It is not possible to install main gas everywhere, but electricity is available everywhere (almost). How and with what devices you can make electric heating of a private house, what are the advantages and disadvantages of each method - more on all this below.
Heating with electricity can be done in several ways. First of all, you should decide on the type of system you want to implement. It will be traditional water heating, air or heated floor. All three systems can be used as a single heating method, or combined - any two or even all three. To decide, you need to imagine the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.
Water heating with electric boiler
Let's start with the advantages. The most stable system, which, due to inertia, continues to maintain the temperature for some time after the boiler has stopped working. During operation, it minimally dries the air and operates almost silently. High maintainability. If you do not hide heating pipes in the walls, they are always available for repair and replacement.
The disadvantages are as follows. A complex system of pipes and radiators requires a lot of time and money at the installation stage. Due to inertia, it is impossible to quickly change the temperature - it will not be possible to quickly heat the room. When the system is stopped in winter time it may collapse - if the water freezes in the pipes, they will burst. For serious repairs, a complete shutdown and draining of the coolant is required.
Air heating using electric heaters
Heating of this type is quickly installed. All you need to do is buy heaters, hang them up and plug them into the network. The air begins to heat up immediately after switching on. When the system freezes, it remains operational - there is nothing to freeze. The heating elements are not connected to each other. The failure of one does not in any way affect the performance of the others. It can be easily repaired.
Hang the heaters - that's all you need
Flaws air heating such. The first is that when the heaters are turned off, the temperature drops quickly. To provide permanent job A backup power supply system is required. The second is that due to direct contact with the heating elements, the air dries out; measures/devices are needed to humidify the air. Third, many air heaters have built-in fans, which improve efficiency, but they are noisy.
Warm floor with electric elements
Electric underfloor heating is the youngest heating system. Of all those described above, it gives the most comfortable conditions— the highest temperature is obtained at the level of the feet, and in the area of the head it is average. Also, this system is inert - it takes a significant period of time for the floor mass to heat up/cool down. For this reason, after turning off, the temperature remains for some time. The complexity of installation depends on the type of electric heated floor. There are systems that require screeds (electric heating cables and mats), there are those that are mounted on a flat, rigid base without wet work (film heated floors) and can be used to heat laminate, linoleum, etc.
Electric heating of a private house using heated floors also has disadvantages. The first is average or low maintainability. There is no direct access to the heating system. I have to disassemble/break the floor. Secondly, the time and effort required to install electric underfloor heating cannot be called low. Systems that require a screed take about a month to install (while the screed is “ripening” you cannot use it); a heated floor for “dry” installation can be assembled in a day, but the cost of the heating elements is quite high.
What type of electric heating is the best?
As you can see, it’s impossible to say which type of electric heating is the best in a house. There is no ideal. It is necessary to proceed from the operating conditions:
The above is based on the majority's choice. This does not mean that you cannot be in the house with permanent residence make air electric heating of a private house. They can, and they do. You just need to clearly understand the advantages and disadvantages.
Electric boilers for water heating
One of the key positions when installing water heating at home is the boiler. Electric boilers there are three types:
They all heat water using electricity, but use different processes and technologies. Each type has advantages and disadvantages, which we will discuss in more detail.
Electric boilers heating elements
The working element in these heating boilers is a tubular electrical heater, abbreviated as heating element. It is made of a material that generates heat when passed through it electric current. This element is enclosed in an electrically insulating tube, the space between heating element and the tube is filled with sand - for more efficient heat transfer from the heating coil to the body. The water in the boiler flows around the heating element, heating up from its walls.
As is clear from the description, an electric boiler of this type does not have very high efficiency - there are too many losses during heat transfer. But boilers with heating elements are popular due to the fact that they have a relatively low cost and the heating elements are easily replaced. Another disadvantage of this type of boilers is their large dimensions - you need a container for heating water,
In order for electric heating of a private house based on a boiler with heating elements to be economical, it must have the following functions:
Such models are expensive, but heating bills come lower, since at any given time as many heaters are working as needed to maintain the desired temperature. This is how savings are achieved.
There is one more point: the system must be closed. The fact is that when water is heated, limescale, significantly reducing the efficiency of water heating. In a closed type system, a certain amount of water circulates and there is simply nowhere to “achieve” the raid. If the system is planned to be open, it will have to use water with a minimum amount of salts. Ideally, distilled.
Induction electric boilers
It has long been noted that an object entering a magnetic field heats up. The operation of induction heating boilers is based on this phenomenon. It is essentially a large induction coil through which current is passed. Water flows through the induction field, heats up, and enters the system.
Advantages of an induction boiler:
One of the disadvantages of these boilers is their higher price (compared to heating element boilers of similar power). The second disadvantage is that you need to monitor the coolant level in the system. There is no way to control it automatically, so constant checks are required. If it is not enough, the coil will overheat. If this state of affairs continues for some time, the housing may even melt. This is one of the important points.
Otherwise, the reliability of this boiler is high - there is nothing to burn out, since the conductor through which the current flows heats up slightly. After all, heat formation occurs in a liquid.
Electrode heating boilers
These electric heating boilers use the phenomenon of electrolysis. When ions move towards an electrode with a corresponding charge, heat is released. An alternating voltage Hz is supplied to the electrodes in this heating boiler. So the polarity of the electrodes changes 50 times per second. As a result, the movement of ions accompanied by the release of heat does not stop and the heat spreads throughout the heating system.
Advantages of electrode boilers:
- The coolant is heated “from the inside”, at the same time the entire volume of liquid inside the boiler is heated. So the energy efficiency of such equipment is high, less time is needed to reach the set temperature. This leads to reduced heating costs. This is what the manufacturers say, and this is confirmed by the owners of these boilers.
- Small sizes.
- Lack of coolant is not a problem. The equipment simply won't work. Add water to the system and everything will work.
- Low cost.
- Easy installation.
These are all the real advantages of electrode heating boilers. The main advantage is that this equipment can be left to work unattended.
Disadvantages of this heating equipment:
The described disadvantages can rather be attributed to the features of operation. In general, electric heating of a private house with an electrode boiler suits many people. All that is necessary is to properly prepare the water (add salt) or fill in a special coolant.
A few words about the cost of electric boilers
If you look at the prices for electric heating boilers, then heating elements actually have a higher price tag, and electrode or induction ones have a significantly lower price tag. But don't delude yourself. In reality the difference will not be so striking.
Under the casing of the heating element boiler, in addition to the container for heating water and heating elements, there is also circulation pump, temperature sensor, control device and expansion tank. That is, you don’t need to buy anything additional.
The price tag for an electrode and induction boiler is only the boiler itself, sometimes complete with a control unit, and even then not always. Sometimes controls need to be purchased separately. All other parts of the system that water electric heating of a private house requires - an expansion tank, a circulation pump, sensors - all these devices will have to be purchased separately. That's for sure. Perhaps the amount spent as a result will be less than the cost of a heating element boiler, but the difference will clearly not be as big as it seems at first glance. And this must be remembered.
Heating a home using electric heaters
Electric heating of a private house can be done using electric heaters. It can be done based on:
What is most attractive about the idea of electric air heating for a private home is the lack of need to build a complex and expensive system. All you need is sockets and sufficient dedicated power to power the home. The heating itself can be organized using a variety of devices.
Air convectors
According to the installation method they are:
An air convector of any type has a similar structure: there is a heating element (heating element) with fins - for better heat transfer. The required temperature is set on the thermostat, which turns the heater on/off as needed. For better air circulation, the housing has holes. The lower ones are for the entry of cold air, the upper ones are for the exit of heated air. In this case, circulation occurs naturally, but the air moves slowly in this case, also slowly spreading heat. For a more active temperature increase, some models have built-in fans that speed up the process.
Three types - wall, ceiling, floor - require virtually no installation. For wall ones you need two hooks screwed into the wall, for ceiling ones they are fastened with dowels or self-tapping screws to the ceiling, for floor ones - with the same fasteners, but to the floor. But with the other two types - baseboard and in-floor - the situation is different.
As the name implies, baseboards are installed instead of skirting boards and have a corresponding appearance. The difference from heating with conventional convectors is that the air exits near the wall, gradually heating it. Once heated, it begins to work like a large radiator, maintaining the temperature in the room for some time after the convector is turned off. The disadvantage is that until the wall(s) heat up, the air heats up very slowly. So, electric heating of a private house using baseboard convectors is suitable for permanent residence.
Skirting convectors - an inconspicuous method of electric heating
Convectors built into the floor have a different difference. They work like regular convectors, but are built into the floor. They have a depth of at least 10 cm (these are the “smallest”), so their installation is possible only at the repair stage. Moreover, the floor usually has to be raised. But this is the most inconspicuous heating method. It is indispensable if you need to heat a French window or solid glazing.
Oil heaters
Electric heating of a private house using oil heaters is not done so often. They are more used as a remedy in case of abnormal cold weather. Although they do their job well, fewer convectors dry the air. The heating element is the same heating element, it is inserted into a container filled with oil. Due to its energy intensity, it stores a small amount of heat and only then begins to radiate it. The walls of these heaters emit heat that is more pleasant for humans. It is more like heat from heated earth or a furnace.
The disadvantage of oil heaters is that it takes a significant amount of time for the oil to heat up. That is, due to their inertia, they can only be used on a long-term basis - in houses with permanent residence. At dachas - only for the duration of long visits, since they are not able to quickly heat the room.
Oil heaters are often produced on wheels - this is a mobile “emergency” option. There are wall-mounted models. Here they can be used for heating in the house.
Ceramic heating panels
In ceramic heating panels, the heating element is located close to the glass-ceramic front panel. This panel heats up to 80-90°C, after which it begins to emit heat in the infrared range. This is exactly the heat that the sun emits.
Like any heating element, this one “works” in two directions and heats the opposite side. To reduce heating losses back side, a screen is installed between the back panel and the heating element, reflecting part of the heat towards the ceramics. This increases heating efficiency.
When calculating conventional heaters (except infrared), take 1 kW of electric heater power per 10 square meters area. But if it is decided to use ceramic heating panels for electric heating of a private house, it is recommended to calculate 0.5 kW for the same area. And a video review of the operation of such a panel confirms the validity of this approach. But, in order to prevent the heater from working at its limit in cold weather, it is better to consider 0.6 kW per square. And that’s provided that you have “standard” ceilings.
Infrared emitters
Another way to organize electric heating of a private home is to use infrared heaters. Their main difference is that it is not the air that is heated, but the objects that fall within the range of infrared waves. They are already heating up the air. That is, this heating method is identical to how the sun “works” - first the earth is heated, and from it the air.
One of the options for heating a private house with electricity is the use of infrared heaters
This method turns out to be the most effective. In any case, a person in a room heated by such devices says that he feels warmer at more low temperatures. The difference is 3-4°C. That is, this heating method allows you to waste less electricity. And one more positive point— heated objects (and these are walls and ceilings too) accumulate heat, and then maintain the temperature after the heaters are turned off.
The disadvantage of this heating method is the influence of a nearby powerful source of infrared radiation. Some doctors suggest the presence of negative aspects. But, so far, there are no proven facts.
– starting from solid fuel boilers for home heating and ending with heat pumps. Most homeowners believe that heating a house with a gas boiler is beneficial, but FORUMHOUSE users know that under certain conditions this is far from the most optimal solution.
Due to the constant rise in energy prices and the high cost of connection, many developers are concerned about the following issues.
- Is there an alternative to main gas;
- What features may different heating systems have?
- How to calculate the price of a particular type of fuel;
- Is it profitable to use solid fuel heating systems?
- How to heat your house with electricity and not go broke;
- Can a home heat pump replace traditional heating systems.
And experts and users of our forum will help you find answers to these questions!
Basic criteria for choosing a heating system
Construction experience suggests that autonomous heating of a private house is selected taking into account many factors: the degree of availability of a particular type of fuel, expected monthly heating costs, climatic conditions of residence and heat loss of the building.
Heating a house in a temperate climate is one task, and completely different requirements are placed on the heating system in regions with an even colder climate than in Moscow and a heating season of many months.
Efficiency heating system home depends not onlyon the thermal characteristics of the fuel and the efficiency of the boiler, but also on design features home and the degree of its heat loss.
A poorly insulated home will negate the work of the most highly efficient heating system!
Therefore, the choice of heating system and boiler equipment must begin at the design stage of your future home. Any experienced developer will agree with the statement that there are no trifles here, and any mistake or defect can lead to expensive alterations.
First of all, let's look at .
Alexander KhadynskyHead of heating systems at the company "My Fireplace"
The choice of heating system, first of all, depends on what communications are connected to the house. If the main gas is already connected, then the choice of fuel usually ends there, because on at the moment heating the house using main gas recognized as the best solution.
It is also worth considering the ease of operation of the heating system for different modes of residence: daily, weekend, one-time visits. Only after weighing all the pros and cons can you choose the best option.
In the absence of main gas, it is possible to heat a house using a so-called gas holder - a sealed container buried on the site and requiring periodic refueling.
The advantages of liquefied gas, as well as main gas, are clean exhaust, the ability to install compact chimneys and small boilers for heating the home.
With all its advantages, this system autonomous heating home has a number of disadvantages.
Anatoly Gurin General Director of the company "DoM" engineering systems"
The main disadvantages of a gas tank include: expensive installation, inconvenient refueling, obtaining permits, and the need for periodic maintenance by highly qualified personnel. In addition, the gas tank takes up a lot of space on the site.
Igor Larin Head of department " Boiler equipment» WIRBEL
The choice of fuel, and therefore boiler equipment, depends on the degree of its availability in a particular region. If the house has mains natural gas, then the choice is obvious in its favor; if not, then it is necessary to evaluate the cost and availability of other types of heating fuel in the area, and install the equipment based on this.
How to replace gas
The advantages of gas are well known, but all of them are greatly reduced at a high price according to his summation. Let's consider the alternatives.
Liquid fuel
Diesel heating – requires the installation of expensive and complex equipment.
It is necessary to find a place to install a container for fuel. Diesel fuel has a peculiar and not pleasant smell for everyone. Also, due to the constant rise in prices for hydrocarbon fuels, heating with diesel fuel is one of the most expensive ways heating the house. Among the main advantages for this type of home heating are the high degree of automation of the boiler operation and the ubiquity of diesel fuel.
Electricity
Electric boilers are easy to use, environmentally friendly, safe and silent.
Alexander Khadynsky
However, with low initial costs for the purchase of equipment, heating with electricity is very expensive, and in the event of power outages, you can be left without heating or without hot water. Also, an electric boiler for heating a house will need to be installed with separate wiring, and if its power exceeds 9 kW - three-phase network at 380 V.
In addition to electric boilers, there are heating devices such as electric convectors and infrared emitters.
The advantages of heating with electric convectors and infrared emitters include minimal initial costs and ease of installation of the equipment. You do not have to arrange a boiler room or install heating pipes. It would seem that you took the device out of the box, plugged it in and use it. But, as practice shows, not everything is so simple.
Oleg Dunaev Civil Engineer
A well-insulated house can be successfully heated electric convector only if there is sufficient electrical power.
- high efficiency equipment;
- ease of installation;
- presentable appearance;
- safety of use;
- Possibility of programming energy-saving modes.
The disadvantages include:
- additional costs for high-quality wiring;
- increased requirements for the quality of power supply elements.
Unlike an electric boiler, installing a convector or any model of IR emitter does not require the laying of pipes and the presence of coolant, as a result, ineffective energy costs for heating water (coolant), the boiler and pipes are reduced, and heat loss is reduced.
Here are the main criteria for choosing such a heating system.
Oleg Dunaev
:
– We choose this: the power of one convector is up to 1.5 kW (more - the plugs melt and the relay contacts burn out).
The programmer has its own power supply (the settings are saved when the power is turned off). For 10 sq.m. area requires approximately 1 kW of convector power.
Electricity – 380V, 3 phases, permitted power – minimum 15 kW. Wiring cross-section – 3x2.5 sq. mm. We lay dedicated converter lines and connect no more than three convectors per line.
It is best to hang a wall-mounted electric convector under a window about 15 cm from the floor.
Electric heating is one of the most expensive ways to heat a home. It would seem that cheap heating with electricity is a myth. However, a user of our forum Alexander Fedortsov(nickname on the forum Skeptic ) using his own example refutes this statement.
Skeptic Forumhouse user
I independently built a well-insulated frame house on a USHP foundation. First, according to the project for heating a house with an area of 186 sq.m. a solid fuel boiler was assumed. After thinking a little, I decided that I didn’t want to become a fireman at all, but rather use the night tariff and heat water in a reliable homemade heat accumulator with a volume of 1.7 cubic meters.
Water heated overnight by electric heating elements to 50 C, allows you to successfully heat a house in the winter months with a water heated floor system. You can monitor the temperature using a homemade regulator.
Alexander Fedortsov
I placed the floor heating unit in the boiler room on a sheet of 35-density foam plastic with a thickness of 10 cm. The heat accumulator is well insulated - 20 cm stone wool on the lid of the tank, on the walls - 15 cm. I can say that heating costs for December amounted to 1.5 thousand rubles. In January, they earned no more than 2 thousand rubles.T
Solid fuel
Firewood, coal, fuel briquettes.
Alexander Khadynsky
A solid fuel boiler (coal, wood) requires constant attention, practically turning its owner into a fireman. Such structures can be used in places where neither gas nor electricity are supplied. They are the most accessible and inexpensive. When using solid fuel boilers, it is especially important to observe fire safety measures.
Igor Larin
The degree of autonomy of solid fuel boilers can be increased by using a buffer tank - a heat accumulator - in the system. Thanks to the TA, heat accumulates and the number of loads in the boiler decreases.
On average, the operating time of a solid fuel boiler on one fill is a minimum of 3 hours, a maximum of 12 hours or more. The thermostat controls the air supply to the combustion chamber, and overheating protection is provided by a special valve and overheat protection heat exchanger.
When using solid fuel, there is no need to communicate with supply companies and obtain permits for installing the boiler. Everything is regulated by SNiPs, which must be adhered to when installing heating equipment. Manufacturers' fire safety recommendations should also be followed.
As reserve system heating in case of a power outage, it makes sense to install a multi-fuel boiler or combine several heating devices.
Alexander Khadynsky
An additional boiler is often used to increase the degree of automation of a solid fuel boiler; an electric boiler or fireplace with a water circuit is connected to the circuit.
Autonomous heating in a private house through combined boiler rooms is an expensive option. These types of boilers combine three types of boilers - solid fuel, electric with a gas or diesel burner and are the most expensive of household boilers. In case of a power outage, it is better to connect the source uninterruptible power supply, which will allow equipment to continue operating for up to 48 hours during a power outage.
Igor Larin
It is possible and even necessary to combine different devices for heating a room, especially in regions where fuel shortages are possible.
Practical systems are those that combine solid fuel boilers With wood fireplaces, i.e. the system includes an additional heat generator (fireplace), which maintains or accelerates the heating of the system.
The benefit of using multi-fuel boilers is the ability to combine two types of fuel in one equipment. In a boiler with two fireboxes, you can burn solid fuel (wood, coal, briquettes) in one, and install a burner (diesel or pellet) in the other. Thus, the homeowner, depending on the situation, can choose the type of heating that is convenient for him.
Anatoly Gurin :
– The undoubted advantages of pellet heating include: autonomy, its low cost compared to electricity and diesel fuel with propane. Among the disadvantages, it can be noted that it is necessary to find a place to store pellets.
And low-quality pellets due to incomplete combustion reduce the efficiency of the boiler.
The boiler itself requires weekly attention, because... it is necessary to clean the burner and add pellets.
The continuous operation time of the boiler can be significantly increased by installing an additional pellet hopper.
In recent years, they have become increasingly popular alternative heating systems houses built on the basis heat pump etc. (see diagram).
Anatoly Gurin
:
–The principle of operation is simple: the heat pump transfers warm air from the street to the house. The easiest way to think of a heat pump is like a refrigerator: the freezer is in the ground, and the radiator is in the house.
Experience in using such a heating system shows that by spending only 1 kW of electricity, we receive 5 kW of heat.
Despite the fact that such a heating system has been known for decades, many are stopped by the high initial costs required for its installation.
A heating system is a long-term investment in your home, and lower initial costs are offset later by high fuel and boiler room maintenance fees.
Benefits of using a heat pump:
- low, 5 times less than when heating a house with electricity;
- when air circulates from the street into the house, there are no exhaust emissions;
- the system does not require maintenance;
- autonomy: the heat pump requires only electricity, and in the event of a power outage, the heat pump can easily be powered from a gas generator.
How to understand what is more profitable to heat a house
The price of heating consists of the cost of fuel. There is no universal fuel that is equally suitable for every region or home. Therefore, it is necessary to make calculations based on the specific situation.
Igor Larin
When choosing fuel, you cannot be guided only by short-term benefits; you must focus on the long term.
There is no gas and there never will be, but there are woodworking enterprises around, and accordingly, pellet manufacturers will appear (or already exist). In that case effective solution will install a solid fuel boiler, which can later be made into a pellet one (by installing a pellet burner in the lower door).
A situation may also arise when gas must be supplied in 1-2 years. During this time, you can install a solid fuel boiler and then install a gas burner in it.
Anatoly Gurin
You need to choose the cheapest fuel in the region. It will be most profitable for them to heat the house. For an objective calculation, it is best to create a summary table that displays the types of available heat sources, their costs during construction, operating costs and service life.
In the long term, it is important to take into account such a factor as the convenience of using the heat source. Experience shows that no matter how cheap the fuel is, its low price can be overshadowed by the minimum degree of autonomy of the boiler and the increased degree of attention to the operation of this equipment. 
Alexander Khadynsky
It is necessary to carry out brief analysis the most likely methods of heating with one type of fuel or another.
Knowing the power of the boiler, you can calculate the cost of heating costs per month. Approximate calculation - 1 kW is needed to heat 10 sq.m. (provided that the distance from the floor to the ceiling is up to - 3 m), you need to additionally take a reserve of 15-20% necessary for preparing hot water.
On average, boiler equipment operates about 10 hours a day. Heating season V middle lane Russia lasts 7-8 months a year, the rest of the time the boiler works to prepare hot water and maintain it in the house minimum temperature+8C.
Total:
Electricity: To obtain thermal energy of 1 kW/hour, approximately 1 kW/hour of electricity is consumed.
Solid fuel: To obtain 1 kW/hour of thermal energy, approximately 0.4 kg/hour of firewood is consumed.
Diesel fuel: To obtain 1 kW/hour of thermal energy, approximately 0.1 liter of diesel fuel is consumed.
Gas: To obtain thermal energy of 1 kW/hour, approximately 0.1 kg of liquefied gas is consumed.
In the long term, we need to take into account rising fuel prices based on trends recent years, and the payback period for the initial investment.
Thus, the choice of a heating system consists of a whole range of measures and engineering solutions that require a balanced approach and careful analysis of each specific situation.
Watch videos about the unusual layout of the heating system and how to independently organize efficient and cheap heating with electricity in your home.
Almost every cottage owner strives to reduce heating costs to a minimum. But when choosing the most economical heating for a private home, many often look only at the price of fuel.
However, here it is necessary to take into account the heat loss of the building, and the capital investment for the arrangement of the heating system, and the cost of servicing the network subsequently. Don’t forget about the labor-intensive operation of this or that option. Only integrated approach to the question will help make the operation of the heating network as economical as possible, don’t you agree?
In the article we have collected the most effective ways to increase the efficiency of the heating system, practical advice to reduce heat loss, and also assessed the feasibility of using renewable energy sources.
Before choosing fuel, a boiler (or other thermal energy generator) and a heat distribution system throughout the cottage, you need to take a closer look at the house itself. If heat loss through walls, windows, ventilation, subfloors and roofs is enormous, then no tricks to increase the efficiency of the internal heating circuit will help.
First, you need to take care of the insulation of all structures and engineering systems of the home.
At high level heat loss, any attempts to increase the efficiency of the heating system will be pointless; anyway, most of the heat will go outside. Moreover, a lot of it will be required. One thing confined space cottage, and something completely different - a street open to winds and bad weather.
Insulation technology and materials are selected based on the climatic conditions of the area where the house is located. There are certain building standards with minimum requirements for wall thickness and thermal insulation for each Russian region. But without knowledge in heating engineering, it’s not worth doing the project yourself.
Either the calculations will be made incorrectly and the heat loss will be higher, or you will have to overpay for a layer of insulation that is too thick.
When viewing the finished project and subsequent construction of the house special attention need to pay attention to:
- double glazed windows– up to 25% of all heat loss goes out through the windows;
- roof and attic floor– that’s another 10–15%;
- ventilation system– share of heat loss through ventilation with natural circulation can reach 40–50%.
Walls and floors are also places where heat escapes from a building. But initially no one neglects their insulation. But many owners of private houses often forget about ventilation and attics.
Another point is the presence of “cold bridges” in the enclosing structures. Any iron part that penetrates the wall from the street inside serves as a place for enormous heat loss.
Even a small metal pin slowly but inexorably “pulls” heat out of the home. There should be no such bridges in the project, and during construction it is important to ensure that they are not formed from various metal fasteners.
The image from a thermal imager shows that windows cause significant heat loss, so you should not forget about the need to install energy-saving double-glazed windows
In addition, “cold bridges” can become:
- ends of floor slabs;
- window and door slopes;
- basement walls;
- lintels and inserts made of concrete or iron.
All these places must be carefully insulated, otherwise you can’t even dream of saving on heating. No one has ever managed to heat the street.
Depending on the quality of insulation, the thermal conductivity coefficient for one building, which appears in the thermal engineering calculation, can differ significantly. The thicker the insulation and the fewer points of heat “leakage,” the smaller volumes of fuel have to be burned to heat the cottage.
The money spent on reducing heat loss will definitely pay off. You shouldn’t skimp on this issue, but you shouldn’t forget about the rationality of investments either.
Choosing the cheapest fuel
The second question in saving on heating is. Moreover, we need to look not so much at the cost of a kilocalorie leaving the boiler, but at the total costs of fuel, heating equipment and its maintenance. It is necessary to consider everything as a whole.
The cheapest in terms of the price of generated thermal energy are wood pellets and main gas, but they are also the most expensive in terms of initial costs (+)
If we compare different water heating units, the cheapest ones will be. However, electricity bills are unlikely to make anyone happy later. Plus, for a large cottage, in most cases you will have to lay an additional cable.
For a well-insulated house of 100 square meters, the existing capacity may be sufficient. But heating a two-story home will require much more electric “fuel.” At the same time, standard networks were not initially designed for such loads.
Natural gas in Russia is considered one of the most economical ways to heat private homes. However, there are several nuances here. If there is already a highway in the village, then it happens quite quickly and inexpensively.
But if the distance from the house to it is 200 m or more, then cutting into this pipe will cost a pretty penny. Plus, all approvals and receipt of technical conditions can take up to a year.
For the equipment you will have to pay from 150 to 250 thousand rubles. Fortunately, most companies dealing with similar equipment complete all the work in a couple of days.
Liquefied gas for it is ultimately priced in almost all Russian regions equal to what comes from main pipe. But the initial costs are frankly stinging.
Another fairly cheap boiler is one that runs on exhaust or diesel. Moreover, if fuel can be obtained at a reasonable price, then this may well become the most economical way to heat private housing.
Heating options averaged across Russia country house Based on the totality of all costs, they are arranged in the following order:
- Wood or coal stove.
- Gas boiler using mains gas.
- Wood-burning.
- Liquid fuel boiler equipment.
- Electric boiler.
The most economical option is a conventional wood or coal stove, provided it is true that there are no problems with fuel in the area where you live. This is due to both the low cost of fuel and the low cost of equipment.
However, such a stove requires constant supervision. And this takes a lot of time and effort. Plus, it is unlikely that it will be possible to particularly improve the efficiency of the heating system connected to it. To adjust or control something economical consumption It’s difficult to find logs (coal) there.
Much in the matter of the cheapness of fuel depends on its availability in the area where the house is located - in some regions coal or firewood are the cheapest, while in others gas will give them a considerable head start
An electric boiler is the most convenient and safe to use. It doesn’t need a chimney, plus the automation itself monitors everything and heats up the coolant in the system as needed.
With proper installation of electrical wiring, the likelihood of a fire with this heating method is reduced to almost zero. He certainly shouldn’t present any other problems.
However, energy costs are frankly high. It’s also good if you can connect a two-tariff meter with a reduced nightly rate. Otherwise, you should opt for an electric boiler only as a last resort. It is difficult to call it the most “economical” due to the high costs of “burned” kilowatts of electricity.
Increasing the efficiency of your heating system
To increase the efficiency of heating a home, it is also possible and necessary to introduce various technologies that reduce fuel consumption into the heating system. There are a huge number of ways to route pipelines from the boiler to the radiators.
Some of them are cheaper to implement, while others are the most economical in terms of reducing losses during transportation of coolant to the batteries.
The efficiency of a home heating system depends on the correctly selected boiler power, pipe layout and even the pipeline material
There are heating equipment of different designs and various additional equipment that can increase the efficiency of the entire system by 10–15% or more. But here you should carefully weigh the pros and cons. In some cases, the cost of initial stage may not pay off later.
There is no need to chase the “most economical” and “most effective” options. Often these are just advertising slogans and nothing more.
Method #1: pipe routing and “warm floor”
The most economical piping layout is with a central collector. When using it, each radiator receives the same volume of coolant.
Moreover, it is possible for each battery to adjust the amount of heat supplied individually. Extra waste of thermal energy when transporting heated water across heating pipes with such wiring are practically excluded.
The boiler manifold circuit is most effective in terms of balancing the hydraulic resistance of individual circuits and controllability of heat flows (+)
Almost always, with collector wiring, the heating system has to be supplemented. Thanks to it, the difference in water temperatures at the inlet and outlet of the network is significantly reduced.
As a result, the controllability of coolant heating and the efficiency of the entire system increase. Less fuel has to be burned in the boiler, which results in direct savings on fuel.
The beam (collector) option is the most economical to operate. However, due to the long length of pipelines, it is also the most expensive to implement.
To maximize the efficiency of your heating system, you can simply abandon radiators and replace them with “warm floor” pipes
The heat from conventional radiators first rises to the ceiling, and only then, due to convection, spreads throughout the room. As a result, the hottest air ends up near the ceiling. And to prevent your feet from freezing on the floor in the cold outside the window, you have to open the radiators all the way. And this again means additional costs for heat generation.
The system is the most economical way to heat residential premises. In this case, the warmest air is concentrated below at the level of a person’s feet. At the same time, heat consumption is reduced, and the most comfortable conditions for people are created in the room.
Method #2: the most efficient boilers
The highest efficiency is found in pyrolysis and condensation boilers. It is difficult to find more economical heating equipment in heating equipment stores. The first option uses wood as fuel, and the second uses gas. In terms of efficiency, they outperform all other analogues using any flammable coolant.
A pyrolysis boiler differs from a conventional wood-burning boiler in the presence of a second firebox and in the fact that in fact it is not wood as such that burns there, but the gas obtained as a result of pyrolysis.
First, the logs smolder in it at high temperature and limited air supply. And only then the resulting gases burn in the main chamber, releasing heat.
Compared to its standard wood-burning counterpart, it is more efficient (30–40%) and requires less attention. The interval between loading firewood, depending on the capacity of the firebox, reaches 10–16 hours.
Savings here are achieved due to absolutely complete combustion of fuel and a minimum of heat release with combustion products into the chimney.
A gas condensing boiler is even more economical - it takes away thermal energy not only from the burned methane, but also from the products of its combustion
Taking into account the collection of additional heat, the final efficiency of such a boiler reaches 105–110%. Here, the energy of both the burned gas and that obtained as a result of the condensation of water vapor occurring in the second chamber is taken into account.
Method #3: choosing a heat accumulator
One more is enough effective way saving on heating is by connecting a heat accumulator to a solid fuel boiler. The latter first accumulates heat in itself, and then gradually releases it to the batteries.
In this case, it is not necessary to forcibly limit the power of the coolant heating equipment, simply throwing out the heat into the chimney pipe.
If electricity is supplied to the cottage at different rates day and night, then the heat accumulator can also be included in a system with an electric boiler. In this case, it will accumulate heat at night, when electricity is cheaper.
Renewable heat sources
When performing detailed cost calculations with heat pumps, wind turbines, solar collectors and batteries the situation is as follows. They generate heat and electricity for a private home, but at first glance it is free. Of course, the sun and wind do not bill for heating, but such generation equipment is very expensive.
In Europe, renewable energy is sometimes subsidized from the state budget. Plus, the price tag for fossil fuels is frankly stinging. Therefore, “green technologies” there are economically justified and relatively effective.
In Russia the situation is radically different. Our state is not going to subsidize it yet. And prices for domestic firewood, coal and gas, compared to their neighbors in the west, are not so high.
As a result, based on the totality of all costs, it is difficult to call heat pumps, solar panels and wind turbines particularly economical. They generally show their effectiveness only in remote areas where it is difficult and expensive to deliver burned fuel.
Conclusions and useful video on the topic
When choosing the most economical heating option for your cottage, you should take into account many factors and parameters, and the following selection of videos will definitely help you with this.
Which heating is better:
What is the cheapest fuel to heat a country house:
How much does gas and electric heating cost:
There is no universal option for the cheapest and most economical heating. For each specific house, it is necessary to calculate all the costs of fuel, equipment for heating the coolant and the arrangement of the heating system as a whole.
Often you have to start from the availability of a particular fuel, and only then select a boiler for it. Plus, you should absolutely not forget about high-quality insulation of the cottage and pipes to radiators.
Every home must be equipped with a heating system
Owners of private housing have a huge advantage over residents apartment buildings. They can decide for themselves which room service systems to use and how to save on installation and operation costs. Those who live in apartments, as a rule, cannot influence the quality and quantity of utility services provided, especially in the direction of increasing them. Owners of private houses can foresee the nuances even at the construction stage and choose the most profitable solution. To the point that the most economical home heating can be installed with your own hands.
The main advantage of electric heating is the rapid spread of heat around the source
This source is available almost everywhere. But it’s unlikely that heating a private home with electricity can be called the cheapest. If you decide to use electrical appliances for heating, be prepared to see large numbers on your electricity bill. The main advantage of electric heating is the rapid spread of heat around the source. Literally within a few minutes after switching on, you can feel the result. That is why electric heaters are most often used not for constant heating of homes, but in some emergency cases. There is also a fairly high fire hazard electrical appliances heating. It is not recommended to leave them turned on for a long time without supervision.
Solid fuel
This name most often refers to firewood and coal. Firewood, although a very common fuel in Russia, will not help you solve the problem of cheap heating at home.
Fuel briquettes can have different compositions
In private homes, they are usually used to light stoves before laying coal. In large country houses, where, as a rule, there are fireplaces, firewood is also used. Coal is the cheapest and most commonly used solid fuel for heating private homes. Thus, if you want to provide economical heating for your home with your own hands, add to the project a stove that will be heated with coal and heat your home. In some areas, briquetted fuel is also used. This can be peat or pressed wood chips. However, due to geographical features, such types of fuel are not very common in Russia.
Liquid fuel
Chemical derivatives - fuel oil, diesel fuel, etc. - are usually used as liquid fuel. These heat sources are rarely used in private homes. Because combustion produces acrid smoke. Also, due to their increased flammability, it is quite unsafe to store these types of fuel near residential premises.
Gas
The most cheap heating country house can be organized using gas equipment. The cost of fuel is very low, and modern equipment can be installed and assembled in a matter of hours. However, the cost of high-quality equipment is quite high. And the final price of the project will depend on the distance of your home from the gas pipeline.
Alternative energy sources
Installation solar panels will help you save money
Of all the known ones in the world alternative sources, in Russia either wind can be used on a more or less large scale. For this, solar panels or wind turbines are respectively needed. These sources can give you virtually free energy and provide truly the cheapest heating for your home. Moreover, both of them can be very different in size, and, accordingly, cost. However, due to climatic conditions, they cannot be used constantly and everywhere.
So, if you want to make cheap heating for a private house with your own hands, you need to choose which type of fuel will be your main and which auxiliary. First of all, you need to proceed from the location of your home and the availability of certain heat sources. Then you need to calculate the costs of installing equipment for each resource and choose what suits you best. In this important issue It is advisable to consult with specialists. Typically, equipment supplier companies have complete information on this issue.
In a private home, it is advisable to have several heat sources. To heat the main living space, you can use a pipe or one that supplies heat from a distribution boiler. It can be heated using solid fuel, gas or electricity.
To create a special coziness, owners often country houses use fireplaces. Of course, fireplaces should only contain natural wood or charcoal. True, there are also electric fireplaces, but those who like this imitation of living heat are more likely to be residents of apartment buildings than owners of a country house. Also, the design of private houses often includes a bathhouse. Both natural wood and electric stoves can also be used for heating.
Using solar panels is a good way to help your budget. Since solar energy can be accumulated, in most regions of Russia this equipment can be used to have a backup heat source in case of force majeure. In addition, the electricity obtained from solar panels is 100% environmentally friendly.
In any private home, when installing a heating system, it is necessary to provide for various situations. Including emergency ones. So that in case of failure gas boiler or a pipe burst, it was possible to switch to a backup option without any problems. And while repairing the main equipment, you will not be left without heat and energy. Thus, the cheapest heating for a country house is intelligently combined various sources heat. Using them in various combinations, you will ensure uninterrupted operation of the life support system of your home.
Energy prices are steadily rising, so an increasing number of suburban residents are thinking about how to inexpensively and efficiently heat their homes. Most often, homeowners are concerned about heating options for a private home and country house, which boiler has the highest efficiency, which boiler to choose for the heating system, how to properly install the heating system, what types of heating exist without gas and which of them are the most economical.
FORUMHOUSE advises a different approach. First, we decide on the type of fuel, and then we select a heating system “for it.”
From our material you will learn:
- What are the costs of a heating system?
- What type of fuel can be called the most affordable;
- What does a convenient heating system mean?
- Can heating with electricity be cheap?
- What can become the basis of an economical heating system.
What are the costs of a heating system?
Many factors influence how much a particular heating method will cost. Only after calculating all the costs (it is also necessary to take into account the increase in fuel prices in the long term) can you decide on the most cost-effective heating method. To do this, you need to consider:
- Fuel cost;
- The cost of its delivery;
- Cost of heating equipment;
- The cost of its installation;
- Costs of its operation;
- Average monthly air temperature in winter period time;
- Method of living in the house: “dacha” mode or permanent residence;
- Availability of utilities connected to the site (gas, necessary electrical power);
- The degree of insulation and energy efficiency of the home.
Thinking about choosing a heating system and considering different options heating in the house, first of all you need to answer the question: not “how”, but “with what” you will heat your home. The costs of the heating season depend on the type of fuel, its cost and availability.
Let's consider the following situation: there is currently no main gas, as a more economically advantageous type of fuel, or its connection will be too expensive. What to do in this situation, what type of fuel to choose: firewood, liquefied gas, coal, pellets, fuel briquettes, electricity, even - there are a lot of options. Let's see which type of energy carrier is most preferable.
Conclusions:
- It would be correct to choose a heating system after proper calculation. This is the only way to achieve a balance between efficiency, economy and convenience;
- Country house it is necessary to insulate well, reduce all heat losses to a minimum, otherwise the lion's share of the energy will go to heating the “street”;
- Approximately, required power heating equipment is calculated using the formula: 1 kW of energy is required to heat 10 sq.m of house area;
- The efficiency of a heating system largely depends on the availability of a particular type of fuel;
- To obtain maximum effect, you must combine different types heating systems and energy carriers. It cannot be said that if these conditions are met, we will get heating cheaper than gas, but we will be able to save significantly. combined heating system. And here -