Hot water in the bath: choosing the optimal system

No bath can do without a water heater. To provide the necessary temperature, you can use different types of equipment. Some types of equipment can be made by hand and connected, knowing the correct scheme. Heaters differ in size, technical characteristics, used raw materials and other parameters.

The main problem of baths and saunas, which are located in private sectors or are part of a country house, is the supply of hot water. Due to the lack of hot water supply, which is available in all large cities, owners of their own baths have to heat water themselves. Despite the large variety of heating devices, all the equipment used can be divided into 2 groups:

• Installation of devices for heating water to an optimal temperature;
• The use of furnaces for the bath.

To the first category can include boilers, electric heaters and many other things that modern brands offer. Regardless of the type of design chosen, it must be installed in the washing room. This can be a problem if the equipment is selected for a small-sized room. The second option is more functional. The furnace can not only heat the air in the steam room to the desired temperature, but also heat water. In order to use the additional possibilities of the stoves, a separate water tank is installed. On sale you can find options with tanks, the volume of which varies from 30 to 100 liters.

The first option is called "column-shower". Also manufacturers use the following names - "boilers" or "titans". The main feature of such devices is a simple and clear design. The column looks like an ordinary capacious tank, which is attached to the furnace. The equipment also includes pipes.

Manufacturers equip it with inlet spigots. A mixer is installed for a comfortable supply of warm water. Such columns are considered versatile and widely used equipment. They can operate from almost any solid fuel. At the same time for the operation of the column shower must be set up an uninterrupted supply of water.

Gas-powered appliances are actively used in private sectors, where there is a gas pipeline. Before installing the gas water heater, it is necessary to coordinate this issue with the representatives of the gas utility. Natural consumable can be dangerous if the installation of the equipment is performed incorrectly. This procedure should be performed even before the purchase of the equipment. Only some heating equipment options are suitable for indoor placement. Features of gas heaters:

• Affordable price of the consumable material;
• simple and clear operation;
• small size that allows you to place the heater inside a compact structure;
• comfortable maintenance of equipment (the column does not need to be cleaned, unlike those heaters that work on coal or wood);
• rapid heating of water in the shortest possible time.

Recently, metal stoves have been popular. They are presented in a large variety of models, which differ in shape, capacity, size and type of consumable material. The placement of such a furnace allows you to create the necessary temperature conditions in the steam room and heat water. As the advantages of this type of equipment are the following:

• small size, which is not inferior to the power of large-sized versions;
• Water is quickly heated to the desired temperature;
• users can control the temperature of the room and fluid heating;
• economical fuel consumption (this figure depends significantly on what the furnace works).

As disadvantages note the following points:

• the furnace cools down quickly, so it is not possible to maintain a high temperature for a long time after stopping the operation of the furnace;
• many buyers identified the high price as the most important disadvantage.

The stove for room and water heating is placed between the washing room and the steam room. The tank is made of wear-resistant stainless steel. Temperature control is provided by regulating the draft in the furnace.

The main purpose of bath boilers is to heat the air in the room as quickly as possible, but they are often used to heat water. They can also be used to keep the necessary conditions for a long time. Metal boilers have become more popular than standard brick stoves due to their high efficiency.

If you are only going to use the steam room for a few hours, you won't have to heat it up for a long time when using a boiler. Despite rapid heating, metal boilers also cool down quickly. To cope with this problem, brands have released long-burning models on the market. In terms of price, they will cost significantly more than the standard options.

Unfortunately, once the fuel stops burning, the boiler cools down just as quickly. There are so-called long-burning boilers on sale. They are more expensive than conventional ones, but whether it is worth paying that kind of money - everyone decides for himself. In the manufacture of such heaters, wear-resistant and practical materials are used. Cast iron is very popular. The most widespread are gas boilers.

In the territory of some dacha sectors there is no gasification. If there is no desire to heat the bath and heat water with wood or coal, an electric water heater will be a great option. Equipment of this type can be divided into 2 groups:

• storage models;
• Flow-through devices.

According to the name, it is not difficult to guess what is the principle of operation of the two types of equipment. The first option is recommended to install in regions where there are problems with electricity supply. The second option heats the water almost immediately after it enters the device.

Advantages of electric heaters:

• simple and safe operation;
• neat appearance;
• a large variety of models, differing in technical characteristics and methods of installation;
• flow-through boilers can be used even when there is no electricity supply.

The negative qualities are as follows:

• The need to arrange the wiring;
• high electricity consumption.

The water can be heated with the help of a heat exchanger. In this case, it is necessary to arrange the following construction.

• To begin with, it is necessary to install a classic brick stove with two free walls in the room.
• Between them a pipe with thick walls is placed. This element is bent so as to give it a zigzag shape. The more corners there will be on the pipe, the better.
• Cold water enters at one end of the pipe, and the output is a hot liquid.

This method is suitable if you are using a metal stove to heat the room. A separate tank for water is often included. Manufacturers offer customers the following options.

• Built-in. In this case, the water tank is located inside the body, on top of the flow chamber. The main advantage of such a tank is quick heating of water to the desired temperature. The disadvantage is the small volume.
• Hinged. The tank is installed in the side or near the chimney. The tank can have any size.

It is possible to make a separate tank with your own hands. To do this, you will need sturdy metal sheets.

When choosing a system for heating water, consider the following parameters.

• If you choose equipment for a small room, make a choice in favor of a compact unit. Modern manufacturers offer mini-equipment, which can boast of high technical indicators.
• Another important parameter is the speed of water heating. Some options quickly heat water to the desired temperature, others work slower, but have their own positive characteristics. If you don't have a lot of time to warm up the steam room, choose the first option of equipment.
• The most important characteristic when choosing equipment is the consumables. In this case, you need to consider the cost and capabilities. Some users are not profitable to use gas for the reason that it is not conducted on a particular site. Many are used to heat with wood and continue to use the natural resource.
• Before you make a choice in favor of a particular option, you need to compare the advantages and disadvantages of all types of heating equipment. Pay attention to the cost of the unit. One model may have a different price depending on the store.

The attached diagrams will help to set up the process of heating water for a personal bath.

• The first image demonstrates the scheme of water supply with the help of a heat exchanger.

• The second option is the use of a tank. The picture shows the drain valve, slide valve and other components of the construction.

• Offers you the principle of operation and structure of the wood heater.

• This scheme involves the use of a metal tank and heat exchanger.

• Variant with remote tank.

On how to heat water in the bath, see the following video.