Electric tankless water heaters and the Essency EXR
Want the endless feel of tankless without gas lines, venting or a new electrical panel? The Essency EXR is an electric, on-demand water heater that delivers an 80-gallon first-hour rating from a 55-gallon footprint, installed by a licensed Master Plumber.
A licensed Master Plumber on every job
Is an electric tankless water heater a good idea for my home?
For a single bathroom, an addition or a small home, an electric tankless heater can work well. For a whole house, most electric tankless units draw so much power that the home needs a panel or service upgrade, and they can struggle in winter when the incoming water is cold. That is why we install the Essency EXR instead: it heats water on demand like a tankless unit, runs on a standard 240-volt, 25-amp circuit, and is rated at 80 gallons of hot water in the first hour. Call 864-438-0525 and we will tell you which one fits your home.
- No gas line or venting
- Standard 240V / 25A circuit
- 80-gallon first-hour rating
- 20-year tank warranty from Essency
The problem with whole-home electric tankless
A gas tankless heater burns a lot of fuel to heat water instantly. An electric one has to do the same job with electricity, which is why whole-home electric tankless units often need several large breakers and more amperage than many Upstate homes have available. That can mean a panel upgrade before the water heater is even installed.
They also slow down when the incoming water is cold. In January, the water coming into your house is colder, so the heater has to raise it further, and the flow it can keep up with drops. Two showers and a dishwasher at once can be more than it can handle.
Electric tankless is still a good fit for some homes: a single bathroom, a garage apartment, an addition or a point-of-use sink. For a whole house, there is now a better electric option.
- Often needs a panel or service upgrade
- Flow drops when incoming water is cold
- Best for small homes, additions and single baths
Meet the Essency EXR
The Essency EXR is an electric water heater built to bridge the gap between a tank and tankless. Inside is about 55 gallons of water that stays in the unit as stored heat; it is filled once at installation and never leaves. Your household water runs through a heat exchanger inside that tank and comes out hot the moment a tap opens, so the water you shower in is never water that has been sitting in a tank.
The result, according to Essency, is an 80-gallon first-hour rating from a unit the size of a standard 55-gallon tank, with hot water that stays steady through back-to-back showers. It plugs into the same kind of 240-volt circuit as a regular electric water heater, so most homes need no electrical upgrade, no gas line and no venting.
- Heats water on demand through a heat exchanger
- 80-gallon first-hour rating, 55-gallon footprint
- Replaces one 80-gallon or two 40-gallon tanks
- Standard 240V circuit, no venting
Why the EXR lasts
Manufacturer specifications and warranty terms from Essency. We go over them with you before you decide.
-
A tank that cannot rust
The double-wall polymer tank does not corrode, so there is no anode rod to replace. Essency rates it to last about three times longer than a metal tank.
-
No scale inside the tank
The stored water never changes, so new minerals never get in. That protects the titanium heating elements, which also have dry-fire protection.
-
No yearly flushing
There is no sediment to drain, and the parts that can wear are accessible and replaceable.
-
20-year tank warranty
Essency covers the tank for 20 years and the heat exchanger for 6, and the warranty transfers to the next owner if you sell the house.
-
No pressure on the tank
The tank is open to the atmosphere, so in most local codes it does not need a temperature and pressure relief valve.
-
Good for well water
With no anode rod, the EXR avoids the rotten-egg smell that well water with sulfur can cause in a standard tank.
Smart controls and lower energy use
The EXR has a touchscreen on the unit and the MyEssency phone app. Smart mode learns when your household uses hot water and saves energy the rest of the time, which Essency rates at about 10% savings. Heat+ mode stretches the output further for big households, and short-term settings handle vacations, a boost before guests arrive, or extra savings.
It carries a 0.93 Uniform Energy Factor, with high-density, CFC-free insulation around the tank.
- Touchscreen and MyEssency app
- Smart, Heat+, Vacation and Boost settings
- 0.93 UEF
Essency EXR specifications
Specifications from Essency for the EXR model. Your written estimate lists the exact model and warranty for your home.
- Type: electric, flow-activated on-demand tank
- First-hour rating: 80 gallons
- Nominal capacity: 55 gallons (stored heat)
- Uniform Energy Factor: 0.93
- Electrical: 240V / 60Hz / 25A circuit
- Elements: 4,500 W titanium, dry-fire protected
- Connections: 3/4" MNPT
- Max operating pressure: 145 psi
- Size: 65" H x 22" W x 26" D
- Weight: about 102 lbs empty
- Installation: indoor only, by a professional
- Warranty: 20 years tank, 6 years heat exchanger, transferable
Essency EXR vs electric tankless vs a standard tank
Standard electric tank: the lowest upfront cost, but it runs out of hot water and the steel tank eventually rusts through, usually within 8 to 12 years.
Whole-home electric tankless: endless hot water in a small box on the wall, but it often needs a panel upgrade and loses flow in cold weather.
Essency EXR: steady hot water for a busy household on a standard circuit, a tank that does not rust, and a 20-year tank warranty. It takes up the floor space of a regular tank and is installed indoors.
Gas in the house? A gas tankless water heater is still a strong choice. We install both and will tell you honestly which one fits.
How an EXR installation works
We look at your setup
A licensed plumber checks your current heater, your electrical circuit and where the new unit will go, and asks how your household uses hot water.
You get a written price
Options in writing before any work starts: the EXR, a standard tank, or tankless if your home suits it.
We install it
We remove the old heater, set and fill the EXR, connect the water and circuit, and set it up on the app with you.
We haul the old one away
The old heater is drained, removed and disposed of, and we test everything before we leave.
What customers say
Every review here is from a real customer. Names are shortened for privacy.
They exchanged our old water heat tank with a tankless water heater and repiped the crawl space. Ivan and Asher did the whole work within less than two days. We felt treated with respect, everything was explained well and they left everything clean.
Brendan came out same day to service our hot water heater. We have hot water now! They were friendly, honest, and we paid a fair price. If (when) we have plumbing needs in the future we will def give them a call.
Electric tankless and Essency EXR FAQs
Is the Essency EXR a tankless water heater?
Not exactly. It is an electric water heater that heats water on demand like a tankless unit, but it uses about 55 gallons of stored water as a heat battery. You get steady hot water without the electrical demands of a whole-home electric tankless heater.
Will I need a new electrical panel?
Usually not. The EXR runs on a 240-volt, 25-amp circuit, similar to a standard electric water heater. Whole-home electric tankless units often need far more. We confirm your panel on the first visit.
How much hot water does it make?
Essency rates the EXR at 80 gallons of hot water in the first hour, from a unit the size of a 55-gallon tank. Heat+ mode stretches that further for larger households.
Does it need to be flushed every year?
No. The water in the tank never changes, so sediment and scale do not build up inside it, and there is no anode rod to replace.
Can it replace a gas water heater?
Yes, if you have a 240-volt circuit available or can add one. Switching from gas also removes the need for venting and a gas line to the heater.
What warranty comes with it?
Essency warranties the tank for 20 years and the heat exchanger for 6 years, transferable to a new owner. Our written price lists the warranty for your install.
Can I finance it?
Yes. Plumbing financing through GoodLeap is available on water heater installs, subject to credit approval.
Ready when you are
Tell us what's going on.
A Master Plumber will find the cause, explain it in plain terms, and put your options in writing before any work starts.
- A licensed Master Plumber on every job
- Serving the Upstate for 16+ years
- Written prices, every job