Timberk

Hot water always within reach or how to choose an electric water heater

Life in comfortable conditions is a logical wish of any person. And one of the necessary conditions of comfort is, undoubtedly, an uninterrupted hot water supply. Facing its absence in summer (sometimes in winter as well), the most optimal solution of this inconvenience is to install an electric water heater.

Water heaters are divided into two types, depending on the principle of water heating: storage and tankless. To make a truly right choice, one should take into account a number of factors, characteristics and features of these types of appliances, as well as a water supply system and a room where a water heater is to be installed.

First step – what is the difference?

For a start, it is necessary to find out what is the difference between a tankless water heater and a storage water heater. The main difference of these appliances is the principle of operation of each of them. The first one heats up water going through high-power electric heating elements, thanks to which hot water comes from a tap almost instantly. Storage water heaters heat up water that was stored in a storage tank inside the appliance and it, certainly, takes more time.

Second step – comparing technical characteristics

However, the rate of heating is not the only parameter allowing to compare tankless and storage water heaters. In order to get a conclusive clarification of the fact what water heater fits specifically your demands better – a tankless or a storage one – it is necessary to analyze a whole set of their characteristics.

To make a qualitative comparison of a tankless and a storage water heater and select the appliance suitable by all parameters, you need to assess such characteristics as:

  • Energy efficiency and power consumption
  • Appliance’s overall dimensions
  • Ease of operation and usability
  • Peculiarities of appliance’s assembly
  • Cost of maintenance
  • Cost of an appliance

At first sight, it may seem that by the amount of power spent to heat up water, their a significant difference between a tankless water heater and a storage water heater, however that is not quite the case. Both appliances consume approximately equal amount of power. The first ones do it more intensively, and storage heaters do it gradually. It’s all about the duration of their operation. Indeed, the first ones switch on for a very limited period, meanwhile the second ones operate almost all the time maintaining temperature of water in a tank.

A more definite answer to the question what water heater is more energy efficient (tankless or storage), lies in the analysis of power consumption characteristics of particular models of water heaters.

The most obvious difference between a tankless water heater and a storage water heater is their dimensions. Their parameters directly depend on the heating method. As for the parameter under consideration, in order to perform a correct assessment as to which water heater to choose – storage or tankless – it is necessary to simply examine a room and find out if there is enough room to hang a large tank.

Ease of operation and usability

Since we are talking about improving the comfort of living, then comparison of a tankless and a storage water heater will be incomplete without this aspect of the matter.

If a water heater is to be used as the main source of hot water in a city apartment (to wash dishes, in a bathroom/shower, for laundry, etc.) then undoubtedly a storage water heater will be more practical in use: relatively small power of an appliance (1.5 – 2.0 kW), high capacity of a storage tank and a possibility of providing hot water for several consumption points at once make it an excellent solution if water supply is suspended. But the rate of heating all water in the tank up to the required temperature is significantly lower compared to the rate of heating of a tankless water heater. Indeed, it will take 20 to 45 minutes to heat up a 30-50 liter tank.

If a water heater is necessary to provide a fast local water supply in small amounts in summer, then the tankless type of the appliance will be more practical – it will ensure water supply of approximately 3 liters per minute, heating it up by Δ20 С (if the appliance’s power is 4.5 kW) with respect to water temperature in the water main. But it is necessary to pay particular attention to reliability of wiring in a room – old or deteriorated wiring will not stand high loads. 5.5 kW and higher tankless water heaters will provide better performance but will require connection to a separate 380V electrical control unit and high-quality wiring.

In a constantly available range of Timberk products you can find a suitable water heater, be it a tankless water heater (from 3-5 kW domestic heaters to industrial ones up to 24 kW) or a storage water heater (10 to 100 liters) that will provide hot water for you and your family 365 days a year.

Timberk water heaters – choose wise!

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