Rheem Performance 30-Gallon Electric Water Heater

The Rheem Performance 30-Gallon Electric is the smallest capacity in Rheem's mainstream electric tank line, sized for single-occupant households, very small apartments, vacation cabins, in-law suites, or as a basement secondary water heater for low-traffic fixtures. At 30 gallons, it is the smallest residential storage tank still considered a primary water heater rather than a point-of-use mini-tank.

Specs: 30 gallons stored, single 4500W heating element (some sub-models have 3500W elements), UEF 0.93, 39-gallon first-hour rating, 6-year tank warranty. Single-element design means only the lower portion of the tank actively heats — the entire reservoir relies on convective mixing rather than the dual-element design used in larger tanks.

The 39-gallon FHR is the limiting factor. One person taking an 8-minute shower (17 gallons) plus a kitchen sink hot fill (10 gallons) consumes 27 gallons; for a single occupant this works comfortably. Add a second adult and the recovery rate becomes the constraint — single-element electric recovers at about 10 gph at a 90°F rise, meaning a full reservoir refill takes 3 hours.

Right uses: single-person apartments and condos, vacation cabins with light use, in-law suites with separate hot water, garages and workshops where a small standalone hot-water supply is needed. Wrong uses: any household of 2+ people in primary use (insufficient capacity), any application where simultaneous shower + appliance demand occurs (single-element recovery cannot keep up).

About $399 unit at Home Depot, $850 installed. Standard 30-gallon electric dimensions (48" tall × 18" diameter) fit in tight closets and small utility spaces where 40+ gallon tanks would not. 30A 240V circuit required.