EcoSmart is one of the leaders in the tankless water heater market in the USA. All EcoSmart models are manufactured in the USA, and that gives them more credit on the market. They offer a wide variety of products. Water heaters with various powers that can fit any home. You can choose from powerful water heaters to less powerful water heaters.
If you like the simple solution, you can always get their Eco Mini model, which has a mini tank for instant hot water. The mini models are affordable and simple to install, but if you need a real water heater, you should get the EcoSmart Eco series.
What you choose in the end depends on your needs, electric installations in your home, and your budget. Let’s take a look at what EcoSmart offers.
EcoSmart ECO 36
This powerful model uses 36Kw, which is more than enough to provide hot water for a whole house. Even if your home is large and you have several water sinks or even showers, this monster will be able to provide hot water. With such great powers comes a high cost.
| Feature | Info |
|---|---|
| Design | Sleek and compact design with digital output temperature display. |
| Made in | Manufactured in United States. |
At the start, this model costs more than other models, and you will have to make sure your house has proper electricity. You will need 150AMPs breakers that are dedicated only to this device. Also, you will need four 8AWG wires. This model likes to use high power to provide huge water heater.
Patented self-modulating technology will make sure this tankless water heater works without a problem even if outside water drops below 30°F. Northern parts of the USA can use it without a problem; even at such cold water, this water heater can provide hot water for two showers running simultaneously.
EcoSmart ECO 36 is a small and well-designed water heater made with high-quality copper and stainless parts. On the front panel, you can adjust the temperature, which is visible on display. The LCD display will tell you the exact water temperature.
EcoSmart ECO 27
EcoSmart ECO 27 is exactly the same model as the ECO 36, and the only difference between them is that ECO 27 uses less energy. Which also means that ECO 27 is the less powerful tankless water heater. In fact, the whole 9Kw less powerful.
| Feature | Info |
|---|---|
| Low costs | Savings of up to 50% on water heating costs. |
| Easy replacement components | Copper and stainless components designed for efficiency, durability and easy replacement. |
Still, 27Kw is more than enough power to supply a whole house with hot water. This model can also be used in large homes and supply two or even more showers simultaneously depending on the outside water temperature.
This EcoSmart model can also be used in cold Northern parts thanks to patented self-modulating technology that will adjust the water heater to the hot water demands.
This model requires three 40AMPs breakers while 36Kw model needs four. This also means that this model needs three 8AWG wires.
Ecosmart ECO 27 is 2 inches smaller than 36kw, so if the most powerful model doesn’t fit in your home, maybe try with ECO 27.
EcoSmart ECO 24
All EcoSmart water heaters will save you money in the long run. They are tankless water heaters, and there is no standby loss. The manufacturer claims that the savings can be up to 60%. Thanks to the advanced technology used in the heating water, these models are very energy efficient.
| Feature | Info |
|---|---|
| Low costs | Save up to 60-percent on your water heating cost with an ECOSMART electric tankless water heater. |
| Tankless | Never run out of hot water with an ECOSMART tankless water heater. |
Now ECO 24 is only 3Kw less powerful than ECO 27. It has the same dimensions and almost the same price. Not sure why the manufacturer released this model that is identical to the previous one, but the reason may be that with less power, it may save more on energy in the long run. But I am not sure about that.
You will still need three 40 AMPs breakers and three 8AWG wires. As you can see, you are not saving initially on anything by choosing this less powerful model, and my advice can only be to take ECO 27 unless there is a significant price difference between them. There is no other reason why you should choose ECO 24 instead of ECO 27. If some expert plumber knows the reason I would gladly listen, post it in the reply box below.
EcoSmart ECO 18
ECO 18 is not that different than others if we look at the price, design, production quality, and smart technology. In fact, it is also the same model as others on the list. It is a few hundred cheaper than others, but it is also weaker.
| Feature | Info |
|---|---|
| Save money | EcoSmart tankless water heaters only turn on when you need hot water – plus they cut down on heat loss, saving you up to 50% in water heating costs. |
| Save Space | Traditional tank heaters take up a lot of space. But EcoSmart’s sleek, wall-mounted design frees up floor space for more storage. |
The low power of 18Kw is good if you live in the southern parts of the USA. However, if you are in Northern parts or let’s say Alaska, you may have real trouble with this water heater. Don’t get me wrong; you will still get hot water, but it won’t be as much hot water you will get if you are living in a warm climate.
The good news is that this tankless water heater is the smallest on the list. A whole 3 inches smaller than ECO 24. It also needs less powerful electric infrastructure. Two 40 AMPs breakers and two 8AWG wires are all that this model requires.
Pros and Cons of Using ECO Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are a great choice if you like to save money in the long run. EcoSmart ECO tankless water heaters are well built, have great technology, and lots of power to provide hot water even in the coldest parts of the world.
Using electricity as fuel is both an advantage and a disadvantage. A clear disadvantage is that water heaters powered by electricity will spend more money than gas water heaters. However, electric water heaters don’t need ventilation and don’t release dangerous compounds in the air.
However, for a powerful electric water heater like ECO 36, you will need to make a significant investment into electrical infrastructure.
Pros:
Cons:
Installation Cost
I would like to say that you can install this device on your own, but that would be very hard if you are not an electrician. Most probably, your home will need dedicated breakers and special wire to supply this water heater with power. However, pipes are easily connected, and if you hire a plumber, he will not bill you a lot. All he needs to do is connect the hot water pipe to the tankless water heater, and that’s about it. The rest needs to be done by an electrician who will make sure nothing bad happens to electric infrastructure when the water heater works at maximum performance. In short, installation costs will vary a lot, and it all depends on the power of the water heater and the situation in your home.
Choose The Best ECO Water Heater For You!
If you have already decided to get a tankless water heater, then all you need to do is decide on how powerful the device you need. This decision will mainly depend on the climate and hot water demand. If your hot water demands are small, for example, if you are single and live in a small home, even the least powerful ECO 18 will be enough to supply hot water for you even if you live in Alaska.
For large families who simultaneously use hot water, it is highly recommended to go with a more powerful water heater. If you are in a cold climate and you use lots of hot water, it is best to get the most powerful model ECO 36 and sleep calm knowingly that in the morning, even if the whole family uses hot water at once, there will be enough of it for all.
Summary
I hope this EcoSmart ECO review will help you make the right decision. And I hope now you know more about tankless water heaters powered by electricity. They have their advantages and disadvantages which you must know and understand before making a final decision.
