The Best Storage Water Heaters of 2023

Summary:

If you are unsure which water heater to buy and are overwhelmed by the abundance of choices in the marketplace, then you have reached the right place. Here is a buyer’s guide and review of 25-litre, 15-litre, and 10-litre geysers. This review will help you identify the best water heater based on your requirements (family size). We researched hundreds of customer reviews of tens of brands in different capacities and found the best water heaters to be the following:

The Best Storage Water Heater in the 25-litre Category:

AO Smith SDS-GREEN SERIES-025 Storage 25 Litre Vertical Water Heater (Geyser) White 5 Star

The Runner-up Water Heater in the 25 litre storage category:

Venus Magma Plus 25GV 25-Litre Storage Water Heater (Geyser) Ivory, BEE Star Rating – 5 Stars

The Value-for-Money Water Heater in the 25-litre storage category:

AO Smith HSE-VAS-X-025 Vertical Water Heater (Geyser) White 4.3 Star

15-liter Category:

The Best Water Heater in the 15-litre storage category:

AO Smith SDS-GREEN SERIES-015 Storage 15-Litre Vertical Water Heater (Geyser) White 5 Star

The Runner-up Water Heater in the 15-litre storage category:

Bajaj New Shakti Storage 15 Litre Vertical Water Heater, White, 4 Star

The Value-for-Money Water Heater in the 15-litre storage category:
Crompton Arno Neo ASWH-2615 15LTR(2KW) 4 Star-Rated Storage Water Heater (White)

10-liter Category:

The Best Water Heater in the 10-litre category:

Bajaj New Shakti Storage 10 Litre Vertical Water Heater, White, 4 Star

The Runner-up Water Heater in the 10-litre category:

V-Guard Divino 5 Star Rated 10 Litre Storage Water Heater (Geyser) with Advanced Safety Features, White

Check out our section on ‘How to calculate the capacity of your Storage Water Heater here.’ Read each review below to know why they are the best.

What is a water heater:

A water heater is a device that is used to heat water for use in a bathroom. It typically consists of a storage tank, a heating element, and a thermostat. Cold water is supplied to the tank, and the heating element warms the water to the desired temperature. The thermostat controls the temperature of the water, allowing you to adjust it to your preference. Some water heaters also have a timer, so you can set the water to be heated at specific times of the day. In a bathroom, a water heater is typically used to provide hot water for showers and sinks.

In simple terms, a water heater is essentially a giant tea kettle for your bathroom that is always ready to brew up a hot bucket of H2O for you, any time of day. Just flip a switch and boom, instant hot water for all your washing, bathing, and cooking needs. It’s like magic.

 

The Best Water Heater in the 25 litre storage category:

Big on energy saving, impressive looks and innovative technology, the AO Smith SDS-GREEN SERIES-025 provides high quality consistently to its customers. It comes with a 7-year warranty on the inner tank, 2+2 years extended* warranty on glass coated heating element and 2 years comprehensive on the product. *Extended warranty (2 Years) is valid if a customer registers the product within 60 days of purchase. It can therefore be almost relied upon for life, once you fit it you can forget it.  Plus, it’s Amazon’s Choice–a highly rated product by Amazon.

The main features of AO Smith SDS-GREEN SERIES-025 are listed below:

• Energy-efficient: The BEE 5 star rated geyser with advanced PUF Injection Technology ensures uniform high-density foam distribution. Zero gaps between the tank and insulation that ensure maximum energy efficiency and power savings
• Quality: The strong heavy gauge alloy steel tank gives it exceptional build quality and makes it stronger than standard stainless steel and copper tanks, increasing its life-span.
• Technology: Blue Diamond glass-lining technology provides more corrosion resistance compared to industry standards and increases the life of the tank.
•  Uniform heating: Glass coated heating element ensures uniform heating resulting in continuous supply of hot water
• Warranty: A 7-year warranty on the inner tank, 2+2 years extended* warranty on heating element and 2 years comprehensive on the geyser.

This geyser looks quite premium in the bathroom and matches modern interiors. It is also a super energy efficient 5-star BEE rated in the 25L category. According to Angie, “The heating time is quite short. Once the water is heated it remains warm for a really long time. Water heated in the afternoon remains warm till the next morning, which is impressive. Overall, a perfect water heater. Completely, value for money and recommended!”

Raunak, who made a verified purchase at Amazon writes, “I have been using this geyser for over a year now. The look of the geyser is very good. You can get an extra 2 years of warranty if you register your product. No complaints at all from AO Smith. Customer support is also very good. The water gets hot in just 10 mins. And once it is hot it can serve 3 people at least. The power consumption is not very high. The body is very good and hard. Go for it without any second thought.” 

It is quite challenging for geysers to function smoothly in hard water conditions but AO Smith scores on this front perfectly. Neeta Trikha another customer says, “AO Smith is one of the few geysers which can survive Noida’s hard water conditions where most water heaters pack up.”

Who should buy it? Small families comprising 2 adults plus a child, living in cold city conditions, and prefer to use a shower instead of a bucket bath should buy this water heater. For a better understanding of how to calculate the capacity of your geyser please consult the table below.

The Runner-up Water Heater in the 25 litre storage category:

We believe Venus Magma Plus is an exceptional performer on many counts. This sturdy geyser is built to last. Extremely reliable, with a 5-star BEE rating, the complaints are few.

It comes with a host of unmatchable features:

• Anti-Rust & Corrosion: The porcelain enamel glass lined tank protects the tank from rust and corrosion. Will not be affected by hard water.

• Quality: The glass-lined double ceramic heating elements make the water heater shock-proof, hard waterproof, and long-lasting. If one of the elements fails, the other will continue to work.
• Technology: The scale guard technology ensures less scale deposition on heating elements.
• Temperature Display: Analog thermometer to display the water temperature inside the tank.
• Energy-efficient: The BEE 5-star rated machine with its thick (PUF) insulation keeps the water hot for a much longer time and reduces energy consumption.
• Guarantee: Venus gives you a guarantee on the geyser–5 years on the inner tank, 2 years on the heating element and 2 years on the product

Most customers are happy and swear by the product. Writes David, a verified purchaser, “we’ve always had Venus’s geysers, since 1997 so reliability is definitely not a question. If you talk about Venus, it’s backed by a great, hassle-free service.” Another customer writes, we have been using a Venus geyser for almost 8 years now and when the need to order another came, we could think of no other since it is a sturdy product. We have been using the new one for over a month now and we are quite happy with its performance. The storage keeps the water hot for a very long time even after it has been turned off.” Shivanand Singh writes, “Very good geyser. The temperature control is very nice. Above all it is very energy efficient and consumes less electricity, about 1 unit in 35 minutes of continuous heating at 60 degrees centigrade.

Who should buy it? Before purchasing, find out how to calculate the capacity of your geyser, which is given below.

The Value-for-Money Water Heater in the 25-litre storage category:

We found the 5-star BEE rated AO Smith HSE-VAS-X-025 Vertical Water Heater (Geyser) the best in value-for-money in the 25-litre category. Because it offers virtually identical features as the best model AO Smith SDS-GREEN SERIES-025 but at a much lower price. We presume the lower cost is due to its 2-year comprehensive warranty on the product, which is substantially lesser compared to a 7-year warranty on the inner tank, 2+2 years extended* warranty being offered by the other.

Big on performance the AO Smith HSE-VAS-X-025 is a perfect balance of function and form in the 25 litre category.
Below are the main features:

• Quality: The strong heavy gauge alloy steel tank gives it exceptional build quality and makes it stronger than standard stainless steel and copper tanks.
• Technology: The Blue Diamond glass-lining technology provides more corrosion resistance compared to industry standards and increases the lifespan of the tank.
•  Uniform heating: Glass coated heating element ensures uniform heating resulting in a continuous supply of hot water.
• Energy-efficient: The BEE 5 star rated with advanced PUF Injection Technology ensures uniform and high-density foam distribution. Zero gaps between the tank and insulation ensure maximum energy efficiency and power savings.
• Warranty: 2 years on the product.

Says one user, “this water heater is one of the best budget-friendly 5-star storage heaters. The electric bill has also been reduced.” Sahil Makhija writes in his review, “I did research on various geysers and settled on AO Smith as it appears to be an expert in making water heaters and is suitable for high rise buildings. My previous geyser (ISI approved) had a water leakage issue and one day its tank burst as it was unable to withstand the heavy water pressure in a high-rise building.” According to Suresh Subramani, “the water remains hot for more than 12 hours even after switching off the heater. Very useful for showers in power off mode.”

The Best Water Heater in the 15-litre storage category:

According to us the pretty-looking white AO Smith SDS-GREEN SERIES-015 storage vertical water heater with 5 Star BEE rating is the best geyser in the 15-litre category. Except for the size, it offers identical features to the pedigree, AO Smith SDS-GREEN SERIES-025, which is the best in the 25 L category. The SDS-GREEN SERIES-015 is also big on energy savings. It not only insulates you from high electricity bills but also ensures complete peace of mind with a 7-year warranty on the inner tank and 4 years extended warranty on the heating element and 2 years comprehensive warranty on the geyser. That’s pretty awesome. Plus, it’s Amazon’s Choice–highly rated by Amazon.

The main features of the SDS-GREEN SERIES-015 storage vertical water heater is listed below:

• Energy-efficient: The BEE 5-star rated machine with with advanced PUF Injection Technology ensures maximum energy efficiency and power savings
• Quality: The heavy gauge alloy steel tank gives it exceptional build quality increasing its lifespan.
• Technology: The Blue Diamond glass-lining technology makes the geyser corrosion resistant and increases the life span of the tank.
•  Uniform heating: Glass coated heating element ensures uniform heating resulting in a continuous supply of hot water
• Warranty: A 7-years warranty on the inner tank and 4 years extended warranty on the heating element and 2 years comprehensive warranty on the geyser. 

Who should buy it? If you are a single adult living in cold city conditions taking a bath using a shower or 2 adults living in a cold city taking a bucket bath then 15 litres is ideal for you. Or 2 adults living in warm city conditions taking a bath using a shower can buy a 15 L geyser. However, before purchasing, find out how to calculate the capacity of your geyser, which is given below.

 

The Runner-up Water Heater in the 15-litre storage category:

We found Bajaj New Shakti storage vertical water heater the Runner-up in the 15-litre category. It is from the house of Bajaj electricals, which has eight decades of experience in manufacturing consumer appliances. The Amazon’s Choice product is priced competitively at Rs 100 lesser than the price of our Value-for-money product, AO Smith HSE-VAS-X-015, and installation is free. But a point to note is that the package does not include any installation kit–connecting inlet and outlet pipes, a 3-pin plug, 2 angle valves and anchoring bolts for securing it on the wall which you need to purchase separately–so technically it’s more expensive.

The Bajaj New Shakti storage vertical water heater comes with the following features:

• Technology: Its inner tank lining is coated that prevent corrosion and rust resulting in long tank life.
• Quality: The external body of the water heater is made of a single weld sheet metal that prevents rusting. Thus, increasing the life of the water heater.
• Energy-efficient: The swirl flow technology ensures faster heating of water and saves energy at the same time. The highly efficient 2 KW Incoloy heating element has a long life. According to BEE 2015 guidelines, the geyser is 4-star rated. 
• Safety: To safeguard you from any accidents the geyser has reliable safety systems inbuilt for protecting against instances of dry heating, overheating and over-pressure.
• Temperature Display: The water heater has a unique temperature dial indicator for ease of use and displays the water temperature inside the tank.
• Warranty: A 2-year warranty on the product, a 5-year warranty on the inner tank and a 2-year warranty on the heating element will ensure you peace of mind.

The Value-for-Money Water Heater in the 15-litre storage category:

We think the 5-star BEE rated AO Smith HSE-VAS-X-015 storage vertical water heater is the best value-for-money geyser in the 15 L segment.

The Amazon’s Choice product has identical features as that of the best in the 15 L category model, AO Smith SDS-GREEN SERIES-015 but at a much lower price. It is available at a lower cost because of its much lesser 2-year comprehensive warranty on the product.

The AO Smith HSE-VAS-X-015 is a perfect balance of function and form in the 15-litre category due to its below features:

• Quality: The strong heavy gauge alloy steel tank is stronger than standard stainless steel and copper tanks.
• Technology: The Blue Diamond glass-lining technology resists corrosion, increasing the lifespan of the tank.
•  Uniform heating: Glass coated heating element ensures a continuous supply of hot water
• Energy-efficient: The BEE 5 star rated with advanced PUF Injection Technology ensures maximum energy efficiency and power savings.
• Warranty: 2 years on the product.

The Best Water Heater in the 10-litre category:

Who should buy it? If you are a single adult living in cold city conditions taking a bucket bath (not using a shower) or living in warm city conditions and taking a bath using a shower; or 2 adults living in warm city conditions taking a bucket bath then 10-litres is ideal for you. However, before purchasing, find out how to calculate the capacity of your geyser, which is given below.

The 4-star BEE rated Bajaj New Shakti 10l-itre storage vertical water heater is the best geyser in the 10L category. Priced at ₹6226 including GST, it is the most affordable in the category. Plus, a 2-year warranty on the product, a 5-year warranty on the inner tank and a 2-year warranty on the heating element will ensure you peace of mind.

The Bajaj New Shakti 10-litre storage vertical water heater comes with the below features: 

• Technology: Coated inner tank lining prevents corrosion and rust leading to long tank life.
• Quality: The outer body of the water heater, made of a single metal sheet prevents rusting, increasing the life of the water heater.
• Energy-efficient: The swirl flow technology ensures faster heating of water-saving energy. The highly efficient 2 KW Incoloy heating element gives long life. The geyser is BEE 4 star rated. 

• Safety: The geyser has reliable safety systems inbuilt for protecting against instances of dry heating, overheating and over-pressure.

• Temperature Display: A unique temperature dial indicator for ease of use and displays the water temperature inside the tank.

• Warranty: A 2-year warranty on the product, a 5-year warranty on the inner tank and a 2-year warranty on the heating element.

How to calculate the capacity of your Storage Water Heater:

Family Size	How do you bathe?	Condition	Capacity
1 Adult	Bucket Bath	Warm City	6L
1 Adult	Bucket Bath	Cold City	10L
1 Adult	Shower	Warm City	10L
1 Adult	Shower	Cold City	15L
1 Adult	Extra Long Shower	Cold City	25L
2 Adults	Bucket Bath	Warm City	10L
2 Adults	Bucket Bath	Cold City	15L
2 Adults	Shower	Warm City	15L
2 Adults	Shower	Cold City	25L
Small Family: 2 Adults + Child	Shower	Warm City	25L
Small Family: 2 Adults + Child	Shower	Cold City	25L

 

Types of water heaters:

1. Conventional storage water heaters:
   They are the most popular type of water heaters. Storage water heaters offer a ready reservoir of hot water, ready to be released when you turn on the tap. They are either electric powered which consumes a lot of electricity or gas-powered which is economical. They need to be continuously heated and come with an electronic thermostat, which cuts off the power supply to the heating coils attaining optimum temperature. Since it uses energy to keep the water hot even when it is not being used, it has a high standby heat loss and therefore, is more expensive to maintain. 
2. Instant water heaters: 
   • Instant Electric Water Heaters: These are tankless heaters, also known as on-demand water heaters, which do not require a storage tank. Tankless water heaters are catching on in the world as an alternative to storage tank models. By turning on the hot water it triggers an electric-powered heat exchanger (see below how it works) that quickly heats the water. Instead of constantly heating water in a stored tank, tankless units only heat water as you need it. They are therefore more energy-efficient than conventional storage water heaters. On the downside, a tankless system can cost much more than a water heater with a tank.
   • Instant Gas Water Heaters: These tankless or on-demand water heaters run on gas – both liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG). By turning on the hot water it triggers a gas-powered heat exchanger that quickly heats the water. They are even more energy-efficient than instant electric water heaters but are expensive to install.
3. Heat pump water heaters: The heat pump is a water heater that transfers heat from air to water. It does so by capturing the energy from the ambient air to give it back to the heat pump’s water tank. Since it uses electricity to move heat from one place to another, instead of generating heat, the electric consumption is much lower, just one fourth compared to other water heating devices; and so is the operating cost. In other words, they are three or four times more efficient than electric water heaters.

Why Trust Best Experiences?:

Every day we make choices. Unfortunately, we often choose poorly. We all succumb to our emotions and biases as no choice is ever neutrally presented to us and thus, make bad decisions. Best Experiences is a product recommendation service where our experts write reviews based on customer experiences of products purchased across the vast e-commerce landscape to help you make better choices. You can learn more about our methodology and how we pick each item here.