The electric water heater is considered one of the most consuming appliances, but is this actually the case? Let’s find out.
There are generally two alternatives to supply hot water in a home: either install a boiler, or install a water heater. This second solution is often the most used by those who do not have, for example, a radiator system to be connected to the boiler, but only have to heat the water. Even in the case of the water heater there are different solutions. The classic gas water heaters are now almost superseded and replaced by the more modern electric or even better with heat pump.
The water heater is certainly a valid solution for delivering hot water quickly and effectively, but they are often considered very expensive in terms of energy consumption. Will it really be like this? Let’s see how much does the water heater consume and how to save.
How much does an electric water heater consume
An electric water heater is a very simple system compared to the classic boiler. It allows you to heat the water by not consuming gas, but by using a law of physics known as Joule effect with which the electricity flowing in a resistance generates heat.
The electricity then feeds a resistance that heats up with the passage of the current and in contact with the water gives it heat by heating it. In this way it can supply hot water to the domestic system without using gas. There are two types of electric water heater:
- electric water heater with boiler: in this case there is a tank where the water accumulates and is kept at a constant temperature between 30 and 60 ° thanks to a thermostat. In this way, a hot water reserve is always available;
- instantaneous electric water heater: the system heats the water only when required and is suitable for small homes where there are no big demands.
How much do they consume? The consumption of an electric water heater depend on various factors such as the number of withdrawal points, the size of the house, the number of people and their habits. Let’s say that for an average family of 4-6 people, the consumption of the electric water heater can be around 1,400-1,800 kWh per year, taking into account a storage model with an 80-liter boiler.
How much does a heat pump water heater consume
The heat pump water heater represents one of the best solutions on the market for equipping a home with hot water. Compared to an electric water heater it has better performance in terms of consumption. Its operation is based on a gas compression and expansion cycle R134A. This gas is compressed by a small electric compressor and circulated in a resistance to capture the heat from the outside air.
Subsequently, the gas passes through an expansion valve and transfers the heat captured from the outside to the boiler. The electric current is therefore not used to directly heat the water, but only to activate the compression and expansion cycle. Through this system the heat pump manages to be much more efficient than an electric water heater and consumes much less. It is estimated that consumption is reduced by 65% compared to a traditional boiler.
The annual consumption for normal use of the heat pump water heater is approximately 620 kWh.
Saving tips
Having said that the heat pump solution is the best choice from an electricity consumption point of view, there are some tips to follow to pay less. First of all during the purchase phase, the advice is to opt for high efficiency devices with energy class A or higher. It is also important to choose the correct device based on the size of the building.
The water heater must also be turned off when not needed, it is necessary to carry out periodic maintenance and adjust the water temperature well, about 40° C in summer and 60° C in winter (respectively 104° and 140° Fahrenheit).
Original article published on Money.it Italy 2022-10-27 22:34:26.
Original title: Quanto consuma lo scaldabagno?
