As a food truck owner, you need consistent water flow, especially during peak hours, you must look for the best water heater for food truck with minimal power consumption. In case you are getting a water heater with 120 V and 20 amps, it would not be able to fulfill your hot water need. So, which product would be appropriate for the food tank? Here are some recommendations.
[wptb id=1245]Our Recommendations for the Best Water Heater for food truck
We recommend these products based on the customer’s satisfaction
- Bosch Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater Tronic 3000
Product Specifications
- Dimensions: 21 x 20.5 x 16.5 inches
- Weight: 15.5 lbs.
- Water Pressure: 150 psi
- Color: white
- Capacity: 7 gallons
- Power source: Battery Powered
- Volts: 120V, 12 A (amp)
Small food trucks or trailers are the ideal fit for an electric mini-tank water heater. It is a fantastic option for Low-Flow applications because of its small size and capacity to produce up to 3 gallons of hot water per hour.
This device comes in three small sizes (2.5, 4, and 7 gallons), making it simple to place it under a sink or even in a cabinet.
The safety features of the Bosch Tronic 3000T include a thermal cutoff switch, a magnesium anode for corrosion protection, and a glass-lined tank.
Since this heater has earned Energy Star certification, it complies with the strictest requirements for fuel efficiency.
Pros
- Can be installed in any position (vertically or horizontally)
- Can be mounted anywhere
- CFC-free foam insulation gives you the maximum energy efficiency
Cons
- To plug these hot water food tanks you need GFCI outlets to plug in.
- Limited use
- EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater
Product Specifications
- Dimensions: 3.75 x 8 x 11.5 inches
- Color: white
- Weight: 6.5 lbs.
- Capacity: 2 gallons
- Power source: corded electric
It’s an electric tankless heater that has a compact and unique design that supplies a limitless amount of water. EcoSmart eco 11 will heat 2 gallons of water per minute.
A smaller place, such as an apartment, can handle this flow rate. Additionally, it can be a great point-of-use system.
This Eco-Smart 11 has a simple control panel on the front, and its, screen shows you the exact water temperature that the unit is running.
Through the convenient dial on the front, the unit can easily be managed.
Pros
- Can save a lot on heating cost
- Can be easily installed
- Temperature gauge is easy to read
- Supply unlimited hot water
Cons
- Cannot provide a lot of water simultaneously from different outlets
- Unit of water supply can be limited by its flow rate
- Regular maintenance required
- Pricier in a way that it can be used in a long term
- WaiWela WM-2.5 Mini Tank Water Heater, 2.5-Gallon
Product Specifications
- Dimensions: 10.75 x 11.75 x 14.5 inches
- Weight: 18.1 lbs.
- Color: white
- Wattage: 1320 Watts
- Capacity: 2.5 Gallons
- Power source: Corded Electric
WaiWela WM-2.5 Mini Tank Water Heater gives you a cheap solution to a common issue by combining high-quality components and effective manufacturing methods.
It reduces the wait time and fresh water waste by giving hot water instantly. You can install a WaiWela Mini tank under your sinks.
It’s very small in size that it can easily fit in any compact area. Also, it uses a very less energy-consuming product so, saying that it is one of the best water heater for food truck would not be wrong.
Remember that, this product is designed for America so, the power voltage varies from country to country.
Pros
- Easy to install
- Glass-lined tank
- Power cord is attached
- Under sink installation
Cons
- Be cautious about temperatures
- It is costly than the other products
- Stiebel Eltron 235089 SHC 6 6 Gallon Water Heater
Product Specifications
- Color: white
- Dimensions: 15 x 15 x 20 inches
- Weight: 15.9 lbs.
- Capacity: 6 gallons
- Power source: Corded Electric
The Stiebel Eltron Tempra 15 plus Electric tankless heater is a mini tank that can be used in kitchens, washrooms, small one-room offices, or sinks.
It has a flow rate of 1.5 gallons per minute. It includes 95 degrees to 165 degrees Fahrenheit temperature range and a computerized thermostat for accurate temperature control.
Even though it includes a preset memory function that stores your preferred water temps for quick recall. Its back is flat so it can be placed either on the floor or could be mounted on the wall.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Small size and compatible
- Can plug into 110/120 V
- Supply hot water fast
Cons
- It cost very high in prices due to its installation and product price
- CAMPLUX ENJOY OUTDOOR LIFE
Product Specifications
- Color: white
- Weight: 10 lbs.
- Dimensions: 14.8 x 11.42 x 4.33 inches
- Capacity: 5 liters
- Power source: battery powered
- Batteries: 2 D batteries
This is a portable tankless water heater that has a flow rate of 1.58 gallons per minute. Its temperature range is adjustable from 50 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is in compact small size with a folding handle, so it’s easy to place it outside also, has some features like anti-freezing protection, oxygen depletion safety shut-off protection, and Flame failure devices.
When it comes to operations, only has some basic control settings so it can be used easily. The size is compact, yet meets the requirements of your hot water by having a water pressure as low as 3.0 PSI.
Pros
- Very Portable
- It is Compact in size
- Easy to use
- Good for outdoors, and short spaces
Cons
- No water pump it has
- Limited to use
- Only have basic controls to operate
- No extra or additional function
- Bosch Thermo-technology Model 7736505867
Product Specifications
- Color: white
- Dimensions: 12.8 x 6.6 x 2.9 inches
- Weight: 5.29 lbs.
- Power source: battery powered
- Wattage: 3600 W
- Voltage: 120V
The Bosch Tronic 3000 is a battery-powered heater that has a low flow rate of 0.3 GPM, and a 3.6kW under sink tankless water which is compact in size and lightweight.
For a fact, you may use it to supply numerous sinks in a residence, house, office, or restaurant. However, it can be installed quickly and easily in a variety of orientations and places, so it may be used anywhere.
It can be positioned in a tight under-counter space and installed in a 360-degree orientation for various, worry-free installations. This product will be hard-wired because of the voltage needed.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact that can fit anywhere.
- In Very much Affordable price
- Don’t require temperature or pressure
- A Low maintenance required product
- Made up of copper materials that extend its life span
- It has a copper heat exchanger and heating elements that have copper sheaths.
Cons
- For those who require a lot of hot water, it is not perfect.
- Every component has a different warranty timeline
What is the best; Gas vs Electric Tankless heater
Tankless water heaters work by consuming either electricity or natural gas; or propane fuel (don’t get confused, they are more or less the same). Usually, models that use natural gas can also run on propane fuel.
The propane fuel will make your heater work more efficiently and has a higher BTU (British thermal unit) as it is pure than natural gas.
Electric water heaters are likely to be expensive compared to gas heaters depending on localities. These heaters are more efficient as begin to produce hot water promptly in 6 seconds to 10 seconds.
However, conclusively, electric and gas heaters both are significant in their own ways but the thing that matters is the efficiency of the unit and the cost.
In case you are looking for a heater that will be within your budget then the first thing that you need to check is the prices of the power source (electricity and gas) in your area.
Remember, while installing your water heater unit, instead of doing it yourself, it is better to hire a professional.
What is the right size of hot water heater for a food truck?
Having a water heater for food truck is powered by electricity and is easily installed and efficient. Any/every tankless water heater will raise your incoming water temperature by around 33°F at a flow rate of 0.5 GPM.
If your electrical supply is 120V and 20 amps at most, which is typical in RVs, food trucks, boats, and outdoor bars.
Additionally, the temperature rise in the entering water will be proportionally less than 33°F if the truck’s sink has a flow rate greater than 0.5 GPM.
Problems that you might encounter with a tankless water heater
Like storage tank water heaters have corrosion, sediment, limescale, etc. issues that prevent or lessen the hot water flow, with tankless water heaters, you can encounter problems as well. It adds to the insufficient heat production or poor water flow.
In case of poor water flow, there could be many possible reasons like kinks in tubing, water press is low or the filter might have clogged.
Remember, in order to maintain the right and uniform temperature of the water heater food truck, make sure that the unit is working at its optimal level and for that, you have to keep a regular check.
Frequently Asked Questions | Best water heater for food truck
Other related queries for the water heater for food truck include
- What kind of water heater do I need for food truck?
If you are looking for a water heater then you must go for the instant ones. The instant water heaters are compact and begin to supply water on demand promptly.
Due to less or no space, the tankless water heaters are the more convenient choice as they have a capacity of 2.6 gallons limit of water flow per minute.
- How much water does a food truck use per day?
The minimum requirement of a food truck is around 50 gallons to 100 gallons for proper functioning daily. This includes the water consumption for chores from cooking to dishwashing and cleaning.
- What size water heater is needed for a restaurant?
For a restaurant, the minimum water heater that is required is a minimum of 50 gallons of an instant tankless water heater.
- How do you size a commercial water heater?
The main factors for getting a commercial water heater are storage capacity and input. This is determined by the model numbers and how much water quantity the unit boils and stores in the case of tank water heaters.
However, if you are looking for a water heater for commercial use, try not to go with tankless water heaters as they will not be able to fulfill your water requirement.
You can determine your water need by considering the following factors
- The number of fixtures you need hot water in.
- Water needs (hours) 24/7
- The peak business hours of your work
- Location; this determines the water temperatures
- Venting requirement; this applies to the water heater units
- What are the signs that my water heater is going out?
These are the signs that will begin to appear on your water heater when it is time to replace the unit.
- Getting rust. It could be in the tank or you can find the traces in the water
- It will start making noises
- Your water heater may experience leaks
- Unable to heat the water
Other than that, you will begin to experience a metallic odor in the water along with rust deposits which is telling you that the pipes are rusty. Another sign is murky water.
Conclusion | Best Water Heater for Food Truck
Hot water is more beneficial to use than cold or runny water as it can also sanitize the utensils. For a small level, a food truck, for consistent hot water flow, it is better to go for a tankless water heater to get non-stop hot water instantly. However, you have to make sure that the heater you have is fulfilling your hot water requirement as well as is efficient.