Are you looking for a reliable outdoor water heater with a high capacity suitable for an outdoor structure or outbuilding such as a lake cabin or a barn? In this case, a portable unit will most probably not work for you, because the capacity would be too small for your needs and there usually isn’t a way to fit the unit properly to the outside of the structure on a permanent basis where it could operate year in and out. In this situation, an outdoor water heater with a larger capacity meant for a more permanent installation, like the Eccotemp L10 High Capacity Outdoor Tankless Water Heater, should be able to meet your needs.
Who Would the Eccotemp L10 High Capacity Outdoor Tankless Water Heater Be Suitable For?
The Eccotemp L10 would be ideal for people who need a high capacity tankless outdoor water heater to use with cabins, lodges, barns, garages, potting sheds, campers, RV’s, hunting camps, horse washing stalls and summer homes.
Never Run Out of Hot Water and Save on Gas
Being a tankless unit, and with its automatic ignition system that only starts when water is running, the Eccotemp L10 will ensure that you’ll never run out of hot water, for as long as you have a supply of running water and the gas tank isn’t empty.
The ignition is provided by 2 “D” batteries (not provided with the unit), good for up to about 12 hours of use from a 20 lb. Propane gas tank. There is no pilot light to mess around with, and since the unit’s automatic ignition system only fires when water is running, it means that you can substantially lower your energy usage and save on gas because it only consumes gas when producing hot water. Because of this ignition system, there is no likelihood of overheating, and it also will make it ideal for off-grid usage or for locations where there is limited electrical power.
This outdoor water heater delivers plenty of hot water, from 80 degrees Fahrenheit up to 165 degrees Fahrenheit, which is adjustable upon installation. In fact, the unit is rated to provide a supply of hot water of as much as 2.65 gallons per minute, which is enough for one or two hot water applications running simultaneously, such as a kitchen sink and a shower.
Simple Installation
The L10 comes with a facility hardware pack for simple, easy installation. The water fittings supplied with the unit are 1/2 inch NPT to make plumbing easy since commonly obtainable, standard American fittings can be used. Being a lightweight unit, weighing in at only 18 pounds, it should be fairly easy to fit the heater to an outside wall. The unit is also quite compact in design, with the following dimensions: 36 inches (length) by 17 inches (width) by 10 inches (height).
If the unit is to be installed semi-permanently, then one can make use of the top tab on the device to suspend it from a screw strong enough to hold a weight of 30 pounds. On another hand, if the unit needs to be permanently mounted, then one can also use screws to affix the unit’s bottom tab tightly to the wall.
The L10 includes a 9′ CSA-approved regulator and hose for attaching to any standard LP tank and it includes an adapter for utilizing a regular garden hose for the water intake supply. Propane gas comes from a regular 20-pound propane gas cylinder (which is not included with the L10), for example, those cylinders used for outdoor barbecue grills.
Other Features and Benefits
* The unit includes a stainless steel rain hood to help with the venting of the flue gasses and also to protect it from the outdoor elements.
* It features an auto-cut-off protection that will instantly shut off the gas supply in case of a flameout, to minimize the danger of a gas leakage.
* The unit incorporates an automatic safety shut-off timer which will operate after 20 minutes of frequent usage.
* The heater will automatically shut off the gas supply in case water ceases to flow through it.
* It includes a removable drain valve to prevent water pipe as well as regulator damage brought on by freezing water.
* The manufacturer claims energy savings at an Energy Factor (EF) of 85%.
Cons
One user reported having a problem adjusting the water temperature but discovered it was due to a case of low water pressure. It is important to note that this heater requires a water pressure of 30 to 80 PSI to function correctly.
Finally
If you need a reliable bigger hot water supply for more permanent outdoors types of applications, the Eccotemp L10 could be the right product for you. If your requirements are modest, or you’re looking for portability, then the L10′s smaller brother, the Eccotemp L5, would probably be more suitable for you. Read in-depth tankless water heater reviews to get the most suitable tankless water heater for your specific needs.