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Home » Water Heaters » Stiebel Eltron Tempra Water Heater Reviews

Stiebel Eltron Tempra Water Heater Reviews

By: David Trinh
Last Updated:

Stiebel Eltron is a global leader in the water heater industry.

Its Tempra water heaters are electric models, all designed to save space, supply homeowners with a constant supply of hot water, and eliminate the need for venting.

In this review, we will go over Stiebel Eltron as a company and the various water heaters they offer so you can decide if one of them is right for you.

Top 5 Stiebel Eltron Tempra Water Heaters

IMAGE PRODUCT FEATURES
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24 Plus
  • 4.68 GPM
  • Point of Use or Whole House
  • 99% Energy Efficiency
CHECK PRICE
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12 Trend
  • 3.0 GPM
  • Point of Use
  • 99% Energy Efficiency
CHECK PRICE
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29 Plus
  • 5.6 GPM
  • Whole House
  • 99% Energy Efficiency
CHECK PRICE
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36 Plus
  • 7.5 GPM
  • Whole House
  • 99% Energy Efficiency
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15 Trend
  • 3.3 GPM
  • Point of Use
  • 99% Energy Efficiency
CHECK PRICE

About Stiebel Eltron

Stiebel Eltron

Established in 1924 by Doctor Theodor Stiebel, the Stiebel Eltron company started out producing a single immersion ring heater, made for the German market. Over almost a century, the company has spread to more countries and expanded into other products. Across all product lines, the focus has been on high quality, energy savings, and safety.

Today, Stiebel Eltron is a global company and the largest manufacturer of water heaters in Germany. The company is also a leader in environmentally-friendly water heaters: for the units’ capability to save energy, their small size (which requires less raw materials to manufacture than their tank counterparts), their long lifespan, and the opportunity to recycle all the components when the heaters do reach the end of their life.

Where Are Stiebel Eltron Tempra Water Heaters Made?

Stiebel Eltron manufactures its water heaters in multiple locations across the world. It has plants in:

  • Eschwege and Holzminden in Germany
  • Arvika in Sweden
  • Tianjin in China
  • Ayutthaya in Thailand
  • Poprad in Slovakia

The company also has a dedicated sales and service headquarters for the Western Hemisphere in West Hatfield, Massachusetts. It opened this location in 1980 and uses the space for distribution and storage of spare parts.

Stiebel Eltron Tempra Reviews from Consumers Online

consumer reviews

In customer reviews, consumers tend to mention the same reasons for being happy with their Tempra heaters. They like the simplicity, such as the capability to change the temperature in seconds using the dial and the preciseness of the thermostat. They also mention the innovative technology — for instance, the self-modulation, consistent temperature, and, in the Plus models, the Advance Flow Control.

Customers also report being satisfied with the energy savings they receive, which results in lower energy bills, along with the low maintenance needs — meaning fewer problems and a longer lifespan. In particular, the non-corrosive parts reduce the need to make repairs to Tempra heaters.

Installing Stiebel Eltron Tempra Water Heaters

Installing a Tempra is simple, due to its small size and the fact it is electric — there is no need for venting. You also have more options about where to install it than for a gas heater or a bulky tank electric heater. You can often fit the heater close to the bathroom or kitchen for fast access to hot water.

The heater comes with a detailed instruction manual, meaning homeowners with basic HVAC knowledge will be able to install the heater themselves. However, if you are unsure, you should seek a professional service to prevent voiding the warranty.

Stiebel Eltron Water Heater Problems

Tempra water heaters rarely suffer from problems, provided you install them correctly and follow the care instructions. For instance, all heaters use a copper heating element, which is corrosion resistant. They also have a thermal cutoff switch to prevent overheating, reducing the risk of problems and expanding their lifespan.

Stiebel Eltron Tempra Water Heaters Warranty and Customer Service

warranty guarantee

Stiebel Eltron has a dedicated customer support department to answer consumers’ queries in a timely manner. You can contact members of staff by phone, email, or fax. Most customers report receiving a good service.

Tempra water heaters come with two separate warranties. The one for leakage is 7 years, which is longer than the industry standard. For parts, the warranty is 3 years, which is about average. To ensure your warranty stays valid, you must follow all the instructions and heed the warnings in the manual.

Types of Stiebel Eltron Water Heaters

Tempra water heaters are divided into two series: Trend and Plus.

In addition, Stiebel Eltron produces several other types of water heaters, all of which are electric.

  • DHC-E — All tankless; either single point-of-use or multi point-of-use models.
  • DHC — Single point-of-use heaters for sinks.
  • Mini-E — Thermostat heaters for hand-washing sinks.
  • Mini — Single heaters for hand-washing sinks.
  • SHC Mini-Tank — Single heaters for both hand-washing and kitchen sinks.
  • PSH Plus — Compact storage heaters.
  • MegaBoost — To boost a tank water heater without the need to upgrade.
  • Accelera E — A heat pump water heater.
  • Solar thermal systems — Including SBB Domestic, which also works with geothermal, hydronic, and SB-E Single Coil DHW tanks (these last come with a backup heating element).
  • 3-Phase water heaters — For commercial use.

Tempra Trend Series

The Tempra Trend series consists of several small to medium water heaters, all reliable and innovative. For instance, the heaters use self-modulation (also called auto-modulation), which ensures that units use the least amount of energy necessary to heat water. The heaters do this by continuously monitoring the temperature of incoming water, adjusting the flow rate as necessary, and monitoring the heater water temperature. All the information is passed from the sensors to the microprocessor control. The heater is then able to keep making changes as necessary to ensure the output of water is as close as possible to the water temperature that the user set and that the heater is never overheating the water.

You can check the heated temperature on the front panel of the unit and adjust it with a knob. There are no extra switches anywhere on the panel, which makes the operation extra simple. You can set a temperature up to 109 degrees Fahrenheit — anything higher could put you at risk of scalds.

The microprocessor, along with numerous temperature and flow sensors in every Tempra water heater, also ensures that the temperature stays consistent. If flow rates change, such as when someone opens a faucet on another appliance, this has no impact on the water temperature. Better still, since Tempra water heaters have no mechanical switches, they operate silently.

As the Tempra Trend series comes in a range of sizes, you can find one suitable for your home needs, whatever temperature rise you require.

12 Trend

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 12

The 12 Trend is ideal for replacing a 30-gallon tank with a much smaller unit and receiving the same amount of hot water (plus with no risk of running out of water). With 3.0 GPM, it makes a great point-of-use heater and can provide enough for both a low-flow shower and faucet at the same time in a mild climate. It even activates when the flow is just 0.37 GPM per minute.

Its smaller size means that the 12 Trend also has lower electricity needs than most of the other Tempra heaters. It is best to have at least a 150-amp service, but it will work with 100 amps.

15 Trend

Stiebel Eltron 15

The 15 Trend provides a slightly higher GPM rate of 3.3, provided the incoming water temperature is at least 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When you have an incoming temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit, the 15 Trend can provide you with just enough hot water for a low-flow shower.

Although Stiebel Eltron markets the 15 Trend (and the rest of the Tempra heaters) as a whole-house water heater, it is actually only suitable for an entire house if you live in a hot climate like Florida or the Carribean. The good news is that its minimum flow activation is just 0.50 GPM, which is excellent if you need a heater to work when you have low water flow.

Tempra Plus Series

Tempra Plus heaters are much like the Tempra series. They have all the same basic features in addition to Advanced Flow Control technology. Stiebel Eltron patented the Advanced Flow Control technology back in 1970 and has continued to improve upon it for the last five decades. No company has anything that is even similar.

Advanced Flow Control ensures all appliances continue to receive hot water even when demand is high. The technology works by reducing the flow of water slightly to maintain the temperature. With models from other manufacturers, water may run cold in such situations. Advanced Flow Control improves comfort for users, as there is no sudden rush of cold water when showering or using the sink.

Tempra Plus models also have a couple other additional features. The first is the preset temperature memory. The second is the energy monitor, which shows you how much money you are saving.

24 Plus

Stiebel Eltron 24 Plus

The 24 Plus is one of the top whole-house electric water heaters on the market. It is suitable for wall mounting and the attractive design of the coated steel body means it is ideal for almost any location in the house.

Providing 4.68 GPM, it is ideal for a home with around two bathrooms in a warm or hot climate. In a cold climate where the incoming temperature is no higher than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, you’ll only receive 2.54 GPM, which may only be enough for the heater to be point of use. Just like the 15 Trend, the minimum flow to activate the heater is 0.50 GPM.

To use the water heater, you will need two 50-amp breakers in your home control panel, although it is advisable to have 60-amp breakers along with 100 amps of electric power. It could be worthwhile upgrading if your home does not already have such power.

36 Plus

Stiebel Eltron 36 Plus

The 36 Plus is the largest of all the Tempra heaters, providing 7.5 GPM when incoming water temperature is at least 70 degrees Fahrenheit. This is a high GPM rate for an electric heater. It is enough for two or three bathrooms, even four in particularly hot climates or if you have low-flow showers.

The greater water output does mean that the 36 Plus requires more power than the 24 Plus. It has a 150-amp draw and needs a minimum of 300-amp electric service. It also needs three dual-pole 50-amp breakers, but you may like to consider using more to increase safety.

29 Plus

Stiebel Eltron 29 Plus

For an average-size home, the 29 Plus is a good option. It is the second-largest of all the Tempra line and offers 5.6 GPM when temperature rise is 35 degrees. This is enough for a couple standard showers plus a sink. It is also sufficient for at least two bathrooms with low-flow showers, even when incoming water temperature is lower.

Although the 29 Plus is powerful, it is still sleek and compact — it will fit comfortably in any corner. The best place to install your heater is near the appliances it will supply; otherwise, you may need to wait as long as 10 seconds for hot water. If you have hard water, it is a good idea to treat your water in advance to prevent damage to the elements inside.

Where to Buy a Stiebel Eltron Tempra Water Heater

Stiebel Eltron doesn’t sell any Tempra water heaters direct through its website. However, you can find all the above models (plus others in both the Trend and Plus range) for sale on Amazon.

You can also check out our main review page, which compares all the top brands. 

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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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