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Water heaters: reviews, how to choose which one is better
Interruptions in hot water are a lot of inconvenience. You should not rely on utilities, it is better to take care of your own comfort in advance. In this article, you will learn how to choose a water heater.
When choosing a device for your home, study the main characteristics and decide which model is right for you.
How to choose a water heater: a way to heat water
According to this indicator, heaters are:
electrical;
gas;
combined.
The main advantage of gas heaters is economical operation. Gas is much cheaper than electricity, this will be especially noticeable if you have a large family and, accordingly, high water consumption. Today, gas water heaters are not inferior in reliability and safety to electric ones.
If you need to heat water for the whole house, and not for individual rooms, then you should purchase a water heater with a capacity of about 25 kW. The principle of operation of the device is as follows: when you turn on the tap with water, an automatic ignition system is triggered, and the burning gas instantly heats the water by the action of a copper heat exchanger.
In such a device, you can independently adjust the heating temperature and head power
Electric appliances heat water with an electric heating element. They are easier to install, are more widely available in various configurations, and can be purchased at any home appliance store.
Combined heaters are much more expensive, they are more difficult to operate, it is hardly advisable to purchase such a device for a house or apartment.
Which water heater is better: instantaneous or storage?
In flow-through devices, cold water flows through a heating element installed in the body of the device. It turns on automatically when you open the tap and instantly heats it up.
Such a heater is relatively inexpensive, but it consumes a lot of energy and heats the liquid to a maximum of 60 degrees.
Storage water heaters not only heat the water to the required temperature, but also maintain it for the required time. Depending on the volume of the heater, their cost varies in home appliance stores.
The advantage of a storage water heater in comparison with an instantaneous water heater is significant energy savings
Disadvantage – water heating takes a lot of time.
How to choose the volume of the water heater? Consider the area of the room where the unit will be located, the number of rooms to which it will supply hot water, and the approximate volume of your family’s consumption.
For finishing the storage tank inside are used:
plastic;
enamel;
stainless steel.
A tank covered with plastic from the inside is cheaper than analogs with other coatings, but this is understandable: it will last much less than analogs. The plastic will deform when exposed to high temperatures.
The enamel is able to withstand contact with boiling water much longer, it is not subject to deformation at all, but temperature drops over time will violate its integrity, cracks may appear. Such a tank does not tolerate heating more than 60 degrees.
Steel is the most reliable coating that does not undergo any changes under the influence of temperature
To choose the optimal model, you should decide exactly which heating method you will use, how many liters are needed for everyday use, take into account the appearance of the device and its cost.
It is better to purchase a water heater that will fit perfectly into the overall interior of the house and match its area. And reviews about water heaters will help you decide on a reliable manufacturer.