Of course, if it is possible to connect to gas pipe, the issue of choosing fuel for the home heating system is resolved in favor of the gas model of the heating device, but to install it you will have to carry out a rather troublesome and large-scale preparatory work: obtain the appropriate permits, organize a forced ventilation system, and in some cases it will be necessary to install a chimney. In addition, the cost of the equipment is quite high. But an electric boiler for heating a house may well become an alternative, since it is an inexpensive and efficient device that can provide heat as city ​​apartment, and a large country house.

The main advantages of this type of equipment for generating heat in the house include:

⦁efficiency – the efficiency of most models exceeds 99%;

⦁economical, despite the high cost of electricity, due to the use of regulation capabilities, as well as programming of operating modes of the device;

⦁environmentally friendly, since emissions of combustion products are completely eliminated during operation;

⦁availability of energy resources – there is no need to arrange a special storage facility for fuel: it is always available required quantity enters the house via wires;

⦁no need for large-scale installation work, with the exception of supplying a network to the house with three-phase voltage at 380 V (this requirement applies to boiler models whose power exceeds 6 kW), but if a new house is being built, then permission for this type of energy supply to the house should be obtained at the zero cycle stage. Owners of old facilities may be faced with the problem of lack of technical capabilities for this, most often due to the impracticability of increasing the load on existing networks;

⦁compact dimensions;

⦁ease of use, simple and uncomplicated maintenance, the need for which arises infrequently;

⦁long service life, which, however, depends not only on the equipment, but also on the condition electrical networks Houses;

⦁more attractive, compared to gas models, price of equipment with comparable power, which allows you to significantly reduce costs at the initial stage.

But when deciding to use an electric boiler for heating, you should take into account that there are interruptions in the network, sometimes even for a long time, so it should be possible to connect to a backup source, for example, a generator - this will save comfortable conditions in the house and protect the heating system from freezing. Alternatively, if there is alternative heat in the house, to prevent a system breakthrough, you can fill it with a non-freezing coolant, for example, antifreeze.

It is imperative to remember that electric boilers are quite safe installations to operate, but only with proper wiring.

Types of electric boilers

Be sure, before you make a purchase of equipment, you should know that electric boilers used for heating a house come in three types, which is reflected not only in their design features and operating principle, but also in efficiency. Heating of the coolant can occur using heating elements or electrodes, as well as by induction. But regardless of the type of device, structurally it is:

⦁body;

⦁container for heating the coolant;

⦁heating elements;

⦁heat exchanger.

A mandatory element of most modern models is the presence of a control unit, in some cases equipped with control functions, including automated ones. Additionally, the electric boiler can be equipped with a circular pump.

Tension electric boilers

The most popular group, also due to the fairly low price and a wide range of models with a power from 2-3 kW to 27 kW, are the so-called shadow devices, which get their name from heating elements - heating coils installed in a metal tubular housing. Thus, the process occurs in two stages: first, the spiral is heated, which transfers the generated heat to the tubes, and the latter ensure exchange with the coolant.

Because of this design feature, the efficiency of shadow appliances is the lowest among all types of electric boilers, since losses occur at two stages of heat transfer. Also, due to the use of low-quality coolant, scale formation on heating elements is possible, which also leads to a decrease in heat transfer. Therefore, they are more effective in closed systems that use specially prepared liquid as a coolant. But the presence of regulatory elements and temperature sensors is quite capable of creating conditions for the economical operation of these boilers.

Electrode boilers

This type of electric boilers differs from heat boilers in that the heating elements in it are special rods: a positively charged cathode and a negative anode. And the principle of operation is based on the use of liquid resistance, therefore it is recommended to use it as a coolant special compounds, the cost of which also slightly increases the cost of heating the house, although it is permissible to fill in water, but it must be specially prepared. Because of this, it is irrational to use them for open systems.

An electric current passed through the liquid decomposes the molecules into positively and negatively charged particles: the former are attracted to the anode, and the latter, respectively, to the cathode. And as a result of such a chemical reaction, thermal energy is released, which heats the coolant.

Among the disadvantages of such boilers is a higher price, but not only. Since the natural destruction of the rods (electrodes) occurs as a result of constantly occurring chemical reactions, they need to be changed periodically - on average, once every 3-5 years.

But, despite the fact that this is an effective electric boiler for heating, it is not so popular among consumers, largely due to the installation features. Since it is impossible to use protective devices such as RCDs for them, its safety during operation is not complete, even if grounding is required.

These devices are the most compact among electric boilers, since their main element is a dielectric tube in which an induction field is created due to the operation of a steel core placed in a flask. Its surface is an induction coil and serves to transfer thermal energy to the carrier, the loss of which is practically eliminated, which makes it possible to increase the efficiency of the device to almost 100%. Therefore, if it is planned to organize heating of the house using an electric boiler, then this type is the most optimal choice, even though its cost is higher in comparison with shadow models of equal power.

A special feature of the operation of these devices can be considered the absence of scale on the working and heat transfer surfaces, so the efficiency does not decrease. Besides, design features, eliminating the presence of problematic connections - potential places of leaks, guarantee a long service life. Boilers of this type are not picky about the quality of the coolant, so they can be installed in both open and closed systems.

The equipment market is replete with a large number of such heating devices. When choosing an electric boiler, an uninitiated user can easily get confused by the varying indicators and technical characteristics.

We will tell you how to choose an electric boiler, when heating with an electric boiler is justified, how to calculate power, and reduce heating bills.

Advantages of electric boilers

• Simple design, minimal heat loss and the highest efficiency rate during the heating season - up to 99.5%.
• There is no need to install it in a separate room at home or cottage.
• Electricity, as an energy carrier, does not need to be delivered or stored, which cannot be said about gas or coal.
• Electric heating boilers are safe: if there is a water leak, the electrical circuit will open and the electric boiler will turn off.
• Environmentally friendly, no chimney required, since they do not emit emissions during operation. harmful substances and decomposition products.

In the absence of hot water supply, you can choose a double-circuit heating boiler, which is also used as a heating boiler, which is especially important for a summer house or private house. The consumer will have hot water available around the clock.

TOP 3 best electric boilers for heating

1. Protherm Skat 9 KR 13
2. EVAN EXPERT 9
3. MORA-TOP Electra Comfort 15K

Calculating the power of an electric boiler is the main indicator of choice

Let's deal with the most important characteristics electric boilers Power is the main one, its choice depends not only on the heating area, but also on the presence of an insulating layer and insulation, wall material, quality of other building materials.

Power is provided by a heating element, electrode or inductor (depending on the type of boiler). It is defined in kilowatts (kW) and ranges from 2 to 60 kW.

Sales consultants use a fairly simple formula for calculating the power of an electric boiler; the basis is 1 kW of electric boiler power for every 10 square meters. m of premises. Let's say we have a private house with an area of ​​100 square meters. m, to heat such an area we will need an electric boiler of 10 kW.

Consider the heat loss of your home. If the house is not insulated enough, the windows are bad, the power of the electric boiler should be chosen more than that recommended for your area.

The performance of the heating device is taken into account when calculating the thermal engineering of a private home, as well as when calculating the power of hot water supply. This will allow you to choose an average value in order to compensate for the heat loss.

Detailed calculation of electric boiler power

The power for heating a private house, cottage or apartment with an electrical heating appliance is equal to thermal power. To calculate it, follow a few simple rules:

• for heating 1 cu. m of house or cottage will require about 40 W of power;
• 100 W must be added to each window, and another 200 to the door;
• these data are averaged and depend on climatic conditions: residents of the Far Eastern and Siberian regions multiply the final number by 1.5–2, the coefficient in the middle regions of the Russian Federation is 1.2, and the southern regions use a coefficient of 0.7–0.9;
• for a house or cottage, the calculation result is multiplied by another 1.5, which is associated with heat loss due to the structure of the roof and floor surface (especially in the absence of a basement).

Let's give an example for a house in the south of the country with an area of ​​80 square meters. m., with a ceiling height of 3 m, six window openings, one entrance door. House area – 80 sq.m. m. must be multiplied by 40 W, then multiplied by 3 (ceiling height indicator), add 200 and 600 W (door and windows). We multiply the resulting value by the private house and regional coefficient - 0.7 and 1.5. As a result, we get 10920 W.

Installation Features

A wall-mounted electric boiler for low-power heating (for example, the “Mini” or “Economy” series) has a single-phase voltage of 220 V. For devices with a voltage of 380 V, a three-phase voltage is required.

For a regular household outlet, you can choose a low-power wall-mounted heater of the Economy or Mini class, which consumes no more than 3.5 kW. The power limit is calculated as follows: 16 A – current strength in home sockets. With an average voltage of 220 V, we obtain the maximum power - 3520 W (220x16).

Despite the fact that the technical characteristics of mini or economy boilers up to 12 kW allow connection to a single-phase power line, experts recommend connecting models from 6 kW to a 380 W power line.

Before installing a wall-mounted electric boiler, a cable with a recommended cross-section of 1 mm and a calculated load of 8 A is drawn from the switchboard. Floor standing boilers more productive, owners of houses with a large area should choose this type of boiler.

Types of electric boilers

Depending on the class, purpose and performance, electric heating boilers are:

• floor and wall: the second device is more compact, which does not affect its performance;
• single-phase (220 V) and three-phase (380 V): this indicator depends on the area of ​​the room;
• single-circuit and double-circuit: the first will provide heating for a private house, the second will also provide hot water in the tap;
• Heating elements, induction and electrode.

Boiler heating element

The most common type. The wall-mounted device is a tank in which several heating elements are placed. The choice of this mini-boiler is optimal for an apartment or house, since it is economical due to the multi-stage control mechanism and is easy to maintain. Economy models are the cheapest compared to induction and electrode models. They are also used in conjunction with water heaters. The wall-mounted boiler has manual mode and automatic. Selecting the latter sets the desired temperature at night. A disadvantage of heating element devices is the appearance of scale, which reduces productivity if it is not dealt with.

Often a wall-mounted mini-boiler has circulation pump to stimulate the movement of coolant. In modern models, antifreeze can be used instead of water.

Induction boiler

Consists of a small dielectric tube and a ferromagnetic rod. The coolant moves through the tube. The passing electric current heats the rod, which increases the temperature of the coolant. Many people choose such heating devices because they are durable, compact and economical: thanks to the “soft start” function, they consume 2 times less electricity than heating elements. Their weak spot is a complex control unit.

Electrode boiler

The so-called “direct action” unit, since there is no heating element. It heats due to the flow of alternating electric current through the coolant with a frequency of 50 vibrations/second. Heating is carried out due to the rapid movement of water ions. Such an electric boiler is safe, since if the system leaks, it will automatically turn off.

The disadvantages include the increased requirement for water, which must have the required resistance. Periodic replacement of the electrodes is also necessary; they dissolve over time. To avoid the risk of electric shock, heating with an electrode unit is only possible if there is good grounding.

What should you consider when choosing and installing an electric boiler?

To determine which electric boiler is best to choose, you need to consider the following factors:

• the estimated heating area of ​​the house, cottage, apartment;
• type of room;
• weight and dimensions of the device;
• service life;
• efficiency indicator;
• price limit.

Installation method

Depending on the installation method, you can choose:

• electric boiler with a lower location of pipes (inlet and outlet);
• electric boiler with a lower inlet pipe and an upper outlet pipe.

Wall-mounted mini-boiler

An economy-class wall-mounted mini-boiler will perfectly heat the room if the following nuances are also taken into account when installing it:

• The meter can affect electricity consumption. It is advantageous to choose a multi-tariff electric meter that takes into account the operation of the unit at night.
• A pump shutdown delay program is useful.
• By choosing a built-in circulation pump, you can further increase the efficiency of the equipment by several percent. It increases the speed of water movement in the system, heating a private house or apartment faster.
• The efficiency of an electrical appliance can be increased by using smaller diameter pipes. The water heating time will be reduced, therefore, energy costs will be reduced.
• Equipment performance also depends on the type of control. For a private home, it is beneficial to take an economy-class wall-mounted appliance with an automatic control panel, since automation increases efficiency by 1/4.

But since mechanical control is considered more reliable, mechanically controlled boilers are the most optimal for long-term heating of large areas.

Rating of electric heating boilers - choosing the best company

The most popular manufacturers of electric boilers:

1. Protherm
2. Vaillant
3. Kospel
4. Evberg
5. Dakon

Domestic companies RusNit and EVAN are also popular.

Electric heating boilers - reviews

Alexander (Moscow)

The boiler was recommended by a friend, so I took already proven equipment. It has been working flawlessly for 2 years. I don’t recommend buying without a PROTHERM THERMOLINK S regulator; after installation, my savings became noticeable, and the advantages of this boiler increased.

Advantages: Not big. Fits well into the room

Flaws: Slight noise during operation, which is not always audible

Marina (Rostov on Don)

Heating boiler Protherm Skat 24K

It's a pity that domestic manufacturers don't make such quality! Bought and forgotten!

Advantages: Proterm uses high quality copper heating elements. Soft start system - the electric body does not turn on immediately at maximum power, but with a delay, which extends the service life. High-quality heat exchangers made of stainless steel. Possibility to use not all heating elements for heating. The presence of a built-in circulation pump, while it is almost inaudible.

Flaws: EXPENSIVE! You have to pay for quality. Production in the Czech Republic and Slovakia – hence the price! A voltage stabilizer is required, otherwise you can forget about the warranty.

The use of electric boilers is one of the options for organizing a heating system in the absence of a centralized gas supply. However, all the advantages of electric heat generators - environmental friendliness, safety, no need to build chimneys and storage facilities - are crossed out high cost electricity. Therefore, when choosing an electrical device, one of the main issues is the efficiency of its use of energy.

Let's consider some of the existing methods of economical consumption of electricity with electric heating.

Models of highly economical heating elements units

If the user prefers traditional heating elements, then his choice should be on models with multi-stage power control and the ability to install a programmer. Such equipment includes an economical boiler with high efficiency(about 99.4%) Polish production KOSPEL EKCO.L1z.

This device can be used both for radiator water heating and in systems warm floors. In combination with an indirect heating boiler, the installation not only performs a heating function, but also provides residents with hot water for sanitary purposes. Ideal for buildings where it is impossible to install chimneys or where safety regulations prohibit the use of open fire, for example, at gas stations. Units from the KOSPEL EKCO line are suitable for heating rooms for periodic use.

Significant energy savings are achieved thanks to a 6-step power selection. The operating mode of the unit can be controlled in two ways:

• Manually - in this case, the required power or temperature level is selected using the front panel of the device.
• Automatically - in this case, using a programmer on which a room thermometer is installed, different temperature conditions are set for different times of the day. A weekly programmer can be used.

Attention! Energy savings are also ensured by a multi-tariff meter that takes into account operation at night, and a delay function for turning off the circulation pump after turning off the boiler at the command of the temperature sensor.

The cost of an 8 kW device is approximately $900-1000.

Features of using economical electrode units

When deciding which electric boiler is the most economical, consumers are increasingly exploring the possibility of using a less traditional, compared to heating elements, electrode heating apparatus. The efficiency of the electrode unit is shown by the following figures:

• An electrode device with a power of 3 kW used for heating a house with an area of ​​50 m2 consumes 0.5-0.7 kW/hour.
• A new 3-kilowatt heating element unit can heat a room with an area of ​​only 30 m2, while consuming 1.2-1.4 kW/hour.

The same situation is observed when using three-phase installations.

Heating of the coolant in such units occurs due to the ionization process, which consists of the disintegration of the coolant molecule into positively and negatively charged ions. The movement of ions occurs with the release of a significant amount of heat.

The economical operation of electrode devices is achieved due to the following factors:

• The coolant is heated without an intermediary, for example, a heating element, therefore the inertia of this process is much lower than that of heating elements units.
• Application in modern automation devices.
• Smooth start.
• Simplicity of design and use of modern materials in their production.

The cost of a 9-kilowatt Geyser electrode unit manufactured by Galan (Russia) is approximately $500.

An obstacle to widespread electrode boilers have a number of serious disadvantages:

• The transmission of electric current directly by the coolant significantly increases the risk of electric shock.
• Significant leakage currents make it impossible to use a residual current device (RCD) in combination with such a unit.
• Electrolysis of the coolant leads to a change in its chemical composition and, as a consequence, electrical conductivity. Electrolysis also causes the appearance of electrolysis gases that air the system. Such gases, depending on the chemical composition of the coolant, can be toxic.
• The coolant must be carefully prepared for electrical conductivity.
• This heating equipment requires qualified maintenance.

Therefore, the user must carefully weigh the pros and cons when purchasing an electrode device.

Attention! The efficiency of any type of heating system can be significantly increased by using proper insulation premises and competent organization heating system.

The role of automation in ensuring high efficiency of an electric unit

An important role in ensuring high efficiency of an electric heating system is played by right choice control devices. Automation can be mechanical or electronic.

Attention! The effect of using programmable automation is especially noticeable when people are not constantly in the room.

What is economical heating? The one that was cheap to purchase equipment and install? Or where the cost of each kilocalorie of heat received is low? As a rule, they mean the second. However, in addition to fuel costs, there is also the cost of equipment maintenance and they often prefer to ignore it. Is it possible to call economical system heating, in which the specific cost per unit of thermal energy is unprecedentedly low, but investments in equipment are so high that their payback period exceeds their service life?

Which house has the most economical heating?

Answer: in the house that is best insulated. No matter how much effort and money we invest in engineering communications, if the building is poorly insulated, we will still incur unreasonably high heating costs. First of all, you should pay attention to the thermal insulation of enclosing structures: external walls, roof, ground floor floor, windows and doors.

The ratio of heat loss through various enclosing structures of an average individual residential building

In current Russian standards, in addition to minimum requirements Recommended parameters for thermal insulation are also specified. The minimum permissible characteristics of enclosing structures are determined by calculation and depend on the climatic conditions of the area. Example: for the climate of the Moscow region, the thickness of an external wall made of gas silicate blocks with a density of 500 kg/m2 of 40 cm is sufficient, but to achieve the recommended indicators additional external thermal insulation mineral wool at least 8 cm thick.

When insulating a house special attention pay attention to “cold bridges”: concrete lintels, ends of floor slabs, reinforced belts, window slopes etc.

How much does comfort and personal time cost?

Oddly enough, heating efficiency is partly a relative concept. For example, the owner of a private house lives in a non-gasified but wooded area and has the opportunity to very cheaply procure firewood in the volumes he needs. Fuel costs, even if you have a primitive heating system with an ancient, monstrously power-hungry CFM and registers instead of batteries, will be extremely low. However, the owner will have to work hard to prepare firewood, remember to periodically load it into the firebox, clean the boiler, remove the ash, put up with uneven heating, and the impossibility of precise adjustment. A homeowner can invest in heating modernization, purchase an automatic pellet boiler, and make modern wiring. Wood fuel consumption in kilograms (tons) will decrease by three times, but the cost of each kilocalorie will increase significantly. In this case, which heating is the most economical - wood or pellet? In terms of unit price, kcal is undoubtedly the first. In terms of quantitative fuel consumption - second. How to evaluate free time what will a home owner have after switching to pellets? In addition, a more advanced system will create high thermal comfort in the premises, and this is also worth something.

The cheaper way to heat a house

If we discard the possibility of procuring firewood for free and focus on the average prices of Central Russia, the cheapest fuel for many years has been natural gas. It also allows you to fully automate heating, modern gas boilers They only require preventative maintenance once a year. Only electric heating, but it costs many times more. Even in Western Europe, where the price of gas relative to other types of fuel is much higher than in the Russian Federation, the most economical home heating is gas.

The table reflects comparative cost thermal energy for prices in the Moscow region. And if the cost ratio for gas, diesel fuel and electricity in other regions will be similar, then the prices for pellets, firewood and coal may vary greatly depending on local conditions

For gasified areas, there is no alternative to heating with natural gas. If there is no gas pipeline nearby, you need to calculate what is more profitable in the long run. Laying a highway is not a cheap pleasure. The initial investment in equipment also matters.

Cost ratio for purchase and installation heating equipment.

As you can see, the initial costs for electric heating, especially direct heating, are the lowest. The level of comfort and safety is maximum, solving problems with electricity supply is easier than with gas, there is no need for a chimney. The main thing is that there is enough electrical power. It is precisely because of low starting costs and ease of installation that buildings built on the “passive house” principle (such are appearing in our area) are increasingly heated with electricity. Based on the totality of initial and operating costs, it turns out that in this case the most economical option is electric heating. Let us repeat that this only applies to modern, well-insulated buildings with low specific heat losses in the absence of a gas pipeline.

Heat from alternative sources

The statement that the most economical heating comes from alternative sources is not true. Pumps that move fluids in geothermal and solar systems consume electricity. And it costs a lot of money. Today, at our prices, heating with gas is still more profitable than installing a heat pump. And there is no need to talk about any serious use of solar collectors in the domestic climate. Today, a more justified solution is to create combined system heating: a heat pump designed for 70% of the required power, and an additional solid fuel (pellet, electric) boiler or fireplace, which supplies the missing 30% during severe frosts. Solar collectors are usually used only for heating hot tap water. Let us recall that the cost of “alternative” equipment is still so high that in the Russian Federation it often does not even pay for itself during its service life, if we compare its performance with wood heating.

Using the temperature difference between two media, a heat pump draws energy from environment. However, to constantly circulate the refrigerant and extract energy from it, quite powerful pumps operate that consume electricity

The most economical heating scheme

In water heating systems, in addition to the type of heat generator (boiler), efficiency also determines the type heating devices, heating circuit, nature of wiring, presence of automation:

• Among heating devices, heated floors are the most economical.

Heated floors are more economical compared to radiators due to a more uniform temperature distribution in the room

• The most economical and comfortable water heating scheme is collector (radiant). It's not cheap, but it's as comfortable as possible. It is followed by a two-pipe one, which can be considered the golden mean. At a moderate cost it is quite effective. A simple one-pipe circuit does not allow adequate regulation of the heat transfer of devices.

Manifold wiring allows you to best balance the hydraulic resistance of the circuits and regulate heat flows

• Automatic control of heat flows at all levels (boiler, distributors, appliances) also significantly reduces fuel consumption.

Due to the low price of fuel, we are accustomed to squandering thermal energy. And in rich, but very economical Germany, it is hardly possible today to find a radiator without a thermostat

• The most economical heating for a private home is the one that is correctly calculated and competently, professionally designed, installed and configured.

The more complex the equipment, the more you can save by setting it up correctly. This is not an easy matter and requires special knowledge.

Economical heating with electricity - myth or reality

The Internet is full of advertisements and articles about “the most innovative, most economical electric heating boiler” and “super electric batteries for economical heating"and similar miracles. All this is nothing more than cunning marketing hype that has nothing to do with reality. In fact, the efficiency of all electric heating devices, regardless of their type, approaches 100%. There is simply nowhere to get the treasured savings. There are only two real ways to reduce the cost of heating with electricity:

• Install a two-tariff meter and heat mainly at night. From 23.00 to 7.00 on weekdays and all weekends, depending on the region, electricity costs 1.4-2.1 times cheaper. By investing in a heat accumulator of sufficient volume, you can stock up on cheap nighttime energy for the day.

• Use heated floors to the maximum: water, with heating from a boiler, and direct heating - cable, film. The savings are relatively small, 4-6%, but in the end it will add up to a tidy sum.

The most economical heating boiler

• Gas. Modern ones consume the least fuel condensing boilers with modulating burners. Savings compared to standard analogues without condensation are 11%, which is quite a lot. However, it should be borne in mind that the advantages of such boilers can only be fully realized in low temperature system heating, this will correspond to the optimal operating mode of the boiler. Initially, warm floors are low-temperature, but the number of sections in radiators will have to be almost doubled. We can safely say that the most economical heating of a private house is gas, low-temperature, based on a condensing boiler, built according to a radial scheme.

Condensing boilers utilize the potential energy of waste gases, in particular water vapor

• Solid fuel. Pellet and wood pyrolysis boilers consume the least amount of wood fuel.

• Electricity. As already said, “the most economical electric boiler for heating” is a myth; everyone has the same efficiency.

• Liquid fuel. The most economical liquid fuel boiler is based on waste machine oil. The only question is where to find a constant source of this almost free type of fuel.

Universal liquid fuel burners are capable of operating on diesel fuel, biofuel, fuel oil (fuel oil) and waste oil.

In conclusion, we emphasize that creating efficient and comfortable heating requires a professional approach. You can try to do everything yourself, but to do this you will have to at least study the basics of heating engineering and hydraulics. If it is possible to devote part of your personal time to these sciences, selection of equipment and installation work no, we advise you to entrust the design and installation engineering communications experienced professionals.

Video: economical home heating

When installing a heating system in a home, owners take into account a number of factors. This includes the availability of communications, the price for the heat source, the climatic conditions of the region, the safety of operation, etc. At the same time, it is important to remember about efficiency so as not to throw money down the drain during the cold season. It should be noted that even the most economical boiler will not save the owners if the house is poorly insulated and the heating system is poorly designed. When choosing a heating device, the price of the boiler often becomes the main factor. But immediate benefits can result in serious expenses for gas or electricity. Gas and electric boilers can provide a modern home with heat and hot water in autonomous mode. How to choose the most economical option?

• In populated areas where there is a gas main, it is economically feasible to purchase gas boilers. At the first stage of purchase and connection, home owners will have to face serious investments. The boiler itself will cost a tidy sum, but most of the time, nerves and money will have to be spent on designing and supplying a gas pipeline to the house. Additional funds will be needed to create effective ventilation and organize space in the boiler room in accordance with regulatory documents. Frequent uninvited guests will be gas workers and firefighters. But in the future you will be able to save a lot when heating your house during the heating season.
• Not everywhere near the house there is a gas main. In this case, you have to choose alternative heat sources. One of the simplest and safest ways to heat a house is to use electric boilers. Since electricity is available in most populated areas, the homeowner will only have to choose a device with optimal power and efficiency.

When calculating, you should use a simple formula. It is generally accepted that 10 square meters are needed for heating. m of a house with a height of 3 m requires 1 kW of energy. Therefore for country houses area up to 100 sq. m. an electric boiler with maximum power 10 kW. It’s better to have a small reserve of a few kilowatts, but you shouldn’t get too carried away either. Due to frequent switching on and off of the boiler, not only will the load on the heating elements increase, but also the electricity consumption will increase. To roughly calculate how much heating with electricity will cost, you should determine the average daily operating mode of the boiler. To do this, the power of the device is multiplied by the number of hours of continuous operation and divided by 2. This figure is multiplied by 30 days, and then by the number of months heating season. All that remains is to find out the electricity tariff and multiply by the resulting consumption. The percentage of error depends on the vagaries of the weather, but usually it does not exceed 20% of the calculated value.

Our review includes the most economical gas and electric boilers. The rating was compiled based on an analysis of technical characteristics and taking into account reviews of compatriot homeowners.

The most economical gas boilers

Gas boilers are widely used in heating systems private houses, shops, car repair shops, etc. They allow you to heat large areas, while simultaneously providing people with hot water.

5 Lemax Premium-10

The best single-circuit boiler
Country: Russia
Average price: RUB 16,510.
Rating (2019): 4.0

Domestic gas boilers successfully compete in the domestic market due to their affordable price and efficiency. A striking example becomes the Lemax Premium-10 model. This single-circuit device is designed for heating houses up to 100 square meters. m. The manufacturer managed to achieve high efficiency (90%), which allowed to reduce consumption natural gas up to 0.6 cu.m. m per hour. The use of high-quality steel with an anti-corrosion heat-resistant coating helped reduce the cost of the device.

A distinctive feature of the boiler is its energy independence from the electrical network, which provides another saving point. An Italian gas burner device helps optimize the operation of the boiler. Domestic consumers note such advantages of Premium-10 as availability, efficiency, compactness, safety and reliability. To ensure that the device does not fail in the frosty winter, it is necessary to perform timely maintenance.

4 Buderus Logamax U072-24

Copper heat exchanger. Ease of operation and maintenance
Country: Germany (manufactured in Turkey)
Average price: 28,800 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.2

Traditional boilers are not as economical as condensing boilers, but they are much more affordable. And if the device was developed by German engineers Buderus and Bosch, then there is no doubt about its effectiveness. Thanks to its compact dimensions of 40x30x70 cm, closed chamber combustion and minimal noise (38dBA), the unit can be installed directly in the kitchen, while it is capable of heating an area from 70 to 240 sq. m.

The heat exchanger in U072-24 is made of copper. With the same power indicators as cast iron and steel models, copper boilers are considered more economical, since they provide accelerated transfer of the heat of combustion of the fuel to the coolant circulating through the pipes. Other advantages of the product are a built-in 3-speed circulation pump, reliable electronic control and simple maintenance. There is also a minus - some owners complain that the autodiagnostic system displays the same error, which sometimes requires reflashing the board to eliminate it.

3 NAVIEN GA 35KN

The most economical powerful boiler
Country: South Korea
Average price: RUB 37,050.
Rating (2019): 4.7

The NAVIEN GA 35KN gas boiler allows you to heat large houses, offices and shops at minimal cost. This double-circuit convection type model is capable of heating a building up to 350 square meters. m., providing people with heat and hot water. The floor-standing device has a fairly high efficiency (91.4%), which allows minimizing natural gas consumption to 3.34 cubic meters. m per hour. The heating device can also operate from liquefied gas; the boiler requires a connection to a single-phase electrical network. The consumer can also save on the purchase of the boiler itself, since the model compares favorably in price with its competitors.

Owners of cottages, shops, auto repair shops note such positive characteristics of the NAVIEN GA 35KN gas boiler as efficiency, availability, high quality. Among the disadvantages, it is worth highlighting the noise, the need to use only original spare parts.

2 Vaillant ecoTEC plus VU INT IV 306/5-5

Actual annual savings of 20%. Modulating burner
Country: Germany
Average price: 92,650 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.7

Vailant is one of the best European manufacturers of high-tech products for heating and cooling residential buildings. Its range includes many reliable and high-quality boiler models, which include the latest generation wall-mounted unit ecoTEC plus VU INT IV. Users speak about it exclusively in a positive way, noting that installing a boiler in their homes has led to at least 20% savings on operating costs. They consider the layout of the heating system with this boiler and heated floors to be especially successful - it is in this option that it pays off as quickly as possible.

One of the factors for economical operation of the boiler is the use of a modulating burner. Its implementation in the design ensures smooth adjustment of the operating power in a wide range from 16 to 100%, depending on the heat demand. By keeping the frequency of on and off cycles to a minimum, a longer maintenance-free and overall service life of the unit is ensured. Its only drawback is its high cost.

1 BAXI Duo-tec Compact 1.24

High efficiency. Weather-compensated automation
Country: Italy
Average price: 52,750 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.9

The most noticeable gas savings come from condensing units, which are capable of removing thermal energy from flue gases that is irretrievably lost in convection-type devices. The boilers of the Duo-tec Compact line are no exception, the efficiency of which, according to some sellers, reaches 107.6% at a load of up to 30%. And although they exaggerate (based on the technical characteristics, the boiler gives up to 91.2%), you must agree that for gas equipment this indicator is very good.

The device becomes even more economical due to its design. Serpentine heat exchanger made of stainless steel, adaptive combustion and draft control systems allow you to minimize heating costs for a house with an area of ​​100 to 240 square meters. m. It is worth noting the presence of built-in automation for changing the temperature of the coolant depending on the weather outside. Thus, maintaining a stable micro-mode is inexpensive in terms of time and effort, which is also an indirect indicator of efficiency.

The most economical electric boilers

Electric boilers can be used as a backup or main source of thermal energy. They are used in small buildings, but with the help of electrical appliances, complete automation of the heating system can be achieved.

5 ZOTA 9 Lux

The best ratio of price and functionality. Availability of chronothermostat
Country: Russia
Average price: 17,900 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.2

Looking at the cost of this electric boiler, someone may doubt its reliability. However, after studying its characteristics, we did not identify any obvious design flaws. Moreover, in terms of the number of functions it has no equal even among more expensive models. The 9-kilowatt electric boiler, designed to heat 90 sq.m., has a number of “luxury” features: electronic control based on the operation of 5 controllers, protection of the control unit from overvoltage up to 400V, weather-dependent automatic correction of coolant temperature, function of connecting a heated floor etc.

From the point of view of the efficiency of the heat generator, the function of the chronothermostat is interesting - with its help, the user sets a program at what time the house should be warm, and at what time the microclimate can be made cooler. Such a thermostat with a timer is very convenient for setting up operation at the most favorable electricity consumption rate - night. To be fair, let us also mention the disadvantages of the device: in particular, users warn about the high cost of replacing failed heating elements, so it is better to start using it by reading the instructions.

4 Protherm Skat 6 KR 13

Intelligent connection of heating elements
Country: Slovakia
Average price: RUB 35,700.
Rating (2019): 4.5

Consumers have had a lot of time to check how reliable the Slovak “Scats” are in real conditions: they have been produced in their homeland since 1992, and in Russia, according to the manufacturer, more than 250 thousand units have already been sold. We did not find any negative reviews or obvious criticism on the Internet, and even on specialized forums, where there is a rather skeptical attitude towards budget brands, they are in good standing. And it’s not surprising - the wall-mounted heating device, among other advantages, is characterized by simplicity and versatility of installation (there is no need to run a 3-phase network, you can connect weather-compensated automation, storage boiler DHW and organize a cascade heating system).

The developers took a very responsible approach to the issue of model efficiency, ensuring high (99.5%) efficiency and providing for stepwise power switching in 1 kW increments. In this case, the heating elements are switched alternately, and the load on them is distributed evenly. Protective systems against overheating and freezing, as well as pump protection, are responsible for the durability of the product - according to technical characteristics, it is at least 10 years.

3 EVAN Warmos-IV-9.45

Restyled model with automatic selection power mode
Country: Russia
Average price: 22,000 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.5

Evan JSC turns 23 years old in 2019, and during this time the company has mastered production wide range heating equipment. This means that the entire heating and hot water system, with the exception of pipes and shut-off valves, you can equip it with products. Of particular interest to potential buyers is the updated electric unit of the Warmos-IV series with a power of 9.45 kW, capable of heating a house up to 94.5 square meters. m.

In order to optimize energy consumption, the mechanical thermostat was replaced with an electronic thermal control system. Now the boiler “itself” determines how many heating elements out of 3 need to be started in order to ensure the specified temperature regime with an accuracy of 1°. If necessary, you can also use manual power limitation. Self-diagnosis functions, an improved control panel with LED indication and the ability to connect remote control modules make the boiler modern, economical and, importantly, accessible to a wide range of consumers.

2 Vaillant eloBLOCK VE 12

The most economical single-circuit boiler
Country: Germany
Average price: 41,200 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.8

The most economical single-circuit boiler in our review was the Vaillant eloBLOCK VE 12 model (99% efficiency). The electric device is capable of heating a house up to 120 square meters. m in the presence of a three-phase network. In addition to high efficiency, the device boasts an elegant appearance. There is only one button for adjustment; the microprocessor, sensors, sensors, etc. do the rest for the person. Economical consumption of electricity is achieved due to a smooth increase in power, the presence of such additional options, such as anti-freeze mode, summer operation, weather-dependent control. The device can be equipped remote control, which allows the owners to get straight from the cold to a warm home.

Users speak highly of the efficiency of the Vaillant eloBLOCK VE 12 electric boiler, its simplicity and neatness appearance. To increase service life, you need to connect a voltage stabilizer.

1 ACV E-Tech S 240

The most economical double-circuit boiler
Country: Belgium
Average price: 277,000 rub.
Rating (2019): 4.9

The most economical double-circuit boiler is the premium model ACV E-Tech S 240 (99% efficiency). Thanks to the high thermal power (28.8 kW), the device can cope with heating big house, providing its residents not only with heat, but also with hot water. This high-performance heating device is controlled by electronics that help minimize electrical energy consumption. Also contributes economical mode work heat exchanger made of stainless steel. A boiler made according to the “tank in a tank” principle helps reduce heat loss from hot water. Electronic control allows you to increase service life and prevent scale formation by optimizing heating modes.

Owners of country houses and cottages highlight such advantages of the ACV E-Tech S 240 electric boiler as efficiency, reliability, versatility and noiselessness. The main disadvantage of the device is its high price.