Design features of a wet heating element for water heaters. Advantages and disadvantages of boilers, characteristics and price of the best models.
A wet heater is a boiler with a traditional tubular heating element that is in direct contact with the liquid. This is the most common option for providing an apartment with hot water. We will talk about the features of devices with an open-type heating element in this article.
Construction of wet heating elements for water heaters
In the photo there is a wet heating element for a water heater
Water heaters are household appliances for use in apartments and houses. They are installed in the absence of a centralized hot water supply system or as a backup in case of an accident on the highway. There are various modifications of devices that differ in configuration, size, power, etc. The type of heating element used in the product is of fundamental importance. It is the main component in the boiler, on which the stable and reliable operation of the device depends.
The wet type of heating element is considered a traditional heating element for boilers, which is installed directly into the liquid. Its competitor is a device with a protective casing that provides a guaranteed gap between the hot pipe and the water. It is visually difficult to distinguish water heaters of different types: from the outside, everything looks identical, but the internal structure is different due to the structural differences between dry and wet heating elements.
Products with open heating elements began to be produced several decades ago, and since then their popularity has not diminished. The design of the work item has not practically changed during this time.
Wet teng consists of the following elements:
- Metal tube … Thin-walled element, into which a heating element in the form of a spiral is installed. The wall thickness of the flask is 0.8-1.2 mm. For wet heaters, the tubes are made of copper or stainless steel, often with a protective coating. The part is made straight or curved in various ways.
- Spiral … A detail in which electrical energy is converted into heat. It is made from high resistivity wire, usually nichrome. In water heaters with a wet heating element, the spiral is heated to a temperature of 300-400°C. The power of the product, its length and operating voltage depend on the thickness of the wire. Contacts are attached to both sides of the element for connection to the mains cable.
- Filler … Loose dielectric material for filling voids in a tube after a spiral is installed in it. Usually, magnesium oxide or quartz sand, which conducts heat well, is used for these purposes. The loose mass is poured into a flask and pressed, as a result it turns into a monolith. The hardened sand rigidly fixes the wire and excludes its contact with metal. The finished structure is very strong, it can be bent in any planes, getting small-sized products. This quality allows us to manufacture water heaters with wet heating elements for washing.
- Contact elements … Rods for connecting electrical wires to the spiral. They are attached to a wire inside the tube and extend out through porcelain insulators. The contacts end with a thread, onto which a nut and washer are screwed to fix the electrical wires. For reliability, the places of the outputs from the flask are sealed with a moisture-proof organosilicon varnish. The contacts are often silver-plated to increase the rated amperage.
Due to the fact that the working element of a water heater with a wet heating element is in contact with water, the timely execution of preventive work on the device has a great influence on the duration of its operation. Most often, boilers fail due to a violation of the tightness of the heating element at the point of exit of the outlet rods from the pipe, corrosion of the protective flask, breakage of the nichrome wire due to high temperature. The main causes of trouble for water heaters with wet heating elements are a thick layer of scale and excessive tightening of the nuts while attaching the electrical wire to the contacts.
To exclude such situations, you must adhere to simple rules:
- After replacing the heating element, do not apply a lot of torque to the nuts on the contact rods, because this can lead to a leak in the heater.
- Do not run the water heater without water.
- Remove build-up from the work piece periodically. A layer of deposits of more than 2 mm will damage the boiler. The first sign of a malfunction of the product is the lack of warming up and frequent operation of electrical protection. You can determine the state of a work item in different ways, for example, using a special tester or multimeter. Use the tool to measure the resistance of the coil. If the indicator is zero, the heating element must be replaced. In the absence of measuring instruments, assemble an electrical circuit, which should include a heating element and a light bulb, and connect it to the electrical network. If it is lit, the heater is working.
Advantages and disadvantages of boilers with a wet heating element
Water heaters with wet heating elements have been successfully operated for many years. The popularity of products is ensured by a number of indisputable advantages over competitors, therefore, reviews on the Internet about water heaters with wet heating elements are mostly positive.
Advantages of boilers with a wet heating element:
- The dimensions of the heating element can be significantly reduced due to the bending of the working element, therefore they are installed in small-sized boilers. Closed heaters are made only straight, they cannot be installed in products with a volume of less than 30 liters.
- Ease of maintenance of a water heater with a wet heating element and an inexpensive repair. Replacing two working elements is less expensive than replacing a protective cover in a dry-type boiler. The work can be done independently without the involvement of a master.
- Low cost, which is an important factor when choosing between dry or wet heating elements. Prices for boilers with a closed heating element are higher due to the high cost of working elements with a complex design.
- Rapid increase in water temperature, because products are located directly in it.
- Availability of consumables. In Ukraine and Russia there are complete sets of all consumables for water heaters with wet heating elements, their stocks are constantly replenished.
There are a lot of disadvantages of storage water heaters with wet heating elements, but most of the disadvantages are very controversial:
- When replacing the heating elements, you must first drain the inlet from the tank. In the latest models, to simplify the procedure, a special tap was provided for its removal.
- Before turning on the shower, it is recommended to disconnect the water heater with a wet heating element from the mains in order to protect yourself from electric shock. A portion of the current will not be fatal, but the sensations are still unpleasant. Such a situation is possible in the event of a heating element failure, as a result of which water penetrates into the tube. However, modern boilers are equipped with reliable devices responsible for its safety, so the likelihood of electric shock is minimal.
- The biggest disadvantage of a water heater with a wet heating element is the appearance of salt deposits on the walls of the tanks and on the heater. Copper products that work in hard water are especially affected by layers. As a result, unplanned heat losses occur, which leads to increased energy consumption and burnout of elements. To reduce the risk of damage, clean the device at least once a year. Only specialists can perform the work qualitatively, and you will have to pay for their services. For water heaters with dry heating elements, such problems appear less often, so maintenance is carried out every 3-4 years. The service life of a conventional water heater with a wet heating element is 5-6 years, which is significantly less than that of a dry one. If you neglect the manufacturer's requirements, scale, rust and cracks will appear on the tubes and barrel, and it is not always possible to restore the product's performance.
Selection of boilers with a wet heating element
Diagram of a water heater with a wet heating element
To choose the best water heater with a wet heating element, you need to carefully study the characteristics of the models you like, and also look for reviews on the Internet about them. Thus, it is possible to find out the effectiveness of the device for operation in specific conditions.
Teng is the main part of the water heater, and the efficiency of the device depends on it. When buying a water heater with a wet heating element, pay attention to the material of the shell of the working element. The flask is made of copper or stainless steel. The design in both cases is the same: the tubes are flanged, there is a magnesium anode and a thermostat. Both models are heated to a temperature of no more than 400 ° C.
Which wet heating elements are the best for water heaters is hard to say: copper ones have good thermal conductivity, but steel ones work longer. Copper and steel products differ in application - they are designed to work in water of various compositions:
- Copper wet heater … It is recommended to use if the liquid is hard, with a lot of salts, lime and other impurities. In this case, a thick layer of scale will quickly appear on the steel pipe.
- Stainless steel wet heater … It is recommended to use if the water is aggressive, contains a lot of iron or other impurities that react with copper. These substances quickly destroy the copper tube. A high concentration of iron leads to the appearance of rust on the flask or on the walls of the tank, and elements that react with copper corrode it with the formation of a green coating.
- Water heater with wet heating element made of any material … It is used if the liquid is neutral, its composition is within the normal range. When replacing a work item, give preference to the original part, it will last longer.
Other parameters for choosing a product include:
- Power … Water heaters with wet heating elements are available with a capacity of 0.5 to 4 kW and more. Products up to 2.5 kW can be plugged into an ordinary outlet, in other cases it is necessary to lay a separate cable from the boiler to the panel.
- The method of attaching the heating elements … On the nut (for the Ariston boiler, the nut is 1 1/4) or on the flange (for the Themex boiler, the diameter of the flanges is 48 mm, 63 mm, 72 mm, 82 mm, 92 mm).
- The form … Depending on the shape of the tank, the heaters can be straight and curved in different planes. Teng of a straight form is installed in a vertical device, curved - in a horizontal one.
- The presence of the anode socket … Many models have space for a magnesium bar on the heater flange. The anode for a boiler with a wet heating element is usually cylindrical. The part is made of magnesium or zinc composition, which reacts with aggressive impurities in water more actively than steel or copper, and increases the service life of the heating element. During operation, the anode collapses, its parts fall to the bottom of the tank. There are samples without seats for the anode or with threaded holes M4, M5, M6, M8. The rod has its own parameters: the diameter and length of the leg, the diameter of the body. For water heaters with wet heating elements, it is recommended to change the anode once every 1-2 years, depending on the water hardness.
A regular heating element can be replaced with a product from another manufacturer, but the following must be taken into account:
- Choose a part of the same power, size, shape as that of the boiler being repaired.
- The maximum temperature is 300-400 ° C.
- Together with the heater (or at the time specified by the manufacturer of the boiler with a wet heating element), it is necessary to change the magnesium anode.
Wet heater manufacturers
The quality of a wet heater depends on the manufacturer. If an unknown company is indicated in the passport of the device, it is highly likely that it will not last long. In the absence of an alternative, deciding which water heater with a wet heating element is better is simple: any boiler of a reputable brand will be an acceptable option. However, if there is a large assortment of products of equal quality in the store, the choice of the device will depend on the merits of the heating elements.
Many manufacturers use dry or wet heating elements for boilers of their own design, which differ in characteristics, material, shape, etc. For example, consider the features of well-known brands of boilers.
Water heaters with a wet heating element Ariston have an image of advanced in terms of appearance, quality and safety. Users are protected from electric shock by special shutdown devices. Many models are equipped with a turbo mode that allows you to heat the water in the shortest possible time. Among the advantages, one can also highlight the ease of installation, low energy consumption, all kinds of protection against breakdowns.
On many models of water heaters with Ariston wet heating elements, a Nanomix divider is installed, which prevents the mixing of water in the tank at different temperatures. Also increasing the demand for Ariston products by batch heating. In its boilers, the company installs heating elements of its own design with a sheath of copper and chromium-nickel. The flanges are brass, which increases the heat transfer of the product. Many models are sold with built-in thermostats.
The most common models of Ariston boilers and their characteristics:
| Model | Dimensions, mm | Heating element power, kW | Max t, ° C | Peculiarities |
| Ariston LYDOS ECO 50 V 1, 8K PL EU, 50 l | 450x470x520 | 1, 8 | 80 | Enlarged magnesium anode, improved software |
| Ariston ABS VLS EVO PW 50 D, 50 l | 506x275x776 | 1.5x1 | 80 | Powerful heating elements, additional tank protection, economy modes |
| Ariston BLU1 R 100 V, 100 l | 450x480x940 | 1, 5 | 80 | Increased protection against breakage and scale formation |
Water heaters with wet heating elements Atlantik are protected against corrosion. Boilers with O'ProP technology are the most reliable today. It involves the use of an ohmic resistance to reduce the galvanic current inside the tank. Thanks to it, the service life of the magnesium anode is significantly increased, so the intervals between cleaning the product are increased, and its efficiency is increased.
This series has received a stylish design: the lines of the body are smooth, and the thermostat hidden in the body ensures comfortable operation. Water heaters with wet heating elements Atlantik are available in various designs, which expands the scope of their application.
The most common models of Atlantik boilers and their characteristics:
| Model | Dimensions, mm | Heating element power, kW | Max t, ° C | Peculiarities |
| Atlantic O'PRO Slim PC 75, 75 l | d. 338x1119 | 2 | 65 | Round, narrow, fast heating |
| ATLANTIC O'ProP TURBO VM 100 D400-2-B 2500W, 100 l | 433x451x973 | 2, 5 | 65 | Powerful heater, fast heating |
| ATLANTIC Vertigo O'Pro MP 080 F220-2E-BL, 80 l | 490х310х1300 | 1, 5 | 70 | Flat, with two tanks, two heating elements, beautiful design |
Zanussi wet heaters are reliable and durable, so the brand is considered the standard of quality. The products are considered to be among the best in terms of safety and economy. All devices are equipped with magnesium anodes and an automatic shutdown function in emergency situations.
The company is constantly updating the range of water heaters, introducing the latest manufacturing technologies and constantly improving the design. The parts of the control system are located in the most convenient place for use. Most boilers are equipped with additional equipment that increases their functionality. The devices have one drawback - they are quite expensive, so not everyone can buy a water heater with a Zanussi wet heating element.
The most common models of Zanussi boilers and their characteristics:
| Model | Dimensions, mm | Heating element power, kW | Max t, ° C | Peculiarities |
| Zanussi ZWH / S 80 Splendore XP, 80 l | 557x336x865 | 1, 3+0, 7 | 75 | Fastening vertical or horizontal, there is an economical mode |
| Zanussi ZWH / S 100 Symphony 2.0, 100 l | 450x450x944 | 1, 5 | 75 | Adjustment of the limiting temperature, additional protection of the heating element |
| Zanussi ZWH 80 Smalto DL, 80 l | 570x300x900 | 1, 2+0, 8 | 75 | Long warranty period, flat tank, economy mode |
Water heaters with wet heating elements Electrolux are popular due to modern materials, a multi-level security system, the ability to destroy microorganisms with hot water and other innovations. The manufacturer offers devices of various geometric shapes, with mechanical and electronic control, for individual use and for a large family.
Characteristics of the most popular models of Electrolux boilers with wet heating elements:
| Model | Dimensions, mm | Heating element power, kW | Max t, ° C | Peculiarities |
| Electrolux EWH 10 Rival U, 10 l | 260x279 | 1, 5 | 75 | Boiler for washing, warranty - 7 years, heating at minimum power, no scale |
| Electrolux EWH 150 AXIOmatic, 150 l | d. 450х1275 | 1, 5 | 75 | Corrosion and scale protection Advanced Heater Shield and Protect Tank. Three modes of economical heating |
| Electrolux EWH 30 Royal H, 30 l | 546x255x433 | 2, 0 | 75 | Flat, rectangular, compact, with horizontal installation, there are economy modes |
Price of a water heater with a wet heating element
Wet water heaters are cheaper than dry ones if the functionality is the same. The prices of the device are influenced by the following:
- Heating element type … Working elements of various geometric shapes, sizes, capacities significantly affect the cost of the boiler. The material of the shell is also important, but copper and steel models have different applications, and it is better to buy a wet teng, which will last longer, regardless of the price.
- Storage tank material … Hot water heaters corrode quickly and have a shorter lifespan than competitors. To prolong the operation of the device, manufacturers are constantly improving the technologies for manufacturing tanks and applying protective coatings, using new materials. All this significantly prolongs the operation of water heaters, but increases the price. The most economical option is a boiler with a conventional enamelled carbon steel tank. Medical steel drives are much more expensive, but they have a long service life.
Often, reputable manufacturers increase the price of wet heaters just because of the popularity of the brand. You can search for products from little-known companies that have good reviews and save on the name.
Sometimes sellers try to get profit on spare parts for boilers. They sell less popular models at low cost, but raise prices for heating elements and other consumables that are not available in the area. In order not to overpay, it is recommended to buy wet or dry heating elements for water heaters and spare parts together with the boiler.
Price of wet heating elements of various manufacturers in Ukraine:
| Name | power, kWt | Price, UAH. |
| Ariston ABS Platinum | 2, 5 | 370-390 |
| "Termex RF 1, 5 / HN12" | 1, 5 | 220-240 |
| FCR 28/180 | 18 | 2300-2900 |
| Thermowatt 1.5 / RCF | 1, 5 | 200-230 |
Price of wet heating elements of various manufacturers in Russia:
| Name | power, kWt | price, rub. |
| Ariston ABS Platinum | 2, 5 | 950-1200 |
| "Termex RF 1, 5 / HN12" | 1, 5 | 600-700 |
| FCR 28/180 | 18 | 5000-6700 |
| Thermowatt 1.5 / RCF | 1, 5 | 600-750 |
The price of water heaters with a wet heating element of various modifications in Ukraine:
| Name | Price, UAH. |
| ATLANTIC Vertigo O'Pro MP 080 F220-2E-BL | 8100-8300 |
| Zanussi ZWH / S 80 Splendore XP | 5200-5400 |
| Ariston LYDOS ECO 50 V 1.8K PL EU | 3800-4000 |
| Electrolux EWH 30 Royal H | 4100-4300 |
The price of water heaters with a wet heating element of various modifications in Russia:
| Name | Price, UAH. |
| ATLANTIC Vertigo O'Pro MP 080 F220-2E-BL | 17100-17600 |
| Zanussi ZWH / S 80 Splendore XP | 12400-13100 |
| Ariston LYDOS ECO 50 V 1.8K PL EU | 8500-8900 |
| lectrolux EWH 30 Royal H | 9100-9500 |
How to choose a water heater with a wet heating element - watch the video:
Water heaters with wet heating elements have been produced for many years, but so far they have not lost their popularity. Subject to all the rules of operation and timely maintenance, they can last a long time, so it is difficult to say unequivocally which ten is better, wet or dry.
