EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater, 13KW at 240 Volts with Patented Self Modulating Technology

I decided to put in a tankless hot water heater 15 years ago. I am an Engineer and Planner, so a process began. I learned that no local contractors would install a tankless heater. They all said I would not like it.So, I was my own contractor. Through my own research I learned that Ecosmart was a leading supplier and about 20% of tankless water heaters failed in the first year (remember this was over a decade ago and the 20% number is all brands). I looked closely at Ecosmart's charts, our incoming water temperature throughout the year, flow rates for showers, flow rates for sinks, flow rates for baths, my own electrical (I am an Electrical Engineer) and felt the ECO 11 would be marginal as a whole house solution. However, the previous owner's had installed two tank hot water heaters. I decided to try the ECO 11, but keep one tank heater in case it did not work out. I bought that first ECO 11 in March of 2011 and installed it in series following the tank heater (see the photo). Note that at that time, you could only buy Ecosmart product from the company. Here is my experience: The plumber used Teflon tubing to connect the heater, it burst and was replaced with the proper plumbing (yes a licensed plumber messed it up). I had to set the tank water heater to 70F to preheat the incoming water. The flow sensor failed around 16 months, I turned up the tank thermostat and switched to it during the repair, the Ecosmart customer service was great and when they realized I was an EE, they walked me through the repair, after the repair, I switched back to a tank preheat and the ECO 11. It worked flawlessly after that repair for over 12 more years. We saved approximately $15 to $25 per month in electrical utility costs. I love long hot showers.The tank hot water heater had to have a heating element replaced in 2022.Now, December of 2024, our ECO 11 stopped working. I could no longer buy it from Ecosmart and the closest dealer did not have them in stock, but Amazon did. I ordered it from Amazon. It was $100 cheaper than it was in 2011. It took my son and I about 1 hour to replace it and the new one is working.A few changes between the 2011 and 2024 versions: The 2011 version came with a cable. We used that cable in the new unit. Not having it would make installation more difficult. I encourage Ecosmart to include that cable with the new units. There was a communication port on the 2011 not on the 2024. We never used that feature it and it will not be missed. I took a photo of the two units without the cover and included it. With a cover the two units are identical.A few notables: A great value in the payback is less than a year. Pay attention to Ecosmart's charts, they are accurate. The first installation was a long and involved process, but worth it. The replacement installation was easy. Our ECO 11 works as a whole house unit because we preheat the water with a tank water heater. If you live in a warmer climate, an ECO 11 would probably work, but do your measurements and be aware of the drawbacks. We have a few limitations - only one person can shower at a time and if we want a hotter bath, we have to slow down the water flow (or turn up our tank to preheat the water more). I like having a back up to the tankless (I am not sure I would ever depend on a single whole house unit). I like never running out of hot waterMy plans: I am going to try to troubleshoot the old unit. If I get it working, I may replace the tank and use two ECO 11's in series.

This tankless water heater has been a game-changer for our household in PR. Despite its compact size, it delivers the same high-quality heat as our previous tank water heater. The unit efficiently heats the entire house, which is quite remarkable considering its small footprint.

I live in PR so we can get away to by one of these for the whole house. So far the water heater deliver the same quality of heat as the previous water heater with a tank. Actually very impressive that such a small unit can deliver heat in this way to the whole house.

First: It's important to note that I am a retired general contractor and held licenses for both residential and commercial construction.This is certainly not my first rodeo. =) I've had more than 40 years in the business and this unit was used in the remodel of the primary shower of my current house.Original comment:It's been a year since this product was installed and the seals on the heating elements have both failed. The plumber said that they were "product specific" rubber gaskets and after seeing them, (flat on top and sides like a thick washer), I agree, as I have never seen anything like them before. Which IMHO are too small to handle the task. Fortunately, I am also a machinist and have the tools, (and skills), to produce replacement gaskets. I gave it two stars because it did last a year of very light use but would not recommend this product until EcoSmart makes an effort to manufacture a more durable product. Another problem that I have learned to deal with is that the heater will quit after about 10 minutes and then return to service in one or two minutes, as well as chasing the temperature during my showers. Too hot one moment and too cold the next. This has been an issue since the initial installation. When it is replaced, which I feel will be sooner rather than later, it will be with another manufacturers product.Update September 7, 2017:My EcoSmart water heater is still in use and I have changed my rating to 4 stars because I have found readily available silicone "O" rings, which seal very well, at our local big box hardware store. This product still has a slight problem of chasing temperatures but it is much less drastic than when it was first installed. I guess it needs some "Break-In" time, plus the unit no longer uses both heating elements as often.Another note of mention is that we have very high calcium levels in our well water and this coats the heating elements, causing them to heat less efficiently. Now that I have a good seal on the heating chambers, it's much easier to remove the heating elements and clean them with vinegar to remove the calcium. The silicone "O" rings also make a much better seal and can handle the heat of the unit better than standard rubber. When reassembling do not crank the elements too tightly, as this will crush/tear silicone "O" rings and make sure to lube them before installation. Also be certain to run water through the unit before energizing. We have a winter/summer maintenance schedule here and it's working very well.Another note: I have converted the electrical hook-up to a 220V plug and socket to make it easier to remove the unit for maintenance. Still it's very important to turn off it's dedicated breaker. Safety first ALWAYS! Also make certain when installing this unit that your water connections are something that can be detached and reattached easily. I use standard sink hoses to accomplish this. I have also installed a supply water cut-off to the unit so the house's water supply is not effected while performing maintenance.As noted above, maintenance is simple enough and I suggest that the heating elements be swapped from one heating chamber to the next when performing maintenance to keep one element from becoming more used and pitted than the other. It seems that under light usage only one element is activated and when more water flows through the unit, (or your temperature is set high), the second element kicks in. Hence the reason for swapping them during maintenance.Our unit is set to a comfortable shower temperature of 105F. Now we use only the hot water tap when showering and thus only one element is usually active. This also saves water which is very precious here in the Nevada desert. It's also very convenient to turn on only one tap and the temperature is already set where you like it. =)I don't think it would cost too much to have a plumber and electrician handle the installation.Make certain to have them both on the same page about the caveats I've mentioned.(Warranty requires licensed professional installation)If the unit is installed with the 220V plug and socket, detachable water connections and supply water cut-off, it will make maintenance or replacement all the more simple and if someone else is doing the work, more affordable.You can be certain the suggested installation and maintenance tips I've mentioned here are tried and true.If you want to save electricity and water, a tankless system is the only way to go.!!!Final thoughts:All-in-all, I personally find this product to be worth the cost and if installed properly should last a long time. EcoSmart put a lot of ingenuity into this product and I feel somewhat confident they have addressed the heating chamber seals by now. Have your plumber inspect them before final installation, just to be safe.Living on top of diatomaceous earth poses a very unique danger to all plumbing fixtures but if you have city water there is not much need for maintenance. I think that my installation suggestions will alleviate any problems you might have in the future. After all, everything has a certain life span. =)