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Industrial electric water heater vs. boiler vs. storage tank for domestic hot water: a complete guide to choosing the right system
When a company needs to implement or renew a domestic hot water (DHW) system, one of the first questions is usually: what is more suitable, an industrial electric water heater, a boiler or a storage tank?
Although all three pieces of equipment are related to the production and availability of hot water, they do not perform exactly the same function.
An industrial electric water heater heats and stores water using electricity. A boiler generates thermal energy that can be used to produce domestic hot water. And a domestic hot water storage tank stores hot water and can operate connected to different energy sources, such as a boiler, heat pump, or solar thermal system.
Therefore, in commercial and industrial projects, it's not always a matter of choosing just one piece of equipment. In many cases, the most suitable solution involves combining different technologies to generate, store, and distribute domestic hot water according to actual demand.
If you're searching on Google for "industrial electric water heater vs boiler", "which DHW system is best", "hot water storage tank", "boiler for DHW" or "industrial domestic hot water", in this guide you will find the main differences, advantages, limitations and applications of each alternative.
What is the difference between an electric water heater, a boiler, and a storage tank?
The main difference lies in the function each piece of equipment performs within the domestic hot water system .
System | Main function | Energy source | Does it store ACS? |
Industrial electric water heater | Heating and storing water | Electricity | Yeah |
Boiler | Generate thermal energy | Gas or other source | Not necessarily |
Domestic hot water storage tank | Store hot water | External source | Yeah |
This difference is fundamental.
An industrial electric water heater combines generation and storage in the same unit.
A boiler is primarily used as a source of thermal generation .
An accumulator tank, on the other hand, functions as a storage system that receives energy from one or more heat sources.
For this reason, a facility may use:
Electric water heater → generation and storage
either
Boiler → generation + DHW accumulator → storage and distribution
or even:
Solar thermal + boiler + DHW tank → hybrid system
What is an industrial electric water heater?
An industrial electric water heater is a hot water storage tank that uses heating elements.
electric heaters to raise the water temperature and keep it stored until use.
It is designed for applications with a higher DHW demand than that of a conventional residential installation.
Termic offers industrial electric water heaters of 300 and 500 liters , with different power configurations, including equipment up to 54 kW .
Its applications include:
Gyms.
Dressing rooms.
Workers' showers.
Companies.
Industrial facilities.
Mining.
Industrial kitchens.
Commercial projects.
Facilities with high demand for hot water.
How does an industrial electric water heater work?
Water enters the tank and is heated by electric heating elements. The unit maintains the water at the set temperature and has control and safety systems for its operation.
Termic industrial water heaters incorporate elements such as vitrified tank, magnesium anodes, thermal insulation and Incoloy 840 resistors , depending on the equipment configuration.
One of its main features is that it allows for a volume of stored hot water , which is especially useful during periods of high demand.
300 liter, 54 kW industrial electric water heater
For industrial applications, it is not enough to know only the liters of the equipment.
It is also essential to consider the electrical power, because this determines the temperature recovery capacity.
Termic offers industrial configurations of:
300 liters / 36 kW
300 liters / 45 kW
300 liters / 54 kW
500 liters / 9 kW
500 liters / 15 kW
In a domestic hot water (DHW) project, the choice between these configurations will depend on the volume of water required, the consumption profile, and the time available to recover temperature.
Therefore, a 300-liter electric water heater does not necessarily deliver the same performance as another 300-liter water heater with a different power rating.
What is a domestic hot water boiler?
A boiler is a piece of equipment that generates thermal energy to heat water.
In domestic hot water systems, it can be used as a heat source to produce DHW directly or connected to a storage system.
Boilers can use different fuels or energy sources, although in traditional domestic hot water applications gas-fired systems are common.
One of its main advantages is its ability to provide thermal energy continuously as long as there is a fuel supply and the equipment is correctly sized.
However, a boiler alone does not always replace the function of a storage tank.
When there are high demands for hot water, a configuration of the following can be used:
Boiler + DHW storage tank
In this case, the boiler provides the energy needed to heat the water and the storage tank allows for a stored volume of domestic hot water.
What is a domestic hot water storage tank?
A domestic hot water storage tank is a tank designed to store domestic hot water and keep it available for use.
Unlike an electric water heater, a storage tank does not necessarily incorporate an electric resistance as the main source of heating .
Its main function is to store water and receive energy from an external source.
For example:
Boiler → DHW storage tank
Solar thermal energy → domestic hot water storage tank
Heat pump → DHW storage tank
Boiler + solar thermal energy → domestic hot water storage tank
This makes the storage tank a fundamental component for designing larger-scale DHW systems or systems that use different energy sources.
Termic offers 750, 1000 and 1500 liter ACS storage tanks, including single and double coil configurations to allow the integration of different heat sources.
What is the difference between a storage tank and an electric water heater?
This is one of the most frequent questions when looking for a hot water storage tank or DHW storage tank .
Although both store hot water, their function within the system may be different.
An electric water heater integrates electric heating and storage into a single unit.
A storage tank is primarily intended to store hot water from an external generation source.
For example:
Electric water heater
Electricity → resistance → stored hot water
Boiler + storage tank
Gas → boiler → heat exchanger → storage tank → DHW
Solar thermal + storage
Sun → solar collectors → coil → storage tank → domestic hot water
Therefore, a storage tank can offer greater flexibility when different energy sources need to be combined.
Comparison: industrial electric water heater vs. boiler vs. storage tank
Feature | Industrial electric water heater | Boiler | Domestic hot water storage tank |
Main function | Heat and store | Generate heat | Store ACS |
Energy source | Electricity | Gas or other source | External source |
Storage | Yeah | Not necessarily | Yeah |
Resistors | Yeah | No | Not necessarily |
It can work with a boiler | That's not its usual function | Yeah | Yeah |
It can work with solar thermal energy | It can be integrated into systems | Yeah | Yeah |
It can work with a heat pump | Yes, according to the system. | According to configuration | Yeah |
Ability | 300–500 L in Termic industrial models | It depends on the team | 750–1500 L in Termic models |
Power | Up to 54 kW in Termic models | It depends on the model. | It depends on the heat source |
Applications | Businesses, gyms, industry | centralized ACS | ACS Commercial and Industrial |
Generation + storage | Yeah | Generation | Storage |
Independent system | Yeah | Yes, depending on the app. | Not necessarily |
Hybrid system | Yeah | Yeah | Especially suitable |
When is an industrial electric water heater suitable?
The industrial electric water heater can be a suitable alternative when it is necessary to combine electricity generation and DHW storage in the same equipment.
It can be especially interesting when:
Sufficient electrical capacity is available.
There is no gas infrastructure available.
Demand has defined schedules.
Hot water needs to be stored.
There are periods of high consumption.
A high-power electrical solution is required.
A 300 or 500 liter tank is needed.
The facility seeks to integrate electricity generation with other energy solutions.
A typical example might be a gym with high demand for showers at certain times .
The equipment stores hot water and uses its electrical power to recover temperature between consumption periods.
When is a boiler a good idea?
A domestic hot water boiler can be an alternative when the project has thermal generation infrastructure or needs a heat source with continuous operating capacity.
It can be assessed especially when:
There is a gas installation.
Centralized thermal generation is needed.
There is a continuous demand for ACS.
Heating and hot water integration is required.
A storage tank will be used.
The project needs to combine thermal generation with storage.
In high-demand installations, a boiler + DHW accumulator configuration can allow the separation of heat generation from hot water storage.
When is a domestic hot water storage tank advisable?
The storage tank becomes especially important when the project needs to store large volumes of hot water or integrate different energy sources.
It may be a suitable alternative when:
A large storage capacity is needed.
There is a boiler as a source of generation.
The aim is to harness solar thermal energy.
A heat pump will be used.
The aim is to combine two energy sources.
There are large variations in demand.
A reserve of hot water is required for periods of high consumption.
For example:
Solar thermal + backup boiler + domestic hot water storage tank
It allows you to take advantage of solar energy when it is available and use another heat source as backup when needed.
The Termic 750, 1000 and 1500 liter storage tanks are specifically designed for projects where greater storage capacity and the ability to integrate different heat sources are required.
General comparative table
Aspect | Gym | Hotel | Industry |
Consumption pattern | Concentrated in specific times (morning and end of day) | Distributed throughout most of the day, varying according to occupancy | It depends on the use: sanitary services and/or production processes |
Critical factor | Peak demand at specific times | Maximum consumption (not just average) | Type of hot water use (domestic vs. process) |
Variables to analyze | Number of users, number of showers, average duration, peak consumption times, required temperature, storage volume, recovery time, available electrical power, gas availability | Peak consumption, occupancy level, hourly distribution | Water usage (changing rooms/showers vs. process), available electrical capacity, scale of the facility, multiple energy needs |
Recommended solution | Industrial electric water heater of 300 or 500 liters; boiler with storage tank; or storage system of greater capacity | Power generation + DHW storage + distribution + recirculation | Hot water for changing rooms: industrial electric water heater (if electrical capacity is available). Larger scale: generation + storage + distribution |
Suggested equipment | Industrial electric water heater 300L / 500L; boiler with storage tank | 750, 1000 and 1500 liter DHW storage tanks (with coil and double coil) | Boiler, heat pump or solar system + accumulator |
Role of the accumulator | It allows you to store hot water to cover peak demand between shifts. | It provides a hot water reserve to meet periods of increased demand. | It stores hot water and adds flexibility to the system. |
Main advantage | Simplicity and ability to cover concentrated peaks | Robust response to variable demand and maximum occupancy | Flexibility to integrate different generation sources according to energy needs |
Key consideration | Check available electrical power and gas availability | Analyze the peak consumption, not just the average. | Evaluate whether the water is used only for sanitation services or also in production processes |
How to choose between an electric water heater, a boiler, and a storage tank?
Before choosing an industrial domestic hot water system, it is necessary to answer some questions.
1. How much hot water do you need?
The first piece of information is the required ACS volume.
2. When is it consumed?
Consuming 3,000 liters spread throughout the day is not the same as consuming them in one hour.
3. What is the maximum consumption?
Peak demand is fundamental for sizing generation and storage.
4. What energy do you have available?
Electricity, gas, solar thermal energy, heat pump or other source.
5. Do you need to store water?
If there is concentrated demand, stockpiling can be especially important.
6. Do you need to combine energy sources?
If the answer is yes, a domestic hot water storage tank can be a fundamental part of the system.
7. How much space is there?
Dimensions, access for installation and maintenance must be considered.
Electric water heater, boiler and storage tank can work together
One of the most important ideas for understanding an industrial DHW system is that these technologies do not necessarily compete with each other .
In certain facilities they can be complementary.
For example:
System 1: electric water heater
Electricity → electric water heater → domestic hot water
Suitable for installations where the equipment can directly cover generation and storage.
System 2: boiler + storage tank
Gas → boiler → storage tank → DHW
The boiler generates the heat and the storage tank stores the hot water.
System 3: solar thermal + storage + backup
Solar thermal → storage tank → DHW
with a second energy source for periods of lower solar input.
System 4: hybrid system
Solar thermal + boiler/heat pump → storage tank → DHW
The combination allows the use of different energy sources within the same installation.
Which system consumes less energy?
It is not correct to determine which of the three systems consumes less energy solely based on the type of equipment.
Consumption depends on multiple factors:
Energy source.
Energy price.
System efficiency.
Required temperature.
ACS volume.
Consumer profile.
Isolation.
Leaks in pipes.
Inlet water temperature.
Control system.
Maintenance.
For example, a system with a storage tank can allow the integration of solar thermal energy and reduce the need to use a conventional source.
Similarly, an electric water heater can be integrated with a renewable electricity generation strategy.
Therefore, to compare the operating cost of an electric water heater vs. a boiler , it is necessary to analyze the specific conditions of the project.
How to size an industrial domestic hot water system?
The sizing must consider much more than the capacity of the tank.
It is recommended to analyze:
Daily demand → maximum demand → required temperature → storage volume → generation power → recovery time → distribution and recirculation.
For example, a project might require a large amount of hot water for a short period. In that case, having storage capacity can be just as important as having sufficient generation capacity.
Conversely, continuous demand may require a generation source with sustained operating capacity.
Therefore, before buying an industrial electric water heater, boiler or DHW storage tank , it is advisable to size it according to the actual conditions of the installation.
Termic solutions for domestic hot water
Termic offers solutions for various residential, commercial, and industrial domestic hot water needs, including:
Electric water heaters.
Industrial electric water heaters.
Domestic hot water storage tanks.
Solar thermal systems.
Solutions for integrating different energy sources.
Termic industrial electric water heaters include 300 and 500 liter configurations, with power ratings up to 54 kW .
For larger storage projects, ACS accumulators are available in capacities of 750, 1000 and 1500 liters , with different configurations for energy integration.
The selection of equipment should be made considering the actual demand for hot water, the available infrastructure, and the energy system of the project.
Do you need to know what DHW system your company needs?
Contact Termic to evaluate your project and determine if you need an industrial electric water heater, a boiler, a domestic hot water storage tank, or a combination of these technologies .
Frequently asked questions about electric water heaters, boilers, and domestic hot water storage tanks
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What is the difference between an industrial electric water heater and a boiler?
The industrial electric water heater heats and stores water using electricity. The boiler generates thermal energy that can be used to produce domestic hot water and, in certain systems, to heat a storage tank.
What is the difference between an electric water heater and a storage tank?
The electric water heater integrates power generation and storage. The storage tank is primarily designed to store hot water from an external source.
What is a domestic hot water storage tank?
It is a tank designed to store domestic hot water and keep it available for use. It can be connected to different heat generation sources.
Can a boiler be connected to a domestic hot water storage tank?
Yes. A boiler can be used as a heat source for a system with a domestic hot water storage tank.
Can solar thermal energy be connected to a storage tank?
Yes. Coil-type accumulators allow the integration of thermal generation systems, such as solar energy, depending on the project configuration.
What type of industrial electric water heater do I need for a gym?
It depends on the number of users, showers, consumption schedules, required temperature, DHW volume, and recovery time. Termic offers industrial models of 300 and 500 liters.
Which domestic hot water system is suitable for an industry?
It depends on the consumption profile and the available infrastructure. An industrial electric water heater, a boiler, a domestic hot water storage tank, or a combination of different technologies can be used.
What capacity domestic hot water storage tank do I need?
Capacity depends on consumption volume, peak demand, required temperature, power source, and recovery time. Termic offers storage tanks in 750, 1000, and 1500 liters.
Does Termic sell industrial electric water heaters?
Yes. Termic offers industrial electric water heaters of 300 and 500 liters and different power configurations.
Does Termic sell DHW storage tanks?
Yes. Termic offers domestic hot water storage tanks of different capacities for commercial and industrial projects.
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