What is an indirect heating water heater

The need for hot water in any home or office is undeniable - boilers are installed for this purpose. Such devices are electric, where a heating element is present as a heater. There are also gas units with a burner on the market. In addition to those listed, indirect type units are produced.

What is an indirect heating water heater?

A design feature of indirect type boilers is the absence of their own heating element. Such a device works by receiving heat from outside, usually from a central heating system or solar panels. It is possible to use a cascade system, that is, the heating process in an indirect type unit occurs after activation of the main boiler.

REFERENCE! The need for use arises when you need to increase the supply of hot water due to low pressure in the house by heating cold water or install an additional point.

Design and principle of operation of an indirect heating boiler

The so-called indirect heating water heater is a cylindrical tank. The device consists of the following elements:

• housings;
• thermal insulation;
• internal stainless tank;
• temperature meter;
• heat exchange systems;
• magnesium anode.

The installed insulation between the tank and the body ensures the least heat loss. There is a heat exchanger located inside the tank. It is made of a steel or brass tube, which is laid at the bottom with special bends, thereby ensuring uniform heating of the water. The installed thermometer monitors the temperature. To protect against corrosion, a magnesium anode is installed.

REFERENCE! Taking into account the peculiarities of seasonal operation and consumer requests, modern indirect water heaters are often manufactured as combined ones, combined with gas or electric heating.

The water heater can be installed:

1. On the wall when there is little space in the room or you want to save it. But it is necessary to take into account that the fastenings are made with brackets that have weight restrictions, so the mass of the boiler should not exceed 100 kg.
2. On the floor, used for devices over 100 kg, on special stands.

Features of installation and connection of the water heater

Before turning it on, the device must be installed correctly. The following nuances must be taken into account:

1. First you need to select an installation location. As a rule, this is a bathroom or toilet.
2. When installing, it is important to consider: ease of dismantling, ability to reach connections. This will be necessary when carrying out maintenance and repair work. You must not interfere with the passage or block other engineering systems.
3. If in the room where the water heater is installed, the walls are not solid, but plasterboard, then it cannot be fixed. In this case, a floor-standing option is used or installation is carried out on a metal stand.
4. Connection to the water supply and electricity systems is carried out by qualified specialists. Particular attention should be paid to the fact that before connecting to the electrical network, the metal case must be grounded.
5. After installation, it is connected to the electrical network according to the instructions specified in the product passport. The correct operation of the device is checked.
6. After supplying hot water to the heat exchanger of the water heater, the coolant must constantly circulate to maintain the temperature - a pump is installed for this. After heating to the desired temperature, the pump turns off. The water can remain hot for a long time due to the thermal insulation.

IMPORTANT! A stainless steel tank is sooner or later subject to destruction under the influence of water. It is necessary to pay attention to the condition of the seams of the tank - often they are the first to leak.

Advantages and disadvantages of an indirect heating boiler

Let us note the advantages of an indirect type water heater:

1. Capable of heating large volumes. A wall-mounted unit can heat up to 150 liters, a floor-mounted unit can heat up to 300 liters.
2. Saving. At the height of the heating season, you can save significantly on utility costs.
3. Possibility of organizing several hot water distribution points. This is true for a large private home or office.

REFERENCE! The use of a combined option is currently in great demand, since seasonal shutdowns and reductions in hot water pressure are increasingly occurring in congested microdistricts of megacities. A combined type water heater comes to the rescue, which runs on heating fluid in winter, and in warm periods is powered by electricity or gas.

Flaws:

1. High cost compared to analogues. As a rule, the high cost of a product is due to the prices of spare parts and consumables.
2. The water takes a long time to heat up due to the large volume of the tank and heating technology. If used for frequent use at home, then a smaller volume can be provided.
3. Heating depends on the heating medium. The indirect heating period is justified at the height of the heating season. On warm days of winter, when the temperature of the coolant drops, the use of an indirect device becomes impossible - the water does not heat up.
4. The heating temperature ceiling is lower than that of electric and gas water heaters. This characteristic limits the use of water heaters of this type in health care and children's institutions, where there are strict requirements for the temperature of hot water.

Selecting an indirect boiler

When choosing a water heater, you need to pay attention to the following parameters:

1. What volume. It is necessary to decide for what purpose it is being purchased, what the possible consumption will be, and whether there will be additional points. Do not forget that a large volume will take a long time to warm up.
2. What material is the coil made of - steel or brass? They are removable and welded to the tank. As a rule, removable brass ones are preferable.
3. What material is the tank made of? Inexpensive models are often not made of stainless steel. They have a coating that subsequently becomes covered with cracks, which leads to rapid wear.
4. What material is used for insulation? It should be made of polyurethane, not foam rubber. Foam rubber has poor thermal insulation characteristics, so it will not allow the device to operate fully.

A water heater is a necessary and useful electrical appliance in everyday life. There are a huge number of models offered on the market - in terms of cost and operating principle. From budget to premium. So, you can make a choice without overpaying. All that remains is to choose a device whose characteristics suit you.