Hot water at home, which installation do you prefer?

We are so used to it, a turn at the tap and hot water comes out. It is one of the many things we take for granted.
At least, until we run out of hot water..

There is a wide variety of water heating installations.

Below, we list the most common ones (electricity and gas).

An electrical installation

The electric boiler (Spanish: termo eléctrico) is one of the most common installations. Over the years, they have been continuously developed. This in order to make the appliance as efficient as possible.

Unlike a gas boiler, you cannot enjoy hot water when there is a long power outage.
Moreover, with the exception of instantaneous water heaters, these devices work with a water reservoir. When the water reserve is empty, you'll have to wait.

01

A boiler with water reservoir

The operating mode of this boiler is very simple: a certain amount of water is maintained at a constant temperature.

This is usually done by a heating coil inside the water tank. Electricity provides the necessary energy to heat the water.

02

Solar boiler

In Spain, solar water boilers are often chosen. This environmentally friendly water heater makes use of thermal solar panels (collectors). The energy of the sun is used to heat the water in the solar water heater.
This operating system should not be confused with photovoltaic solar panels. Those generate electricity.

But what if there is not enough sun? Then the boiler switches to the electricity network.

03

Aerothermal heat pump

Especially with new build homes, an aerothermal heat pump became the most preferred option.

This electrical system extracts energy from the air. Due to to the warm Spanish climate, they are extremely suitable for the region. So efficient that it is even possible to heat the house with this type of system.

Its operation can be compared to that of an air conditioning system. An outdoor unit uses the warm outside air and extracts the heat from it.

There is a very wide range of electrical installations. They are also becoming increasingly energy-friendly. Taking into account that solar panels are also being used more often, this may well be the ideal choice.

Electrical installations are safe, easy to use and extremely low-maintenance.

A gas installation

The use of a gas boiler is still a popular choice. If the infrastructure of the house allows it, this is certainly an option worth considering.

Condensing boilers are extremely efficient and energy-saving. You can choose to use the boiler only for heating tap water (Spanish: calentador). Or you can choose a combination boiler (Spanish: caldera) which can additionally be used to heat your home.

That leaves the question, a condensing boiler or conventional gas boiler?

Both work in a similar way, broadly speaking. Natural gas burns and gives off heat. This produces flue gases, of which the heat is collected. But what is the difference really?

01

Condensing boiler

In contrast to a traditional boiler, the condensing boiler can cool flue gases to a much lower temperature. This is done by means of a heat exchanger in which the flue gases and return water cross each other. The colder the return water, the stronger the cooling of flue gases. This results in more heat extracted from the gas by the boiler.

During combustion, water vapour also forms. This is discharged together with the flue gases. But part of this vapour will liquefy and give off heat. This extra heat is recovered by the gas boiler. Colder return water = more condensation.

Finally, the condensing boiler also loses less heat compared to the conventional boiler. This is because it operates at a lower water temperature. As a result, the condensing boiler offers high efficiency and low consumption. An extremely economical and environmentally friendly choice.

02

Conventional gas boiler

A conventional boiler is an atmospheric boiler. This means that flue gases are removed thermally (= they rise upwards).

A boiler without forced draught must be located in a well-ventilated room. The combustion chamber of this boiler is connected to the boiler room. If the supply or exhaust does not work properly, it can lead to CO2 poisoning.

A boiler with forced draught works basically the same as a condensing boiler. The flue gases are discharged to the outside via a fan. The gases are separated but not condensed.

Of course, there are many other systems that even run through another energy source, e.g.: fuel oil. But in this article we will limit ourselves to the most common systems.

At Adaleta you will enjoy a wide selection of new build apartments and houses, where aerothermal systems have been installed. This way you will enjoy an environmentally friendly and energy-saving solution.