There are two basic types of small water heaters: tank and tankless. This buying guide is specifically for choosing a point of use mini tank water heater. These water heaters have a small tank where it stores a few gallons of hot water for instant use without a cold water delay.
What is a point of use water heater?
This is a small water heater that is installed very close to the hot water faucet. It is usually installed on the wall above or underneath the water basin. It can be used to heat cold water or to heat warm water coming from a large central water heater. A point of use water heater reduces the waiting period for hot water. There are two basic types available: those with a small tank and those without a tank.
Tankless vs. Mini Tank Water Heater
A tankless water heater heats up cold water that passes through it. It does not store hot water and therefore only uses electricity when the hot water tap is used. There is also no limit to how long you have hot water because the water is continuously heated as it flows through the tankless water heater. However, you still need to run the tap for a short period until the water becomes hot enough.
The installation of a point of use tankless water heater requires an electrician’s touch. It is hard-wired into the house panel with the correct cord and amp breaker. Therefore, a tankless water heater, such as the Rheem RTEX models, provides an unbroken supply of hot water (go here to read my review).
A mini tank water heater will heat, store and reheat a few gallons of water per hour. This provides hot water without delay and without wasting water. However, this instant hot water comes at a cost. Heat will be lost through the connected pipes, even though the mini tank itself is well insulated. Nevertheless, you can insulate the pipes that are connected to the water heater to reduce unnecessary heat loss.
Most mini tank water heaters have an electric cord that is plugged into a 120V household outlet. Therefore, a mini tank water heater is relatively easy to install and provides instant hot water, but it uses more electricity to keep the water warm. It only supplies a few gallons of hot water at a time before it needs to heat the cold water again. Still, if you are worried about wasting water, then it will save more water when compared to a tankless unit.
Bosch Point Of Use Mini Tank Water Heater
The Bosch Tronic 3000 T series water heater has a glass-lined mini tank which stores hot water and keeps it at the desired temperature. There are three mini-tank sizes and models in the series.
The Tronic 3000 T ES2.5 has a 2.5-gallon glass-lined mini tank. The ES4 has a 4-gallon tank. These are both plug-in type water heaters that require a 120-volt outlet. The water fittings are 1/2-inch male NPT, which will fit most sink plumbing systems.
The ES8 is the largest model in the series. It has a 7-gallon tank with 3/4-inch male NPT water fittings. It does not have a plug and therefore needs to be hard-wired into the electrical house panel.
The Tronic 3000 T is a good choice for applications that require only a few gallons of hot water per hour. It is large enough for the sink and dishwasher, but too small for the shower. It provides a good balance between price, performance and installation (read my full review).
Ecosmart Electric Mini Tank Water Heater
The Ecosmart Eco Mini small tank water heater series is another option that you can look at. It can be used for heating cold water. If the bathroom or kitchen is located far away from the main water heater, then it can be connected to the hot water line to cut down the waiting period. It supplies hot water almost immediately from its internal tank.
The Ecosmart Eco Mini is available in four different sizes. The smallest model has a 1-gallon tank, while the largest unit has a 6-gallon tank capacity. It is plugged into a 110-volt outlet, but you might have to buy and add the plug end to the included electric cord. The pressure relief valve is included with the unit. It seems like the Ecosmart Eco Mini is relatively easy to install because it can be plugged into a 110V outlet.
Best Point Of Use Mini Tank Water Heater
Tankless water heaters are more expensive to buy than a mini tank water heater. However, they use less energy in the long run because they only heat up the water when the tap is used. A mini-tank water heater turns on and off to keep the water in its tank at the desired temperature throughout the day. Therefore, it probably uses more electricity.
The amount of water that a mini tank water heater provides is limited to only a few gallons per hour. Therefore, it does not provide enough hot water for a shower or bath tub. It is more appropriate for the kitchen sink, bathroom basin or dishwasher. You should consider installing a point of use tankless water heater if you need hot water for a shower or bath tub.
I think that the Bosch Tronic 3000 T provides the best balance between price, popularity and performance. It is easy to install, but you might have to provide a way for the included pressure relief valve to release extra pressure through a pipe into a drain or a suitable container. The smaller sizes are corded electric and can be plugged into a 120V outlet. However, the 7-gallon unit needs to be hard-wired. You may view online prices for the Bosch Tronic 3000 T on Amazon.
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