Boiler in the apartment - the easiest way to ensure

Installing a boiler in the apartment allows once and for all to solve the issue of heating hot water. But in order for the system to work reliably and efficiently, you need to choose high-quality equipment, as well as properly install it. It is about these aspects that I will discuss in this review, you need to familiarize yourself with all the recommendations and adopt them in order to get the best result.

Types of equipment and recommendations for selection

Electric boiler is the best suited for installation in urban apartments, as its installation does not require the installation of additional engineering structures. We will consider two main types, the use of which is most justified and we will figure out how to choose the right equipment with specific examples. The information in this review is taken from personal experience, so there are no attempts to embrace all the products.

Accumulative water heaters

I consider this option most preferable for use in an apartment due to a number of undoubted advantages:

• Ability to work from a conventional 220 volt outlet, that is, if necessary, you can simply turn on the equipment and turn it off in the same way if there is no need for heating with a boiler. No need to lay a separate cable, which greatly simplifies the installation process with your own hands;
• Heating is carried out using heating elements, placed in a container, the size of which can vary in a wide range - from 10 to 500 liters. Most often in the apartments are used options for 100-150 liters, since this volume is enough to provide the need for hot water for a small family;
• To use as little electricity as possible to heat water, a special heat-insulated tank is used in the construction. In high-quality models, the temperature of the liquid drops by 0.5 degrees in 2 hours, after which the heating is turned on automatically. Thus, the water will always be the right temperature, while energy costs will be minimal;

• An important element of the system is a thermostat., After all, he is responsible for maintaining the temperature at the required level. I advise you to purchase models with an adjustable thermostat, on which you can accurately set the desired temperature, this will allow you to adjust the equipment to your preferences.

Now let's figure out how to choose water-heating equipment wisely, here you need to take into account several aspects:

• First of all you need to determine how many points of consumption will work from the boiler. It is also very important to know how many people will use the system, the optimum capacity of the boiler depends on it. So that you do not sit at the calculations and delve into all the nuances, I have presented the table below, everything is simple and clear in it, and you need to choose the option that is optimal in your case;

Note! The principle “The more - the better” is irrelevant here, because too powerful equipment will consume much more electricity, and the time for heating will be different. So the capacity of 10 liters is heated to 45 degrees in about 10 minutes, while for heating 100 liters you need 3-4 hours.

• All electrical equipment is divided into classes of energy consumption, try to choose the option that is the highest class. Typically, the difference in performance is not very large, but given the fact that the boiler will be used for many years, it is easy to understand that over time you will save a lot of money;

• Another very important factor is the availability of free space in the room, the form and type of boiler depend on it. As for the shape, it can be cylindrical, elongated or flat. As for the types, there are two of them: wall and floor systems, the first takes up less space, the second is easier to install, so you need to decide which option is right for you.

It is impossible to consider the question of how to choose a boiler for an apartment, fully considered without specific options and the most preferred brands.

I will talk about the most popular manufacturers and highlight a few specific models that have proven themselves best over the past year:

• The brand "Thermex" is exclusively engaged in the production of water heaters, so it rightfully occupies the first place among most professionals. As for the specific option, I want to highlight the “RoundPlusIR 100V” model - a boiler with a capacity of 100 liters heats up in 40 minutes, fully mechanical control is reliable and durable. The cost is about 14,500 rubles, this is a very reasonable price for such an offer;

• Another company whose products are in demand is Polaris, at a reasonable price the equipment is reliable and easy to use, it is excellent for our conditions. As an example, I want to talk about the compact model “FD-20V” with a capacity of 20 liters, it has an attractive appearance, small dimensions, and the magnesium anode and the stainless steel tank cover guarantee long-term operation. The price ranges from 7,500 to 8,500 rubles;

• The company “Ariston” produces a lot of high-quality products, and the water heaters of this brand are distinguished by reliability and durability, the main thing is to choose the equipment of the required volume. As for the specific example, I want to highlight the “ABSVLSEVOINOXPW80” model with an 80-liter stainless steel tank, electronic control and an attractive design. The cost of such a boiler is about 18 000 rubles;

• The “Elektrolux” concern is also well known to customers, as this brand produces many types of household and water heating equipment. Boilers of this manufacturer have high reliability, attractive appearance and are easy to use. As an example, I want to show you the model “EWH 100 RoyalSilverH” - a horizontal water heater with a thickness of only 290 mm with a simple mechanical control will perfectly fit even in a limited space.

There are other manufacturers who produce good boilers, I talked about the most common and popular ones.

Now let's figure out how to install a boiler in an apartment, the work is pretty simple, but you need to carefully deal with each aspect in order to avoid mistakes:

• Before you install your own water heater, you need to prepare a place for it. Heavy options with a volume of 150 liters are placed on a pre-leveled floor surface, if necessary, it can be strengthened with a specially assembled frame from the board. Wall constructions are hung on special brackets that are included, the most important thing is to firmly fix them on the wall; for this purpose, self-tapping screws or dowels are used;

• Now let's figure out how to connect the boiler in the apartment to the water supply, there are a few simple rules. At the input to the system and directly in front of the water heater itself, shut-off valves are installed, the easiest way is to use ball valves. Also on the cold water inlet there should be a safety valve that will ensure the movement of water in only one direction, for maximum clarity, I presented all the information in the form of a diagram;

• Another important part of the work is to connect the system to the electrical network, the connection scheme in this case should provide for the presence of an automaton and RCD. Below is a picture in which all the main elements are simply and clearly marked, it is important not to forget about grounding, since this is a prerequisite for the safe operation of the structure.

I want to tell you more about how to ground the boiler, since it is for this reason that difficulties arise most often with this part of the work, there are several options:

• You can connect the wire to the heating or plumbing pipe;
• In panel structures, metal embedded elements can be used as grounding, since they are also connected to the ground through the reinforcement cage;
• The easiest option that I use most often: re-grounding or, as it is often called by experts, zeroing. The essence is simple: the ground wire is closed to the neutral wire of the electrical wiring and this is done in the distribution board; you should not do this at the outlet.

After completing the work it is important to fill the container with water before turning on the electricity, in any case, do not forget about this aspect.

Flow equipment

This option is different from the above in many ways, consider the most important of its features:

Along with all the above advantages, this solution has one major drawback - the level of energy consumption is high, which varies from 3 to 25 kW. This makes it a permanent use irrational, and if you use the option of high power, you will have to lay an additional line of 380 volts.

Is it advantageous to put a flow heater for permanent use? Definitely not, since its energy consumption is large, while the cumulative structures with consumption of only 2-3 kW are more efficient with large volumes of water.

Tip! This option is great as an emergency in case of disconnection of hot water or accidents in the system, you can use it for a short time, while you still need to try to save water, otherwise you will be very surprised by the electricity bill.

Recommendations on the choice of equipment are as follows:

• If you have laid a standard line, it is better to use a heater with a capacity of up to 8 kW. If you install a more powerful version, then I strongly recommend laying a separate cable from the panel to the outlet to which the boiler will be connected, this will eliminate wiring problems in the future;
• Performance should be at least 2 liters per minute, but it is better if it is more - about 4-6 liters, this is enough to meet basic needs for hot water;
• Do not buy cheap options of dubious origin, they also consume much more energy and durability of such heaters are several times lower;
• Pay attention to the type of pipe liner, it can be both lower and lateral. You need to take into account the peculiarities of your communications in order to find the best solution.

If you do not know which brand to choose, then I can recommend the following options:

• The Russian manufacturer Termeks also makes flow heaters, which are very reliable and popular among buyers. The cost of the average option is about 5000 rubles;

• The company "Electrolux" offers many options of different power, which are suitable for a variety of purposes. Quality meets all international standards. And the cost varies in a wide range and can be from 4 to 14 thousand rubles, depending on the model;

• If reliability is important to you, then I advise you to pay attention to the German flow heaters "Aeg", which have a warranty period of 10 years. These are very high-quality products with a pleasant design.

Connecting to the plumbing system and the installation scheme to the electrical network is no different from the above described option, so it does not make sense to dwell on this aspect in detail.

Conclusion

The use of boilers in the apartment is an excellent solution for uninterrupted hot water supply. As a permanent option, it is better to use storage type heaters, and flow systems are perfect as a temporary one. The video in this article will tell you more about some of the important nuances, and if you have any questions, write them in the comments below.