Heater for the shower - comfort in all conditions guaranteed

Devices of this class allow to satisfy the need for hot water, even if there is no centralized supply. Because of this, you can take a shower with comfort even at the cottage, where you can only dream of a centralized water supply. The main thing is not to make a mistake when choosing, for example, a flow heater for a shower works a little differently than a cumulative heater, this should be taken into account.

Types of heaters

At first glance at the cottage you can do with a regular stove and a bucket of water. But gardeners, for obvious reasons, strive for the usual comfort of a city apartment. Take a shower, wash your hands, the dishes are much more comfortable and pleasant in warm water than in cool water.

Sometimes you can do without unnecessary complications, for example, a simple tank for a shower with a heater will allow you to refresh yourself with comfort not only in summer, but also in autumn. But if you need to provide a house with hot water, you will have to choose a more complicated model.

Water heaters can be classified according to several criteria, for example, by the method of heating a liquid or by source of energy, power, etc. Not all models can be considered universal, for example, a gas heater for a shower in an apartment will be absolutely useless in a non-gasified summer house.

By the principle of operation, it is possible to distinguish such types of heaters as:

• the flow-through cold tap water passing through the coil has time to heat up. Such devices are produced quite powerful and in the case of weak wiring they cannot be called the best option. For example, a model with a capacity of 5 kW is able to provide heating of about 1.5 l / min;

Note! To connect more powerful devices may need a 380V network. Not in every case it is possible to ensure the fulfillment of this condition.

• in storage models, water is simply drawn into the tank and heated by heating elements. The power of such devices is much less than flow-through analogues, but the heating time is also increased. A sufficiently large (100-300 l) storage water heater for a country shower can warm up the required volume of water for 45-60 minutes, or even longer, but you can connect it to a normal electrical network.

You can also give a classification of water heaters, depending on the method of obtaining heat.

Possible options:

• with electrical connection - conventional heating elements. Most often, this method of heating is used in cumulative models; a heater for a country shower can be considered a classic representative of this class of devices - a usual fairly capacious tank, inside of which heating elements are located;

Note! Quite often, such models are additionally equipped with thermostats for easy temperature control. So it is very convenient to use them.

• gas heaters - gas is burned, and the resulting heat is used to heat the water. Heaters of this group can be produced either with forced pitch or with natural one;

• using solid fuels (coal, firewood, pellets).

Also important is the mode of operation of the water heater.

So, flow models can be produced based on working conditions:

• in pressure mode. That is, it provides for its connection to the centralized water supply. Safety requires the installation of equipment that regulates the pressure in the heater, so that the price of the device increases;

• in free-flow mode.

The above classification will provide only a general idea of ​​the types of water heaters. In order to guarantee not to make a mistake with the choice, it is necessary to consider in more detail the finer points of choosing a heater and the design features of different models.

Flour choice and water heaters

When choosing a water heater, you need to take into account a number of factors, for example, installation location, required productivity, heating rate, wiring condition (for electrical models), etc. It is also good to have at least a general idea of ​​the design of such heaters.

Flow heater device

The instantaneous shower water heater is usually electrically heated.

Briefly, the operation of the device can be described like this:

• a duct sensor is installed on the cold water supply pipe - it records the volume of water entering the heater;
• then cold water gets into a small tank in which the heating elements (heating elements) are located. The circuit also uses a relay that automatically turns on the heating elements based on the data received from the flow sensor.

Note! The equipment depends largely on the purpose of the water heater. For example, a simple heater for a summer shower is likely to be equipped with a minimum.

• For safety reasons, such devices are necessarily equipped with sensors that record the temperature of the water. This is necessary to prevent overheating and failure of the heating elements. Most often, you can set the desired temperature and the sensors will simply maintain it periodically by turning on / off the heating elements - this will save energy.

Flowing water heaters can also be gas. In this case, inside the water heater, the pipe passes through a coil (a tube bent several times), and the heat from the combusted gas has time to warm it up to the desired temperature.

As a water heater for a shower in the country, such models definitely should not be considered, but as an option for hot water at home is a good choice. The only problem when installing in country houses is the lack of gasification, and gas from a cylinder will not work.

Storage heater device

Structurally, such devices are simpler than flow-through devices; moreover, they can be used not only in the house, but also for a device, for example, a summer shower.

Of course, the device of storage water heaters differs depending on the manufacturer, but there are some general points:

• hot water is taken at the top. Simple physics - warm water accumulates at the top of the tank;
• Heater can be one or more, depending on the power of the device;
• an anode is also installed on which the scale will settle;
• as for the tank itself, it is insulated so that the water cools more slowly. Inside, the inner tank is covered with enamel or other protective coating.

Also, such water heaters can be equipped with automatic devices that turn off the device when the required temperature is reached. For example, a shower cabin with a storage water heater allows you to turn on the water heater in advance, so that by the time you need to take a shower there is already a supply of hot water.

Inexpensive option for a summer shower

Not all of these models are suitable for heating water for a summer shower. In this matter, not so much the functionality of the heater comes first, as its cost and ease of installation, so the question of how to heat a summer shower should be considered separately.

Options for heating water for the shower, you can list a few:

• the simplest is to install a dark flat plastic tank on the roof of the shower stall and wait until the sun heats up the water. On summer days it is quite possible to get 150-250 liters of water at a temperature of about 45-50? C;
• if the budget allows, you can purchase a model with heating elements. Externally, such a water heater will look like a regular shower barrel with a heater, it is desirable to choose the option with the ability to automatically turn off the heating element;

• various homemade water heaters can also be quite productive. We’ll dwell on them a bit more.

A do-it-yourself shower water heater usually uses solar energy for heating.

It may differ except that the design:

• the simplest option is an iron container painted in dark color. A fitting is slammed into the bottom, and a hose with a shower head is attached to it;
• You can slightly complicate the task and place 2 tanks on the roof. In one organize the supply of cold water, in the other embed the heating element with a regulator, you can place a mixer in the shower and get almost a complete analogue of the urban shower at the dacha.

Do not forget about the solar collectors - these devices also use solar energy, but the water temperature is higher and can be used all year round.

Instructions for the manufacture of such a device is quite simple:

• the collector body is a regular box without gaps, painted black on the inside;
• the coil from a steel or copper pipe keeps within it;
• on top of the box is covered with a glass sheet;
• organized water supply to the shower.

Note! It is also advisable to install a valve to relieve excess pressure.

In conclusion

Installing a heater for a summer shower allows a person not to depend on weather conditions. Even on a cool autumn day, you can safely use the shower in the country. The material proposed in the article will allow to orient in a variety of existing models of water heaters and make a justified choice.

The video in this article shows an inexpensive version of a homemade country water heater for a shower.