Electric boiler for a private home: types and features

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Published: 05/31/2019

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Using electricity for heating is a common way to heat a home. This method is environmentally friendly (no impact on the environment) and convenient.

The only factors limiting the spread of such heating are:

1. Electricity tariffs and their growth in the future.
2. Consumer expenses for supplying and connecting to housing the electrical power necessary to ensure comfort.

When the user decides on fuel for the boiler, he is limited in choice. There are no natural gas or district heating networks near his home, and there is no market for wood or agricultural waste.

Photo source: buildingwork.net

Then the electric boiler becomes the only alternative and the main source of heat. In bivalent heating systems it becomes a backup in combination with gas, solid/liquid fuel boilers or heat pumps.

• 1 Advantages and disadvantages of electric boilers
• 2 Electric boiler design
• 3 Operating principle 3.1 Boiler with heating element
• 3.2 Electrode boiler
• 3.3 Induction

General information

Electric heating boilers for private homes have been used for many years, but thanks to the development of microprocessor electronics, many current devices can be easily programmed to the desired operating mode for heating the living area. Modern electronic boilers are convenient because the operation of the heating system can be easily adjusted and electricity not wasted at a time when all residents leave the house, and when using a two-tariff meter, the device can be configured for maximum operation at night, when the cost of electricity is much lower.

Electric heating boilers Source ultra-term.ru

Features of using electric boilers

Electric boilers for heating a private home are convenient because their installation does not require installing a chimney to remove gases. Electrical installations are virtually silent and do not burn oxygen in the room.

The only disadvantage of such systems can be considered the possibility of electric shock and too high prices for consumed electricity. These shortcomings can be overcome if the equipment is installed taking into account safety regulations, and to save money, as mentioned above, a two-tariff electric meter is purchased.

With the right approach to using an electric boiler in a private home, such a system is not inferior to other types of heating installations, and in many respects significantly surpasses them.

Electric boiler with water heater in a private house Source sellprint.ru

Boiler selection criteria

Currently, specialized stores sell electric heating boilers with many characteristics, and which ones are best for a private home can be very difficult to figure out. When choosing an electric boiler, you should first of all pay attention to the following criteria:

• power;
• type of heating element;
• manufacturer;
• availability of additional functions.

The power rating of the purchased device will determine whether the device can handle heating the living space of the house, and the type of heating element used in the boiler will determine its cost. The cheapest boilers are devices that use heating elements to heat the coolant, and the most expensive are induction units. Its price depends on how well promoted the boiler manufacturer is; in addition, the cost indicator will be influenced by the presence of additional functions of electrical equipment.

Electric heating system for a large country house Source stot64.ru

See also: Contacts of construction companies that offer house insulation services

Types and features

The following types of electric boilers are used to heat a private home:

• Heating element - a tubular electric heater is used to heat the coolant. Such boilers are inexpensive and not too demanding on the quality of the liquid. The main disadvantage of these heating devices is the formation of scale on the heating element, which may fail due to excessive heating.
• Induction devices are the most energy-efficient devices in terms of energy consumption, but the cost of such a device will be noticeably higher compared to a heating element boiler.
• Electrode is a type of electric boiler that is safe to use, but very demanding on the quality of coolants.

Any of the listed units can be used for installation in a private home, but with a large usable heating area, boilers that use heating elements are least suitable.

Rating of the best manufacturers

Many foreign and Russian companies produce ion heaters.

The following manufacturers have the best combination of characteristics:

1. Galan is a Russian company offering a wide range of boilers of different capacities. The devices are low cost and reliable. Disadvantages - expensive branded coolant and a stepwise power control system.
2. EOU is a Ukrainian brand. The company produces equipment with power from 1 to 36 kW. The declared service life of the products is 30 years. Disadvantages of boilers are high prices, frequent problems with automation.
3. “Coterm” is a Russian company engaged in the production of electrical equipment. It produces devices characterized by fast heating of the working fluid, high-quality assembly and compact dimensions. Typical disadvantages are the limited functionality of the automation, the need to fill the heating system with its own Coterm Eco coolant.
4. Beril is a Latvian company whose products stand out for their reliability and advanced functionality. The automation system is equipped with several operating modes, degree-by-degree power adjustment, and overheating protection. Provision is made for connecting a GSM module and external temperature sensors. The main disadvantage is the high cost.
5. Buderus is a German brand that produces a wide range of gas equipment. The devices are distinguished by their reliability and long service life. Among the electrode models there are two- and three-phase units. The main disadvantage is the price, which is higher than that of Russian devices.

How to choose a boiler for a private home

An electric boiler must fully cope with the task of heating a private home, so the device must be selected correctly in terms of power. For an accurate calculation, it is necessary to calculate the heat loss of the building. With this question, it is better to contact specialists who will not only determine the location of heat leaks, but also make the necessary calculations of the power of heating equipment. In general, you should choose devices that are 20–30% more powerful than necessary to provide heat for the entire house.

Electric boilers with heating elements

Such devices are most often used as the main or additional heating of a room. Electric boilers with heating elements can be either wall-mounted or floor-mounted. Floor-standing units, as a rule, are designed for high power and have large dimensions.

Considering the high probability of failure of the heating element, some models are equipped with two heating elements. Such installations are more reliable and allow you to fully heat the premises even if one heating element fails.

New heating element electric boiler Source kotlof.ru

Induction electric heaters

An alternating magnetic field is used to heat the coolant in induction boilers. Under the influence of strong alternating magnetic fields, the metal heats up and heat is transferred to the liquid in the tank. Thus, it is possible to completely isolate the electric heating element from the effects of liquid and salts dissolved in it.

Induction boilers are much more expensive than heating elements, but given the high reliability, efficiency and high power of such heating systems, experts recommend choosing to purchase boilers of this type.

Vortex induction heater Source nn.kotel-t.ru

Condensing units

I would like to indicate the rating of condensing boilers. In today's market, their range is increasing. All manufacturers try not to miss the opportunity to prove that they remain in trend. But even the most famous companies do not always manage to create the best boiler. That's why you won't see many of them in our ranking.

De Dietrich Innovens PRO MCA

Oddly enough, the French take first place. The reasons are that their boilers are the best in terms of operating efficiency, safe operation requirements, productivity, and energy saving. The power of the units varies from 43 to 114 kW. All models belong to the “wall-mounted” category.

Design features:

• the heat exchanger is made of an alloy of aluminum and silicon, and it has a monoblock design;
• steel burner;
• composite body insulation;
• self-diagnosis system;
• full automation;
• condensate is collected in a special siphon;
• There is a backlight inside, which is very convenient when servicing the boiler;
• sensor showing the temperature of the exhaust gases;
• Efficiency 102.5%.

Wall-mounted condensing boilers from De Dietrich Source sanitech-instalacje.pl

Viessmann Vitodens 100-W

In the model line of this brand there are both single- and double-circuit heating devices with a power of 19-35 kW. An interesting fact is that in the category of gas-fired condensing boilers, these are the cheapest.

Design Features:

• heat exchanger made of stainless steel;
• the burner is steel, it is cylindrical in shape;
• the air is driven into the firebox by a fan, and if you correctly configure it in terms of rotation speed, you can save a lot on fuel consumption;
• the exhaust gases have a very low content of harmful substances;
• protective systems against freezing and overheating;
• convenient arrangement of parts and assemblies in the body;
• Efficiency 108%.

Gas boiler Viessmann Vitodens 100-W: appearance and inside Source www.v-store.ro

Vailliant ecoTEC plus VU OE

This manufacturer has only two models with a power of either 45 or 65 kW. Advantages: high environmental friendliness and cost-effectiveness. Both models are single-circuit, but it is possible to connect a boiler to them. Boilers can only be used in low-temperature heating systems. In Germany they are installed on the roofs of private houses.

Peculiarities:

• Efficiency – 109%, that is, the highest efficiency;
• burner adjustable in power within 28-100%;
• full automatic;
• circulation pump – two-stage with the possibility of manual or automatic switching;
• fan with adjustable rotation speed.

Installation and operation of an electric boiler

You can install an electric heating boiler yourself. Depending on the type of unit purchased, the heating installation is mounted on the wall or on the floor. In both cases, installation is carried out in the following sequence:

• marking the location of the boiler;
• drilling mounting holes;
• installation of the boiler on anchor bolts;
• connecting the boiler to grounding;
• connecting the device to the heating system;
• connecting the device to the power supply;
• filling the heating system with coolant and removing air pockets;
• boiler startup.

Diagram for connecting an electric boiler to a heating system Source stroyfora.ru
If all of the above steps were performed correctly, the electric boiler will start and the heating system will begin to function normally. During operation of the boiler, it is necessary to monitor the coolant level in the tank. If it drops to a minimum, then add water to the normal value.

If leaks occur, to prevent the device from malfunctioning, it is necessary to immediately eliminate the depressurization of the system. Also, during operation, electric boilers for the home must be cleaned of dirt and the wiring connected to the device is in good condition.

Important! The installation and connection of an electric boiler should be done by professionals.

Difficulties in operation

During use, the consumer may encounter some problems characteristic of electrode heaters:

1. The quality of the coolant plays an important role. The service life of the product and reliability of operation depend on this. The use of tap fluid can lead to increased corrosion of metal pipes and radiators and a decrease in efficiency. Manufacturers recommend that owners of electrode boilers use ready-made compositions that have the necessary physical and chemical characteristics. The liquid changes its properties over time, so after 3-4 years the system needs to be filled with fresh coolant.
2. It is necessary to pay attention to ensuring the electrical safety of the unit. The body of the device is connected to the neutral cable, the phase is connected to the electrodes. During installation, grounding must be provided. Electric boilers create a large load on the network, so before installing the heating device you should make sure that the wiring is reliable throughout the room.
3. Under the constant influence of current, the processes of electrocorrosion of steel and cast iron are accelerated, which reduces the service life of the system several times. Aluminum or bimetallic communications and radiators should be used with electrode units. To provide heat to a cottage or home, you need to make sure that the elements of the heating system are made of recommended materials.

Disadvantages of heating with electricity

The main disadvantage of using electric boilers for heating a private home is the high probability of a power outage. This usually occurs during natural disasters and power line failures. Such troubles arise especially often in the winter season, when the heating operation should not be interrupted for a long period of time.

Considering the large power consumption of such devices, it is almost impossible to provide backup power to the heating system using batteries. The problem can only be solved by connecting powerful generators, which are expensive and consume large amounts of gasoline or diesel fuel.

If you need to connect a powerful heating installation, then, as a rule, such boilers are powered from a three-phase electrical network. Therefore, if in a populated area it is not possible to connect a voltage of 380 V, then heating with electricity will be unavailable for a large private house.

An important disadvantage of using electricity is the high cost of electricity, which only increases every year.

Prices: summary table

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