How to choose an electric boiler: TOP 5 best models rating 2020-2021, technical characteristics, pros and cons

Design and device

All gas heating boilers have a similar design and principle of use. Boilers differ in the type of heating and control, but have a number of unifying properties.

Main design elements:

heat carrier with built-in heating elements;
Remote Control;
temperature limiter.

Models sometimes include a circulation pump with a tank, filters and a safety valve.

Properties of electric boilers:

a regular outlet can only support heaters with a power of no more than 3.5 kW;
single-phase connection is built into boilers with a power of up to 12 kW. But it is recommended to connect devices with a power of up to 7 kW to 380 volts;
The efficiency of the boilers is approximately the same, equal to 100 percent. The energy spent turns into heat;
Electric boilers require a lot of energy, so customers need to be prepared for high costs.

Electric boiler design

In the most general case, the design of an electric boiler looks like this. There is a steel container with pipes for connecting the supply and return pipelines of the heating system. It has built-in devices of different designs for heating boiler water - induction coils, electrodes or heating elements.

Photo source: kit.byklimatkotlyelektricheskie

They determine the cost of the boiler unit (in descending order). In some cases, thermal insulation of parts of equipment in contact with heated water, a built-in circulation pump for it, and more are provided. There must be elements of automation (air vents, thermistors, pressure gauges, etc.), protection (against overheating, current leakage) and thermal power control.

How to choose?

To choose an electric boiler, the client should pay attention to the characteristics of the devices; they should also be taken into account before purchasing.

Number of circuits

Single-circuit boilers heat the coolant in the heating system . To provide hot water, you should choose an additional water heater or a double-circuit boiler.

Their design includes two operating circuits, one for heating, the other for providing hot water. But these boilers consume a lot of electricity, increasing the cost of water and heating.

Power

The main parameter you need to pay attention to is the power of the electric boiler. It is worth considering the area and intensity of heat loss of the building. When the supply voltage decreases, the power also decreases.

If you use a double-circuit electric boiler for hot water supply, then a power reserve of up to 25% is provided.

Supply voltage

The next point is the type of supply voltage. Most often, boilers have low power, and the power comes from a single-phase 220V network.

If you need to connect more powerful equipment up to 10 kW, then you should lay a separate connection line.

Equipment

The basic equipment of the unit consists of the following elements: circulation pump, expansion tank, safety group, temperature sensors and programmer.

Safety

Additional protective devices of the device will help save electricity and protect the owner from breakdowns. The fuse is located outside the device.

NOTE!

It is advisable that the fuses have different directions - they are triggered by overheating, freezing of the coolant, or critical measurement of electricity data.

Installation

When installing, it is worth considering the location where the unit is installed. This can be wall mounted or floor mounted .

For heating a private home, a wall-mounted installation is more suitable. But if the device is large, the client may only have the full version. In this case, it is worth putting the unit away in a storage room or a special boiler room in the house.

For an average apartment, it is better to choose a wall-mounted design of devices.

Heated area (calculation)

It is worth taking as an example the calculation for a room of 18 sq.m., the formula will look like this:

18 sq.m x 100 W = 1800 W

It turns out that an hour of heating eighteen square meters will require 1.8 kW of power. The result is divided by the heat that is released into a certain part of the heating radiator.

If we take into account the 170 W passport data, then we should:

1800 W/170 W = 10.59

The resulting number is rounded up to the nearest whole number - 11. Therefore, it follows that for an area of 18 sq.m, it is recommended to purchase a unit with 11 sections.

To heat an area of 160 m2, the boiler power should be 16 kW.

It is worth carrying out the calculation for an apartment area of 65 m2 with three-meter ceilings:

Determine the power by area - 65m2/10m2 = 6.5 kW;
An adjustment is made for the region - 6.5 kW * 1.2 = 7.8 kW;
25% should be added, taking into account water heating 7.8 kW * 1.25 = 9.75 kW;
10% is added to account for cold temperature: 7.95 kW * 1.1 = 10.725 kW.

The result is rounded to a power of 11 kW.

Control

When choosing a control, you should consider the convenience of the design and ease of use. Basically, boilers have electronic panels with several keys and a rotary switch. But there is also something completely mechanical.

It all depends on the personal preferences of buyers, which it is advisable to voice before purchasing.

Additional functions

When paying attention to additional functions, take into account the built-in controls that complement the functionality.

All additional options also need to be checked with the manager in a specialized store..

Protection from cold temperatures;
Fuses are installed to prevent excessive temperatures;
Thermometer for determining temperature;
Indication when the device is activated;
Blocking nas also has protection;

Types of electric boilers

All electric boilers can be divided into three groups:

heating elements new
electrode
induction

The main element of the first group of electric boilers is a thermoelectric heater, abbreviated as TEN. Additionally, it has built-in power controllers and temperature sensors.

The operating principle of such an electric boiler is quite simple: the equipment’s heat exchanger heats the water, which, in turn, transfers heat to the room. The big disadvantage of this type of boiler is that during long-term operation, scale may be deposited on its walls. This, in turn, negatively affects his future work.

There is also another type of boiler - electrode . It contains an electrode as a heat exchanger, which transfers electricity to the coolant. Under the influence of current, water is split into ions, which pass to the electrodes of the corresponding polarity. During this process, the coolant heats up quickly

In this boiler, the electrodes will have to be replaced periodically, as they tend to dissolve

Another modern option for electric boilers are induction boilers. They heat the room using an inductive coil that heats the coolant. The disadvantages of this installation are the large size of the boiler and the high price.

This article will help you assemble and install an electric boiler yourself:

Types by heating type

Heating elements new boilers

Such devices have several heaters in the form of pipes and plates located in a tank of water. Designed for heating water. They have a rather bulky design and take up half the bathroom. The boiler power is adjusted using the control panel. When carefully choosing a device, it is worth considering the dimensions that can be installed.

Advantages:

Suitable for private homes;
They have a simple design and control;
Nice price for devices;
Operation using various coolants is permitted.

Flaws:

Impressive size of the unit;
When using water, scale may form;

Electrode boilers

These boilers use a different heating method - built-in electrodes that create a potential difference . The type of carrier is an electrolyte, due to dissolved salts in water. Water resistance and conductor provide heating.

Advantages:

Compactness;
The simplicity of the design ensures a low price.

Flaws:

Only water with a certain resistance can be used as a coolant;
Long-term use requires replacement of electrodes.

Induction boilers

They have a more complex design for private houses . Inside the pipe there is a core around which a coil is wound. When connected to the network, a current appears in the coil and heating occurs due to electromagnetic induction.

As a result, the core temperature increases.

Advantages:

The unit is not afraid of wear and serves for quite a long time;
Scale or overheating is not dangerous;
The type of coolant does not matter, the main thing is that it is liquid.

Flaws:

Complex design;
Very high cost.

Main types of electric boilers for heating

The operating principle of this equipment is based on the fact that the incoming electricity heats the coolant, which ensures heating of the water. The type of electric boiler depends on how the coolant is heated. There are 3 types of them:

Heating element electric boilers are the basis for the design of this type of equipment; A heating element is a thermal heating element - a tube, inside of which there is a spiral that conducts current. The heating element, hermetically built into the pipe, heats the water in it. A circular pump ensures uniform distribution of water throughout the pipeline;
An electrode electric boiler is also called ion, ion exchange, electrolysis. And all because the conversion of electricity into energy occurs thanks to electrodes. The coolant (liquid of a certain chemical composition) is supplied in such a way that it ends up between the electrodes, voltage is applied to them and the water is heated;
Induction electric boilers - heating of the coolant occurs due to the occurrence of induction current. The design is based on a metal core on which wires are wound. Current is supplied through them, an electromagnetic field appears in the core and it heats up. Energy is given to the coolant, which heats the water.

What parameters should I pay attention to?

When purchasing, you should know the area of the room for which you are purchasing the electric boiler . Then the client will have a clearer idea of what size unit he needs.

The most compact electrode ones, but you can also find small models with heating elements.

Using a boiler as the main source of heating is an unaffordable luxury, given the high cost of electricity . To heat water, it is better to have an additional boiler or storage water heater. Taking into account all the features of the devices, it is worth consulting with a specialist and explaining to him in which room the heater will be installed.

Then the likelihood of purchasing the required unit increases. Models have a variety of options, which determine the cost of the devices.

IMPORTANT!

When choosing functionality, you should take into account only those that will definitely be useful when using the boiler.

Taking into account all the features and options of each model, electric boilers become an indispensable purchase for private home owners.

Basically, devices with heating elements are purchased, since it is easiest to find a suitable model in this line. But other options may be more suitable for a commercial space, factory or enterprise.

Economical models of electric boilers with high efficiency

For home heating, most people purchase heating element boilers. They are the least hassle and are much cheaper than induction or electrode. In addition, the electrode will have to be replaced frequently, which is not very profitable. Among the boilers with an electric element, we can highlight the equipment “ KOSPEL EKCO ”, manufactured in Poland and having an efficiency of more than 99%. This boiler is used for radiator heating. It can also be used in conjunction with a water heater to provide hot water to the home.

The boiler energy savings occur due to the multi-stage nature of the apparatus . For models with power over 50 kW, three-phase installations are provided. There are 2 operating modes available - manual and automatic. The latter is good because special software sets the required temperature, which changes depending on the time of day. The only drawback common to all boilers of this type is the periodic appearance of scale. If it is not removed, the performance of the device will decrease significantly.

Electric boilers are also popular in Russia. Inexpensive and at the same time effective, they have 3 power levels, operate from different electrical networks, both conventional and three-phase, and are light in weight and volume. Users of this boiler describe it as a relatively economical model.

Electrode boilers are less popular among the population. However, in terms of their efficiency, they demonstrate high performance . For example, they “eat” 2 times less kilowatts than the same heating element heater, while heating a much larger area. The ability to save energy when using such boilers is achieved thanks to modern technologies. The water in an electrode boiler is heated without additional equipment (for example, a thermal element or induction coil), so less energy is consumed.

The operation of the electrode boiler is accelerated due to a smooth start and modern automation . Among electrode boilers, one of the most popular is the “ Geyser ” with a capacity of 9 to 15 kW, domestically produced, the cost of which is about 12 thousand rubles. Moreover, the price range of such equipment varies from 3.5 to 15 thousand rubles. The line of these products also includes “ Ochag ” boilers, which are less powerful than “ Geyser ”. And Vulcan boilers are the most productive, their power reaches 50 kW. All boilers from this manufacturer operate silently and have high productivity (from 98%).

These models have all the above advantages of an electrode boiler. The main disadvantages, because of which many are afraid to purchase innovative electrode cats, is the risk of electric shock . In addition, an emergency shutdown setting cannot be used for such a unit. If you need to replace the electrode, you will have to constantly seek the help of professionals.

Among the induction heating boilers, we can highlight the “ SAV ” brand, produced domestically by the scientific company INERA. THEIR products have a fairly high price (from 30 thousand to 160 thousand rubles). The cost depends on the power of the purchased boiler (from 2.5 to 100 kW) and the expected heating area. But at the same time it has a number of advantages. The efficiency of the electric boiler of this company is 99 percent. It is equipped with a starting (automatic) relay. The operating principle is the same as that of conventional induction units .

This article is devoted to installing and connecting the boiler to an existing heating system:

TOP 5 best electric boilers

Vaillant eloBLOCK VE 12 12 kW

Electric boiler, made in white . Including three-phase mains voltage, additional functions such as protection against overheating and freezing.

It is possible to connect external control. Wall mounted.

Characteristics:

boiler type - heating element;
contours - single-circuit;
power - 6-12 kW;
Efficiency - 99%;
control - electronic;
installation - wall;
number of power stages - two;
mains voltage - three-phase;
circulation pump - yes;
expansion tank - yes, 10 liters;
coolant temperature - 25-85 degrees;
overheating protection - yes;
autodiagnostics - yes;
frost protection - yes;
power indicator - yes;
White color;
weight - 33.1 kg;
dimensions - 410*740*310 mm;
price - 40,300 rubles.

Advantages:

simple controls;
built-in expansion tank and pump;
many additional functions;
uniform heating of the room;

Flaws:

high price;

EVAN Next 12 12 kW

Single-circuit electric boiler with heating elements with wall installation. Built-in mechanical control . It evenly heats a room of 120 m2.

Due to its low cost, it is an affordable device. Has a three-phase network voltage type.

Characteristics:

type of device - electric, heating element;
number of circuits - single-circuit;
thermal power - 6-12 kW;
heated area - 120 m2;
Efficiency - 99%;
control - mechanical;
installation - wall;
mains voltage - three-phase;
power levels - 2;
coolant temperature - 30-85 degrees;
additional functions - protection against overheating;
dimensions - 205*600*105 mm;
weight - 8 kg;
White color;
price - 10020 rubles.

Advantages:

high-quality assembly;
reasonable cost;
reliable design;
simple controls;
warms up well even in severe frosts;
does not make noise;
compact.

Flaws:

small functionality.

EVAN Next 7 7 kW

Wall-mounted heating boiler with heating elements . Single-circuit type with mechanical control. Heats a small area of 70 sq.m. Small dimensions allow installation in a small apartment.

Characteristics:

unit format - electricity, heating element;
number of circuits - single-circuit;
power - 7 kW;
heated area - 70 sq.m;
Efficiency - 99%;
control - mechanical;
installation - wall;
power levels - three;
mains voltage - single-phase/three-phase;
functions - protection against overheating;
dimensions - 205*600*105;
weight - 8 kg;
White color;
price - 8560 rubles.

Advantages:

reliable design;
good quality;
durable materials;
pleasant appearance;
compactness;
affordable price;
stainless steel heating element;
easy operation.

Flaws:

low functionality;
sometimes it makes noise.

EVAN Warmos-IV-9.45 9.45 kW

Single-circuit heating boiler with electric heating type . Wall installation with electronic display for control. Heats a fairly large area of 94.5 kW.

Options:

type of device - electric, heating element;
number of circuits - single-circuit;
thermal power - 9.45 kW;
heated area - 94.5 kW;
placement - wall;
mains voltage - three-phase;
control - electronic;
Efficiency - 99%;
equipment - display;
frost protection - yes;
heating floor connection - yes;
thermometer - yes;
overheating protection - yes;
autodiagnostics - yes;
White color;
dimensions - 380*640*245 mm;
weight - 27 kg;
price - 18,500 rubles.

Advantages:

nice design;
enough to heat a private home;
many additional functions;
quality materials;
affordable price;
allows use as a coolant for heating water;
stable work;
doesn't make noise.

Flaws:

It takes a lot of electricity and water for heating.

Slope RAY 12 KE /14 12 kW

Electric heating boiler with three-phase mains voltage. equipped with electronic control, good power for heating a private home .

Installed on the wall of the required room or in a closet at home. Includes many features such as external control.

Characteristics:

unit type - heating element;
number of circuits - single-circuit;
thermal power - 6-12 kW;
Efficiency - 99.5%;
control - electronic;
placement - wall;
power levels - two;
mains voltage - three-phase;
circulation pump - yes;
expansion tank - available for 8 liters;
temperature - 25-85 degrees;
external level connection - yes;
frost protection - yes;
thermometer - yes;
weight - 24 kg;
White color;
price - 36551 rubles.

Advantages:

ease of use;
compact dimensions;
quickly heats batteries;
holds temperature for a long time;
high-quality assembly;
almost no noise;
copes with an area of 100 sq.m.

Flaws:

high energy consumption;
high price.

New models of electric boilers

Modern electric boilers allow you to save energy and at the same time heat rooms well . First of all, this is achieved by multi-stage equipment. The meter also has a big impact on electricity costs. It is very profitable to install a multi-tariff meter that takes into account the operation of the boiler at night. The delay function for turning off the post-circulation pump after turning off the equipment is also useful.

Modern electric boilers are distinguished by the fact that they have built-in circulation pumps. Thanks to this design, the efficiency of the equipment increases significantly. The pump increases the speed of coolant passage through the system. Thanks to this, the room is quickly heated. The profitability of this type is also increased by heating due to identical pipes of minimal diameter. The coolant heats up faster under such conditions. This means that energy consumption is significantly reduced.

The efficiency and performance of an electric boiler largely depends on
the automation of the control panel .
For home heating, it is more profitable to buy equipment with an automatic device. It allows you to increase efficiency by almost a quarter compared to mechanics. Although it is believed that a mechanical device is more reliable. Therefore, it is more often used to heat a wide space (for example, production). Also, by insulating the house, you can greatly increase the efficiency of using an electrode boiler.

The manufacturing technology of an induction boiler is presented in this material:

Costs for heating a house with an electric boiler: calculation example

In order not to be unfounded, let's try to calculate how much money per month you will spend to pay for the operation of the boiler if you have to heat a house for 3-4 people with an area of 90 sq.m.

Let's take into account several factors:

The efficiency of the electric boiler is 100%. This means that the production of 1 kW of heat consumes about 1.04 kW of energy.
The price of 1 kW is 3.4 rubles (we took the average value, since this figure is different for the regions of the country).
For a house with an area of 90 sq.m. from the southern part of the country we will need an average of 15 kW.
Daily consumption will be 15*24= 360 kW/h
Monthly electricity consumption, if the device constantly heated water, would be 360*30= 10800 kW/h
Money consumption per month - 10800 * 3.4 = 36720 rubles.

We calculated this amount with an excess reserve, because the boiler will not plow 24 hours a day. Therefore, you can safely reduce it by 1.5-2 times: about 20-23 tr. he will “eat” from you.

We can conclude that an electric boiler will be cost-effective only for heating a small house or apartment. Use it to heat areas of more than 150 sq.m. It's just not practical.

Choosing an electric heating boiler

It is impossible to say for sure about the efficiency of such heating. It should not be chosen for poorly insulated rooms, especially large private houses. Such a boiler will perfectly heat an apartment or small house, while maintaining budget savings . The popularity of boilers of this type is explained by their simplicity and ease of operation; safety also plays an important role.

To make the right choice, you need to accurately calculate how much energy is needed to heat a certain room.
It is very important to consider which network a particular boiler should be connected to and whether it is possible to use it at home; some types of boilers require access to a three-phase network (380V). Next, you should choose based on personal preferences, taking into account the dimensions of the unit, design and manufacturer. The most popular companies at the moment: RusNit - Russian production, Bosch - Germany, Dacon - Czech Republic, Elbeva - Slovakia.
Boilers produced in our country have already proven themselves well and have the lowest cost; companies from the countries of Slovakia and the Czech Republic do not have much difference in price , but their equipment includes additional devices. The most expensive boilers of the German company, they are famous for their excellent quality , are equipped with devices that make their operation fully automated , and can operate from a single-phase or three-phase network.

When making a choice, first of all you need to pay attention to the technical characteristics of heating boiler models. Then navigate by price category and appearance. Electric boilers are the safest and most environmentally friendly heating devices.