TEN BEST WATER HEATERS IN INDIA 2020

Rating Based on hard water resistance, high pressure withstanding capacity, low maintainence costs, Specifications Catalogs and BEE

winter is the season, where temperature in water soars the feeling of taking a cold water bath is next to impossible, the cold water in your storage tank is usually lower than the temperatures in summer which in turn increases heating time and standing loss, even a solar water heater at this time usually does not heat water upto the mark, this is when a water heater is really necessary, a geyser or water heater is the solutions to all the cold water problems, so get set to view a list of the top 10 water heaters below available in india.

BUYING THE BEST WATER HEATERS SIMPLIFIED BELOW ARE THE 5 BASIC SELECTION POINTS BEFORE YOU GO FURTHER

WATER PRESSURE - DEPENDING ON APARTMENT FLOORS OR WATER INPUT PRESSURE FROM YOUR PRESSURE PUMP ( 5 Floors or below or No Pressure Pump - Stainless Steel Tank or Copper Tank ) ( 5 Floors and above MS Tank Enamel / Glass lined / Polymer ).
HARD WATER OR REGULAR CORPORATION WATER - GLASSLINE TANK 
VERTICAL MOUNT / HORIZONTAL MOUNT - IF HORIZONTAL MOUNT WHICH SIDE - HORIZONTAL RIGHT OR HORIZONTAL LEFT or EVEN BOTTOM ENTRY IF

POSSIBLE - USUALLY REQUIRED IF THERE IS A FALSE CEILING IN THE BATHROOM OR LESS CEILING HEIGHT - Vertical water heaters are better in a way as they give out complete output of water, brands like ferroli lambhorgini, ao smith, eurohot, havells adonia have low space consuming square shaped water heaters that fit above false ceilings in few places with a minium height of 18" to 21", the square models are better suggested as they are easy to maintain and service.

BEST QUALITY AND PRICE IN WATER HEATER - MAINTENANCE COSTS SPARES AVAILABILITY - FREE INSTALLATION - LOW COST SPARES
MOST BRANDS SS TANK PRICE RANGE : 4000-4500 / MS TANK PRICE RANGE - 5000/9000 ​ COPPER TANK - 6500-7500
SIZE OF WATER HEATER - CAPACITY DEPENDING ON FAMILY SIZE - NO OF PEOPLE 1 = 3 LITRES INSTANT WATER HEATER, NO OF PEOPLE 2 = 15 LITRES STORAGE WATER HEATER , NO OF PEOPLE 3 = 25 LITRES STORAGE WATER HEATER

TOP 10 GEYSER BRANDS THAT YOU CAN BUY ARE

FERROLI 
RACOLD 
HAVELLS 
VENUS
AO SMITH
MARC
CROMPTON
ORIENT
BAJAJ

THE DETAILED GUIDE TO BUY THE BEST WATER HEATER.

Simple Steps you follow to buy a water heater are as follows:
What you would find online or in the market is branded and unbranded water heaters and almost similar features but how would you choose the right product for your house.Here is a detailed quick guide for you to help pick up the right water heater.Check out comparison of products instant and storage geysers online click here

Points to be noted 

Point No: 1 - BRANDED AND UNBRANDED WATER HEATERS / MAINTAINENCE COSTS 

Do not buy unbranded water heaters, It's just like investing your money on a wrong stock or mutual fund. A branded water heater can offer you not only guarantee but also safety and good customer support or service. Unbranded water heaters may be lucrative by price, many water heaters would not be according to BIS standards or not have a BEE energy star rating or an ISI mark which may be unsafe . (CHECK BEE RATING HERE), if your looking for lower maintenance costs look for a product with an ISI Mark, A product that doesn't have it is not according to Indian standards, this increases the cost of spares or the brand would charge you double the cost compared to ISI Marked Spared for replacement spares like (heating element, thermostat, thermal cut out) and service costs depending on availability of spares by the particular brand.

Point No: 2 - HARD WATER CAPABLE / LONGEVITY IN HARD WATER AREAS

HARD WATER AREAS 
Location of installation of the water heater is very important. People living near the coast have to take corrosion into account. Saline water can also corrode internal parts of the water heaters.
eg : bore water, hard water areas, salt water areas - the best option here would be a water heater with a Fibre outer body (ABS) with Glassline Tank or complete copper tank and brass Assembly set up, copper has special anti corrosive properties that prolongs the life of the water heater and saves energy as copper is a good conductor of heat ( COPPER TANK IS NOT SUITABLE FOR PRESSURE PUMPS OR APARTMENTS ABOVE 5 FLOORS ) . Most metro cities today face a hard water issue due to deeper borewells, states like maharashtra / delhi / karnataka / andhra pradesh / tamil nadu / uttar pradesh / west bengal / punjab / haryana tds varies from 500 to 1200 depending on location.
BEST WATER HEATERS IN HARD WATER : FERROLI / RACOLD / HAVELLS / AO SMITH 

Point No: 3 - WHAT KIND OF WATER HEATER IS SUITABLE & PLACE REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION 

The model of water heater which you buy is again based on what kind of a residence you live in which can be an independent house / small apartment (less than 5 floors) / high rise building this even depends on how many people require hot water.
If you are living a bachelors life or with other fellow bachelors an instant water heater is the best option - 3, 6 ,10 litres - 3 Litres is most preferred Models have been quite successful with faster heating and more durability. An instant geyser 1 or 3 litres is usually used in the washing area of your kitchen, bathroom, or utility as it would deliver not more than 1 to 1.5 litres every minute which would take a long time to fill a bucket, this product is usually not advisable for a bathroom as you will not be able to use a shower because of the low output of water.
If you are living in an apartment an electric storage water heater is the best option.

In most cases a 35 Litres water heater and above is used for a bathtub / jacuzzi / shower panels and other shower accessories where a pressure pump is built in for faster output of hot water supply.
The most ideal size of a water heater is a 25 Litres - it's best not only for a complete hot bucket of water which is about 25 litres but a perfect choice for a hot relaxation under a shower which usually lasts more than 14 - 20 Minutes using a mixer correctly.

SPACE REQUIRED FOR INSTALLATION

Horizontal Water Heater

Do you have a low ceiling or false ceiling / grid ceiling, if yes, then you would not be able to fix a vertical water heater. In this case you would have to look for a horizontal water heater which would fit into a space above or below your false ceiling all horizontal water heaters usually are 13 to 18" by size, horizontal water heaters usually have a drawback as they don't dispense the complete output of water as the rated capacity. The output of a 25 Litres is usually 21-22 Litres and a 15 Litres is usually 12-13 Litres.

Vertical Water Heater

If you have enough space upto 2 feet, vertical water heaters is always suggested compared to horizontal water heater, Vertical water heaters are available in many different models, sizes and shapes. Vertical water heaters today is usually built with ABS Outer shell which is more energy efficient and durable as compared to other types of water heaters.

Point No: 4 - HIGH PRESSURE WITHSTANDING CAPACITY - WATER HEATERS FOR APARTMENTS OR PRESSURE PUMPS INSTALLATION

If you are living in a multi-storied high-rise building there are chances of high pressure pumps being installed to make sure water reaches all the flats / apartments. This can damage the water heater if you buy the wrong product. Opt for a water heater that has a MILDSTEEL TANK - GLASSLINED TANK that can withstand pressure of 8 bar and above, Enamelled Mildsteel / Glasslined Mildsteel inner containers preferred for withstanding not only High Pressure but hard water.
Stainless Steel Tanks and Copper tanks have a maximum pressure withstanding capacity upto a 5 Floors apartment or 45 PSI -4.5 to 5.5 BAR - So make sure you don't make the wrong purchase.

Accessories required for Installation of Water Heaters

Required Material and Cost 
Stop Cock / Angle Valve - Rs 200-400
Bolts - Rs 50
Connection Nipple - Rs 20
Branded 15A Plug - Rs 80
2 Metal Connection Pipes - 300 Rs.

BELOW ARE THE FEATURES TO LOOK OUT FOR 

Safety and Quality Features that you should look out for
1. BIS / ISI mark : The basic requisite for accepted safety and quality standards
2. Warranty on tank and other critical components
3. 5 star rating is preferred.
4. Thermostat for Auto Cutoff at 60degree so you can use a mixer to control the output of cold water
5. Thermal Cut out / Thermal Plug and Semi return device- a fail safe device to prevent dry heating
6. Copper Heating Element : Heats the water very fast compared to any other coil (EASILY AVAILABLE) and shock proof
7. PUF insulated tank : Heat Retention is longer
8. 2-in-1 pressure cum release valve : Ensures positive and negative pressure is not created inside the tank -
9. BIS APPROVAL is most important factor so that in terms of energy consumption you don't land up paying more on electricity BILLS.
10. Check for BEE Label too. ( Recently BEE has Rated brands which state the standing loss of a water heater ). Look for 5 star rating.
11. Look for a product that can be serviced easily all products with isi have standard heating elements which are available everywhere.

Check out comparison of products instant and storage geysers online click here

Most of the leading brands will have the features mentioned above, the consumer voice survey, Power rating chart by ISI is a good guide to help you in choosing good buys namely FERROLI, CROMPTON, AO SMITH, HAVELLS, ORIENT, BAJAJ, ,MARC, RACOLD.

What kind of Thermostats do water heaters carry?

Stem Type Thermostat - 7" Inch for instant Geyser / 11" for a storage geyser, some storage geysers carry a 7 inch as well.

Capillery Type - usually has a copper pipe filled with spirit to sense the temperature.
What kind of Heating Elements do water heaters carry ?
Copper : Usually lasts for about 2 years in hard water areas (most preferred due to low costs ) priced at around 800-1200
Incoloy : Usually lasts for about 3 years in hard water areas ( preferred upto an extent)
priced at around - 1200-1500
Glasslined Incoloy : Usually lasts for about 4 years in hard water areas (cheaper in few brands costly in international brands) - 1300-1800

WHAT ARE THE CONTAINERS MADE UP OF IN WATER HEATERS / GEYSERS ?

1 : Stainless Steel - Used by many brands still - may phase out over a period of 5 years stainless steel is a good metal and non corrosive as well, but cannot withstand pressure of more than 7-8 floors 6.5 bar.
2 : Mild Steel (Enamel or glasslining) - Most Brands in today's date use this container - To prevent corrosion almost all brands add a lining (coating) over the tank like (enamel / glass lining / polymer / titanium enamel and so on) These geysers are used today to cater the needs of high raised buildings (multi storied apartments) with more than 5 floors where the pressure is more than 3.5 Bar to 8.0 bar mild steel as a metal is strong and sturdy but attracts lot of salts making is prone to corrosion at regular intervals, due to the coating on the inner bed of the metal the corrosion rate is reduced up to an extent making the product functional upto a certain period, a metal container is magnetic this enables manufacturers to add a magnesium rod to keep the salts away from the bed of the inner container preventing corrosion or prolonging the life of the inner container,
the pressure withstanding capacity for this inner container is around 15-18 floors - 8 bar.
3: Copper - A Very Few Brands use the copper container in today's date - the inner tank is excellent and doesn't have any corrosion issues - copper is a non corrosive metal and a good conductor of heat, if insulated well the product can save a lot of power by keeping the water for a very long time, the only disadvantage of this inner container is that it cannot withstand pressure and may fail if used in a high raised building of more than 5 floors or used in pressure pump installed apartments where the water is pumped directly to the apartment, the apartment doesn't have an overhead container most brands in the 70s till the 90s used only copper as a metal in water heaters but today's manufacturing standards have changed not only due to rising costs of copper and competition as most manufacturing brands have toned down to enamel mild-steel or glass lined mild-steel.
personally for a house or an apartment below 4 floors without a pressure pump a product with this inner container is a better buy.
 

IS SOLAR WATER HEATER A GOOD CHOICE ? 

If you are living with a family in an independent house a Solar Water Heater is also an option, this is 100% electricity free and the most green way to go. high on initial investment would be the only drawback . The basic recommended capacity is the 100 litre per day or higher capacities of 150 - 200 and 300 l per day depending on number of people using it.
In Solar water heaters there are two technologies the conventional flat plate collector and the Vacuum Tube Model. Both of these cost the same but the vacuum tube model is preferred because its replacement cost is cheaper in case of damage to the solar tube and also because it can absorb infrared rays so heating takes place till late in the evening and on cloudy days as opposed to the other model which requires direct sunlight.
Solar water heaters have not been that successful for the monsoon and winters in many places, these water heaters are weather dependent.

ARE GAS GEYSERS A GOOD CHOICE ?

A gas water heater is a good buy if you have your gas cylinder placed outside the bathroom. Ideal for the kitchen because that's where the gas cylinder is located or if you have extra ventilation, all gas water heaters are built in with auto ignition that turn on as you switch on the water and turn of as you switch it off , some gas water heaters are built in with a gas leakage cut off, this acts if there is a leakage in gas from the internal unit.
(NOTE : GAS WATER HEATERS ARE NOT SAFE IF PLACED INSIDE THE BATHROOM DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES EMITTED BY THEM).

BEST WATER HEATERS CAPACITY WISE IN INDIA GUIDE TO BUY WATER HEATERS

Are you looking for a Storage Water Heater for your bathroom or Instant Water Heater for your kitchen you are certainly on the right page below are the top 10 brands in water heaters in india. This post has a detailed view of all the best products in water heaters updated 2020 winter is the season, where temperature in water soars, the feeling of taking a cold water bath is next to impossible, this is when a water heater is really important, a geyser is a solution to the hot water problem, so get set to view a list of the best water heaters.

TOP 10 BEST VERTICAL 15 LITRES STORAGE WATER HEATERS INDIA

1. FERROLI VERDI 15 Litres Water Heater

2. RACOLD OMNIS LUX 15 Litres Water Heater
3. VENUS MAGMA PLUS 15 Litres Water Heater
4. FERROLI CUBO Litres Water Heater
5. AO Smith SAS 15 Litres Water Heater
6. HAVELLS ADONIA 15 Litres Water Heater
7. Haier 15 Litres E1 Water Heater
8. Bajaj Majesty 15 Litres Water Heater
9. HAVELLS PURO 15 Litres Water heater
10. MARC 15 Litres NEO Classic Water Heater

TOP 10 BEST VERTICAL 25 LITRES STORAGE WATER HEATERS INDIA

1. FERROLI CUBO 25-30 Litres Water Heater
2. RACOLD OMNIS LUX 25 Litres Water Heater
3. Ao Smith SAS 25 / SDS Storage Water Heater
4. FERROLI VERDI 25 Litres Storage Water Heater
5. Racold Eterno2 25 Litres Storage Water Heater
6. HAVELLS ADONIA 25 Litres Storage Water Heater
7. Haier 25 Litres E1 Storage Water Heater
8. Bajaj Majesty 25 Litres Storage Water Heater
9. HAVELLS PURO 25 Litres Water heater
10. MARC 25 Litres NEO Classic Water Heater

TOP 10 BEST 3 LITRES INSTANT WATER HEATERS IN INDIA

1. Ferroli Mito 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
2. Havells Instanio 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
3. Ao Smith EWS 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
4. Crompton Solarium Dlx 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
5. Racold Pronto 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
6. Venus Splash 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
7. Haier 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
8. Bajaj Majesty / Flora 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
9. USHA 3 Litres Instant Water Heater
10. Orient 3 Litres Instant Water Heater

FAQS

1. What are the best Water heater brands?

Best brands usually have the best features that enables high quality, energy efficiency and good after sales service. From so many brands here comes the best ones- Ferroli, Havells, Racold , AO Smith, Crompton, Marc. all these are manufacturing brands who have R&D these water heater brands have a wide range of products like electrical / gas / heat pump and other types of water heaters. Ferroli / Racold / HAVELLS / AO SMITH provide free installation in Metro Cities

2. Can anyone install the Geyser or i need an electrician or plumber?
We would best recommend a professional electrician or the manufacturer if the product carries a free installation. its always advisable buying the water heater from a store nearby which is the best option as they would help you with installation support and take care of future problems . We do not recommend calling in any local plumber as he could make mistakes on installation which could damage your water heater and void the warranty . It is better if you seek help from the place you purchase it, avoid online purchase as they do not assist you with installation or future service. Some manufacturers provide installation service when you purchase a new item. an installation accessories kit would be necessary for a new installation - the kit would be a set of connection pipes, bolts, 15a plug in some water heaters , teflon tape, angle valve and extension wire the water heater is away from the socket.

3. How you can make your geyser a smart geyser?
Any water heater geyser can be converted to a smart product by installation of a 16a 3000w wifi module , there are many brands in the wifi modules available most companies are overpriced the best solution product would be a sonoff module which can be installed easily the same can me integrated with alexa or google home - the interface is very user friendly and there are options like schedule time control where you could set a particular on and off time for a month or a year, you could set an auto off after 30 minutes or 60 minutes which would keep you from forgetting when to turn it off.

4. How wattage is related to heating time?
Wattage of a geyser is totally dependent on the wiring in your apartment or home, using more than 3000 watts would require higher grade wiring- wattage of a geyser from 1-10 litres is usually 3000 watts and 25 litres is usually 2000 watts - time taken to heat in 3000 watts is shorter by about 5-8 minutes compared to 2000 watts this inversely affects your electricity bill and increases wear and tear of your heating element which would hinder earlier maintenance.

5.What is the best geyser for hard water?
Hard water is dissolved salts like calcium, magnesium, chlorides, iron. They can cause corrosion or scaling inside the walls of the geyser and heating element which in turn would increase power consumption and maintenance. If you have hard water or bore water its best to look for a geyser which is built to last in hard water, a geyser with mild steel glass coated tank with glass coated Incoloy heating element along with a aluminium anode rod for greater durability and longer life span. You can also install a water softener that will turn hard water into soft water before passing it to the geyser.

6.How long does a water heater last?
Depending upon the usage, brand and capacity, electric water heaters usually last at least up to 10 years. According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors a traditional storage water heater can last up to 10 years depending on the water hardness, daily usage, build-quality, installation and preventative maintenance.
As it starts aging it gives hints that it needs replacement soon. For example, rusty water can turn the water heater rusting inside out causing great damage with time. Sedimentation at the bottom of the tank makes boom-bang sounds coming out from the geyser. The sediment build-up forms calcite that is heated and re-heated regularly destroys your water heater in a way it starts losing its efficiency sooner than what is expected. Water leakage can be the ultimate goodbye sign of a geyser- but look for easy repairable loose connections and fittings, leaks in pipes.

7. Is it normal for the electric water heater to make noise?
Yes, a faint noise, once the water inside the tank has reached the desired temperature is normal. However, if you hear banging, hissing, or knocking sounds, call the customer service. This might be due to the unwanted limescale deposits in the tank. You might even want to check the heating element.

8. Is it normal for a gas heater to make noise?
If you hear sounds like popping, hissing and crushing it is due to the sediment build-up inside the tank. Hard water which contains high level of calcium and magnesium salts crates a calcite layer at the bottom of the tank. When the moisture between the sediment layer and the geyser wall starts to boil it makes such noise. You need the flush the geyser to get rid of all the sediment build-up.

9. How do I know if I need to replace the water heater?
You should observe whether the heater is supplying surplus hot water or is losing out on it every few minutes. Steady supply of hot water at the desired temperature shows that your heater is fit to run for a few more years. However, if the temperature fluctuates or the water output has sediments in it, it’s definitely time to change your water heater.

10. Why is my heater releasing water?
It is common for the modern water heaters to release a small amount of water now and then. This is to maintain the internal water pressure in the tank. A multi functional safety valve keeps the water pressure and temperature in check and prevents the tank from leakages and bursts.

11. How to turn off a leaking water heater?
First and foremost thing to do is to shut down the water supply to the unit. Every water heater comes with an instruction manual when purchased. Depending upon the brand, the steps may vary but make sure you study the manual and follow the instructions carefully. In case it doesn’t work out, call the helpline number.

12. Why is my new water heater pipes leaking?
sometimes you might notice water leaking from the connection pipes or inlet angle cock / angle valve to the inlet and outlet of the water heater, Leaking pipes or angle cock indicate that it is time for its replacement of sanitary items this can be replaced by a plumber this does not indicate a water heater problem instead it indicates installation issues or post installation corrosion or installation issues by the plumber in many cases installation done by the company could go wrong if you have made a purchase of pipes and other installation accessories from the vendor you have purchased the water heater as company installation team do not get enough revenue for installation forcing them to sell pipes which usually costs double the amount.

13. Why is my water heater leaking?
If you find water heater oozing out from the body or inlet / outlet pipes this issue is serious as the inner container is ruptured this can usually happes in a due course of time due to hard water or excess pressure build up, if the same is found in a new water heater this seems to be a faulty product.

14. Why isn’t my water heater producing enough hot water like before?
If your water heater is running out of hot water quickly or is producing lukewarm water, it could be due to two main reasons. One- the heating element is filled with high scale / salt content this usually is a problem in hard water areas.

15. Lately i have been getting a foul smell from the hot water tap that connects to the water heater. What should I do?
Smelly / stinking water could be due to the sedimentation and limescale buildup in the water tank. With heavy chlorination of the inlet water, one can observe unwanted microbial and mineral buildup within the tank. This might cause the foul smell in the water. Regular flushing of the tank keeps the tank clean and safe for further use, this usually occurs due to a magnesium rod that is used in today's water heaters to keep the heating element safe, if you find this issue change the magnesium rod - this is a regular complaint in AO Smith water heaters , this occurs less in other brands due to different inner containers.

THE MAKERS OF THE BEST WATER HEATERS