Content
Most dacha plots are located far from city communications. People bring water for drinking and household needs with them in bottles or take it from a well. However, the problems don't end there. To wash dishes or bathe, you need hot water. Bulk water heaters for a summer house with a shower, operating from different energy sources, help solve the issue of hot water supply.
Advantages of tankless water heaters
The ancestor of bulk water heaters can be considered a washbasin tank, inside of which a heating element was installed. Most often it is a heating element powered by electricity. Modern models are equipped with a thermostat, mixer, shower head and other useful devices. Despite this modernization, tankless water heaters remain easy to repair and use.
Let's highlight several important advantages of the filling unit:
- It should immediately be noted that the device is mobile.If there is no place to store things at your dacha, and the site is often visited by thieves, you can buy a small plastic water heater and bring it with you.
- The simplicity of the design allows you to carry out independent repairs. In rare cases, the heating element of electric models burns out. The element is easy to replace without contacting service centers. In addition, the simplicity of the design guarantees a long service life of the product.
- Multifunctional water heaters for summer cottages allow you to simultaneously obtain hot water in the washbasin and shower stall. To do this, it is enough to install the container at a height and connect the plastic pipework to it.
- The cost of a tankless water heater is low. Thanks to its modern design, the product will fit even into the stylish interior of a country house.
There is a large selection of water heaters on sale, differing in tank volume, water heating speed and other characteristics. Each summer resident has the opportunity to choose the optimal model for himself.
Types of tank water heater models and recommendations for their selection
When choosing country water heaters, many immediately pay attention to the volume of the storage tank, and rightly so. However, it is important to immediately pay attention to the type of heating element and choose a model that runs on accessible and cheap energy.
Depending on the type of energy consumed, water heaters are divided into groups:
- The most common, convenient and cheap water heaters are units powered by electricity.The water is heated by a built-in heating element. The unit is completely mobile. It is enough to fix the container on any support, pour water and plug it into the outlet.
- Gas units are considered economical in terms of operation, but there are many problems with them in terms of connection. Firstly, gas appliances are installed only permanently. You cannot connect the unit to the gas main yourself; you will have to call a representative of the service company. Secondly, to obtain permission to install a gas appliance at the dacha, the owner will have to fill out a bunch of documents and fulfill a number of requirements.
- The use of solid fuel models is beneficial at a dacha located near a forest. Firewood will be a free source of energy. The disadvantage of the device is its bulkiness. A solid fuel bulk water heater is installed permanently with a chimney and ventilation in the room.
- In last place are tankless water heaters powered by burning liquid fuel or solar panels. The first models are inconvenient to use and maintain, and the second ones are too expensive. For a summer residence, it is better not to consider these options.
When choosing a bulk water heater for your dacha, you need to familiarize yourself with its functionality, that is, its capabilities. If you only need hot water for the sink to wash your hands or dishes, it is better to buy a simple model consisting of a small container with a tap. When hot water is needed for a shower, preference should be given to a tankless water heater with a capacity of about 50 liters. Many models are equipped with a watering can with a flexible hose.
Usually in a country house there is a need for both models of tankless water heaters. Here it is better to choose the best option for yourself.You can buy two units and install one in the shower and the other in the kitchen. There are universal models that allow you to get hot water in the sink and shower, but they are suitable for a small family. In addition, such a water heater will have to be installed somewhere in the middle of two objects and hoses will be stretched from it to the water supply points. If desired, the filling unit can simply be transferred from the shower to the kitchen if necessary.
Bulk water heater device
The design of all tankless water heaters is almost the same. In simple terms, it is a container with a filler neck, equipped with a heating element and a water tap. Since the electric filling unit is the most popular for summer cottage use, let’s look at the device using its example:
- The tank of a bulk water heater usually consists of an internal and external tank, between which insulation is laid or simply air is placed. The inner container can be made of plastic, and the outer casing can be made of metal.
- Water is poured through the neck located at the top of the tank. Some models are made on the principle of communicating vessels. Water is poured through the neck into a separate compartment, and from there it flows into a common tank.
- A very useful thing is a thermostat. The device allows you to automatically maintain the desired water temperature and ensures safe use of the unit.
- The drain tube is located above the heating element level. This allows the heating element to always remain in the water.
- The drain pipe is connected to the water tap. If the filling unit is intended for a shower, it is additionally equipped with a watering can.
- For the convenience of turning on the bulk water heater, a button with a light indicator is installed on the body.
Bulk water heaters for washbasins are equipped with special fasteners on the body. Such models are considered hinged and are attached to any stable support.
A tankless water heater intended only for showers has a similar device. The only difference can be the design of the tank, consisting of one container. Square-shaped tanks are considered convenient. They are installed on the shower stall instead of the roof.
There are portable pour-over models designed for showers and washbasins. They have a hanging mount and are equipped with a shower head. The hose with the watering can is screwed with a union nut to the water tap. Popular models are bulk water heaters with a capacity of 20 liters with a built-in heating element with a power of 1.2 kW.
Most expensive multifunctional models are equipped with a pump powered by a built-in battery. It allows you to create water pressure in the hose with a watering can for a comfortable shower.
Basic requirements for tankless water heaters
The fact that a tankless water heater is chosen according to the most profitable type of fuel is understandable. However, there are several more important requirements for the unit:
- The tank capacity should be enough to provide hot water to all family members at the dacha. However, it is not advisable to buy a filling unit with a large supply of water. Heating it will require extra energy, and this is a wasteful expense.
- The speed of water heating depends on the power of the heating element. Typically, the larger the tank capacity, the more powerful the heater installed.
There are no special requirements for the dimensions of the product. Each summer resident chooses a convenient model for himself. It is desirable that the filling unit be spacious and at the same time compact.
Homemade bulk water heater for country use
If you have a steel or plastic tank at your dacha, you can make a bulk water heater from it yourself. The photo shows the simplest metal model for a washstand. A cheap water tap is attached to the front wall of the tank. Inside the tank, a drain tube is fixed to the tap thread using an adapter. Its end is raised above the level of the heating element. At the lowest point, but not close to the bottom of the tank, a heating element with a power of 1.5–2 kW is installed. Electricity is supplied to the heating element through a circuit breaker.
A plastic water heater for a shower stall can be made using a similar method, only instead of a regular water tap, a threaded tube 150–200 mm long is installed. The drain pipe is passed through the roof of the shower stall, after which a ball valve and shower head are screwed onto the thread. To prevent the plastic tank from melting, the heating elements are secured using metal couplings. They will remove excess heat from the plastic wall of the container.
The video shows a homemade water heater:
Bulk water heaters are convenient for country use, but if there are children in the family, it is better to give preference to safe factory-made models.
