Which water heater to choose: gas or electric?

17
Sep
Hot water is always needed: to take a bath, wash dishes, clean, etc. With centralized supply, stoppages for several weeks a year are inevitable for repair work.
And if you live in a private house, the arrangement of hot water supply is generally entirely the responsibility of the owners.
To understand how to choose a water heater, you need to know the types, operating principles, their advantages and disadvantages.
Likewise, you must be very careful about your hot water needs because if you have large ones but you choose a low kW model, you will be unhappy with the water consumption.
This article will help you correctly decide on the type, power and performance of the boiler and not regret the purchase.
This is why it is very important to know that water heaters are divided into 2 large categories: electric and gas.

Instantaneous electric water heaters
Equipment of this type is small in size and is installed on the wall. It can be installed both in the kitchen and in the bathroom.
The instantaneous heater is connected to the central water supply and is designed to heat water only in real time, that is, only that which flows through it at the moment the user opens the tap.
This allows you to have hot water whenever you need it, and not have to pay to heat it when you’re not at home and don’t need it.
However, if you choose the wrong wattage, it can cause low water flow, which may make it look like your water heater is of poor quality.
Amber.md specialists have prepared Management by choosing a suitable flow-through heater model. As a rule, we recommend that you install an 8-10 kW instantaneous electric heater so that it is enough for a hot shower.
Important features when choosing electric water heaters:
- How many sources will be connected to the instantaneous heater (one or more)?
The process of installing an electric water heater is quite simple, and the device can be installed anywhere in the house, the main thing is that it can be connected to a water supply and a source of electricity.
As for connection sources, it is very important to clarify that this point largely depends on the power and choice of the model you prefer.
- Will it only be used for washing hands, showering or filling the bathtub?
This will determine how many liters of hot water per minute you need and, therefore, the power of the device will depend on it.
Choose a heater with higher power and you will be happy. (use the guide above).

Instantaneous gas water heaters
Gas water heaters can be used where a gas main is connected.
But there are also models powered by liquefied gas (gas in cylinders).
Since one cubic meter of gas can heat a much larger volume of water than 1 kW of electricity, even if the price of electricity is several times lower than blue fuel, the use of gas is still more justified.
But the installation of gas equipment is more complicated due to the need to connect to the water supply and gas pipe, as well as install a chimney.
What to look for when choosing a heater?
- How will burnt gases be removed during operation of a gas water heater?
We recommend purchasing columns with a forced combustion type. Their geysers have 2 types of combustion chambers
- With an open type chamber they are simple and simply draw air out of the chamber. They operate using natural draft, so they require less maintenance and are cheaper. But at the same time, you should know that they cannot be installed in apartments, but only in a house where the chimney is higher than the roof level.
- With a closed type chamber they need a coaxial chimney to supply air from outside and simultaneously remove smoke. For safety, we recommend installing a gas water heater with a closed combustion chamber. Taking this into account, their installation is more difficult, but the operation of such a speaker does not affect the microclimate in the room, and they are safer, and therefore more expensive.
- How many liters per minute of hot water do you need?
Hot water flow.
- Flow-through gas heaters provide a water flow rate of about 11 liters per minute. Which is quite enough
- Electric instantaneous heaters provide water flow rates ranging from approximately 3.5 liters per minute (5 kW models) to 17.2 liters per minute (24 kW models). Choose power depending on the required water flow.
- Do you just want to wash your hands or dishes? Then 4-6 kW is enough. You will get a flow rate of 3.5 l/min to 5 l/min of hot water.
- Would you like a shower? Then 7-9 kW is enough. You will get a flow rate of 5 to 7 l/min.
- want to fill your bathtub? Then you need 12-24 kW. You will have a flow rate of up to 17.2 l/min.
Check the exact values for each individual model.
- What electrical network will you connect the heater to?
Electrical network.
- Gas heaters need an outlet 220V.
- Electric heaters connect as to 220Vand to 360V:
- Electric heaters power 4-12 kW connected to a single-phase electrical network (220V)
- Electric heaters 12-24 kW connected to a three-phase electrical network (360V)
Check the exact information about each individual model.
- Does the heater have a European quality certificate?
The certification organization in Moldova only certifies geysers with a GAR certificate (CE certificate). 95% of speakers on the market are of poor quality and cannot be certified by law, and for this reason they have fake certificates (these are photocopied certificates, or dubiously renewed from 2017 (the last year of certification for cheap speakers). Pay attention to this! Gas water heaters that have not passed certification are dangerous to life!
A Perfetto ST21 or Ariston water heater is an ideal choice, because they have a true certificate and you can be sure of the safety of your family.
- Materials and parts from which the geyser is assembled.
Chinese geysers have unreliable parts that break after the first season.
They have a thin heat exchanger that cracks easily, unreliable safety systems that can even lead to CO2 suffocation. Speakers made in Europe are more expensive, but they are reliable, so don’t skimp on your health and life!
When choosing a gas heater, it is important to pay attention to the presence of protective functions:
- gas control sensor
- circulation control
- water sensor in the system
Their presence will maximize the safety of users.
6. What type of gas will you use for the gas water heater?
LPG (liquefied petroleum gas). Consists mainly of propane and butane. This is a gas under pressure in a vessel (cylinder).
Natural gas (entering the room through a pipe).

How to choose a water heater type
- If you want to wash your hands, all you have to do is instantaneous electric water heaterwhich can easily handle the supply of hot water for the kitchen or sink.
When washing dishes in a dishwasher, you can get by with a non-pressure model with a single hot water supply point.
- But if you need to heat a lot of water, then you need to take into account various factors.
In houses and apartments with centralized gas supply, it is advisable to install gas instantaneous water heater. Such equipment does not take up much space, does not create a load on the network and has high performance (you can wash dishes, take a shower and fill a bath).
- If you need a large flow of hot water and do not have a gas connection, you should pay attention to instantaneous electric heaters with a 380 V power supply.
Having studied all the nuances of choosing a water heater, it is much easier to decide on its type and parameters and move on to considering specific models.
This will help you avoid becoming a victim of advertising and buy exactly the product that will fully meet your specific operating conditions.
And for professional advice and a wide selection of models, you can find us in Chisinau at st. Vadul lui Voda 68 or in online chat from amber.md!