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Buyers Guide - Geysers

Geyser Buyer Guide | ShopClues.com

Geyser Buyer Guide

Get hot water whenever you want it with the help of a geyser. Installed in the kitchen or the bathroom, it can make bath time something to look forward to, and washing utensils seem like less of a chore.

This buying guide will acquaint you with the following:

  • Types of Geysers, which include storage geysers, instant geysers, gas geysers and immersion rods
  • Geyser specifications that highlight important values and aspects of the different geyser types
  • Geyser capacities and what size suits what environment
  • Key features a geyser should have

Geyser

Types of Geysers

Geysers come in several types to cater to different needs. Learn what they are and why making the right choice matters.

Storage Geyser

Storage Geyser

A storage geyser is a good choice if water needs to be heated as well as stored for use at a later time.

Storage Geyser Specifications:

  • A storage geyser has a low upfront cost, which suits buyers with limited budgets.
  • A storage geyser has a tank capacity that can range from 10 litres to well over 400 litres, making it a popular pick for home, office, commercial and industrial settings.
  • The water heating limit is usually set at 60 or 75 degrees Celsius. However, the thermostat doesn't have to be turned all the way up. In fact, 50 degrees Celsius is the recommended temperature.
  • The body of a storage geyser can heat up significantly and may cause burns when touched. Relying on the LED indicator can eliminate accidents.
Select Storage Geyser
Storage Geyser
Instant Geyser

Instant Geyser

Instant or tankless geysers are what one can go for if hot water is needed instantly and there's no requirement to store it.

Instant Geyser Specifications:

  • Offering limitless hot water in small amounts, an instant geyser is noted for its compact size. It's ideal for a small kitchen or a bathroom where space is a premium.
  • While an instant geyser has a higher cost upfront, it saves energy as water is not heated if it isn't needed. This leads to lower running costs in the long term.
  • Some instant geysers have a minimum flow rate and won't run at lower flow rates. It's important to take this into consideration before settling on a product.
  • Instant geysers need a sufficient flow of water in order to function. If the flow is below the minimum required rate and the geyser is switched on, the heating coil can burn.
Select Instant Geyser
Instant Geyser
Gas Geyser

Gas Geyser

If you're looking for a geyser that heats water quickly and is not expensive to run in the long term, a gas geyser is what can be considered.

Gas Geyser Specifications:

  • A gas geyser can heat water twice as fast as an electric geyser. If you live in a cold place or can't wait long for water to heat up, put a gas geyser high up on your list of choices.
  • Despite higher initial costs, a gas geyser is fairly inexpensive to operate in the long run.
  • Gas geysers need to be installed in areas that are properly ventilated to eliminate a build-up of carbon monoxide fumes.
Select Gas Geyser
Gas Geyser
Immersion Rod

Immersion Rod

Inexpensive and easy to replace, an immersion rod is ideal if you aren't looking to heat large quantities of water at a time, and don't require instant hot water either.

Immersion Rod Specifications:

  • The portability of an immersion rod makes it an indispensable heating tool of many households. The low cost is another perk.
  • There's no installation required with an immersion rod as it's not connected to a plumbing system. However, this also means that it can't be used for showers and taps.
  • Immersion rods come in several sizes. Mini models are small enough to place into kettles and mugs to heat water for beverages. Standard sizes, meanwhile, are designed to heat water in buckets. Wattage ranges from a low 500W to a much higher 2000W.
Select Immersion Rod
Immersion Rod

Capacity of Geysers




Below 10 Ltr Geyser

Below 10 Lts



  • A storage geyser of 1-3 litres or an instant geyser of the same capacity is ideal for kitchen use.
  • A single individual, meanwhile, can do with a 6-litre geyser, one each serving the bathroom and the kitchen.


10 – 20 Lts

10 - 20 Lts



  • A 4-member family living in a house with two bathrooms will ideally require a 10-15 litre geyser installed in each room.
  • A bucket bath uses approximately 15 litres of water while a shower consumes around 25 litres per person per bath.
  • Using this baseline, you can select a bathroom geyser to suit your requirement.
51 Ltr – 70 Ltr Geyser

20 - 30 Lts



  • For a family of 6 to 8, geyser capacities of around 25 litres are suitable.
  • It's important to note that these guidelines are not absolute. Weather and hot water usage are key factors to consider.
  • If you reside in a very cold region, you may require more hot water. In which case, a 30-litre or more capacity for a 6-member household may be more suitable.
Select 20 - 30 Lts
20– 30 Lts
30 - 50 Lts

30 - 50 Lts



  • A geyser with a capacity of 30 litres is ideal for an office with 5 to 7 faucets.
  • On the other hand, a commercial establishment with washrooms for both staff and customers will need a larger capacity geyser. 45 to 50 litres is the range to look for.
Select 30 - 50 Lts
30 - 50 Lts
50 Lts and above

50 Lts and above



  • Geysers with such high capacities are suitable for commercial establishments like B&Bs, motels, hotels and even shopping malls.
  • Very large capacities of over 200 litres are mainly utilised by big hotels and industries.
Select 50 Lts and above
50 Lts and above
Bar

Bar

Bar, a unit to gauge pressure, is an indicator of what geyser can safely be used for what type of building.

The table below shows the limit of bar pressure in accordance to the height of a building:

Height Bar Pressure
Upto 8th floor 5 bar
8th floor and above 8 bar

However, since gauge pressure changes depending on what a geyser tank is made of - mild steel, copper, stainless steel or glass-lined mild steel - it's important to always compare different geysers and not solely rely on bar.

Energy Efficiency




Energy Star Rating

Energy Star Rating



  • When shopping for geysers, Energy Star rating shows how well an appliance utilises power.
  • A 5-star rating is given to geysers that make use of energy most efficiently.
  • However, a 5-star rating in 2015 will drop to 4 stars in 2016, while a 4-star geyser will be considered a 3-star appliance in 2016 because future technologies set the bar higher for energy efficiency.
  • Higher Energy Star ratings indicate better efficiency of geysers, which itself is calculated on standby heat loss where energy is wasted when hot water remains in the tank and isn't being used.

The following table shows a range of standby heat loss against different capacities:

Capacity Standby Heat Loss Range (Unit/Day)
6 ltrs 0.35
10 ltrs 0.45
15 ltrs 0.48
25 ltrs 0.53
50 ltrs 0.75
More than 50 ltrs 0.95
  • All storage geysers lose heat. Instant geysers, however, do not lose heat.
  • When buying a storage geyser, look for one with an insulation or R-value of R-12 to R-15 or higher.

Source of Energy



  • Solar:
    i) Solar geysers have higher upfront costs but pay themselves off in the long run.
    ii)They use no fuel source, which means power cuts and no access to gas don't hamper functionality.
    iii) Cloudy skies and cold weather can affect performance.
  • Hybrid:
    i) Hybrid geysers are more expensive than other geysers.
    ii) They hold an amount of hot water at all times so you don't run out.
    iii) There are currently only a limited number of models in the market.
  • Oil:
    i) A few geysers use home heating oil as an energy source. They heat water three to four times faster than other geysers.
    ii) Oil-fired geysers have higher operating costs than gas geysers.
  • Gas:
    i) Gas geysers are pricier than electric models but work much faster and offer a good return on investment.
    ii) They rely on natural gas or propane to function. If you're buying a gas geyser, you'll need to confirm what type of gas it uses, or if it can use both.
  • Electric:
    Electric geysers are the commonest types as they're inexpensive, relatively easy to install and have low maintenance costs.

Key Features



  • Installation:
    i) Geysers come in horizontal and vertical models. If you have a low ceiling, a horizontal model would take up less space.
    ii) Whether you purchase a small capacity geyser or a large one, professional installation is always advised.
    iii) Electrical, gas and plumbing lines must be taken into consideration for safety and energy efficiency.
  • Auto-off:
    An auto-off turns off a geyser after a specific time in case you forget to, saving energy and also minimising danger that can be caused by the heating element burning out.
  • Adjustable thermostat:
    With an adjustable thermostat, you can control how hot you want water to get.
  • LED indicator:
    All geysers must have an LED indicator that shows when water is cold or hot.
  • Multifunction valve:
    Geysers must be equipped with a multifunction valve that protects the geyser against overheating and high pressure.
  • Thermal cut-out:
    Look for a geyser that has a thermal cut-out to prevent it from heating beyond a specific temperature.
  • Stand-by time:
    A geyser with a longer standby period and quick heating time is both convenient and energy-friendly.
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