Comparison Bosch Tronic TR 1000 4T vs Zanussi 3-logic 3.5 TS

The regular way to install a water heater.

The choice for this parameter depends primarily on how much free space is available for installing the device and what shape this space has. Therefore, when there is a lot of space (for example, the user has an entire wall in the boiler room of a private house at his disposal), this parameter can be ignored. But in cramped conditions, each installation method will have its nuances.

— Vertical. Vertical arrangement devices, elongated in height. This option is well suited for narrow cramped spaces — for example, a bathroom in a small city apartment.

— Horizontal. The horizontal layout is less suitable for tight spaces than the vertical one but in some conditions, it may be optimal — for example, if the place under the device looks like a low horizontal niche. Also, note that many instant water heaters are produced in this design (see "Type") — they do not take up much space, and horizontal orientation is considered optimal for such devices for several reasons.

— Floor. Floorstanding models (as opposed to all of the wall mount options described above). The main advantage of such an installation is simplicity: there is no need to drill walls and prepare other special fasteners; it is enough to have free space on the floor. In addition, weight restrictions are not so critical for floor water h...eaters, and this method can be used even for the most powerful, capacious and, accordingly, large models. On the other hand, free space on the floor is not always available, and this installation method is not suitable for cramped conditions.

— Universal (wall mounted). Devices that can be placed in any position — both horizontal and vertical (see above for details). The advantage of this option is obvious: the user can choose the installation method of his choice, depending on the situation.

This parameter characterizes the efficiency of electricity consumption by the water heater. Classes are indicated by latin letters from A to G (A, B, C, D), where A is the most energy efficient device.

The number of heating modes provided in the device.

This parameter is specified only for models with several heating modes. We emphasize that you should not confuse such functionality with temperature control (see "Features"). The heating mode is the general format of the device; these formats differ primarily in such parameters as the actual heating power, the number (and in combined models, and types) of the heating elements involved, etc. The thermostat, if it is in the design, allows you to change the temperature within a specific mode.

In general, the presence of several heating modes expands the functionality of the water heater but affects its cost. Of course, the specific features of these modes do not hurt to clarify in advance before buying.

The highest water temperature provided by the device. The standard temperature of hot water in the water supply is 60 °C, and this value is actually the minimum for modern water heaters: models with more modest rates (usually from 40 °C) are extremely rare. But higher values can be found much more often: for example, water heaters of 75 °C and 80 °C are very popular, and in the most powerful models in this regard, the temperature can reach 95 °C and even higher.

On the one hand, strong heating requires appropriate power (which is especially noticeable in the case of instant electric heaters). On the other hand, the higher the temperature of hot water, the less it is needed for a comfortable outlet temperature, after mixing with cold water; this reduces the consumption of heated water, which is especially important for storage boilers. In addition, many models have thermostats (see "Features").

Also, note that heating to operating values may involve different ΔT (degree of temperature change) — depending on the initial temperature of the cold water. The actual performance of the heater directly depends on ΔT; this moment is described in more detail below, in the paragraphs devoted to performance at different ΔT.

Water heater performance when heating water by approximately 25 °C above the initial temperature.

Performance is the maximum amount of hot water the unit can produce in a minute. It depends not only on the power of the heater as such, but also on how much water needs to be heated: the higher the temperature difference ΔT between cold and heated water, the more energy is required for heating and the smaller the volume of water with which the unit can handle in this mode. Therefore, the performance of water heaters must be indicated for specific options ΔT — namely 25 °C, 40 °C and/or 50 °C. And it is worth choosing according to this indicator taking into account the real needs for hot water: exactly how much and what temperature is needed for a particular situation. Methods of such calculations can be found in special sources.

Recall that water begins to be felt by a person as warm somewhere from 40 °C, as hot — somewhere from 50 °C, and the temperature of hot water in central water supply systems (according to official standards) is at least 60 °C. Thus, at Δt~25°C, for heating to at least the same 40°C, the initial water temperature must be at least 15°C (15+25=40°C). This is a rather high value — for example, in a centralized water supply system, cold water reaches 15 °C, except in summer, when the water pipes warm up noticeably; the same applies to water supplied from wells. So in the “Δt ~ 25 °C” mode, modern water heaters work quite rarely — eithe...r if the initial water temperature is high enough, or if it does not need to be heated much. Most often, the degree of heating is much higher, and the performance is lower. Nevertheless, data for a given degree of heating is still often given in the characteristics — including for advertising purposes, since with a low ΔT, the performance figures are quite impressive. In addition, this information can be useful in fact — for the situations mentioned above, when heating by 25 °C is quite enough.

— With pressure. Such water heaters are designed for a constant pressure of about 6 atmospheres, due to which they can be connected directly to the water supply and attached to several water points (for example, a washbasin, a shower in the bathroom and a kitchen sink). Note that, by definition, all water heaters are designed for this format of work, that is, storage models (see "Type"), as well as the vast majority of instant water heaters.

— Without pressure. Such water heaters do not imply a direct connection to the water supply and constant operation under high pressure. The non-pressure principle of operation is found exclusively in instant water models; such devices can be divided into two main categories. The first is separately made heaters that are connected to the water supply through a tap or other similar device; so to supply water to the heater, you must first open the tap. The second option is models that themselves are made in the form of water taps (see "Water heater type"). Anyway, non-pressure devices cannot serve more than one draw-off point.

Among the functions of the water heater there are thermostat, water flow regulator, Smart (auto mode), programmer, display and control via the Internet. More about each of them

— Thermostat. A device that allows you to control the temperature of the water at the outlet of the heater. In storage models (see "Type"), the thermostat sets the maximum temperature for heating water in the tank; in instant devices, this function is carried out by changing the intensity of heating.

— Automatic water flow regulator. It is used in instant water heaters. Since the water in such devices heats up in the process of its movement through the heater, the higher the speed of water movement (the greater the pressure), the lower the heating temperature, and if the pressure is too high, the power of the device may simply not be enough for effective heating. The use of an automatic water flow regulator avoids this — this system regulates the speed of water movement through the heater, limiting it if necessary.

— Smart (auto mode). A special “smart” mode in which the boiler is controlled (primarily the intensity of heating) automatically. Specific features of this mode may vary depending on the model. However, the following format of operation is most common: during...the first week of use, the device remembers at what time of the day the hot water was used, and then the heater’s operating mode adjusts to this data. Thus, the water heater provides the user with hot water at the right time and, at the same time, does not waste energy on heating during hours when heating is not needed.

— Programmer. The presence of a programmable thermostat — a device that allows not only to maintain the temperature but also to programme the operation of the device for a certain period. The simplest programmers work like a timer, turning on at the right time (vacation or holiday mode, when the device is not active for several days, and when the family returns to the house, it will turn on and heat the water). More advanced ones allow you to set the mode of operation for individual days. Either way, this feature provides added convenience and eliminates the need to constantly adjust the operation of the device manually. On the other hand, the presence of a programmer affects the cost.

— Display. Usually, a simple LCD screen with a few characters is used as a display. However, even such equipment significantly increases the convenience and information content of management. Various service data can be shown on the display — from the temperature of the water in the tank to messages about malfunctions and failures. This feature slightly increases the cost of the device, but compared to the total cost of the heater, this moment is usually insignificant.

— Control via the Internet. The specific nuances of such control may vary: for example, some models use a special application installed on a smartphone or tablet, while others can work through a regular browser from any computer. However, this function allows you to control the heater from almost anywhere in the world — provided that there is access to the Internet. In addition, with this control, the user can also monitor the status of the device and receive various notifications (on and off, about the temperature of the water in the tank, about various problems, etc.).

- Mechanical. Manual control using rotary knobs and mechanical buttons. Models with mechanical controls are inexpensive, but the control capabilities themselves are quite limited and, as a rule, include only basic functions.

- Electronic. This control is carried out using an electronic unit. Electronically controlled heaters, as a rule, have a wider range of functions than their “mechanical” counterparts; they can be programmed and equipped with a display to indicate various parameters. On the other hand, with all other characteristics being equal, such heaters are much more expensive.

Location of heater controls. It is worth choosing by this parameter, taking into account where it is planned to install the device and from which side access to it will be most convenient. For example, when installed in cramped conditions, the water heater can only be opened from the side or the bottom; for such cases, it is worth looking for a model with the appropriate location of the controls.