It is far from always possible to connect a gas column or boiler, and then the question arises of choosing an electrical appliance. Connecting a water heater of this type is much easier, it can be installed both in an apartment and in a country house.

So, electric boilers are not the cheapest type of water heaters. If it is possible to install a geyser, then it is more economical to choose a gas analogue.

Types of electric water heaters

The most common and popular devices:

• accumulative;
• flowing;
• bulk.

The latter type of water heaters is used only in the absence of a centralized water supply, so it is rarely installed.

What is better to choose

First of all, the choice of device depends on the amount of free space and consumption per family. The water heater connection scheme and wiring requirements also vary.

Cumulative

Electric storage water heaters are able to provide the entire apartment with hot water, which is carried out at the expense of a capacious tank.

These boilers are most common in apartments, they do not require improved wiring, and are connected through a regular 220 V socket. Electric heating tanks are very economical, they can work immediately on all the "hot" taps in a house or apartment. Also, the devices keep the temperature of the heated water well, and even in the absence of light, you will be provided with hot water.

The main disadvantage of this type of devices is their impressive dimensions, which vary depending on the volume of the tank. Moreover, installing a water heater with your own hands in this case will be much more difficult. Since in any case you will need wiring for hot water and an outlet from the water supply to connect the tank.

Not bad help to save models with economical mode (ECO). They allow you to keep the required water temperature with minimal electricity consumption.

Flowing

An electric instantaneous water heater, unlike a storage water heater, has a modest size and does not require time to heat water.

This type of water heater is suitable for cottages where there is no need to keep constantly heated water. The devices are quite compact and take up very little space. The equipment immediately supplies hot water to the tap, and it is not at all necessary to wait several hours until it heats up. No matter how much water you use, it will always be hot., as it heats up during passage through the water heater. Since the device is quite simple to manufacture, its price is lower than that of storage tanks. But unlike the latter, flow models consume a lot of electrical energy, require improved wiring and are unable to provide several taps with hot water at once.

How to connect a water heater: preparation

Your work should begin with the selection of the right tools and materials. Their set varies depending on the pipes used.

Be sure to get the following tools before starting work:

• pipes;
• valves, tees, angles;
• ball valve;
• a set of keys;
• adjustable or gas key;
• pipe cutter or soldering station (depending on the type of pipe used).

The easiest way to work with metal-plastic pipes, which can be cut even with an ordinary knife. To crash into such a pipeline, it is enough to cut off a piece of pipe and install a tee. No soldering irons or special equipment needed. The most difficult is metal plumbing. It is difficult to cut metal pipes, you will also need a clamp to make a branch for the boiler.

How to connect instantaneous water heater in the apartment and in the country

Before you start installing an instantaneous water heater, make sure that your meter and wiring will "pull" the water heater. If the meter has a current rating of less than 40A, it will require replacement.

Replacing the meter is easy. Choose the most powerful models. Installation is carried out by energy supervision services.

The same goes for wiring. Old aluminum wiring will not withstand heavy loads, which can lead to a fire. It is better to replace it with a new copper one with a large cross section. Pay attention to the power of the heater model. You should not choose models that are unable to keep the water temperature at 40 degrees at a flow rate of 5 liters per minute.

Wire section calculation

Table of the dependence of the cross-section of a copper cable on the current strength. You can choose the appropriate wire section value from the table, knowing the power or current of the water heater.

We recall the school physics course and the power formula:

P = I * U;

where P is power (W), I is current (A), U is voltage (V).

It turns out that if the power of the device is, for example, 7 kW, then using the formula it is easy to calculate the required current value.

I \u003d P / U \u003d 7000 / 220 ≈ 32 (A).

For every square millimeter of copper wire, there is 10 A of current.

It turns out that we need (we take with a margin), a cable with a cross section of 4 mm.

The maximum power value of the instantaneous water heater is 8 kW for an apartment. For a larger value, you will certainly have to change the counter. Do not forget that all electrical appliances are powered by the meter, and not just a device for heating water.

Additional protection

Do not forget that any heating device, and especially a water heater, is a source of increased danger. Do not be lazy and, changing the wiring, put a separate machine on the device. This will protect the rest of the appliances, wiring and meter from short circuits, and the house from fire.

Do-it-yourself instantaneous water heater installation

The principle of operation of the water heater is very simple: a hose that supplies water to the shower is connected to the appliance. Thus, cold water is supplied through this hose to the water heater, it heats up and hot water is already supplied through the second hose.

Flow devices do not need to be inserted into the pipeline, as storage devices require. Such devices can be connected to an ordinary shower. The device is equipped with a separate watering can, but there are also equipped with a separate outlet to the tap.

The device is attached to the wall using ordinary self-tapping screws (light weight). The use of a level is optional.

Alternatively, you can install a flow model so that hot water comes from all taps. Then you have to crash into the pipeline. Installation will be similar to the storage type of water heaters. But do not forget that at the same time such a device will not provide all the taps with hot water.

How to connect a storage water heater

Installing such a device is much more difficult than a flow model. Firstly, you will need a lot of space for the device, as it is quite bulky. Secondly, a tie-in into the pipeline in the case of a storage water heater is mandatory, which adds to the complexity during installation. Thirdly, you need to take into account the condition of the wall where the device will be attached, since it itself weighs a lot, and add a certain number of liters of water to boot.

The most popular models have a tank volume of 80-100 liters. This amount of water is enough for a family of 2-3 people.

Since the device accumulates hot water in the tank, it does not care about the distance from the taps or the shower. The boiler can be installed where it is convenient for you, as long as the wall is strong and the water pipes are located nearby.

Preparatory stage

Tools and equipment that you will need when connecting the storage water heater yourself.

In order to properly connect the storage water heater, in addition to the necessary tools, you will have to purchase a pair of ball valves, a non-return safety valve, a tube (to drain water), hooks (to fix the tank on the wall). If the water supply is already connected under the device, then its installation is greatly simplified. Otherwise, you will still have to purchase pipes, tees or a clamp (in the case of a metal pipeline).

In addition, you will additionally need:

• level;
• roulette;
• perforator.

Before you start installing the tank, you first need to make the piping for hot and cold water.

How to connect a water heater to the water supply

The connection scheme itself is quite simple.

Scheme of connecting the storage water heater to communications. As can be seen from the diagram, it does not matter where to crash into the pipeline with cold water. How to make further wiring hot - as you prefer.

In the figure, the following elements are indicated by numbers:

• 1 and 2 - water valves (it is better to install ball valves, they are the most reliable). With the help of these taps, you can shut off the supply of cold water to the tank and hot water from the device;
• 3 and 4 - a central faucet that blocks the access of water to the apartment and a faucet that blocks hot water (optional, since you can install a valve only at the outlet of the tank);
• 5 - check valve, which is an indispensable element when installing a boiler and a pipeline for hot water; (The non-return valve will protect the tank heater from breakage if cold water stops flowing into the device. It also relieves excess pressure from the water heater. Do not forget to connect a tube to the valve through which water and condensate will drain).
• 6 - a drain valve that will help drain all the water from the water heater tankwhen it needs maintenance or repair. If there is no pressure in the central water supply, then you can always drain the hot water from the tank for your needs.

Important! The tap for draining the water MUST be located above the check valve, otherwise you will not be able to drain the water from the tank.

Do-it-yourself boiler installation

The main stages of installing a water heater: mark the wall, drill holes, screw hooks, hang the water heater, connect the water supply.

It is quite difficult to install the device yourself, so you will need the help of another person. Tank installation is carried out as follows:

1. Find a suitable wall for the appliance. Step back from the ceiling a little more than 10-15 cm and, using the level, make notches for future holes. It is imperative to retreat from the ceiling so that the water heater can sit on the hooks.
2. Drill holes according to hook length.
3. First install the dowels (wooden or plastic), then screw the screws into them, but at the same time leaving a small gap for the mounting plate.
4. Next, lift the tank and hook on the hooks.
5. Now you need to connect the "cold" hose.
6. And also connect the "hot" hose in accordance with the diagram above.

The last step is to connect the device to electricity.

How to connect a water heater to electricity

A simple scheme for connecting a water heater to electricity through a regular 220 volt outlet.

In connecting to the mains, a lot depends on the power of the device. If you purchased a tank with a power of up to 3 kW, then it can be connected to a regular outlet or through an extension cord. But more powerful models should be provided with a separate wiring line.

If you want to protect yourself, then you should draw a separate line for the tank directly from the meter. And it is better to install a separate machine for it. It is not necessary to destroy the wall for such wiring. The wires are carried out from the outside, secured with special brackets. The calculation of the cross section is carried out in a manner similar to instantaneous water heaters.

A few useful rules when connecting the tank to the mains:

• it is better to place the socket so that water does not get into it (for example, away from the washstand or shower);
• do not leave bare wires in the bathroom, as a short circuit may occur due to high humidity;
• do not forget about grounding;
• do not use tees; the boiler must be connected to a separate socket or extension cord.

Installing an electric water heater - for or against

But what to do if gas is supplied to your apartment? Can you install a gas stove? Again, there is no clear answer here. It will be cheaper to heat water with gas, but the installation of such equipment will be more expensive and more painful. With an electric tank, things are much simpler. By the way, you don’t have to change it often, but it’s very desirable to service it once a year. Electrical appliances are also considered safer.

What's the bottom line

Flowing or storage water heater, which one to choose is everyone's business and depends on the operating conditions. Flow models are completely uneconomical, but their installation is very simple. The second type is more reliable and versatile, but installing a storage water heater is much more difficult.