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Home improvement

Tank and Tankless Point Of Use Water Heater Buying Guide

The main function of electric water heaters or Point of Use Water Heater is the generation of domestic hot water. They take the cold water from the supply network, and store it to have it ready for use. Once the set temperature is reached, the resistance turns off and its insulating capacity manages to keep the water at the desired temperature.

Advantages of an electric water heater –

There is NO need for a gas installation, or be aware of having fuels such as diesel and / or pellets that a conventional boiler would use. As there is no combustion, it does not need ventilation or special security measures, and can be installed in any space in the house. The availability of hot water when you open the tap is immediate. Regardless of the flow, the temperature remains constant. It is very easy to regulate through the thermos itself. Its maintenance is much cheaper, since it does not need periodic reviews as it happens with boilers. Despite the fact that today electricity is still generated by polluting sources, its transformation to renewable energy sources is possible. There are also concrete advances to improve energy efficiency and reduce the consumption of this type of device.

Definite guide to buy point of use electric water heater –

  • Isolation of the heater – The water tank is covered with an insulating material, which prevents temperature leaks to the outside, and manages to keep the water hot with less energy consumption. It is important to take into account the quality of the insulation of the electric boiler.
  • Installation place – There are vertical and horizontal electric water heater models, which can be adapted to the needs and space of each installation. There are two types of thermos: fixed temperature thermos, and adjustable temperature thermos.
  • Fixed or adjustable temperature – The latest models of electric boilers include regulators and programming methods that make their use much more efficient. These models have a position called “ECO” that allows the thermos itself to choose the ideal temperature in which energy consumption is lower.
  • Energy label – Like any electrical appliance, each model of electric water heater will have an associated energy efficiency label. In these labels you can see the annual electricity consumption in kW per hour, and the volume of the tank in liters.
  • Capacity – The amount of hot water available is limited, so before buying an electric water heater you must carefully study the liters of capacity that you will need for your specific case. You can select between 15 to 300 liters. To calculate the ideal capacity for your case, you must take into account the average water consumption in your home.
  • Resistance – The resistance of the electric water heater is what allows increasing the temperature of the water. If you have the possibility of programming your electric water heater, you can save up to 20% on its consumption.

Conclusion – Thermal insulation

It is advisable to install the electric water heater as close as possible to the rooms where you are going to use the hot water to avoid heat losses. You should also consider installing the electric heater on walls that can support the weight of the water heater well.