How to choose electric water boilers: an overview of the decisive factors + recommendations for choosing

Criteria for choosing a device for heating water

After analyzing the water heaters, you can choose which one suits you:

1. If you need a device for heating water during a breakdown in the boiler room, then it is better to use an electric instantaneous water heater.
2. Do you need a constant source of hot water in a large private house? So, a storage gas boiler is suitable.
3. If the apartment has old wiring, and you are not going to change it, and there is nowhere to put the storage device, then it is rational to use a flow device with low power.
4. Any chosen type of device should be purchased from the best manufacturers that provide a guarantee.

What to look for when choosing a heater

Tank

What to look for when choosing a storage heater? First of all, on the dimensions, configuration and material of the tank

capacity

The volume of the tank is recommended to be selected depending on the number of users. For one owner, a boiler with a volume of 30 or 40 liters may be suitable, for a family of two or three people it is recommended to choose a tank of 60–80 liters, and for large families it is better to play it safe and buy a boiler with a tank of 100 liters or more. Of course, it all depends on the tastes and individual preferences of the owners. Some people like to take hot baths, while others like a cool shower.

4 capacity options

• 10-15 liters. Water heaters of small volume, designed for short-term use. As a rule, their main scope is the kitchen.
• 30 liters. Water heaters with below average capacity. It is possible to use them in the kitchen and in some cases in the bathroom, if there is only one user (and without any special claims).
• 50–80 liters. Water heaters of average capacity, universal option, can be used everywhere. The bathroom is good with a small number of users.
• 100 liters or more. Large volume water heaters provide a high level of comfort, but it can be difficult to accommodate models of this size.

Dimensions, shape and weight

Too voluminous storage water heater, unfortunately, takes up a lot of space. Let's say a 100-liter boiler with a traditional body shape is a vertically standing cylinder with a diameter of about 0.5 m and a height of about 1 m. The placement of such a water heater can be a serious problem, especially considering that the appliance weighs about 130– 140 kg, not every wall can withstand it.

To simplify the task, manufacturers offer various modifications of devices, in particular, boilers with a flat tank. This form is more difficult to manufacture and therefore more expensive, but the flat body is easier to place in conditions of limited space. In addition, the flat body gives less load on the fasteners, on which the water heater is suspended from the wall. Another option for solving the "problem with placement" is water heaters with the possibility of horizontal mounting (the cylinder or flattened body is mounted so that the axis of symmetry is directed parallel to the ground level). This modification of the boiler can be placed high under the ceiling or, for example, above the front door.

Housing and protective coating material

The inner tank of the water heater can be made of black enameled steel or stainless steel. All internal tanks are non-repairable, so one of the main criteria when choosing a boiler is the reliability of the tank. Unfortunately, it is impossible to independently find out how well the tank is made. Indirectly, this can be estimated by the warranty period of service. Warranty for enamelled tanks is usually from 1 year to 5-7 years (7 years is very rare). The warranty period for a stainless steel tank is 5–7 years.

Other Options

What else should you pay attention to when choosing a storage type electric water heater?

Maximum temperature

Typically, storage water heaters are designed to produce hot water at a temperature of 60 to 85 °C. You should not chase high performance too much: scale is known to form at water temperatures exceeding 60 ° C.Therefore, it is good if the water heater has the option of adjusting the maximum heating temperature: by setting it, say, at 55 ° C, you are guaranteed to protect the tank from scale formation.

Built-in RCD

Serves to prevent electric shock in case of water heater breakdowns. Built-in RCDs are available in many models of Ariston, Electrolux, Ballu, Polaris, Timberk and some other manufacturers.

half power

A mode that provides for the operation of the heater at half the maximum power. This option is useful, for example, in the case of using powerful (about 3 kW) water heaters that create a large load on the network.

Frost protection

A useful option for our climate. If the temperature of the water in the water heater drops below a certain limit (for example, to 6 °C in the Vaillant eloSTOR VEH basis model), automatic frost protection will immediately turn on, which will heat the water to 10 °C.

Dismantling the heating element from the bottom of the water heater.

TEN.

At the bottom of most models are the inlet (blue) and outlet pipes.

Compare options for water heaters

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Prices for water heaters, of course, are quite different, starting at 3,000 rubles and ending with an amount of almost 30,000 rubles. It remains to choose, for this we put a checkmark “compare” (under the picture of the model), and on the right side we can then go to the comparison page.

We consistently remove everything that does not fit, leave a couple of boilers, in case the selected model cannot be found in stores.

click on the picture to enlarge

Since at the first purchase there is still a chance of making a non-optimal choice, I personally prefer to buy a cheap model first.

So you can see what is missing, what is not convenient, and after a while, replace it with a more suitable option. After all, if you buy an expensive water heater, understand that it does not suit you and eventually change it to a new one, it is very expensive.

As you can see, choosing a water heater is not such a difficult process.

It remains to buy the model you like in one of the stores, and if not, then order it.

The subtleties of choosing a flowing electric water heater

The flow boiler heats the water immediately after it is turned on. It features excellent performance. Such a device heats water in unlimited volumes to a temperature of about + 60 °. The essence of his work is simple. Cold water is supplied to the boiler, where there is a heating element (usually made of copper), which has a high power - from 3–4 to 20–24 kW. At the exit we get hot water.

Everything is simple. But if you decide to install a flow boiler at home, you should immediately replace the electric meter and wiring. The load on them will be high, old equipment may simply not withstand such power. It is also worth taking care of connecting a good circuit breaker.

Instantaneous electric water heater

The flow heater is mounted, as a rule, for one draw-off point. It is installed on the kitchen faucet, where you wash the dishes, or in the bathroom for a shower. If there is a desire to connect many points of water analysis to one device, it is necessary to purchase a unit with a maximum power (16–24 kW).A less powerful device will not be able to heat water for several taps to a comfortable temperature.

For a house or apartment with single-phase sockets (for 220 V), it is better to purchase a modest heating unit. Take a boiler with a power of no more than 8 kW. If the dwelling is equipped with sockets for 380-volt voltage (houses with electric stoves), heaters of higher power can be installed.

As you can see, choosing the right instantaneous water heater is not difficult at all.

It is only important to take into account the technical potential of the electrical wiring in the apartment and determine the volume of hot water that you plan to consume.

And one moment. Electric boilers differ in installation technology. They are:

• Non-pressure. Such units are mounted next to the tapping point.
• Pressure. These devices are installed directly in the water pipe.

In apartments, it is better to mount pressure units, and non-pressure units are more suitable for a private house.

Popular water heater manufacturers

All those companies that are familiar to us from large household appliances are engaged in the production of water heaters. In particular, Ariston products can be found on the shelves of specialized stores. Such water heaters are inexpensive and meet the basic requirements. Their only drawback is the lack of fasteners in the kit, which must be bought at some hardware store.

The Swedish giant Electrolux also produces not the most expensive equipment. At least this applies to models that use gas as an energy source. Electric copies are much more expensive, but they have the support of a huge number of modern technologies.If you buy a Swedish water heater, you will be using it successfully for many years.

Models from Bosch are considered no less reliable - it’s not without reason that they also ask for a lot of money. A rare buyer complains about a water heater manufactured by a German company. Also positive reviews deserve devices created by Thermex, Drazice and Gorenje. However, their water heaters may include a tank made of short-lived material.

Therefore, in this case, close attention should be paid to the corresponding item in the technical specifications.

You can read more about manufacturers of water heaters in our separate article.

Efficiency of using instantaneous water heater

Flowing water heaters are more compact. They can be installed anywhere and can be easily dismantled if necessary. Residents of apartments prefer flow heaters precisely because they take up little space.

However, there is a hidden danger here. Unlike the storage device, the instantaneous water heater has a high power from 3 to 24 kW. This means that additional security measures are required during its installation. Such as: installation of an additional machine, and, if necessary, the replacement of electrical wiring.

The principle of operation of the flow device also consists in heating the heating element. But here more powerful heating elements are used than in boilers. Water, passing through the heat exchanger, heats up quickly (from 30 s to 1-2 minutes, depending on the model), so appliances are often installed in kitchens and summer cottages.

Instantaneous water heaters take up little space and are quite efficient. The only drawback of the device is a significant consumption of electricity.

Ariston has the largest number of sales of water heaters in Russia

Which company's storage water heater is better to choose

Before deciding which storage water heater is the best in terms of operational and functional parameters, experts suggest getting acquainted with reliable, time-tested manufacturers. This will significantly narrow the search circle, filtering out unnecessary brands and firms.

In 2019, numerous tests, ratings and reviews confirmed that the best boiler brands are:

• Timberk is a well-known Swedish company specializing in climate technology, including water heaters. The prices are much lower than competitive brands because the factories are located in China, which reduces the cost. There are many patented projects, and the main sales take place on the market of the CIS countries.
• Thermex is a large international corporation that produces a huge number of different modifications of electric water heaters. They differ in capacity, type of heating, power, purpose. Innovations are constantly introduced, there is also its own scientific laboratory.
• Edisson is an English brand, which is produced in Russia. Boilers are presented mainly in the middle price category. Simple structure, easy control system, different volumes, long service life, these are not all the characteristics of our products.
• Zanussi is the leader of many competitions and ratings, an Italian brand with a big name. The range of production of household appliances has been significantly expanded in cooperation with the Electrolux concern.Today, flow-through, storage boilers are in demand all over the world due to good performance, interesting design, economy and the introduction of new technologies.
• Ariston is a well-known Italian company that annually supplies products to 150 countries around the world. Russia also receives boiler models with different volumes and degrees of efficiency on the market. Good thermal insulation of each unit ensures its efficiency and long service life.
• Haier is a Chinese company that offers a variety of products at affordable prices. For more than 10 years, its devices have been supplied to the Russian market, ranging from compact budget models to large multifunctional devices.
• Atlantic is a French company producing towel warmers, heaters, water heaters. Its history began with the formation of a family business in 1968. Today, it owns a 50% share of the market and a place in the TOP-4 in terms of sales in the Russian Federation. The company has 23 factories around the world. The key advantages of the brand's devices are the minimum need for maintenance, energy efficiency, comfortable use, and a long warranty period.
• Ballu is an international industrial concern developing innovative household appliances. The company has more than 40 patents of its own, thanks to which it is possible to regularly release new high-tech equipment.
• Hyundai is an automotive company from South Korea that simultaneously produces household and industrial appliances for different purposes. The range includes gas and flow types of boilers, models from different metals, a wide range of capacity parameters.
• Gorenje is one of the world's leading manufacturers of household appliances with many years of service life. The European brand serves the markets of more than 90 countries of the world, the boilers are distinguished by their round shape, stylish design, moderate size, and a wide range of models.
• Stiebel Eltron - The German company offers premium series boilers. Today the corporation is scattered all over the world. When developing new models, the emphasis is on economy, safety, efficiency and convenience of technology.