Instantaneous electric shower water heater: types, tips for choosing and an overview of the best manufacturers

How to protect the heating element from scale

Each device is equipped with a heating element. In accumulative type equipment, it can be located vertically, which ensures rapid heating. The volume of warm liquid will be small. A horizontally located heating element requires more time to heat up, but the water warms up much better. The flow units are provided with a spiral element.The liquid moves in its direction and simultaneously heats up. A compact activator is built into such a system, which processes the mechanism with a magnet. Thus, the formation of deposits on the heating element is prevented.

A heating element in scale consumes a quarter more energy than a clean one.

This is important if the water in the dacha cooperative is of poor quality. Before choosing a storage water heater for a summer residence, you need to know how its heating elements are cleaned.

The algorithm of actions is as follows:

• Get TEN.
• Remove the layer of wet scale with a metal brush.
• Go through with sandpaper.
• Place the spiral in a 20% solution of acetic acid.
• Get it in half an hour.
• Clean tank.
• Install the heating element back.

A wide range of filters from our online store will help you with this.

Pressure or non-pressure type of water supply?

The vast majority of flow heaters are made in a non-pressure version. They connect directly to the faucet and often have a shower head. Such heaters can serve only one point of water intake. Their advantage is in small size, weight and price. On average, a non-pressure instantaneous water heater with a capacity of 3–6 kW costs about 2,000–4,000 rubles. For example, you can take a good inexpensive heater Electrolux Smartfix 2.0 3.5 FS with a shower head.

Pressure instantaneous water heaters can be connected directly to the water supply and withstand pressures up to 10 bar. Their advantage is the ability to serve several water points. But, as a rule, such devices are very powerful, and the price for them is very high.

Consumer indicators

Modern instantaneous water heaters are safe devices that can provide reliable and efficient water heating. When choosing a device, it must be understood that its effectiveness depends not only on the parameters set by the manufacturer, but also on the inlet water temperature. This can be seen from the formula discussed above. The smaller the difference (T₁ — T₂), the faster the outlet temperature rises. This results in two useful consequences that increase the service life: energy is saved and the process of scale formation slows down.

The durability of flow heaters directly depends on the characteristics of the heating element and the flask in which it is placed; The following parameters affect the operating time:

• Closed (dry) heating elements work more reliably than open (wet) ones.
• Plastic flasks have a lower thermal conductivity and are less reliable than metal flasks. Among metal flasks, stainless steel products are of particular quality, and copper products are the most effective.

Thermocrane device

If you value reliability, give preference to heating elements with ceramic coating; they are famous for their durability and fast heating of water.

High-quality modifications are distinguished by a multi-level protection system, which contains the following components:

• Automatic shutdown. If the water supply stops in the system or the pressure changes (in either direction), the shutdown system comes into action and the heater stops working.
• Reliable isolation. The waterproof protective cover excludes contact of electric elements with water. The device is also reliably protected from mechanical damage.
• Surge protection.The RCD built into the faucet reacts to a sharp increase in voltage in the network and turns off the water heater, preventing its damage.
• Water temperature control. The sensor maintains the set temperature, if necessary turning on or off the heating element. Thanks to the operation of this device, water of the desired temperature is supplied uninterruptedly, and its overheating is not allowed.

Video description

About installing a flow heater in the following video:

Most instantaneous shower water heaters allow you to heat water up to 40-50°C. If you want to regulate the temperature as you wish, you should take a closer look at technological models that have several heating modes and multi-stage protection. Temperature control can be implemented in several ways:

• Classic adjustment. Available in the most budget design - you just turn the handle.
• Separate adjustment. One handle of the device controls the force of pressure, and the other controls the temperature, sharing allows you to achieve a jet with optimal parameters.
• Electronic control. Such heaters are equipped with a two-color touch display and liquid crystal controls; they provide any heating modes. The display screen reflects the set temperature value and changes color depending on the selected mode. An electronic device monitors any changes in the water supply and reliably protects against unexpected cold showers; minus - the cost of a heater with such a device is quite high.

Model with electronic control

Conclusion

An electric instantaneous water heater is a small but extremely useful device that finds many uses in conditions where hot water is needed in a limited amount and not constantly. Compact and reliable device instantly heat enough waterto wash dishes or take a shower after a tiring day at work. In order not to be disappointed in the purchase, you should first determine the requirements for the heating device and evaluate the offers of various manufacturers. Water heaters of various brands are provided with a general guarantee of one to three years; Heating elements are usually provided with a separate guarantee of up to eight years.

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.

Provision of a country house with hot water

Solving problems with hot water in a country house, many owners opt for an electric flow-type boiler. With it, you can take a comfortable shower at any time. For the correct choice of such a device, you must first familiarize yourself with the advantages and disadvantages of these installations.

If the owner does not live in the summer cottage permanently, but comes there only in the summer season, then in this case a low-power flow heater will be quite enough.However, some people live in the country all the time, and they need a lot of hot water every day. To solve this problem, it is necessary to allocate a separate room for the boiler room, which must be equipped accordingly.

When choosing a water heater model, first of all, attention should be paid to dual-circuit systems for connecting water heaters, which complement devices that run on solid or diesel fuel. They are more efficient, durable and economical in operation.

Having completed the high-quality installation of all equipment, you can operate it without knowing the problems and get hot water. Regular maintenance of the installations is sufficient to ensure a long service life. In this case, the owner can use a heating tank with indirect heating to heat water.

If it is necessary to provide the house with hot water and heat, then the best solution in this case is not a standard instantaneous water heater with a shower, but a boiler that uses wood as fuel. It is located in a separate building.

Flow systems have many advantages. One of them is economy. They can also use not only solid fuels, but also other types: coal, briquettes. If the house is located in an area where it is possible to purchase firewood at a low cost, then such installations will be the best solution. Using them, you can provide heat in your home, regardless of the weather outside. There will be no problems with hot water either.

Manufacturers, when creating solid fuel devices, manufacture them in such a way that there is no need to constantly fill the combustion chamber. Once it is necessary to lay fuel there, and then the necessary temperature regime will be provided by means of an automatic system. Sensors are used to control it. At the same time, such equipment works quite economically, which allows the owner to reduce fuel costs.

You should choose such devices, focusing on the needs of the family for hot water. Depending on the water consumption, it is necessary to choose water heaters with a tank of the required volume.

Although there are a wide variety of diesel fuel boilers on the market, they have not yet become widespread among private homeowners. But on the European continent they are used in private homes. Their main advantage is that there is no need to load fuel frequently. By means of automation, it is ensured that it enters the boiler for a long time. Moreover, the user has the opportunity to adjust the necessary temperature indicators.

The advantage of such installations is that they can be switched from diesel to gas consumption. Connecting such equipment is a simple task.

When choosing, you need to pay attention to the capacity of the tank, which should be selected depending on the water consumption in the family. There are also disadvantages of such equipment.

Among them, the complexity of installation work and the high cost of such equipment.

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 a flexible hose or a water pipe outlet. They supply one point with heated water, have relatively small capacities (3-7 kW) and low cost. They exist in different forms:

• in the form of a separate device (most often a rectangular plastic box), which is fixed next to the sink or shower;
• tap attachments;

• faucet with electric water heating.

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 the existing water supply system through a pipe break. They cut in with a tee, which is installed before the first branch. Shut-off ball valves are installed at the inlet of cold and hot water. 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.

Connecting the system electric instantaneous water heater to the water supply

The quality of tap water leaves much to be desired and it is better to embed the heater 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 a 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.

How to connect a non-pressure heater 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.

Nozzle for hot water tap Polaris SMART P 5.5

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. In addition, taps 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 device 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 an instantaneous 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.

Connecting the instantaneous water heater to electricity

The connection itself can be made through a three-prong 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.

They pull the power line with a copper wire (mono-wire):

• 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 the technical specifications). 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 here.

How to choose and what to look for?

There are several important criteria for choosing an instantaneous electric heater. The most important of them are listed below.

Performance and Power Ratings

Power is the most important parameter on which the possibility of obtaining a certain volume of heated water in a certain unit of time will depend.

If residents need to take a shower or cook food quickly, a low-power appliance will suffice, which will heat three to five liters of water in one minute.After 20 seconds, the water will start to warm up.

If the family is large and has significant needs, heater models with higher power should be preferred.

The purpose of the water heater is usually indicated in the instructions for the device. Devices whose power does not exceed 8 kW are convenient to use in the country, where constant heating is not needed.

NOTE!
The water temperature of 50 degrees is quite sufficient for taking a shower or washing a small amount of dishes.

If there is a need for the constant availability of a large amount of heated water, the device must be more powerful - from 20 kW and above. In addition, it is worth considering the number of water points in the house or apartment.

If the bathroom and kitchen sink are located next to each other, one medium power heater will suffice.

If such zones are far from each other, you will need to purchase a pair of low-power water heaters, or one powerful pressure apparatus.

Modes of operation and control

The design of an instantaneous water heater is quite simple, but such devices also have their own classification:

1. Hydraulic.
2. Electronic.

The hydraulic type of control is also called mechanical. They are equipped with most inexpensive models. More often than others, there is a step switch, and the most budgetary water heaters may not have the ability to adjust the water pressure or temperature at all.

The principle of hydraulic control is that during the operation of the device, it is possible to set the rod in motion with the help of levers or buttons.

This part of the structure will change the force of water pressure, as a result of which its temperature will also change.The main disadvantage is that the degree of temperature control in models with a mechanical type of control is not very accurate. If the water pressure is low, the water heater may not turn on at all.

The electronic control system allows you to control the water pressure and the degree of its heating much more accurately. Such water heaters are equipped with built-in sensors and microprocessors that are sensitive to pressure changes and temperature changes in the line.

This allows you to change the current settings to those that will fully correspond to the mode that the user selects.

IMPORTANT!
In the latest models of devices, there is also a power saving function.

If the water heating device will serve only one zone of water intake, for example, a sink or shower, you can purchase a more budgetary mechanical model that can be configured at any time.

If you plan that the purchased water heater will serve several points at the same time, you should prefer a device with an electronic control unit.

Determination of the required power

Next, the required capacity of the water heater is determined in order to provide the required amount of hot water.

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 the volume of running water heated by it 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 water intake points, then the power is determined by the point with the highest water consumption.

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

Electric shower water heater

The choice of a water heater for a shower between a flow-through and storage type of device is not always unambiguous. Each of them has its pros and cons, and the solution in most cases depends on the capacity of the power supply system.

Advantages of flow type devices

The first advantage of the flow device is the significantly smaller dimensions. Placing it in the shower room and installing it yourself does not cause problems, while finding a place for a massive tank of a storage water heater and its installation create noticeable difficulties.

The second advantage is the significantly lower cost of a domestic instantaneous water heater designed for a single point of consumption. Depending on the configuration and brand, the price range of such devices is 1,700 - 8,000 rubles, while the price of a simple storage water heater with a tank capacity of 30 liters or more starts at 5,000 rubles.

Maintenance and repair of storage devices must be carried out more often, and it is more expensive. In addition, not every consumer can carry out their independent installation and connection, which incurs additional costs for paying for specialist services.

When using a storage water heater, the number of people must be taken into account when calculating the volume of the tank. However, in the event of the arrival of guests, it may not be enough. The flow analogue is devoid of such a drawback.

The problem of providing electricity

The only significant obstacle to making a decision in favor of an instantaneous water heater is the peak load on the electrical network. It exceeds the performance of the storage device several times.

Buying an instantaneous water heater significantly increases the requirements for electrical cable. Total power of typical bathroom appliances such as washing machine (with heating element 1.5 - 3.0 kW), towel warmer (0.4 - 0.6 kW) and lighting line (0.1 - 0.25 kW ) rarely exceeds 4 kW. To provide such a voltage, a wire with a cross section of a copper core of 1.5 or 2.5 mm2 is sufficient, which is often brought to such premises.

bathroom renovation

However, the presence of a flow heater increases the maximum power consumption of the circuit section to 6-10 kW, and then the cable will already be required with a cross section of 4 or 6 mm2. This means that before installing the device it is often necessary to replace the wiring, and it is better to separate it into a separate branch to the distribution (internal) electrical panel.

The second problem after wiring can be the load on the electrical outlet. They are marked with an indication of the permissible voltage and current strength. From these data, you can calculate the maximum possible power of the connected electrical appliance without the risk of damaging the outlet:

P=I*U

Where:

• P - equipment power (Watt);
• I - current strength (Ampere);
• U - mains voltage (Volt).

Household sockets for a network with a standard voltage of 220 Volts have a permissible current strength 5, 10 and 16 amps. Therefore, devices with a maximum consumption of 1100, 2200 and 3520 watts, respectively, can be connected to them. If a higher power heater is to be used, power outlets must be installed. They have the following standard options:

• 25 amperes (power of the connected device up to 5.5 kW);
• 32 amps (up to 7.0 kW);
• 63 amps (up to 13.8 kW);
• 125 amps (up to 27.5 kW).

In case of difficulty when installing a power outlet can be connected to the terminal block of the power cable. However, this procedure should only be performed by a professional electrician, since in the case of unskilled work, overheating of the connection and a short circuit may occur. In a room with high humidity, this should not be allowed.

If the existing electrical supply of the bathroom allows the alternate use of energy-intensive devices, then you can stop at this option. To exclude, due to forgetfulness, their simultaneous inclusion, it is enough to use one socket for two devices for this.

The last problem may be the maximum connected load of an apartment or house when connected to a common energy infrastructure. For gardening and private houses with old power lines, it can be as low as 4-6 kW. Then it is possible to use a flow-type water heater only if almost all other devices are turned off. But even with a standard 15 kW of permitted power, it is necessary to calculate the peak load.

Types of water heaters

The technical component requires increased attention when choosing a device for a country house. The ability of the unit as a whole depends on this. Its performance is determined in a similar way. An extensive range allows you to choose equipment for individual living conditions in the country.

Wall and floor

The choice is determined by several parameters:

1. Space saving. For example: in a small kitchen with a furniture set, the best solution would be to hang the appliance at the level of kitchen cabinets. You can even disguise the water heater as a headset. This will free up space for the movement of family members.
2. Wall quality. The basis for attaching equipment must be solid. Hanging a water heater on a drywall wall can be downright dangerous. The choice is between free space and the consequences of material damage from breakdowns, destruction. Concrete or brick will be the best option. But the decision remains with the owner of the house, as the sole owner.
3. The volume of water consumption. Most wall-mounted water heaters have a capacity of 10 to 100 liters. Less commonly, you can find from 100 to 200 liters, floor water heaters are made in volumes from 125 to 1000 liters. Whether there is a need to become a keeper of a ton of water, if consumption is no more than 50 liters per day, everyone decides for himself.
4. Family composition. With a small area of ​​\u200b\u200bthe house, it can be inconvenient to install an additional floor heater. Small children and pets may show increased curiosity about his work, which, in turn, will cause a breakdown.
5. At the cost. The cost of wall-mounted water heaters starts from 4 thousand rubles, floor - from 20,000 rubles.

Bulk, flow and accumulative

If the country house is connected to a common automated water supply system, the liquid will flow into the broiler on its own. When this is not possible, one has to use imagination and human labor: the tank is filled manually from a well or alternative sources.

Bulk water heater

Depending on which water heaters are installed for giving without running water, they allow you to make a different supply of warm water. Bulk is larger in volume. It is convenient to install it to the country shower. The accumulative has a capacity of up to 10 liters and is suitable for an outdoor washstand or sink in the house itself.

The device of a typical water heater:

• heating element;
• tank;
• tap.

The flow mechanism is:

• small reservoir;
• shower head or faucet;
• control Panel;
• electronic temperature controller.

Installing a flow system requires good water pressure. It should be sufficient so that the water has time to heat up and at the same time go to use. Accordingly, too much pressure will lead to a drop in temperature. Weak pressure in the pipes increases the time spent on all water procedures.

Pressure and non-pressure

Both varieties perform their function equally well. They have alternative names: pressure - closed type, non-pressure - open. On average, the market provides 10 times more variety of the first. The differences are as follows:

Criterion	pressure head	Non-pressure
Delivery point	several	one
Electricity costs	high (8 kW)	moderate (1.25 kW)
Price, thousand rubles	2-300	2-15

A water heater for a summer residence can be both non-pressure and storage. This option is optimal for the gardener.Flowing open type is most often chosen for an apartment. The share of users of such equipment is a quarter of all buyers.

The non-pressure heater is mounted with special water fittings. It is completed at the factory and it is usually not possible to change some parts. For the shower there is a special nozzle that regulates the flow and temperature. The use of this kind of heaters allows:

• transport the element to the apartment for the winter;
• spend a minimum of time on maintenance;
• do not dry the air with increased heat transfer;
• do not limit the use of the tank volume.

Types of water heaters by type of energy carrier

An important parameter for choosing a water heater is the type of energy that will be used to heat the water. For installation in apartments and houses, 2 types of water heaters are usually chosen:

• electrical;
• gas.

These energy sources are the most common. Gas is not supplied to every house, but there is electricity even in remote dachas. If it is possible to supply both options, then it is necessary to analyze the pros and cons of each type of equipment.

Electric water heater

This equipment works according to the general principle with a kettle or boiler. The device is equipped with a metal heating element in the form of a tube, inside of which there is an incandescent spiral. It gets very hot, and since the heating element is surrounded by water, its temperature rises at the same time. Installation of such equipment does not require the involvement of specialized installers.If the house or apartment has a power outlet that can withstand the required voltage, then the heater can be installed on its own in one working day. Problems with connecting a cold water pipe to it can be solved by using a flexible hose, refusing the help of a plumber.

electric heater

In general, the benefits of electric water heaters include:

• ease of installation;
• no need to build a chimney;
• high security;
• low noise level;
• possibility of installation in any place;
• closing with furniture facades is allowed.

As for the shortcomings, it is one and significant - the high cost of electricity. In terms of heating 1 liter of liquid, a larger amount of electricity is used than for burning gas.

Gas water heater

This equipment is the most profitable in financial terms. However, this advantage comes with a number of disadvantages:

• the need to attract professional installers;
• the construction of a chimney will be required;
• before installation, you need to improve the ventilation system.

Gas water heater

Gas appliances are much louder than electric ones. During its operation, it will be necessary to periodically carry out maintenance, in particular, cleaning the chimney. Since oxygen from the room is burned to provide heating, the air in the apartment and house quickly becomes stale. In the absence of normal ventilation, it will be necessary to periodically open the windows. Often in the apartment geyser is installed in the kitchen, since only there are the necessary communications for its connection. The operating rules prohibit hiding it in lockers, so the idyll of the interior is violated.When installing a gas heater, you need to be prepared for periodic inspections by regulatory authorities.