Due to the frequent interruptions in the supply of hot water, especially in the cold season, residents of apartments and private plots are increasingly thinking about alternative methods of heating water. The most effective of them are devices such as gas water heaters and electric boilers. Although they perform the same function - they heat the water, they still have many differences, such as: different consumption of time for heating the water, efficiency in operation, different safety parameters. Before choosing which is best: a gas water heater or a boiler, you need to familiarize yourself with their differences, advantages and disadvantages in more detail.
What is their difference
The main difference between these devices in energy, due to which they work. The gas column is powered by gas, which is produced by connecting to a central gas pipeline. Such a device was invented a long time ago, and during its existence it evolved from a bulky unit, requiring a lot of space, into small compact devices.
The electric boiler has the appearance of a capacious tank with a tubular electric heater inside and a control system for heating the water outside. There are two types of such devices:
- Flowing - a small device that connects to the water supply pipe and heats the water when the tap is turned on.
- Accumulative - a tank of different sizes, which collects and stores water in itself; Heats the water when you turn on the tank.
Unlike a geyser, a boiler can work with large volumes of water, therefore, various enterprises more often choose in its favor.
See also - Features of geysers Ariston
Advantages and disadvantages of geysers
The main advantage of the geyser is its efficiency, since gas is currently the most affordable and cheapest type of fuel. Other benefits include:
- Long service life.
- Ease of use.
- Compactness.
- Fast heating of water.
- Lack of difficulties during the repair.
Geysers are installed mainly in the kitchen, and most of the models are equipped with a thermometer and other useful functions.
A significant minus of the gas column is the complexity of its installation. You can’t do this on your own and still need to additionally purchase the materials necessary for installation, since they are not included with the device. Other disadvantages include:
- The device runs on gas, it needs ventilation to remove combustion products from the room, which also adds complexity to the installation.
- The installation of the device must be agreed with the gas services.
- The temperature to which the column can heat the water depends on the initial temperature of the water in the pipe, which means that if the water is too cold (for example, in winter), then the column will not bring it to a hot state.
- Medium level of safety, as gas appliances are always subject to an explosive risk.
See also - How to repair a boiler yourself?
Advantages and disadvantages of electric boilers
Electric boilers are more popular with users than gas water heaters, this is due to a number of significant advantages:
- ease of installation;
- lack of need to build a ventilation system;
- operational safety;
- independence from the initial temperature and pressure of water;
- high rate of performance.
The disadvantages primarily include the limited amount of warm water in electric storage boilers. When the hot water in the tank runs out, you need to wait until the water heats up again, depending on the size of the tank - this can take a long time. Among other cons:
- high price;
- voluminous boiler does not fit in every home;
- the cost of energy supply is much higher than that of gas water heaters;
- short service life.
Conclusion
In order not to make a mistake in choosing a water heater, the main question that needs to be answered is for which room it will be used. For the home, both gas water heaters and flow and storage boilers will be equally effective. However, if a water heater is necessary for an enterprise that is visited by many people every day, an electric storage boiler with a large tank volume is best suited.
The article described all the basic issues related to heating devices for water and this information is enough for the buyer to decide which is more profitable: a gas water heater or a boiler.
See also:
- 10 best instantaneous water heaters
- 11 best home water heaters according to user reviews
- 12 best Electrolux water heaters of the year
- 15 best electric storage water heaters
- 19 best indirect heating boilers according to customer reviews