Ecosmart Eco 18 tankless water heater review

Ecosmart has released a series of tankless water heaters that runs on electricity. This series contain water heaters with different power ratings catering for different household capacities.

The Eco 18 tankless water heater from this series has an energy efficiency of 99.8%, making is a green product that is worth considering and covered in my green product reviews. There is also the EcoSmart interactive sizing guide to decide the ideal model for your location.

So without further a due, here is my review for this electric tankless water heater.

Benefits of having a Ecosmart Eco 18

Production Capacity of 3.5 GPM

The Eco 18 is a mid-range model that can produce 3.5 gallons per minute (GPMs) of heated water making it perfect for a large apartment or a town home with up to 3 people. For cool climates, this electric tankless water heater can handle a shower and a sink whereas in warmer climate it can handle two showers and two sinks.   

Well-designed aesthetics

This Ecosmart tankless water heater possesses a stylish and compact design that is both pleasing and space-saving. It possesses copper and stainless steel components that are both durable and easy to replace. The display on this electric tankless water heater lights up whenever it’s switched on giving an indication of the selected water temperature.

Digital control of temperature

The Ecosmart Eco 18 digital controls allow 1-degree Fahrenheit increments in water temperature allowing a lot of flexibility and accuracy in temperature control.

Additional Features

There are built-in safety features in the form of thermostats on the inlet and outlet to disable the current if temperatures exceed a safe level.

Green Product

The Ecosmart Eco 18 has an energy efficiency of 99.8% showing that there is minimal wastage of energy when it is being used. All Ecosmart tankless water heaters has the most advanced, self-modulating technology allowing the adjustment of the amount of input energy based on how much hot water is needed allowing savings of up to 50% on water heating costs.

Summary of Specifications for Ecosmart Eco 18

	Specifications
Colour	White
Dimensions	18 in. x 14 in. x 3.75 in.
Weight	11.25 lbs
Voltage	240V
Temperature Range	80 Deg Fahrenheit to 140 Deg Fahrenheit (26 Deg Celsius to 60 Deg Celsius)
KW	18kW
Phase	Single
Temperature Control	Digital
Pipe Fittings	3/4" NPT
Energy Efficiency	99.8%
Certification	ETL Listed to UL 499 & CSA
Warranty	Limited lifetime warranty for mainland US and Canada

How does the Ecosmart Eco 18 rate on popular websites?

Amazon

164 customers at Amazon give the Ecosmart Eco 18 an average rating of 4.4/5.0. Out of 164 customers, 106 customers gave it 5.0/5.0.

Home Depot

56 customers at Home Depot give the Ecosmart Eco 18 an average rating of 4.3/5.0. Out of 56 customers, 33 customers gave it 5.0/5.0.

Sears

1 customer at Sears gave the Ecosmart Eco 18 a rating of 1.0/5.0. However in lieu of the unhelpfulness of the comment, I did not include it into the calculation of the average ratings for this product.

Walmart

The Ecosmart Eco 18 is also available on Walmart but there was no customer review available for this product.

Customer Reviews on the Ecosmart Eco 18

I have read through recent reviews by customers published on reputable websites that offer this electric tankless water heater. The constructive comments plus feedback have been extracted and summarised into the pros and cons below.

The Pros

The Ecosmart Eco 18 has earned favourable reviews for it’s:

Ease of installation; The Eco 18 runs on electricity therefore it is suitable for installation for most households and so will not require any additional modifications unlike models that run on propane or natural gas.

Functionality; this electric tankless water heater has been mentioned to fulfil its purpose in providing enough hot water for a household of up to 3 people. However a suggestion made by a customer to not turn on the tap at full flow at all times to ensure a more consistent spread of hot water.

Consistent water flow; there have been comments by customers that this Ecosmart tankless water heater provides more consistent hot water flow than similar models from established brands like Bosch.The LED display screen and the temperature knob has also been mentioned as favourable points allowing for easy setting and reading of the temperature.

Space-saving design; there have been cases where there were installation below counter and behind double sinks for accommodations like log cabins.

Reduction in electrical bills; customers have reported a decrease in their electrical bills due to this unit’s ability to heat up water only when it is required.

After sales service; Ecosmart technical support staff has also been mentioned to be very helpful and responsive to customers queries on topics like installation and selecting a suitable model for your household.  

The Cons

There have been some mentioned cons about the Eco 18. They are as follows;

Final assembly quality; there have been mentions about the low quality of the assembled product like loose riveting and weak enclosure for the internal components. However to be fair there were also positive feedback about the good integrity of the components so carry out a thorough check of your product upon arrival.

Higher cost and additional parts required for installation; as mentioned by customers, this electric tankless water heater requires heavier wiring than most old similar units. Usage of heavy wire might cause an increase in installation costs.

The two double pole 40 amp breakers required for the installation of this tankless water heater were also mentioned by customers with the main grouse being the lack of space in their household breaker box in the accommodating these breakers.

Design flaw in cold water inlet line; there is a filter screen in the cold water inlet line for preventing the entry of crud into the unit which is similar to the one found on a washing machine intake hose.

Removal of this screen for cleaning might be difficult once the unit is fixed especially if it plugs during use causing a reduction or stoppage in flow rate. One good way as suggested by a customer is to install an inline water filter prior to installation of the unit.

Warranty

Ecosmart U.S. L.L.C. offers the original purchaser at the original address or the authorized transferee of such purchaser in mainland USA and Canada a limited lifetime warranty for Ecosmart Tankless Water Heater and its components to be free from defects in materials and workmanship, under normal use and service if these two criteria are fulfilled;

1) The date of installation for the purchased unit is within thirty (30) days from dated receipt by a licensed electrician and plumber (specific proof required) maintained in accordance with the enclosed written instructions.

2) The warranty will only take effect upon the receiving of the completed warranty registration by Ecosmart US offices via fax, mail or website within (30) days of receipt of product. The warranty registration is included in the operating and maintenance manual supplied with each new product.

For customers staying in areas outside mainland USA (excluding Canada), a 5 years limited warranty will be extended.

Best Deals for Ecosmart Eco 18

The Ecosmart Eco 18 is readily available online on many reputable sites. However among the sites, I discovered that Amazon generally offers the product at a lower prize. So if you are interested after reading this review, here is the link Best Deals for Ecosmart Eco 18.

 
(Download the quick installation guide for Ecosmart Eco 18)

(Download the troubleshooting guide for Ecosmart Eco 18)

(Download the warranty guide for Ecosmart Eco 18)

(Download the interactive guide for Ecosmart Eco 18)

 

 

 

(Published on 18th January 2015)

(Last updated 3rd March 2015)