An electric boiler for heating a house is the most optimal alternative to gas equipment. Its installation is associated with rather low requirements, which allow installation even in multi-apartment buildings. With this choice, the person faces an important question: "How to choose an electric heating boiler , as well as how to install it in the future?"
Highlights
First of all, it is worth paying attention to several basic characteristics, in particular: the number of circuits, power, type of heating of the heat carrier, methods of interfacing with the electric network. Using these criteria, you can quite accurately determine the appropriate model of the device, which will maximally correspond to the requests of the owners and the technical parameters of their home.
Boiler circuits
If we talk about how to choose an electric heating boiler, the first important criterion is the number of circuits. The purpose for which the equipment is intended will depend on this parameter. Bypass units have the ability to produce simultaneous heating of water and coolant. The use of such equipment eliminates the need to install speakers, boilers and other equipment. Choosing electric water heating boilers, you should pay attention to some points. The main thing here is the principle of heating water. There are such models that are capable of producing water heating for domestic needs by the flowing method. These devices are notable for their cost-effectiveness and installation profitability 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 boilers of electric type heating. After heating, water enters a special tank surrounded by a layer of thermal insulation. In this situation, the equipment works on the principle of a traditional boiler, allowing you to access hot water constantly.
Heating element
Double-circuit boilers for heating and domestic hot water can belong to the inverter or electrode type, as well as produce heating medium through the 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 operational characteristics, will depend.
How fast does the water heat up?
Accumulative type equipment assumes that the water heating time 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 40 liter tank. When choosing a flow-through heating boiler, it all depends on what capacity it is characterized by, that is, what is the rate of heating the water in it. For a small family, it is enough that the output is 6-8 liters per minute.
There are two options for the execution of electric electric water heating boilers: wall or floor. Some models, whose power is not so high, have the ability to connect to a conventional power supply network.
Single-circuit boilers
The electric boiler heating system may contain a single-circuit device. In comparison with dual-circuit units, these devices are not oriented to the preparation of hot water, therefore, the main selection criteria differ here. Boilers with one circuit can be connected to an ordinary, that is, single-phase, and three-phase electric network. For the latter, special permission will be required to increase energy consumption and to 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 on the preparation of all permits.
Small-capacity household appliances use electric heating elements in their work, 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, reviews say that in this case it is preferable to use antifreeze with special characteristics. Usually single-circuit units are presented in a complete set, so they do not require the installation of any additional equipment. Greater convenience is provided when buying a model that can be controlled remotely. The power of single-circuit boilers is traditionally greater than double-circuit ones, since there is no need to spend electric energy on heating water.
Flow 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 due to the passage of the heat carrier through a special container where the heating element is located. Such boilers are equipped with automation that prevents the coolant from overheating if the circulation is turned off or air is generated in the system. In this case, the answer to the question of how to choose an electric heating boiler will be in the optimal ratio for such parameters as:
- Automation, which is built-in or mounted. The first option is focused on use in wall versions, and the second - in floor equipment.
- Functionality. The selection of the unit must be made taking into account the possibilities of its installation with a cascade connection scheme, equipping with thermostats, as well as the possibilities for using the programmer device.
- Equipment. The standard set involves the use of a boiler with a pump and an expansion tank, and all additional equipment is replaced at the individual request of the owners.
- Power. The optimal formula for calculating the required productivity is as follows: there must be a margin of at least 10% of the required power if the boiler model has two circuits.
Several general requirements apply to all models of flowing boilers: power, method of connection to the electric network, type of heating of the heat carrier, as well as the number of circuits. These criteria have the most significant effect on choice.
Power characteristic
Understanding the question of how to choose an electric heating boiler, it is necessary to determine its power. For this, the reference is the area of the room. Performing such calculations correctly is not so difficult. 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, thermal insulation properties of the walls, as well as the region of residence. Another option is to use instructions. For the convenience of consumers, manufacturers of most electric boilers give two factors. One of them is a characteristic of the amount of received thermal energy, and the second - the total heated area. These parameters will be quite enough to select the electric heating boiler for power, the reviews about which will seem to you the most attractive. It is quite possible to independently calculate, using a fairly simple formula:
W = S * and W beats / 10 m², where S indicates the total area of the room, and W beats. - specific power, the value of which depends on the region of residence.
Another requirement is the addition of another 10% for domestic hot water, if we are talking about 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. As the amount of energy consumed increases markedly, it is entirely possible that permission will be required. Single-phase heating electrical equipment has several characteristic features:
- work from a conventional power supply network;
- according to the principle of work, it has no special differences from any other heating equipment.
If you are interested in a single-phase electric heating boiler, reviews of which speak of its highest performance, then usually such devices are characterized by a power of 6-12 kilowatts, and this is enough to heat an apartment for 2-3 rooms. Most of the single-phase models presented use the principle of indirect heating, where ten is used as a heat source. Installation of single-phase electric heating boilers does not require any permission, as this equipment is regarded as the same type with boilers.
Three phase boilers
If the water heater is characterized by a power of more than 12 kilowatts, then it works already from a three-phase electric network. These are productive, compact and silent models. Basically, the production 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 has a significant advantage in this regard: the liquid heats up as quickly as possible. 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 operates by converting currents - DC and AC. The disadvantages of such boilers can be called significant weight and high cost. However, three-phase models have the lowest rates of electric energy consumption, and that is why these are quite popular electric heating boilers. How to choose such equipment, it becomes clear if you use the previously written formula.
To connect a three-phase boiler, a separate branch with a voltage of 380 V is required. If you live in the private sector, obtaining a permit for this will not be difficult. It is more difficult to draw up documents for the re-equipment of the apartment and the holding 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 of modern water-heating equipment offers boilers of domestic and foreign production. When choosing a particular brand, it is necessary 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 an electric heating boiler. With your own hands you can install most of the single-phase models from this country. This equipment is of the highest quality guaranteed by the manufacturers. In this case, only one point can be singled out as a drawback - the high cost of the devices. The main German concerns include 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 lower cost. Most of the heating equipment in this case is represented by Dakon, and the rest of the manufacturers are not so famous.
Russian manufacturers
Russia produces high quality equipment. Boilers do not have any frills in terms of functional additions, except for 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 previously.
conclusions
The final choice should be based not only on the brand and country in which the equipment is manufactured, but also on the fact that there is an official service center nearby. In this case, it will be much easier to operate the electric heating boiler. Do it yourself is not recommended to repair it.