It is unlikely that living in a house or apartment is comfortable when there is no hot water. An electric boiler is used to heat bathing water and technical needs. This type of heater, thanks to its small size, can be installed anywhere: in the bathroom, in the kitchen, in the toilet and even under the sink. If you make the correct connection, hot water will be constantly.
Variety of water heaters
In some cases, a boiler is the most successful solution to a hot water problem. It is used in homes and apartments where hot water is not available. Many people want to know how to connect a boiler on their own.
Today the range of water heaters is very wide. There are differences in the heating method, capacity, tank shape, installation method, and so on.
General view of the water heater: in the form of a tank filled with water. The heater heats the water to a certain temperature and keeps it for a certain time. As the required water is used, the volume of the liquid in the boiler increases automatically, and the water is heated again.
In a flow-through device, due to the operation of the heating element, the water is heated, passing through the heating element. The temperature is regulated by decreasing or increasing the water supply. These devices are mounted directly at the point of the water supply system. It is impossible to get hot water from one device in the kitchen and bathroom at the same time, since it is installed in only one room.
Preparatory work for installation
Connecting a boiler to water with your own hands is not a very difficult task that any user can handle.
Preparatory work includes:
- Detailed study of the instructions supplied with the boiler.
- Wall-mounted boiler installation.
- Water supply pipes to the boiler. If the water heater is located in close proximity to water, the task is simplified. Otherwise, the water supply must be supplied to the boiler using additional metal or plastic pipes.
Take a tape measure, a cutter, a soldering iron for plastic pipes or welding, a wrench. Purchase related materials - valves, fittings, tees, pipes or flexible hoses, tow and FUM tape.
General water connection diagram
Connecting the boiler to the water supply of any type of pipes is simple. All connection work begins with shutting off the water supply in the apartment.
Cold water connection (from top to bottom) is as follows:
- Requires installation of "American" when connecting the water supply at the entrance to the boiler.
- Installation of a brass tee with a water drain valve. This item is mandatory when connecting a boiler for the convenience of draining the liquid.
- The installation of a security system is a prerequisite for connecting the boiler to the water supply.
The system includes:
- check valve - to prevent the outflow of heated water from the boiler in the event of a cold water pressure drop or its absence;
- safety valve - when there is pressure inside the boiler.
The safety system of a switched on water heater is not always reliable. To protect yourself from trouble, you need to purchase a reliable safety check valve. The importance of safety cannot be overstated.
The safety valve is essential in the system. For example, a thermostat in the boiler is out of order. In this case, the heating elements are automatically turned off, and the temperature of the liquid in the tank can reach 100 degrees. The pressure in the tank will build up rapidly, eventually causing the tank to explode.
Electrical boiler connection
It is important to know how to properly connect a water heater with your own hands. The principle of operation is simple, so no problems should arise during installation.
At the initial stage of connection, you need to perform the following work:
- choose a place to install the device. It is important that all connecting elements have direct access, as this will make it easier to repair or maintain equipment;
- prepare the wall on which the electric boiler will be installed. It must be strong to support the weight of the tank;
- prepare the water supply pipe directly at the installation site of the device. Otherwise, you will have to install additional pipes.
Heater installation diagram
The electric boiler has a high power heating element (about 2 kilowatts). To avoid damage to the wiring, it must be connected to the power distribution panel with a cable with a suitable size. It is important to use copper power wire.
To install an electric boiler, you need the following tools:
Self-connecting the device
You can install the boiler yourself, following simple rules.
The storage device connection algorithm includes the following operations:
- installation of shut-off valves on the inlet and outlet pipelines;
- installation of a check valve;
- installation of water outlet from the device.
However, the installation process may differ slightly depending on which pipe is used in the water supply system. Consider how to connect a boiler to polypropylene, plastic or metal pipes. The storage boiler is connected to polypropylene pipes.
For installing pipe fittings polypropylene will need the following tools:
- soldering equipment for this type of pipes;
- pipe cutter.
Alternatively, you can purchase tees for this type of pipe and valve. To connect polypropylene pipes, you need an MPH coupling. It is important to know how to connect the water heater to the water supply in the apartment.
Connection sequence:
Connecting to a metal pipe
Connecting an electric storage boiler in an apartment or a private house is simple. This is due to the fact that metal pipelines are laid exclusively on the surface of the walls or floor of the room.
So, to connect the storage heater to the water pipe, do the following:
- cut off pipes from water supply;
- cut off metal pipes;
- perform installation of sections of pipe tees;
- additional metal pipe segments are inserted into the branches of the tees, or flexible hoses are directly connected after the valves.
Connecting the boiler to a steel water supply
The existing list of accessories for metal water pipelines will solve the problem of connecting the boiler to a water supply system made of steel pipes without welding. This applies to the tee - "vampire", which is installed directly on the surface of the steel pipe. With the help of such devices, you can connect not only a heating boiler, but also a washing machine, dishwasher and other devices to a metal water pipe without welding.
The vampire tee is a metal clamp with a pre-threaded inlet to the side of it. The tee is fixed on the outer surface of the pipe, free from paint and dirt, through a rubber pad and clamped with fixing screws.
After installing the tee, a drill is drilled on the metal protective sleeve through the pipe in the side surface of the pipe. Naturally, all work is carried out in a closed water supply. After that, the thread is screwed into the ball valve, and this is a flexible hose at the inlet to the boiler or other equipment.
Installing a shut-off valve
When installing a storage heater, it is necessary to know some features of the installation of shut-off valves. Installation work is carried out in the following sequence:
But in order to prevent damage to the water folding device, it is better to mount this device directly on a branch from the water supply main.
Connecting a flow heater
A flow-through electric water heater is mounted directly into the branch of the pipeline provided for hot water supply. You need to know how to properly connect the boiler to the water supply. It is necessary to follow the instructions exactly and study the boiler diagram before this.
The connection is done in this way:
- Shutting off the water supply.
- A gap is made in the pipeline.
- Valves are installed at the end of the breaks.
- Then you can dismantle the flow heater for repair without shutting off the water supply.
- The feed heater inlet and outlet are connected to flexible underwater hoses to shutoff valves.
Please note that when dismantling the device, first close the shut-off valve in the inlet pipe, and then at the outlet. Also, when using an instantaneous heater, the water first turns on, and then the heater turns on. When the demand for hot water is gone, the power is turned off first.
Before working with pipes, you can first practice on their scraps. This way you can avoid embarrassing mistakes.
Verification procedure
The correct connection to the water supply of the water heater is completed, you need to fill it and check the tightness of the connections. Verification procedure:
- Open the hot water tap to bleed air from the tank.
- Open the tap on the cold branch.
- With a working water supply, it is necessary to carefully examine all joints for leaks. If leaks are found, repair them before filling the device with water.
In the summer, due to the cutoff of hot water, many of us are puzzled by the purchase of an electric water heater or a boiler for heating water. The choice of boilers on the market is quite large. They are both flowing and accumulative. There are also enough manufacturers. Among the most popular are companies such as Electrolux or.
It is not difficult to buy a water heater, but it must also be installed correctly. The principle of installation and connection of the boiler is the same for most models and rarely depends on the manufacturers. Today we'll talk about how to connect the boiler to the water supply in the apartment correctly, we will analyze all the subtleties of the connection and the materials that are better to use at the same time, as well as how to drain the water from the storage type boiler.
Connection of a storage water heater (boiler)
In order to properly connect the water heater to the central water supply system, let's look at the tank itself. For connection on any water heater there are two threaded unions.
On some models, there is also a third fitting. It is needed to drain the remaining water from the tank when it is dismantled. The blue ring is the cold water inlet, the red one is the hot water outlet.
Before connecting the boiler with your own hands, you need to decide in advance what you will connect it to. There are three most common connection types:
- for polypropylene pipes;
- for metal-plastic pipes;
- on flexible hoses.
Metal-plastic is gradually leaving the market, giving way to polypropylene pipes and fittings. Of course, the easiest way is to connect the tank to flexible hoses, but they have a very narrow nominal passage, and this can affect the performance of the water heater.
We recommend connecting a polypropylene water heater. You may have to tinker a little, but the connection will be of high quality and will look much better and more pleasant from the outside. Typically, the diameter of the fittings on most water heaters is 15 mm or 1/2 inch 1/2.
Connecting the boiler with flexible hoses
Required material for connecting the boiler to the water supply
- two polypropylene couplings with American women;
- ball valve made of polypropylene;
- a tee made of brass;
- brass;
- back-safety valve;
- meter of polypropylene pipe and a pair of couplings for soldering;
- apparatus for soldering pipes.
Couplings with American women are needed to switch from a metal half-inch thread to polypropylene. In addition, American women can always unscrew and dismantle the boiler. A polypropylene tap must be installed at the outlet of the water heater to shut off the water flow from the tank.
Polypropylene boiler connection
What is a back-relief valve for?
This valve usually comes with a boiler; without it, the water heater will not work correctly. It has two ends with a male and female thread. Standard thread diameter 15 mm. With one end we screw it onto the boiler inlet fitting, and then we screw a coupling with an American or a flexible hose onto its other end.
The valve has three functions:
- prevents the flow of water in the opposite direction;
- prevents a surge in excess pressure in the tank itself.
- discharge of water into the sewer through a special drain
Diagram of connecting the boiler to the water supply
How to drain water from a boiler
If a special outlet for draining water is not provided on the tank body, then it is possible to install a threaded tee made of brass or polypropylene at the inlet itself in front of the check valve, or at the outlet of hot water. And already on the side of it we put a brass ball valve, preferably with a "butterfly". It takes up less space than a long-arm crane.
This tap can be pre-pulled, for example, a usual one for draining water, into a container prepared in advance for this. In the event that it is necessary to completely drain the water from the boiler, just open the tap and wait until all the water flows out of it.
After you have hung up the boiler, everything is connected, you need to check all connections for leaks. As you can see connect the boiler to the water supply the apartment is not as difficult as it seems at first. If you do everything right and slowly, you can save some money on the services of installation organizations. Watch the video.
Boiler installation includes two stages. The first is the supply of power to the installation site of the boiler and the installation of an electrical outlet for the boiler, the second stage is the connection of the locally installed boiler to the water supply system of the apartment (the so-called piping). We will work on two stages of boiler installation in more detail.
Connecting the boiler to the power supply
For the operation of the electric boiler, a separate 220 volt power supply is required from the apartment electrical panel.
The boiler must be grounded. Therefore, a three-core cable must be used for the power supply. The cable must be double insulated with copper conductors, for example VVGng. The cable cross-section is calculated depending on the boiler power. (Read about calculating the cable cross-section)
One of the cores of the cable (usually yellow-green) must be used to ground the boiler. The grounding wire must go without interruption from the grounding bus in the apartment electrical panel (if the panel is installed in the apartment) or from the case of the floor electrical panel to the grounding terminal of the outlet for the boiler.
Do not use metal structures that can be found in the bathroom, as well as water pipes to ground the boiler.
The boiler power supply must be assigned to a separate group. To protect the boiler power supply line, a two-pole circuit breaker must be installed with a rating calculated according to the boiler power. (How to calculate the rating of a circuit breaker read)
The boiler RCD is installed after the boiler circuit breaker, the RCD rating should be one step less than the circuit breaker rating.
Instead of a protective pair, circuit breaker plus RCD, you can install one combined differential circuit breaker.
The socket for the boiler must have a degree of protection of the housing of at least IP 44. The socket must be installed above the joints of the water pipes and at a distance of at least 40-50 cm from the boiler.
The boiler body must not only be grounded, but also connected to an additional potential equalization system (DUP) of the apartment.
The electrical cable for powering the boiler must be walled up in the wall or laid openly in pipes or corrugation that does not spread combustion The distance from the openly laid cable to the hot water pipes must be at least 50 cm.
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Now we will analyze how to connect the boiler to the water supply network.
Connecting the boiler to the water supply
The boiler has at least one cold water inlet and one hot water outlet. You need to connect the boiler to the water supply according to a special scheme.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that we are considering the installation and connection of a storage, not a flow-through water heater. A storage water heater, also known as a boiler, is installed permanently, with a supply of "correct" water supply pipes, and not flexible, temporary hoses. Possible wiring with pipes made of metal-plastic, copper, steel.
General principle of connecting the boiler to the water supply
Water enters the boiler from a separate cold water supply line with collector wiring or from a tee with tee wiring of the water supply. In the boiler, the water is heated and supplied to the INPUT of the hot water supply system of the common water intake unit of the apartment.
- To disconnect the boiler from the water supply, shut-off valves are installed (in the figure, ball valve 7).
- To clean the incoming water, a coarse mechanical filter (mesh 5 microns) is installed.
- For emergency or technical draining (when cleaning the boiler) of water from the boiler on the cold water side, a drain outlet is made with separate shut-off valves (7b).
- On the hot water side, a ball valve (7a) is also installed to create air pressure in the boiler for the necessary drainage of water from the boiler. That is, if there is no tap (7a) on the hot side, then when the tap (7b) is opened from the cold side, the water will not drain.
- To protect the cold water supply system from emergency inflow (at an overpressure of more than 7 atmospheres, in the boiler) hot water from the boiler, boiler safety systems are installed on the cold input side. The boiler safety system has its own drainage discharge into the sewer.
Note: The design of the boiler can be provided with a factory outlet for draining water from the boiler. In this case, there is no need to install a drain with a tap on the cold water side.
It is also possible not to put a ball shut-off valve (7) on hot water if it is already installed on the hot water inlet going from the boiler to the apartment water intake.
Important! With a high pressure in the water supply system of the apartment (more than 6 atmospheres), a pressure reducer must be installed to enter the water into the boiler, after the water purification filter. If the pressure reducers are already installed in your apartment water intake, there is no need to duplicate them.
How water moves from the water supply of the apartment when the boiler is working
- Prepare your plumbing system before turning on the boiler. Disconnect the shared hot water shut-off valve.
- Open the drain cock (7a) on the hot water outlet to control the filling of the boiler;
- Open the inlet tap (7) for cold water to the boiler;
- Fill the boiler with water completely - water from the open tap (7a) in point 1 should start to flow out. Close this tap (7a);
- Connect the boiler to the mains and open the ball valve on the side of the hot water outlet (7) to the water main.
Diagram of connecting the boiler to the water supply
Boiler safety system diagram
- Check valve control hole
- Integrated non-return valve to prevent hot water from flowing back into the drinking water system
- Shut-off ball valve with 90 ° close-open travel
- Safety valve. Limits the pressure in the boiler to 7 bar.
- Water guide, prevents splashing
- Waste water nozzle
By the way, an example of connecting a boiler is taken from this general axonomic water supply wiring diagram:
Three more drawings of the OSO Wallsmart boiler safety valve installation.
After purchasing a water heater, an urgent question arises - how to install it? Most likely, you have already chosen the place where it will be located and now you just have to correctly install it. Please see the information below to learn how to do this.
What tools are required to connect a water heater:
- water heater (boiler);
- 2 water supply hoses of increased flexibility (must be resistant to hot water);
- 2 nails-dowels with a hook;
- sanitary flax or sealing tape;
- tap (diameter is matched to the pipe);
- valve (must be included with the boiler);
- standard set of repair tools.
Construction and connection of wall-mounted and floor-standing boiler
The average boiler, on the basis of which the instructions for connecting a water heater are written, consists of the following elements:
- container for water;
- water input and output systems;
- thermostat.
How to connect a wall-mounted boiler correctly?
- Consider the optimal location of the boiler. It should be located next to the outlet and both pipes - through them, water will enter and exit. The smaller the distance to these elements, the less additional materials will be spent on installation. Installation is carried out in an open way.
- Attach the boiler with the brackets supplied. They are specially designed for the maximum boiler weight and are able to withstand serious loads on the base. Review the documentation and general requirements for the brackets that are described in the instructions. Buy elements of the required strength according to them.
- Check the water outlet, it must be at the bottom.
- Now install the safety valve. It is a necessary element that will protect your tank and keep it intact under high pressure or over temperature conditions. Be sure to take these precautions! Without a valve, your tank can burst. The valve opening must be opened. Often, those who connect a storage water heater with their own hands forget to ensure the withdrawal of excess water in a timely manner, and endanger the room and its inhabitants.
Often, the valve that comes with domestic equipment cannot cope with the above problems and it is better to purchase the valve separately, relying on the features and capabilities of the water heater.
Safety group of storage type water heater
- It consists of a system of small parts: coupling, tee, valve, check valve, fitting and fuse. Connect them as shown in the picture above.
- Connect the compression hoses to the waste water pipes. You only need to use special hoses for transporting hot water or ordinary garden hoses. But the latter are highly discouraged for safe use.
- Now you need to seal the connections with a sealant. It is sold in every hardware store. Apply it to joints, let it dry for 6-8 hours. When applying the sealant, the water must be shut off for the entire drying period and the pipe completely dry. Even a few drops of water can damage the seal.
- After 6-8 hours, connect the boiler to the water supply system using prepared hoses.
- It is advisable to buy polypropylene pipes for transporting water. They have a very long shelf life, unlike metal ones, they are cheaper and more convenient to install. Join them using polypropylene welding and allow a little time for the seams to dry.
- Warm liquid is also discharged through the ball valve. This method is universal and makes it possible to connect boilers that accumulate water or flow.
- The system must be designed so that no fluid leaks out in the case of closed taps. However, if it becomes necessary to close the riser valve, then water must still be available.
- The type of water heater connection has a strong influence on the network connection. When using a water heater powered by the mains, it is necessary to take into account the recommendations of the PUE, including: the mandatory use of moisture-proof sockets, grounding, a separate RCD if the boiler operates on two phases, etc.
- Check all items and run a test water heating.
To study in more detail the wiring diagram of pipes and electricity, we suggest looking at the installation diagram of a vertical water heater, presented below.
Floor standing boiler installation
Installation of a boiler to a floor or horizontal type pipeline will take a little time, however, the work carried out during its installation will be much more voluminous. Such a boiler weighs about 100 kilograms, and its capacity often exceeds 50 kilowatts.
- It is not easy to display and transport it on your own. We advise you to enlist the support of another person.
- The system for connecting the device to the pipes is similar to a hinged water heater and it makes no sense to describe it again. The only difference is that the hot water outlet is at the top, not at the bottom.
- A separate terminal is required for grounding such powerful boilers in order to avoid unpleasant situations.
- For grounding, you need to separate the cable from the metal part of the boiler and connect it to the ground outlet.
To study in more detail the wiring diagram of pipes and electricity, we suggest looking at the installation diagram of a horizontal water heater, given below.
Video on connecting the boiler to the water supply
We offer several useful videos that will help you solve some problems when installing the heater.
Video for installing a hinged vertical water heater:
The man talks in great detail about connecting a hinged boiler. Thanks to the video instructions, you only need 15 minutes to connect the boiler with your own hands in the apartment.
Video for installing a floor-standing horizontal water heater:
A very detailed video on installing a large-capacity boiler, however, the comments in the video are purely for instructions, no digressions and recommendations for an ordinary person are given. But as an example of installing a floor-standing boiler, the best option is not to be found in runet.
Video analysis of the installation diagram:
A very useful analysis of the diagram for connecting a water heater to a water supply system, an electrical network. The diagram, which is located above, is taken as a basis to eliminate confusion and better understand the installation principle.
In conclusion, I would like to give some advice on the correct installation and maintenance of the boiler. These tips will help you keep your water heater from breaking down prematurely.
- The best way to install a boiler is in the kitchen. Take note of the fact that the liquid must flow directly to the taps in the kitchen and bathroom. The place of installation should be carefully considered. Try to adhere to angular placement, keeping a minimum distance to water pipes and outlet.
- When installing floor-standing horizontal units, it is important to use a non-return valve. The valve will help filter the cold water that has just arrived from the hot one. In this case, hot water will be supplied to the taps without mixing with cold water.
- If you are installing in a village and drawing water from a well or your own well, then you need to connect a circulation pump to the system, which will supply water to the boiler if necessary.
- Never start up the boiler if there is no water in it. Dry running can lead to damage. Turn on the heating only when the device is completely filled with water.
- The water heater can only be connected to a grounded power outlet. Do not use the same branch to connect a washing machine, drill and other active load appliances together with a water heater. Otherwise, a short circuit may occur.
- If the heating system has such an opportunity, then you can install a floor-standing boiler to any device in production or in a private house. For example, to draw a conclusion for heating a pool or bath. It is also possible to make a full-fledged water heating in the house by driving water through pipes.
- If it is not enough to tighten the coupling or install it incorrectly, a breakdown of the device is inevitable and soon you will need to be repaired. In this case, under warranty, it will not be repaired to you and the restoration will take place entirely at your expense.
Conclusion
Installing a water heater to the water supply system in a house or apartment is a task that requires certain care and attention.
Don't ignore the installation advice given by your hardware store. Listen to every comment, because each brand has its own assembly strategy and design features, although in general the devices are similar to each other. When buying, pay attention to the configuration, so as not to go to the store for parts a second time.
I would like to note, unlike gas water heaters, water heaters do not require any accompanying documents that confirm compliance with GOST standards and do not need mandatory certification.
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If you decide to find out how to connect a storage water heater with your own hands, you must study all the nuances of the installation in advance, since any electrical device requires compliance with safety measures.
- 1 Standard plumbing scheme in an apartment
- 1.1 Features of creating a circuit
- 2 Installation steps
- 2.1 General installation tips
Standard plumbing scheme in an apartment
To begin with, one important nuance should be understood, that connecting any storage water heater to the water supply system implies embedding it into the water supply system. The purpose of the process is great - to create a source of hot water in the system with your own hands. It is desirable, of course, that the installation and repair in the apartment coincide with each other, nevertheless, modern technologies allow the installation of the boiler as accurately as possible. In this case, an electric water heater will have to provide hot water to all points of the apartment parsing.
Speaking directly about the standard plumbing scheme, the main nodes should be highlighted - the toilet, to which only cold water has been installed, then the washbasin, where the riser with hot and cold water is connected, then the bathroom or shower, and then the kitchen washbasin, which often has a separate supply. Actually, this is a standard scheme for connecting a storage water heater, and it is necessary to build a boiler into it, which allows you to heat the contents of the pipes in the apartment. There are, of course, various branching options, which you can watch on video on the Internet.
If we consider a water supply system with a built-in heater, then it must be installed so that it provides hot water to all parsing points, except for the toilet.
Features of creating a scheme
The main components of the circuit, as you can see in any video, are special taps and a check valve. A prerequisite for the well-coordinated operation of the circuit, which does not require quick repair, is the presence of a valve. It prevents hot water from draining through the cold pipe. Here you should understand the main principle of the water heater, the installation of which can be done by hand. Cold water exerts pressure on a tank with hot water, and by its design, hot water is disassembled from above, and cold water from below.
In order to cut off the storage device from the water supply, two taps work in pairs. Accordingly, they are switched on only during the operation of the device, and their installation is necessary. In addition, such cranes are important when the unit is scheduled to be repaired and must be removed.
Another important point, without which it is impossible to connect a storage water heater, is the presence of a third tap, which turns off only the hot water supply. Its installation can also be done by hand. A prerequisite is to overlap it while the drive is operating. Otherwise, hot water will be able to go into the general hot water supply system.
Installation steps
The main steps that should be carried out when installing a hot water storage tank with your own hands:
- Fixing the device to the load-bearing wall. Basically, if the apartment has a good repair, you can fix it on a simple wall.
- The system supplying cold water should be connected to the branch pipe of the unit, as you can find out using the video. The connection is made by means of flexible hoses or pipes.
- Connect to power supply. The most important thing here is the moment of safety, especially if you carry out the procedure yourself. It is also worth noting that for the operation of the equipment, a network with a current of at least 6-8 kW is required. It is advisable for various reasons to mount the product above the head.
If the apartment is being renovated, you can entrust the installation of the unit to professionals. Otherwise, if you are going to do this procedure yourself, you can use the tips below:
- In the event that repairs in the apartment have been carried out for a long time, you should invite a specialist before installation, who will diagnose the wiring in the apartment.
- The wall serving as the installation site for the boiler must withstand a load twice the weight of the device.
- The access to the device must be free in case repair is required.
- A sufficient analysis of the pipeline in the dwelling is also important. More precisely, the quality of pipes and risers, as well as the availability of outlets for directly connecting the unit, installing taps and other necessary manipulations. In the event that the condition of the risers leaves much to be desired, it is necessary to engage in their preliminary replacement, to carry out repairs, otherwise the adequate operation of the water heater may be questionable.
Installing a storage water heater in your own apartment is possible with your own hands. The most important thing here is compliance with safety techniques, as well as compliance with all installation rules.