Best Bosch Tankless Water Heater
Review and Buying Tips
(updated 2017)
A review of Bosch tankless water heaters, including the condensing and conventional on-demand gas models with a selection of the most advanced models to buy, quality features, specs, and benefits. Explore buying tips and top selling models.
German manufacturer Bosch and its perfectly engineered water heating systems give you a variety of high-quality tankless models with very simple tasks; to provide an instant (or almost instant) and endless supply of hot water for your home for less.
And not only that, in these small and compact Bosch tankless products there is a potential to save up to 50 % of energy when comparing to the tank-type heaters while producing enough hot water for multiple showers, bathtubs, kitchens, small or large houses. This is very important as the water heating accounts for close to 20% of energy usage in the North American home.
Bosch tankless water heaters - Buying tips
Bosch tankless water heaters are found in a variety of types and sizes; condensing and non-condensing (conventional), small for single and large for multiple applications. Some Bosch tankless products can be used in solar, recirculation and space heating applications and also in mobile homes.
Top selling models
Advantages and benefits
Great savings
Bosch tankless water heaters have a tank-less design allowing users to utilize hot water anytime, in endless supply and only when the hot water is needed, which eliminates the standby heat loss, resulting in high energy savings. For example, the best Bosch tankless water heater, Therm ES 1210, with its 98% energy efficiency has only 2% in heat loss, while the tank type has over 20%.
As the Bosch condensing water heaters are designed with the pre-mix combustion process, this brings even more benefits to the users; higher energy factor for more savings, low NOx gas emission for better environmental protection and lower exhaust temperature allowing cheaper venting pipes and flexible installation.
Quality heat exchangers
Every Bosch tankless water heater is equipped with the heat exchanger made of corrosion-resistant copper, while the condensing models also utilize secondary one made of the combination aluminum/copper. The quality of the heat exchangers is significant due to the constant exposure to high thermal stress coming from the powerful gas burners.
High performance
The gas burner can to modulate its power, so the heater consumes only the energy that is needed for heating, reducing the operating costs. The efficiency and performance of the water heaters are maintained high as the models come with the Scale Prevention system. Dual fan, modulating vertical gas burner and built-in turbulators work together to reduce or prevent the scale buildup inside the narrow passages of the heat exchangers, therefore, preventing the high thermal stress and premature failure.
A vertical fully modulating gas burner ensures clean gas burning while the active bypass makes sure that there is less fluctuation in the outgoing water temperature, increasing the comfort when taking a shower, for example.
Advanced electronics
The best water heaters from Greentherm and Therm series come with the built-in electronic control board, so the LCD display and provided buttons are used to check, monitor and control the temperature, program and check the error codes using the advanced diagnostic system.
Best models to buy
Bosch 1210ESThe best models to buy from Bosch tankless product group are condensing models, coming from the Therm and Greentherm series.
Bosch Therm ES 1210 is the most powerful unit from this manufacturer, used in both residential and commercial applications, and it comes with the gas burner that can produce high 225,000 Btu and provide ultra-high efficiency of close to 98%, making it ASME rated and ultra-efficient.
The high hot water flow of 12.1 GPM makes it capable of delivering hot water to large homes with multiple applications (up to 4 bathrooms operating at the same time). For even larger applications where higher flow rates are required, Bosch Therm ES 1210 can be combined into the cascade system with up to 24 units.
As most of the tankless water heaters, Therm ES 1210 is factory built to heat water to 140 F controlled by the electronic system. If the higher temperature of hot water is needed in residential applications, buy Bosch Greentherm C 1050 as it can achieve the temperature of up to 184 F, when using the high temp kit. This model has the same size as the above Therm ES 1210 but is designed with the maximum gas power of 199,000 Btu and energy efficiency of 96%, making it eligible for Energy Star compliance and different incentives.
The small size of 18" x 31" x 11" and weight of 74 lbs combined with the flexible venting, allows easy wall-mount installation almost anywhere inside the house, even outside when using the outdoor models.
Model selection
- Bosch Therm C 1210 ES condensing - the most powerful and with the highest water flow rate
- Bosch Greentherm C 1050 condensing - largest Energy Star model
- Bosch Greentherm C 950 ES condensing
- Bosch Therm C 940 ES non-condensing - highest capacity of non-condensing models
- Bosch Therm C 830 ES non-condensing
Key benefits of the best models
- On-demand water heating
- An endless supply of hot water
- High savings of 50% when comparing to tank-type
- Small and compact for easy handling and wall installation
- Versatile in using different fuel sources (natural and propane gas), multiple installation options and venting configuration
- High efficient
- Advanced electronics and diagnostics system
- Modulating gas burner for an increased comfort
- Opportunity to provide hot water as a single unit or combined with other models
- Low greenhouse gas emission
- Long warranty of 15 years
- Average life expectancy of 20+ years
Warranty
Due to the high-quality features and inside elements, Bosch tankless water heaters are protected with the long 15-year warranty on the heat exchanger and 5 years on other parts. According to the manufacturer, the life expectancy is over 20 years.
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