Home Heating Heroes
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Your Guide to Home Heating and Cooling Systems
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Home Heating Heroes
Your Guide to Home Heating and Cooling Systems
Having a whole house water heater in your home lets you know that you will always have hot water when you turn on your shower or a sink faucet. These models do not take up as much space as traditional units do because these products do not have the bulky tanks that others do. Looking at product reviews is a good way to see what customers thought about the products that they chose.
Reading those reviews helped us pick the Stiebel Eltron Tempra Plus as the best model. It has a digital temperature control that lets you pick your water temperature and a compact design. Find out more about this model and all of our other top picks.
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PROS
SPECS
Stiebel Eltron Tempra Plus 29kW
PROS
Sleek design
Sleek design
Sleek design
SPECS
Dimensions: 16.54 x 4.61 x 14.53 inches
Voltage: 240A
Flowrate: 0.77 GPM
Required breakers: 3 x 40 A DP
Stiebel Eltron 224198 240V
PROS
Sleek design
ensures a constant temperature
Advanced Flow Control technology
SPECS
Wattage: 19000 W
Weight: 16.1 lbs
Flowrate: 2.1 GPM
Voltage: 240 A
Eemax Electric
PROS
Highly durable
Clean and modern look
Compact design
SPECS
Operating pressure: 25 PSI
Digital temperature display
Weight: 11.2 lbs
Wattage: 18 W
Bosch Tronic 6000 C
PROS
Easy Installation
Consistent Temperature
97% thermal efficiency
SPECS
Weight: 18.7 lbs
Dimensions: 15.5 x 4.5 x 12.5 inches
Wattage: 17000 W
Voltage: 208 V
EcoSmart ECO 11
PROS
Lifetime warranty
Endless hot water
More storage space
SPECS
Weight: 6.5 lbs
Dimensions: 11.5" x 8" x 3.75"
Required Breaker: 1 x 60 AMP
Self Modulating Technology
Stievel Eltron makes a number of different models, but many of those have a low flow rating. The top reason this one made it to the top of our list is because it has a higher flow rating that lets you use up to six gallons per minute. When you want to use two different sinks or tubs at the same time, it can still provide you with more than three gallons of hot water every minute.
Compact in size, the Tempra Plus takes up less space in your utility room and does not require any venting to use. It features a knob on the front that shows you which temperatures are suitable for washing your hands and using in residential or commercial buildings. You’ll also have a digital temperature control that lets you select the perfect temperature for your home that fits within one of those temperature rankings.
Another good option for those looking for a product that can support a home is the Tempra 20 Plus from Stiebel Eltron, which has a slightly lower flow rating. When used with your faucet or shower, it provides up to four gallons of hot water every minute. If you need to use two or more applications at the same time, that flow rating will drop down to 2.1 gallons per minute.
Similar in design to our top model, the Tempra 20 Plus can reduce your overall water heating bills by up to 20% and still provide you with all the hot water that your family needs. This model comes with the same temperature settings and digital display as our number one choice does too. You can use the dial to adjust the temperature to the range that is right for your building or set it to a specific temperature.
One of the top features found on this Eemax is a heat exchanger made from copper that lasts up to twice as long as those made from other materials. The heat exchanger also has a brass piece on the top that lasts just as long and helps better regulate the temperature of your water. Thanks to its compact design, this is model that you can find space for in any room.
Designed to look like the EcoSmart models, this product has a metal cabinet with a clean and modern look that surrounds the exchanger and all other parts inside. The heat adjustment knob rotates one way to turn the water temperature up and another way to turn the temperature down. You can select a warmer or cooler temperature based on the needs of your family, and you can use the digital display for one-degree adjustments.
Bosch makes single application units and whole house models like this one, which provides you with all the hot water that you need at each point of use in your home. With a 97% thermal efficiency rating, this model helps that water come out at a high temperature and helps it stay at that temperature until you shut the water off. This also cuts down on the wait time that you experienced with other models and gives you access to hot water faster.
A built-in sensor actually monitors the flow of water and ensures that the water comes out at whatever temperature you selected. The outside of the case features a knob that you can twist in either direction to reach the temperature level that your family prefers. It also comes ready for installation and use with connections on the bottom for pipes and hardware for mounting.
EcoSmart makes a number of different units that can heat your whole home, and the ECO 11 from the company is perfect for homes located in the south and homes in other regions with a warmer temperature. It has a cold water inlet on one side and a hot water outlet on the opposite side. The water that you use enters the inlet, moves across the copper components inside and over the heat exchanger to bring the water up to temperature before it exits through the outlet.
The ECO 11 works best in homes with a groundwater temperature of at least 67 degrees Fahrenheit, and while it will work in cooler climates, the groundwater temperature will affect your flow rating. It has a maximum flow rating of two gallons per minute and works well when used with sinks. When used with a shower head, this rating may drop to below two gallons per minute.
Weighing in at just 7.5 pounds, the Tankless S-16 from iHeat is one of the most lightweight units on the market. That lightweight design lets you mount this on any wall without worrying that it might fall down and take your plaster with it. This 16 kW model is the largest and most effective product from the company and one that can provide a steady stream of hot water to multiple sinks, tubs and showers.
Designed to help you bring down your water heating bills by up to 60%, the S-16 is a great option for using in your home, but you can also use it in a boat or recreational vehicle because it installs quickly. It can heat up to 3.5 gallons of water every minute and give you access to that water, which is a high enough flow rating for use with a larger shower. This model can work in homes with up to 2.5 bathrooms.
Not everyone who needs a whole home water heater needs one designed for a larger house, and those with smaller homes will appreciate the PowerStar AE115 from Bosch. This model has a maximum flow rating of 2.6 gallons per minute, which makes it a good choice for those who use just one application at a time. You can have hot water for a shower and still have hot water for doing dishes later.
Suitable for use in climates where the groundwater temperature reaches a minimum of 60 degrees Fahrenheit, this PowerStar product can also work in cooler climates, though your flow rating will vary. It has an energy efficiency rating of 90% to help you save money on heating bills too. You’ll also find that this compact model comes with the hardware needed for mounting it on the wall to help you save on valuable floor space in your utility or laundry room.
When choosing a hot water heater, you need to choose between a point of use or a whole home model, but this SioGreen product lets you use one model for both. As a point of use product, you can hook it up right beneath your sink or attach it to your shower to provide either area with hot water. It also works as a whole home model that can provide more than one application with water.
The maximum flow rating on this model will vary based on the temperature of your groundwater. If it needs to increase that temperature by 30 degrees, you’ll get a flow rate of 2.2 gallons per minute, but when it needs to increase the groundwater temperature by up to 60 degrees, you’ll still enjoy more than one gallon of hot water every minute. Non-metallic components inside even reduce the risk of bacteria and algae coming out with your water.
Our final verdict on electric tankless water heaters is that the Stiebel Eltron Tempra Plus is the one to buy. The handy dial on the front lets you choose between a temperature suitable for residential applications or for a commercial building, but it also has a digital temperature control. That control lets you set the temperature to a specific degree.
This model has a maximum gallon per minute flow rating of six gallons. Even if you need to use hot water in multiple rooms, you’ll still get a rating of more than three gallons per minute. The Tempra Plus is the best whole house electric tankless water heater available today.
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