What is immersion heater and why you should consider them
An immersion heater is an electrically activated heating metal device or element dipped into any liquid to increase its temperature (or simply put, to heat it). These heating devices or components are placed inside a metal cylinder that contains the liquid, in this case, water. The element is inserted into the water, and an electric current is passed through it. The piece gets heated up and thus heats the water as well. With the evolution of technology, immersion heaters can now be connected to solar energy panels as well.
While most people use boilers to heat water, these immersion heaters were used as backups for smaller quantities of water required to be heated, like in individual bathrooms, as separate decentralised water heating solutions. One of the many advantages of the immersion heater system is that the cylinder in which the element is housed is quite well insulated. This keeps the water warm for a longer time, even after the electricity to the heater is switched off.
Many immersion heaters are now equipped with timers that work similarly to thermostats. These timers switch off the heater once the desired temperature has been attained. This feature helps save electricity. Another aspect you should never forget is that the price of immersion heater changes according to its type and capacity. There are different types of immersion heaters.
Side Immersion Heater
This type of immersion heater is typically made for spaces where standard immersion heaters cannot be fitted. In such cases, these are fixed from the top of the cylinder, with the heating part of the unit being at the side or at the bottom of the cylinder. There is generally no loss of energy, and heating is also seen to be evenly spread. Cleaning and servicing the cylinder and other parts of the system become more straightforward in this type of immersion heater since removing the tanks and heating elements becomes convenient.
Flanged Immersion Heater
Flanged immersion heaters are made up of tube-shaped heating elements welded like a flanged connection. There is also a provision of junction-type boxes for the electrical connections. These can be installed by bolting the flange and welding it to the cylinder. These types of heaters are generally applied in specific heating of water, oil, heat-transfer fluid or any corrosive solution. Relatively easy to install and service, these heaters can be used for varied applications and are an energy-efficient method.
Threaded Plug Immersion Heater
Like the flanged heaters, these heaters consist of bent tubular elements brazed into a screw plug and are directly screwed through a threaded opening in the wall of the cylinder or through the pipe coupling. A wide selection of plug sizes, ratings, voltages, materials, casings and thermostats makes them a good fit for different applications. Such types of heaters are well suited for process water heating and freeze protection with a high level of energy efficiency.
Sometimes also referred to as megaflow boilers, immersion heaters which are unvented systems, have found quite an application demand across households in the UK. Among many liked features, the switch-on switch-off mode of operation is the most opted for since it allows homeowners to control their hot water requirement on an as-and-when-needed basis. This and the fact that this heater becomes a backup for the larger boiler system makes it the most sought after option. However, one of the most significant plus points of this system is the timer. In places where the peak and non-peak tariff charges for energy consumption are applicable, homeowners can simply set the timer to switch on and off the heater in non-peak energy tariff hours to save on electricity charges. Plus, the heated water can stay hot for a longer duration due to the insulated tank.
In conclusion, it can be noted that immersion heaters have plenty of beneficial features like supplying hot water in times of need, being connected to solar panel systems to help you save money on your energy bills, and operating in homes without gas supply. With all the good features and benefits of the immersion heater systems, it is still advisable to get expert assistance and help when deciding on the size, capacity and type of heater required for your home application.
Sometimes the size, capacity, and flow criterion of immersion heaters become critical aspects and can impact the price, so ensure that selection is optimum and efficient for your application. Get your expert to assess for you.
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