide on the basic characteristics before purchasing, choose a good water heater for your apartment and install it yourself.
A water heater is a device that brings water to a given temperature and can store it in a special tank.
Water heaters are absolutely indispensable in everyday life if the house does not have a central hot water supply. Even if it is, the device will help out during the period of preventive shutdown of hot water, which occurs every year in the summer throughout the country.
The habit of comfort, formed among city residents thanks to round-the-clock access to hot water at home, turns into an ironic reaction every year.
A household water heater can improve the quality of life and provide the family with hot water for washing dishes, taking a shower and any other needs. All that remains is to decide which water heater to choose for the apartment.
Which water heater heating element to choose
A heating element (tubular electric heater) is an element that is, in fact, responsible for heating the water in the boiler. Storage water heaters are equipped with one or two heating elements - the second is required for a large tank volume and if a quick heating function is provided.
When there is a lot of cold water and the temperature has dropped sharply, you can turn on both heating elements, then the water will heat up faster. Usually only one heating element works to maintain the temperature. Variable operation of the heating element reduces the load on the network.
There are several types of heating elements:
Copper. It has a copper winding, thanks to which the water is heated evenly and at a good speed. This type of heating element is expensive and at the same time has the longest service life.
Made from stainless steel. Stainless steel windings are resistant to rust and corrosion and are cheaper than copper ones. Hence the lower price and shorter period of uninterrupted operation.
Titanium. This is the most expensive heating element - due to the properties of titanium. It combines everything you need for long-lasting service without rust or corrosion damage.
Vertical or horizontal
Storage boilers can be vertical or horizontal. The name is determined by the boiler installation diagram. It differs in its design features and the location of the heating element: it can be installed at the bottom plate or side surface of the tank.
Installation in a horizontal position is contraindicated for vertical water heaters, and vice versa, since changing the position can have a bad effect on the performance of the device.
The location in space has almost no effect on the properties of the boiler, so the only criterion here is how much space there is for the device. Horizontal ones are optimal if the area is very small and a vertical tank does not fit or violates the geometry of the space.
A horizontal boiler can be placed right at the ceiling, and it will be above the line of sight, which will streamline the visual perception of the room. The disadvantage, or rather the peculiarity, of a horizontal storage water heater is that due to structural differences associated with the position of the container, it heats the water more slowly. That is, it looks better, but heats up more slowly.
And vertical is the opposite. It often protrudes strongly from the wall and can get in the way, but the water in it mixes more efficiently and heats up faster