You can get hot water in a bath in several ways: heat it in a mounted or remote tank using a stove, install an electric water heater or purchase wood-burning titanium, or install a gas instantaneous water heater. In addition, there are combinations of these methods. Unfortunately, none of these methods can be called ideal - any of them have drawbacks.
The easiest way is with water heating, if it is possible to connect to a gas main, in this case you can install a flowing gas water heater. In this case, 3-4 times less money is spent on heating water.
But there is one significant “but” here - you need to order a project, coordinate it, which is quite troublesome, and specialists are needed to connect the gas column, and bringing them to a summer cottage can be problematic, or, in any case, costly.
Water heaters for sauna heaters
You can equip a metal or brick stove for a bath. But there are problems here too: the water in such tanks boils faster than the air in the steam room heats up. So that raw and heavy steam does not come out of a container with boiling water, you have to constantly control its temperature, draining hot water and pouring cold water. These bucket dances quickly become boring, especially if you bathe often. And the pleasure is not the cheapest:
So tanks for heating water on the stove are quite simple, but not the best option. But this method is almost the only one if there is no water supply system in the bath and there is no (at least for now) the possibility of organizing it: you can pour water from a bucket into a hinged tank without being tied to the system.
Note that almost all manufacturers of bath stoves have.
Electric water heaters for a bath: flow and storage
Electric water heaters are quite popular in baths. But here, too, opinions differ: someone is for flow models, someone is more comfortable with storage models. Flow-throughs are good because they quickly heat water, and, with sufficient power, they can produce water at a high temperature. But not every dacha has the ability to consume high power: in most cases there is a limit of 4-6 kW, but this includes all electrical appliances. The power of 1.5-3.5 kW, which most summer residents can afford, is enough to heat water in the autumn-spring period, but in winter you will not get hot water, or you will have to go for some tricks.
For normal operation of the instantaneous water heater, a certain value of cold water pressure is required (the value is indicated in the passport). In winter, the water comes in very cold, and at the outlet, after heating it, the temperature still remains low.
You can raise the temperature by lowering the pressure, but the water is still warm. You can rinse with it after visiting the steam room, but you won’t be able to fully wash yourself - it’s too cold.
You can increase the outlet water temperature by placing taps at the inlet and outlet of such a water heater. The inlet tap is necessary to turn off the device after completion of the procedures, and the outlet tap can create the desired pressure inside the device with a small water pressure. In this case, the water temperature is limited only by the automation of the device. So a flowing water heater for a bath is not a bad thing, but with certain modifications.
Another factor that can be decisive when choosing the type of electric water heater for a bath is the small size of the flow models.
Install a storage water heater in the bath - this is the decision that most bath lovers come to. But even here you can’t do without minuses: if you put a large-capacity water heater, then the water will heat up in it for at least 2 hours. And some steam rooms (dry air) heat up and “working temperatures” in 40 minutes. There is only one way out: turn on the boiler an hour and a half before the start of bath procedures.
The decision to install a storage water heater for a small-volume bath is sometimes not the best: it depends on how much water is consumed per person on average. Someone thinks that 50 liters “with a head” is enough for washing 3-4 people, and someone, for the same number of people, advises taking a model of 100-150 liters. And everyone is based on their own experience.
And again: in summer, water heats up to acceptable temperatures faster, in winter, you have to wait another hour more. There is another nuance in using a storage water heater in a bath. If the bathhouse is not heated in winter, you need to either take a model that will maintain the minimum temperature in the device (but what happens if the electricity is turned off?), Or each time drain all the water not only from the water heater tank, but also from the system as a whole - in order to avoid dimensioning of the system.
To drain water from a storage water heater, it is advisable to install it in such a way that it is possible to drain water into. Otherwise, you will have to run with a bucket more than once (if the capacity is 80 liters, then 9-10 times for sure).
After draining the water, do not close the taps - the system should be ventilated and the residues should flow out and dry, and not freeze on the walls or in the taps.
If we talk about manufacturers, then many companies produce electric water heaters. The products of the Italian company Ariston are popular.
Installing a storage water heater in a bath
In the passport of each electric water heater there are manufacturer's recommendations for its installation. There may be differences depending on the company, but they are not significant. In most cases, the scheme looks like this.
- Do not hide water pipes between the finishing panels and the walls of the bath. In any case, with the best insulation, condensation appears on the pipes. The one nearby absorbs it, losing its properties. Yes, and the frequent presence of water vapor threatens the imminent appearance of fungus on the log house and / or sheathing.
- It is desirable to “dress” cold water pipes in foamed polypropylene. This will not prevent the water from freezing, but it will prevent condensation from forming.
- When installing the system, do not forget about the slope of the pipes - it will make it possible to completely drain the water.
- Pay special attention to wiring: electric water heaters of any type in a bath or sauna should only be turned on through an RCD (residual current device), which, in case of problems in the network, will turn off the appliance.
- Be sure to have grounding in the bath. The combination of high humidity and electricity is a potential shock hazard. And you should not neglect electrical safety.
For those who value comfort the most and do not like to wait until the water heats up in the boiler, you can make a double water heating system: provide for the possibility of heated water from the storage water heater to the instantaneous one. Then, even in winter, you can have hot water. Not boiling water, of course, but up to 75 ° C, such a system will heat the water in 50 minutes, even in severe cold.
There is another type of water heater - wood-burning. These devices were very popular when electricity was far from everywhere, but they were called "titanium". They consist of two parts: a firebox is located below, and a water tank is located on top. The firebox is usually steel, the grate is cast iron. You can heat any solid fuel, with the exception of coal. Water in such a device heats up very quickly even when using wood chips, or some kind of combustible debris.
Modern models of wood-burning water heaters provide for connection to the water supply, but, as practice has shown, they work very well when connected to a water tank installed on the roof of a bathhouse or a nearby building. However, care must be taken that the titanium tank is constantly filled with water, both during operation and during a stop. For the winter, in an unheated room, the water will have to be drained every time you leave.
It must be remembered that wood-burning water heaters are equipped with mixers of a special design and cannot be changed with ordinary ones.
There are models that can run on both solid fuel and electricity: electric heating elements are built into the water tank, and there is also a thermostat that allows you to maintain the required water temperature. These models are very convenient and economical: you can heat water using solid fuel, and then maintain the temperature with heating elements. Such combined titans are made of either stainless steel or steel.
Findings: there are enough ways to organize water heating in the bath and sauna, but there is no ideal one. Based on the conditions available in your bath, determine the possible options, and, having considered all the advantages and disadvantages, choose the most suitable method for you.
- In the bath, it is not advisable to use flow models, since a large amount of water is needed. Optimal purchase of an electric boiler. Modern indirect heating systems are also relevant, for example, ACV boilers: Smart Line Slew 210.
- When choosing the size of the boiler tank, it is worth considering the time it takes to heat the water. The larger it is, the longer you have to wait.
- A water heater for a bath must certainly have a thermometer, its absence will cause many difficulties.
- You should definitely appreciate the convenience of draining water, it should be simple. The best way out is to drain into the sewer system, this will save the bath owners from fussing with buckets.
- The bath water heater must be equipped with a "standby" option. Thanks to this, a positive temperature will be maintained in the tank.
- Storage boilers have fewer water requirements than their flow-through counterparts. However, to extend the life of the heater, it is still worth taking care of installing devices and filters for softening water.
- The simpler the design of the water supply system, the better.
To begin with, it should be mentioned that there are many ways to solve the issue of supplying hot water to a building. In this case, the simplest methods are to install a separate heater or use a stove for this purpose (see also the article Construction of a stove for a bath: features).
Selection and installation
- Typically, for such premises, electric water heaters of low power are used. This is due to the fact that before the steam room reaches its operating mode, the water in the device will gradually heat up. This choice will significantly save on maintaining the required temperature.
- You also need to remember that if the water heaters for the bath are installed next to the steam room, then moisture will constantly affect them. Therefore, professional craftsmen advise not only to pay attention to the technical characteristics of the device, but also the quality of its protective coating.
- The capacity of such products is determined by the number of people for whom the room is designed. However, most masters advise installing volumetric boilers so as not to lack water and not save on it.
- To connect these heaters for baths need a piping system, which would ensure the supply of cold and the removal of hot water. Given this feature in the bath, it will be necessary to conduct plumbing.
- Special attention is paid to the power supply of the device. The fact is that an electric heater is a rather powerful consumer of energy. Therefore, it is worth using a separate cable for it, which is powered at the switchboard through a dedicated machine.
- The protective cover that covers the wire terminals on the heater must be sealed. If it is missing, then it can be made with your own hands from a piece of rubber or by filling the space with silicone.
Furnace heating
The easiest way is to heat the water at the expense of the furnace temperature. To do this, a container with liquid is installed on it, which is separated from the furnace by a small metal wall. As a result of such a design solution, the water heats up quite quickly and can even reach the boiling point.
Stock of steam, stock of firewood, stock of heat…. And of course, a supply of water! - not only a reservoir for heating water, but also a source of problems in the cold. But these problems do not threaten you, since you are on the most useful and interesting site about baths and saunas. We build a bath water supply system using a boiler together. What hidden features and disadvantages should be taken into account when designing a hot water supply system in a bath?
The first thing I want to talk about is the disadvantages of using electric boilers in freestanding baths. Everything said in the article applies only to use in winter:
Winter in my region is not cold and I came to the conclusion that a family bath for 3-4 people is enough with a head of a 50 liter boiler that will give out the first warm water in an hour, and the rest will warm up while you enjoy light steam in the steam room.
Features of installing a boiler check valve in a bath
I found it by accident on the Internet video, in which I saw confirmation of the correct installation of my boiler. This scheme extends the life of the water supply system to the boiler, prevents clogging of the valves.
It is advisable to put water supply pipes to the boiler in a thermal insulator made of foamed polypropylene. This does not affect the freezing of water in any way, but will not allow condensation to form on the pipes. With the most correct installation and operation, be prepared to descale the boiler every two years and change the magnesium anode.
The water supply of suburban summer cottages, and many villages in the outback, still leaves much to be desired. But you can enjoy at least the minimum benefits of civilization even in this case. To partially solve the problem of providing hot water, a bulk water heater for a summer residence, which is inexpensive and works efficiently, will help.
Bulk water heater for giving
So, what are country bulk water heaters, thanks to which they can provide the ability to use hot water even if there is a simple well?
At its core, such a water heater is a conventional container, closed with a lid, with a built-in collapsible faucet. Water is added to it using an ordinary bucket or ladle, the lid is removed, poured and you can turn it on. The electrical circuit of such a heater is minimalist and simple. A conventional heating element (by the way, it should be remembered that the so-called “wet” heating elements are mainly used, which cannot be turned on in the air), simple thermostats that allow you to maintain a given temperature level. That's basically all the main elements.
Depending on the modification, such water heaters can be used to provide the simplest human needs for hot water. There are models of small volume that can fit into even the smallest kitchen in the country or will be installed right in the yard so that you can wash your hands or harvested vegetables with warm water. More expensive modifications provide a supply of hot water for the shower, so with their help it is quite possible to wash off the dust after a busy summer day.
The design of the bulk water heater "Alvin"
Of course, such water heaters for a private house will not find a place in a country mansion or in a city apartment. But for rural and suburban conditions, which are not yet fully provided with the benefits of civilization, such devices are quite suitable and help to solve the problem of providing hot water.
Requirements for bulk water heaters
Given the fact that bulk water heaters for a private house or cottage are small in volume, their design must comply with certain rules to ensure the safe operation of the device:
- The water container must be sealed. All inputs to it must be provided with seals to prevent leakage of water and its penetration into the electrical components of the device.
- The body of the water heater must be made of materials resistant to high temperatures. Quite often, heat-resistant polymeric materials are used that can withstand exposure to boiling water.
- The water intake level must exceed the level of the heating element. This will guarantee the impossibility of turning on the water heater in dry mode, which can lead to the heating element burnout and a fire.
- At the same time, it is advisable to install the heating element slightly higher than the intake tap itself, in this case, direct thermal effects on the sealing gaskets that seal the connection point will be excluded. An increase in the level of water intake with this design is achieved using a special tube, which is brought out slightly above the heating element.
- It is best to use a heating element with a stainless coating, such a heating element will last much longer, especially if you take into account the presence of a large amount of mineral impurities in water from a source or an ordinary well.
- Bulk water heaters for summer cottages should be equipped with at least the simplest thermostats that allow you to maintain a given temperature level. Otherwise, it is almost impossible to ensure the safe operation of the device (primarily for models with a plastic case).
- The presence of a light indicator (light bulb or LED) is also considered mandatory, signaling the operation of the heater.
- It would also be useful to have a double-circuit housing filled with thermally insulating materials. In such heaters, the water will not cool down too quickly, which will reduce the overall energy consumption.
On sale you can find models of various configurations and designs. Most recognizable by appearance water heater Moidodyr for a cottage or a country house. He received this name because of the similarity with the character of the same name in Chukovsky's fairy tale.
Bulk water heater "Moydodyr"
- It is a frame structure with a stainless sink and a convenient cabinet under it.
- The plastic or stainless steel tank has a capacity of 20 liters, which is enough to provide hot water for basic needs.
- The heater is equipped with a heating element with a power of 1.25 kW, operates from a 220 V household electrical network.
- It is equipped with an adjustable thermostat that allows you to set the level of water heating in the range of 15-70 degrees.
- The maximum heating time for a full tank of water does not exceed 50 minutes (temperature 70 degrees).
With all this, the cost of Moidodyr is only 3700-4000 rubles, which ensured a stable demand for such water heaters in rural areas.
Success - a bulk type water heater for summer cottages and at home
One of the most famous brands of domestic water heaters of this type. Manufacturers offer a whole line of models that differ in volume and power of the heating element. All models are a separate stainless steel tank that can be used with different types of sinks. It is possible to mount the device on a wall or any other vertical surface.
40 liter tank water heater Uspek has a flat body, the thickness of which is only 200 mm. The unit is equipped with a heating element with a capacity of 1.25 kW, which provides heating of the entire volume of water up to 40 degrees in just 40 minutes. Equipped with a thermostat that allows you to set the heating temperature in the range of 20-70 degrees.
Bulk storage water heater "Success-15"
In such water heaters, stainless steel is used, the thickness of which is 1 mm, due to which the essential durability of the device is ensured.
Another domestic line of bulk water heaters is presented under the Alvin brand. Bulk water heater for giving Elvin will find application both in a small kitchen and in the shower. The manufacturer offers various modifications that differ in volume, type of connected taps or shower diffusers.
Water heaters of this brand are equipped with a temperature controller, a thermal protection system against overheating. The volume of the container may vary depending on the model, the most popular heaters are 20 liters.
Bulk water heater for giving Elvin
On average, such a unit can be purchased for 2-6 thousand rubles.
It features high reliability, accurate temperature control. The ELVIN EVBO-20-2/1.25 model is equipped with heating elements with a power of 1.25 kW (by the way, such heating elements are most often used in other models of water heaters).
Particular attention should be paid to the quality fastening of bulk water heaters to vertical surfaces. It is recommended to use standard fasteners supplied with the household appliance.
Remember, a water heater torn off its mount can cause water to enter parts that are under voltage, this is fraught with a short circuit and electric shock.
Despite some naivety of the design. Bulk water heaters will be in demand for a long time due to their low cost. Therefore, choose the one you like and use it for health for many years.
Hot water in the bath is an important aspect of arranging a steam room. Hot water supply should be sufficient and preferably low cost. You can heat water in a variety of ways, which are easy to implement on your own.
How to heat water in a bath
There are several ways to heat water in a bath, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages. Most often, the choice of a heater depends on the specific conditions, the need for a particular amount of hot water, the volume of the bath room and financial costs.
Hot water can be obtained as follows:
- heat from a brick or metal stove;
- heated with an electric heater;
- heat with a gas heater;
- use a wood burning heater.
All of the above methods of heating water are very effective, but for their implementation, a necessary condition is the obligatory centralized supply of running water, the presence of a water supply system.
Electric water heater for a bath
Electric heaters are storage and flow. The use of both types of devices in the bath room is acceptable and reasonable. However, user reviews about them are directly opposite - someone thinks that it is easier to heat water with a flow heater, while someone likes accumulative ones for this purpose.
Storage boilers are quite impressive in size, especially when it comes to appliances with a volume of 100 liters or more. Therefore, for small baths, this is not the most reasonable method to heat water. There is another important problem with the storage water heater. In winter, when the bath is heated only periodically, the water in the boiler and the entire system may freeze.
This problem can be solved in three ways:
- Heat water in the bath using a storage boiler model with constant maintenance of the minimum temperature. However, there are also disadvantages here - an undesirable overexpenditure of electricity and the risk of its sudden shutdown.
- Drain hot water from the storage tank and the entire system after each use. The measure is quite laborious, but in winter, in order to avoid freezing of the water system, it is quite justified.
- Use storage heaters only in heated rooms or solve the heating problem in all possible ways.
A warning! All electrical appliances must be connected to the mains through an RCD emergency shutdown device. In addition, the room must be grounded. In an environment of high humidity, the use of electrical appliances is unsafe.
Flow heaters quickly heat water and are compact in size. Powerful models supply hot water at a high temperature and such devices are good for areas with developed stable power transmission. In summer cottages, the power of the network is usually limited to 5 kW, so you have to use electrical appliances of low and medium power.
For the productive operation of instantaneous water heaters, the pressure (pressure) of water is of considerable importance. All models of flow heaters are designed for a certain amount of Pa (this is specified in the passport for the electrical appliance).
In the use of flow devices there are small difficulties that must be taken into account when installing the equipment. In winter, the liquid is supplied to the boiler very cold and, often, it simply does not have time to heat the water to the optimum temperature. This problem can be solved by installing stopcocks in front of the water inlet and after the outlet of the water from the heater. With the help of such regulation, sufficient pressure is created in the heater, and the automation of the device helps to resolve the issue with the temperature of heating hot water.
Gas water heater
The easiest way to heat water in a bath is to use a gas heater, in other words, a conventional flow column. With it there will be no shortage of hot water, it has a "summer-winter" mode of operation and is very economical.
However, gas heaters also have their "buts". Connecting the gas pipeline to the bath is a very troublesome and expensive business. For owners of garden plots and summer cottages, the possibility of conducting gas communications is generally reduced to zero. For cottage settlements and areas with an existing gas pipeline, this is possible, but too costly.
Wood water heaters
A wood-burning water heater (titanium) may be the only way to heat water for a bath where there is no electricity. In fact, this is the same boiler for boiling, as in a long-distance train car. The design of the heater is simple: the bottom of the device is a firebox, and the upper part is a container for hot water.
Titanium has a steel firebox with a cast-iron grate. The shape of the water heater is a high cylinder, but there are models of an elongated rectangle. On top of the wood-burning titanium is a chimney pipe through which smoke and combustion products from the furnace enter the outside.
Such heaters are heated with wood waste, wood chips, scraps, shavings, sawdust. It is not recommended to heat wood-burning water heaters with coal, since its burning time is completely different. The volume of liquid heated in titanium is from 80 to 90 liters.
Modern wood-burning titans have cold water inlet valves, faucets and hot water outlets through the shower. When using such heaters in winter, if the bath is not heated in any way, the water tank must be drained after each use. And in summer, at an average daily positive temperature, the tank should always be filled.
Important! Modern industrial water heaters are equipped with special mixers, so replacing them with conventional taps, thermostatic and cascade shower sets is impractical and unsafe.
How to heat water in a bath from a stove
You can organize the heating of water in a bath with a brick oven using a cast-iron stove above it. The hot water tank is installed directly on the stove itself, it can be round or square, with water supply to fill the tank from the incoming water pipe and hot water intake through the tap.
It is possible to heat water without supplying water pipes to it. In this case, for each heating of the steam room, stocks of cold water should be made in the dressing room, and the water tank should be filled manually before the stove is ignited.
This method of heating water is quite simple, but it has significant drawbacks:
- the complexity of the preparation;
- increased humidity from boiling with prolonged heating;
- the risk of getting burned on the heated walls of the furnace and tank.
You can heat water from the stove in different ways. It depends on the type of the stove itself, the presence of water pipes connected to the bath, the financial capabilities of the owner and his desire to make certain efforts.
Heating water in the bath through a heat exchanger
The best option for heating water in a bath is the heating method using a heat exchanger. There are several ways to make a design for heating through a heat exchanger.
In a brick oven, a multi-section cast-iron battery or a register welded from a steel thick-walled pipe can become a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is mounted in a special cavity of the furnace with separate inlet and outlet valves. When the furnace is heated, the water in the exchanger becomes hot and is dispensed through the water tap as needed.
In the case of a metal furnace, everything is much simpler. In order to heat water with such a furnace, several types of heat exchangers are used:
- external heat exchanger(located in close proximity to the firebox or above it);
- internal heat exchanger(located in the furnace itself);
- flue pipe heat exchanger(located on the chimney pipe above the tank with stones).
Advice! Water tank with heat exchanger and hanging tank can be used at the same time. This combination makes it possible to heat an almost unlimited amount of hot water.
Water heater for a bath on a pipe
To heat the water in the bath, tanks located on the pipe are used. They can have a rectangular, square or cylindrical shape and are rigidly attached to the furnace chimney pipe. Pipe water heaters are universal, they are used in wood stoves and gas boilers. Water tanks on the pipe are small (optimally up to 80 liters) and can fit even into a small sauna.
The tanks on the chimney pipe are located high enough above the stove, so there is no need to pump hot water with a pump - it just flows by gravity. The water tank can occupy the entire length of the pipe, from the heater itself to the ceiling. This increases the hot water production area and the efficiency of the heat exchanger.
The design of the water tank on the pipe must have reinforced mounting on the stove and the outlet chimney on the ceiling, since the tank filled with hot water is heavy. The usual soft fastening of the chimney in the area of \u200b\u200bthe ceiling is not suitable here, so it is best to use special chimney brackets for fastening.
Built-in or attached to the oven water tank
Another option to heat water is a water tank built into the furnace structure or located on the side of it.
The built-in tank is a rather complex structure that must be thought out before laying a brick oven. The best solution here may be a special niche or recess in the furnace for the location of a water tank with inlet and outlet valves for hot water intakes. It should be noted that for such a design, the tank must be durable (preferably stainless steel), with thick walls and double penetrations of the seams. Otherwise, if a leak is detected, it will be necessary to disassemble the entire structure of the furnace.
A water tank attached to the side of the stove is a less energy-intensive way to heat water. It is often used in saunas with metal stoves that come with water tanks. Since the steel or cast iron body of the furnace has good thermal conductivity, the water in the tank heats up quickly, and if necessary, the tank can be easily replenished again (centrally or manually).
Hot water in the bath from the stove (the layout of the water tank is presented below) is a simple task for a good owner.
Do-it-yourself hot water in the bath: schemes
Heating water in the bath is not a big deal. However, in order for everything to function well and there is enough hot water, it is necessary to adhere to the correct organization of the heating and water supply system.
The bath water supply scheme through a heat exchanger with cold and hot water tanks on the roof of the bath is placed below.
