EmailBest Reviewed
Water Heaters
- Budget electric water heater Kenmore 32656 Power Miser 6 *Est. $290
- Energy-efficient gas water heater Kenmore 33159 HydroSense *Est. $600
- Energy-efficient electric water heater Rheem/Ruud Marathon MSR50245 *Est. $1100
- Heat pump add-on AirGenerate AirTap A7 *Est. $700
- Whole-house tankless water heater Takagi Flash T-H1 *Est. $2800
- Small point-of-use water heater Bosch Ariston GL4 *Est. $170
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Small point-of-use water heater
- Provides hot water to problem areas
- Plugs into an outlet
- Simple installation
- Fits easily under sink
- Mixed reviews for capacity
- Temperature controls hard to access
- Some reports of leaks, other problems
March 2009. This little electric point-of-use water heater is sized to fit under a sink, and combines tankless water heater technology with a 4-gallon mini-tank to provide hot water without waiting for it to come through the lines from a bigger tank. Bosch also makes a smaller model, the 2.5-gallon Ariston GL2.5 (*est. $140) and a bigger one, the 7-gallon Ariston GL6+ (*est. $180), but the GL4 gets the most favorable reviews from owners. It plugs into an ordinary outlet, and owners say it's easy to install. The main drawback is that the temperature controls are hard to access. Some owners also complain about the Ariston's capacity, saying they sometimes have to wait for it to heat more water.
We found informative owner-written reviews of the Bosch Ariston point-of-use water heaters at Amazon.com, HomeDepot.com, and AceHardware.com. A brief review at Treehugger.com highlights its most useful features.
Our Sources
1. Amazon.com
More than a dozen owners rate and review the Ariston GL4 at this online retail site, giving it mostly positive reviews. A couple owners complain about the warranty and subpar output.
Review: Ariston 4-Gallon Point-of-Use Indoor Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater #GL4, Contributors to Amazon.com
A handful of owners give the Ariston GL4 mostly positive reviews here, but note occasional quality-control problems. One professional says this water heater often starts to leak after three or four years, so it must be replaced. Although this is typically covered under warranty, it is still a nuisance, the pro says. Several owners have it serving more than one faucet, and one says it easily replaces a 30-gallon water heater.
Review: Ariston 4.0 Gallon Point of Use Electric Water Heater Model GL4.0, Contributors to HomeDepot.com
Two owners give the smaller but similar Ariston GL2.5 water heater mixed reviews. One gives it a perfect five-star rating, while the other says it works well but criticizes it for lacking a clear temperature-control knob.
Review: Ariston Electric Mini Tank Water Heater (GL2.5), Contributors to AceHardware.com
This brief review notes that although there are more efficient water heaters available, the Bosch Ariston point-of-use water heaters make "an easy retrofit" with no extra cost for plumbing or wiring.
Review: Ariston Point-Of-Use Hot Water Heaters, Justin Thomas, May 2005
