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Published: 09.01.
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The use of electricity as the primary source of energy for heating a country cottage is interesting in many ways: easy accessibility, general prevalence, environmental safety.
At the same time, very high costs for electrical energy are considered a key obstacle to the use of electric boilers.
Nevertheless, there are options to bring high costs to the norm, if you understand what factors determine the consumption of electricity for heating, be able to calculate how much an electric boiler consumes and know the real ways to reduce heat losses.
- 1 What determines the power consumption
- 2 Calculation of electricity consumption by the boiler per day and per month 2.1 Consumption based on m2 of house area
Heating by electric boiler
In many cases, preference is given to electric boilers. They have the highest performance, they are able to heat both cottages with large areas and small houses of owners. It is important that low-power electric boilers do not require coordination with the structures of Energonadzor.
Having determined how much energy an electric boiler consumes at the peak of power consumption, it is necessary to contact local authorities to ensure coverage of the corresponding network loads. If necessary, a connection to a three-phase network and installation of a device for metering electricity consumption in various tariff grids is carried out.
Factors affecting energy consumption
Experts say that small-sized electric boilers are preferable to choose for heating houses or small industrial premises.
For large rooms, boilers of higher power are used. Regardless of the modification of the boiler, to calculate the consumption, the heat losses of a particular room must also be taken into account.
The calculation takes into account the following room parameters:
- Ceiling height.
- The total area of the premises.
- Number of windows.
- Floor material.
- Wall material.
In addition, it is necessary to take into account the planned duration of the operation of the heating equipment and the required temperature regime.
Taking these indicators into account, the inertial heating system has proven itself quite well, which can work periodically at a given time interval.
Determine how much electricity an electric boiler consumes
It is impossible to choose the right heating device without a series of calculations and a clear definition of the functional purpose of the boiler. First you need to find out how many circuits the water heating unit requires. It will be used only for space heating or also used for preparing hot water in the second circuit (DHW). These data will help determine how much an electric heating boiler consumes per month.
After confirming the choice: a single-circuit or double-circuit boiler is necessary for the house, proceed to fixing the following parameters:
- area of heated rooms;
- voltage available to power the boiler;
- the volume of the coolant in the heating circuit;
- the duration of the operating season;
- the mode of stay of residents in the house;
- working hours at maximum load (peak hours of comfortable stay of residents);
- operating time during the heating season;
- performance and efficiency.
Directly for the calculations, the average temperatures for a particular region are taken during the winter, corrections are made for the insulation of the house, for the thermal conductivity of the building materials from which the building is made, as well as the type of thermal insulation used to exclude heat loss through the ceilings.
Example
To recalculate the specified parameters of an electrical device from kW to W, it is necessary to clarify the information from the marking applied to the product body, or obtain data from the equipment passport developed by the manufacturer and included in the product package.
If it is established that the power indicators of the electric kettle are 2.2 kW, this means that in watts this value will be 2.2 x 1000 = 2200 W.
In some situations, it is required to determine the value of the total power characteristics of household consuming devices. Such a need may arise in the following cases:
- to select a sufficient cable diameter when installing electrical wiring;
- when choosing safety devices that open the network in case of exceeding the parameters of permissible values;
- to ensure the correct layout of the household equipment in the house and the appropriate wiring.
The calculation is performed by summing the above indicators for each of the devices. After that, the obtained value is compared with the value indicated as a reference in the characteristics of the cable or safety devices, and is taken into account when the equipment is located.
In order for the calculation to be correct, all values must first be converted into common units of measurement from watts to kilowatts or vice versa, using the method described earlier.
Some details in examples
It is also necessary to take into account the cross-section of the cable, especially if high-power electric boilers are connected. The area of sections of current-carrying conductors for single-phase units is determined by an elementary formula, which is perceived as an axiom. Section in sq. mm should not be less than the rated power, which characterizes the performance and consumption of the electric boiler and expressed in kW. With a three-phase power supply, the calculation is more complicated and it is important not to forget that the consumption of electricity by an electric boiler over 10 kW requires the issuance of permits for the selection of this load from the electrical network.
In all the variety of heating devices, only the efficiency of an electric boiler approaches 100% and this indicator is maintained in various operating modes. It is possible to avoid negative changes and even keep it at a constant level by timely servicing the heating elements installed in the electric boiler, the consumption of electricity and at the same time increasing the service life of the heating unit (about
How can you reduce your electricity consumption?
In the winter season, not only the temperature regime is relevant, but also the readings of the electric meter.
So, to save a certain amount of electricity today, there are specialized electronic devices.
Devices for reducing energy consumption:
- Control device.
- Room thermostat.
- Programmable sensor.
They are able to increase or decrease the intensity of heating the coolant, while it is possible to choose the optimal temperature regime.
Device advantages
This system has many advantages. The main one is associated with the low cost of the device itself, therefore, initially it is an affordable option for a system for heating a house. In addition, it is important to note the easy and simple connection method. To carry it out, there is no need to seek help from specialists. Everyone can cope with this task independently. As a result, the heating system will be connected and launched without additional financial costs.
It is also worth noting the absence of expenses for delivering fuel, for example, such as firewood, diesel and others. In this case, electricity is used. It is carried out to every house. System startup and shutdown is quite fast. There is no need to wait for it to start working. Thus, it saves you time. The house will immediately become warm and cozy.
During operation, the system does not require any special maintenance. Also, its maintenance is not carried out, which also requires money. If we talk about other boilers, then ash removal, cleaning and so on are periodically carried out in them.
As you can see, this device has a lot of advantages. But here the question arises, how much does an electric heating boiler consume per month. After all, it is not enough just to install it, then it is necessary to apply it. Is it profitable to do this, let's analyze further.
Do I need electricity at all for a gas boiler
There are non-volatile and volatile gas heating boilers. Non-volatile - these are, as a rule, outdoor atmospheric models that do not require an electrical connection. Ignition in them is done mechanically (manually), and the combustion process, the operation of simple automation and damping occurs due to a small current generated when the thermocouple is heated. Accordingly, such boilers do not need to be connected to the mains.
Volatile models require a mandatory connection to the mains through a regular outlet: voltage - 220 V, frequency - 50 Hz. These are floor-standing and, most often, wall-mounted boilers with a closed combustion chamber. For the operation of their modules (complex automation with digital displays, automatic electric ignition, turbocharging, etc.), a small current generated by a thermocouple is not enough. It is about such volatile models that will be further. Information about the boiler volatility is also necessarily indicated in the technical specifications.
Features of the device
How much electricity electric boilers consume is of interest to each owner of this device. No wonder. After all, it is not established for a year or two, but for the whole life. It is important to determine the financial costs that will be during his work.
This device has its own characteristics. It is a powerful technical device. The amount of energy consumed depends on the volume of the house or apartment. This figure is in the range of 12-30 kW. But it is worth noting that peak loads on the system are possible. In this case, energy consumption will increase.
As practice shows, the fuel consumption for a given device is not affected by the device itself, but by how its installation is performed. Moreover, the features of your electrical network are important, since it will certainly affect the operation of the system.
Only after you have clarified these features, you need to choose a device, since each of them is designed for a specific voltage. If we talk about imported boilers, then this indicator should be at least 220 V. At 200 V, it is better to refuse their use. Also consider what the quota is for one house. If it is low, then first calculate how much electricity the boiler consumes. Otherwise, there may be problems with neighbors.
What is the power of the heater
What is the power consumption of a gas boiler and a unit that uses electricity? The power of the device is usually determined based on the quadrature. For example, if the total area of the house is 80 sq. m, then the device must have a power of at least 11 kW; for an area of 160 sq. m - with a capacity of 24 kW.
In total, when choosing a unit, the power reserve must be at least 30%.
If we compare gas boilers and electric heating appliances, then the cost of installing a boiler is much higher than that of an electric heater.
How much electricity does a gas boiler consume? It has an energy cost advantage. Otherwise, the electrical appliance has more advantages. If you compare the equipment itself, an electric boiler is cheaper. In addition, a chimney is required for a gas device.
Installing an electrical appliance costs much less than the total cost of installing a boiler. Also, its advantage is that the design of the electric heater is simpler and more economical.
It does not need the constant maintenance required for a gas appliance. In addition, it should be noted that if the gas is located at some distance from the house, the supply of the gas main can cost more than the cost of the heater itself.
What needs to be considered?
The first step in installing a system is designing it. It is quite important and will allow you to determine how many kW an electric boiler consumes. It is mandatory.
In addition, you will need to take into account some important points, such as the boiler power, which will be most suitable for a given home. Also, the number of circuits, the volume of the boiler, the amount of heat carriers. The area of the house, which the system will heat, is also important. How long will the device be used in working order? This is determined by the season of the year.
As practice shows, the heat map of the house also contains a lot of useful information. Therefore, it is worth familiarizing yourself with it before designing. It contains the features of the building structure, information about what materials were used.
The cost of electricity in the kitchen
If you do not have gas, then you will have to cook food on electricity. Modern electric cookers are highly efficient, but they also consume 5 to 7 kilowatts of electricity per hour at full capacity.
The approximate cost of cooking with electricity will be from 300 to 500 rubles per month, regardless of the area of your home.
Electricity costs per month
Based on the data given above, it is possible to pre-calculate how much energy an electric boiler consumes. The actual values are also easy to obtain. At the same time, please note that these devices have maximum efficiency. Especially when compared with other boilers.
Let's determine for a room with a ceiling height of no more than three meters, how many kilowatts an electric boiler consumes. In this case, let's take approximately one kilowatt per ten squares. It is also worth using a correction factor. Its value depends on the location of the house. Or rather, its geographical area.
It is important to determine if the boiler is the main source of heat. If so, then the duration of its use is seven months. It can change depending on which region, what climatic conditions prevail in it.
With a standard calculation, it is worth adding a margin. It is ten percent. It is also worth considering the peculiarities of country houses. In them, the tension is fickle. With increased use, it decreases. This is especially true for the winter season.
Under these conditions, a boiler with a small capacity may be ineffective. His work will be of poor quality. As a result, the desired result will not be achieved. But a boiler that is too powerful is not the best option. Since it will require large financial costs, which is also not very profitable.
How to calculate for a month?
The calculation of the amount of energy that the boiler consumes is carried out as follows. It is necessary to take the area of the house and divide it by ten. The resulting value is multiplied by the number of hours that the boiler has been running continuously.
If we are talking about the value for a month, then you can get the average value. To do this, you need to know the power of the unit. Multiply it by the total number of hours the device has been in continuous operation. Then divide the resulting number by two.
Heating a house with electricity today is a whole high-tech system that can be a significant alternative to traditional fuels. Electricity costs are only 50% higher than those for gas equipment. And if we compare electric boilers with solid fuel units, it becomes obvious that there is a significant benefit from such an installation.
Scheme 2: by characteristics of housing
An electric boiler does not always exactly match the needs of the house for thermal energy. Often, its power is selected with a margin. Here are some examples of such scenarios:
- A double-circuit device provides the house with hot water;
The power of the double-circuit boiler is excessive, since it must provide the house with hot water. Including during the heating season.
- It is planned to add additional rooms to the house with the connection of heating devices in them to the existing circuit;
- The region is characterized by rare but severe frosts, and the heating system is designed with this in mind.
In the photo - winter Sevastopol. Even in warm regions, there are severe frosts. The heating system has to be designed with a safety margin.
If the boiler power is obviously excessive, you will have to focus not on it, but on the actual heat consumption by the house. Most accurately it can be calculated using the formula Q = V * Dt * k / 860.
We suggest that you familiarize yourself with What pressure should be in the accumulator and how to adjust it
The variables in this formula are from left to right:
- Power consumption (kW);
- The volume of the room to be heated. It is indicated in SI units - cubic meters;
The volume of a room is equal to the product of its three sizes.
- The difference between the internal temperature and the outside temperature;
- Insulation coefficient.
Where to get the last two parameters?
The delta of temperatures is taken equal to the difference between the sanitary standards for the room and the coldest five days of winter.
| Description | Temperature rate, С |
| Room in the center of the house, the lower winter temperature is above -31C | 18 |
| Room in the center of the house, the lower winter temperature is below -31C | 20 |
| Corner or end room, lower winter temperature above -31C | 20 |
| Corner or end room, lower winter temperature below -31C | 22 |
Sanitary temperature standards for non-residential rooms and common areas.
| City | Value, C |
| Khabarovsk | -29 |
| Surgut | -43 |
| Smolensk | -25 |
| St. Petersburg | -24 |
| Saratov | -25 |
| Petrozavodsk | -28 |
| Permian | -25 |
| Eagle | -25 |
| Omsk | -37 |
| Novosibirsk | -37 |
| Murmansk | -30 |
| Moscow | -25 |
| Magadan | -29 |
| Kemerovo | -39 |
| Kazan | -31 |
| Irkutsk | -33 |
| Yekaterinburg | -32 |
| Volgograd | -22 |
| Vladivostok | -23 |
| Vladimir | -28 |
| Verkhoyansk | -58 |
| Bryansk | -24 |
| Barnaul | -36 |
| Astrakhan | -21 |
| Arkhangelsk | -33 |
Distribution of winter temperatures over the territory of Russia.
The insulation coefficient can be selected from the following range of values:
- House with insulated facade and triple glazing - 0.6-0.9;
- Walls in two bricks without insulation and double glazing - 1-1.9;
- Brick walls and windows, glazed in one thread - 2 - 2.9.
Example
House size: 6x8x3 meters.
Climatic zone: Sevastopol, the Crimean peninsula (the temperature of the coldest five-day period is -11C).
Insulation: single glass, with high thermal conductivity, walls made of rubble stone with a thickness of half a meter.
A rubble house with single glazing requires intensive heating in winter.
We also went through the technique of further calculations:
- The boiler will consume an average of 5.5 * 24 = 132 kWh per day;
- It will consume 132 * 30 = 3960 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month.
Switching to a two-tariff meter will allow you to somewhat reduce heating costs.
If the average boiler output is known, it is not a problem to calculate how much the appliance consumes per month and for the whole winter.
Example
Let's, as an example, find out how much energy is needed for a boiler with a passport capacity of 12 kilowatts:
- Its average power is 12/2 = 6 kW;
- Consumption per day - 6 * 24 = 96 kilowatt-hours;
- Heating will consume 96 * 30 = 2880 kWh per month;
- Electricity consumption for the winter with a heating season duration of 180 days (from October 15 to April 15) will be 180 * 96 = 17280 kWh.
The duration of the heating season in your area can be found on this map. Heating turns on when the air temperature drops below 8 and turns off when heating above 8.
Now let's do one more calculation - find out how much the heating will cost. I am using the data for the one-part rate in Sevastopol as of January 2020:
- With a consumption of up to 150 kWh per month, a social tariff of 2.42 rubles is applied;
- In the range of 150 - 600 kilowatt-hours per month, the price increases to 2.96 rubles;
- Electricity in excess of 600 kWh per month costs kopecks.
Current electricity tariffs. Sevastopol, first half of 2020.
Of the monthly 2880 kWh, 150 will fall on a preferential tariff and will cost 150 * 2.42 = 363 rubles. The next 450 kWh is billed at 2.96: 450 * 2.96 = 1332. The remainder is 2880-600 = 2280 kWh at 5.40 rubles, or 12312 rubles.
Total 12312 1332 363 = 14007 rubles.
When using a single-rate meter, electric heating will cost a penny.
Switching to main gas will significantly reduce your heating costs at home.
Heating options in a private house using electricity
Various electrical equipment can be used to heat a private house. It can be roughly divided into several main groups. These include:
Important! When choosing a suitable option for electrical equipment for heating a house, you will need to perform an approximate calculation of the cost of electricity consumption
.
How to choose the most economical equipment?
As already noted, the cost of heating a house with electricity is significantly lower than the cost of operating solid fuel or liquid fuel boilers. And if we take into account the rapid growth in the cost of natural gas, it can be assumed that over time, the operation of electric boilers will become even more profitable. To calculate the approximate energy costs, several important factors must be taken into account:
As you can see, economical heating of a house with electricity is not just a myth. Heating an identical building with solid fuel will cost roughly 150,000 rubles. therefore, if there is no gasification in a settlement, the most economical alternative to “blue fuel” is electricity.
How can you reduce your energy bills?
There are several ways to reduce the costs associated with electricity consumption for the operation of heating equipment. These include:
- The choice of heating equipment. The heating element boilers have the lowest efficiency. When the heat carrier is heated, about 10% of the power is lost. Installation of electrode or induction equipment is more profitable.
- Installation of a multi-tariff meter. In this case, the cost of heating the house with electricity will decrease by about 15%. It will be more profitable to heat the room at night than during the day.
- Installation of boilers with several power modes. Such equipment consumes as much energy as possible to quickly heat the coolant, after which it switches to economy mode, maintaining the specified temperature in the room.
- Installation of thermostats and room temperature sensors. These devices give a shutdown signal after the air in the room heats up to a certain level. This is a more accurate method of temperature control, which allows some savings to be achieved.
Attention! Installation of an electric boiler does not require a large number of approvals and permits. It may be necessary to increase the limit of consumed electricity and conduct a separate branch at 380
V, for which you need to obtain a permit from Energonadzor
.
How to reduce costs
If you follow our recommendations in the domestic sphere, then you can save on using the boiler:
- Start by choosing your technique. The most economical is the condensing boiler. It saves up to 25% of fuel, and the efficiency reaches 100-110%. Of course, its cost is much higher, but, according to experts, it will quickly pay off. Pay attention to consumer reviews when buying.A double-circuit boiler uses 20-25% more heat energy. Therefore, if the room only needs heating, give preference to a single-circuit installation.
- Take care of wall insulation, install plastic double-glazed windows. Heat loss through the roof is easy to determine by the build-up of icicles. The more heat goes away, the more icicles. In this case, close the roof, use special materials for insulation.
- Choose modern automation technology. Manufacturers knowingly install sensors, thermostats and regulators. This system works as a single organism, automatically adjusting and adjusting the operation of the equipment to the conditions in the room. Timers and special modes allow you to maintain minimum values during holidays or weekends. And also you can select the "Winter - Summer" mode.
- Carry out routine maintenance once a year. Be sure to call a specialist for a technical inspection. Clean parts from blockages. Scale build-up on the heat exchanger increases the use of thermal energy. Remove soot and soot from the burner nozzles, clean the chimney promptly.
- Install a heat accumulator (TA). This buffer tank stores the coolant and retains heat for a long time (like a thermos). Even if the boiler is turned off, the TA will supply liquid to the radiators. The use of such a buffer saves 20-30% of fuel.
- Do not choose the maximum temperature. Set comfortable indicators, because against the background of average monthly consumption, even 1-2 degrees are important.
This is how the cost of heating the living space is calculated. If you are not sure about the accuracy of the calculations, consult a specialist. He will take into account all the nuances and help you with the selection of economical equipment.
Frame house 9.5 * 9.5 on USHP in Kolpino
The house was built in 2014, wall insulation 250mm, ecowool ceiling 400-500mm, ceiling height 2.7 m.
Heating: gas boiler, main gas. ECP on the 1st and 2nd floor; Home operation mode: Permanent residence. temperature is about 24-25, the window is always open in the bedroom; Average check for gas in winter: an average of 300 m3 / month. (about 2000 rubles), electricity about 500 kW / h (another 1500 rubles / month);
Tariff: 4.55 rubles per 1 kWh day, 2.62 night. Gas 5.9 rubles. for 1 m3. Thus, the monthly payment now for electricity and gas in winter is about 3.5 tr. Before gas, the coldest month for electricity was paid 11 tr (the tariff was lower, since then it has increased).
There are some photographs of the house here and here.
Frame house 8 * 12 on SVF in Olgino
The house was built in 2015-2016, wall insulation 200 mm., Floor overlap and roof 250 mm., Ceilings 2.7 m.
Heating: electric boiler 9 kW, VTP on both floors; Home operation mode: Permanent residence, 2 adults and 3 children, a dog and a cat, +25 on the first floor, + 22-23 on the second floor; Average check for heating in winter: 9000-11500 rubles / month (total electricity bill including heating);
Minimum bill for electricity: 2600 rubles / month. (total electricity bill for July 2017). City rate: day 4.55, night 2.62 rubles. for 1 kW / h.
Additionally, on the same electricity - a 100l boiler, PMM, washing machine, induction cooker, kettle, borehole pump. The ventilation is not yet complete, the exhaust fan periodically turns on, the inflow is natural + valves on the windows. Probably, up to 9 thousand rubles go purely for heating based on the minimum summer costs.
Total electricity costs by month:
- February 2020 - 11.6 thousand rubles. (average monthly t -8.3, short month);
- January 2020 - 11 (average monthly temp. -3.9);
- December 2020 - 9.3 (average monthly temp. -0.9);
- November 2020 - 9.3 (average monthly temp. 1.03);
- October 2020 - 9.2;
- September 2020 - 4.8;
- August 2020 - 3.6;
- July 2020 - 2.6;
- June 2020 - 4.1;
- May 2020 - 4.9;
- April 2020 - 7.3;
- March 2020 - 8.7;
- February 2020 - 8;
- January 2020 - 11.4 (average monthly temp. -4.96).
There are some details about this house under the tag "frame in Olgino".
