Horizontal boilers

Not so long ago, the storage water heater, installed in the apartment, was considered almost a luxury item. Today it is perceived more as a necessity than as a luxury. Water heater allows you to forget about the seasonal maintenance of water pipes and the associated disconnection of hot water. The choice of such devices is now incredibly large - a suitable model can be found for all tastes and wallets.

In this article we will tell you about domestic water heaters of horizontal type. You will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of these devices, about their features and varieties, as well as the basic rules of choice.

Among the rather large list of advantages of horizontal boilers, the following deserve special attention:

• convenience and ease of installation;
• Short heating time of water;
• Durability (service life of most models is 8 to 10 years);
• Durable, wear-resistant materials;

• high level of thermal insulation, which maintains the set temperature of the water for a long time;
• temperature indicator, which simplifies the use of the device;
• compact size, allowing a more rational use of space;
• low power, which provides economical consumption of electricity.

Despite so many advantages, water heaters of the horizontal type are not without obvious drawbacks. Let's list the most important of them:

• structurally inconvenient location of hot and cold water spigots, leading to mixing, as a result of which the temperature of water from the hot faucet is not high enough;
• for some models of this type of boilers is characterized by the location of the heater on the side of the device, due to which water heating is very slow;
• high price - on average, horizontal heaters are much more expensive than similar in function vertical devices.

Household boilers are classified according to several key parameters. A brief classification of water heaters for home use will look something like this:

• type: storage/flush/flowing;
• heating method: gas/combined/conventional/electric;
• water supply method: unpressurized/pressurized;
• mounting method: flush-mounted/flush-mounted/wall-mounted/universal;
• installation: vertical/horizontal.

Horizontal boilers differ, including the type of heating element. Modern water heaters use so-called "wet" and "dry" heating elements. "Dry" heater is enclosed in a sealed housing, so it is not in contact with water when heated. The wet-type heating element is in direct contact with water.

In addition, the inner surface of the tank can have different coatings. Most often stainless steel, enamel and vitrified clay are used for this purpose. The first option is the most common, it has high strength and excellent protective properties. Enamel coating is cheap for manufacturers, it has no effect on water, but it is extremely short-lived. Glass porcelain is the most modern option, the distinctive property of which is the excellent tolerance of high heating temperatures.

The volume of the tank - this is one of the most important criteria for choice, which buyers pay attention to first of all.

The choice is influenced, first of all, by the number of family members, and in addition, the frequency of water procedures and the type of plumbing equipment. For example, to wash one person needs from 5 to 15 liters of water a day, to take a shower - from 50 to 90 liters, to take a bath - from 150 to 180 liters, and to wash dishes wastes from 20 to 30 liters. This is approximate data, which should be guided by, deciding on the volume of the tank.

Let's consider some of the most popular options.

A water heater with this tank volume is a good option for one person or for a couple. This volume is quite enough not to experience inconvenience during hot water outages.

Boiler with a tank volume of 80 liters is suitable for a family with one child. However, if you have to do without hot water in the pipes for a long time, it is better to pay attention to more spacious models.

A water heater designed for a hundred liters is not a bad solution for a family with one or two children, but on the condition that you do not usually spend water uncontrollably. If you are used to stand under the shower for a long time, it is better to choose something more voluminous.

Such a capacious boiler is usually chosen by those who live outside the city in a house not connected to a centralized water supply. However, you can also install it in a city apartment, especially since it is perfect for a large family. But you should take into account that such roomy models have large dimensions, so you will need a lot of space for installation.

On the market of equipment for the home there are dozens of companies that are engaged in the release of water heaters of the horizontal type, but the trust of buyers all over the world managed to win only a few manufacturers.

• Ariston. Among the advantages of products of this Italian company is a high degree of thermal insulation, which is achieved through the use of high quality materials. The biggest disadvantage of boilers from Ariston users call inconvenient temperature regulator.

• Electrolux. The Swedish company has been producing domestic water heaters for a long time, so it has managed to become a true professional in this area. Boilers from Electrolux have a compact size and stylish design, but it does not affect the quality of the products. In addition, the manufacturer provides an 8-year warranty on its products.

• Thermex. This European manufacturer specializes directly in the production of water heating equipment, so it offers customers a wide range of household boilers. Devices from Thermex are made according to the most modern technologies and meet the world quality standards.

• Choosing horizontal boilers, take into account not only the main technical characteristics, but also the presence of additional features that make the device more functional and convenient to use. Such options include, for example, self-cleaning and self-diagnosis systems.
• We have already talked about the fact that due to the design features of horizontal water heaters, undesirable mixing of water of different temperatures can occur in the tanks. Avoid this problem will help the system of protection against mixing, which is provided in some models.