Electric boilers are a popular device for heating private houses and apartments. They have become more widespread due to their advantages:
- 99% efficiency - that is, the boiler almost completely uses the energy consumed. For comparison: the efficiency of coal boilers is approximately 80%, the efficiency of gas boilers is 92%
- Simple installation - no need to equip a chimney or boiler room; They are compact and can be installed on the kitchen or bathroom wall.
- Affordable fuel - electricity is available in every home. Gas often needs to be supplied, coal, firewood, liquid fuel need to be purchased and stored somewhere. There are no such problems with electricity.
- Safety - there are no open flames in electric boilers, which means no combustion products.
- Low price - the simplest and cheapest models of electric boilers cost from 5-6 thousand rubles
- High degree of automation - modern models of electric boilers are equipped with weather-dependent temperature control devices, remote control, and automatic security systems.
You can read more about the types and how to choose an electric boiler in our blog.
The feasibility of purchasing electric boilers
Despite these advantages, we do not claim that electric boilers are the best and most universal way to heat a home. It all depends on the circumstances.
Let's try to answer the question of who benefits from using electric boilers and when.
- When gas is not supplied. Gas is the cheapest fuel, and heating a house with it is much more economical than using electricity. But in areas remote from the gas main, or lack of budget or time to connect gas, electric boilers will be a quick and inexpensive (but not operational) solution.
- When the house is very well insulated. The amount of heat required to heat a room directly depends on heat losses - they need to be blocked. With small heat losses, heating with electricity takes place. Although gas would still be cheaper))
- If you rarely visit the house - for example, at a dacha or in a country house. Modern models of electric boilers are able to maintain a given temperature - you can set the minimum temperature at which the heating system will not freeze, and when you are about to arrive, give a signal to the boiler that you need to warm the house to a comfortable temperature.
- As a temporary solution. If winter is close and there is no time to work on the heating system, an accident has occurred and you urgently need to find a heating method.
- As an additional source of heat. Low-power electric boilers are often used in heating systems as backup ones, so that if the main boiler (coal, gas, liquid fuel) fails, the room does not freeze.
Complete automation tools
Since electric heating using electrode and some models of heating element heaters requires external control, the Galan company produces automation devices for this purpose, with which it completes its products:
- electromechanical regulators;
- temperature control controllers;
- programmable control units;
- multi-channel controllers with GSM module.
The simplest electromechanical type regulator MRT-15 can control heat generators with a power of up to 6 kW with a single-phase connection and up to 15 kW with a three-phase connection. The range of adjustable temperatures of the coolant in the return pipeline is from 10 to 60 ºС. To avoid overheating, the device turns off the heating when the water temperature exceeds 90 ºС.
The same function is performed by other types of controllers in the Navigator line, which turn on and off the electrical power part using thyristor or electromagnetic starters. The devices can work with heaters of any power and have a number of additional functions. This includes programmable maintenance of water temperature by day and time of day, joint work with room thermostats, light indication of faults and reporting them using a GSM module on a cell phone.
(no votes yet)
How much electricity does an electric boiler consume?
Let us answer straightforwardly: an electric boiler consumes exactly as much as it produces in the form of heat. That is, if you need 10 kW/h for heating, then the boiler should consume exactly that much.
Let's calculate how much energy an electric heating boiler consumes per month for a house with an area of 100 sq.m.
Let’s make a reservation right away: in reality, the amount of heat that needs to be supplied depends on the heat loss of the house, and this depends on the material of the walls, the number of windows, doors and other nuances. To find out the exact amount of heat your room needs, as well as calculate how much the boiler will consume, you can order a thermal calculation of the room from us.
Here we will take the generally accepted norm: a rough calculation requires 1 kW/h per 10 square meters of room. This means that to heat a house with an area of 100 sq.m. you will need a 10 kW boiler.
Let's calculate its maximum consumption per day, month and winter season:
Per day:
24 (hours)*10 (kW) = 240 kW. Let’s convert it into costs in rubles, taking into account that on average, according to electricity tariffs in the Sverdlovsk region, 1 kW costs 4 rubles
240 (kW) * 4 (rub) = 960 rubles
Per month: 960 (rub per day) * 30 (days) = 28,800 rubles
In the winter season , we will calculate, taking for the heating period the time from October 15 to March 31 - 136 days): 136 (days) * 240 (kW consumption per day) = 32,640 kW - required for heating during the season.
Let's convert it into expenses in rubles at the same rate:
32,640 kW * 4 (rub) = 130,560 rubles - the maximum cost of electricity for the heating season for a house with an area of 100 square meters.
Let's summarize the data in a table:
Maximum electricity costs when heating a house of 100 m2
| Cost of 1 kW/h, rub | Heating cost per day, rub. | Heating cost per month, rub | Heating cost per season, rub |
| 4 | 960 | 28800 | 130560 |
Of course, the boiler is unlikely to be operated all season without stopping. But exactly how long the electric boiler will work - as we wrote above - depends on insulation, heat loss, maximum winter temperatures in your region , that is, on the conditions of a particular room.
The boiler operating period per day can be either 18 hours or 7. If you know approximately how many hours per day it takes to heat your home, you can calculate consumption and costs using the above example.
You can compare the heating costs of different types of fuel and more accurately calculate the consumption of different types of boilers by using our calculator:
Rating of electric boilers 2022: expert opinion
We have compiled our rating of boilers with optimal characteristics, good customer reviews and constant availability in stock.
Electric boiler Stout SEB
Reliable wall-mounted electric boiler with stainless steel heating elements. From three to nine power levels, 3 programmable operating modes: in “room mode” the coolant temperature can be maintained taking into account the outside temperature (weather dependent) to ensure the desired air temperature in the room; in the “heating” mode a constant coolant temperature is maintained; in the “summer” mode » the pump, heating elements, and 3-way valve are turned on for some time. You can control the boiler via GSM or Wi-Fi (optional).
Maximum powers : from 5 to 27 kW
Cost: from 43 thousand rubles.
Equipment: expansion tank, circulation pump, internal air temperature sensor, external air temperature sensor, safety valve
Possibility to connect an indirect heating boiler: yes
Optional remote control: GSM-Climate ZONT-H1, Wi-Fi-Climate ZONE-H2
Electric boiler Baxi AMPERA
The electric boiler from the world-famous Italian brand Baxi AMPERA is a smart mini-boiler room - it includes all the necessary devices. The boiler has daily and weekly programming functions, as well as weather-dependent automation that regulates the room temperature depending on the outside temperature. There is protection against freezing and overheating, an anti-legionella function (when connecting a boiler), a pump blocking protection system, and a self-diagnosis system.
The boilers have 6 operating modes, for each of which you can set up to 8 periods with a given air temperature, coolant temperature, hot water temperature, and boiler power.
Equipment: expansion tank, circulation pump, security group, outdoor and room temperature sensors, boiler temperature sensor.
Maximum powers : from 6 to 30 kW
Cost: from 43 thousand rubles.
Possibility to connect an indirect heating boiler: yes
Optional remote control: the boiler has an Opentherm connector compatible with the Baxi Zont Connect remote control system
Electric boiler Evan WARMOS COMFORT
This wall-mounted electric heating element boiler has 7 power levels even in the smallest 3 kW models, which provides greater flexibility in control. WARMOS COMFORT is equipped with an expansion tank, circulation pump, safety group, minimum pressure sensor, but you can choose the cheaper WARMOS CLASSIC version with a safety valve instead of the safety group or WARMOS STANDART, where only the minimum pressure sensor is included in the set.
The boiler control is mechanical; the desired coolant temperature can be selected by selecting the position of the thermostat knob on the front panel of the boiler.
Two year warranty.
Equipment: expansion tank, circulation pump, safety group, minimum pressure sensor.
Maximum powers : from 3 to 27 kW
Cost: from 33 thousand rubles. COMFORT version, from 23 thousand rubles. STANDARD version
Possibility to connect an indirect heating boiler: yes
Optional remote control: MyHeat GSM, MyHeat SMART
Electric boiler Protherm Skat RAY
A line of electric boilers produced since 1992 and gaining recognition in the domestic market. Skat RAY boilers are manufactured in Slovakia from high-quality European components.
These boilers have up to 4 power levels, have the ability to connect weather-dependent automation and remote control (optional, there are no temperature sensors included), and can be combined into a cascade. There is protection against overheating and freezing, a self-diagnosis system, and pump protection against jamming.
Skat RAY electric boilers use the eBus communication bus, one of the most modern digital buses, to transmit control signals between devices.
Equipment: expansion tank, circulation pump, safety valve, pressure gauge, automatic air vent, low pressure sensor
Maximum powers : from 6 to 30 kW
Cost: from 45 thousand rubles.
2 year warranty.
Possibility to connect an indirect heating boiler: yes
Optional remote control: thermostats Exabasic, Exacontrol, Thermolink S
Electric boiler Evan PRACTIC/Evan PRACTIC PUMP
Wall-mounted boiler with weather-compensating automatic control. From three to six power levels, setting temperature conditions in a weekly schedule, programming daily and weekly room air temperatures. They have the ability to limit the maximum power consumption. Available operating modes: “off”, “weekend”, “working day”, “economy”, “weekly”, “room”, “heating”, protection against freezing and overheating is declared. There is self-diagnosis with errors displayed on the display. Two year warranty.
Equipment: circulation pump (PUMP models only), room temperature sensor, outdoor temperature sensor
Maximum powers : from 3 to 120 kW
Cost: from 28 thousand rubles.
Possibility to connect an indirect heating boiler: yes
Optional remote control: MyHeat GSM, MyHeat SMART
Installation and connection
Installing an electric boiler
There are no special rules for installing an electric boiler, but there are general points that need to be followed:
- It is better to place the device in a separate room where younger family members cannot reach.
- The power cable is laid so that water does not get on it. For this purpose, plastic or metal boxes are used. For the same reason, cables should not be laid under water pipes.
- The pipes are attached to the wall so that their weight does not damage the body and parts of the boiler.
- The cross-section of the wire must correspond to the current strength, and the unit body must be connected to a grounding device.
To begin with, the body is attached to the wall using special canopies. The height above the floor level for a heating element boiler is at least 1.5 m. Other models can be installed lower. Usually at the bottom of the boiler there is an inlet pipe for cold or cooled liquid, and at the top there is an outlet pipe for hot water. The pipes are connected to the pipes using American taps.
An expansion tank and a mud pan are mounted to the return flow line to collect debris or pieces of scale. There should be a tap nearby for cleaning the mud tank.
For induction boilers, the installation is more complicated, since it is necessary to embed a circulation pump into the main line, as well as a safety group: a pressure gauge, a safety valve and a device for removing air from the system. A sump tank and an expansion tank are also installed on the return line.
Particular attention is paid to the selection of cable cross-section and installation of the control unit for emergency shutdown of the device. The work is carried out according to the scheme specified in the technical data sheet of the boiler.
How to reduce the consumption of an electric boiler?
How to reduce energy consumption when heating a home with an electric boiler is a common question homeowners ask. One of the optimal and effective ways is to program and use outdoor and room temperature sensors.
Let’s make a reservation that to use this method, even at the stage of purchasing a boiler, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of programmable control of the boiler and connecting temperature sensors - which means buying a more expensive boiler. However, we dare to assure you that these costs will pay off during operation.
So, you will need:
- electric boiler with weather-compensated automation and programming capability (can be built into the boiler, can be carried out using a programmable room thermostat)
- outdoor and room temperature sensors (can be included with the boiler, or can be purchased separately)
- electric meter (two-tariff/three-tariff)
The idea is simple: you use the programmer to set the conditions under which the boiler will operate. For example:
- Maintain the temperature in the house at 22 degrees during the day and 17 degrees at night. At night, the boiler spends less energy on heating, therefore saving money. Since the temperature is monitored automatically by the boiler, the room does not overheat and does not waste extra kW.
- Operation in weather-dependent mode - thanks to data transmitted by room and street temperature sensors, the boiler regulates the temperature of the coolant, taking into account the cooling/warming outside and the temperature in the room.
- Remote control - for example, if the user is not constantly in the room, you can set a low temperature at which the system will not freeze, and before returning, transmit information with the temperature to which the house needs to be heated.
- Some electric boilers also have consumption limits that are set by the user - i.e. the boiler operates without exceeding this limit.
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:
Alternatives to electric boilers
In addition to electric boilers, there are other devices that can be used to heat your home. Let's look at the most popular ones.
Electric convectors
These are heaters that work on the principle of convection - air masses circulate through the convector and heat up. Well suited for heating private houses. Among the advantages over electric boilers: easier installation - floor models just need to be installed, wall-mounted ones mounted on the wall, installation of pipes and other elements of the heating system is not required, which greatly simplifies and reduces the cost of organizing heating. There are electric convectors with remote control and electronic thermostats, thanks to which significant energy savings can be achieved. These devices are fireproof, easy to operate, and efficient—the room warms up evenly and quickly.
Electric infrared heaters
These are heaters that operate on the principle of infrared radiation. We do not recommend them for heating private houses: infrared heaters are designed for rooms with high ceilings, and in an ordinary house with a ceiling of 2.5, you will not get savings from an infrared heater, but inconvenience. The heater cannot cover the entire room with radiation, either when placed on the wall or when placed on the ceiling. And it heats only those objects that are in the radiation zone. As a result, where the radiation falls a person will be very hot, and in the rest of the house it will be cold.
What advantages can you expect when choosing an electrode boiler?
- Firstly, the equipment described is the most affordable option for organizing heating. The cost of installation is several times lower than that of gas and solid fuel analogues, while the electronic boiler produces 98% efficiency. This allows you to save on energy consumption. And this is not the limit. You can increase savings by 60% by installing electronic thermostats or electromechanical automation on the device.
- Secondly, the electrode-type focus is a very compact device. A device with a power of 6 kW weighs only 1 kg 100 g.
- Thirdly, such equipment can be installed in existing heating systems. By doing this you will simply increase their power. This option is appropriate when it is necessary to heat large areas.
Boiler in the kitchen
But to achieve this goal, certain measures must be taken. First, the system must be thoroughly rinsed, filters must be installed to clean the coolant, and every effort must be made to prevent dirty water from entering the electrode boiler.
