Electric instantaneous water heaters for a shower: an overview of the types

If you do not have a constant hot water supply, or there are often interruptions in the supply of water, then you can use an instantaneous water heater to solve the problem. The unit is easily connected to the network and water supply system. But before purchasing and connecting it, you need to familiarize yourself in more detail with the features of this device.

Modern water heaters can be instantaneous and storage.

They may differ:

• power;
• dimensions;
• performance level;
• price

When operating storage models, energy is spent over time. Then it is needed to keep the temperature within a certain range. When using flow-through units, energy is consumed quickly, because water is heated instantly. It must be understood that the same amount of electricity is required to heat water per degree Celsius.

Each type of electric heater has its own advantages and disadvantages. It should be noted that energy is consumed in approximately the same amount. The only difference is the period of time during which the same volume of water is heated by the device. When the flow technology is working, the heating element turns on automatically.

The advantages of flow-through equipment include the fact that the models allow you to save free space in the bathroom. They are compact in size, which is an important difference from storage equipment.

It also saves time. You can heat up the water quickly enough to wash. For example, to get ten liters of hot water, you need to use the storage heater for half an hour. Accordingly, it will take approximately five hours to obtain one hundred liters. At the same time, using a flow-through system, you will receive the same volume of water instantly, since you just need to turn on the tap. This is the most important advantage of this technique.

Among other things, flow-through units rarely require repair. The fact is that they are not subject to corrosion, since scale does not accumulate inside. This equipment is practically maintenance-free. Despite the fact that, during operation, an electric leakage system will consume a limiting amount of electricity, the total cost will be less than that of storage equipment, which takes a long time to heat water and maintain the temperature at a stable level.

If we talk about the disadvantages inherent in flow-through heaters, then one cannot fail to note the fact that when using it, several water points cannot be provided. Water heats up to no more than 40 degrees. The operation of this equipment requires a high, stable pressure in the water supply system. An important requirement for the operation of the system is the presence of a stable voltage in the network, at least 220 volts.

Each device that works on flow-through water heating technology uses the same principle.A cold stream of water flows through the housing, which houses a special piece. It provides heating of the water. After turning on the tap, the pressure switch is triggered. For a short time, the water heats up to a level that you set yourself using the regulator.

In addition, the device has a breaker that cuts off the electric current when the temperature reaches a critical value. By means of a pressure stabilizer, which is also equipped with the device, the system is protected from pressure changes.

There are differences between the models of flow heaters, they are due to:

• device control device;
• type of heating element;
• peculiarities of work.

To turn on and off the heating and maintain a given level, a control system can be used, which can be mechanical or electronic. In the case of a mechanical system, the heater is equipped with a hydraulic unit. It has a membrane that moves after the flow of water by moving a special lever. At the same time, if water is supplied with a small pressure, the membrane does not react, and the device does not work.

The advantage of the electronic system is that it works at any pressure. The water is necessarily heated to the set temperature. Electronics allows for energy savings.

The heating element is the main component of all equipment. It can be open and closed. The first option is a spiral, the second is a heating element. Open parts are made in the form of a plastic body with plastic tubes, and the wire spiral is located inside these tubes. Electricity, passing in a spiral, heats the thinnest layer of water that washes it.

The advantage of closed elements is their increased fire safety. They are found inside brass or copper cones. In this case, there is no direct contact of the element with water.

The devices can operate using pressure and non-pressure technology. In the case of pressure equipment, the water is constantly under pressure from the water supply network.

Non-pressure models are weaker in power, they are designed to work with one crane. The device has an internal pressure comparable to atmospheric pressure. Where water enters, the device is equipped with a tap that regulates the strong pressure. Then the water flows out through the outlet. These models necessarily work with a shower head, a special mixer.

This mixer has pipes through which water:

• enters the mixer;
• is fed in the direction of the heater.

In addition, there is a tube connecting the device to the mixer outlet.

A very popular model of pressure equipment is a device Thermex System 800... You can buy it for 3330 rubles. The device is equipped with mechanical control, the power indicator is eight kilowatts, the dimensions of the model are 27 * 170 * 95 millimeters. The main advantage is the low cost of the unit. The disadvantages include not the highest build quality.

In the event that you are interested in purchasing a more powerful device, then consider the equipment from the manufacturer Siebel... For example, the model Eltron DHC-E 12... It costs from 25 to 26 thousand. The performance indicator of the device is 5 l / min.

The device is equipped with a mechanical control, it consumes ten kilowatts during operation, has dimensions of 200 * 360 * 104 mm. An important advantage of this model is the built-in overheating protection. The disadvantage is the high price.

Non-pressure devices work on the same principle as pressure ones, but they are equipped with a special mixer. It is necessary to shut off the water at the entrance. During operation, the mixer discharges excess water. There are many models on the market from various companies.It is necessary to consider all the pros and cons that they have.

One of the options for budget technology is the model Timberk WHE 3.5 XTR H1, the cost of which does not exceed 2.5 thousand rubles. The heater is equipped with a mechanical control system, it consumes 3.5 kilowatts during operation, and has dimensions of 124 * 210 * 82 mm. The performance indicator is 2.45 liters per minute, and the weight of the device is only 0.8 kilos. The advantages, in addition to the low price, include the presence of an overheating protection system. The disadvantage is not the highest performance of the device.

A good gravity heater that can be found on the market is a model from Electrolux NP4 Aquatronic... This technique costs just over five thousand rubles. The power consumption indicator is four kilowatts, the device has dimensions of 191 * 141 * 85 millimeters.

The device, which weighs 1.42 kilograms, heats two liters of water in a minute. Compact size, low price with good quality can be considered the indisputable advantages of this model. The disadvantages include not the highest power of the unit.

Inexpensive equipment that can be used in apartments includes the model Atmor Basic 5... The unit is cheaper than two thousand rubles, it works with mechanical control. The power consumption indicator is five kilowatts, the model heats three liters of water per minute.

The device is completed with a shower head, a hose, a plug for an outlet. The advantages include the low price of the equipment, its compact size. The downside is the insufficient length of the hose.

You can also highlight water heating boilers with a display Electrolux and Alvin... This filling version is of high quality.

A huge number of models of heaters operating on flow-through technology are presented on the modern market. When choosing, you need to focus on your needs. For example, if you need a device for the summer season, during which the initial water temperature is very high, there will be no point in powerful equipment with 25 kilowatts. If you want to constantly use the heater to wash in the shower and wash the dishes in the kitchen, then buying a device with a power of 4-5 kilowatts will be pointless.

There is a simple recommendation for calculating personal water consumption. You can put a bucket under the shower, turn on the water, determine the time during which it will become full. If a ten-liter bucket is filled in a minute, the flow rate will be ten liters per minute. If this requires half the time, then the flow rate is twenty liters per minute. If you plan to use multiple cranes, calculate the cumulative figure.

To calculate the required power of the device, you can use the formula. P = Q × (t1 - t2) × 0.073. Q is the flow rate (liters per minute), which is multiplied by the difference between the temperatures of the water leaving and entering the appliance. For example, if water flows with a pressure of eight liters per minute, then you can get a final temperature of forty degrees (the initial one is seven degrees), using a device with a capacity of 19.3 kilowatts.

Note that it is extremely difficult to achieve complete comfort with the help of low-power single-phase equipment (power not exceeding 12 kilowatts). At the same time, not all wiring can cope with energy-intensive models (power from 12 to 27 kilowatts). It is known that powerful equipment does not have a plug and power cord, so as not to accidentally plug it into a regular outlet.

When choosing the power of the device, you must understand that it can be operated under certain conditions. For example, if you live in the old "Khrushchev", then some problems are quite possible. The fact is that in such houses the consumption limit for one apartment is three kilowatts per hour.

If you live in a modern multi-storey building that is equipped with electric stoves, then the situation is simpler. Here, the standard for the consumption of electric current for one apartment is at least ten kilowatts. However, you will not be able to turn on several household devices in parallel. In this case, it will not knock out the plugs on the shield. You will protect yourself from a problem such as a short circuit.

There are several useful recommendations for the operation of water heaters that everyone should know.

• It is very important to correctly install a flow-through device for heating water. It is no secret that this equipment is very powerful, therefore, a large amount of electrical energy is wasted during its operation. The network will not overheat if you use a separate electrical wiring. Of course, to create it, it is better to turn to specialists. High-quality installation and correct connection of the equipment is the key to normal, safe operation of the heater.
• The device will work optimally if used correctly. You must know how to reduce the costs associated with paying for electricity. The shorter the distance between the heater and the faucet, the less the water temperature loss will be.

• The heating device will not fail if you do not leave it in a room where the temperature drops to negative values.
• User reviews say that when you turn on the flow-through device, you need to check the water pressure. If the pressure is weak, then it is worth abandoning the setting of a high heating temperature. The fact is that in this case, the heater may not work.

If you want to use a flow heater at your summer cottage, pay attention to some customer reviews and expert recommendations.

• First of all, it is important to correctly determine the place where the device will be located. Hang the appliance next to the shower stall to keep it away from splashes.
• If the model can function in different modes of operation, it must be placed at a meter distance. You can switch modes, turn on the device, and conveniently turn it off. The heating unit must be positioned in such a way that the connection to the electrical network and the water supply is easy. To extend the operating time of the unit, install cleaning filters in the entrance area.
• After determining the location in which the device will be installed, remove the cover from it. After that, attach the unit to the shower wall to mark the future holes and align. Use a level to align. Using a drill, drill the wall, install the dowels.

Please note that you may need additional fasteners that are longer. Then the flow-through equipment is fixed to the wall. The procedure ends by connecting the device to the water supply system and the mains.

How to choose a water heater, see the next video.