Which electric boiler is best for heating a private home? Electric boiler for heating a private house: subtleties of choice Electric boiler for heating a private house

Electric heating boilers are actively used to heat households not connected to gas mains. They are characterized by extreme simplicity and high efficiency, giving consumers warmth. This review will provide information about energy consumption and reviews of electric boilers for heating a private home. You will learn about the most popular models and see what users say about the heating equipment they use - this will help you make the right choice.

Electric heating boilers are characterized by many heating features:

  • Compactness - there are no bulky heat exchangers, combustion chambers or gas units;
  • High efficiency - it approaches 100%, since electricity is almost completely converted into thermal energy;
  • Easy to operate – the equipment does not require regular maintenance;
  • No installation permit required - installation is available anywhere.

Among the negative features, we can highlight the high electricity consumption - heating with electricity is always very expensive. For example, the cost of heating a household with an area of ​​100 square meters. m. can be about 25-30 thousand rubles/month. (based on 1 kW/h per 10 sq. m. area).

Water electric boilers are in demand where there is still no gas pipeline - there are still many such places in Russia. They replace difficult-to-use and expensive solid fuel and liquid fuel units, significantly simplifying human life. They can also be used as backup equipment, turning on at times when there is no fuel or no gas supply.

To heat large houses, powerful electric boilers are used, connected to three-phase electrical networks.

Popular models

Next, we will look at the most popular electric boilers for private homes, in demand among buyers. These are models from foreign and domestic manufacturers with good technical characteristics.

We have before us a fairly powerful electric boiler, on the basis of which we can build a heating system in a private house. It operates from two types of networks - single-phase and three-phase. The power of the unit is 9 kW, the efficiency is 99.5%. The boiler is made in a wall-mounted form factor and comes with a built-in piping - there is a circulation pump and a 7-liter expansion tank on board. The maximum pressure in the circuit is up to 3 bar, the coolant temperature ranges from +30 to +85 degrees. Additional features and functions:

  • Connection of heated floors - in addition to the main heating;
  • Built-in protection systems;
  • Self-diagnosis.

If you decide to use an electric boiler in your heating system, feel free to purchase the presented model.


If you need the simplest electric boiler without additional functions and any frills, pay attention to this model. The device is the simplest electric boiler, made in a flask-shaped body and equipped with a simple heating element. Its power is 2.62 kW, the maximum heated area is up to 25 square meters. m. To control the temperature, it has a simple thermostat. Installation method: floor. There are no additional functions on board.

The main advantage of the model is its affordable price, about 5 thousand rubles (may vary within small limits).


We have before us the best electric boiler according to users. Heating a private house with an electric boiler EVAN WARMOS-RX 9.45 220 will be very simple - the device is equipped with an advanced electronic control system. Its power is 9.45 kilowatts, the heated area is up to 95 square meters. m. To ensure efficiency, increased service life and reduce the load on the electrical network, the unit is equipped with multi-stage power control (5 stages). There is a circulation pump inside. If necessary, external heating control systems are connected to this electric boiler.

User reviews

If you are planning to purchase an electric boiler, it will be useful for you to find out what users say about certain models. This information will help you make the right choice. Therefore, below we will present to your attention real reviews about electric heating boilers received from existing users.

Electric boiler Protherm Skat 6 KR 13

Alexei, 29 years

I have been installing heating equipment for five years now. During this time, dozens of systems were installed, so we have a lot of experience working with electric boilers. But most of all I liked working with equipment from Protherm. First of all, we should highlight its high quality; there were no complaints from users. And secondly, these electric boilers greatly simplify installation work, as they are equipped with pumps and expansion tanks. It is not surprising that owner reviews of Skat 6 electric heating boilers are positive.

Advantages:

  • High level of reliability - electric boilers operate without breakdowns, delighting consumers with warm heating pipes;
  • Possibility to be powered from any network - 220V or 380V;
  • It is possible to work with heated floors - many people use this.

Flaws:

  • They make a little noise when working, but you can’t hear it in other rooms;
  • Occasionally there are complaints about leaks.

They cannot highlight any particularly striking shortcomings. Is it the cost, which varies from 27 to 30 thousand rubles.

Electric boiler EVRAZ EVP-6

Ruslan, 42 years

For a long time I wondered which electric boiler is best for heating a private house with an area of ​​45 square meters. m. The criteria were as follows: affordable price, extreme simplicity, reliability. As a result, I settled on equipment from EVRAZ. I chose a 6 kW model to have a small reserve. The electric boiler can operate from a single-phase or three-phase network and heat an area of ​​up to 54 square meters. m. During operation, a complete breakdown was detected - one of the heating elements burned out, the repair was carried out under warranty. It heats well and quietly, does not require maintenance. I consider heating with an electric boiler in a private house the best option, since there is no need to bother with diesel fuel or firewood.

Advantages:

  • Lowest price - took for 4000 rubles;
  • There is nothing superfluous - the fewer additions, the higher the reliability of the equipment;
  • Durable steel body;
  • A minimum of control elements is an ideal choice for organizing heating in a private home.

Flaws:

  • In the first year of operation, the electric boiler broke down - the heating element failed;
  • The thermometer and pressure gauge must be purchased separately;
  • Clicks when switching heating elements.

This is the cheapest and simplest electric boiler, so no increased demands can be placed on it.

Electric boiler Vaillant eloBLOCK VE 6

Maksim, 33 years

When I was going to buy an electric boiler to provide heating in my village house, I immediately decided that I would take equipment from well-known brands. The store praised Vaillant, saying it works like a Swiss watch. I listened to the advice, purchased the equipment and began installing the heating. For the first 3-4 months, joy knew no bounds - the house was warm and comfortable. Then problems began, first the heating elements failed, then the circulation pump stalled. After a few more months, the device began to make noise, and the heating was still warm. Contacting the official service did not solve the problem.

Advantages:

  • Neat design that captivates the consumer;
  • Built-in pump and tank;
  • Simple controls;
  • Built-in security systems;
  • Self-diagnosis;
  • Ability to operate in antifreeze mode.

Flaws:

  • He has some kind of problem with heating elements, he constantly has problems with them;
  • Not the most responsive service;
  • I didn’t notice any vaunted efficiency; it consumes a lot, like any other electric boiler - heating operation costs a lot of money, even at rural prices.

It would do well for the manufacturer to refine his brainchild.

Electric boiler Protherm Skat 9 KR 13

Oleg, 49 years old

Choosing an electric boiler for autonomous heating in a private house was not easy - there are a lot of models on sale, there are cheap and expensive ones, and you can’t immediately figure out which is better and which is worse. Winter was approaching, there was a risk of being left without heating and without a winter holiday outside the city. In this regard, the decision was made to purchase a Protherm Skat 9 electric boiler. Area up to 82.5 sq. m, so the power output was what was needed, with a small margin. Over the past two years, the electric boiler has not shown its best side. The heating was warm, but the reliability of the equipment was minimal. Constant breakdowns, a lot of deficiencies - this is what will await you when purchasing this model. If you need heating from the mains, choose an electric boiler from another manufacturer.

Advantages:

  • Good appearance, somewhat reminiscent of gas equipment. Since the house was excellently renovated, a nice boiler was needed;
  • Simple controls - you can figure it out without instructions, everything is intuitive;
  • Compact design is the last advantage of this electric boiler.

Flaws:

  • This is not heating, but torture - the electric boiler regularly breaks down, as scheduled or according to a schedule. The last time the circulation pump failed, we had to spend money on a replacement;
  • The official service charges exorbitant bills for repairs; literally all of their breakdowns are considered non-warranty. Some claim that they did not connect according to the instructions. But the instructions do not contain any strict requirements - screw it to the wall, connect it and you're done;
  • Sensitivity to voltage changes.

In a word, this is far from the best option for installing heating in a private house.

Video

How to choose an electric heating boiler? In what cases is heating with electricity justified? What should be the cable cross-section for connection? What is the required boiler power? How to reduce your electricity bills?

Let's try to answer these questions.

Heating with electricity is a controversial solution. Let's find out more about him.

General features of electric boilers

It is clear that electric heating devices differ in a number of criteria. However, they probably have a number of common properties?

We want to have an idea of ​​what to expect from a purchase.

  • Only low-power heaters that consume no more than 3.5 kW can be connected to a regular outlet. Actually, on any outlet the current limit is always indicated - 16 amperes. Simply multiplying 16 by 220 gives us a peak power of 3520 watts.
  • Boilers with a power of up to 12 kilowatts are available with the possibility of single-phase connection. In practice, however, it is strongly recommended to connect devices from 7 kW to 380 volts.

Attention: to connect the boiler, a separate copper cable with a cross-section of at least 1 millimeter per 8 amperes of peak current is thrown from the panel.

  • No matter what the advertising claims, all direct-heating electrical devices have the same efficiency of 100 percent. All wasted electricity is completely converted into heat.
    Another thing is that if the boiler design is unsuccessful, this heat, instead of heating the coolant, can be dissipated on the body of the device; but when installed inside a heated room, it will also serve as heating.
    Thus, when choosing an electric boiler, you can compare the durability, convenience of different devices, their safety, but not their efficiency.
  • Electricity is currently the most expensive source of heat. Be prepared for huge bills. At the same time, it is an excellent source of thermal energy in terms of safety and ease of use.

Advantages and disadvantages

Let's try to summarize what we will gain and what we will lose when installing an electric heating system.

pros

  1. Compactness. Intended for heating houses of moderate size, electric boilers are wall-mounted and take up minimal space in the house.
  2. No need to remove combustion products. They simply don't exist.
  3. Fire safety. Open flame is not used.
  4. Environmental friendliness. Heating with electricity does not pollute the environment.

A nuance: there is some logical stretch here. In a country where most electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels, the argument is somewhat flimsy.

  1. Installation is extremely simple. Especially considering that many devices have a safety group (safety valve, automatic air vent and pressure gauge) located inside the case. In fact, you just need to supply power and connect heating devices.
  2. No fuel required. Neither a woodpile, nor a mountain of coal, nor a container of diesel fuel will take up space in your yard.
  3. capable of maintaining the required temperature of the coolant or air indefinitely, without requiring fuel loading, cleaning or any maintenance. Compare with a solid fuel boiler, which requires at least two loads per day.

  1. The price of finished devices is minimal compared to modern gas or solid fuel boilers. In addition, it is easy to make a heating element boiler for heating a small room with your own hands by placing a tubular heater in a register filled with water or oil.

Minuses

They exist and are very significant.

  1. It has already been mentioned that in terms of the cost per kilowatt-hour of thermal energy, electricity as a heat source is in the lead by a significant margin.
    Let's do a simple calculation: calculate how much it will cost to heat a house with an area of ​​about 120 m2. Let's take the average daily boiler power equal to half the required thermal power - 6 kilowatts.
    6 kW/hour (hourly average consumption) x 24 hours (length of day) x 4 rubles/kilowatt (current cost of electricity) = 576 rubles. Every day and only if the house is very well insulated: actual consumption somewhere in Siberia may well turn out to be at least twice as high.
  2. The required electrical power in rural areas is often difficult to provide. 380 volts is quite rare.
  3. Wire theft has decreased, but has not stopped completely. The chances of waking up without electricity, somewhere in the outback, are still quite real. You shouldn’t forget about snowstorms and overhead power lines being cut by falling trees and branches.

For rural areas this is a very real picture.

conclusions

Electrical heating is justified when:

  • There is no main gas in your area;
  • You periodically leave the house unattended and cannot maintain the operation of the solid fuel boiler.

Please note: in case of a long power outage, it is better to use antifreeze rather than water as a coolant.

Boiler types

What are they?

heating elementnew

The traditional design consists of a water tank and several tubular heaters immersed in it. Each of them provides 1.5 - 2 kilowatts of thermal power; the total power is regulated by their stepwise connection. Circulation is provided by a pump, which, as already mentioned, is often located in the body of the device.

Main design features:

  • In systems with running water, where part of the coolant is continuously renewed (for example, due to water withdrawal from the circuit), tubular heaters inevitably become overgrown with scale. At the same time, the thermal power decreases and the temperature inside the heating element increases.
    Theoretically, this could lead to premature failure of the heating element; in practice, however, electric boilers are most often used in systems with a constant volume of coolant, and scale does not become a problem.
  • These boilers have a minimal price. The construction is many years old; the technologies are well-established, it is positioned on the market as a budget solution, so there is no reason for it to be expensive.
  • The safety and reliability of boilers depends entirely on the quality of the automatic temperature and pressure control system. A coolant leak can lead to overheating of the heating elements.

The photo shows the insides of this type of boiler.

Induction

What happens if you place a ferromagnetic core inside a coil wound with a thick wire and pass current through it?

As Michael Faraday showed in the early 19th century, a current will also arise in the core. If it is variable in the coil, and the core is a circuit closed on itself, we will get a continuous back-and-forth motion of charged particles. Heat.

That's exactly how it works. Its working part is a dielectric pipe in which the core is placed. The coolant moves through the pipe. A coil is wound on the outside, the current in which causes the core to heat up.

These devices have two nice features:

  • Compactness. Relatively powerful induction boilers may differ slightly in thickness from the heating circuit with a length of no more than a meter.
  • Extreme resiliency. There is simply nothing to break in this device. The only weak point is the control electronics unit, which is usually located outside the housing.

A serious counterargument is the high cost of boilers. Its reason lies solely in the market positioning of the devices: their production technology is no more complicated than heating elements solutions; In addition, the pump and safety group are usually located outside the housing.

Electrode

These boilers use a different physical principle for heating: alternating current is passed through water with a certain electrical resistance. Remember the military double-blade boilers? This is roughly how these heaters work.

The list of key features here is:

  • Boilers are absolutely safe. If the coolant leaks, the heating will stop - simply because the heat source is the coolant itself. No current will flow between the electrodes in the air.
  • Only water can be used for heating. Moreover, water that complies with GOST “Drinking Water”, with a strictly defined amount of salts.
  • After a certain operating time, the boiler requires maintenance - replacement of electrodes. They gradually dissolve in water.

How to choose an electric boiler for heating a house based on its operating principle? Just weigh their features and decide what is most important to you.

Power

As already mentioned, the thermal power in the case of electric heating is equal to the electrical power.

  • The basic value is 40 watts per cubic meter of heated volume.
  • Each window adds 100 watts, each door adds 200.
  • For southern regions with a warm climate, a coefficient of 0.7-0.9 is taken. For the European part of the country - 1.2 - 1.3. For the Far East and Far North - 1.5 - 2.0.
  • In a private house, the need for thermal power additionally increases by 1.5 times due to large losses through the floor and roof compared to an apartment.

So, for a house in the Krasnodar region with an area of ​​80 m2, with five windows, one door and three-meter ceilings, you will need (40W x 80m2 x 3m + 500 W (windows) + 200 W (door)) x 0.7 (regional coefficient) x 1 .5 (coefficient for a private house) = 10815 watts.

Options

What else should you pay attention to when choosing a boiler?

  • Safety. Sensors of not only temperature, but also pressure, which turn off heating when it rises or falls, are extremely desirable.
  • Use as an instantaneous water heater. The function is useful, but keep in mind that with a large water supply, the need for electrical power will be enormous. If it is limited, it is better to use an indirect heating storage heater or even a separate boiler.

Saving

Is it possible to reduce electricity costs?

  1. Include a heat accumulator in the boiler piping. The instructions are relevant for those cases when cheap nightly electricity tariffs apply in your region. During the period of lower prices, the boiler will heat water in a heat accumulator - a thermally insulated tank with a volume of 300 - 2000 liters; During the day, heat will be transferred to heating devices.
  2. In the off-season, until the temperature drops significantly below zero, it is much more profitable to heat with air conditioners in heating mode. For every kilowatt of electrical power spent, they will pump up to 5 kW of heat from the street into the house.

Useful: in the example given with a house in Krasnodar, air conditioning can be heated all year round. Two to three inverter split systems with a thermal power of 3 to 3.5 kilowatts each are quite sufficient in practice; in this case, the actual electricity consumption will not exceed 2 - 2.5 kW.

How not to make a mistake when choosing an electric boiler for your home heating system? Moreover, nowadays you can find quite a lot of different types and models on sale. In order to determine which electric boiler is better for heating a private home, let’s get acquainted with their main types and find out the advantages, disadvantages and operating features of each of them...

What kind of electric boiler can be used to heat a private home?

Electric boilers for heating systems in private houses may differ:

The power of electric boilers can be from 1 to 18 kW or more.

The choice of power depends, firstly, on the purpose for which the boiler is purchased. If it will be the main source of thermal energy for the heating system, then its power is calculated in accordance with the area (volume) of the heated space and the heat loss of the external building envelope (walls, windows, doors, floor, ceiling, roof). On average, you can focus on 1 kW of boiler power per 10 m 2 of house area.

If the electric boiler is planned to be used as additional heating, for example, in tandem with a boiler running on another type of fuel (gas, solid fuel), then its power may be less - 1-4 kW.

The maximum power of an electric boiler also depends on what voltage it is designed for: 220 V (single-phase current) or 380 V (three-phase). Single-phase boilers rarely have a power of more than 6-7 kW. Therefore, if you need a higher power electric boiler, you need to ensure that there is a three-phase input in the house.

Types of electric boilers according to the method of heating the coolant

Among the variety of electric boilers, according to the method of heating the coolant, three types can be distinguished:

  • Heating element or electric boilers with tubular heaters;
  • Electrode;
  • Induction.

Each of these types of electric boilers has its own design features, advantages and disadvantages, which may affect the choice of one or another option. Therefore, in order to find out which one is better suited for heating a private home, let’s look at them in more detail.

New heating element electric boiler

Electric boilers of this type have been known for a long time. To heat the coolant in them, one or more tubular heating elements (heating elements) are used - this depends on the design and power of the unit. The heating element is a metal tube with a spiral inside.

Tubular electric heating element (TEH)

The main element of a boiler of this type is a heat exchanger - a sealed, heat-insulated container with pipes for supplying and discharging water (coolant), into which a heating element - heating element - is mounted. In addition to this main element, such units are equipped with control and protective equipment that allows you to set a certain operating mode and ensure safety and long service life.

Many models of heating element electric boilers are also equipped with a circulation pump, which ensures forced movement of the coolant. In this case, there is no need to install such a pump yourself in front of the boiler.

Advantages of a heating element electric boiler:

  • Relatively low cost;
  • The operation of such units is safe and time-tested.

Flaws:

  • The possibility of scale formation on heating elements and, as a result, a decrease in operating efficiency. To prevent this, the water used as a coolant should be as “soft” as possible (ideally distilled);
  • The spiral in the heating element may burn out over time and will need to be replaced.

Electrode electric boiler

Sometimes an electric boiler of this type can be called ion, ion exchange or electrolysis, which is explained by the method used in converting electrical energy into heat. Although we are always talking about the same type of electric boilers - electrode.

Electrode electric boilers

A boiler of this type heats water (or a special liquid) - the coolant of the heating system, using its ability to heat up by flowing between two electrodes to which an alternating voltage is applied. The coolant liquid (water or special) in this case is one of the elements of the electrical circuit and must have certain properties:

  • Have a strictly defined electrical conductivity, which means the presence of salt ions or hardness;
  • Do not have mechanical contamination, as solid particles can lead to premature destruction of the electrodes.

Operating principle of electrode electric boilers

Such electric boilers can be either single- or three-phase, with a power from 1 to 16 kW.

Advantages:

  • Simple design and small size;
  • Low cost;
  • Absence of heating elements and associated troubles (scale, burnout of the coil);
  • A sudden or temporary lack of coolant in the system does not lead to boiler failure;
  • Low sensitivity to voltage changes in the network - although the power decreases, the boiler will continue to operate;
  • Low inertia - allows you to quickly heat the coolant in the heating system and quite effectively regulate operation in automatic mode.

Flaws:

  • The coolant in the system must have a certain electrical conductivity, which must be controlled and maintained at the same level;
  • It is not possible to use ordinary antifreeze liquid in the system, and the cost of a special one is quite high;
  • During the electrolysis process, a certain amount of electrolysis gases is released;
  • The power of this type of boiler depends on the temperature of the coolant - as it increases, its electrical conductivity and electrical power consumption increase;
  • A fairly reliable grounding is required, since due to the specific operation of such boilers, it is not possible to use protective shutdown devices, and, consequently, the likelihood of electric shock increases;
  • Difficulty in implementing stepwise power control;
  • Over time, due to electrolysis, the electrodes wear out.

Induction electric boiler

This type of boiler appeared relatively recently. Therefore, they are sometimes confused with ionic (electrode) ones. But their operation is based on a completely different method of heating the coolant - using an induction current arising in a ferromagnetic heat exchanger. For example, induction electric stoves operate on this principle.

Operating principle of an induction electric boiler

The design of such an electric boiler is a housing in which an inductor winding is placed, inside which a metal core-heat exchanger is placed. The heat exchanger can be made in the form of a labyrinth of pipes or cavities. Voltage is applied to the housing winding (inductor coil). The electromagnetic field created in this case very quickly heats up the metal core, which, in turn, transfers this heat to the heating system coolant flowing through it.

The quality and type of coolant for such a boiler do not play a big role, since microvibrations occurring in the core practically prevent the appearance of scale on the walls of the heat exchanger. As a coolant, you can use ordinary water of any hardness, antifreeze or even oil.

Due to the absence of scale, the operating efficiency of such a boiler does not decrease over time, and the service life is quite long - manufacturers promise 30 years or even more.

Advantages of an induction electric boiler:

  • You can use any type of coolant;
  • There is no need to replace heating elements (heating elements or electrodes);
  • Operation efficiency does not decrease due to scale, since it practically does not form in the heat exchanger;
  • Fast heating (about 5-7 minutes);
  • Safe work;
  • Long service life.

Flaws:

  • The price is higher than heating elements or electrodes;
  • Can only be used in a closed heating system with forced circulation;
  • The weight of such an electric boiler is greater than other types - about 30-40 kg, depending on the power.

Which one is better to choose?

Having found out what electric boilers can be, we can conclude that if you do not take into account the cost factor, then an induction electric boiler is best suited for heating a private house: its service life is quite long and the type of coolant in the system can be any. If the cost of the boiler is decisive for you, then it is better to opt for a time-tested heating element electric boiler or a newer electrode one. But then you will have to come to terms with the disadvantages that such units have. Moreover, there will be fewer problems during operation with the heating element option.

As for operating efficiency, in practice, the efficiency of all types of electric boilers is initially quite high - more than 95%. And the only difference is that in some units it may decrease over time due to the action of certain factors. For example, in heating element boilers this can happen due to scale on the heating elements, and in electrode boilers - due to a change in the electrochemical properties of the coolant or its temperature. In induction boilers, theoretically this problem does not exist, but this type has not yet been sufficiently tested in practice. So, we have provided you with information for thought, and the choice, as always, is yours.

Thanks to the rapid development of modern technologies, new, more advanced devices appear on sale every day that make our lives comfortable. This applies to the range of products in any industry. The field of heating systems is no exception.

Today, many manufacturers have begun to mass produce boilers. This equipment has many advantages.

Features of work

Everyone knows from physics lessons that not a single energy can arise from anywhere and does not disappear into nowhere. Thermal energy is converted from electrical energy and serves to heat the room.

Many today prefer heating a private home. The cost of this equipment varies from 5,800 to 77,000 rubles. It depends not only on the novelty of the equipment, but also on its technical characteristics. At the moment there are several options

Types of electric boilers

All electric boilers can be divided into three types:

  • Heating elements.
  • Induction.
  • Electrode.

They differ from each other primarily in the method of heating the coolant.

In addition, all electric boilers for home, depending on the mounting, are divided into:

  • Wall-mounted.
  • Floor-standing.

Depending on the network voltage, the equipment can be:

  • Two-phase.
  • Three-phase.

These boilers can also be:

  • Single-circuit.
  • Double-circuit.

The cost of heating with an electric boiler depends on the type of equipment chosen.

Heating elements new boilers

This electric boiler works on the same principle as an electric kettle. Special ones are placed inside the boiler. These are tubular heating elements. In such boilers, water often acts as a coolant. It is heated in flow mode, due to which there is a natural circulation of hot water in the system.

Advantages of heating element boilers

Have you decided to heat your private home with an electric boiler? Reviews about this type of equipment are more detailed. This equipment is small in size and can be easily placed on the wall. You should also take into account its attractive appearance. Installation of a heating element electric boiler is quite simple. The device is equipped with temperature control equipment that can control all processes without the attention of the owners. Such equipment is often characterized by the presence of two sensors.

How heating of a private house is organized with an electric boiler, reviews, price - all these are questions that you can clarify at the points of sale of the equipment. The price of a heating element electric boiler varies in the middle ranges. This equipment can work with various types of coolants: from water to antifreeze. The home owner can independently regulate the power of the equipment, turn off or turn on all tubular heating elements. In this way, you can save energy consumption from time to time.

Disadvantages of heating element boilers

Unfortunately, scale often forms on the surface of heating elements, as in the case of a kettle. This negatively affects the quality of heat transfer, which leads to increased energy costs.

Induction electric boilers

Home heating is based on the principle of electromagnetic induction. Visually, it resembles a transformer located in a welded metal casing. The inductor is located in a sealed compartment, which eliminates the possibility of its contact with the coolant. When heated, the coolant gives off heat to the core in the coil, which constantly moves around it.

The dimensions of this equipment are quite large, but manufacturers annually improve this model, reducing its dimensions.

Advantages of induction equipment

  • This electric boiler does not have a heating element, which eliminates the possibility of breakdown.
  • There is practically no scale formation.
  • Both antifreeze and water can be used as a coolant.
  • Characterized by a high level of safety.

Disadvantages of an induction boiler

Not everyone can heat a private home with an electric boiler. The cost of induction equipment is quite high.

Unfortunately, to install this equipment it is necessary to prepare a sufficient area, because the dimensions of the equipment are quite large.

Electrode electric boilers

Electrode boilers differ from electric heating elements in the way they heat the coolant. This type of electric boiler does not have tubular heating elements. Instead, there are electrodes. The electrode is not a heater; it is capable of transmitting current to the coolant. The water, in turn, heats up due to its own resistance. This occurs due to the interaction of negatively and positively charged molecules at the molecular level under the influence of the electrode.

The most popular in our country is heating a private house with an electric boiler. Reviews confirm this.

Advantages of electrode boilers

The main advantage of this equipment is its small size, which allows installation in any room. The cost is acceptable for many residents of our country.

Disadvantages of electrode equipment

Before introducing coolant into the system of this equipment, it must be prepared. Normal operation of the boiler is possible only with a certain specific resistance of water. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to independently measure these indicators, as well as normalize them. Therefore, you should use the services of specialists.

Only water can be used as a coolant. It is necessary to regularly monitor its circulation in the system.

It is necessary to regularly replace the electrodes, because they dissolve in the coolant over time.

Features of electric heating

Unfortunately, there is nothing permanent in our country, as in the world. And every year there are many disputes on the topic: “Will electric heating be cheaper?”

Today they believe that heating a private house with an electric boiler is unprofitable. Reviews say that over several years the energy consumption for heating a country house far exceeds the expenditure for gas heating. But electric heating equipment is several times cheaper than gas heating equipment. This is easy to explain.

The price of electricity increases every year. Many people who decide to install cheaper equipment risk facing power outages and high prices. In addition, do not forget about force majeure circumstances, for example, bad weather conditions. But electric heating has many advantages.

Advantages of heating a country house with electricity

It is very important for owners of private houses to decide on the type of heating equipment. After all, such houses are often characterized by a significant area, and the house must be warm.

Using electricity for heating is beneficial because:

  • High level of safety during operation.
  • Low costs and minimal installation time.
  • There is no need to search for fuel.

Many consumers already heat their private homes with an electric boiler. Reviews from most of them indicate that it is better to choose The latter allow you to use both gas and electric heating. This is an ideal option in case of force majeure situations. Electricity can help out in any situation when, for example, bottled gas runs out. And gas will become indispensable in the event of a thunderstorm or heavy snowfall, when electricity is often cut off.

Therefore, the ideal option for heating with electricity in a country house is to have additional sources that can help out in an unforeseen situation.

Electric boiler installation

It is possible to organize heating of a private house with an electric boiler yourself! Compared to gas and solid fuel boilers, it is quite simple. But you must strictly follow all the rules and requirements.

Advantages:

  • There is no need to allocate a special room for the equipment. Due to their minimal dimensions, most electric boilers can be installed anywhere. And the modern design of the equipment can fit perfectly into any room interior. If you wish, you can hide the boiler in a special niche.
  • Special ventilation systems or chimneys may not be used. This equipment does not create waste that threatens human life and needs to be disposed of.
  • Connecting the equipment is easy.
  • The heating scheme with an electric boiler is quite simple, so the installation and connection of this type of heating does not require approval and approval from the relevant authorities. Also, in the future, systematic checks, which often bring discomfort and conflicts, will not be carried out.

Conclusion

Heating a private home with an electric boiler is an innovation, but it is gaining popularity every year. Thanks to the availability of various modifications of equipment for heating with electricity, you can find a suitable option for a particular structure. Before purchasing equipment, each home owner needs to calculate the power of the electric boiler for a specific room, taking into account all heat losses. Therefore, you should worry about insulating the building in advance. This will avoid troubles associated with the heating system.

In the case where a country house is considered as a place of permanent residence for a family, it is impossible to do without efficient heating. Well, if the owners take this issue seriously, then most likely they will opt for a full-fledged heating system with a water circuit. Properly planned and installed pipe distribution, rationally placed radiators in the required quantity throughout the rooms ensure optimal uniform heat transfer to all rooms, open up the possibility of fine adjustment of the heating level, which has a positive effect on the created microclimate in the house and on saving energy resources. But which boiler should be used to heat the coolant circulating through the circuit?

If at your place of residence it is possible to connect to a gas main, then, of course, the choice will be made in favor of a gas boiler - this is by far the most inexpensive source of energy. But what should those owners do who do not have such an opportunity? There are several solutions, and one of them is electric heating boilers, how to choose which will be discussed in this publication.

General advantages and disadvantages of electric heating boilers

To begin with, before moving on to considering the types of electric heating boilers, it makes sense to dwell on their general advantages and, alas, disadvantages. And the advantages of such devices are especially noticeable at the stage of creating a heating system

If a water heating system is created, then its design and installation, in principle, does not particularly depend on the type of future boiler. In any case, this will be a fairly large-scale and very labor-intensive event, requiring significant material costs, which, one way or another, cannot be avoided. But when installing the electric boiler itself, the advantages of such equipment immediately appear. A quick comparison can be made.

1. Gas is by far the most economical type of energy source available today. However, it is no secret that running a gas main to a house immediately results in very significant costs. Very often you can find houses that are not gasified, the owners of which simply cannot afford to pay even for laying a branch line from the main line.

The next aspect is that even if gas is supplied to the house, no one will ever allow you to install the equipment yourself. The owners have to go through a difficult path of bureaucratic procedures, starting from drawing up a project and ending with its approval by many different regulatory authorities. And all this is a considerable expense only at the stage of preparation for the actual installation work.

Do not forget about the mandatory conditions for installing a gas boiler - well-thought-out ventilation systems and removal of combustion products. This will also entail additional costs.

And finally, the installation and commissioning of gas equipment has the right to be carried out exclusively by specialists from specialized organizations, which, as a rule, are monopolists in this matter, which, of course, is reflected in the price level.

Thus, future savings on energy resources result in very significant initial expenses, even without taking into account the cost of the gas boiler itself.

2. What about solid or liquid fuel equipment? There are also many difficulties here.

First of all, such a boiler will definitely require a separate room, equipped in accordance with existing rules. A chimney is required, and if in the case of a gas boiler it is possible in some cases to get by with a short coaxial one with forced removal of combustion products, then with solid fuel or solar equipment a full-fledged one is required.

There is no way to avoid approval procedures with regulatory organizations - solid or liquid fuel boilers, whatever one may say, are the most dangerous from a fire safety point of view.

In any case, you will have to prepare some kind of storage for fuel reserves - it takes up a lot of space and requires a special approach to organizing storage. Solid fuel boiler equipment will be appropriate if the owners really have access to cheap fuel.

Such boilers require very frequent intervention in their operation - loading fuel and monitoring its combustion. Even installing long-burning equipment only partially solves the problem - loading, one way or another, will have to be done manually. Well, automated systems for supplying granulated fuel (pellets) are very expensive, and pellets are also not cheap.

And finally, another drawback is that such equipment is least amenable to the processes of fine-tuning, automation, operation programming, etc.

3. Well, now we will talk about electric boilers. What are their undeniable advantages?

  • The operation of such equipment has nothing to do with combustion and open flame - completely different physical principles are used here. From a fire safety point of view, electric boilers can be called the most reliable, if, of course, they have high-quality electrical wiring installed and the necessary safety devices are installed.
  • It also follows that the operation of the boiler is not associated with the emission of combustion products. Even the slightest possibility of carbon monoxide poisoning is completely eliminated. There will be no costly measures for installing a combustion product removal system and additional ventilation.
  • Such advantages entail another advantage - an electric boiler does not require a separate boiler room at all. In principle, it can be installed in any room in the living area of ​​the house. Its operation does not involve the release of any gases or even unpleasant odors.

Modern compact wall-mounted electric boilers fit perfectly into the interior and become almost invisible when installed, for example, in the kitchen, hallway or small utility room.

Moreover, if heating is required for several rooms of a small house, miniature electric boilers are often installed, placing them near the radiators, where they are even difficult to notice.

The only thing that can impose certain restrictions on the placement of equipment in a residential area is the noise from the operation of automation units of some models, or a slight vibrational hum characteristic of induction installations.

  • In most cases, if the total boiler power does not exceed about 8 ÷ 10 kW, no approvals from regulatory organizations will be required. This means that the installation can be carried out on your own, well, perhaps with the assistance of a qualified electrician.

In accordance with the order of the Government of the Russian Federation, the commissioning of facilities owned by individuals does not require obtaining permission from state technical supervision if they are used for domestic needs and have a total power of no more than 15 kW. That is, to connect a boiler whose power is in the range indicated above, a standard power line connected to a residential building will be sufficient.

“Going through the authorities” will be necessary if more powerful equipment is required, and it is advisable to install a three-phase power line for it.

By the way, many electric boilers have the ability to connect to both single-phase and three-phase networks. Their rated power in the technical documentation is shown in two numbers, separated by a fraction, for example, 7.8 / 14.0 kW.

  • Electric boilers are extremely easy to operate and control and do not require constant monitoring or user intervention. Many modern models have very convenient control panels that allow you to make fine adjustments to the operation of the heating system.

Moreover, electric boilers fit perfectly into the “smart home” system that is gaining popularity these days. If you purchase the appropriate set of equipment, you can make maximum use of preferential tariffs (night or holiday), program the operation of the equipment for minimum consumption during the day, when no one is home anyway, and bring it to the desired level by the time residents arrive in the evening, manage boiler by transmitting signals via mobile communications or IP protocol.

  • It is clear that using electricity to heat a house will not require any additional costs to create storage facilities for fuel.
  • Electric boilers, as a rule, are much simpler in design, which also determines their price - modern gas or solid fuel installations will cost much more.

All of the above would sound very nice if it were not for the significant disadvantages of electric boilers, which, alas, cannot be avoided, and which stop many potential owners from such a purchase:

  • In the first place, of course, is the high cost of electrical energy. Before purchasing such equipment, you will need to carefully calculate the “accounting” of future monthly costs.

It is clear that with such a cost of energy, you will have to pay the greatest attention to the thermal insulation of the entire house (apartment), since it would be completely unreasonable to waste money on unnecessary heat loss. In addition, the importance of precise control of the heating system is increasing in order to use all energy saving reserves.

  • The use of an electric boiler will impose certain restrictions on the structure of the heating system itself. So, for example, you will have to abandon an open system, especially since it has natural coolant circulation - it is uneconomical in this regard.

In addition, not all heating radiators are suitable. Two extremes immediately disappear: light steel radiators and heavy cast iron batteries - both of them will lead to unnecessary energy losses with insufficient operating efficiency.

The best options are bimetallic radiators or, with some reservations, which will be discussed below, aluminum ones.

  • Some electric boilers are very demanding on the quality and chemical composition of the coolant used.

Such a heating system becomes completely dependent on power supply. If there are frequent power outages in a populated area, then you should not even think about purchasing such equipment. No, even the most powerful uninterruptible power supply systems will come to the rescue here. True, there is the option of using combined boilers, for example, “wood-electricity”, but this requires a completely different approach to creating a heating system.

Combined wood-electricity boiler

Combination boiler prices

combi boiler

  • Some electric boilers really do not like voltage drops in the network. This issue, of course, can be solved quite simply by installing a power stabilizer, but this will again entail new costs.

What general parameters should you rely on when choosing a boiler?

In this section of the article, only general selection criteria will be considered, which apply to all electric boilers without exception. Below when it comes. Actually, about the types of equipment, this information will be supplemented with specific features characteristic of specific varieties.

You might be interested in information on how to choose

Boiler power

You should always start with this parameter - most of the other criteria will depend on it. Well, the boiler power itself depends, in turn, on a number of characteristics of the building or apartment where the heating system is supposed to be created.

There is a common opinion that for high-quality heating and replenishment of heat loss, 1 kW per 10 m² of heated room area is sufficient. To give a rough estimate, this may be true. But still, this approach does not take into account many nuances that can affect the efficiency of heating a house. This may include the height of the ceilings, the number, type and size of windows, the presence of entrance doors or exits to an unheated balcony, the degree of insulation of the walls, vertical proximity to rooms (attics, basements, unheated rooms, etc.), climate features in the region of residence . Moreover, even the location of the rooms on the cardinal points matters (the north side will always require more heat). And since we are talking about expensive electricity, then even the method of connecting heating radiators becomes important - this can also provide some cost savings.

Formulas for calculating the required power are very complex and cumbersome. Therefore, we will take the liberty of offering the reader a convenient method of calculation using the calculator below. It already takes into account the most basic parameters affecting the consumption of thermal energy. The method involves calculating the power for each of the premises, followed by summing up the values ​​and creating the necessary reserve.

To begin with, you should turn to the plan of your property that each owner has. The dimensions and area are probably indicated there. The remaining parameters will not be difficult to determine simply by walking around the rooms a little.

To make it easier to understand, let's give an example:

The figure shows a completely arbitrary house plan, for which it is necessary to calculate the thermal power of the boiler.

To calculate the power of a heating boiler, it is advisable to make a small plate in which the individual characteristics of each room should be placed. In this case it will look something like this:

The room, its area, ceiling height. Floor insulationThe number of external walls and their main location relative to the cardinal points. Degree of wall insulationNumber, type and size of windowsAvailability of entrance doors (to the street or to the balcony)Required thermal power (including 10% reserve)
Area 42.1 m² 7.8 kW
1. Hallway. 1.24 m². Ceiling 2.8 m. Poorly insulated fieldNoNoOne0.5 kW
2. Hall. 3 m². Ceiling 2.9 m. Insulated floorNoNoNo0.4 kW
3. Living room. 14.1 m². Ceiling 2.9 m. Well-insulated floorTwo. East - South. Average degree of insulation.Two, single glazing.No2.1 kW
4. Utility room. 2 m². Ceiling 2.8 m. Well-insulated floorNoNo0.2 kW
5. Kitchen. 5.3 m². Ceiling 2.8 m. Well-insulated floorTwo, North, East. Average degree of insulationTwo, ordinary wooden frames. 1000 × 900 mm.No1.3 kW
6. Combined bathroom. 2.4 m². Ceiling 2.8 m. Well-insulated floorOne, North. Average degree of insulationNoNo0.3 kW
7. Bedroom. 14 m². Ceiling 2.8 m. Well-insulated floor.Three, mostly South and West. Average degree of insulation.Three. Single glass unit. 1200 × 900 mmOne3 kW
TOTAL:

For an example of calculation, let’s take a region with an average minimum air temperature in the coldest decade of the year - in the range from - 25 to - 35 ° C. The house has an average degree of wall insulation (brickwork without high-quality external thermal insulation), and there is an unheated attic on top of the premises.

Please note that the last two points in the calculator below will be the location of heating radiators. They are shown in order from the most effective connection methods, with the least loss of thermal energy, and then - as their heating efficiency decreases. For electric heating, this can be very important in terms of saving energy consumption.

Now all that remains is to sequentially enter the values ​​for each of the rooms - and determine the required amount of thermal energy for high-quality heating and replenishment of heat loss. In the calculations, a 10% power reserve is immediately introduced so that under the most unfavorable conditions the equipment does not operate at the limit of its capabilities. The sum of the values ​​in the right column will give the required power of the electric boiler.