Giant Electric Water Heaters
Review and Buying Tips

A Canadian manufacturer Giant produces several types of electric water heaters for residential and commercial water and space heating applications.

Giant electric water heaters are designed with the storage water tank, and depending on the capacity, they can operate in homes with the lower hot water demand, such as the point-of-use type, and as models for the whole-house water heating.

Two groups of the whole-house electric water heaters can be differentiated; conventional with two upper and lower heating elements, and exclusively made by the Giant manufacturer – models with three heating elements. All models are floor-standing units that do not require venting – only electricity and water, making them easy to install and maintain.

Types

Point-of-use type

Point-of-use water heaters have a small size and, therefore capacity, and are meant for the distant sinks or single fixtures in the offices, garages, cottages, apartments, and places where a small amount of hot water is needed. These are built as hot water tanks with capacities ranging from the smallest of 2 gallons to the largest model with 22 gallons.

Like its big brother, tall tank-type water heaters, point-of-use units are also equipped with the high-quality protective anode rod while having only one heating element that can operate with the power from 1 kW to 3 kW depending on the voltage (except the 2-gal unit – 103ETE).

Whole-house type

Giant electric water heaters, for the whole-house water heating can be found as the standard type with the capacities from 30 to 60 gallons, also Cascade and Super Cascade models - both groups with the capacities of 40 and 60 gallons.

The best choice for the homeowners is the Super Cascade models. They are equipped with a stronger anode rod (made of magnesium) and double layers of blue cobalt glass – both features protecting the metal components from corrosion.

Other features specific for this series include the low-watt heating elements, high-quality brass drain valve (others have plastic valves), bottom cold water access for the increased hot water delivery, and the warranty of 10 years for the metal storage tank and 5 years on other elements.

Top features

EcoPeak technology

Giant electric water heaters are also designed with EcoPeak technology. This technology utilizes not two but three heating elements; the top element with the 3,800 watts, a middle element with the 3,000 watts, and a lower heating element with the 800 watts – less powerful than two-element setup heaters but overall more durable and reliable.

The lower element works almost all the time, while the other two when needed, resulting in fewer watts required during the peak hours; water is heated evenly throughout the tank while supplying hot water in sufficient amount, as the traditional models. The EcoPeak technology is found on the Cascade and Super Cascade 60-gal models only.

While the standard type can operate with the factory-installed wattages from 120 V to 240 V, models with the EcoPeak technology run on 208 V and 240 V.

GreenFoam insulation

The standard features found on all models are the GreenFoam, 2”- thick Eco-friendly foam insulation that reduces the standby heat loss while keeping the heat longer inside the water tank, and the adjustable thermostats with the safety cut-off for temperature control and protection against overheating.

According to the above review of the Giant electric water heaters, the best models come from the Super Cascade group that utilizes the EcoPeak technology, quality features, long-lasting elements, and an excellent warranty of 10 years.

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