Several different ways to get hot water. Check which one is right for you.

It is difficult to imagine our current life without hot water. Depending on individual needs and, of course, technical conditions, there are a number of solutions for heating water today. Which is the best way to heat water?

Electric heaters do not require the construction of special gas connections, adequate ventilation of the rooms or the construction of a chimney. Their operation is safe and there is no risk of explosion or poisoning.

Electric flow heaters are an economical and convenient solution

The main advantages of instantaneous water heaters are their small size, which means they can be easily connected close to the point of water consumption. In addition, the fact that they only switch on automatically when the tap is turned on makes them an energy-efficient solution. Here, we do not encounter losses associated with the storage of hot water in a tank and its flow in long sections of a pipe.

The most popular are small water heaters, usually fitted with a mixer tap and hung directly above the basin – ideal for holiday cottages, small catering establishments, offices and hairdressing salons. In holiday cottages and on camping sites, shower heaters with an IP25 protection rating are often used.

Water heaters without built-in taps are mostly used in kitchens. They are small so can be easily hidden in a cupboard under the sink. They can also be placed under or above the wash basin.

However, if you need more hot water at several outlets, you should use three-phase devices supplied at 400V. KOSPEL offers models with hydraulic control and more technologically advanced models with electronic control.

Choosing an electronically controlled heater gives two most important advantages: energy saving and much greater comfort of use. 

A small electric boiler or storage water heater

In many cases, when looking for a way to heat water, storage heaters are the best solution. Certainly, their advantage is the guarantee of simple installation, all you need is access to an ordinary electrical installation (230V). In addition, they are characterised by quiet operation, and high-quality insulation protects against heat loss. The power of the heaters in storage heaters makes it possible to connect them to ordinary electrical sockets. The most important criterion for selecting a device is its capacity.

Storage water heaters are characterised by high comfort of use. Thanks to the solutions used, the user can adjust the temperature in the range from 23 to 70°C. The 2kW heater ensures a short time of heating the water in the tank. In the case of heaters with a capacity of five litres, it takes approximately five and a half minutes to heat the water in the entire tank by 30°C. In 10-litre tanks, it takes about 11 minutes to heat up the water.

Water heating with a central heating source? Find the right domestic hot water cylinder.

If you plan to heat domestic water with a boiler, heat pump or other central heating source, it will be necessary to use a domestic hot water cylinder. KOSPEL has a wide range of domestic hot water cylinder. What is the principle of their operation?

The main element of the DHW cylinder is a steel tank covered with ceramic enamel. Kospel uses powder enamelling technology during the production of the DHW cylinders. The biggest advantage of this technology is the uniform coverage of the entire surface of the tank. A precisely selected enamel layer perfectly protects the sheet metal of the tank against corrosion. This is a guarantee of the highest durability of the device and many years of trouble-free operation.

The built-in coil or water jacket transfers the heat supplied from the boiler to the utility water. The use of these devices is especially justified in large installations where circulation should be used.

The tanks are manufactured in various versions (e.g., with one, two or three coils or in a shell version). You can choose between hanging or standing appliances with capacities from 80 to 1000 litres. For cooperation with solid fuel boilers, horizontal DHW cylinders with a coil or water jacket are most often used. Horizontal devices are offered with capacities ranging from 80 to 140 litres.

Shell DHW cylinders deserve special attention. They have much more power and efficiency than devices with the same capacity with coils. For example, the efficiency of the SP-180 shell DHW cylunder with a total capacity of 183 litres is comparable to that of an DHW cylinder with a coil with a capacity of 300 litres. An important element in the production of shell DHW cylinder is the technology of corrugating the walls of the tank. It additionally increases the heating surface. Moreover, thanks to the greater pressure resistance (up to 0.3MPa), it enables the installation of DHW cylinder in closed central heating systems.

It is also worth distinguishing devices with a high degree of energy efficiency – energy class A. These are, for example, SWK DHW cylinder for installation under the boiler. 

There are many ways to efficiently heat tap water but their choice depends on individual preferences and possibilities.