A Rheem electric hot water system is a storage-tank water heater that uses one or more immersion elements to heat and maintain a reserve of hot water, ready to draw on demand rather than heating water instantaneously. Single-element models heat the full tank from the bottom, while twin-element models add a second element near the top of the tank that can heat the upper portion independently — useful for quickly restoring some hot water availability after a heavy draw without waiting for the whole tank to reheat.
Homeowners, property managers, and commercial facilities operators rely on Rheem's electric storage range because it's been manufactured in Australia since 1939 and offers one of the broadest capacity spans in the market — from compact 25-litre point-of-use units to large 400-litre commercial systems — covering everything from a single bathroom apartment to a six-person household or small commercial facility. Rheem also extends the electric hot water category upward into the Stellar stainless steel range for extended tank life and downward into Lazer instant boiling water units for office and commercial kitchen point-of-use needs, and further into dedicated commercial tank-type electric heaters built for high-demand applications.
Common configuration: standard enamel-lined steel tank capacities from 25L to 400L, element ratings of 3.6kW or 4.8kW in single or twin-element configurations, direct-wired or plug-in electrical connection on smaller units (25L and 50L), Rp 3/4 water connections, and commercial electric models offering staged multi-element thermostat configurations (18kW at 208V and 24kW and above) for higher-demand facilities with a maximum temperature capability of 181°F (approximately 83°C).
Quick-Reference Spec Glossary
- Storage capacity
- Tank volume (litres), 25L to 400L across the core residential/commercial range
- Element rating
- Heating element power, commonly 3.6kW or 4.8kW
- Element configuration
- Single element (bottom only) or twin element (top + bottom)
- Electrical connection
- Direct wired (hardwired) or plug-in on smaller units
- Water connections
- Rp 3/4 typical on standard residential/light commercial models
- Tank material
- Vitreous enamel-lined steel (standard) or stainless steel (Stellar range)
- TPR valve setting
- Temperature-pressure relief valve setpoint (kPa)
- Max. water supply pressure
- With or without Expansion Control Valve (ECV), in kPa