Bangladesh is no stranger to bone chilling winters, and tenacious cold waves that sweep across the country. This is the only time in a year when mundane tasks such as bathing and washing hands become a challenge, especially for the children and elderly members of the family.
Heating water on a stove for use in day to day tasks is time consuming and fuel intensive. Geysers offer an ingenious solution to both dilemmas.
It is a nifty electric appliance that heats up water in just under ten minutes, maintains a preset temperature, and then dispenses the water through taps and showers. Once considered a luxury, and used only by the wealthy, geysers saw widespread adoption in recent years.
There are many branded and non-branded geysers available on the market, and they come with different budget, size, and power requirements. The appliance ranges from portable camping showers to electric tank water heaters.
In terms of brand, geysers come in three types, imported, locally manufactured brands, and locally manufactured non-brand products. Besides, digital geysers offer a temperature control facility, but analogue geysers do not.
Local electronics and home appliance markets sell local and imported brands. Walton, Gazi, Vision, Vigo, and Shine are key players among local geyser brands, while Bajaj, Tesy, Ariston, Havells, Midea, IEGA, and Panasonic are consumer favourite imported brands.
How much do geysers cost?
The starting price of a local brand 30-liter geyser is Tk 5,000, while branded product prices start from Tk 8,000. Meanwhile, local 45-litre non-brand geyser prices begin from Tk 8,000, while branded product prices begin from Tk 12,500.
Prices of imported instant water heaters, such as the Panasonic brand products, start at Tk 13,000. Though geysers are available in up to 67 litres capacity in Bangladesh, the 30-litre and 45-litre variants are enough for home use.
In brand electronics shops such as Walton, Best Electronics, Vision Electronics, and Marcel showrooms, geyser prices range between Tk 8,000 and Tk 19,000, with costs depending mostly on size, brand, and features.
According to Khandaker Majharul Islam, senior additional executive manager at the Walton Uttar Khan outlet, there has been a 15 per cent – 20 per cent year-on-year increase in geyser sales this year.
“Customer demand is high, so we are supplying products as per their requirement. We offer full installation support to our consumers for a nominal fee of Tk 300.”
Aside from brand showrooms dotted across the capital, Bangabandhu Dhaka Stadium Electronics Market near Baitul Mukarram also home to a large number of electronics shops selling on-brand geysers, ranging from budget friendly to luxurious.
Shahin, a salesman working at a geyser shop near Baitul Mukarram, said, “Geyser sales have picked up pace this month as the cold waves became stronger. A 30-litre geyser is more than enough for a family of four, and costs start only at Tk 5,000.
“There is also an installation and transportation fee of around Tk 1,000.”
Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) is also a place where numerous foreign brands showcase new technologies and products, and people can buy a geyser at the event that perfectly suits their needs.
For those craving more options, e-commerce platforms like Daraz is a good place to look. With one click, countless brands are there to fulfill required choices that normally cannot be found in shopping malls, and plenty of versions are available.
Online platforms are a place where the price is fixed with a delivery charge, and there is no room for bargaining. That is why many shoppers prefer to go to shop – it is where the haggling skills are unnecessary and the products speak for themselves.
As winter continues to tighten its grip, the geyser market remains hot, providing a comforting solution to the challenges of heating water in the coldest months.
‘A regular home appliance’
Uzzal Hossain, a private sector employee, said, “Geysers have become a regular home appliance in recent years. I bought a geyser this year as the winter is very chilly. I use the geyser three times a day.
“My children used to avoid bathing in winter. But with hot water available straight from the tap, they no longer object.”
Sazid Hossain, a university student, said, “I bought a 30-litre geyser last winter. It is easy to use by setting it up with the water supply. Now my parents do not have to wake up so early for wudu.
“They wake up and start the geyser and after 4-5 mins the water gets hot enough for wudu.”
He added, “Showering in the winter has become much easier as well. I just turn on the geyser and wait for 5-10 minutes for the water to get hot. The appliance did not make much of an impact on our electric bill, and the costs are much cheaper than using the gas stove.”
