Lack of hot water is often an issue at the most inconvenient of times, like when everyone is getting ready to leave in the mornings, or when everyone is preparing for their evenings. A cold shower is, indeed, a real problem for people who use standard tanked water heaters. Luckily there is a solution – and it’s getting rid of the tank.
Tankless water heaters supply a nearly endless amount of hot water on-demand. We’ve taken a model from a reputable EcoSmart company that has been producing electric on-demand water heaters for years. In our EcoSmart ECO 11 review, we will share with you the results from our tests and use of the above-mentioned heater.
This technology has existed for many decades and dominates the Asian markets, as well as some European markets. Read on to see what you can get for your buck, by using these machines.
Contents
EcoSmart ECO 11 Specifications
Water heaters that don’t use tanks not only save a whole lot of space but also use energy much more efficiently. This particular model has an energy efficiency rating of 98%, as opposed to regular water heaters. To learn more about the potential savings you can get with these water heaters, take a look at our detailed buying guide.
Temperature control is made easy with this model; you can control the digital temperature display and adjust the water by 1-degree increments. Due to its small size, it comes as no surprise that this model uses up only 11kW of energy while operating at 240V. This power consumption directly affects how much heating power you can get from the unit.
Given its power consumption, this unit is perfect as a point-of-use water heating solution. When installed near a faucet or a showerhead, this on-demand water heater provides enough hot water for a shower (at 1.5GPM/5.7LPM) and a low-flow faucet at the same time. The unit is recommended for medium-to-warm climates for small or studio apartments.
You can set it up pretty much anywhere and, as long as you follow the instructions from the manufacturer, the machine can last for a good long while.
Customer Support and Warranty
This company believes in the longevity of its product. To prove this, they offer a lifetime warranty on the heating elements, electronics, and exchangers of the unit – only 5 years outside of the Continental US or Canada. As long as you install and use the machine properly, it will be covered and usable for a long time. To not void the warranty, this unit needs to be installed by a licensed plumber. Always check the warranty information for any unit.
The manufacturer tries to build a constant relationship with its users as they offer diagrams, good instruction manuals, help to find parts or stores, and more on their website. If you need help from their customer support, you can contact them via phone or email during office hours, Monday to Friday.
What to Expect from EcoSmart ECO 11?
Your expectations should depend the most on the temperature of the groundwater in your area. As the manufacturer suggests, this continuous water heater can produce a 2.54 GPM/9.61LPM flow @ 35°F/1.66°C rise. This means you can use a shower and faucet at the same time, even more, if these fixtures are low-flow models.
The lower the groundwater temperature, the lower the GPM/LPM flow will go. Users have left positive feedback, as they were satisfied with the unit even after significant testing. There also isn’t a lot of maintenance, and if you install a carbon filter for the inlet water that maintenance becomes nearly non-existent.
For warm climates where the groundwater temperature is around 80°F (26.6°C), this unit could support almost 2 whole bathrooms at the same time. In colder climates, it serves better as a single point-of-use solution. The good thing is that, with their near perfect energy efficiency, you can use a couple of them to cover a larger home with no issues, while still saving on the energy bill.
Pros
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Simple installation and use
- A good point-of-use solution for small homes
Cons
- Doesn’t work well in cold climates
- Must be installed by a licensed professional plumber for the warranty
Wrap Up
As we have said before, the water heater we’ve chosen is a great solution as a point-of-use water heater in the right climate. You could even support two bathrooms in the right set of circumstances. If you use this machine as recommended, it will supply your household with hot water for many years to come.
This brings us to the end of our EcoSmart ECO 11 review. We hope you have picked up all of the useful info and tips we have given out through our review. If we missed something, please leave a message in the comment section, and we will gladly reply.
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