The demand for water heaters skyrockets when the season shifts from autumn to winter. Because of the low temperatures, the stored water in the tank becomes chilly, making bathing or washing difficult. Bathing in cold water during winter invites the common cold, influenza, and other cold-related illnesses. Previously, water was heated in wood or coal-fired boilers and then circulated or dumped into buckets for drinking. However, such water heaters are no longer regularly utilized; instead, electric and gas water heaters are the most commonly used. Water heaters are sometimes known as “geysers” in India, after the natural phenomena of hot water jets shooting out of crevices near active volcanic areas.
Different Models of Water Heaters
In terms of market share, electric water heaters are preferred by the majority of families. These heaters are further classified into two types: rapid water heaters and storage water heaters geysers. An electric water heater must be situated near the area of use and have a heavy-duty electric connection in order to function. These water heaters are rated to operate at around 2000 to 3000W, drawing a very high current that the typical domestic wiring cannot withstand. Even if we take the heating element to be a pure electrical resistor, a 2500-watt electric water heater will consume approximately 10-12 Amperes of current! As a result, it must have its own wiring and circuit breaker capable of handling currents of up to 15A. An instant water heater heats the water immediately after the power is turned on. It contains a high-power rated electric heating element but no hot water storage. The water is fed through the instant heater and it gets heated by the heating element, and hot water spouts out of the tap. The water flow rate of the instant water heater is slow. If you want the water to be heated even more, restrict the outflow of water so that the water can spend more time in the area of the heating element.
Another type of electric water heater is the storage water heater, which heats water with an electrical heating element and then stores it in a reservoir inside the appliance’s body. This storage water geyser has the advantage of having a reservoir that can hold 6 to 50 liters of water and once heated, the water keeps its heat for an extended period of time. As a result, there was no need to repeatedly turn it on and off whenever hot water was needed. Additionally, this heating element’s rating is a tiny bit lower than the quick water heater’s. Storage water heaters are typically employed for laundry and bathing needs.
The size of your electric water heater is determined by the size of your bathroom. An instant water heater is acceptable if the bathroom is tiny and is being used by a single person or possibly a couple. A storage water heater is the best choice, nevertheless, if the water heater serves a family of three or more. Since there is no internal storage tank, quick water heaters require minimal maintenance because there is little to no calcification. The reservoir of electric storage water heaters frequently calcifies, reducing their effectiveness.
A geyser or water heater that runs on gas is another type. Due to physics, a gas water heater is substantially more efficient than an electric water heater. According to studies, a gas geyser is around 40% more efficient than an instantaneous water heater. LPG is used to power a gas geyser. Similar to an immediate electric heater, the water here heats up quite quickly. The water begins to flow inside the geyser as soon as it is turned on. The gas burner is activated when the burner sensor detects water flow. Near the burner is a pipe that serves as a heat exchanger for the water. The gas warms the pipes, which in turn warms the water. Gas geysers must be placed cautiously, though, as a gas leak could have disastrous results.
Another kind of solar water heater is the storage water heater. They are a component of solar residential hot water systems, which employ solar collectors to harness solar energy and storage tanks to gather and store the heated water. Different designs of these systems are employed, depending on the region and likelihood of freezing. So-called direct circulation systems circulate the water that needs to be heated through the solar collector and back into the storage system. When there is minimal to no risk of freezing temperatures, these systems are used in warmer climates.
Instead of pumping the water to be heated to the solar collector, indirect circulation systems move a heat transfer fluid with a low freezing point. Following the fluid’s absorption of solar energy, a heat exchanger transfers that energy to the water being heated.
Although solar water heaters have the benefit of using free energy and being reasonably simple to use, they virtually always need a backup system to supplement the hot water supply when it is cloudy outside or there is a higher-than-average demand for hot water.
Conclusion
The time when water heaters were viewed as a luxury is long gone. Over the years, the costs of water heaters, made by all the main brands, have dropped significantly to the point where they are now affordable for every family. Electric or gas-powered water heaters are both options. They provide their goods with cutting-edge safety features and fashionable appearances.
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