Crane nozzle for heating water: is it advisable to install

12-06-2018

Water supply

In situations where the hot water supply is either completely absent or not stable, a tap nozzle for heating water can be the way out. This very compact device works according to the flow principle, and in some cases is really useful.

However, as practice shows, advertising somewhat exaggerates the effectiveness of such tips. That is why in the article we will try to understand how such systems work and what are their strengths and weaknesses.

Nozzles-mixers with integrated heaters are quite popular

Overview of the heating tips

Principle of operation

The heating nozzle on the faucet can be made either as a separate module that is put on the spout, or as the mixer itself:

The first option is much less reliable, since small dimensions do not allow to place inside a more or less powerful water heater, nor a shutdown system in case of overheating or short circuit.

Water heaters in the form of a sink mixer make up the bulk of the market share.. Inside they have a heating element, through which water flows under pressure. The main disadvantage of these structures compared with individual nozzles is the high price and the need to dismantle the old mixer.

As a rule, all products are manufactured according to a single structural scheme:

The body is made of either stainless steel or technopolymer. Despite the fact that the nozzle on the tap - instantaneous water heater - is designed for a temperature of not more than 60 ⁰C, you should not buy models from cheap plastic. Such savings can lead to the fact that with prolonged use of the product it is deformed by the influence of hot water.

Inside the case there is a heating element connected to the electrical network. The control of the heating element is carried out using a separate handle, which allows you to completely turn off the device with a centralized supply of hot water.
The operation of the entire system is regulated by thermal sensors and RCDs. The presence of the built-in control group significantly increases the cost of the nozzle, but then you will be sure that the design will be reliably protected from short circuits, and you will not suddenly get a jet of boiling water from the tap.
An additional component of such a heater may be a filter that captures large contaminants. A simple metal mesh, attached to the heating element, significantly extends its service life.

The water, passing through the filter, enters the heating chamber, where upon contact with the helix its temperature rises to the value set in the settings. In this case, the higher the power of the heater, the faster the heating occurs.

Note! Most models can not cope with the maximum pressure, because hot water can be obtained relatively thin stream.

Advantages and disadvantages

As seen in the photo, the product is quite compact.

To understand, whether the nozzle on the crane - water heater will suit us, it is necessary to analyze its strengths and weaknesses. To facilitate the task, we have brought all the information into a single table:

pros

Minuses

Fast heating. No need to wait until a large amount of water reaches the temperature we need: we simply turn on the faucet and after a few seconds we get hot water for washing and washing dishes.
Compact size. To install the nozzle does not require a separate place: even the largest products of this type are not much larger than a kitchen mixer in their dimensions.
Attractive appearance. Heating elements are produced in different buildings, so if you wish, you can find a product for a classic kitchen, for an old-style room, and for a high-tech interior.
Easy do-it-yourself installation. If you know how to install a conventional faucet, then with a flow-type heater you are guaranteed to cope.

High energy intensity. The power of heating elements used in such devices is from 2.5 to 4.5 kW. It seems a bit, but with regular use of the electricity bill will be rather big.
High load on the wiring. Very often, to connect a mixer with a flow-through heater, you have to lay a separate cable, since the wires connected to the outlet melt under load.
The risk of short circuits and failure of the thermostat. If you use a cheap nozzle on the faucet, then the chance to get an electric shock or scald a stream of boiling water is quite real.

Note! The instruction recommends connecting all such devices via RCDs, but quite often this requirement is ignored.

As you can see, when comparing the advantages and disadvantages, we can observe a certain parity. However, if you choose really high-quality models, but in their segment such devices may well be effective.

If desired, you can find very attractive models.

Installation Recommendations

Despite a number of limitations that we have cited above, the scope of application of flow-through heating nozzles for a crane is very extensive.

So, the installation would be the most justified:

In apartments and private houses with unstable hot water supply. If you turn off the hot water with an incomprehensible frequency, you will have to either spend money on the purchase of such a device, or wash with cold water.

Note! If shutdowns last more than a month, then instead of such a system it is better to install a full-fledged boiler: its efficiency will be much higher, and it is more convenient to use it.

In country houses and in country cottages, i.e. where hot water is needed in limited quantities.
In the kitchens of houses with independent gas heating. In order not to run the boiler for the sake of washing several plates, it is quite possible to use such a compact device - it will turn out faster, more convenient, and cheaper.

For the country kitchen or washstand such models fit perfectly

Conclusion

The tap on a water heater is a rather specific device: you should not use it for a full-fledged water supply, but it is quite effective as a backup system capable of solving small tasks. In more detail to study the specifics of the work of such structures and finally decide whether you need them, you can while watching the video in this article.