Washing your hands or cleaning dirty dishes in cold or lukewarm water during the freezing winter months is uncomfortable and frustrating. What you need is an electric water heater with a tiny tank to provide hot water where you need it. The Bosch Tronic 3000 T series electric mini-tank water heaters can provide a few gallons of hot water almost instantly.
Mini-Tank Volume Of The Bosch Tronic 3000 T
The Bosch Tronic 3000 T series has a small glass-lined inner water tank insulated by CFC-free foam insulation. There are three tank volume sizes to choose from: 2.5-gallon, 4-gallon and 7-gallon.
The water heater provides almost instant hot water. However, the small size of the internal mini-tank means that it only provides enough hot water for the kitchen sink, but not enough for filling a bathtub or enjoying a shower.
Recovery Rate
The hot water recovery rate for these water heaters will be 6.8 GPH at 90 degrees Fahrenheit. The recovery rate will be shorter or longer depending on the temperature of the incoming cold water. Overall, it provides a good temperature recovery.
Water Pressure
The Bosch Tronic 3000 T has a water pressure range of 150 psi. If the water pressure in your water system is too high, then you will have to install a water pressure regulator to prevent unnecessary leaking from the pressure relief valve on top of the unit. You need to provide a way for the excess water to drain away safely from the relief valve. This might be tricky if it is installed inside a cabinet.
Temperature Range
The temperature range of the water heater is between 65 and 145 degrees Fahrenheit. You can control the temperature by turning the external dial on the front. It seems like the plastic dial is a little hard to turn, so leave it on the ideal setting once you have figured out how hot you want the water to be.
Power Source
These are corded electric water heaters. The power requirements are 120V / 12A for a total of 1440 watts. Check the specific model’s manual for the recommended wire gauge and amp breaker. It seems like the 2.5-gallon and 4-gallon units can be plugged in, but the 7-gallon unit needs to be hard-wired.
Installation Of The Bosch Tronic 3000 T
The Bosch Tronic 3000 T electric mini-tank water heaters are installed at the point-of-use for a sink in the bathroom, kitchen, garage, cabin, RV, powder room or pool house. It can be fixed to the wall with the included wall bracket. It can also be installed underneath the sink or even mounted on the floor.
You should consider the position of the temperature pressure relief valve before you install the unit. It sometimes releases small amounts of water through the relief valve as a safety measure. This could cause moisture problems if it is installed inside a cabinet. Therefore, you might have to find some way to connect it to the drain or provide a container into which the excess water can flow without causing a mess.
The 2.5-gallon and 4-gallon units have 1/2″ male NPT fittings. The 7-gallon unit has 3/4″ male NPT water fittings. You connect the cold water line into the water heater and then connect the hot water line from the heater to the tap. It is also possible to connect it inline with an existing hot water line in order to speed up the availability and reliability of the hot water coming from the main water heater.
Bosch Tronic 3000 T: Verdict
The Bosch Tronic 3000 T mini-tank electric water heater is a possible solution to a hot water problem if the kitchen sink or bathroom basin is located too far away from the main water heater. Waiting a minute or two for hot water to reach the tap is neither comfortable nor economical. These small water heaters can provide almost instant hot water when and where you need it.
The mini-tank water heater is easy to install if you have the right tools and some experience. You can also hire a plumber or an electrician to install it safely.
The biggest problem with this mini-tank water heater is that it releases excess hot water from its pressure relief valve. This is an important safety measure, but it can be annoying and messy. Therefore, you might have to create some kind of drainage connection or container to drain away this excess water.
The Bosch Tronic 3000 T seems like a good gadget that heats cold water very quickly. It supplies enough hot water for washing hands or for cleaning dirty dishes. The mini-tank is too small to fill a bathtub or to provide enough water for a long shower. Nevertheless, it might be installed as a hot water booster for faucets that are located far from the primary water heater (buy on Amazon).