Best Water Heater – Buyer’s Guide

With polyurethane foam insulation to reduce heat loss and improve efficiency, this water heater is an ideal way to supply up to three sinks with hot water when there is only a cold supply.

As it will cope with several sinks, it would be great in an annexe or outhouse where there is a need for both a bathroom and kitchen sink. The powder porcelain enamel tank lining delivers twice the corrosion resistance of the usual glass linings, so there is no worry of it starting to wear away within a year of heavy usage.

We loved how it gets very hot very quickly. When the temperature dial is turned halfway, it is already too hot to comfortably wash hands, so the range is incredibly generous. Perfect if you’ll need to wash dishes or make hot drinks as well.

We will also say that it is important to properly work out how much water you will need from the tank at any one time. Due to the way that under sink storage tanks work, the 10-litre tank only really produces 5 litres of hot water before the rest becomes rather tepid. We found that if you need the full 10 litres, turn the temperature up high, so it balances out. It could be worth buying the size up for your needs.

As mentioned, it heats very quickly again. But the wait could become frustrating if you’re undertaking heavy tasks. The 5-litre option will allow you to fill a sink for washing dishes but not much more.

Overall though, it is a great option, and other reviewers say that all of their installations were seamless and went without any hitches.

One of the more pleasant looking tanks on the market if that is important to you, this option from Hyco may be small, but it certainly competes with ones twice the size.

Great if you are placing in a room with no hot water system, water takes forever to reach your sink or want to go electric. This tank can be placed under any sink for low-demand hand washing or dishwashing purposes.

There is a temperature control dial so you can perfect it for the task at hand. A neon power light will let you know when its services are being used. It reaches a temperature up to 75 degrees, which is perfectly suitable for the vast majority of needs.

A 1.5m power cable is generous and comes pre-wired for easier installation. If you are rather knowledgeable regarding DIY and plumbing, you may even be able to give it a go yourself. Either mount it to a wall or leave it floor standing if it’s under a sink.

It is PX4 waterproof rated, and the inner is porcelain enamel-lined, so safe from corrosion and rust over time. You will be able to get around 2 L of hot water from it before it starts going tepid, and it takes about 12 minutes to fully heat again. Ideal for sinks or hand washing in lower demand areas, and it’ll also work with mixer taps.

Packed full of handy little features, this Ariston model is as close to perfection as you can get with a water heater. No wonder it is a market leader.

First of all, there is a copper heating element inside the tank. This doesn’t only make warming up the water much quicker, but also helps to boost the purity of the water. The temperature dial is easily accessible on the front of the box, so you can adjust depending on whichever task you’re undertaking.

We loved the ‘E’ setting too, which stands for ‘Eco’. It optimises the temperature yet saves energy, so it will be cost-effective to run. Perfect both if you will be using it a lot, or there are long gaps between usage yet it still needs to tick over to keep warm.

It is modern and compact, and the inside of the tank is lined with a titanium enamelled heating element which helps prevent it from corroding. Heat up times are decent, at around 15 minutes for the 15L option.

We haven’t even mentioned this high capacity yet, which is ideal for anyone who needs a heater for a more demanding area. There is also a 10L and 30L option available, but we think the middle option will be perfectly sufficient for the majority of applications.

When only a cold water supply is given, the usability of a sink is suddenly reduced. It can’t be used for hand washing for one, which is not ideal if it is in a bathroom or kitchen environment.

This Triton over sink hand wash facility sorts that out. A single on/off and temperature control dial and 200mm swivel arm give a great amount of control to the user. It is compact, so if you want it to remain quite unobtrusive, it is an ideal model.

A standout selling point is the price. It might not be the absolute best heater in terms of power and water supply, but for the cost, it is a product which does the job. You can buy in bulk too, so if you need a couple of tanks as you want to kit out the whole home or have outside studios, you’re good to go.

As the temperature increases, the flow rate decreases slightly. It is still comfortable for washing hands, but if you need to fill buckets or sinks, then you may have to wait a little while. The additional shower head fitting gives more pressure, so it is best to always use it with this in place.

This is our only little issue though. Overall, for the price, you can’t really wish for more.

Working on demand to deliver hot water when required, this hand wash heater is compact and safe to use.

There is a temperature safety cut-out at 52⁰C, which resets when it is back to 42⁰C. If it is going to be used in an environment where several people will be using it, such as a bathroom of a workplace, this is ideal as it reduces the risk of accidents. The temperature stabiliser will ensure both the temperature and pressure remain consistent, too.

The dial is easy to turn too, which makes it good for multi-person use. Thanks to the large grip, people can adjust the settings to suit their own preferences, even with wet hands.

When the temperature is increased, the flow rate reduces slightly to allow this to be reached. It then increases when the heat is lowered if you need a bit more power. This does mean that at the hottest setting, it is more of a trickle than a jet of water, but it still does the job.

It won’t consume any energy when on standby, so is a cost-effective heater to run. It is also pretty budget friendly to purchase, so in all a great solution to your hot water woes.

Combining the efficiency of storing hot water with the ease of an over sink hand wash design, this heater is perfect for areas which are in high-demand, such as bathrooms or food preparation kitchens for small businesses.

Temperature can be adjustable between 35 and 85 degrees, so a consistent flow of water is available at all times. A thermal cut out ability, which can be set at 38, 45, 55 or 65°C, makes it great if several different people will be using it, such as in a public setting.

To keep running costs low, there is highly effective thermal insulation in place. This keeps the heat inside the boiler, so none of the energy that went into the heating process was wasted. Standby consumption is low, and there is also an eco setting. This averages 60°C – seen as the ideal temperature for effective washing.

The latest ‘Drop Stop Function’ technology means that an expansion tank is not required. Any water expansion is taken up in the tank and not through the tap. This also means less heat is lost, water doesn’t drip and limescale won’t build up.

Because it is a tank model, once it has been emptied it takes a little while to refill and reheat. A full tank takes around 15 minutes, so it is best for an area which sees demand but not to the level where this hot water wouldn’t be able to replenish.

If you need a large amount of hot water frequently, such as in a workshop or food production environment, then an over sink tank which stores the water could be the best option.

It is lightweight and can be installed easily, which cuts a lot of the effort out. The overall size is relatively slimline and non-bulky too so that it won’t stand out too much.

As a point of use tank, it is best for hand or dishwashing at a single sink. Talking of garages and outbuildings, it doesn’t only monitor its internal temperature but also that of the external environment. A frost protection setting will ensure it still works well when the heat in the room dips, so you’ll still have perfectly hot water.

The 1m long power cable is pre-fitted to save time during installation, and a wall fixing bracket is included. A white corrosion-proof case will keep it looking as good as new for years to come. There’s also no need for an expansion vessel as it is all done automatically.

Because it is a tank, if you need to fill a bucket or sink it’s best to turn the temperature quite high. When the cooler water kicks in, it will still be hot overall. You also won’t get the full 5L capacity of hot water. But it likely won’t be too much of an issue for your needs.

Thanks to the innovative Vortex technology, the flow rate from this water heater isn’t only improved, but the likelihood of limescale is reduced too. Perfect if you live in a hard water area.

Hard water can often be difficult to deal with using such products. The fact that this design has combated issues to a certain degree is welcomed. There is a single dial for the on/off function and temperature control, for easy use.

A sprinkler on the bottom of the arm is good for thorough hand washing. This can be removed if you prefer a steadier stream. Because there isn’t much power given out, it is best for hand washing as opposed to filling sinks or buckets.

There is a red power light which comes on when the heating elements are getting to work for safety. From the switched off position, you rotate the dial anti-clockwise to get the hot water first and then the cold. Hot water takes less than ten seconds to properly start emerging which is a good time.

The delivery tube is 8cm long which is generous and can be swivelled a full 360, degrees so the user has full control.

It needs to be hard wired as opposed to plugging it in so an electrician will need to be booked. The actual price of the heater is good though so this should balance out, and the instructions are easy to follow. Other reviews mention the fact that your home/building must have good water pressure to help it work at its optimum, however. So if this is for an outbuilding or basement area, you may have to reconsider. It also can’t be positioned in areas which may be affected by frost or low temperatures.