Sep 07, 2004 07:38 PM
34705 Views
(Updated Sep 07, 2004 07:38 PM)
The monsoon season is set in and its time to head out to the nearest dealer and pick up a water heater. With the market cluttered with branded and unbranded water heaters and almost similar features how will you choose the right product for your house. Here is a quick guide for you to help pick up the right water heater.
Rule #1 - Do not buy unbranded water heaters For the same reason you dont invest money in some non descript mutual fund house just because they promise the earth to you. A branded water heater can offer you not only guarantee safety, but also good customer support and service support. Unbranded water heaters may be lucrative in terms of the price, but many of the water heaters may not conform to BIS standards and may not have an ISI mark.
Rule #2 - Location is important Which part of the country you are located in makes a lot of difference to your water heater purchase. People living near the coast have to take corrosion into account. Saline water can also corrode internal parts of the water heaters. Ditto for hard water areas. So the best option here would be a water heater with a plastic outer body (ABS) and a complete internal copper component set up. Copper has special anti corrosive properties that prolongs the life of the water heater.
Rule # 3 - Domestic Set Up The model of water heater which you buy is again based on what kind of a residence you have i.e. independent house / small apartment (less than 5 floors) / high rise building and how many people require hot water etc.
If you are living in a bachelor living alone or with other fellow bachelors the instant water heater is the best option. You dont have to keep reminding yourself to turn off the heater and you wont waste electricity.
If you are living with a family in an independant house a Solar Water Heater is an option, this is 100% electricity free and the most green way to go. A little expensive in terms on initial investment but lot of national banks in the country are offering interest free loans so finance is not an issue. The basic recommended capacity is the 100 Litre per day.
There are two technologies the conventional flat plate collector and the Vacuum Tube Model. Both of these cost the same but the vacuum tube model is preferred because its replacement cost is cheaper in case of damage to the solar tube and also because it can absorb infra red rays so heating takes place till late in the evening and on cloudy days as opposed to the other model which requires direct sunlight.
If you are living in an apartment then a electric storage water heater is a good option. A 25 litre model is ideal for a family of four, 35 litre for a family of 6 so on and so forth. If your bathroom ceiling is low then opt for a horizontal water heater for space saving reasons. If you are living in a multi-storeyed high-rise building then chances are a pressure pump is being used to make sure the water reaches all the flats. This can cause hi pressure conditions which normal storage water heaters cannot withstand. Opt for a water heater that has extra thick insulation in the tank and a capability of withstanding 6 kg/cm sq.
A gas water heater is a good buy if your for hot water extend outside of the bathroom. Ideal for the kitchen because thats where the gas cylinder is located.
Rule # 4 - Safety and Quality Features that you should look out for - BIS / ISI mark - The basic requisite for accepted safety and quality standards - Warranty on tank and other critical components - Energy star rating - A energy rating standard to check energy efficiency. 5 star rating is preferred. - Thermostat with adjustable temperature - ideal water temperature for a bath is 35 - 40 degrees - Thermal Cut out / Thermal Plug and Semi return device- a fail safe device to prevent dry heating - Ceramic Heating Element - No fear of getting electric shock - PUF insulated tank - Heat Retention is longer - 2-in-1 pressure cum release valve - Ensures positive and negative pressure is not created inside the tank - IEC Certification (Optional)- An international certification on which many of the BIS standards are based on.
Most of the leading brands will have the features mentioned above, the consumer voice survey is a good guide to go buy in terms of the brands are good buys namely Venus , Bajaj and Usha.
