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In the previous article about plumbing, we wrote about how pipes are installed and how water is supplied to a private house. Now is the time to look from a practical point of view at how hot water is produced in a private home and how it is consumed.
Below I will pay attention to such points as calculating hot water supply in the house and will consider several options for hot water supply schemes.
Let's get started.
Calculation of hot water supply in the house
The temperature of the hot water will depend, first of all, on how correct the calculation of the hot water supply is - both an amateur and a professional can do it.
In general, for a minute, it’s not clear when every website of equipment sellers is replete with the words “... the calculation of hot water supply for our equipment must be carried out by certified specialists and blah blah blah...”
Do they seriously think that every developer who counts an extra penny when building a house will hire a specialist to calculate how many liters of hot water his family will spend and what should be the optimal water temperature in the house he builds?
We live in Russia. How much will a competent calculation by a specialist cost? 5000 rubles?
Ask any developer what he would prefer - to pay 5,000 rubles for the calculation of hot water supply or to invest the same 5,000 rubles in a little to produce the same hot water for his family and friends? That is, instead of Chinese Termex, buy Czech Drazice or German AEG.
You don't have to be an oracle to predict the answer with a 99.99 percent probability.
Another thing is that, in principle, it is necessary to do a “hot water supply calculation” - without it, your builders and installers will set up and install something that you won’t be able to figure out later. After all, they don’t have to live in your house - the main thing for them is to pass the work and get money. Therefore, the owner does the calculations, and the installers do the installation.
To make a calculation for hot water, you need to know the approximate consumption rates. Why exemplary? Because some people spend 20 liters of hot water for the entire wash, while others only wash their hair using 80 liters.
So figure out who and how in your family usually uses hot water and start counting.
In total, 1 family member is provided with 200 liters of water per day, of which 80 liters are hot. The hot water temperature is considered to be 55 degrees - just so you know. You won’t be able to wash with water at this temperature – it’s very hot. That's why every home has faucets.
The water comes out of the mixer at a comfortable temperature - it is different for each person. For some it is 35 degrees, and for others it is 40 degrees.
A standard storage water heater heats 25 liters of water to a temperature of 55 degrees Celsius in about 1 hour. A 100-liter boiler heats it up in about 4 hours. Let's move on.
If the house does not have powerful electricity, then your option is a storage water heater.
On average, a 50-liter boiler is enough for a family of 2 people, and 100 liters for a family of 4 people (two adults, two children). Why such numbers? Because the heater works 24 hours a day. A fifty-liter heater will heat 600 liters per day, and a hundred-liter heater will heat the same 600.
It seems like the numbers turned out to be the same, why is there such a difference in the volume of the heater? Because washing at night is inconvenient and waiting 4 hours after washing the next family member is also inconvenient. So that all family members can take a shower with minimal intervals, an excess volume of the heater is exactly what is needed.
If one of your family members wants, then know that in a bath with a volume of 200 liters and a comfortable temperature of 40 degrees Celsius there will be approximately 70-80 liters of hot water from the boiler. For example, almost all of the water from a 100-liter boiler will be consumed. So, if your family loves to take baths, then you have a direct route to the store for a two-hundred-liter beauty.
Or, as an option, you can buy a instantaneous water heater - this is if you have sufficient dedicated electrical power. To take a normal shower or fill a bath, you need a hot water flow of at least 4 liters per minute. And this is the electric power of a flow-through heater of 8 kilowatts. If you want more hot water, you will need a power of 10-15 kilowatts.
These are some interesting calculations.
Please note that the calculation of hot water supply in modern conditions does not apply to washing dishes and laundry. A dishwasher is used to wash dishes - the average cold water consumption is 15 liters per cycle - it heats the water itself. A washing machine is used for washing - the average consumption of cold water depends on the selected cycle - it also heats the water itself.
It turns out that hot water in a private home is needed only to “wash” family members - washing, showering, taking a bath, washing hands before eating.
Hot water supply scheme - which is best?
Which scheme should I choose to ensure that hot water in the house does not transfer? Despite all the variety, there are not so many options.
Let's summarize what hot water production schemes are possible in a private home.
1. Electric storage water heater (boiler) - operates on a 220 or 380 volt network and has a volume of 30 to 400 liters.
2. Electric instantaneous water heater - operates from a network of 200 volts (low-power models) or 380 volts, heats the flow of water passing through it.
3. Indirect heating boiler - heats up from the temperature of the coolant in the heating system. The water temperature largely depends on the power of the boiler.
4. Second circuit intended for DHW. In fact, this is a high-power flow heater.
5. Gas water heater (column) - instantaneous gas heater.
6. DHW water circuit on the stove / solid fuel boiler - the water is heated at the moment the heat generator is fired.
Looking at this list, choosing a scheme is quite simple. There is gas - choose schemes 3,4,5. No gas - you are left with schemes 1,2,4. at the same time, if you have allocated no more than 5-6 kilowatts of electrical power to your home, then scheme 2 becomes inaccessible to you.
Well, scheme 6 is more exotic than reality in modern private housing construction.
Having hot water in a private home is an integral part of a comfortable life. The temperature of ordinary cold water does not exceed 10 degrees. Therefore, it needs to be heated for domestic purposes. When creating comfort in an individual residential building, people try to solve this problem first. After all, not everywhere there is a general hot water supply. Modern equipment allows you to organize water supply in a private home in different ways. Let's look at them.
Types of water heaters for installation in a private home
There are storage and flow systems. The features of their work are clear from the names.
A storage water heater is a powerful tank or boiler into which a heating element is built. The large volume where water circulates will make it possible to use hot water for several hours.
Storage systems
These are those that hold a large volume of water and maintain its temperature at a high level for a long time, preheating it. These boilers differ in tank volume:
- From 5 to 10 liters: enough to wash your hands or some dishes.
- 50 – 100 liters: enough for washing dishes and taking a shower.
- About 1000 liters: enough for a large family.
Positive aspects of the storage system:
- Maintains the temperature of a certain volume of water.
- Creates a supply of hot water. Relevant in case of water supply interruptions.
- Can be installed anywhere.
Negative sides:
- They have limited volume.
- Warming up takes time, sometimes a long time.
- The larger the volume of the boiler, the more difficult it is to find a suitable place for it.
Flow heaters
An instantaneous heater will be able to supply hot water almost immediately. Compact weight and small dimensions facilitate transportation and installation.
Tankless water heaters are suitable for both small houses and large ones, with two or more floors. They do not accumulate water, but heat the running water and immediately drop it to the consumer.
Advantages:
- Compact sizes, can be suspended or floor-mounted. Often has an original front panel design.
- The heating process and immediately as soon as the water supply is opened.
- For a separate tap it is not necessary to install a separate heating unit.
Flaws:
- There is a slight delay in hot water delivery.
- The cooled water from the previous start must be drained.
- When hot water is used simultaneously in different places from one heating source, there will be a weak flow and the temperature will drop sharply.
- The heater is prone to rapid accumulation of scale.
Indirect systems
Sectional image of an indirect heating boiler.
An indirect heating water heater is distinguished by the fact that it takes warm water from the heating system of the house. It is beneficial to use such a system in winter, since it will not require additional resources for heating.
Methods for heating water in the system
To obtain hot water from ordinary cold water, it must be heated. This will require a source of energy. By type of heating systems there are:
- Electrical, which may have a second circuit.
- Gas water heaters with a second circuit.
- With indirect heating.
To select a specific option, you need to calculate the power required to heat the water. To provide hot water to one tap, 10 kW is enough, however, to simultaneously use a bathtub with a tap, the heater power must be at least 28 kW.
Gas boilers
To install a gas boiler, you will need the help of specialists, as you need to prepare the appropriate diagrams, obtain permits, install ventilation and a chimney if necessary.
The advantages of this type of water heating are that it is autonomous. In addition, the lack of electricity will not prevent you from heating water. There are models of gas boilers on the market that allow you to save a large amount of gas. However, a chimney connection will be required. But there are special models that can be installed anywhere in the house. Using the second circuit of a gas water heating system allows you to solve the problem of not only hot water in the house, but also its heating.
Please note that using an electrically controlled gas boiler will require autonomous power sources so that the system does not malfunction.
Electric heaters
You can install an electrical water heating system yourself. The wiring can be routed directly from the panel. Please note that instantaneous electric heaters will require a separate line. This is due to their high power. Output machines must be replaced. You should also think about the economic feasibility of using a flow-type water heater.
Boilers using alternative fuels
If it is not possible to connect gas and there are constant power outages, then it is better to install a boiler that runs on alternative fuel.
Wood, peat briquettes or liquid fuel are used as fuel for such systems. Those that are removed from communications. Using them to heat water for domestic use in the house is expensive and difficult.
As for solar collectors, they are not common in our country. However, their use would make it possible to have an autonomous source of electricity and the use of an electric boiler would be advisable.
Types of heating elements
A dry heating element does not have direct contact with water; it is immersed in a special metal flask. This flask protects the heating element from corrosion.
There are 2 types of heating elements based on their operating principle. They are distinguished by the way they interact with water:
- Wet heating element. The principle of operation is similar to a boiler, which is lowered into water. Only in the boiler the device is larger and has high power.
- Dry heating element. It is installed inside the bank, so it heats the tank, not the water. This offers some advantages:
a. The absence of contact between the heating element and water reduces the requirements for the latter.
b. Breakdowns of the heating element are excluded.
c. Scale does not form on the device. This extends service life and increases operating efficiency.
When purchasing a water heating device, you should pay attention to the characteristics of the heating element.
Wet heating element - immersed directly in the water inside the boiler, it has a low price and is installed on budget boiler models.
Selection of pipes for distributing a hot water supply system
At the moment, the market offers a large number of types of pipes for water supply systems. The main indicators by which you should choose pipes are cost and reliability. Installation should not cause significant difficulties.
Pipe materials:
- Steel.
- Copper.
- Plastic.
- Metal-plastic.
Steel pipes
Steel pipes are usually considered as a traditional option that meets most requirements when constructing hot water supply systems.
They are made of black or galvanized steel. The latter option is resistant to corrosion. Service life is about 50 years. Steel pipes can withstand temperature changes and significant pressure changes.
To install steel pipes, an experienced craftsman will be required, since it will be difficult for an unskilled person to complete the work. Steel pipes have two disadvantages: condensation can form on the outside of the pipes, and plaque can form on the inside.
Copper pipes
They have a long service life - up to 70 years. They have a beautiful appearance and can blend seamlessly into your decor. The disadvantage of the material is its high cost. And finding copper pipes on the market is not so easy.
Copper pipes perfectly withstand high pressures and temperatures, eliminating the development of corrosion processes.
They are durable, versatile in use, and low in cost. Popular other materials. Their neat appearance is also a plus.
For the production of such pipes the following is used:
- Polypropylene.
- Polyvinyl chloride.
- Polyethylene.
The installation of water pipes from plastic pipes is carried out in a short time. The work is easy to do yourself. All you need is pipes, a wiring diagram and a welding machine. As a last resort, you can use a gas burner.
Plastic pipes are easy to install, they are durable, strong and do not require welding.
Metal-plastic
Practical to use and lightweight. They are easy to install. This pipe consists of a steel frame, which is covered with plastic on both sides. Such pipes can be used for up to 35 years. The metal-plastic pipe can withstand temperatures up to 75 degrees.
Advantages: low cost, easy installation, reliability of products. Disadvantages: poor resistance to low temperatures, so it is better to use them for wiring inside the house.
Data on average water consumption for system selection
To choose the right water heating system, you need to find the average value for its flow rate. This requires some calculations. The average option is discussed below as an example.
The water consumption in the shower will be from 4 to 8 liters per 1 minute. To carry out further calculations, let’s take the maximum figure – 8 liters. If each family member takes a shower for 10 minutes, they will need 80 liters of water. This is the volume per person.
Organizing a hot water supply system in a private home requires a balanced approach to the selection of equipment and materials.
It will take 15 minutes to wash the dishes, the water consumption will be approximately 3 liters per minute. The total is 45 liters. It turns out that one family member will need 125 liters.
The range of comfortable temperature for use is from 30 to 40 degrees. Let's take 35.
Storage boilers can heat water up to 80 degrees. The average thermostat setting is approximately 65 degrees. The temperature of the cold water that enters the water heater is 10 degrees. Calculation of water heater volume = 125 * (35 – 10): (65 – 10) = 56 liters.
If you need to consume up to 200 liters of water, there is a wide range of wall-mounted models on the market. If you need more water, you need to turn your attention to floor models.
Note! The use of flow-through systems is relevant when the volume of hot water used is small. But it should be borne in mind that this type of water heater will require additional costs for electrical wiring. Also, such a water heater will have high energy consumption. It is worth considering whether such a system is necessary.
Indirect systems are good because they allow you not only to heat the house, but also to obtain hot water for domestic needs. If a new house is being built and the heating system has not yet been installed, then it is worth considering the possibility of constructing an indirect system. However, the hot water circuit must have a separate heating. Otherwise, it will be impossible to get it in the summer.
Those who purchased a house with a ready-made heating system, but did not have a water heating system, will have to install it. And the choice, most likely, will fall on creating a second circuit in a system with gas heating. Or you will have to purchase an electric boiler if you have a centralized heating system, or a solid and liquid fuel boiler.
Electric storage heaters can be installed on your own and the wiring line can be connected directly from the panel.
If necessary, installation can be entrusted to specialists. It is better not to skimp on water supply so that unforeseen circumstances do not arise.
Useful information from professionals
In conclusion, useful tips from professionals are provided. They will be useful when installing water heating systems for domestic use and will allow you to avoid troubles during operation:
Kotov Vladimir Viktorovich, site foreman: At the initial stage of construction of a country house, you can install a boiler for heating water with a volume of 100 liters. This will provide comfort to those living on site. When using the house seasonally, for example, as a summer house, it is advisable to install an instantaneous water heater. It is compact and easy to use.
Litvinov Dmitry Yurievich, designer of water supply systems: With a small family size, you can install a boiler of 50 - 100 liters. It will compensate for heat loss and water consumption. When purchasing a gas boiler, it is better to give preference to a ready-made kit with a boiler and boiler. Their parameters are correctly selected by the manufacturer.
Kudryashov Valery Leonidovich, plumber: If there is a high content of impurities in running water in quantities over 140 milligrams per liter, it is recommended not to use instantaneous water heaters. Impurities will fall out on the heating element and pipes. The flow heater will fail soon. If there is a boiler in the house using alternative fuel sources, be it wood or coal, the use of a storage tank will allow organizing a secondary water supply circuit. This will avoid additional energy costs for heating water.
conclusions
The information provided will help owners of private houses make the right choice and decide on the installation of a hot water supply system. Due to the fact that the arrangement of this system requires a responsible approach, it is better to entrust the selection of the optimal equipment option, the design of the system and its installation to specialized organizations that are professionally involved in this area. This will ensure reliable and uninterrupted operation of the system for many years.
Hot water supply in a private home is quite commonplace. However, its structure still remains a mystery that is known to few. Therefore, it is worth understanding and understanding the advantages and disadvantages of a particular hot water supply system.
According to the principle of its operation, the hot water supply system is divided into:
- Flowing system.
- System with storage boiler.
They are distinguished by the accumulation of hot water. In the first case, it does not happen, the water is heated as needed, in the second, the hot water system contains a special container with hot water.
Hot water supply: Flow system
There are many types of instantaneous water heater; it can be a gas water heater, a double circuit heating system, or a heat exchanger connected to a common heating network. At the moment of consumption, the system turns on and begins to heat the water. Accordingly, as soon as there is no need for it, the system stops working. Accordingly, the advantages and disadvantages of such a system are as follows:
- Small volume of heated water. Only the water that is used for work is heated, and the rest remains cold. This allows you to save on costs and is one of the undeniable advantages.
- Gradual inclusion. Hot water will flow from the tap only after all the cold water has left the pipe. If the distance between the tap and the heater is large, this can be a significant volume. At the same time, it was already heated during previous use, but has cooled down. This is an irrational consumption of heat energy.
- Incomplete inclusion. Instantaneous water heaters have a lower switching threshold. That is, if the hot water flow is less than a certain minimum, they simply do not turn on. Therefore, water consumption increases, which again leads to additional losses.
- At maximum consumption, the water is heated only to a certain value. Each flow heater has a heating rating, it is usually indicated as +20, +25 or for example +40. This means that as water passes through the device, its temperature increases by the specified temperature. That is, if the temperature in the cold water supply system was 10 degrees, and the heater readings were +45, then the hot water will have a temperature of 55 degrees.
- High energy consumption. Heating water quickly requires high power consumption. Providing water for a shower requires a water heating power of 18 kW, and parallel use of a shower and sink in the kitchen requires a 28 kW heater. Not every private home system is designed for such loads, and given the cost of electricity, not every wallet can handle it.
To reduce the impact of the shortcomings, it is worth considering the following scheme: almost every hot water consumption point should be equipped with its own flow-through heater in order to minimize its turn-on time and the volume of water left. In addition, this measure will allow users to not depend on each other when sharing hot water.
Selecting an instantaneous water heater
Before you start choosing a model, you should find out about the following indicators: a shower or bath consumes approximately 9 liters of hot water per minute, and a sink consumes approximately 4.2. Further calculation is simple - the indicators of all water flow points provided by this water heater are summed up and we obtain its power.
For example. If the water heater supplies the bathroom, then it requires water for the shower and sink. Accordingly, its indicators should be 9+4.2=13.2 l/min.
When choosing a specific model, you need to look not only at performance, but also at the temperature difference. It should provide heating up to 55 degrees. This point is often kept silent by sellers, and the emphasis is on performance, so you need to find out about it separately.
In addition to the working volume, you also need to know the minimum switching size - an indicator indicating the minimum passing amount of water at which the heater will turn on. It is optimal if it is only 1.1 liters.
System with storage boiler
A system with a storage tank is currently becoming increasingly popular. It is an additional tank that serves as hot water storage and contains a heating element inside. In addition, it is usually additionally connected to the heating system as a second heating circuit and receives additional heat from there. This allows you to save on direct water heating costs and reduce heat loss. Such a system is called an indirect heating boiler. 
Water is drawn from the top of the boiler and replaced by new water coming from the water supply. Since the density of cold water is higher, it is located at the bottom of the container, which is connected to the heat exchanger. Getting into it, cold water heats up and reduces its density. Due to this, it rises and flows into the upper part of the boiler, and is replaced by a new portion of cold water. This natural circulation eliminates the need for additional pumps. 
In addition, there are various water supply systems that use a storage tank as the main element.
Boiler with instantaneous heater
Such a system contains three main elements: , and . When hot water is consumed, cold water is supplied to the boiler from the water supply. Using a pump, it is taken from the bottom of the boiler, driven through a flow-through water heater and returned back, but to the top of the tank. This allows you to always have a supply of hot water and not depend on fluctuations in consumption. Therefore, this scheme is gaining increasing popularity in the modern world. 
Positive qualities also include the ability to quickly get hot water immediately after turning on the system and use it for a long time. Fast heating allows you to reduce the volume of the tank compared to an indirect heating system, and the supply of hot water in the tank makes it possible to use hot water for a long time in case of a power outage. It is also worth noting the possibility of using a low-power water heater - the storage tank compensates for this disadvantage.
Gas boilers
In houses with central heating or apartments, it is beneficial to install gas boilers. Under these conditions, they provide savings at the same level of performance. Gas boilers come in two types - with an open combustion chamber and with a closed one. This allows you to use them in an apartment without the use of additional communications, since the power is comparable to the power of a gas stove. And it does not require an additional smoke exhaust device. 
As in, gas ignition is ensured by a duty wick, which burns all the time and burns gas uselessly, by electronic ignition using batteries, or by hydrodynamic ignition. It is triggered when the cold water tap is opened. The current rotates a small turbine, which ignites the gas in the burner.
Boiler size
When choosing a boiler, they are usually guided by the following figures - the minimum level of comfort in using hot water provides 20 -30 liters of hot water per day per person. The normal level of comfort is provided by 30 - 60 liters, and the increased level by 60 - 100. These are the norms for one; for a family of several people we multiply these figures by the number of members. For example, a family of four should be provided with at least 80 - 120 liters of hot water per day. This is enough to carry out minimal hygiene procedures.
At the same time, it is not necessary that the volume of the boiler itself be the same. It is enough that its performance covers the needs of families for hot water.
Circulation system
With a large house, the length of pipes from the boiler to the point of consumption can be more than 10 meters. In this case, it is not very convenient to wait until the cold water drains and the hot water starts flowing, so a system with hot water circulation is used. 
To do this, a closed hot water circuit is installed, which provides access to it from anywhere in the house. All flow points are connected to it and are located no more than 1.5 - 2 meters from the pipeline.
A circulation pump is inserted into the ring circuit, which ensures the movement of hot water. Having passed the entire circle, the water cools down and returns back to the boiler, where it is heated again. This allows you to reduce the waiting time for hot water to one or two seconds and reduces losses in water pressure.
The disadvantage of such a system is the presence of additional costs for the operation of the pump and compensation for heat loss. But they can be reduced by additionally insulating the boiler and pipes of the ring circuit and using automation to regulate the operation of the pump.
System with recuperator and solar collector
To reduce the cost of heating a home and heating water in Europe, various energy-saving technologies have long been used. These include a recuperator and solar collector system. 
Since hot water does not have time to cool down during its use and flows down the drain hot, this is an unjustified loss of heat. To reduce them, a recovery system is installed at water consumption points. It is a heat exchanger, often made in the form of a coil, installed on a sewer pipe. The flowing hot water heats the environment and, as a result, the heat exchanger. Cold water from the water supply is connected to this heat exchanger, which then enters the boiler.
Thanks to this operating scheme, the hot water taken from the hot water supply system partially heats the cold water that replaces it and thereby offsets the costs.
Additional savings will be achieved by using a solar collector. Despite the apparent low efficiency, it provides significant savings in the long term. In the solar collector, the water is heated by 5-7 degrees, then heated by 5-7 degrees in the recuperator. Having a water temperature of 10 degrees in the water supply, at the entrance to the boiler it will already be 20 - 25 degrees. That is, it is necessary to heat not by 45, but only by 30 - 35 degrees, which gives up to 25% energy savings on heating. In the future, such savings allow not only to recoup the costs of installing additional equipment, but also to reduce costs in general.
When constructing a new building, it makes sense to immediately install a storage boiler with a capacity of over 100 liters. It will provide comfortable living without the need for alterations in the future.
If the house is used infrequently, for example a summer house, then there is no point in installing a storage system; a flow-through heater is sufficient. At the same time, the compact arrangement of flow points in such buildings will ensure convenience during operation.
If you have a large family, you can install additional capacity in the storage water supply system. A 30-liter tank with additional electric heating, which serves to compensate for heat loss, will allow you to compensate for changes in water consumption with a large number of household members.
When purchasing a gas boiler, preference should be given to ready-made boiler-boiler kits. Their parameters have already been selected for each other, such a combination will optimally consume heat.
When heating a house with solid fuel, it makes sense to use a heat storage tank to create a secondary hot water supply circuit. This will significantly reduce energy costs.
At temperatures of 55 degrees and above, salts begin to actively precipitate from the water. They clog the pipes and impair the flow of water. This is especially important for flow-through heaters that heat large volumes over a short length of pipe. If the water contains more than 140 mg of impurities per liter of water, then instantaneous water heaters cannot be used - they break down too quickly and stop heating the water.
Video “How to make hot water supply in a private house”
An essential condition for comfortable living in a private country house is the presence of an autonomous water supply system - cold and hot water. The water temperature in the well and well does not exceed 10°C, therefore a modern autonomous water supply system provides for the possibility of heating water.
You can organize hot water supply in a private home using:
One of the options for organizing hot water supply (DHW) in a country house is an electric water heater that heats water using electricity. They are divided into flow and storage.
Flow-through models heat water as soon as the user opens the tap. A storage type water heater allows you to use hot water only after some time has passed (the duration of heating depends on the power and capacity of the water heater, as well as on the set temperature).
Water heaters spend the same amount of energy to heat a certain volume of water to the desired temperature. But since the “flow tank” must heat the water quickly, it consumes a lot of energy at a time and in many country houses the power may not be enough for its operation. Powerful (from 10 kW) instantaneous water heaters require connection to a three-phase network with a voltage of 380 V. With storage water heaters it is simpler - to put them into operation, you just need to connect them to a water supply and connect them to a regular single-phase electrical network.
Water heaters operating on gas are divided into instantaneous and storage. Modern gas water heaters are quite efficient devices; gas is one of the cheapest energy sources.
A gas water heater is not the most popular way to solve the problem of organizing hot water in a private country house:
DHW system based on a double-circuit boiler
When the house is supplied with main gas, hot water supply can be realized using a gas double-circuit boiler. A double-circuit boiler is a boiler that can heat water (or a special liquid) for heating a house, as well as heat water used for domestic needs.
The preparation of hot water in a double-circuit boiler can be carried out using a secondary heat exchanger, a built-in boiler, or a bithermic heat exchanger. In the first and second cases, the water in the DHW circuit receives heat from the liquid heated by the burner flame in the primary heat exchanger; in the third case, the coolant and water for the DHW circuit are heated in one heat exchanger located above the burner.
A modern double-circuit boiler can operate in two modes: for heating and for hot water supply (in the cold season), and also only for heating domestic water in the summer.
For a large country house in which people live permanently and consume a lot of hot water, a system based on a single-circuit boiler and an external large-volume boiler is more suitable.
A single-circuit boiler itself only works for heating, but you can connect an external boiler to it - then the coolant heated in the boiler for the heating system will heat the water inside the boiler.
In summer, the boiler can be switched to an operating mode in which the heating circuit will be turned off, and the coolant will circulate between the boiler and the boiler, heating the water in the latter.
There are boilers equipped with heating elements. They are called thermoelectric or combined and can work both in conjunction with a boiler and without it, heating water using electrical energy.
Wood-fired hot water supply
For organizing hot water supply in a small country house with seasonal residence, a titanium wood-burning hot water heater may be suitable. It consists of a stove, a vertical water tank, a tap and a shower device.
Advantages of titanium:
To remove combustion products, you will need to install a chimney and connect a column to it.
Currently, in the areas of heating and hot water supply, there is a tendency to increase the use of systems that operate using alternative energy sources. The hot water supply system for a private home can be built on the basis of a solar water heater.
A solar water heater is a whole system, the main elements of which are a solar collector, which is installed on the roof of the house and a boiler located on the roof or inside the house.
There are three types of solar water heaters:
In the first case, water heated in the collector by the sun's rays enters the boiler, and from it to the water collection points. In an indirect heating scheme, a liquid is heated in the collector, which transfers its heat to the water in the boiler through condensers. Both of these systems are energy independent, but can only work during warm periods of the year (the boiler is located on the roof, since it is a single structure with the collector).
The split system is designed for year-round operation. Its collector, installed on the roof, contains a coolant that transfers heat to water through a heat exchanger in a boiler located inside the house. Such a system is energy-dependent because it includes a pump that circulates the coolant.
Hot water supply with heat pump
The hot water supply system for a private home can be implemented using a heat pump. Pumps, called heat pumps, are devices that can extract thermal energy from air, soil or water and transfer it to indoor air, water from heating and hot water systems. They consume a small amount of electricity - that is, they are economical devices.
There are several options for organizing hot water supply in a private country house using a heat pump. One of them is to use an air heat pump unit located inside the house. It is a monoblock consisting of an air-to-water heat pump, a water tank, control devices and safe operation. Such an installation can take heat to heat water from the outside (street) air or from the air of the room in which it is located.
Would you like to use hot water at your dacha or in your cottage? Contact the company "Gidroinzhstroy". Our specialists know how to make hot water supply in a private home as efficient and comfortable as in a city apartment. Experienced engineers will develop an optimal and competent project for organizing hot water supply in your country house, and our highly qualified installers will perform all the necessary work quickly and with high quality.
Hot water supply to a private home is an important engineering system, the arrangement of which always remains a pressing issue. This is a necessary condition in order to fill the house with coziness and make it comfortable for living. The installation of modern water heaters successfully solves the problems of hot water supply and heating in a private home, and for this it is no longer necessary to have powerful electrical wiring, gas or a chimney. All you need is to familiarize yourself with the operating principles of various systems, select a suitable scheme, and, if desired, you can carry out the installation yourself.
Where does hot water supply to a private home begin?
Before you begin installing hot water supply in a private home, you need to decide on some parameters of this system.
First of all, you need to figure out what kind of plumbing fixtures you will use, in what quantity and where you will place the equipment. As a rule, this is a sink, bathtub, shower cabin, washbasin, jacuzzi, bidet, etc.
After you have decided where you will place the plumbing, you need to allocate a place in a private house for installing water heating equipment. To do this, it is necessary to take into account the technical capabilities of the device. Experts recommend placing it at the same distance from hot water consumers.
Then the pipes and all related fittings are selected. As a rule, pipes with a diameter of 15 or 20 mm are suitable for internal wiring. For these purposes, galvanized or non-galvanized pipes are used, as well as products made of metal-plastic, polyethylene or polypropylene. Polypropylene pipes are the most popular. You will need a certain number of fittings, couplings and other elements that must be purchased in the required quantities in accordance with the wiring plan for the hot water supply system of a private home.
Today, there are a large number of companies that will quickly help solve the problem of providing hot water supply to a private home, and will also provide the equipment necessary for water purification. These procedures are mandatory, since in private houses, as a rule, the water sources are wells, artesian wells, etc., and the water in them, as a rule, has a composition that is far from ideal. Therefore, such water cannot be used not only for cooking, but also in hot water supply systems. This is due to the fact that it contains salts of calcium, magnesium and other elements, due to which the water becomes harder.
What to consider when organizing hot water supply for a private home
As a rule, the installation of any water heating device in a private home is carried out by a professional, since this requires preparing a suitable diagram, obtaining permission, and installing ventilation or a chimney if such a need arises.
If you use plastic pipes, the installation process is greatly simplified due to their durability and strength, and these products do not require the use of a welding machine. You should purchase fittings, silicone, tow, spare fasteners for pipes and batteries. You also need a set of tools, consisting of a special soldering iron, scissors, a hammer drill, a screwdriver, a level and a hammer, several types of keys, pliers, metal snips, etc.
The hanging boiler should be located at a distance of at least 50 cm from the ceiling. Reliable fasteners are used for it and radiators. When you set up a boiler room, it is recommended to cover the walls and floor with fire-resistant tiles and do not forget to provide free access to the water heater for periodic maintenance.
It is also necessary to install a chimney and ventilation system. You will also need a circulation pump; it is quite compact and capable of providing constant pressure, as a result of which the water quickly heats up.
If you are working with plastic pipes, you will need an assistant, since the connection is instantaneous and distortions must be avoided. Radiators are installed at the very last moment.
Make sure they are at the same level. The distance to the floor should be from 10 to 15 cm, from the wall - from 2 to 5 cm. By installing shut-off valves and temperature sensors, you can control the water temperature and shut it off if necessary.
If you do not have the necessary installation skills, it is better to turn to professionals. It is important to perform the correct calculations. The first thing you will need to do to properly install the hot water supply of a private house with your own hands is a diagram.
Hot water supply for a private house: diagram with instantaneous water heater
Instantaneous water heater can be presented:
gas water heater for hot water supply to a private house;
heating circuit for hot water supply to a private house from a double-circuit boiler;
electric instantaneous water heater;
plastic heat exchanger connected to the heating circuit.
An instantaneous water heater in a private house begins to heat water from the moment the hot water tap is opened.
All the energy that is spent on heating water passes from the heater to the water instantly. In order to obtain water at the required temperature in a short period of time, the design of the flow-through heater provides for limiting the water flow rate. The temperature is regulated by the size of the stream of hot water flowing from the tap.
To sufficiently supply hot water to one shower head, the power of the instantaneous water heater must be at least 10 kW. In order to fill the bathtub with hot water in a reasonable time, a heater power of more than 18 kW will be required. If at this moment the hot water tap in the kitchen is opened in parallel, then for comfortable use of hot water it will be necessary to use a heater with a power of 28 kW or more.
In order to provide hot water supply to a private economy class home, a lower power boiler is needed. Thus, the power of a double-circuit boiler is selected based on the needs for hot water consumption.
A hot water supply scheme using an instantaneous water heater is not able to provide economical and comfortable use of hot water in a private home for a number of reasons:
The temperature and pressure of water in the pipes is determined by the amount of fluid flow. As a result, when you open another tap, the water temperature and pressure in the hot water supply system changes dramatically. Therefore, it is extremely inconvenient to use water in two places at the same time.
With a small flow of hot water, the instantaneous water heater does not function at all, and in order to obtain water at the desired temperature, it is necessary to increase the water flow.
Hot water supply is provided with a delay. In this case, the waiting time depends on the length of the pipe laid from the water heating device to the place of water collection. When you first open the tap, some water will simply have to be poured down the drain. This is the water that has already been heated, but has already cooled down.
Scale accumulates quite quickly inside the heating chamber of a flow-through water heating device. If the water composition is very hard, you will have to frequently descale the device.
Thus, the operation of an instantaneous water heater in the hot water supply system of a private house provokes an unreasonable increase in water consumption and the volume of sewage effluent, an increase in electricity consumption for heating water, and also does not allow the comfortable use of hot water in a private house.
At the same time, the hot water supply system for a private home using an instantaneous water heater is very popular among consumers, since it is characterized by a relatively low price and compact dimensions of the device.
This hot water supply system in a private house functions more efficiently if a separate instantaneous water heater is installed next to the place where the liquid is collected.
In such a situation, it is advisable to install electric instantaneous water heaters. However, this method will be quite energy-consuming (power up to 30 kW will be required). As a rule, the electrical network of a private home is not designed for such loads, and the cost of electricity is quite high.
How to choose a flow-through heater for hot water supply to a private home
The main parameter that one focuses on when choosing an instantaneous water heater is the volume of water that it is able to heat.
In order to comfortably use this water heating device in a private home, you should adhere to the following indicators at the sampling points:
from the sink tap - 4.2 liters per minute (0.07 liters/second);
from the bath or shower tap - 9 liters per minute (0.15 l/sec).
For example, one instantaneous water heater is equipped with three points of analysis, represented by a kitchen sink, a washbasin and a bathtub (shower). If your goal is to choose a bath heater, then you will need a device capable of producing at least 9 liters of water per minute at a temperature of +55 °C. This water heater allows you to use hot water from two sources at once - a sink and a washbasin.
It will be possible to use hot water in parallel in both the shower and washbasin if the heater produces at least 9 l/min + 4.2 l/min = 13.2 l/min.
Manufacturers, as a rule, in the technical characteristics of the device indicate the maximum performance indicator, taking into account water heating at a certain temperature difference, dT, for example, +25 °C, +35 °C or +45 °C. Thus, if the water temperature in the water supply is +10 °C, then the temperature of the tap water after heating will reach +35 °C, +45 °C or +55 °C.
It should be noted that a number of sellers may indicate the level of maximum performance of the device, but do not write what temperature difference it is intended for. For example, you can purchase a geyser with a capacity of 10 liters per minute and it will heat up to a maximum of +35 °C. Using the hot water supply of a private home with such a device may not be so comfortable.
In this case, in a private house it is better to use a gas water heater or a double-circuit boiler, the highest performance of which will be at least 13.2 l/min at dT equal to +45 °C. The power of the gas appliance will be approximately 32 kW.
When you choose a device for hot water supply in a private home, you should also pay attention to the minimum performance indicator at which heating is activated.
If the speed of water movement in the pipe does not reach this value, the water heater will not start working. Therefore, you often have to use much more water than necessary. It would be advisable to select a device with the lowest minimum productivity, for example, no more than 1.1 liters per minute.
The maximum power of electric instantaneous water heaters, often used in a private home, ranges from 5.5 to 6.5 kW. Provided that the maximum productivity of the device is from 3.1 to 3.7 liters/minute, the water is heated to a dT of +25 °C. One device is designed to serve one water supply point in a private home, which can be a shower, washbasin or sink.
Is it profitable to supply hot water to a private house with a storage heater (boiler) and water circulation?
A storage water heater (otherwise called a boiler) is a fairly voluminous, thermally insulated metal tank.
As a rule, the lower part of the tank of a water heater contains two heating elements - an electric heat exchanger and a tubular heater powered by a heating boiler. A boiler is used to heat the water in the tank.
Such a heater is also called an indirect heating boiler.
Hot water in an indirect heating boiler is consumed from the top of the tank. In this case, the lower part is instantly filled with cold water from the water supply, heated by a heat exchanger and flows to the top.
In European countries, all hot water systems in modern private homes are necessarily equipped with an element such as a collector (solar heater). In order to connect the solar collector to the bottom of the indirect heating boiler, an additional heat exchanger must be installed.
The water in the boiler is heated by a solar collector. If this is not enough, you should connect a boiler or electric heater.
How does the hot water supply of a private house with a layered heating boiler work?
Nowadays, the DHW system of a private home, equipped with a layer-by-layer heating boiler, is very popular. The water in such a device is heated using a flow-through boiler of a double-circuit boiler. This heater is not equipped with a heat exchanger, due to which its cost is significantly reduced.
Heated water comes from the top of the tank. In exchange, cold tap water immediately begins to flow into the lower part. Using a pump, water from the tank passes through a flow-through heater, then enters the top of the tank. Thanks to this, the consumer instantly receives hot water, without the need to wait for the entire volume of water to heat up, as is the case if you use an indirect heating boiler.
Due to the fact that the top layer of water warms up quickly enough, you can install a boiler of a more compact size in a private house and reduce the power of the instantaneous water heater.
There are double-circuit boilers equipped with a built-in heater or external layer-by-layer heating. Thus, this equipment of the domestic hot water system is characterized by lower cost and compact dimensions, in contrast to indirect heating boilers.
The water in the device is heated in advance, even if you do not use it. The amount of heated water is enough for several hours of consumption.
Due to these properties, the water in the tank heats up for a long time, while thermal energy in the hot water will constantly accumulate. Therefore, such a heater is also called a storage water heater.
Due to the long duration of water heating, you can give preference to a relatively low power heater.
How to choose a storage gas water heater for hot water supply to a private home
A storage boiler, the water in which is heated by a gas burner, is not so popular among domestic hot water systems. Using two gas appliances - a gas boiler and a gas boiler at the same time is quite expensive.
Gas boilers are convenient to use in apartments with centralized heating; they are also often used in private houses with a solid fuel boiler, where hot water supply systems with liquefied gas are used to heat water.
Gas heaters are equipped with open and closed combustion chambers, with forced removal of flue gas and with natural draft in the chimney.
The market offers models of storage gas boilers for private homes that do not need to be connected to the chimney. Such devices are distinguished by the low power of gas burners.
A gas boiler, the volume of which does not exceed 100 liters, is mounted on the wall, and larger volume heaters are installed on the floor.
Water heaters use various methods of igniting gas - for this purpose they use a pilot wick, electronic ignition on batteries, or hydrodynamic ignition.
In the device, equipped with a pilot wick, a small flame burns, which is first lit manually.
Electronic ignition is connected to the electrical network or runs on batteries or accumulators.
Hydrodynamic ignition is activated by the rotation of the turbine, which in turn is activated by the flow of water.
The comfort of using hot water supply in a private home directly depends on the volume of the storage heater. But the larger the boiler, the higher its cost and the higher the costs of its maintenance and repair work.
How to determine what size boiler to choose for a private home:
the volume of the boiler, which will provide minimal comfort, is calculated based on the consumption of 20 to 30 liters of hot water for each person;
greater comfort can be provided by a domestic hot water supply device, the volume of which ranges from 30 to 60 liters per user;
for a high level of comfort, choose a heater whose volume ranges from 60 to 100 liters for each person living in a private home;
to fill the bathtub, you will need about 100 liters of hot water.
When you choose a boiler, pay special attention to how powerful the heating element it is equipped with. For example, to heat one hundred liters of water to +55 °C within a quarter of an hour, the boiler must be equipped with a heater (gas burner, etc.) with a power of 20 kW.
What are the advantages of hot water supply to a private home with water circulation in the system?
By using a storage water heater in the domestic hot water system, hot water is circulated in the pipes. Each water intake point is connected to a ring pipeline through which hot water circulates.
The section of pipe from each water intake point to the ring pipeline should be no longer than two meters.
Water circulation in the domestic hot water system of a private house is ensured by the operation of a circulation pump with low power (up to several tens of watts).
In domestic hot water systems equipped with a storage heater, the warm water supply mode has the following characteristics:
hot water is always available at water points;
you can turn on the water at several points at once, while the temperature and water pressure levels do not change significantly;
the ability to collect any amount of heated water, even the smallest.
In a domestic hot water system with water circulation, energy is regularly consumed to operate the pump and compensate for heat losses in the boiler and pipes. In order to reduce energy consumption, an automatic program is used that turns off water circulation during periods of time when it is not in demand. Insulation of the boiler and water supply will also help reduce energy costs.
How to organize hot water supply for a private house through a heat exchanger
In Western European countries, as well as throughout the world, various energy saving methods are very popular.
Used hot water goes down the drain, taking with it a large portion of the energy spent heating it.
In order to reduce energy losses in a private home, an energy recovery scheme from sewage should be used.
Cold water, before entering the heater, flows through a heat exchanger, which, in turn, is discharged into drains from plumbing equipment.
In the heat exchanger, two streams are distinguished - cold tap water and waste hot water, which collide, but do not mix. A certain amount of heat from hot water is transferred to cold water, and warm water enters the heater.
The diagram shown above shows that only the drains of plumbing equipment that operate on hot water are directed to the heat exchanger. This scheme is very beneficial for all methods of heating water in a private home.
How to make hot water supply for a private house with your own hands
To provide hot water supply in a private house, it is necessary to install a hot water supply system equipped with an indirect or layer-by-layer heating boiler with a volume of at least one hundred liters. This system ensures the comfort of using heated water, economical fluid consumption and a smaller volume of sewage. The only drawback of such a system is the high price of the device.
If your budget is limited or you only live at your dacha for one season, the best option is a domestic hot water system with a flow-through boiler.
This system is suitable for use in private homes, where the heating source and water points are not too far from each other. A maximum of three water taps can be connected to one instantaneous water heater.
Such a system is relatively inexpensive, and the disadvantages of its use are not particularly pronounced.
A double-circuit gas boiler or gas water heater will not take up much space. All equipment necessary for the operation of the system is contained in the device housing. The installation of a domestic hot water system in a private house from a boiler with a power of no more than 30 kW does not require a separate room.
The hot water supply system of a private house with a gas water heater or a double-circuit boiler is distinguished by a stable water supply if a buffer tank in the form of a conventional storage electric water heater is installed in the circuit between the heater and the water collection points. It is recommended to install this device near analysis points remote from the gas apparatus.
In a buffer tank design, hot water first enters the electric heater tank. Due to this, the tank is always filled with hot water. An electric heater in the tank is able to compensate for heat losses and maintain the required temperature of hot water during the period of time when the water is not used. Thus, a small-volume electric water heater (30 liters) will be enough for you to comfortably use the domestic hot water system.
The domestic hot water system of a private house with a flow-through water heater, equipped with a layer-by-layer heating boiler built into the boiler or an external stratified heating boiler, will cost consumers an order of magnitude more. But this equipment has undoubted advantages, in particular, it does not require energy consumption to maintain heat, and moreover, using this device is as comfortable as an indirect heating boiler.
In a private house with an extensive hot water supply network, it is advisable to use a scheme with a storage boiler and water circulation. Only this scheme can provide maximum comfort and economical use of hot water. However, it should be noted that this option requires large installation costs.
Experts recommend purchasing boilers that come with a boiler. Only in this case will the parameters of the boiler and boiler correspond exactly to each other, while the main part of the additional equipment is located in the boiler body.
If heating in a private house is provided by a solid fuel boiler, in this case it is advisable to install a buffer tank - a heat accumulator, to which a hot water supply system with water circulation is connected.
In some cases, to provide hot water supply to a private home, an indirect heating boiler is connected from a solid fuel boiler, which is additionally equipped with an electric heater.
Often, only electricity is used to heat water in a private house where a solid fuel boiler is installed. To provide hot water supply in a private house, a storage electric water heater is installed near the water collection points. A hot water circulation system is not provided in this case. It is best to place a separate storage boiler near remote water collection points. And then electricity for heating water will be spent more economically.
When water is heated to a temperature exceeding +54 °C, the water begins to release hardness salts. To avoid scale formation, it is recommended to heat the water to a temperature lower than specified.
Instantaneous water heaters are especially susceptible to scale formation. If the water has a high salt content (more than 140 mg CaCO3 in 1 l), then instantaneous water heaters should not be used. Even minor scale deposits can clog the channels in the instantaneous heater, which may result in the water flow stopping.
The water supply in the instantaneous water heater is carried out through an anti-scale filter, which reduces the level of water hardness. The filter is equipped with a replaceable cartridge that must be replaced periodically.
To heat water with a high level of hardness in a private home, it is best to choose a storage hot water supply system with an indirect heating storage tank. Scale deposits on the heating element of the boiler will not impede the flow of water, but will reduce the performance of the boiler.
Do not forget that prolonged heating of water to a temperature of less than +60 ° C can provoke the appearance of Legionella bacteria in the storage tank, which is dangerous to humans. You should regularly carry out thermal disinfection of the hot water supply system of a private home and increase the water heating temperature to +70 °C for a certain time.
The creation of any engineering system, be it hot water supply to a private home or a heating system, cannot do without pipes, fittings and other consumables. An important aspect when choosing these plumbing products is their quality. Only a trusted supplier with an excellent reputation will be able to provide you with the high-quality materials necessary for durable and trouble-free operation of any engineering system.
So, by cooperating with SantekhStandard, you acquire the following advantages:
quality products at reasonable prices;
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The specialists of our company “SantechStandard” are ready to help both individuals and companies choose plumbing equipment. You just need to contact us by phone:
