Our Rating
Summary:
4
A water heater needs to be rugged and reliable. A modern tankless water heater should also provide hot water on demand with very little delay. The Rheem RTE 13 offers a brass and copper heat exchanger and LED lights to indicate there is an active element. It can place itself into standby mode without use so power consumption is limited. As with many other hot water heaters, the temperature controls are on the unit. Priced at $179 on Amazon today, this tankless water heater promises a lot of value.
Is it able to fulfill those promises? Here is what we saw when taking a full look at the Rheem 13 electric tankless water heater.
Modulating Power
#1. Instead of being forced to use the same level of power for all hot water needs, the Rheem 13 modulates power to meet needs. You won’t be forced to consume power just for the sake of consuming power. This means you’ll be conserving energy by only using the heating elements when you have a need for hot water and nothing more.
Standard Connections
#2. The Rheem RTE 13 offers a standard 0.5 inch water connection for hookups. This may be problematic for some users if their plumbing is ¾ inch or 1 inch. Adapters will be needed in these instances and the performance of the unit in the larger plumbing may not provide the same levels of heating that the more common plumbing is able to offer.
Amps Are Important
#3. Your home is going to need a good amp supply in order to support this hot water heater. It’s more of a point of use water heater for most homes, but smaller properties may be able to use this as a whole home solution if necessary. If there aren’t enough amps that are available, the lights of the home may flicker when the unit engages.
Low Flow Homes Are Better
#4. This water heater is not going to work with high capacity homes. It is rated to work for up to 4 gallons per minute, but the most success is typically seen at the 2 GPM level. The installation of low flow showerheads and bathroom or kitchen faucets can enhance the productivity of the Rheem RTE 13.
Frees Up Space
#5. This water heater is remarkably compact. It’s so small, in fact, that many people first don’t even believe that it will work. If space is limited in your home, apartment, or cabin, then you’ll find the space savings to be pretty tremendous.
Simultaneous Use Not Recommended
#6. You won’t be able to take a shower and wash your clothes at the same time. You also won’t be able to use a dishwasher and a washing machine simultaneously. Plan on rotating the chores that you need to get done.
When properly managed, the Rheem RTE 13 tankless water heater provides homeowners with a great investment for a fair price. We have no hesitation in recommending this water heater today because it is highly affordable and can quickly pay for itself.
