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A Guide to Buy a Geyser in India

A water heater or geyser is a regular household necessity in today’s time. Be it for washing clothes or for bathing, it has to be a good quality geyser that lasts for years yet doesn’t have an exorbitant price tag. Thus, buying a geyser which meets all these demands is surely a long day’s work. That’s why we’re providing you all the information on geysers you need to know before buying the right one.

Geyser Buying Guide
Primary Features

Heating technology – The process through which the water is heated impacts the operational costs of the geyser plus its maintenance. Most geysers have electric heating elements which heat up due to electricity passed through them. Apart from electric geysers, there are also gas-based water heaters that instantly raise the temperature of water using a gas such as LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) and propane. Gas geysers require to be placed near the LPG gas cylinders or be connected to a pipe gas connection. They are comparatively cheaper to use because of their instant heating feature.

Storage Capacity – Some geysers have the facility of heating water and storing it whereas others work instantly using 3-5 Litre tanks. These small water heaters are energy efficient and prevent wastage of water. On the other hand, storage water heaters can store 10-15 litres on an average while some can even store up to 30 litres. If you have a bathtub, you would require a storage geyser. Storage capacities of 10-15 litres are well suited for a family of 3-4 members, while heaters with 3-4 litre capacities are best for singles or a couple. In situations when winter temperatures go below zero and water pipes freeze, instant heaters with 2-3 litre capacities can be useful.

Wattage/Power Consumption – Electric geysers generally work at 1500 to 2000 Watts A/C power. Some manufacturers have improved their heating rates by increasing the wattage to 2500 Watts or 3000 Watts at which the geyser works. These draw immense amounts of electricity over short periods of time. Geysers with higher supply flow rates like 100L/hr may draw more electric power than those with lower supply flow rates. tThese parameters should be considered before buying.

Secondary Features

Thermostat – Make sure that your geyser has a thermostat which lets you control the degree to which you want your water to be heated. This feature is must for storage heaters in which a cut-off mode is present to indicate that the full tank has hot water. Some geysers have the functionality of choosing the power of the heating element in order to indicate the time required for heating the full tank volume. It is important to keep in mind that the rate at which all water is heated depends on the initial temperature of the water, therefore a heater’s functionality may differ from season to season.

Build and Material – An efficient geyser must have a strong rust-proof build, particularly the storage type. Most geyser models available today are made up of enamelled steel containers with Titanium, Polymer, or Glass coated on them. Steel-based alloys and glass are used on the inside to provide proper insulation. These are less corrosive and retain their original surface for longer periods of time. The usage of magnesium rods in the centre keeps corrosive salts away. Some geyser models have copper chambers that function well in low-electricity supplies since copper is one of the best conductors of heat.

Size and Body Design – The size of water heaters has to be considered before installing one at home. Long cylindrical geysers were more common till a few years back,k but now broader and compact sizes have come in. Some manufacturers have increased their First-Hour Rates (FHRs) which means the amount of water that can be heated in the first one hour of operation. This depends largely on the season and tank size. Larger ones have higher FHRs plus their heat retention capacities are also higher, which adds to the energy efficiency.

Top Categories of Geysers

Storage Geysers

Pros: They range between capacities of 7-10 litres to about 25-45 litres. They are most preferred for families of 3-5 members.

Cons: Generally, the ones having capacities above 20 litres that can pose problems for small bathrooms owing to their large size. They consume high amounts of power.

Gas Geysers

Pros: These work without electricity connections. They are mostly good fits for kitchens and can be placed near washing machines for spontaneous utilization of hot water.

Cons: Safety recommendations have to be followed strictly according to the manufacturers’ guidelines and, active surveillance at the time of operation is an utmost necessity. These heaters emit harmful gases like carbon monoxide (one of the highest rated pollutants).

Instant Geysers

Pros: They don’t consume too much power and are good for most homely tasks like bathing and washing clothes for small households or people living alone. They’re good fits for kitchens where hot water is used instantly and requires no storage.

Cons: They require active surveillance at the time of water heating for proper operation. They generally have lower cut-off temperatures (close to 50˚ C) and cannot be used for more than one or two people.

Special Mention: Solar Water Heaters

Pros: They heat water by means of exposure to sunlight. They can heat the highest amounts of water within a few minutes. There’s hardly any electricity consumption involved in the usage of solar water heaters.

Cons: These water heaters are heavier than others. The installation costs are very high and require active surveillance during the heating process to prevent overheating. The biggest problem is that they cannot be used during monsoons and the winter when sunlight is faint.

What safety precautions need to be considered before buying a geyser?
  • Electric geysers with copper chambers should not be used for homes where high pressure water supply pumps are used as the pressure of the water may damage the geyser in the long run.
  • For the installation of gas heaters, the LPG cylinder has to be placed outside the bathroom with a proper connection to the gas heater. The gas heater emits carbon monoxide fumes; therefore it needs proper ventilation through a window at the time of usage.
  • Electric geysers should have a cut-off at 60 ˚C with a bulb indicator to prevent overheating in the absence of user surveillance.
  • Always check the BIS/ISI mark for any geyser or heating element you buy. This indicates that the product has undergone the required quality checks/quality assurance checks.
  • Consider the size of the bathroom, especially the height, to get a clear idea of the dimensional specifications your new geyser should have.
  • Check the manufacturer’s warranty information at the time of purchase.
Safety Instructions to be followed at the Time of Operation of a Geyser
  • 1. Children should be kept away from the geyser when it’s switched on.
  • 2. No other electrical appliance in the bathroom should be switched on along with the geyser.
  • 3. Sediments should be flushed out regularly to prevent unnecessarily high electricity consumption.
  • 4. Please check the manufacturer’s manual for detailed safety recommendations.
Top Manufacturers of Geysers