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Turning off hot water will no longer be a disaster if you install a Drazice boiler in the apartment. Hot water supplied by indirect Czech heaters is enough for the needs of a large family. In this article, we will analyze the advantages, disadvantages and features of individual models.
Drazice is a worthwhile alternative to flow heaters, which have been leading the domestic market for a long time. Indirect and combined heaters mean high efficiency and minimal energy consumption.
About Drazice
The history of the Czech company begins in 1900, and the production of water heating systems of various types and volumes was established half a century ago. The company’s products are exported to dozens of countries around the world, it is well known outside of Europe. Drazice consistently occupies one of the first places in the ranking of water heater manufacturers.
Unique technologies
Czech boilers – energy-saving technologies, the best materials and strict quality control. But their main advantage is the fuel cell system. Instead of a heating element immersed in water, a dry ceramic tube is used, placed in a metal sleeve, made of the same steel as the tank. Since the materials are the same, there is no galvanic reaction, which means that corrosion is defeated.
Ceramics is extremely resistant to aggressive water environment, so Czech heaters are very durable. If you periodically remove scale and sediment, you can reduce operating costs. The magnesium anode, which prevents corrosion, also helps to extend the life of the tank. The devices are equipped with service hatches – for comfortable maintenance work.
All products are designed and manufactured in the Czech Republic.
Types of Drazice boilers
Design features of heaters:
- control and selection of temperature in the range of 5-77 °С;
- auto protection against freezing and overheating;
- minimal heat loss.
The company manufactures water heaters:
- Indirect heating – 100-1000 l.
- Combined – 80-200 liters.
Boilers of indirect and combined heating – what is the difference?
Such heaters, in fact, are storage devices, inside which a liquid circulates, heated by a boiler or other heat source. To connect the device to the boiler, a special pipeline is used, and the circulation of the coolant is maintained using pumps and mixers.
Pros:
- no need to spend money on heating the coolant;
- high efficiency;
- power grids are not loaded;
- stable volumes of hot water – even if there are several points of water intake.
The main disadvantage of indirect heaters, which confuses many consumers, is the binding to the heating unit. It turns out that in order to heat the water, you need to turn on the heating even in warm weather. If this principle of heating does not suit you, pay attention to combined type boilers.
The fundamental difference between combined heaters is that in addition to the tubular heat exchanger, they have an electric heating element. The device can heat water autonomously, even if the heating system is turned off.
Advanced Combined System
Drazice offers advanced combined models that can run on gas. In such modifications, the coolant is located in the external tank, the liquid – in the internal reservoir. The devices are equipped with gas burners.
- Plus – the possibility of using different energy sources.
- Minus – high cost.
Important! In cheap models, there is a risk of cracking on the inner surface of the device over time. In order not to have to replace anodes annually and take risks, choose more expensive ones.
Installation
The usual scheme assumes that a number of conditions are met:
- Mounted water heaters are mounted on brackets or anchor bolts.
- Floor put only on a flat surface.
- To speed up heating, it is recommended to place the equipment above the boiler.
- The inlet and return pipes are directed towards the boiler.
- If necessary, installation of a collector or a hydraulic switch is provided.
There are 2 connection schemes:
- through a three-way valve;
- by means of an additional circulation pump.
For ease of dismantling, valves are installed at the inlets and outlets of the pipes from the heater. Put as close to the body as possible to save heat. The safety valve is located at the outlet of the cold water pipe.
The principle of operation of an indirect heater
If you are tired of paying ruinous electricity bills, an indirect type device is for you. Water is heated by contact with the coolant. The boiler can be connected to the heating systems of high-rise buildings and private houses, to gas-fired boilers, to solar panels.
How the system works:
- Inside the apparatus is a spiral or coil. The coolant enters inside.
- The pump circulates the coolant.
- The tank is filled with tap water.
- The coolant heats the water up to the set temperature.
Important! Connecting a boiler will not reduce the heating efficiency. The coolant, having made a circle, will return back to the system. In summer, an electric heating element can be built into the indirect heater.
Advantages:
- Economical. No additional energy sources needed.
- Profitable. The family receives continuous heating of 10-200 liters of water.
- Practical. Any heat source will do.
- Safely. Protection against short circuit and overheating.
- Comfort. Providing multiple points of water intake. Maintain stable temperature.
If a storage heater is working in the house, and one person turned on the water in the bathroom, then the second, opening the tap in the kitchen, will provoke trouble in the shower room: cold water will pour into the bathroom or vice versa, boiling water. This will not happen with an indirect boiler.
Disadvantages:
- High price.
- It takes time to heat water.
- In the summer you need a built-in heating element.
Important! For the system to work efficiently, the boiler must be placed next to the source of the coolant.
Criterias of choice
Tank volume. Depends on the goals and the number of active users.
Heat exchanger design. There are two options:
- Tubular coil: one in standard modifications, two in modifications with possible connection to an alternative heat source.
- A tank in a tank. Containers are inserted into each other. The inner tank is filled with “sanitary” water, the outer tank is filled with coolant.
Tank material:
- enamel coating;
- stainless steel;
- titanium coating.
Pressure. The value is indicated in the specification – it varies between 6-11 bar. The characteristic is important for apartments – pressure surges often occur in the water supply system, due to which safety valves become clogged. To prevent such a situation, it is recommended to install a reducer in the place where the water enters.
Heating element. When the heating is turned off, combined models will help, in which there are additional heating elements powered by gas or electricity.
The principle of operation of the combined heater
The system, in addition to the tank with a coil, is equipped with an electric heating element. Water is heated in two ways:
- due to hot water from the heating system passed through the coil;
- through the electric heating element.
Such a system allows you to save electricity during the heating season and heat water in the spring and summer, when the heating is turned off. There are two types of combined boilers:
- Wall-mounted – are horizontal and vertical.
- Outdoor – are large in size.
Advantages:
- Minimum heat loss – there is a heat-insulating polyurethane foam layer.
- High performance at several points of water intake at the same time. Stable water temperature.
- The enameled surface of the tank prevents the growth of microbes.
- There is a thermostat to maintain the set temperature.
- Durability.
- High heating rate.
- Summertime work.
Disadvantages:
- An additional circulation pump may be required.
- Depends on the operation of the boiler.
- It is necessary to coordinate the work of all engineering systems before buying.
Ways to connect
The indirect heater is connected to the water supply and heating in stages. First – a pipe of cold water:
- bottom pipe for water supply;
- in the middle is the recirculation area;
- water intake points are connected to the upper branch pipe.
Then the coolant is connected:
- hot water flows through the top pipe.
- a coolant flows out of the bottom, giving off heat.
In practice, a connection scheme with a three-way valve is often used. Its result is an automatic 2-circuit system of:
- main heating line;
- boiler heating circuit.
Principle of operation: the valve, reacting to thermostat signals, switches the system. When the temperature in the water supply drops to a predetermined parameter, the valve opens and sends hot water to the coil. When the temperature reaches the desired mark, the valve works again – in the opposite direction, sending the coolant back into the system.
Boiler series DRAZICE
OKC NTR/Z
A budget option. The cost is about 26 rubles.
Indirect heating without electric heating elements. Vertical tank. There is a thermostat – you can connect a pump for circulation and a three-way valve. Water heats up in 15-50 minutes. The tank is covered with enamel from the inside, a magnesium anode is built in to prevent corrosion. The thermal insulation layer slows down the loss of high temperatures.
There are 5 models in the series, differing in volume: 80-200 liters.
OKCV NTR
Key Features:
- Horizontal arrangement.
- Round body, hinged.
- indirect heating. TEN can be installed additionally.
- Water heats up in 25-45 minutes.
- Heat losses – up to 1,4 kW/h.
- Protective magnesium anode. No galvanic effect and no corrosion.
- There is a service hatch, thermometer, thermostats.
Models from 125 to 200 liters.
OKC NTR
The marking of a specific model indicates the number of heat exchangers: NTR – 1, NTRR – 2. Volume from 100 to 250 liters.
Features:
- Floor type.
- There is a redundant connection to different heat sources.
- The inner coating is enamel.
- Magnesium anode.
- Thermal insulation — 40 mm.
- Heats up in 15-35 minutes.
The cost is from 26 to 000 rubles.
OKC NTR BP, NTRR BP
Connection of 1 (NTR) or 2 coolants (NTRR) is provided.
The latest series. Class – budget, from 35 rubles. The maximum volume is 000 liters.
Features:
- Floor type.
- Vertical arrangement.
- Enameled tank.
- At the bottom of the tank there is a special hatch – to service the device.
- There is a branch pipe for connecting to solar panels – only for NTRR modifications from 200 hp.
OKCE NTR/2,2
Combined option. Class – budget, price – 38-000 rubles. Volume – up to 77 l. Fast heating – it takes 500 minutes for the water to reach +300 degrees.
Possibility of autonomous operation thanks to the built-in heating element. The device works with and without a boiler. The power of the heating element is 2,2 kW. Uninterrupted operation.
Polyurethane foam insulation. On the body is a temperature control indicator. The operation of the three-way valve is controlled by a thermostat. As soon as the water cools, the valve opens to allow the coolant to enter. Enamel inside the tank.
The device is equipped with a magnesium anode, so there is no corrosion. Cleaning of scale – through the hatch located on the side. Plus – the heating element is closed in a metal sleeve, so the probability of its breakdown is very small.
OKC/1
Class – standard, price – from 51 rubles. Designed for a large family: in 000 minutes it heats up to +35 degrees.
Cylindrical boiler. Attach to the wall. The water is heated by taking heat from the heating. The volume of the heat exchanger is 1 sq.m, the power is 19 kW. Cooling is prevented by thermal insulation.
For autonomous operation, there is a 2 kW ceramic heating element (supplied). The heating element is closed in a sleeve – there is no contact with water. To replace the heating element, if a breakdown occurs, it takes several minutes. You can simultaneously use a heat exchanger and a heating element, then the efficiency of the device increases.
Reviews
Plotnikov Mikhail, Bryansk
Bought an OKCV 200 NTR five years ago. Over the years, a couple of times carried out prevention – descaling and so on. They changed the anode – since there is a special hatch, so I did all the work myself. There are no complaints about the device, there is enough hot water for the whole house.
Vitaly, Krasnodar
I have been using the Dražice Solar Set boiler for two years. I chose this model because of the use of a solar collector. The device does not fail. The only thing is that the installation took a lot of effort, I think it’s easier to entrust it to specialists. Water diverges to all points – kitchen, bathroom, etc. Note – you need to do prevention in time. Due to the poor quality of water, scale forms, even powerful filters can not cope. During the work, not a single part failed.
The Drazice water heater is the best option for providing water to apartments and private houses. Due to the abundance of modifications that differ in volume and methods of heating water, each buyer can choose the right one. All Dražice boilers are united by one thing – high quality materials, durability, cost-effectiveness.