With the advent of water heaters, hot water is no longer a luxury. If one is installed in a house or apartment, rolling blackouts in the summer do not pose a problem. When choosing equipment, the buyer is concerned not only with its design and cost, but also with how much the operation will cost. How much energy does the boiler consume? How to calculate monthly expenses? Using our formula, you will calculate how much the unit is cheaper to use.
Varieties of water heaters
The amount of electricity consumed directly depends on the principle of operation of the boiler. Heating equipment is divided into two types:
- Cumulative. Includes a metal tank of any size. Water accumulates inside, which is heated by a heating element. To save resources, the liquid is heated to a certain temperature, after which the device turns off. A sensor is provided to maintain the values. He reports a decrease in temperature, and the heating element turns on again.
- Flowing. Doesn’t have a tank. Water circulates through pipes and enters the heater. Passing through it, the liquid reaches the desired values. The energy consumption for heating water depends on the inlet temperature.
It is believed that flow devices consume more electricity, because their heating elements have more power. But unlike accumulative boilers, the flowers turn on only from time to time.
To choose the right equipment and not pay bills for the consumption of extra resources, find out how much the device “pulls” per day. It is good if a counter is installed in the house. Then it is enough to divide the readings for the month by the number of days. This will be the amount of energy that your family needs.
Calculation of electricity consumption
What data is needed for calculations:
- capacity of the water heater;
- Device power;
- How long does it take to heat water;
- Energy consumption in kilowatts – indicated in the documentation.
If we take the average indicators of water consumption, then a family of three people takes 25 liters per day. This is enough for taking a shower and household needs. For four people and daily bathing, 250 liters will be required. Calculations are simplified with a counter.
Important! When buying, it is worth considering not only the volume of the tank. Do not forget that during operation, the hot stream mixes with the cold one, so less heated fluid is consumed.
So, how much does the meter wind when operating a 50 liter boiler? The formula will help you figure this out:
T=0.00116*V(T2 –T1)/W
- V is the capacity of the tank.
- T2 – heating temperature (about 70 degrees). T1 is the inlet temperature.
- W is the power of the heating element.
We will take approximate indicators – 2 hours, during which heating occurs.
Looking at the documentation, we find that the power is 2 kW / h. Therefore – 4 kW / day. Now divide the result by the time at which the boiler rests: 4:12 = 0,3 kilowatts. This is how much is needed to maintain the temperature of the water in the tank.
It remains to find out the total amount of electricity consumed per day: 4 + 0,3 = 4,3 kW. Multiply this figure by the number of days in a month: 4,3 x 30 = 129 kilowatts. To get an idea of how much money it will take to pay your bills, multiply this figure by the cost of electricity in your area.
Do you think a larger boiler draws a lot of resources? Carry out a similar calculation for heaters of 80 and 100 liters. Approximate heating time of volumetric technique is 180 minutes. Multiply 2kW by three cycles and you get 6kW. We calculate: 6 x 30 days = 180 kilowatts. This is the energy that will be used to heat the water.
How useful is a storage tank? It depends on your needs. It will fit perfectly in a house where water or electricity is often turned off. Thanks to the layer of thermal insulation, the unit retains heat well. Electricity consumption will depend on the frequency of use of equipment.
Flow Heater Calculations
The protochnik is recommended to be installed in summer cottages or as an additional source of heating in the house. Most often, devices are connected directly to the mixer, so they do not depend on the pressure in the line. But the outlet water does not always have a comfortable temperature.
The documents indicate the degree of heating, which is added to the inlet temperature. For example, +40 degrees. Thus, with an input of 15 ° C, the output will be 55 ° C.
So the flow type is more suitable for household needs. Exceptions are high power products that require separate wiring.
For calculations, we take the average figures: 50 liters per day and a power of 4 kW. Productivity – 2 liters per minute. We divide the displacement by productivity: 50/2. We get 0,42 hours or 25 minutes.
Now 0,42 x 4 = 1,68 kW. If you calculate for a month (30 days), then 50,4 kW will come out. As you can see, the myth that the heater draws a lot of light has been dispelled. The only thing in which the protochnik is inferior to the drive is the heating temperature. In the first case, it is not suitable for daily use.
Thanks to these formulas, you can choose the technique rationally. Video on the topic will help you: