In the cold season, the use of geysers for heating water increases. Various types of water heaters are used for this purpose, including traditional geysers made of iron sheets that burn wood to heat water.
In urban areas where natural gas is not available, electric geysers are also installed, which lead to higher electricity bills.
Where gas is available, two types of geysers are installed. One type is the stand-alone geyser, which is made similarly to the electric and wood-burning geysers with iron sheets, and then insulated with an additional steel cover that is painted for an attractive finish. It has a large gas burner on the bottom side connected to an automatic switch, which turns off the burner once the water reaches a specified temperature. There is also a small pilot light that stays lit continuously, helping the burner ignite.
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The second type is the instant geyser, which consists of a long silver pipe coiled into a bunch, with gas burners placed underneath. A battery cell is used to provide a spark to ignite the burners. When the mixer is turned on for hot water, the spark ignites the burners, and gas supply begins, heating the water passing through the silver pipe. As soon as the mixer is turned off, the gas supply is cut off, and the geyser turns off.
Now, let’s evaluate which geyser is better and safer. Based on our opinion and experience, although the instant geyser is cheaper in terms of cost and gas usage, it does have some drawbacks.
If it is installed outdoors, the burner may frequently extinguish due to strong winds. Rainwater can cause rust in the sealed compartment, leading to the spark system failing, resulting in the geyser not turning on at times.
If the mixer is fully open, the water temperature will be appropriate, but if the water flow from the mixer is low, the geyser burner may remain fully on, causing the water to become excessively hot. This can not only burn your hands or body but also harden the rubber seals inside the mixer, leading to premature wear and tear. If the mixer is turned off, it may start leaking.
Excessively hot water can also cause leaks in any joints of your underground pipeline.
Many people install instant geysers inside bathrooms, which can be extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Geysers should always be installed outside the bathroom in open spaces.
In contrast, stand-alone geysers do not heat water beyond a specific temperature and automatically turn off the burner, keeping the water temperature under control. However, this type of geyser requires some common sense to avoid excessively high gas bills.
Do not set the thermostat to full hot; instead, set it to warm to save gas. When fewer family members are at home and water usage is low, turn off the thermostat, and hot water can be provided just by the pilot light.
Install this geyser in a location where you can easily check it daily, allowing you to turn it on or off when needed. Avoid installing it on a top floor, as regular access becomes difficult, and people often forget to adjust the thermostat, resulting in high gas expenses throughout the season.
Ensure that a safety valve is installed during installation. This valve opens when too much steam builds up in the geyser, releasing excess pressure. Without this valve, excessive pressure could cause the geyser to burst. Many plumbers do not inform or install safety valves, and if mentioned, they reassure that it is unnecessary because the thermostat is automatic and shuts off by itself.
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Do not be misled by such plumbers, as if, God forbid, the thermostat fails and the burner does not turn off, you will bear the consequences, and there will be no benefit in blaming the plumber afterward.
Keep in mind that wherever you install a stand-alone geyser—whether it heats water using wood, electricity, or gas—a safety valve is essential.
There is another type called a solar geyser. Its cost is somewhat higher, but it incurs no expenses for heating water; however, it only works during sunlight, so it does not heat water at night. If you have installed an electric backup heating system, you can obtain hot water at night as well.
To extend the life of the geyser, ensure that water flow remains within it during hot weather. If you do not use the hot side tap, the standing water inside the geyser can cause rust on the internal side, leading to premature failure.
Generally, round-headed mixers are used in homes, where hot and cold water heads are separate, and in summer, usually, only the cold side head is used.
It is better to use a lever mixer instead of a head mixer. When you turn it to the left, the geyser water will start flowing, keeping water circulation ongoing even during summer.
