Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

UPDATE: 1. Rheem has gotten greedy - they've raised the price of this unit 81% since I purchased, from $193 to $349. 2. EcoSmart ECO 11 (same heating capacity) is only $215, has a digital thermostat, & a LIFE-TIME warranty vs Rheem's 10 year warranty Original Post: The Rheem RTE “tankless” water heater is ingenious and the energy savings will pay for both the unit & install costs in only 17 months vs. keeping my 50 gallon electric tanked water heater. I'm a mechanical engineer and was drawn to the unit's energy savings and ultra-compact size (9 x 10 x 5 inches {yes inches}). You likely won't believe it can provide you the hot water based upon it's small size. Booboo – you're wrong. Why it works for me: 1. I'm a single person, take 1 shower a day, and do 2-3 loads of laundry a week, plus dishes. 2. I have a low-flow (1.5 GPM) [gallons per minute] water-saver shower head in my bathroom, saving water and also reducing the need to heat larger water flows required by standard shower heads generally at 2 - 2.5 GPM. However, even if you have a standard shower head – this unit will do you fine since it is rated up to 4 GPM. 3. A new tanked water heater (gas or electric) is $400 + $375 install costs. This unit is $193 + my $375 install costs to run a 60 AMP electric service and plumbing installation for the unit by an electrician/plumber. 4. It's tiny size (you won't believe it can work) frees up a storage space the size of the old heater. 5. Instead of having it on the highest heat setting, I set it to only 60% of the highest heat setting so that this setting provides me a very comfortable warm/hot shower water temperature without turning on the cold at all – therefore, heating only what I use (not blending overly hot with cold water) – further saving energy. I just set my clothes washing machine on “hot” and actually it is therefore at my hot/warm shower setting. Again, reducing electricity while working fine for clothes and dishes. Financial Return on Investment: 1. Unit cost = $193 + $375 installation (electrical 60 AMP service & plumbing) = $568 2. Operating costs for a single-person based upon 10 cents / kwh (Nevada Power rate): a. 7 showers / week @ 8 minutes each = 56 minutes 1 hour / week b. 3 loads of laundry = 3 x 10 minutes hot water each = 30 minutes 0.5 hour / week c. 7 sink loads of dishes / week = 7 x 5 minutes of hot water = 35 minutes 0.5 hours / week Therefore total time the unit will be on / week = Total: 2 hours / week b. The heater on full-blast is 13 kw (kilowatts) but I set it at 60% of this. Therefore 13 kw x 60% = 7.8 kw power usage / hour when the unit is turned on (based only upon actually using hot water). c. Weekly energy usage is therefore: I. 7.8 kw x 2 hours / week x 4 weeks / month = 62 kwh (kilowatt hours) / month II. 62 kwh x 10 cents / kwh (Nevada Power Rate) = $6.20 / month III. My old 50 gallon electric unit cost = $40 / month IV. Savings $40 - $6.20 = $33.8 / month energy savings V. $568 (total cost for unit and install) / $33.8 savings per month = 16.8 months pay back on investment. Summary: based upon $193 heater cost + $375 install cost (depends on your contractor), the total cost of $568 is returned to you in monthly energy savings in only 16.8 months. IT'S RIGHT FOR YOU, IF: 1. You are a single person or couple who don't use that much hot water in a month. 2. Household members do not need to take showers, wash clothes, and do dishes all at exactly the same moments of the day; since using 2 showers, a washing machine - all drawing hot water – will reduce the heat increase to each if all used at the same moment. 3. Compared to a normal tanked water heater – the total cost for unit & installation is similar 4. The unit has a 10 year warranty, however if it ever goes out – sooo easy to install a new one. 5. Don't believe the negative reviews – my electrical/plumbing contractor was “AMAZED” at it's performance in such a teeny tiny package. 6. You love the idea of saving money, energy, and water. FINAL NOTE: Most important – 1. Most people do NOT have the electrical experience to “safely run a 60 AMP service” required for this unit. 2. Print out this product's info page and get three quotes from licensed professional contractors to confirm your installation costs prior to purchasing it. 3. Note: Older homes / mobile homes may not have electric service that can handle such a large 60 amp service. This is why you need a professional to provide you a free-of-charge home visit & quotation for electrical & plumbing service. 4. Get 3 FLAT-RATE quotes – no hourly quotes from licensed contractors or you'll get charged extras later. Do the above, and you know exactly what “professional & safe” installation costs are prior to purchasing the unit. SUMMARY – I'm amazed ! I love it ! Electric savings saves me $34 / month, pays for the total installation and unit in only 17 months, and frees up a huge storage space. Do your “installation costs” home work first. What a hidden gem !