Electric heating boilers how to choose

What should be considered when choosing and installing an electric boiler?

To determine which electric boiler is better to choose, you need to take into account the following factors:

• the estimated heating area of ​​the house, dacha, apartment;
• type of premises;
• weight and dimensions of the device;
• operational period;
• efficiency indicator;
• price limit.

Mounting method

Depending on the installation method, you can choose:

• electric boiler with lower branch pipes (inlet and outlet);
• electric boiler with a lower inlet pipe, an upper outlet pipe location.

Wall mounted mini boiler

An economy-class wall-mounted mini-boiler will perfectly heat the room, if the following nuances are also taken into account when installing it:

• The meter can affect electricity consumption. It is advantageous to choose a multi-tariff electricity meter that takes into account the operation of the unit at night.
• A pump off delay program is useful.
• Having made a choice in favor of a circulating built-in pump, you can further increase the efficiency of the equipment by several percent. It increases the speed of movement of water in the system, heating a private house or apartment is faster.
• The efficiency of the appliance can be increased by using pipes of a smaller diameter. The heating time of the water will decrease, therefore, the energy costs will decrease.
• Equipment performance also depends on the type of control. For a private house, it is advantageous to take an economy-class wall-mounted appliance with an automatic control panel, since the automation increases the efficiency by 1/4.

But since mechanical control is considered more reliable, mechanically controlled boilers are the most optimal for long-term heating of rooms with a large area.

Rules for choosing electric boilers

Among the huge assortment of equipment on the domestic market, it is not easy to determine which electric boiler to choose for the house - it must, in all respects, be suitable for the heating system, which it was decided to use to heat the premises.

When buying, pay attention to a number of the most important characteristics:

Appliance power ... When calculating this indicator, when the choice of an electric boiler for heating is made, it is necessary to know exactly the area of ​​the building. To heat 10 "squares" of a room with a three-meter ceiling height, 1 kW of electricity will be required. Based on this norm, it is not difficult to calculate the power of an electric boiler. Add 10% to the result. For example, to heat a house with a heated area of ​​100 "squares", an 11 kW electric boiler will be enough.

The efficiency of the device ... Since its work is based on the conversion of electricity into heat, the selection of an electric boiler should be done taking into account the efficiency of the equipment. It is necessary that the power of the device can be adjusted depending on the temperature outside. In case of warming, such a boiler will consume much less electricity.

Experts advise, before choosing an electric boiler, to pay attention to whether it has a thermostat or the ability to connect it to the device, due to which the adjustment of the equipment operation and heating of the coolant is carried out automatically

Connection method ... Modern types of electric boilers are produced with single-phase and three-phase power supply. To connect a three-phase device, an automatic device is required, which is designed to protect the electrical network from overvoltage. Therefore, before buying a boiler of a particular model, you need to take into account the features of the power supply at home.

Instrument complete set ... It can be completely different. It is advisable to choose an electric boiler for heating a house with a complete list of auxiliary devices.Of course, the complete set is more expensive, but it will be easier to install and operate.

The complete set of an electric boiler must certainly include:

• circulation pump (in more detail: "How to choose a circulation pump for heating: first acquaintance");
• expansion tank (read: "The correct calculation of the expansion tank for the heating system - comfort in your home");
• programmer.

Protective elements are used as additional devices. Some of them are required to prevent water from freezing inside the boiler. Others eliminate the low pressure of the coolant. Some models have special filters for cleaning, two modes of operation - winter and summer

Such electric boilers should be chosen when they are planned to be installed in houses with year-round living (read: "It is important to know: how to choose an electric heating boiler")

Design features of the device

Experts, advising on how to choose an electric boiler, pay attention that the body of the device must be completely closed (see photo)

This requirement is especially important for families where children are growing up. For small spaces, flat models are the best choice.

Also, the electric boiler requires a voltage stabilizer, which, when the light is suddenly turned off, prevents the device from breaking. If the emergency shutdown is not uncommon and is prolonged, the house can cool down. To prevent unwanted situations, you should have a battery and an invector.

In inexpensive electric boilers, manufacturers replace metal components with plastic products. But during operation, they quickly deteriorate and require replacement.

Manufacturer company ... Electric boilers on the market are divided into 2 groups: foreign or domestic production. How to choose an electric boiler for your home, and which model should you give preference to in this case? It all depends on the area of ​​the building. In large houses with several floors, a heating system with a large volume of water is required for a heating device, and therefore the choice should be made in favor of a domestic manufacturer.

European products would be a great option for apartments as they:

• consume less electricity;
• have clear control;
• have high efficiency.

What is included?

Modern manufacturers offer various complete sets of electric boilers. You can give preference to those systems that have a full set of additional devices. If the system is fully equipped, it will cost more, but such a system is very easy to use.

What should be included? Pump, programmer and tank, various protective parts. Some protect the boiler by preventing water from freezing from the inside, while others protect it from low pressure.

Some models have winter and summer operating modes, as well as special cleaning filters. Such equipment can be called a mini boiler room. If you permanently live in a private house, then it is better to choose this version of the system.

Tips for choosing an electric boiler

Practical and economical option

Basically, the reliability of an electric boiler is judged by its power. For good single-circuit heating equipment, this figure is 1 kW per 10 m2. Double-circuit boilers must have an increased power value.

From the use of an electric boiler, you can incur much less costs if it is equipped with a security system, an expansion tank, a circulation pump and a programmer. All this is possessed by ionic electric boilers. Also, the cost of electricity can be reduced by purchasing an electric boiler with nodes that increase the capacity of the equipment during the off-season.

Choosing the best boiler model

Most often, electric boilers "Protherm" are bought in stores. A huge assortment of devices of excellent quality at a relatively low cost is produced under this name.

Protherm boilers are usually installed in private houses, hanging on the wall or on the floor. They operate stably and have an easy-to-understand control panel and a user-friendly LCD display. A pump comes with a set of equipment. Boiler models from this company are compact in size.

Heating devices of the Protherm company are produced with a capacity of 6 to 28 kW. Most of the models are connected to a voltage of 380 V. If necessary, an automatic diagnosis of operation can be carried out on their control panel.

Wall-mounted compact model

Another advantageous option is the Russian-made Evan electric boiler. It functions silently and is considered reliable equipment for heating a private house. The heat exchanger of this unit is designed so that there is no risk of leakage.

The Evan boiler is equipped with a circulation pump and an expansion tank. The use of this equipment is absolutely safe, as it contains a microprocessor unit. The boiler heating temperature can be changed, thereby reducing electricity costs.

Connecting the boiler to the heating system

Equally well-known is the equipment of the Dakon company. German-made electric boilers have a power value from 4 to 60 kW. This heating equipment comes with a circulation pump. The boiler is equipped with a safety valve, filter and water pressure sensor.

An expansion tank is built into several boiler models. Heating devices with a power of no more than 12 kW are connected to a network with any voltage.

This boiler can be used to control the temperature

Detailed calculation of the power of the electric boiler

The power for heating a private house, summer house or apartment with an electric heating device is equal to the heat power. To calculate it, they are guided by several simple rules:

• for heating 1 cu. m. at home or summer cottage, about 40 W of power will be required;
• for each of the windows it is necessary to add 100 W, on the door - another 200;
• these data are averaged and depend on climatic conditions: residents of the Far Eastern and Siberian regions multiply the total number by 1.5-2, the coefficient in the middle regions of the Russian Federation is 1.2, and the southern regions use a coefficient of 0.7-0.9;
• for a house or a summer residence, the result of the calculation is multiplied by another 1.5, which is associated with heat loss due to the construction of the roof and the surface of the floor (especially in the absence of a basement).

Let's give an example for a house in the south of the country with an area of ​​80 sq. m., with a ceiling height of 3 m, six window openings, one entrance door. House area - 80 sq. m. must be multiplied by 40 W, then multiplied by 3 (ceiling height indicator), add 200 and 600 W (door and windows). The resulting value is multiplied by the private house and regional coefficient - 0.7 and 1.5. As a result, we get 10,920 watts.

Boiler complete set

Water heating - scheme in a private house

Modern manufacturers offer different complete sets of electric boilers. Preference should be given to those of them that have a full range of auxiliary devices. Of course, a well-equipped unit will cost a little more, but it is much easier to use it.

What must be included in the package of an electric boiler? Circulation pump, programmer and expansion tank. Additional bonuses are various protective devices. Some protect the boiler by preventing water from freezing inside, while others protect against low water pressure.

Some models have winter and summer operating modes, as well as special cleaning filters. In fact, such equipment can easily be called a mini-boiler room. This option is preferable for places of permanent residence.

Body design

Experts pay attention to the fact that you should choose models that have a completely closed case. This is especially true for families raising small children.

The closed design protects against unauthorized access to the equipment.

If such outages are long, then the house can freeze completely in winter. To avoid this, it is worth purchasing an additional battery and an invector, which can convert the accumulated volts into alternating current.

Manufacturer's choice

Wall hung electric boilers

All products on the market can be divided into two large conditional groups:

1. Domestic boilers.
2. Foreign-made equipment.

What to give preference in this case? For houses of a large area, where the heating system requires a significant amount of water, domestic-made boilers are preferable. It is advisable to install flat models in small-sized rooms. European options are only good for apartments. They consume less energy, are highly efficient and are intuitive to operate.

Electric boiler on the principle of heating

A separate classification is the division of devices according to the heating method. So, boilers for a private house are divided into:

• tenovye;
• induction;
• electrode.

It is this principle that plays an important role when choosing a device. Performance depends on the heating method.

Tenovye

The principle of operation of heating boilers is similar to the operation of an electric kettle. Here the coolant is water, which is heated by heating elements, which ensures the natural circulation of the liquid. The main advantage of this device is its compact size and attractive appearance. They install heating boilers on the wall, installation is very simple and does not require a call from a specialist. Prices for electric heating boilers for a private house are considered the lowest - another undoubted advantage.

Ten models have thermoregulation, which ensures that the temperature is maintained at one level without user intervention. The regulation is automatic, taking into account the temperature indoor air... Depending on the model, the user can set the desired air temperature in the room or the temperature of the heating medium. The power can be changed by turning the heating elements on and off if necessary. Evan's electric boilers have not worked well.

The only drawback is the formation of scale over time. The heating element with scale consumes more electricity and has a weak heat transfer.

Induction

The basis of this equipment is induction heating using materials from ferromagnetic alloys. The coolant does not come into contact with the inductor, which is located in a separate container. Therefore, the coolant is not only water, but any other liquid that does not freeze.

The system works according to the laws of electromagnetic induction: liquid flows through pipes made of ferromagnetic material, which is in contact with the core. The tubes gradually gain temperature under the influence of the electromagnetic field and heat the flowing water.

The device is completely safe and has high efficiency, since there is no need for an electrode or heating element. Thanks to the design, the device does not clog, and there are no parts that are prone to breakage. The only inconvenience for the user is the high cost of the system and the sufficient amount of space for a weighty device.

Electrode

Water acts as a heat carrier in such devices, heating is provided by an electrode. The latter gives off an electric charge to the liquid, which increases the temperature due to its own resistance. When water splits into ions, an intensive heating of the coolant occurs. Electrode-type electric boilers are also small in size, easy to operate and install, gradually gaining rated power.The device is completely safe: if the water level falls, the system will automatically turn off. Galan electric heating boilers have proven themselves well.

Electrode systems have a significant drawback - an electric heating boiler for a home uses only water that has a low resistivity (well conductive current). It is not always possible to change and prepare such a heat actuator in a short time. During operation, the electrodes dissolve, which reduces the efficiency of the system. It is also important that the liquid circulates sufficiently at all times, or the water can boil (equipment shuts down in case of failure).

Types of electric boilers

There are three types of boilers on the market that operate on electricity:

• induction appliances;
• Heating elements;
• electronic devices.

TENOVA units

Electric boilers of the TEN type are the most reliable, they are used most often.

Diagram of a heating element electric boiler

The design features of such units are simple: several tubular electric heaters are lowered into a bowl filled with water. As a rule, they are turned on one by one in order to increase the power of the device. The power of each element is about 2 kW. The total power is determined by the number of heating elements. The water is driven by a pumping mechanism built into the body of the device.

This design has certain features. For example, in flow-through heat carrier systems, in which part of the water is taken from the heating circuit, scale appears on the working areas of the heating elements during their operation, which negatively affects the operation of the device, which reduces the parameters of its power and often leads to overheating of heating elements. All this can cause destruction of the heating element. But in most cases, such systems have a closed circuit, eliminating the problem of scale formation.

The cost of such units is low, since they are distinguished by their simplicity of design and have been produced for a long time. These are budget devices.

Induction devices

Electric induction boiler design

The induction type of heating devices still functions according to the principle of induction discovered in the 19th century. Scientist Max Faraday found that when a ferromagnetic core is placed in a coil with a copper cable and a current is passed through it, a voltage is generated in the core. In the case of an alternating current, a closed system appears in it with charges of particles constantly moving in it. Due to this movement, heating occurs.

According to this principle, an induction heater, powered by electricity, functions. The dielectric conduit contains a core and a coil is located around it. The heating of the water moving through the pipeline comes from the core, which is heated under the influence of the electric current of the coil.

The peculiarity of such a system is its small size. This also applies to powerful models: their width is no greater than the width of the heating circuit, and their length does not exceed one meter.

Such a design is primitive, there are no narrow sections in it, so malfunctions occur in rare cases. Breakdowns occur only with electronic automation, but it is located outside the contour of the case and does not come into contact with negative influences, moreover, it is easy to change it.

Such a device is more expensive than heating elements. But there are no reasonable arguments for such a price, since the device of induction boilers is not much more complicated than heating elements, but their cost on the market has not yet decreased.

The advantages of induction devices include the fact that several units can be combined into a line to increase power.

Electrode devices

Electrode type electric heating devices function according to a different physical principle: in the presence of salts (in a certain volume) in water, resistance is inherent in it, and an alternating electric current can pass through it; due to this, it is heated. Electrode heaters function according to this principle.

Electrode electric boiler design

Electrode boilers are the safest to operate. If water flows out of the container, heating stops, because there is no more heat source, electricity from the electrode elements will not go through the air.

It is necessary that the water in the container meets the standards and contains salts in a certain volume: in most cases, this is ordinary water suitable for drinking.

The disadvantage of such a system is that it needs replacement of the electrode elements from time to time. During the operation of the device, water absorbs electrode atoms, due to this, the electrode elements are destroyed. In principle, the operation of such a system is not difficult.

What type of electric boilers is better to choose and preferable to install for a country house? Decide for yourself, focusing on the principles of their functioning.

Overview of types of electric boilers

Electric boiler connected to the heating network

In terms of shape, size, design and power, electric boilers are not the same. Therefore, each manufacturer of heating appliances sets their own price for them. In many respects, the cost and quality characteristics of an electric boiler are also influenced by its appearance in terms of the method of heating the coolant. So, heating devices are heating elements, electrode and induction.

"For" and "against" heating element electric boiler

In heating elements electric boilers, metal tubes are responsible for the supply of heat. Such devices can be hung on the wall or placed on the floor. They have many advantages:

• They are relatively inexpensive;
• Easy to install;
• Instead of water, another coolant can be poured into them - antifreeze;
• Equipped with a power step regulation system.

But the heating elements of electric boilers also have some disadvantages:

• Due to hard water, the metal tubes of the device are covered with scale, which over time affects its operation;
• It happens that the heating elements fail, and the question arises of their urgent replacement.

Evaluation of the electrode

An electrode or, in other words, an ionic electric heating device functions by passing an alternating current through a coolant. It is similar to the heating element electric boiler in that it can be single-phase and three-phase. But it has many special advantages:

• The temperature of the coolant increases without the use of heating elements;
• Reasonable price, despite the high efficiency of the device in energy conversion;
• Small size;
• The device is insured against breakdown if water flows out of the heating system;
• Salt deposits on the electrodes, although they worsen the operation of the boiler, do not render it unusable;
• Rapid heating of water in the heating system with the possibility of automatic regulation of this process;
• The operation of the device is not affected by power surges.

But it should be borne in mind that the electrode heating device is not without its drawbacks:

• No other coolant can be poured into such a boiler, except for a special one, the cost of which is high;
• It must be equipped with a reliable grounding device, which is why a protective shutdown cannot be applied to it;
• Electrolysis gradually deteriorates, as a result of which changes occur in the coolant and the electrodes themselves wear out;
• Ventilation grilles must be installed at the boiler installation site, since gas is generated during the electrolysis process;
• The power of this boiler is difficult to regulate smoothly.

Pros and cons of induction

An induction heating device uses the property of a ferromagnet - it increases the temperature of the coolant due to the induction current. This electric boiler heats up the air quickly, but it can look different, and therefore has different quality characteristics. Among the advantages of an induction electric boiler, the following should be noted:

• Scale hardly settles inside the boiler, since during its operation special microvibrations are carried out;
• The device can function smoothly for many years, and its efficiency will not decrease;
• The heating element of the electric boiler does not deteriorate and does not need to be replaced.

The disadvantages of induction electric boilers include:

• High cost compared to heating elements and electrode boilers;
• Large weight (over 30 kg);
• Insufficient approbation, since they began to be produced recently.

How to calculate the power of an electric boiler

The materials from which your house is built have different heat loss rates. Only a good specialist will take into account all the heat losses of your home and select the correct boiler power.

Self-calculations will show you only approximate figures, and the main work should be entrusted to specialists. Professional heat engineering calculations include the following indicators:

• temperature data for your region;
• information about the thickness, composition of the walls;
• number, size and quality of windows;
• type of heating wiring;
• the height of ceilings and openings, the ratio with the area;
• information about each room, including the number of radiators, underfloor heating and appliances that generate heat.

If you nevertheless decide to calculate the boiler power yourself, we suggest the following method.

Please note that the calculations below do not take into account the heat loss of an individual house and cannot guarantee an accurate figure.

Simple method

Quadrature calculation is the simplest method for calculating the estimated power of a device. It is believed that for 1 m² of area, 100 W will be required, provided that the ceiling height is 2.5 meters. The numbers are adjusted according to the specific power rating of the home region. Below is a table with values ​​for different climatic zones of our country.

The calculation formula is as follows: W = q * S
In this case, q is the specific power factor of your area, the indicator S is the area of ​​the house.

With the help of this table, you can choose an electric heating boiler that is ideal for your family.

For example, you need to buy an electric boiler for a one-story building with a total area of ​​80 m², located in the Moscow region. According to the formula, it turns out: (80 * 100) * 1.2 = 9600 W. The final value for a single-circuit boiler will be 11.04 kW, for a double-circuit boiler with a DHW priority - 11.52.

Please note that the calculations are approximate and do not take into account real heat loss and structural features.

Heating element type

The second, no less important criterion for choosing an electric boiler is according to the method of heating water for heating. Today there are heating elements, induction and electrode boilers.

The first ones are most often found in shop windows. They can be both floor-standing and wall-mounted (mounted). Equipment with a heating element inside is the cheapest and can be used both in private houses and in apartments with a voltage of 220v or 380v. The disadvantage of this type of electric boilers is the formation of scale on tubular heaters. In addition, the power of one electric boiler may not be enough for a two-story house, and it is not always possible to install several heaters due to their size.

In this regard, the choice of an induction boiler is a more reasonable decision. Due to their small size (seen in the photo below), such heaters can be connected in one heating system, which will increase its power to the required value. The only obstacle is the higher cost of the equipment. An induction electric boiler can be chosen for heating a summer cottage of an impressive area

A very important advantage of induction appliances is that they are the most economical, which is especially important when installing heating in spacious houses.

Well, the last type of heater is an electrode heater. Such devices are considered the safest, but at the same time, the most whimsical to the coolant - water. At the cost, you may not feel much difference, but still, most often, the choice of an electric boiler with an ionic heating method is carried out for private houses and summer cottages.

Video instruction on how to choose an electric boiler and which one is better according to the main indicators:

Review from a specialist