Are you in the market for a tankless water heater and interested in learning how Westinghouse tankless water heaters stack up against the competition?
Established in 1886, Westinghouse developed a reputation for itself as a juggernaut in the home goods industry, manufacturing everything from flat-screen televisions, decorative lighting, and, of course, tankless water heaters.
The Westinghouse tankless water heaters provide an eco-friendly, space-saving, and reliable whole-home hot water solution.
In this PlumbingNav review, you will learn:
Top 3 Westinghouse tankless water heaters
Pros and Cons of Westinghouse products
How Westinghouse holds up to the competition
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Product
#1 Overall Top Pick
#1 Overall Top Pick
Westinghouse WGRT 199 Tankless Condensing Gas Water Heater
Maximum BTU/hr – 199,999 Efficiency rating – .94 UEF Maximum temperature – 140° F Ventilation – direct vent or power vent Water flow – 8.2 GPM with temperature rise of 45° F Warranty – 12 years on the heat exchanger and 5 years on parts
This full-size residential tankless water heater should satisfy the needs of most households at the highest efficiency possible, keeping your bills low. You can install it easily with the option to use a direct-vent or power-vent design. This unit works best for average households who want the best tankless option Westinghouse has to offer.
Our Top 3 Westinghouse Tankless Water Heaters for 2021
What Are The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Westinghouse Tankless Water Heaters?
Advantages of Westinghouse Tankless Water Heaters
Condensing Technology
Condensing technology increases efficiencyby utilizing the heat generated by the unit to contribute to heating the water. Using this heat means that the unit won’t need to work as hard, which you will notice in your gas bill.
Since the unit utilizes most of the heat from the burning of the fuel to heat the energy, it exits at a much cooler temperature. This gives you the ability to use standard plastic PVC piping to ventilate the excess gases, which are cheaper than the pipes needed for non-condensing units that must withstand significant heat.
High-Quality Materials and Components
Westinghouse makes a point to use high-quality materials in their tankless water heaters. They make the heat exchange out of high-quality stainless steel that holds up to corrosion, leaks, and damage better than the copper or aluminum typically used in the construction of water heaters, contributing to a longer life span.
Easy Installation
All Westinghouse tankless units allow for easy installation and come with all necessary accessories and a wall mount. Install residential units using your choice of direct vent or power vent (the commercial unit only comes in a direct vent design).
Disadvantages of Westinghouse Tankless Water Heaters
Lack of Selection
Westinghouse made one tankless water heater with some slight variations, and it works extraordinarily well. However, many competing brands offer additional sizes and styles. Westinghouse does not yet offer an electric tankless option, non-condensing tankless option, or a point of use option.
Cannot Convert Unit From Gas to Propane
If you buy a natural gas tankless water heater from Westinghouse, you can not purchase a conversion kit to allow it to use propane like many other brands offer. Just be careful to select the correct fuel type when making your purchase.
No WiFi or Bluetooth Technology
Westinghouse does not offer WiFi or Bluetooth capabilities for their tankless units. People may want to use smart features to control the unit from their smartphone and monitor usage.
What Are The Key Features Of Westinghouse Tankless Water Heaters?
Like most tankless water heaters, the Westinghouse tankless water heater provides some key features that make it a particularly attractive option: high efficiency, small size, and a longer life span.
High Efficiency:
Tankless water heaters run much more efficiently than conventional water heaters. Westinghouse tankless water heaters run efficiently and have an EnergyStar certification that can lead to $95 in savings per year compared to conventional gas water heaters.
The ultra-low Nox emissions reduce nitrogen oxide levels due to its combustible control system.
Small Size:
Conventional tank water heaters require a large amount of space. Tankless water heaters take up significantly less space and can fit in most areas in your home.
The ability to use both direct-vent and power-vent ventilation provides even more installation flexibility.
Long Life Span:
Tankless water heaters don’t run as often allowing them to last 20 years, which is significantly longer than the 10 – 15 year life span of most tank-style water heaters. Tankless water heaters also have easily repaired components.
Our Overall Review Of Westinghouse
Reputable Company/Customer Service
Westinghouse started with ambitious aspirations in 1886 that allowed them to create a number of innovative products. They continue to strive for greatness with an extremely large array of products.
Water heaters are only one of the products they make, but they ensure that every product maintains its strict standards.
Have a question? Call 774-417-6000 during regular business hours, and if you need troubleshooting help, select option 2.
Manufacturing Process
Westinghouse proudly states that their units are made in the United States of America. They also work hard to put the environment first by testing each water heater’s efficiency before it leaves the factory.
Ease of Use
Westinghouse designs water heaters with easy installation in mind. They provide all accessories, including a wall mount. Once you install the unit, you will control it using a digital display on the device. The digital display also makes diagnostics easy with simple codes you can look up in the user manual.
Safety Concerns
Westinghouse makes safety a top priority by including water heater safety features to prevent damage to the device and the user.
Some common safety features include:
Flame rod
Burner overheat cutoff device
Flue high limit switch
Water temperature high limit switch
Freeze protection
Water leak detection
How Does Westinghouse Compare Against Competitors?
You want a water heater with a reliable brand name. We will help give you some information on how Westinghouse holds up to the competition.
Westinghouse vs. Rinnai
Westinghouse tankless water heaters don’t often come with the recirculation technology or smart features that many of the Rinnai tankless water heaters come with.
Rinnai also offers more tankless options than Westinghouse, but many of the options don’t provide the same efficiency levels. However, Westinghouse products last longer than Rinnai tankless water heaters and provide a better warranty.
Westinghouse vs. Rheem
Rheem and Westinghouse both offer a wide range of products, but Rheem offers more tankless water heaters, including tankless electric water heaters and tankless point-of-use water heaters.
Both companies offer a similar warranty and have options with a stainless steel heat exchange. Many of the Rheem models also come with the EcoNet connectivity and recirculation technology. You can get adaptors to change the fuel type from natural gas to propane.
However, Westinghouse comes with higher efficiency than most Rheem models, and it can be used at higher altitudes.
Our Westinghouse Tankless Water Heater Reviews
Westinghouse offers one main tankless gas water heater product because they only need one. It comes in three models that have slight yet significant variations.
Some common qualities of all units are that they heat using condensing technology, offer propane and gas options, have a cleardigital display, and come with a stainless steel heat exchange.
What sets the Westinghouse tankless water heater models apart? The main differences include maximum BTUs, water flow, efficiency, high temperature, and usage.
See our comparison of the three Westinghouse tankless water heater models, so you can pick the right one for you.
Maximum BTU/hr – 199,999 Efficiency rating – .94 UEF Maximum temperature – 140° F Ventilation – direct vent or power vent Water flow – 8.2 GPM with temperature rise of 45° F Warranty – 12 years on the heat exchanger and 5 years on parts
This full-size residential tankless water heater should satisfy the needs of most households at the highest efficiency possible, keeping your bills low. You can install it easily with the option to use a direct-vent or power-vent design. This unit works best for average households who want the best tankless option Westinghouse has to offer.
Maximum BTU/hr – 150,000 Efficiency rating – .95 UEF Maximum temperature – 140° F Warranty – 12 years on the heat exchanger and 5 years on parts Ventilation – direct vent or power vent Water flow – 8.1 GPM with temperature rise of 45° F
This small-scale model provides similar qualities to the 199 model but at slightly lower levels. The 8.1 GPM flow rate still supplies plenty of hot water to satisfy an average household at a high-efficiency rating of .95 UEF. This unit works best for consumers with slightly fewer needs than average but still want something high quality.
Maximum BTU/hr – 199,999 Efficiency rating – .93 UEF Maximum temperature – 155° F Warranty – 5 years on the heat exchanger and 1 year on parts Ventilation – direct vent only Water flow – 8.2 GPM with temperature rise of 45° F
This commercial tankless water heater mimics the 199 mode in flow rate and the 150 in efficiency, but it adds some features unique to commercial application. It has the capability to raise the temperature to 155° F, not available in the residential units.
It also has the unique capability to connect up to 8 additional hot water heaters with Cascade connectivity. This unit works great for small to medium commercial buildings.
Note: If interested in purchasing any of these Westinghouse tankless water heater models, you should act fast. Westinghouse advised us that they will soon retire their current tankless units to make room for new tankless water heaters with additional features.
Final Thoughts On Westinghouse Tankless Water Heaters
While not the main name in tankless water heaters, Westinghouse has a reliable, efficient product on the market that suits a variety of needs.
Westinghouse could include some additional options and features in its tankless water heater collection, but the tankless water heater they have was made well. When you buy a Westinghouse tankless water heater, you also have the confidence of knowing that you have the warranty and support of a well-respected company behind you.
Westinghouse Water Heater Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who manufactures Westinghouse water heaters?
Westinghouse outsources the manufacturing of its water heaters to HTP, Inc. Westinghouse, however, handles the development, sales, and distribution of its products.
Are Westinghouse Water Heaters any good?
Yes! Westinghouse makes high-quality water heaters with an emphasis on using durable materials and creating high-efficiency products. Tankless selection is limited, but you have a wide range of tank-style and hybrid options to choose from.
Does Westinghouse make a tankless water heater?
Yes. However, they only make one product that comes in three models right now. While they don’t provide too many options, their one unit offers anything you could want in a tankless water heater (except smart capabilities).
Want to buy a Westinghouse tankless water heater? You can buy online at Amazon, Home Depot, and Menards.
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About Plumbing Navigator
We write about "all things plumbing," helping you navigate common questions, repairs, and the best plumbing products on the market.
About Plumbing Navigator
We write about “all things plumbing,” helping you navigate common questions, repairs, and the best plumbing products on the market.
