Eemax is a US electric tankless brand owned by Rheem (since 2017) that competes with Stiebel in two segments: whole-house residential (Eemax HA series vs Stiebel Tempra Plus) and commercial/point-of-use (Eemax SP series and emergency eyewash applications).
Whole-house tankless
| Stiebel Tempra 29 Plus | Eemax HA027 (HomeAdvantage II) | |
|---|---|---|
| kW | 28.8 | 27 |
| Modulation | Flow Control | Constant power |
| Element | Solid copper | Threaded copper |
| Heat exchanger warranty | 7 years | 5 years |
| Parts warranty | 3 years | 1 year |
| Origin | Germany | USA |
| Typical price | $849-1,049 | $649-849 |
Where Stiebel wins (residential)
- Flow Control technology — Eemax HA uses constant-power modulation
- Cold-climate performance — meaningful Stiebel advantage
- Longer warranties — 7-yr exchanger vs 5-yr Eemax
- German build quality
Where Eemax wins (residential)
- Lower price — typically $200 less than Tempra at equivalent kW
- US manufacturing — Connecticut
- Rheem corporate parent — wider parts and service network through Rheem channel
Commercial and emergency-eyewash specialty
This is where Eemax actually dominates — and where Stiebel doesn\'t compete:
- Eemax SP series — point-of-use tankless tuned for commercial applications
- Eemax safety shower / eyewash heaters — ANSI Z358.1-compliant tepid water (60-100°F) for industrial safety stations. The dominant brand in this niche
- Eemax commercial sizing — 4-58 kW with engineered specifications
- Eemax single-point applications — laboratory, food service, healthcare
Stiebel Eltron DHC is residential-focused; doesn\'t target the commercial safety/eyewash market that Eemax owns.
Which to choose
- Whole-house residential, cold climate: Stiebel Tempra Plus
- Whole-house residential, warm climate, budget: Eemax HA
- Commercial point-of-use: Eemax SP series
- Emergency safety shower / eyewash: Eemax — Stiebel doesn\'t compete
- Residential point-of-use distant fixture: Stiebel DHC or Mini
Bottom line
Residential whole-house: Stiebel wins on technology, Eemax on price. Commercial and safety applications: Eemax owns the segment. The brands compete in residential whole-house but specialize differently overall.