Ecosmart is a privately held company based in Miami, Florida. They’re a company known for their long tradition of making affordable tankless water heaters, and they have a variety of water heating solutions for almost every application.
EcoSmart’s main focus is water heating, and their mission is to manufacture quality green energy products that are efficient and economical for consumers since heating water can account for up to a quarter of the average household’s energy bill when you are relying on traditional water heating methods, particularly storage water heaters.
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General Thoughts on Ecosmart Tankless Water Heaters
EcoSmart produces some of the cheapest tankless water heaters in the market. However, these tankless water heaters do not forfeit quality for price. EcoSmart likes to brag about its patented self-modulating technology which can reduce your household energy consumption substantially. Instead of continually heating water stored in a tank, tankless water heaters operate only when there is a demand for hot water. Opting for this type of water heaters you’ll save up to almost half of your water heating bill as there’s no stand by loss compared to storage tank water heaters. That’s one of the things we love the most about tankless water heaters.
Another great feature about Ecosmart tankless water heaters is their compact design. They can fit into tight spaces quite nicely. That said, it’s highly recommended that your tankless water heater be installed close to where hot water is required, so you can cut down water travel time. This will result in almost instantaneous hot water upon turning on the tap or any other fixtures.
We have reviewed various tankless water heater brands out there, but EcoSmart tankless water heaters remain the most reasonably priced. They are equipped with a revolutionary Flow Sensor technology which eliminates “cold water sandwich” and other unpleasant temperature fluctuation. This translates to a consistent supply of hot water. They are also equipped with a built-in temperature control so you can turn the heat up or down as needed.
EcoSmart Tankless Water Heaters Reviews
Ecosmart ECO 27 Review
The ECO 27 is Ecosmart’s best seller tankless water heater, because it’s a quality product for a very reasonable price. It’s one of the best electric tankless water heater out there. All things considered.
The Ecosmart ECO 27 is built from the ground up with quality in mind. It’s best suited for a relatively large family living in a medium sized home. According to Ecosmart, the ECO 27 model can run up to two sinks and a shower simultaneously in cold climate areas.And in warm climate areas, it can provide enough hot water for three showers and two sinks. That’s impressive especially considering the low price you pay for it.
The ECO 27 is a great choice if you’re looking for a brand name tankless water heater, and don’t want to splurge on the most expensive tankless water heater out there. This model is rated at 27KW at 240 volts. Internally, there are three separate 9 KW heaters operating in sequence based on demand. The ECO 27 features the most advanced, self-modulating technology available. Which means that the energy usage gets adjusted automatically based on how much hot water is needed. In other words, the ECO 27 will not use more heat than the load requires. It is also fitted with a digital temperature control in 1-degree increments, that you can use to turn the heat up or down as needed.
Ecosmart ECO 18 Review
The Ecosmart ECO 18 is a slightly less expensive, slightly less sophisticated version of the ECO 27. It features the same core features, design, and very similar hardware. However, it has a quite low GPM (2.5 GPM) and requires less power compared to the ECO 27.
The Ecosmart ECO 18 model is rated at 9KW at 240 volts. Internally, there are two separate 9 KW heaters operating in sequence based on demand. This unit can use one element at low flow rate and kick in the second as needed.
Additionally, and as with all Ecosmart ECO line of tankless water heaters, the ECO 18 is equipped with copper and stainless components designed for efficiency, durability and easy replacement. It’s also fitted with Ecosmart’s most advanced, self-modulating technology. This means that the energy usage gets adjusted automatically based on how much hot water is needed. It’s also equipped with a digital temperature control which is a great feature to take a shower without having to mix in cold water.
The ECO 18 is best suited for couples or singles living in a condo or appartment. Its compact size (18″ x 14″ x 3.75″) will save you valuable storage space. This model can also be used for higher-volume point-of-use applications.
How to Choose the Best Ecosmart Tankless Water Heater for you?
In order to make an informed buying decision, there are a number of factors you should take into account while you are looking for your EcoSmart tankless water heater including : determining your average ground water temperature, the maximum desired water flow rate and fuel type.
Step 1 : Determining your home’s required temperature rise.
Unlike conventional storage water heaters, tankless water heaters hot water output gets affected by the groundwater temperatures. The colder the water entering the water heater, the lower the GPM (gallon per minute). The same tankless water heater that provides 9 GPM in a warm-climate area (i.e Texas), will only be able to deliver half of that in a cold-climate area (i.e New England).
So, in order to make the right choice, calculate the difference between your ground water temperature and your desired hot water temperature – typically around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This is your required temperature rise.
For example, if you live in Florida, you have a ground water temperature of 67 degrees Fahrenheit. To reach an ideal hot water temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit, subtract 67 from 120. You have a required temperature rise of 53 degrees Fahrenheit.
Refer to this chart to find out which model best suits your needs.
Step 2 : Calculate how much hot water (GPM) you need at any time.
Unlike storage-type water heaters rated by their tank capacity in gallons, tankless water heaters are rated by GPM, which stands for gallon per minute. So, in order to ensure that you’ll never run out of hot water, your tankless water heater’s maximum GPM should never be exceeded.
In order to correctly figure out how much hot water you’ll need, use the chart below to calculate the gallons per minute (GPM) of hot water each of your fixtures and appliances needs and add up these amounts to get a total GPM for your household. For example, if you want to be able to run the shower, and a kitchen faucet simultaneously, you would have a usage of 2.5 – 5.0 gallons per minute depending on the flow rate of your shower, and your kitchen faucet.
| Fixture/Appliance | Typical Flow Rates (GPM) |
|---|---|
| Bathroom Sink | 0.5 - 1.5 |
| Kitchen Faucet | 1.0 - 2.5 |
| Shower | 1.0 - 2.5 |
| Dishwasher | 1.0 - 2.5 |
| Clothes Washer | 1.5 - 3.0 |
| Bathtub | 2.0 - 4.0 |
Now that you determined your required GPM, match your location on the map – shown above – to the corresponding chat below to determine unit capacity.
Step 3 : Pick your EcoSmart tankless water heater unit.
Use your GPM, your location on the map, and the required temperature rise to determine which Ecosmart tankless water heater unit is best for you.
