Are you looking for a small water heater for your kitchen faucet or shower? There are many kinds of options available for you for this. Point of use tankless water heater is one of the best solutions for this situation. In this article, I am going to review Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 074050 electric tankless water heater that can be a good option for a single fixture. After the read, you will know about the important features of this popular point-of-use water heater in detail. Therefore, it will help you make a better decision.
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Specification – Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1
| Models | Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 074050 |
| Power | 3KW |
| Temp. Range | 86°F to 140°F |
| Max. Flow rate | 1.14 GPM |
| Dimension (inch) | 18.9 x 7.9 x 14.2 |
| Voltage | 110/120V |
| Installation | Point of use |
| Product Weight | 4.6 lbs |
| Fuel | Electricity |
Flow rate
The maximum flow rate of Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 is 1.14 GPM when the groundwater temperature is 72F. A point of use plugin tankless water heater is usually less powerful than a regular 220V tankless water heater. Therefore, the maximum flow rate of a 110V tankless water heater is not that much in comparison to a 220V tankless water heater. The comparative flow rate of DHC 3-1 is excellent. The below table shows the comparison with some other popular point of use 110V tankless water heater.
| Brand/Model | Max Flow Rate |
| Stiebel Eltron 074050 | 1.14 GPM |
| Ecosmart POU 3.5 Point | 0.85 GPM |
| AB crew kitchen faucet | 0.8 GPM |
| Sio Green IR260 | 0.8 GPM |
| Chronomite SR-30L | 0.5 GPM |
We know that majority of the water-saving faucets and showers consume 0.5 GPM of hot water. Therefore, the maximum flow rate of this unit is quite capable of delivering water to two faucets at a time.
Temperature Range
The variable working temperature of Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 is 86°F to 140°F. The output temperature is dependent on the temperature of the input groundwater temperature. Not all the mini tankless water heater has an option to control the output temperature.
Wattage
The wattage of this unit is 3W. It is the determinant of how powerful and sturdy the machine is. Compared to 220V tankless water heater, point of use water heaters has a minimum wattage. But if I compare the wattage of this unit with other mini tankless water heaters, I find that the wattage is average.
| Brand/Model | Wattage |
| Stiebel Eltron 074050 | 3 KW |
| Ecosmart POU 3.5 Point | 3.5 KW |
| AB crew kitchen faucet | 2.5 KW |
| Sio Green IR260 | 3.4 KW |
| Chronomite SR-30L | 3.6 KW |
Coverage
What is the utility of a point of use mini tankless water heater? We use these for covering one fixture at a time usually. That’s why these are named like this. But as we see that Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 has a higher maximum flow rate, it can cover two faucets. A common problem with a 110V tankless water heater that these water heaters cannot even supply sufficient water to a single faucet. I think Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 will be an exception to this problem.
Installation
As the naming suggests, it should be installed near the fixture. You can install it under the sink or in the bathroom if you want to use it for your shower. Therefore, this is an indoor tankless water heater and will not be suitable for outdoor purposes.
Dimension
This is an important aspect of an indoor tankless water heater. The dimension of Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 water heater is 18.9 x 7.9 x 14.2 inches. The dimension suggests that it is suitable for indoor installation. But it is not the smallest among the competitors. Below is the table of comparison.
| Brand/Model | Dimension (inches) |
| Stiebel Eltron 074050 | 18.9 x 7.9 x 14.2 |
| Ecosmart POU 3.5 Point | 11 x 7 x 2.75 |
| AB crew kitchen faucet | N/A |
| Sio Green IR260 | 14.3 x 12.5 x 4.3 |
| Chronomite SR-30L | 9.6 x 2.8 x 6.2 |
Value for money
Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 tankless water heater is comparatively expensive. But the value of this unit justifies the price. The flow rate of this unit is twice as much as the flow rate of the competitors. Overall, I think the price of this unit is OK comparing the value that it generates.
Other features
Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 is integrated with microprocessor technology. It continuously monitors information from the temperature sensor and flow sensor. Thus, the heating element is smartly controlled by the microprocessor. Therefore, it consumes limited electricity.
What I liked about Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 074050
- The maximum flow rate of this unit is higher.
- The wattage is also higher than average.
- The value for the money of this unit is not bad.
- Because of the hydraulically controlled system, the operation is quiet.
- It never dries fires and therefore, never fails prematurely.
Cons but not a dealbreaker
- The price of this unit is relatively higher.
- Not suitable for covering the whole house.
Suitable for?
Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 is good for the use of bathroom sinks, boats, RVs, kitchen sinks, utility sinks, and so on. You can use this unit at your home or office. It is suitable for commercial places such as schools, malls, warehouses, restaurants, gas stations, and so on. The only one thing you should keep in mind is that this is a single point of use tankless water heater. Therefore, you may not connect it to multiple fixtures.
Final words
I think now you have substantial knowledge about Stiebel Eltron DHC 3-1 from this review. It will be one of the best options as the best 110-volt mini tankless water heater if you want to use it as a single point of use. However, from the advantages and disadvantages above, if you find it useful, you can go for it.