≋ How to save energy with a boiler • Optimal operating mode

The water heater provides hot water all year round. It runs on electricity, so many users have a question: how to save electricity with a boiler? Is it beneficial to turn off the device or is it better to leave it as is? In this article you will learn how to use equipment correctly to avoid breakdowns and reduce payment amounts.

Design features of electric water heaters

Understanding the general operating principles of boilers will help you understand how you can make them energy efficient. The following equipment is located in the housing of electric heaters:

tank;
heating element;
Control block;
thermometer;
check and safety valves;
protective automation.

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When the container is filled with water, the heating element is turned on, which is responsible for heating the water. The user sets a certain temperature, upon reaching which the heating process in the tank is completed. In the absence of water consumption, the device’s automation maintains the heating temperature by periodically turning on and off the heating element.

Manufacturers produce boilers with open and closed heating elements. In the first, the heating element comes into direct contact with water, in the second, this does not happen. Therefore, water heaters with a closed heating element are more reliable and durable.

The formation of corrosion in boiler tanks is prevented by a magnesium anode. This metal is gradually destroyed during the operation of the water heater, i.e. takes the “blow” upon itself, protecting the tank itself, as well as the heating element, from destruction if it is in direct contact with water.

Design and principle of operation of the equipment

To rationally reduce energy costs, it is worth understanding the design of the water heater. It is designed as a tank made of stainless steel or steel with a layer of thermal insulation. Magnesium anodes are built into the steel tank to prevent corrosion and electrochemical reactions. A tubular heater with a thermostat is built into the container. At the bottom of the tank there are pipes that supply and discharge water. The thermostat and thermometer are located on the front or bottom panel.

The device works as follows:

Cold water is poured into the container through a hose with valves - safety and return.
The heating element turns on automatically and heats the water.
When the contents of the tank reach the desired temperature, the heater is turned off using a thermostat.
In models without water intake, the heating level is maintained in auto mode - the heating element turns on and off after a certain time.
When the hot water tap on the mixer is opened, water is drawn from the top through a special tube.

Boiler device

Important! If the magnesium anode or heating element breaks down, electricity consumption may increase.

Features of installation of water heating equipment

Proper installation is one of the factors that directly influences how much it will be possible to save energy during the operation of the boiler. When performing installation work, it is important to take into account all the manufacturer’s recommendations. Depending on the brand, they may vary slightly, but the basic rules are as follows:

to connect to the electrical network, you must use a copper cable;
fastening must be done on a permanent foundation, since the mass of equipment filled with water is quite large;
it is necessary to perform grounding;
installation must be carried out in a vertical or horizontal position in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions;
connection to the water supply system must also be carried out strictly according to the instructions.

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Determining the efficiency of a new water heater

How to start using your new boiler economically and correctly? Experts focus on determining its energy efficiency when purchasing.

General rules

Before purchasing equipment, the user needs:

compare the energy efficiency of expensive and budget models in the store to establish the return on investment of the equipment;
clarify that the energy efficiency class includes efficiency, losses per hour during heating and maintaining temperature, circulation. Information is indicated in the manufacturer's booklet;
take into account the displacement of the container, the operating speed of the heating element, the type of installation to clarify the total costs.

Interesting to know! On European boiler models, energy efficiency has been indicated since 2013, on American ones - since 2009.

Calculation of annual operating costs

For calculations, you will need information about the energy efficiency class, type and cost of the coolant. Further calculations are performed using the formula:

for gas models, the number of days per year is multiplied by energy efficiency and the cost of a cubic meter of gas;
for electric boilers, the number of days per year is multiplied by energy efficiency and the cost of kW/hour.

Interesting to know! The DOE test for water heaters takes into account cold (15 degrees) and hot (60 degrees) temperatures and determines the unit's performance for a family of 3 as 240 liters per day.

Heating element power as a saving factor

The greater the power of the heating element, the faster the water will heat up. Keep in mind that in houses with a single-phase wiring diagram, from 7 to 10 kW of power are allocated. A high-performance water heater will lead to increased load on the network, huge energy costs and tripping of circuit breakers.

If you turn it off and on according to a schedule?

When using a boiler, savings are possible if the equipment only heats water when it is needed. For example, if the family is at home only in the morning and evening, hot water is not needed throughout the day. Accordingly, a constantly running boiler that consumes a significant amount of electricity leads to completely wasteful expenditure of money. It is optimal to turn off the electric water heater in the morning and turn it on in the evening.

This practice is relevant for owners of boilers with a volume of 50-80 liters. If more powerful equipment is used, it makes no sense to turn it off, since significant time is spent on heating, and therefore electricity. Experts recommend leaving such water heaters in standby mode while you are away from home. If you do this, increasing the temperature parameter will allow you to use hot water within an hour.

An effective solution to the problem of how to save electricity if you have a boiler is to purchase such a simple and affordable device as a timer. This equipment is relevant for the owner of an electric water heater, regardless of the volume of the tank. Using a timer, you can easily set the periods of operation and shutdown of the boiler. In some expensive models of water heating equipment, the timer programming function is built-in.

Basic rules for boiler operation

Ease of installation and operation, no special permits, and the ability to maintain high water temperatures for a long time are the main advantages of the boiler. After purchasing the device, you should definitely read the instructions - following the operating rules contributes to the efficient use of the water heater with minimal energy consumption.

The basic rules for operating the device come down to simple steps, the main thing of which is to make sure that the installation is correct and that there is grounding, if this requirement is specified in the instructions. A year after installation, it is recommended to conduct a preventive inspection.

If you use the tank frequently, it is not recommended to disconnect it from the network - frequent switching on and off leads to breakdowns of the automation. All hot water valves should be closed before turning on.

Under no circumstances should the water heating device be disconnected from the network during operation.

Saving rules when using a boiler

To reduce your water heater's electricity consumption, consider the following rules:

Initially, choose the best place to install the tank - the pipeline should not be very long. Water, passing through a long channel, quickly cools, which means that kilowatts are again needed for heating.
Set the operating mode - there should be a period of downtime and operation.
Carry out preventive maintenance related to the operation of the heating component. The heating element should be regularly descaled; this is the only way to increase the thermal power; thanks to periodic cleaning, it is possible to optimize the efficiency of the installation.

Tips for the correct selection and installation of a boiler

Savings in the case of this device begin at the installation stage.
Before purchasing a storage water heater, select the optimal location for it, which would be located close to the water intake points. The reason is that every meter of pipe is a loss of heat on the way to the faucet or shower head. For a pipe with a diameter of half an inch, the heat consumption is 0.2 liters of boiling water per 1 m when the tap is opened, and the same amount when closed. When starting to use the boiler, you first release lukewarm water. By closing the valve, you leave boiling water halfway in the pipe. It turns out that kilowatts were wasted on heating this water. The optimal place for a home with one kitchen and bathroom is to place the boiler somewhere in the middle between these rooms. Perhaps even closer to where you turn on the tap more often.

Don't be discouraged if this condition is impossible for you. For example, a heater does not fit into the design of the room or is unacceptable from a common sense point of view. Then it is quite possible to get by with additional insulation of the pipe through which heated water passes. For this purpose, for example, a polypropylene cover and special fittings are suitable.

Boiler in the bathroom

When purchasing a storage heater, focus primarily on its technical characteristics. Today there are many models, with different power and performance. Try to find one that has a low energy rating. At the same time, it must meet your needs in terms of the quantity and speed of heating water.

Attention! It is very important to carefully study all the operational and design features of the boiler and take them into account when using the device.

What is more profitable: boiler or central hot water?

Is it profitable to use a boiler instead of hot water from a central water supply system? Judging by the calculations above - NO, it is not profitable. The difference will be 15%, or even more, because the costs of purchasing and connecting a water heater are not taken into account.

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Timely maintenance of the boiler: ways to reduce costs

The storage water heater needs to periodically check the elements, clean and replace some parts:

The heating element must be cleaned regularly

At least once a year, check the operation of the check valve on the inlet fuse. They often fail. A sure sign is that water begins to drip from there, because the part cannot cope with the pressure inside the tank.
Clean the tank from scale at least once every couple of years.
At approximately the same time, check the condition of the magnesium anode - this device takes on the lion's share of the reaction with aggressive substances and scale. Therefore, for the longevity of the heating element, the anode must be changed more often.

To clean the heating element yourself, first completely drain the water from the boiler, unscrew the lid and the heater itself, and then immerse the device in the cleaning solution. The mixture is easy to prepare: 15 g of citric acid per 1.5 liters of water. The heating element should lie in the solution until it is completely cleaned. Under no circumstances should you scrape off scale manually. Timely cleaning and proper operation of the boiler will help you save several hundred rubles annually.

Some information to get started

Statistics show that a household uses about 70% of energy for space heating and only about 15% for heating domestic water. If someone has an energy efficient, smart home, then the percentage of energy used for that drops dramatically. Why is this happening? Because in a modern building, which is sufficiently insulated and sealed, there are various innovative solutions for economical heating of useful water. The first step is to diagnose your needs, as they have a real impact on the subsequent performance of the heating device and potential savings. First, the user's requirements must be taken into account, and the hot water demand must be converted and the heating device must be adjusted correctly to avoid problems in the future.

Methods to reduce electricity costs

To do this, you must adhere to the following tips:

Choose the optimal location for installing the boiler. After all, if there is too much piping going to the sink or bathtub, the heat will naturally dissipate, forcing you to spend more kilowatts.
Select the correct mode of operation of the device. To save money, you need to correctly configure the active and inactive periods of operation of the device, namely the heating element, you can save a small amount per kilowatt.
Carry out preventative cleaning of the heating element (heating element). By descaling it, you can increase the efficiency of the element, namely, receive the same amount of heat with less energy consumption.

By following all these points, you can save a small amount of electricity, which will have a positive impact on your budget.
See also -
How to clean a boiler yourself

Do I need to unplug the boiler?

For economical use of the boiler to produce results, it does not have to be unplugged at night. The principle of its operation can be compared to a thermos. Heated water cools down slowly, especially if it is not used. It is quite possible that it does not turn on during the night.

How to find out if there is water in the boiler?

This will ensure that the water heater is filled with water. During the process of filling the storage water heater with water, air will come out of the open mixer, hissing and spitting. Don't be alarmed, wait until water flows out of the faucet in a steady stream. After that, wait another half a minute and close it.

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Economical use of the boiler

The optimal temperature for operating a water heater is considered to be 50-55 degrees Celsius. This is enough for washing dishes, bathing, washing hands. It is not worth reducing the value, as it is possible that fungus may appear in the tank. There is no need to turn off the device unnecessarily, otherwise more energy will be spent on heating than maintaining a constant temperature.

Water heaters have an economical operating mode, designated by the letter “E”. In fact, operating the tank in this mode means heating up to +55 degrees Celsius, at which scale forms on the walls more slowly than at high temperatures. Consequently, you will not have to spend additional resources on cleaning the equipment if you operate it in this mode.

For economical operation of the water heater, it is recommended to install a temporary relay, which can be configured so that at a certain time the heating temperature increases, and after using the water for its intended purpose, it returns to the original (set) value.