The instant water heater is a device designed to provide hot sanitary water on demand. It offers various benefits. However, it is important to choose the power that best suits your needs. Moreover, installation and connection constraints must be considered.
Compared to a hot water tank, the instant electric water heater does not have a storage system. Equipped with an electric resistance, it provides hot water as it is used, and in unlimited quantities. Being compact, the instant water heater perfectly fits in small living spaces. It is also used as a supplementary system in a room distant from the main hot water production source.
Water is heated solely on demand and an instant water heater does not require any particular maintenance. Nevertheless, as its flow rate is limited, it is advisable to use it for a single water outlet. Moreover, it is imperative to install the instant water heater close by, within less than 3 meters from either the sink or the bathroom, for example.
Here are the components of an instant electric water heater:
- vacuum switch;
- cold water inlet;
- hot water outlet;
- heating chamber;
- hydraulic safety valve;
- flow regulator.
The power varies from 2 to 30 kW. It is chosen based on the future use of the device, especially the desired hot water flow rate. Here is the necessary power to supply each water point:
- 11 kW for a bathtub;
- 9 kW for a small bathtub;
- 7.3 kW for a shower and a washbasin;
- 5.5 kW for a sink;
- 4.5 kW for a basin or washbasin;
- 3.7 kW for a hand washbasin or a small washbasin.
In addition, the instant electric water heater can be installed in a dry or wet room, under a sink or in a cupboard. For example, a 3.7 kW model has the following dimensions:
- height: generally between 16 and 40 cm;
- width: 8 to 26 cm;
- depth: starting from 11 cm.
As for installation constraints, it is appropriate to connect a single-phase instant water heater to a single-phase meter. On the other hand, a three-phase model must be connected to a three-phase meter.