An electric boiler for home heating is the best alternative to gas equipment. Rather low requirements are associated with its installation, which allow installation even in multi-apartment buildings. With such a choice, an important question arises before a person: "How to choose an electric heating boiler, as well as how to install it in the future?"
Highlights
First of all, you should pay attention to several basic characteristics, in particular: the number of circuits, power, type of heating of the heat carrier, methods of interfacing with the electrical network. Using these criteria, you can quite accurately determine the appropriate model of the device, which will best meet the needs of the owners and the technical parameters of their home.
Boiler outlines
If we talk about how to chooseelectric heating boiler, the first important criterion is the number of circuits. The purpose for which the equipment is intended will also depend on this parameter. Double-circuit units have the ability to produce simultaneous heating of water and coolant. The use of such equipment eliminates the need to install columns, boilers and other equipment. When choosing electric water heating boilers, you should pay attention to some points. The main thing here is the principle of heating water. There are models that are capable of heating water for domestic needs in a flowing way. These devices are distinguished by their cost-effectiveness and advantageous installation in private homes. The water temperature here largely depends on a number of factors: water pressure, heating time, number of open taps, and others. The best solution would be to install electric heating boilers of the electric type. After heating, the water enters a special reservoir surrounded by a layer of thermal insulation. In this situation, the equipment works like a traditional boiler, allowing access to hot water at all times.
Heating element
Double-circuit boilers for heating and hot water can belong to the inverter or electrode type, as well as heat the coolant through a heating element. Depending on which heating element is selected in a particular model, the efficiency of the equipment during operation, as well as its cost and other performance characteristics will depend.
How fast does water heat up?
Equipment of storage type assumes that the time of water heating is directly dependent on the total volume of the tank that is installed there. It turns out that it takes about 20 minutes to heat a tank with a volume of 40 liters. When choosing a flow-through heating boiler, it all depends on what capacity it is characterized by, that is, what is the rate of water heating in it. For a small family, it is enough that the output is 6-8 liters per minute.
There can be two versions of hot water electric heating boilers: wall or floor. Some models, whose power is not so high, have the ability to connect to a conventional power supply.
Single-circuit boilers
An electric boiler heating system may contain a single-circuit device. In comparison with double-circuit units, these devices are not focused on the preparation of hot water, so the main selection criteria differ here. Boilers with one circuit can be connected to a conventional electrical network, that is, single-phase, and three-phase. For the latter, a special permit will be required to increase energy consumption and conduct a separate branch into the house. If you install a three-phase electric heating boiler, the reviews in this case indicate the need to spend 500-800 dollars to complete all permits.
Home appliances of low productivity are used in theiroperation of heating elements for electric boilers, and equipment of higher power can use an induction coil or special electrodes. In some types of heating equipment, it is not possible to use ordinary water as a working fluid. If you heat the house with an electric boiler, the reviews say that in this case it is preferable to use antifreeze with special characteristics. Typically, single-circuit units are presented in a complete set, so they do not require the installation of any additional equipment. More convenience is provided by purchasing a model that can be controlled remotely. The power of single-circuit boilers is traditionally greater than that of double-circuit boilers, since there is no need to spend electrical energy on heating water.
Flowing equipment
If you continue to consider the question of how to choose an electric heating boiler, then you need to consider another option, namely flow-type equipment. In this case, the heat carrier is heated by passing the heat carrier through a special container where the heating element is located. Such boilers are equipped with automation that prevents overheating of the coolant if the circulation is turned off or air is formed in the system. In this case, the answer to the question of how to choose an electric heating boiler will be the optimal ratio for parameters such as:
- Automation, which can be built-in or mounted. The first option is focused on use in wall versions, and the second - in floorequipment.
- Functionality. The choice of the unit must necessarily be made taking into account the possibilities of its installation in a cascade connection scheme, equipping with thermostats, as well as the possibilities for using a programmer device.
- Complete set. The standard set involves the use of a boiler with a pump and an expansion tank, and all additional equipment is replaced according to the individual requests of the owners.
- Power. The optimal formula for calculating the required capacity is the following: there must be a margin of at least 10% of the required capacity if the boiler model has two circuits.
Several general requirements apply to all models of flow boilers: power, method of connecting to the electrical network, type of heating of the heat carrier, as well as the number of circuits. These criteria have the most significant influence on the choice.
Power characteristic
Understanding the question of how to choose an electric heating boiler, you need to determine its power. For this, the area of \u200b\u200bthe room serves as a guide. It is not so difficult to perform such calculations correctly. For these purposes, there are special calculators that are located on the websites of stores that sell this type of equipment. This will take into account not only the area, but also the height of the ceilings, the number of window and door openings, forced and natural ventilation, the thermal insulation properties of the walls, as well as the region of residence. Another option is to useinstructions. For the convenience of consumers, manufacturers of most electric boilers give two coefficients. One of them is a characteristic of the amount of thermal energy received, and the second is the total heated area. These parameters will be quite enough to choose an electric heating boiler in terms of power, reviews of which will seem to you the most attractive. It is quite possible to calculate it yourself using a fairly simple formula:
W=Sa W ud. / 10 m², where S indicates the total area of \u200b\u200bthe room, and W sp. - to specific power, the value of which depends on the region of residence.
Another requirement is to add another 10% for hot water if it is a double-circuit boiler.
Single-phase equipment
In this category, heating boilers operating from a 220V network can be distinguished. Their connection is carried out through a conventional power supply branch. Since the amount of energy consumption increases markedly, it is quite possible that a permit will be required for this. Single-phase heating electrical equipment has several characteristic features:
- operation from a normal power supply network;
- according to the principle of operation, it does not have any special differences from some other heating equipment.
If you are interested in a single-phase electric heating boiler, reviews of which indicate its highest performance, then usually such devices are characterized by a power of 6-12 kilowatts, and thisenough to heat an apartment for 2-3 rooms. In most of the presented single-phase models, the principle of indirect heating is used, where a heating element is used as a heat source. The installation of single-phase electric heating boilers does not require any permission, as this equipment is regarded as the same type as boilers.
Three-phase boilers
If the water heater is characterized by a power of more than 12 kilowatts, then it already works from a three-phase electrical network. These are productive, compact and silent models. Basically, the release of such devices is carried out in two types:
- Electrode. In this case, the process of heating the coolant is carried out by applying an electric current directly to the coolant. Three-phase equipment in this regard has a significant advantage: the liquid heats up as quickly as possible. The three-phase boiler can be installed in closed systems with forced circulation.
- Induction. In this case, the generated magnetic field is responsible for heating. The core of the boiler is made in the form of a copper winding, similar to a transformer. This type of equipment functions by converting currents - direct and alternating. The disadvantages of such boilers include significant weight and high cost. However, three-phase models have the lowest rates of electrical energy consumption, and that is why these are quite popular electric heating boilers. How to choose such equipment becomes clear if you use the previously writtenformula.
To connect a three-phase boiler, a separate branch with a voltage of 380 V is required. If you live in the private sector, then obtaining permission for this will not be difficult. It is more difficult to issue documents for the re-equipment of the apartment and the installation of a separate voltage branch into it. Although this is an economical electric heating boiler, only professional electricians can install it. You will not be able to do all the necessary work yourself.
Manufacturers and brands
The market for modern water-heating equipment offers boilers of domestic and foreign production. When choosing a particular brand, it is imperative to pay attention to the quality assurance and functionality of the device. We can recommend several manufacturing countries whose equipment is of high quality and excellent performance.
European brands
Germany has become a leader in the production of equipment such as electric heating boilers. You can install most single-phase models from this country with your own hands. This equipment is of the highest quality guaranteed by the manufacturers. In this case, only one point can be singled out as a disadvantage - the high cost of devices. The main German concerns are the following: Wespe Heizung, Bosch and Protherm.
The Czech Republic supplies the market with the same quality equipment as Germany, but at the same time its advantage is a lowerprice. Most of the heating equipment in this case is provided by Dakon, and the rest of the manufacturers are not so well known.
Russian manufacturers
Russia produces high quality equipment. Boilers do not have any frills in terms of functional additions, with the exception of models equipped with Protherm, Dakon and others automation. In this case, it is possible to produce affordable electric heating boilers. How to choose any of them has already been described earlier.
Conclusions
The final choice should be based not only on the brand and the country in which the equipment is made, but also on the fact that there is an official service center nearby. In this case, it will be much easier to operate an electric heating boiler. It is not recommended to repair it with your own hands.
