How to use a water boiler

Requirements for a storage water heater

Before using a water boiler, you need to familiarize yourself with its main characteristic features:

When using storage heaters, it takes some time for the water temperature to rise to the optimal temperature.
Water pressure depends on the pressure in the system. Accordingly, storage and instantaneous water heaters will have different operating conditions.
Instantaneous water heaters are cheaper than instantaneous water heaters, but more expensive to operate, since they constantly consume electricity while the tap is open.
The principle of operation of a storage heater is to heat pre-accumulated water to a high temperature and then maintain it at this level. This also consumes electricity, but in much smaller quantities.

Design of a storage water heater Source popechi.ru

Household electric water heaters do not have special requirements for wiring reliability. When connected to a water supply, particularly high pressure is not required.
Gas water heaters operate from a regular gas distribution network, but their connection must be carried out by specialists.
Storage boilers require regular maintenance, especially if there is water in the water supply with a high content of impurities.
It is not advisable to use water from storage heaters for drinking. For flow-through systems, this restriction does not apply.
Boilers usually take up quite a lot of space, especially floor-standing models with a large tank.

An example of placing a water heater with hidden communications Source hobot.by

Water heater device

The operating principle of a storage water heater involves intensive transfer of thermal energy to water for initial heating. Then the heater turns off and starts from time to time to maintain the required temperature. If a large amount of hot water is consumed at a time, the heater again switches to intensive heating mode.

In a flow-through boiler, the heating element must heat the water constantly. But since boiling water is not needed at the outlet, the water temperature usually does not exceed 40-60 °C. But even for this you have to spend quite a lot of electricity. Gas heaters are much more economical - they are all flow-type.

Water heater device:

A reservoir filled with water from a water supply under pressure. In a flow type there is a coil through which water flows.
Housing with a thick thermal insulation layer.
Heating element or magnesium anode. If the boiler is gas - chimney and burner. They will ensure heating of water in the container.
A pipe that supplies cold water and a pipe for discharging hot water from the boiler. It is often equipped with a special valve, which opens when the pressure in the heater increases.

Boiler connection diagram Source otoplenie-gid.ru

An electronic control unit, which receives data from sensors and displays performance indicators on the display panel, regulates the functioning of the entire boiler. There are keys for manual settings of heating indicators (maximum temperature mode and heating speed).

See also: Catalog of companies that specialize in electrical work, design and installation of water supply and sewerage

Types of storage water heaters

Today, manufacturers offer several types of devices for autonomous hot water supply. Each of them has its own characteristics, depending on the energy carrier used and the method of heating water. The home owner chooses a boiler that is best suited in all respects.

Electric boilers

This is a tank, mainly round or oval in shape, which is enclosed in a heat-insulating layer and covered with a decorative cover. The working tank is made of enameled steel or stainless steel.

You can choose an electric water heater to suit any need Source o-vannoy.ru

At the bottom of the tank there is an electric heating element that heats the water to the temperature set on the thermostat. Usually it is 85 degrees.

While there is no water intake, the heater device assumes maintaining the set temperature indicators in autostart mode and turning off the heating element. That is, the heating element will turn off when the water temperature exceeds 85 degrees, and will start again when the water cools down, for example, to 75 °C.

In general, this is the entire answer to the question of how an electric storage water heater works.

Indirect heating boilers

To understand how an indirect heating water heater works, let’s get acquainted with its structure. The main nuance of their work is that they basically do not heat the water themselves, but take heat from the heating circuit of the house. That is, before going into the heating system, water from the boiler passes through a coil inside the indirect heating boiler and gives off some of the heat to the water in the tank. The water from the heating system and inside the boiler do not mix, so heating is called indirect.

Structure of an indirect heating boiler Source etc-tkr.com.ua

Replacing and connecting a thermostat for a boiler

If the water heater does not work, it should not be restarted. If it does not start, it means the unit is not working! And you shouldn’t expect it to suddenly turn on; you need to check for problems. If it is determined that the problem lies in the thermostat, it must be replaced. The main thing is the ability to choose the right device and install it correctly .
Both online resources and consultants in a store or market will help you figure this out. To replace the thermostat, you must perform the following manipulations:

disconnect the boiler from the power supply;
shut off the water supply to the tank with a special valve;
drain all the water that is there from the tank;
remove the bottom panel of the device, this will allow you to get to the heating element;
remove the pressure ring located on the heating element;
remove the sensor in the thermostat and the control unit;
install a new regulator;
return the pressure ring to the heating element;
Replace the bottom panel of the device.

Video description

For a clear overview of the features of gas boilers, watch this video:

The advantage of boilers is that they are able to supply a large amount of water for domestic hot water needs. And unlike storage electric boilers, they do not require a break to heat the next portion of water.

Flow heaters

Now let’s learn more about how a flow-type electric boiler works. Like gas, it is designed to quickly heat tap water.

The heat source here is electric heating elements, which can be located both inside the water pipe (wet) and outside (dry). They will turn on when a hot water tap is opened, for which an additional sensor is installed in the system.

Advantages of such devices:

heated water is supplied immediately and for an unlimited time;
The operation of such water heaters is easy to automate.

Flaws:

high energy consumption;
It is difficult to immediately adjust the heating level, which depends on the pressure in the water supply and the initial temperature of the water in it.

Instantaneous water heaters are smaller in size Source homeli.ru

Operation of an already operating boiler

It is worth noting that during operation the device should never be disconnected from the network. This can only be done in cases where hot water is not needed for some time. At the same time, experienced people say: if hot water is constantly present in the boiler, it will be less susceptible to corrosion. And setting the required temperature is much easier than heating water from scratch.

You may be interested in information on how to choose a water heater

If the tap water has increased hardness, then it is advisable to install a filter in front of the boiler. If you install the device in places with high humidity (bathhouse, sauna, etc.), carefully ensure that droplets of water do not fall on it.

Flow-through boilers differ from storage boilers in the absence of any restrictions on the amount of hot water. Such devices are often installed in only one place (in which they take a shower or wash dishes). But note that when the tap is fully opened, the water simply will not have time to heat up. To reduce heat loss, it is advisable to install the water heater as close as possible to the point of water use.

Prevention of a flow-through boiler

Note! The use of instantaneous boilers is strictly prohibited in rooms where the temperature can drop to zero degrees.

Boiler prices

boiler

Video - Boiler design

Rules for using a water heater

Before using the boiler, you need to consider the following rules:

Initially, the device needs to be installed. Proper installation will determine the service life of the device. When installing, you must comply with the manufacturer's requirements.
Before turning on the heater, you must close the hot water riser. Then the boiler output is connected to it and the system is started. To disconnect, you need to perform the steps in the reverse order.
When the homeowner leaves for an extended period of time, the heater is disconnected from the power supply.
Maintenance of the device is required annually.
The higher the water temperature is set, the more it can be diluted and the slower it will be consumed.
When there are a large number of consumers in the house, the maximum temperature is set.

How to turn on the water heater

So, you are the proud owner of a home water heater. Finally, the “X” day has come, when the hot water is turned off in the entire house, and you can rightfully take advantage of your new acquisition. The only problem is that you have no idea how to use the water heater correctly, which buttons to press and taps to turn to make the miracle machine work.

To properly start a water heater, you do not need to have specialized education; you just need to follow a number of simple steps:

Step one: shut off the hot water supply in the riser pipe. To turn off the water, you need to turn the valve on a special tap clockwise until it stops. The taps themselves are located on the water pipes from the risers. This step is necessary in order to use resources more economically and use the water heater correctly. If you skip this step, your boiler will heat water for the entire house.
This is what the cold and hot water taps in the apartment look like. You need to shut off the hot riser
Step two: turn on the hot water on the faucet. After you turn off the hot water, only cold water will remain in the common pipes. Stopping the flow of hot water from the faucet will indicate that you have completely cut off the supply of hot water in the common pipes. 3. Step three: open the boiler taps. When using centralized hot water supply, the boiler taps must be closed. If we look at the water heater design, we will find three taps. According to the standard, the tap on the right is responsible for the flow of cold water, the tap on the left is responsible for hot water. The faucet located above the cold water tap is the safety valve. It is used for repair work. In our case, we work with the first two taps. First you need to open the cold water tap. Thus, we will start the process of water entering the heater tank. Only after this do we open the hot water tap.
Turn both taps on the water heater
4. Step four: turn on the hot water on the faucet. This action is necessary in order to bleed air from the heater and start the boiler. 5. Step five: connect the boiler to the electrical network. Do not forget to insert the power cord of the water heater into the outlet, after which the power connection indicator on the control panel should light up.

In order to turn off the boiler, you must perform the same steps in reverse order:

disconnect the heater from the power supply;
close the boiler taps through which water flows in and out;
Renew hot water supply in the riser pipe.

To use the water heater more economically, it is recommended to disconnect the heater from the electrical network if you do not plan to resume its operation in the near future.

Using a water heater for water is a simple matter, but many questions may arise during the operation of the boiler. Below are answers to the most common ones.

Boiler market overview

Today, there are many Russian and foreign manufacturers on the domestic water heater market, although the latter are predominantly dominant: MTS, Lorenzi Vasco and others.

Many manufacturers are opening full-cycle production in Russia, producing basic components. This allows us to reduce the price on the domestic market and increase the availability of products for a wide range of consumers. One of these developers is considered to be the Italian corporation Ariston, whose heaters have actually already become a domestic brand.

It has been successfully operating in the Russian market for a long period of time, opening its factories and providing Russians with high-quality heaters. The range of models includes various types of water heating equipment.

Ariston is one of the most recognizable brands of water heaters Source goods.ru