The Reliance SOMS-100 series is one of the few major-brand residential point-of-use mini-tank lines still in hardware-store distribution. 120V plug-in — no electrical work required — for under-sink, wet bar, garage utility sink, and supplemental applications.
The lineup
- 6-6-SOMS 6-gallon — single-fixture under-sink, distant kitchen sink booster
- 6-10-SOMS 10-gallon — larger point-of-use for multi-fixture under-counter, primary water heater for tiny home / RV / ADU
Common use cases
- Distant kitchen sink — main water heater takes too long to deliver hot water through long runs
- Wet bar / coffee station — supplemental hot water for a single fixture far from the main heater
- Garage utility sink — no need to extend hot water lines from the house
- Bathroom remodel — booster behind a recirculation pump for instant hot water
- RV / tiny home / ADU / detached office — primary water heater for a single bathroom
- Pet wash station — small dedicated hot water for grooming
Specs
| Model | Gallons | Watts | FHR | UEF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6-6-SOMS | 6 | 1500 | 10 | 0.95 |
| 6-10-SOMS | 10 | 1500 | 16 | 0.95 |
Install
- Electrical: standard 120V outlet within reach. Plug-in — no permit required in most jurisdictions
- Plumbing: ½" copper or PEX inlet and outlet
- Mounting: floor-stand under sink or wall-bracket mount (sold separately)
- T&P discharge: built-in T&P valve; route to a safe discharge location
- Shutoffs: install shutoffs on both inlet and outlet for serviceability
Limitations
- Single-fixture only at low capacity — 6-gallon delivers ~10 gallons first-hour. Adequate for one sink, not two
- Recovery rate slow — 1500W is half the power of a residential 4500W element
- Standby loss — small tanks have higher surface-area-to-volume ratio. UEF 0.95 sounds good but operates at higher cost per gallon than a 50-gal main
- Not for showers — even 10-gallon is too small for a meaningful shower; use as point-of-use for sinks only
Competitive landscape
- vs Bosch Tronic 3000T: very similar product, Bosch slightly better-known. Reliance often $20-40 cheaper
- vs Bradford White SUVT: Bradford White is plumber-channel only; harder for DIY
- vs Ecosmart POU 6: tankless electric — instant hot but lower flow rate
- vs Eemax SP 3.5: tankless electric; no tank to store
Bottom line
Reliance SOMS mini-tanks are the budget-channel point-of-use answer. 6-gallon for single sink; 10-gallon for multi-fixture. Plugs into standard 120V outlet — no electrical work. Great solution for distant sinks where running new hot water line is impractical.