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Home » Water Heaters » Ecosmart Eco 27 Review

Ecosmart Eco 27 Review

By: David Trinh
Last Updated:
ecosmart ECO 27

The Ecosmart Eco 27 makes one promise that rates highly among consumers; the promise of plenty of relaxing, soothing, hot water for their entire shower. A small, compact tankless electric water heater, the Ecosmart Eco 27 lives up to its name in many different ways. For consumers looking for a whole-house water heating system that is easy to install, easy on the budget, and great to use, this is worth consideration.

In 2008, the Ecosmart company began designing and building water heating products. The Ecosmart Eco 27 tankless electric heater is one of many different water heating products the company offers. Ecosmart focuses on manufacturing and selling ecologically-friendly products for swimming pools, spas, and tankless water heating applications with the latest technology at affordable prices.

ecosmart-eco-27

The Ecosmart tankless in-line heater utilizes Ecosmart patented self-modulating technology. This important development in tankless water heater technology reduces water consumption by 50%. The design of the water heater utilizes 3 separate 9kW/240 volt heater elements to produce hot water. This allows for a water flow rate of 3 gallons (11.4 liters) per minute at an incoming water temperature as low as 37 degrees Fahrenheit (2.77 degrees Celsius) and up to 7.4 gallons (25.36 liters) at higher incoming water temperatures. That’s enough hot water for two showers at the same time.

Purchasers of the Ecosmart Eco 27 receive the heater unit along with a digital temperature controller that keeps the water temperature accurate to within 1 degree. The heater is self-modulating so the temperature is automatically controlled and maintained without constant manual adjustment. 

You just set it and forget it.

View Ecosmart Eco 27

Ecosmart Technical Information

The Eco 27 model water heater incorporates the following specifications in its construction:

  • Voltage – 24o volts
  • Phase – Single
  • kW – 27 kW
  • Amperage Draw – 113 amps
  • Required Circuit Breaker – 3 x 40 amps
  • Required Wiring – 3 x 8 AWG
  • Connection Fittings – ¾ inch NPT
  • Overall Dimensions – 17” x 17” x 3.625”
  • Weight – 14.7 lbs (6.67 kg)
  • Certifications – UL-499, ETL listed
  • Warranty – Lifetime Limited

Pros
The Eco 27 model comes with some excellent features:

  • 99.8% Energy efficient. There is virtually no wasted electricity operating the unit.
  • Self-regulating temperature control – Automatic digital temperature control keeps hot water at exactly the right temperature throughout a shower or hand wash.
  • Space savings – A tankless electric water heater takes up much less space than a traditional water heater tank. The Eco 27 is designed to be smaller than most competitive tankless heater products available today.
  • Endless hot water – Using Ecosmart’s patented self-modulating digital temperature control, water flow, and the temperature of the incoming water is efficiently increased; regardless of the gallon per minute faucet setting.
  • Exact temperature control – The digital temperature controller on the Eco 27 heater can be adjusted in 1-degree increments to set the perfect water temp.
  • Limited Lifetime Warranty – Buyers can have confidence in their heater because it is covered by a long-term warranty.

Cons

  • Installation of a tankless heater may involve modifications to water supply lines and electrical wiring.
  • Professional installation recommended – Ecosmart recommends having the Eco 27 installed by a professional plumber and electrician to ensure proper installation.
  • Power cost – A tankless electric water heater uses higher-cost electricity than gas-powered water heaters

What to Consider Before Buying an Ecosmart Tankless Electric Water Heater

  • Price – The Eco 27 is available from several retailers and ranges in price from $475 and higher.
  • Applications – This model provides sufficient hot water per minute for a small family or small office to use. This is the ideal size for apartments, condos, and other low-usage environments. The model is not ideal for large homes or buildings.
  • Comparison – When compared to other electric tankless water heaters, the Eco 27 is less expensive than other products while providing as good or better overall performance. Some competitive products were priced much higher and a few competitors didn’t offer an electric option for their tankless units, only natural gas or propane.

Features and Benefits

What stands out about the Ecosmart self-modulating technology is its ability to control the hot water temperature throughout its use. The patented technology provides an endless hot water supply when properly specified for installation. The digital temperature control saves on water heating costs. And the compact design not only saves space, but it’s also easy to clean and maintain.

While many heaters require a gallon or more of water to flow through them before the heating element is activated, the Eco 27 uses only 0.3 gallons before starting. This means waiting less time for hot water and wasting less water.

The warranty on the Eco 27 heater is only valid if it is installed within 30 days of purchase. It is recommended the unit be installed by a licensed electrician and a licensed plumber. Home DIY enthusiasts with experience in electrical and plumbing installs will appreciate the compact design and easy hook-up. Installation is aided by mounting support holes drilled at 16” centers to allow installation on wall studs for added security and strength.

Consumer Reviews of The Eco 27

Consumer reviews of the Ecosmart company and its products are available online. Here are a few:

Amazon Reviewer:

5.0 out of 5 stars

“Plenty of hot water”

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2018

Style: ECO 27 Verified Purchase

“I have had this a week, and have run 2 showers with it simultaneously (haven’t tried all three yet). Hot steamy showers for both. “

Amazon Reviewer:

4.0 out of 5 stars

“Works really well on a household with three teenagers”

Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2019

Style: ECO 27 Verified Purchase

“I installed the ECO 27 Tankless water heater because our electric water heater tank simply could not keep up with the demand of three teenage daughters in the house. Overall, we are happy with this purchase. Installation was not too difficult.”

Amazon Reviewer:

4.0 out of 5 stars

“Heats your water well but not without a few issues”

Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2015

Style: ECO 27 Verified Purchase

“This is a very nice unit for the price. 4 out of 5 stars in my book.

Alternative Tankless Water Heater Options

There are a couple of alternative products that consumers may want to check out. First is the Rheem 24kW 4.6 GPM self-modulating tankless water heater has slightly-less water flow but does a good job overall and the price is within a few dollars of the Eco 27. 

Next would be the Stiebel Eltron Tempra 24 Plus 240-Volt 24-kW 4.68-GPM Tankless Electric Water Heater. It costs more than the Eco 27, but its performance is comparable.

See our tankless water heater review page here for more top models.

Conclusion

Overall, the Ecosmart Eco 27 is a great piece of engineering designed to save time and money on hot water. One of the biggest issues with tankless heaters is the flow rate of the hot water and as long as the temperature of the incoming water is reasonable the hot water flow rate is more than adequate. While some consumers had negative things to report about their experience with the unit, overall, most seemed pleased with their purchase and its functionality.

If you’re looking for an electric tankless water heater for your entire home or small office, the Eco 27 from Ecosmart is a great choice. If saving space, endless hot water, being eco-friendly, and/or reducing electric utility bills is high on your list, this is one way to accomplish the goal.

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AUTHOR
David Trinh
David is an expert in all things plumbing, heating, cooling, and water treatment. He got his start in the plumbing business working on fixing all types of home improvement issues including water leaks, broken toilets, appliance installation, and more. Over time, he learned a ton about installing and choosing the correct water treatment products for homeowners.

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