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(More customer reviews)I purchased the Bosch AE125 Electric Tankless Water Heater 4 months ago and have regretted it. Several considerations should be taken.
First the unit is not an analogue to a conventional tank-type water heater. It delivers hot water based upon a system that measures the incoming water temperature and flow rate and then "calculates" the number of elements (it actually has 6) that it turns on to provide an outflow temperature based on the setting of the temperature control. This system is not satisfactory for a water supply which varies in pressure, SUCH AS A WELL, as the unit itself provides substantial resistance to flow and thus the flow rate through the unit varies and thus the temperature of the outgoing water. This causes the delivered water to vary widely in temperature, from VERY HOT to VERY COLD. The unit would be improved if it was "smart enough" to not only measure incoming temp, but, also, outgoing temperature and flow rate and maintain the outgoing temp at a constant level.
Second: The unit has a flow sensor, which will shut the heaters off at low flow, so, therefore, if you wish to have a small amount of hot water flowing into your sink for shaving purposes, the water will not be heated at all. This "Feature" also has considerable influence on the use of "low flow" faucets.
Third: If you have a home which is heated by electricity and you install this unit, be aware that it consumes 120 AMPS at maximum heat rate. In my case, my electric heat consumes 120 Amps, also; my home has a 200AMP panel. Do the math, turn on the heat to warm the house and then take a bath, and suddenly the entire house is plunged into darkness. I have decided that I must sense when the water heater is turned on and prevent the central heat from coming on. This should be doable, and since the unit only runs when hot water is required, should disable the central heat only for short periods. HOWEVER, this is a feature that should be provided by Bosch and/or their literature should make clear to the potential purchaser that this is a problem with the electric heater.
Fourth: The unit apparently switches one or more of its six elements on or off as it attempts to heat the water. There does not appear to be any partially on for any of the elements. This leads to the problem of "stepped" heating of the water. And because the unit measures flow in and calculates the outgoing rate, if the water is mildly too hot or too cold, simply changing the mix at the faucet does not necessarily result in mild changes in temperature, a tiny change at the faucet can cause one or all of the elements to switch off resulting in a dramatic change at the faucet. AGAIN an argument for sensing the outgoing temperature and maintaining it by modulating the elements for a smoother temperature curve.
I would rate this unit as unsatisfactory for any home with a well, and only marginally acceptable for any home with electric heat (but only if modified as I indicated above).
Had I known then, what I know now, I would have saved myself a lot of money and frustration by purchasing a conventional tank-type water heater.
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Bosch AE125 PowerStar 4 GPM Indoor Electric Tankless Water Heater, White
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