The patent for the first domestic water heater was filed by a British Painter called Benjamin Maughan in the 1860s.
Since then, scientific advances have enabled what was once considered a luxury, to become a common and affordable necessity in our homes.
Introduction to the humble yet essential Water Heater
A water heater, also known as a geyser in some parts of the world is a device that heats the normal temperature or cold tap water to hot water in a controlled manner.
For domestic use, there are instant water heaters that have a high heating rate but low storage capacity. The other type, which allows more than 3ltrs of storage, is termed storage heaters.
So, how exactly does the heater function? There’s firstly an inlet that allows normal water to collect at the bottom of the heater’s storage tank.
There is an in-built heating element or burner that gets to work and heats the water. The heater’s thermostat, which is normally set to a heating capacity that is just hot enough for us to use, controls the temperature of the water.
The heated water slowly rises to the top of the heater’s tank and then flows through the shower outlet. When buying or replacing a water heater, aside from the obvious things like the number of users at home, budget, and looks,
the following factors are important to bear in mind-
- Energy efficiency of the heater
- The type of heating element, especially to avoid scaling issues where water is hard
- The material of the storage tank as it affects the lifespan of the heater
Prominent and popular brands in the market in 2022 for water heaters are Bajaj, Havells, Crompton Greaves, A O Smith, Orient Electric, and Racold.
Moving ahead, let us look at some of the best water heater options to consider when buying.
Top Water Heater Brands In India (2022)
1. Bajaj Flora Instant 1 Liter Geyser
This model from Bajaj can be a useful addition to a home kitchen or hand wash area.
This is a vertically mounted water heater that is compact both in size and storage capacity. Suitable for small households.
The product’s pressure capacity is 8 bars.
The product design is elegant and the thermoplastic outer body ensures that the heater remains corrosion-free.
It is available in White color and comes with a neon indicator to indicate hot water readiness. Installation charges have to be paid by the buyers.
Features
2. Crompton Bliss 3 Liter Geyser
Crompton’s Bliss range of instant water heaters has both 1 Liter and 3 Liter capacity models that are available in white color.
The 3 Liter variant comes with a beautiful flora motif that can blend well into a home’s decor.
It is suitable for small households’ kitchens or bathrooms where not too much hot water consumption happens.
The heater comes with a useful feature that stops the backflow of water.
One of the most important parts of a heater is the water tank. Crompton’s Bliss 3 Liter heater comes with a steel weldless tank, so it will be corrosion-free and long-lasting.
Features
3. Hindware Atlantic Convenio 3 Liter Geyser
This sleek model from Hindware’s Atlantic range is aptly named Convenio. This is again a product suited for the utility space or bathroom of small households.
It’s an instant heater that is white. It has a steel tank and ABS outer body, that together make the product long-lasting and rust-free.
Its heating element is covered in copper and thus ensures quick heating. Its I-Thermostat feature saves water and electricity costs.
Installation charges are excluded from the price and will have to be paid separately by the purchaser.
Features
4. Bajaj New Shakti storage 15 Liter Vertical Water Heater
The New Shakti 15 Liter water heater from Bajaj comes with the technological advantage of titanium armor.
This is a special coating on the inner tank of the heater which prolongs the product’s life.
The special element attracts salts and keeps both the tank and heating element safe. The outer body is made of weldless sheet metal.
This 15 Liter model is energy efficient as it is fitted with a swirl flow technology
Which heats the water quickly. Installation is free, but accessories will need to be purchased. The New Shakti range from Bajaj also has Neo and Neo plus models
Features
5. AO Smith HSE-VAS-X-025
This 25 Liter capacity water heater from AO Smith has good customer ratings in the marketplace.
This product is suitable for installation in multistorey buildings. The tank is blue diamond glass-lined.
The heating element is glass-coated Incoloy which is a high-performance superalloy that provides superior heating.
It has an IPX4 rating, which makes it water-resistant to splashes.
This model also comes with an extended warranty period for the heating element. It is overall an efficient product.
Features
6. V-Guard Calino 25L Storage Water Heater
This feature-packed heater from V-Guard comes with customizable water heating in 4 modes. It has a high-grade steel tank that is quoted with vitreous enamel.
Its Incoloy 840 heating element acts as an antiscalant and offers protection, so water is hygienic too.
The outer body is IPX4 splash-proof. This model also comes with an advanced thermostat that stops overheating. V-Guard offers free installation all over India
And the good thing is that the inlet and outlet pipes are included as part of the installation.
Features
7. Orient Enamour Plus 25-Liter water heater
Orient Enamour Plus 25 Liter heater allows for user-specific temperature settings and gives users greater temperature control.
It comes with a Japanese technology-based antibacterial tank that is quoted with titanium enamel.
The heating element is glassline protected to last for a long time. This model also incorporates a patented whirlflow technology that gives 20% more heating.
The outer body is made of high strength polymer that is water and shock-proof.
A key feature of this product is that the heating element has a 4-year warranty.
Features
8. Racold Eterno Pro 25 Liters Vertical Water Heater
The Racold Eterno Pro 25 Liters water heater claims to save up to 30% electricity. It is fitted with “smart bath logic”
That allows users to choose the right temperature settings for their needs. The steel tank is lined with titanium enamel for durability.
The heating element is coated with titanium enamel too. Its smart guard anode that is used with the heating element is especially helpful for protection from corrosion.
The company provides free installation that includes inlet and outlet pipes.
Features
9. Panasonic Duro Digi 25 L
All standard features that a product with 25 Liter capacity should have, are present in Panasonic Duro Digi too.
It is energy-efficient and long-lasting. It has the necessary safety measures such as protection from overheating and increased water pressure in place.
The model has an LED display panel. Its tank is glassline coated and so is the heating element.
Therefore, the life expectancy of both these parts will be high.
Two things that stand out are that installation is free and both inlet and outlet pipes are included. Secondly, the warranty period on the tank, heating element and overall product are all on the higher side.
Features
10. Candes 10 L Storage Water Geyser
The Candes 10L storage water geyser has a pressure rating of 6.5 bar which makes it suitable for installation in high rise buildings.
The model is also available with 6, 15 and 25 Liter capacities. The tank is made of stainless steel and the outer body houses a copper-covered heating element.
The outer body is made of rust-proof metal and has an LED display unit.The installation will need to be undertaken by the buyer.
Candes also has another 10L geyser called Elentro.The warranty period is on the lower end for this product.
Features
11. Longway 50 Liter Storage Water Geyser
The Longway 50 Liter geyser solves the problem of ample hot water to meet the needs of large families.
This model is part of Longway’s Hotplus series of water heaters.
The inner tank is made of stainless steel that has an anti-rust coating. The heating element is of copper and the outer body is made of stainless steel too.
Aside from this, the cutting-edge auto cut technology ensures water and energy savings. The warranty period is on the lower end for this product.
Features
Conclusion
We have so far taken a look at a wide range of water heater brands and product varieties. The models discussed enable consumers to make an informed decision while purchasing a water heater.
They cater to all budget ranges and call out features that might be of interest to buyers. Right from busy professionals and nuclear families that may opt for instant heaters to large families that might require water heaters with bigger storage capacity.
When investing in a product, it is natural to expect it to function appropriately and last for a long time. Therefore, things to consider while choosing the right product for all your needs have been included.
For instance, a lot of homes have a hard water supply so giving prominence to the material of the tank and body of the heater is important. The energy efficiency factor of these models not just saves us money but is also good from an environmental perspective.
Frequently Asked Question
Q1. Which brand of water heater is the best?
It is generally thought that going with trusted names in the market is good because that trust is built upon years of making and selling products with the highest quality.
Having said that, some upcoming brands might also surprise you with their features and competitive pricing. Some of the best brands today in India include Bajaj – which needs no introduction, AO Smith, Orient Electric– which is part of the Birla group and Racold.
Each of these brands has water heaters that can be termed as the best for different parameters such as the best model in a price range or storage capacity.
Q2. Which is the best instant water heater in India?
Instant heaters have a small storage capacity, say 1-3 Liters, while the heating or turnaroundtime of heating is almost instant. It is ideal for utility spaces than bathrooms in general.
These water heaters are therefore ideal for the needs of a small family or single person. Models from some of the best instant heater manufacturers in India such as Bajaj, Hindware, AO Smith and V-Guard are great choices.
They have the standard build quality, safety and energy-saving features. Thus, they are pocket-friendly and efficient.
Q3. Which water heater is best for the bathroom?
When choosing water heaters for bathrooms, consideration must be given to the number of people in the household and the amount of time spent bathing.
Storage water heaters instead of instant heaters are more suitable for bathrooms. The choice, however, can be influenced by space constraints and price considerations.
Another factor affecting this choice is also the quality of the water supply. If hard water from borewell, etc. are used, then attention to the material the inner tank and heating elements are made of become important.
Hard water has salt build-up and makes devices prone to corrosion that will over time affect the performance of the water heater.
Q4. Which instant geyser is best for home?
Heaters from Crompton’s Bliss series, Havell’s Instanio and Bajaj Flora (also available in 1 Liter) can be considered to be amongst the best. These are 3 Liter water heaters that have pleasing designs and are compact.
They cut down the waiting time for hot water to seconds compared to storage water heaters. Lesser priced variants that are suitable for single-person usage include the Lifelong flash series.
