Cheap home heating with electricity: how to choose an economical boiler

Heating with electricity - an affordable, economical and modern type of home heating

Direct and indirect heating systems

The type of heating, in which the main source of heating is electricity, is considered promising. But before replacing the existing heating, you need to understand the following:

• which option is right for your home;
• what budget are you willing to invest in order to save in the future;
• how much power the source of electricity is already in the house.

The choice of heating system will depend on these factors.

The method of heating a house using electricity has gained great popularity.

Direct heating system

Direct heating is realized by using electric heaters: convectors, warm floor, electric oil radiators. Using this option, there is no need to lay pipelines, install a boiler, or buy radiators. All devices are connected independently to the cabling. The temperature in each heater is regulated separately, which makes it possible to control the consumption of electricity.

Important! Direct heating is the most expensive heating method. The advantages of such a system include savings in capital (equipment cost) and operating (repair) costs.

Heating system diagram with direct radiator circuit, underfloor heating mixing circuit and boiler indirect heating

Indirect heating system

Cheap home heating with electricity is indirect heating. It consists in the fact that the classic water heating remains unchanged, it is simply replaced by coal or gas boiler electric. They come with the following types of heating:

• inductive - an economical option, here heating is carried out thanks to a high frequency current (radio frequency waves);
• electrode or ion-exchange - in this type of heating, open electrodes are used, to which a current is supplied (50 Hz);
• direct - the water is heated through the heating element. This type consumes much more energy, and also breaks down faster, but the cost of such a boiler is several times less than that of a unit with inductive or electrode heating.

Comparison of the efficiency of boilers: electrode and ten

The advantages of an electric boiler include:

• small size;
• low cost;
• quick installation;
• operational and environmental safety;
• noiselessness.

Helpful advice! Although the prices of induction boilers for heating a private house "bite", the power consumption in such models is one of the most economical. To really experience the savings and see them on your electricity bills, it is advisable to install a three-phase boiler.

Project home heating using electricity

Why is it cheap to heat a house with electricity: calculation

In order not to be unfounded, we will give a vivid example of cheap heating of a house with electricity using a boiler. Let's calculate the real savings for a house with an area of ​​100 m²:

1. An electric boiler almost always gives an efficiency of 100%. On average, 1.03 kW of electricity is consumed per 1 kW of thermal energy.
2. According to the approved tariffs, in the Moscow region for 2016 for consumers (population) the tariff with a flat rate is 3.18 rubles.
3. The coefficient of heat consumption for heating 10 m² is equal to 1 kW, in our case we get 10 kW of heat for an area of ​​100 m².
4. On average, the daily rate of electricity consumption is 1 kW per hour, therefore: 10 kW x 24 hours = 240 kW.
5. Under the condition of continuous operation of the boiler for a whole month (which is unlikely), the costs of kilowatts will be: 240 x 30 = 7200 kW.
6. You must pay per month for the used heat: 7200 kW x 3.18 rubles = 22896 rubles.

Scheme for sharing electrical and gas boiler

It should also be borne in mind that in practice, electricity consumption is halved, since the electric boiler, heating the room, turns off and stops consuming electricity. On average, you will have to pay about 12 thousand rubles for heating using an electric boiler.

Single-phase and three-phase electric boilers

The choice of a boiler should be taken responsibly, since you need to take into account all the nuances related to the electrical service of your home. Power lines are not always able to cope with the load that increases after the installation of the boiler. To avoid such problems, visit the power distribution office to which you belong and specify (or ask to calculate) the maximum power that they can provide. When calculating the required kilowatts, do not forget about the household electrical appliances that are in your home.

Diagram of the structure of a single-circuit wall-mounted electric boiler: 1 - electrical cabinet; 2 - control lamps; 3 - temperature regulator; 4 - thermometer / manometer; 5 - power switches; 6 - main switch; 7 - expansion tank; 8 - cable gland; 9 - safety valve; 10 - pump; 11 - boiler return line; 12 - plug connection of the control loop; 13 - safety temperature limiter; 14 - control system fuse; 15 - air valve; 16 - boiler lining with thermal insulation; 17 - water pressure switch; 18 - heating rods; 19 - boiler feed line

An electric boiler is quite simple: it contains a heat exchanger and a control and regulation unit. There are understaffed models that are equipped with an expansion tank, filter and pump.

For heating of private houses low power electric boilers are used: single-phase and three-phase.

Electric boiler cascade connection diagram

Single Phase Electric Boiler

A single-phase boiler is considered to be powered by a 220 V. It will not be difficult to connect it, since all houses are equipped with the necessary voltage. The power of the device varies from 6 to 12 kW.It is advisable to use such a boiler for an area not exceeding 100 m². Features of an electric boiler for home heating (220 V):

• works according to the principle water heater (boiler, kettle);
• a regular network (220V) is enough for operation;
• you do not need to obtain special permission to install it.

Electric boiler for use in a private house

Three Phase Electric Boiler

A three-phase boiler is more powerful than a single-phase boiler and is suitable for installations over 100 m². So that the network can withstand the load during the operation of the boiler, they are produced three-phase, that is, they are connected to a 380 V network. Features of a three-phase boiler:

• powerful. It is necessary to take into account the heated area. 10 m² requires 1 kW + 10-20% (for stock);
• operates on three phases (380 V), it is necessary to increase the power supply of current in the house;
• it is necessary to obtain a special permit in the power supply to increase the power consumption and install the boiler;

Related article:

Electric boiler for heating a private house, prices and types. Features of electric boilers for heating a private house. Calculation of power and connection of electric boilers.

• the rated current, which should be in each of the three phases, varies from 6.1 to 110 A. This indicator affects the choice of the circuit breaker, wiring, its cross-section (permissible values ​​are indicated in the table below). The correct selection of the necessary elements will exclude the possibility of fire.

Table "Values ​​of cable cross-section and current of circuit breakers":

Important! If we compare the operation of single-phase and three-phase boilers, then heating costs using single-phase models are slightly higher than that of three-phase ones.

Whatever boiler is installed for cheap home heating with electricity, in any case, it is necessary to provide a backup heat source.

Installation dimensions of the electric boiler Buderus Tronic 5000 N

Cheap home heating with electricity using a backup heat source

The operation of the boiler on electricity can be interrupted due to a power outage, line malfunctions, open or short wires, so using a combined boiler (wood / electricity) will not leave you without heat in the house.

Wood and electricity heating boiler – it is a reliable, versatile, functional unit, thanks to which you can provide constant heating at home. This boiler can operate both on solid fuel (firewood, briquettes, wood waste) and on electricity at the same time. This versatility is possible due to the well thought out unique equipment design.

The cost of a tenovy boiler is several times less than that of a unit with inductive or electrode heating

Combined boiler design for wood and electricity heating

A distinctive feature of the combined boiler is the presence of a heating element. The firewood stove is located at the bottom of the unit. When burning wood, thermal energy heats up the heat carrier and the heated liquid (water) is sent to the water heating system. Such boilers are equipped with devices that are responsible for automatically turning on / off the heating element, depending on the set temperature of the coolant. When the wood burns out and the heat in the firebox decreases and the water temperature drops, the heating element is switched on, and the boiler, consuming electricity, maintains the set temperature. All manipulations take place thanks to automation.

Combined electric-wood boiler device

The power of heat released during the combustion of solid fuel is 25-35 kW. This power is quite enough to heat a room of 100-120 m², and the heating element is used to maintain a stable temperature in the house. Combined heating systems are especially popular in the private sector, because cheap fuel is used to heat the room. Thanks to the built-in heating elements, it is possible to vary the heating mode.

Typical connection diagram: 1 - electric boiler; 2 - control system; 3 - security group; 4 - expansion tank; 5 - circulation pumps; 6 - radiators; 7 - distributor comb; 8 - heat exchanger (for the pool); 9 - indirect heating boiler; 10 - heated towel rail; 11 - warm floor; 12 - water meter; 13 - supply ventilation unit

Double-circuit electric boilers for heating a private house

The main feature of a double-circuit boiler is the simultaneous implementation of two functions: home heating and hot water heating.

The main advantages of such equipment:

• compact size;
• silent;
• easy to install;
• not difficult to manage.

The double-circuit electric boiler is compact and very convenient for use in a private house or apartment. Such boilers significantly save space and do not require frequent maintenance. A double-circuit boiler does not need a separate room arrangement – it can be positioned on the wall to save valuable floor space.

Wall mounted electric boiler in a modern interior

Double-circuit boiler design

Double-circuit models of electric boilers have two independent specialized circuits - heating and water heating. The unit contains the following elements:

• a heat exchanger serving as a boiler;
• air vent;
• safety valve;
• expansion tank;
• a heating element;
• sensors (automation);
• circulation pump.

Such equipment is designed to convert electricity into heat energy through the use of heating elements. Tubular electric heaters (TENs) are installed in the heat exchanger, and the heated liquid is circulated using a special pump.

Scheme of operation of a double-circuit electric boiler

All actions are carried out using automation. The regulator, when the room temperature drops, sends a signal to activate the heating mode, and the pump starts to work, creating the required pressure in the heat carrier. When the required parameters are reached, the equipment units are gradually turned off.

The price of a double-circuit electric boiler for heating a private house depends on many factors. The main one should include the manufacturer's brand. European equipment is expensive compared to Russian, but its cost is an order of magnitude less than gas equipment.

Diagram of connecting an indirect heating boiler to an electric boiler

Electrode boilers for heating a private house: reviews

The heating system using electrode boilers is fairly new. To warm up, the electrodes are placed directly in water. In the process of applying current, a potential difference arises in the water, and the ions begin to actively move. When they move, a lot of heat is released, which heats the water in the coolant.

Here are a few reviews about electrode boilers for heating a private house:

“We have constant problems with electricity in the village, the current is unstable, sometimes it drops to 180 V. There is no gas in the village. We used a wood-fired boiler for a very long time, but problems arose, since they had to be constantly thrown up, and during the day everyone was at work. A friend advised an electric boiler. I thought for a long time which one to take, the choice fell on a boiler with an ion-exchange type of heating, since it can withstand voltage drops, while continuing to work. "

Valentin Chutuev, Moscow region

Electric boiler manufacturer Protherm

“They built a house in the private sector, left the apartment for the children. When the heating was done, they immediately decided to install an electric boiler.The children bought an electrode boiler. At first I was indignant that he was dear,– you can find it cheaper, but when we went to visit the children for the weekend, and our battery burst, all the water ran out, and the boiler simply stopped working – did not break, did not burn out, just passed out. That's when I did not regret the money spent. "

Valentina Petrova, Volgograd

An example of a three-phase electric boiler device

“I decided to supply cheap heating for the house, electric. The best I found was an ionic boiler, it is 30% more economical than a heating element. The whole point of saving lies in the fact that this boiler immediately directs energy to heating water, while a boiler with a heating element spends part of this energy to heat up the heating element itself. "

Peter Korneev, Surgut

From the reviews it can be seen that electrode boilers can operate in conditions of unstable voltage (with current surges - up to 40 kW), do not fail if, for some reason, there is no water in the system, and are the most economical in the line of electric boilers.

Installation of an electric boiler in a private house

Electric boilers for heating a private house: reviews

«An electric boiler was installed in the country – it's just a miracle technique. How we arrive, turn on – the room heats up very quickly. Earlier, while you put firewood, you melt it, they froze very much. Now we arrived, the temperature was set and, while the things were moved from the car, it was already getting warm in the house. And the most interesting – we don't pay so much for the light ”.

Anastasia Kuzmina, St. Petersburg

“An electric boiler is a thing. Especially if it stands with two-zone counter, then the savings are tangible immediately. We turn on high power at night, when the tariff is cheaper, and during the day we turn it on a little. "

Valentin Yudkov, pos. Vlasikha

Three Phase Electric Boiler

Having visited the forums and read the positive reviews of heating a private house with an electric boiler, we can conclude that there are no dissatisfied with the operation of electric boilers.

Thus, heating with electricity is an affordable, economical and modern form of home heating. At the same time, an electric boiler can be installed not only in the country, but also in city houses and apartments, which significantly reduces the expense of funds for the monthly payment for heating.