Using hot water seems obvious to many people, but not everyone has access to hot water from the municipal network. In this case, you can choose a boiler or water heater. Today we will present you the advantages and disadvantages of each solution. You will also find out which device is more economical.
Advantages and disadvantages of the boiler
The electric boiler is a storage water heater. This is a device used to heat domestic water. What you need to know here is that it is easy to install and also easy to use. Various types of models are available, e.g. with a capacity of 50 liters or 80 liters. Such boilers can be equipped with one or several electric heaters. You should also remember that low-power heaters consume much less energy, but take longer to heat up. In turn, boilers with higher power will heat up faster, but will increase the costs of using electricity. When choosing, you definitely need to pay attention to power. For example, a model with a power of 3 to 4.5 kW will be suitable for a single-family house. Size is also important. The tank capacity should be selected taking into account the number of people living in a given house. A boiler with a capacity of 120 liters will work well for a family of several people.
A useful feature is the ability to adjust the water temperature. Thanks to the control system, you gain more convenience. We also cannot forget about heat transfer. This parameter determines how quickly the device cools down after the power is turned off. In the case of capacity heaters, you need to know that the water is already heated at the moment of consumption. It's time to discover more advantages. This is even quiet operation.
Advantages of using a boiler:
- ease of installation;
- safety of use;
- ease of use;
- will work even for a large family;
- quiet operation;
- ability to regulate water temperature;
- the water cools down slowly thanks to the durable housing.
Disadvantages of the boiler:
- may take a long time to heat up;
- a device with higher power increases electricity costs;
- a large device takes up a lot of space;
- when the device is turned off and all the water in the boiler is used up, after reconnection; you have to wait quite a long time for the water to heat up;
- many devices require descaling.
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Advantages and disadvantages of a water heater
An alternative to a capacity boiler is an electric instantaneous water heater . The principle of operation is very simple. In this case, the signal to start heating the water will be to turn on the tap. So we have hot water whenever we need it. You can choose between single and multi-point heaters. The former heat water for one tap. Most often, they have a power of 3.5 kW to 6 kW, while multi-point ones heat water to several places and have a power of 12 to 24 kW. Remember that to minimize heat loss, it is best to install heaters as close to the tap as possible. Undoubtedly, the greatest advantage of this type of devices is high comfort of use. The instantaneous heater does not take up much space. You can place it, for example, in the kitchen above the sink. It will work even in a small apartment and will not disturb the volume of the room. We must also mention that by choosing a multi-point heater, several people can use hot water at the same time. Of course, the instantaneous water heater is not without its drawbacks. Minimum water flow must be ensured. For proper operation, the system must have high pressure. Additionally, these devices can consume quite a lot of electricity.
Advantages of the instantaneous heater:
- convenience of use without the need for daily maintenance;
- reducing energy losses;
- does not take up much space;
- easy assembly;
- in the case of multi-point devices, several people can use hot water at the same time.
Disadvantages of an instantaneous heater:
- high energy consumption;
- the need to ensure adequate water flow;
- the need to ensure high water pressure in the installation;
- In many devices, when you turn on the tap, cold water flows first, which increases water consumption.
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What is more profitable, a boiler or a heater?
It can be said that both the boiler and the instantaneous water heater are functional solutions. You should definitely pay attention to the fact that the water is heated in the boiler and then stored. The rapid cooling of the water is prevented by the special insulation of the boiler and a thermostat-controlled heater. This means that when you turn on the tap, hot water is pushed out of the boiler by cold water. This happens due to pressure. After using the stored water, you need to wait until it heats up again. Taking this parameter into account, an instantaneous heater has an advantage over a boiler because it heats the water continuously. Therefore, energy consumption begins when the user turns on the hot water tap. You should also know that energy is consumed until the tap is turned off, and sometimes cool water flows first, and only after a few moments warm water flows.
Of course, the question arises - which solution is more energy efficient? Basically, the answer is not clear, because it largely depends on the number of taps, the number of inhabitants, their habits, but also the size of the house or apartment itself. If we take into account that the demand for water is high, a boiler is more profitable, while an instantaneous heater will work better when there are a small number of water consumption points. This solution also works when users do not use much water.