I have been using Rubine 20L Storage Water Heater SH-20 for a year now and my overall experience is quite good․ I can say that it is a product that does not have to go out of its way to impress․ Instead it focuses on doing its job well, providing a reliable hot water supply‚ while also looking good in your new bathroom and giving you a sense of durability over time․
When I first started looking at water heaters‚ space was my most immediate concern․ My HDB bathroom is quite small and every bit of the ceiling slab space is very precious. I saw a lot of very bulky storage water heaters that‚ while working very well‚ end up looking ungainly and dominating the room after installation․ That was something I was hoping to avoid․
Why I Chose This Water Heater
I went around and checked what storage water heaters were like before I bought this particular model․ They were all more or less the same capacity and functioned in the same way․ Although‚ they all looked quite different; some were large and round while others jutted out from the wall or ceiling․
I ended up caring about aesthetics more than I thought I would since you can't hide a water heater in the house․ Once installed‚ it remains as part of the bathroom furnishings‚ but if it is unsightly‚ it could be a daily visual hindrance․
Right away‚ I could tell that this Rubine water heater has a more modern design that might better suit the small contemporary bathrooms of HDB flats in Singapore․ The slim silhouette would also help to fit it more easily into a small space․
Not to mention‚ it still has a lot of what I was looking for like a good solid tank‚ heating element‚ and good warranty‚ so it still felt like a good balance of design and functionality.
Rubine 20L Storage Water Heater. (Image taken from Shop.casa.sg)
First Impression After Installation
After installation‚ I thought this looks really aesthetically pleasing․ The heater was mounted very close to the ceiling and did not look overly large or obtrusive in any way․ Even a slightly clunky heater can make a small bathroom feel even smaller than it is․
The sheer compactness of it‚ it wasn't taking up a lot of space‚ and it wasn't too showy․ This one was much sleeker than some of the heavier‚ older models I had seen․
Another thing I like is the finish all over with the hot and cold indicator being very understated and looking so much more modern with it․ This is a small detail‚ but it does have an effect on the clean finish․
Overall‚ the installation result was what I hoped for‚ a heater that fits well and does not disrupt the look of the bathroom․
Daily Performance After One Year
This water heater has been very reliable in daily use․ It heats the water and provides a decent shower․ It has not given me any major problems with the temperature either․
The 20L storage tank means that a geyser can store a maximum of 20 litres (5․3 US gal) of heated water․ It is limited in that the water in it will eventually be used up․ It is especially convenient for one or two persons‚ since the water is of a constant temperature‚ and moderate flow․
This means that‚ if several people take long showers in succession‚ you may have to wait for the water to reheat again‚ which is not a fault of this model but a consideration for all storage heaters of this size․
For my household the 20L has been adequate․ We take regular daily showers and it has been sufficient to cope without any inconvenience․ The heater operates silently in the background‚ which is exactly what I want from a heater of this type․
My Favourite Part Of This Water Heater
One of the things that stands out about this water heater is its size․ While that may seem trivial‚ in the home it can make a huge difference․
The bathrooms in Singapore‚ especially HDB flats‚ are often compact․ A bulky water heater can disrupt the overall decor of the bathroom and make it feel cramped․ This can result in the ceiling feeling more cluttered than if it were more open․
This heater solves several of those problems‚ particularly its compact size‚ which allows it to be set into a tighter slab area․ Because of this‚ it feels more integrated into the bathroom and less of a separate addition․
I can tell you that I still love this feature a year later․ It keeps the bathroom looking cleaner and tidier after that first day․
Rubine 20L Storage Water Heater. (Image taken from Shop.casa.sg)
Titanium Enamel Tank
The most prominent feature of the heater is its Titanium Enamel Tank which makes the heater more durable and better protects the interior of the tank․ While out of sight of the exterior‚ the tank is an essential part of the heater․ Water and heat in the inner tank can cause corrosion and degradation of the inner tank material․ Titanium enamel coating provides corrosion protection and increases the lifespan of the inner tank․ The added benefit to the user is that it gives them peace of mind knowing that the heater has been designed to last․ It's been a year since I installed it‚ and I've had zero issues․ There are no tank leaks‚ the heater works‚ and it gives hot water every time․
Titanium Enamelling Heating Element
Another part is the Titanium Enamelling Heating Element‚ which is responsible for the heating of the water‚ and is one of the critical components․ Additionally‚ titanium enamelling keeps the heating element from coming into direct contact with the water‚ resulting in less wear on the heating element‚ and thus more stable and longer operation․ In terms of usage‚ the heater does a good job heating water‚ and as I mentioned earlier‚ I have not yet noticed any degradation in the past year․ This is one of those features that you don't think about until you need it‚ but having a heating element with protection can help extend the life of the heater and its performance․
Overall Polyurethane Foam Insulation
The heater has Overall Polyurethane Foam insulation which reduces heat loss and makes the heater more energy efficient by retaining heat in the tank․
In practical terms‚ this means that the water will remain hot for longer after having been heated and the heater will not need to constantly reheat the water‚ thus actually using less energy․
From my experience‚ I have found that the insulation is very good and that the water stays warm enough‚ and does not cool down too quickly‚ for normal showering․
While it is difficult to quantify‚ the insulation should save energy and it does makes usage more pleasant․
Thicker Magnesium Anode
Also‚ the lifetime of the heater can be improved by using a thicker magnesium anode that provides cathodic protection to prevent corrosion of the inside of the tank․ Over time‚ the anode will corrode and be consumed‚ though a thicker anode will usually last longer and provide protection for a longer period․ While this is not something you can observe directly‚ it should show that the heater is made to last for years of daily use․ So far‚ one year after purchase‚ the heater has continued to work well‚ which adds to its appeal․
Antibacterial Efficacy
This water heater is tested for Japan Antibacterial Efficacy (AG+) which prevents the growth of harmful bacteria, which puts my mind at ease in terms of water safety.
Additionally‚ with children or elderly residents in the household‚ it is an added benefit that the heater has been designed to create a cleaner internal environment․
Warranty Coverage
Another point in favor of this particular heater is its 5-year warranty on its heating element and its 7-year warranty on its inner tank․
These parts are the most important to a storage water heater and if they are under a longer warranty this is a good sign of manufacturer confidence․
This is important to homeowners because replacing a water heater is expensive and labor-intensive‚ and a longer warranty means better peace of mind that the heater will last․
What Could Be Better
There are only a couple of complaints after a year‚ which of course I'll get to․
Firstly‚ even the 20L capacity may not be enough to serve a larger family or if several people in the household regularly take long showers․
Second‚ installation is important․ The heater must be installed correctly to make the most of the slim design and sit neatly and securely․
Finally‚ it is always a good idea to measure your bathroom space before buying․ While this is a compact model‚ bathroom layouts can vary dramatically․
My Rating After One Year
Here is how I would rate this storage water heater.
1․ Price: 8/10
The hardware quality is reasonably good for the price and its build is considered good for the price․
2․ Heating Speed: 9/10
The heating is adequate and has proven to be reliable․
3․ Durability: 9/10
Even after a year the inside feels solid‚ reliable‚ and well-kept․
4․ Performance: 9/10
Overall‚ performance is as expected for a storage heater of this size (20L)․
5․ Design and Space-Saving: 9․5/10
Its especially slim design makes it well-suited for small bathrooms․
Overall Rating: 9/10
It is a well-balanced product‚ as much for its functionality as its appearance․
Overall Impression
Having used it for 1 year‚ I highly recommend this Storage Water Heater to homeowners looking for a space-saving and reliable storage water heater․ The slim design makes it the ideal choice for HDB bathrooms where space is limited․
In addition to its attractive appearance‚ good performance is achieved with the Titanium Enamel Tank and Titanium Enamelling Heating Element‚ thicker magnesium anode‚ insulation against heat loss‚ and the special feature of an antibacterial treatment․
Overall‚ it is a well-designed water heater that delivers modern performance‚ good looks and fits well into the smaller bathroom․