Electric Hot Water Heaters Reviews

Tank, tankless and point of use electric water heaters

Electric Hot Water Heaters - How it works

• Cold water enters the tank heater through the dip tube and fills it from bottom up.

• The top thermostat which is pressed against the tank, controls the upper heating element and turns it on when there is a need.

• Cold water is becoming warmer and when it reaches the pre-set temperature the power is switched from the upper to lower heating element.

• Now the bottom thermostat, which controls the lower heating element, turns the element on until the water temperature reaches the pre-set value.

• Safety device, high-limit switch, reacts if the water becomes too hot, cutting the power to heating elements.

• Once you open hot water tap, hot water is drawn from the top of the water tank, at the same time cold water enters the tank, drops the temperature that triggers the thermostat. The whole water heating process starts all over again.

• If there is an excessive pressure in that tank, because of the high water temperature, another safety device called pressure relief valve reacts.

Electric tankless hot water heaters

Storage Electrical Hot Water Heaters - main parts

• Cylindrical steel tank holds the hot water. Typical sizes for residential use are 40, 50, 60 and 80 gallons.

• To keep the rust out of the water, steel tank has a bonded glass liner.

• Insulation - helps to keep heat inside the tank longer.

• Cold water inlet and hot water outlet, or pipes.

• Thermostats to control the water temperature inside the tank.

• Heating elements to heat the water, usually two of them.

• Drain valve that allows you to drain the tank.

• Temperature and pressure relief valve (TPR) - safety feature.

• Sacrificial anode rod - prevents corroding.

Advantages of Electric Water Heaters

• Even with low recovery rate, their advantage is high tank capacity.

• Easy to install.

• Can be installed in many areas of your home.

• Can be installed close to the actual point-of-use.

• Various sizes and models.

• No venting needed, there are no exhaust gases.

• Pricing electric hot water heaters; they cost significantly less than gas heaters.

• Longer service life.

• Energy efficiency goes to 99%.

• Electricity reaches more households than gas.

• Electric tankless water heaters are one third of the size than gas heating systems.

• Very little maintenance needed, easy to clean.

• Much easier to diagnose the problem, troubleshoot and repair. 

• They are safe.

Disadvantages of Electric Water Heaters

• Expensive to operate, electricity is more expensive than gas.

• Low recovery rate.

• Electric tankless water heaters are high amperage devices and when the hot water is used during the peak times its operating cost increases. 

• Even with the lower cost for installation, you have to consider an adequate electrical supply, to support this high output hot water heating appliance.

• The biggest problem with electric hot water heaters is that they lose heat through the surface of the tank, as a result of standby losses.

• They fall into the category of water heaters with low recovery rates (the lowest actually) meaning that it takes longer to heat the water.
  Solution for this problem is to cover them with a specially designed blanket or "jacket".

Best Electric Hot Water Heaters

• Bosch - PowerStar electric tankless water heaters are designed to replace an electric storage tank heater, with 90 % efficiency rating. See reviews here.

• Bosch - Ariston point of use electric hot water heaters, modern Italian design; mini tank electric heaters with one of the highest recovery rate.

• German quality, Tempra from Stiebel Eltron, is one of the most technologically advanced and top selling electric tankless water heaters available.

• Rheem/Marathon electric water heaters; 40 and 50-gallon.

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