Living with a undersized Ecosmart Eco 11 Electric Tankless Hot Water Heater (No Regrets)
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- Опубликовано: 8 июн 2024
- The Ecosmart 11.8 is able to produce hot water for my house in winter but only at a rate of 1.5 gallons per minute and only one hot water tap at a time. This video is dedicated to fully understanding what it means to only have 1.5gpm of hot water and how to live with it. My house is a one bathroom with a total of 4 hot water taps and it works for me. I bought this unit for the energy savings and for the price, the Eco 11 costs less then half the price of a 30 gallon water heater. I fully expect this unit to perform much better during spring, summer and fall but as of the creation of this video it is working for my family during a north central Texas winter. The trick to using a undersized flash hot water heater during winter is a simple as replacing leaking faucets, installing water efficient shower heads that match the output of the heater and telling the family to not use hot water while someone is in the shower. Following these steps and you can have a unlimited 1.5gpm of hot water providing you with very high quality showers that last as long as you want them to.
Ecosmart 11.8 220 volt 54 ampere 11.8Kw
Mfr #ECO11
The problem with a undersized tankless water heater is that it very easy to overload the system by flowing more water then it can heat past the heating elements leading to lower then desirable water temperatures.
System Overload
www.eccotemp.com/blog/6-commo...
"Depending on your tankless water heater's capacity, too many simultaneous hot water applications (such as multiple showers running) can overload your water heater. Your water heater may struggle to supply the hot water needed or shut down altogether if it becomes overloaded. If this happens, you should reduce the demand for hot water by limiting simultaneous applications, and you may want to consider resetting your unit. However, if your tankless water heater frequently becomes overloaded, you should consider either upgrading to a tankless water heater with a higher capacity or adding a second unit. Although a second unit might seem like a large investment, it can actually save you money in the long run since you’ll use less water while waiting for hot water to arrive and less gas to heat the water."
Timestamps
0:00 Intro to Ecosmart 11.8
3:53 Unboxing
5:48 Reading the instruction manual
9:16 Deciding where to install the Eco11
11:04 Measuring how much water my faucets flow
14:06 Installing the Ecosmart Water Heater
17:17 Repairing hot water valve on tub faucet
19:15 How much water can I heat with Tankless water heater?
24:20 Testing flow rates and outlet temperature
33:38 Will the EcoSmart 11.8 work in your climate?
38:32 Why you need a low flow shower head with a eco 11
41:00 Installing a Handheld Niagara Earth Massage 1.5 gpm
44:27 Tub diverter valve leak repair, it was leaking 2gpm
48:33 Insulating pipes under the house, asbestoses!
53:30 Water heating power calculator
55:42 Conclusion How to live with a undersized tankless water heater
#tanklesswaterheater
#tankless
mini tankless water heater
electric tankless water heater installation 
Хобби
The ECO 11 is a 11.8kw electric tankless water heater is probably the smallest capacity tankless electric heater you could run a house from. It functions for me in a north Texas winter in my 1 bathroom house but would probably not work for those who live in colder climates. This unit is only able to bring 1.5 gallons per minute up to temperature with the winter water inlet temperatures of 54 F I have at my house. This turns out to be just enough to run one hot water tap at a time. Running this small water heater through a 1.5GPM shower head produces very nice and very hot showers but if another family member was to run a different hot water tap simultaneously while I was in the shower the heater would be overloaded and the water temps would plummet down from 105 F to around 80 F. I imagine it can produce a much larger volume of hot water in the summer but since I have only been using it for a week at the time of publishing this video I have no first hand experience with summer use yet. I am so sorry for the length of this video but I have chapters and time stamps so you can skip around the video to save yourself some time. the very last chapter in this video kind of sums up how limited the hot water capacity is at 55:54.
This is a great video. I recently got a ECO 18 installed, bought it from Amazon for a little over $300. It cost me a lot to upgrade the panel and get the electrical done by the contractor. I live DFW area. My home has two bathrooms. My heater is set to 120 degrees and I've also installed a Niagara show head. It's been working pretty well, even in the last week's freezing cold days. I'll probably upgrade to the 27kw one in near future.
This was an awesome and well put together video. Thanks for this.
I installed the same unit and it is great , If you change the shower handles to single control it you will be 100% happier
Mine is working great. I just had my birthday and I was showing it off to my friends and guests. “See this shoe box sizes thing? It’s my water heater” then I crank it up and let them see how hot it gets. Literally I had my friend Justin in the bathroom feeling the strong water pressure of my 1.5 GPM shower head as steam rolls out from around it. My experience with this eco 11 has been really good. I just went a little hard on it in the video just because having to come to terms with its capabilities took me a second to learn and during editing I felt it might be useful to someone out there to see exactly what it was like for me to Learn how to use it properly. If had put a flow restriction on it like the instructions recommended in the first place I wouldn’t have been motivated to replace my fixtures with water efficient units. So in the long run I think I got a better outcome. I bet a single mixing knob on the shower would be very nice. Might need to upgrade in the future.
What a great video. Thanks for leaving it long. It really helps me. So much practical information. I'm trying to decide between a ECO 11 and 18. Since I live up north I think I'll take your advice and go with the 18. This is great information for someone thinking about puttting one of these in. Great job showing how much the water flow matters and how to fix it.
It was a trial by fire and learning experience for me. I just happened to film it. I’m very glad it was useful. Thank you.
Simply outstanding!👏👏 Thank you so much for making this video!💖👍👍👍👍👍👍
just bought one on amazon 202 and change.opened it up and saw that it was previously installed!
Thank you ‼️ I was about to make a mistake installing the 11. Up graded to the 18.
Great information 👍🏻
That really makes me happy to hear. Sometimes I worry my videos are way to long and unruly for people. For whatever reason I just can’t help myself when I’m editing them and feel in the moment that the full length story is what is needed even when it isn’t always what is wanted. My 11 is still running one hot water tap at a time perfectly all this time later. The three of us in the house have learned not to ruin each other’s showers. My girlfriend really like having the temperature control right there in the kitchen and will crank up for dishes or mopping and back down for showers.
I enjoyed this! Thanks for the video
I got one when the Hot Water Heater in my building needed to be replaced, and the Landlord said he'll fix it when he gets back from Hawaii. Like you said..... it's a small unit, and it only provides Good Hot Showering Water for a little while, and then it starts to cool down, as it can only hold so much water. Then you have to stop, and wait for it to heat up some more water. But it works! It's better than a Cold Shower! And YES it Does work in the North! I'm in Victoria, BC, Canada! Not Victoria, Texas!!!
I installed the Eco 8 in a guest-tiny house I built in my backyard, using a low flow shower head and faucets makes a huge difference. Also, opening the water flow up all of the way then reducing the flow keeps the water very warm to hot.
Some people have complained about a buzzing sound or even had a fire, these units should be on their own circuit with the correct amps. You should not piggyback.
This video was absolutely amazing. Gave me exactly the information I have been after. Real, honest and fair. I live in the UK and my electrical service is limited to 100 amps. So an 11-13 KW instant electric hot water heater, demanding up to 60 amps is the absolute limit of what I can install (unless someone can tell me differently?). This video demonstrated that, if I can operate this unit off my electrical supply, this would work for me too, in my 1 bedroom house. Thank you so much for taking the effort to make this video🙂
One question: does it make any noise when it is operating?
The only noise it makes sounds a little bit like a clock ticking. I think it comes from whatever device measures water flow. It’s a very quiet noise, just sounds like something is spinning in there much kitchens timer except maybe a third or less of the volume.
@@BenHuttash Thank you for the reply. You're awesome. I didn't expect it to be so quiet. Also forgot to mention I enjoyed the long length of the video and I'm eagerly waiting for your video where you do the maintenance on it.
@Hangglider I'm in the UK too, also in a one bed flat. Have you installed one of these eventually and if so how did it work? I'm considering doing the same so any advice from real life experience would be much appreciated. Thank you!
@@nofun77 I didn't in the end for 2 reasons.
The electrician quoted £1200 for running another electrical circuit plus the cost of the unit and the plumbing would mean the total cost was going to be too high.
The main reason was that I was strongly advised not to go from a vented system (low pressure) to an unvented system (mains pressure) as this would most likely cause water leaks running the pipes at the higher pressure. Fine if all your pipework is accessible but not all mine is.
I have exactly that set up. Hooked up just like your with 1/2" pex. Mine ROCKS. I live in N E Ohio. . . . . Maybe you need to turn your temp up ?
The only reason I need one is I am on a monthly check SSDI and my electric 20gl water heater busted and I can only afford so much.I found these on eBay for 40-80 bucks each.But if I can get a 5-8 min shower and wash dishes in above lukewarm then it's perfect.
Restrict the flow of your shower to 1.5 gallons per minute with a efficient shower head and you can have unlimited hot showers for as long as you want.
Thanks Ben
Very nice and interesting video. I purchased an Ecosmart system for a newly renovated house I bought 2 years ago and I'm just now using it for the first time last week 😅 took me a little longer to renovate and get moved in then what I was hoping lol. I live in northern KY, my water inlet is in the dark green part of the map on the box and I actually talked to someone from Ecosmart to help me with chosing my system. They recommend the 21kw system, so naturally I decided to go with the 24kw unit 😆 these things are truly amazing and goes above and beyond. Showers are to hot to handle, Unfortunately the only issue I have with mine is I get a E5 (error code) when trying to run a hot bath. Apparently I'm exceeding the GPM the unit can handle. Is there any remedy to this, that doesn't involve installing a new water efficient tub faucet?
I don’t have an answer for this but maybe someone will come along with it. I am also enjoying my ecosmart. Once I dialed it in with my low flow fixtures I’ve had zero issues. I enjoyed you comment, thank you.
I need ask what are the connections that you use to go from compression to PEX?
Hi, I can understand a valve on the cold inlet to the unit, but why a valve on the hot outlet? Couldn't you just open some faucets to drain the hot lines?
Have you considered running a second eco11 unit in parrallel?
The two different wattage ratings are listed depending on which voltage it is hooked up to. 220v vs 240v
That makes sense. I’m still using this heater and I like it. Once I got my water usage under control I learned to love it. One of my friends just got a huge house with three water heaters in it. I scold her as often as possible and gloat about my one water heater the size of a shoebox.
Hi this water heater can be work in Europe 220v/50Hz
Upgrading from a 15 gallon water heater, the race to take a shower can officially end. I'd get maybe 5 minutes before it turned into an ice bucket challenge. Just ordered this on sale for 220$ on amazon. Let's see how she fairs.
Don’t forget a low flow shower head. I am really happy with my unlimited hot water. My 9 year old takes forever showers and always left us without hot water. The flash heater solved that problem.
@@BenHuttash definitly, i'll have to pick one up. I live in southern florida, so i'm hoping that extra advertised average tap water temperature will make a difference.
@@Smashachu I bet it will. Here in Texas during the summer I can run the Bathtub faucet full blast and get the water as hot as I want it. the low flow shower head is a winter adaptation for sure.
Flow regulator is your fossette.
The eco18 is not enough, Eco 27 barely but better have a good 200amp service. Southwest Washington.
Is that a 120v or 240v
It uses a 60 amp 240v breaker at the breaker box and some real big 6 gauge wire. It will draw slightly over 11 kilowatts.
OTHER COUNTRIES JUST PUT THEM IN THEIR SHOWERS
I was thinking about this the other day. With my mini split heat pump and electric tankless coupled with what by American standards is a tiny house at 936 square feet, I am kinda living like European or something. To be totally honest I think about my energy usage quite a bit. I just can’t escape the idea that it’s irresponsible to live big for both financial and energy conservation reasons. To me it really looks like people are just as afraid to intervene in Ukraine out of fear of nukes flying as they are of disrupting the flow of fuels and energy. The whole world is slave to energy some way or another. I just don’t know what to do about it. They say that our personal carbon footprints are not the problem because as an American our government’s federal state and local account for the vast majority of it just by providing the services they do. But the pocketbook is real. Saving energy is a saving money. A dollar saved is a dollar earned. Also a dollar not needed to be earned can translate to clawing back some time to follow our own path and not having to chase the dollar.
@@BenHuttash GO FOR SOLAR AND LARGE BATTERY INVERTERS OR THERE ARE EVEN TANKS YOU CAN PUT WITH SOLAR GLASS TUBES ATTACHED TO HEAT UP THE WATER IN YOUR HOUSE ALSO YOU CAN PAINT THE WATER TANK BLACK AS THIS WILL HEAT UP THE WATER FASTER BUT MUST BE ON HIGHER GROUND SO YOU DONT NEED A PUMP. ALSO THE EARTH WILL HANDLE WHATEVER WE PUT IT THRU BECAUSE EVERYTHING IS FROM THE EARTH AND WILL RETURN TO IT NATURALLY CARBON FOOTPRINT ONLY HARMS THE HUMANS THAT LIVE ON IT BECAUSE OF OXYGEN TO OTHER GASES RATIO. ALSO COUNTRIES NEVER NUKE BCUZ ITS BAD FOR BUSINESS AND WHAT THEY ARE REALLY THERE FOR. ID BE MORE WORRIED ABOUT THE INFLATION THAT IS CAUSED BY WARS AND JUST WATCH THE PRICE OF A GALLON OF MILK AND YOULL KNOW THAT ITS TRIPLED IN PRICE IN THE LAST 2 MONTHS BEFORE ALL THIS STARTED.
I have an Eco 18, and it draws so much electricity that it practically shuts the entire house down. The lights flicker, the washing machine front panel lights up and beeps, and the lights inside the refrigerator flicker. I HATE EcoSmart products, and DO NOT recommend them for anyone!!!!!
Sounds like your breaker or fuse is undersized. You probably need a 60amp breaker and VERY THICK wire. 6 AWG most likely. ....if that's not in order don't blame the tank
-hvac tech
Your HOSES are TOO SMALL for this unit!! This video misleads many viewers to do it WRONG then blame the unit instead of ...as you say "fully understanding?" WRONG. This video fully misleads! I have seen people install these ECO 11's wrong before and I am tired of seeing these damned bad mistakes where the unit is being blamed for incorrect installation since too many times they don't understand hose size and flow capacity. Your hoses ARE TOO SMALL! That's why you have no flow and only run one shower at a time! You need the LARGE BORE braided jacket HEATER HOSES (that is what you can ask for by term) intended for the INLET AND OUTLET you can get at any Home Depot or hardware outlet. This misleads those unfamiliar with flow and the designed inlet flow is to be from the same home inlet pipes leading to what was your Hot Water Heater inlet pipe to your original water heater tank. Just attach a Shark Bite connector and ball valve to what was the inlet and outlet pipes of your now-removed tank, then your heater hose to the unit. That will provide the proper flow... You are trying to take a shower through essentially drinking straw size hoses intended for toilets and sinks instead of household water lines! I'm really not being too critical but WT Heck Man...C'mon!! BEFORE you make a video... find out how it SHOULD be done.
Water temperature is the same all year long. What you say about summer and winter temperatures with respect to input water is completely wrong. In other words, you have no idea what you are talking about.
Sorry dude, we have above ground water towers and shallow buried water lines here in Texas. The inlet water temps do I fact vary greatly from winter to summer. In August the water from the tap isn’t even refreshing to drink. Does your water come from a well or something? I’m trying to imagine how water temperatures can always be the same for you.
@@BenHuttash any water that comes from more than 5 feet underground does not vary in temperature anytime of year. This is a global fact. Water temp is equal to the average temperature of the location you get water from.
Sorry Jeff , you are incorrect...
dear Jeff...why lie?
Hey Jeff, eat a Snickers.