Someone in a home renovation Facebook group I follow asked a blunt question last week: “Just tell me yes or no, is this thing actually worth buying, or am I going to regret it in a year?” That’s a fair question, and it deserves a fair answer instead of a marketing pitch. Here’s the honest version, built from the real spread of 4,000+ verified reviews.
Yes, the Rheem RTEX-24 is worth it for small to mid-sized households with adequate electrical capacity and moderate to warm groundwater temperatures, based on its 4.2-star rating across more than 4,000 verified Amazon reviews. It is not worth it, or at least not without careful planning, for large households running multiple showers simultaneously in cold climates, or for anyone unwilling to budget for potential electrical panel upgrades.
What the Real Reviews Actually Say
Amazon’s own AI-generated summary of the RTEX-24’s reviews, built from the actual text of thousands of verified purchases, states that customers find the unit “performs well, particularly in two-bathroom homes” and appreciate “easy installation,” with the unit providing “plenty of hot water” and reportedly saving “over $100 per month in electric bills” for some users. That’s a meaningfully positive baseline.
The same summary is equally direct about the downsides: “mixed experiences with water temperature,” some units experiencing “reliability” issues, and “heating performance issues” reported by a portion of buyers, including some units failing after roughly 10 months of use. That’s not spin, that’s Amazon’s own aggregated read of the actual review text, and it lines up with what individual detailed reviews describe.
The Case For Buying It
Several factors make the RTEX-24 a legitimately good purchase for the right household:
- Rheem has been manufacturing water heating equipment since 1925 and remains the largest water heater manufacturer in North America, meaning parts and support are widely available
- At $549, it’s priced reasonably compared to similar-capacity competitors like the EcoSmart ECO 27
- The 3-element self-modulating design means it only draws the power it needs, which several verified reviewers report translating into real electric bill savings compared to their old tank unit
- Its compact size (just 3.5 inches deep) frees up real closet or basement space compared to a 40 to 50 gallon tank
- One detailed reviewer specifically documented data comparing utility bills year over year and found energy usage remained roughly flat despite longer, more comfortable showers, a genuinely useful data point most reviews don’t bother providing
The Case For Caution
The same review pool that praises the unit also surfaces real, recurring problems worth taking seriously:
- Heating element failures appear across multiple detailed reviews, in some cases within the first year of use
- At least one verified reviewer documented an extended, multi-part failure cascade (wire harness, sensors, motherboard, and eventually full unit replacement) over roughly two years of ownership
- Electrical installation is genuinely non-trivial. Real reviewers report paying $500 to $900 for licensed electrician work, and one specifically needed a new auxiliary breaker panel to accommodate the three required double-pole circuits
- Performance is meaningfully affected by groundwater temperature and household water pressure setup, with one detailed review describing needing flow restrictors and a water softener to get consistent performance in a well-water household at the end of a power line
Who Should Buy the RTEX-24
Based on the verified review patterns, this unit is the right fit if you have a small to mid-sized home (1 to 3 bathrooms), live in a warm to moderate climate, have or are willing to add adequate 240V electrical capacity (three 40-amp double-pole circuits, 200-amp service recommended), and don’t run more than 2 showers simultaneously on a regular basis.
Who Should Look Elsewhere
If you’re in a cold climate, have a larger household running multiple bathrooms at once regularly, are on well water with inconsistent pressure, or you’re not prepared to budget several hundred dollars for potential electrician work, either a larger RTEX model, a different brand, or even a well-maintained tank system may serve you better.
For the complete rundown of specs, pricing, and the full picture beyond this FAQ, see our complete Rheem RTEX-24 review.
Rheem RTEX-24 24kW 240V Electric Tankless Water Heater - View Current Price on Amazon
The Bottom Line
The Rheem RTEX-24 earns its 4.2-star rating honestly: it works well for the household it’s designed for, and the documented problems (element failures, electrical prep costs) are real but not universal. Go in with clear expectations about your home’s electrical capacity and climate, and the odds are solidly in your favor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Rheem RTEX-24 worth the money? For small to mid-sized households in warm to moderate climates with adequate electrical capacity, yes, based on its 4.2-star rating across more than 4,000 verified reviews. Large households in cold climates should consider a larger unit.
How reliable is the Rheem RTEX-24? Reliability is generally good but not perfect. Amazon’s aggregated review analysis notes some reported heating element failures and units failing after roughly 10 months of use, though the majority of the 4,000+ reviews are positive.
Does the Rheem RTEX-24 actually save money on electric bills? Some verified reviewers report savings, including one detailed review noting minimal change in daily electric usage despite longer showers. Actual savings depend on your previous system, usage habits, and local electricity rates.
What’s the biggest complaint about the Rheem RTEX-24? Based on aggregated review data, the most common complaints involve inconsistent water temperature and occasional heating element or component failures, particularly in homes with challenging water conditions or insufficient electrical capacity.
Is the Rheem RTEX-24 hard to install? The plumbing connection is straightforward, but the electrical work (three 40-amp double-pole breaker circuits) typically requires a licensed electrician and can cost $500 to $900 based on real reviewer-reported pricing.
How long does the Rheem RTEX-24 last? Rheem doesn’t publish an official lifespan figure, but reviews show a range of experiences, from units still running well after several years to some reporting element failures within the first year, often tied to water hardness and usage patterns.
Is the Rheem RTEX-24 good for a family of four? It can work well for a family of four in a home with 2 to 3 bathrooms, provided showers aren’t all running at the exact same time, as noted by multiple verified reviewers with similar household sizes.
Does the Rheem RTEX-24 work well with well water? It can, but well water systems often need additional tuning (flow restrictors, pressure regulation, or a water softener) to get consistent performance, according to detailed reviewer experiences.
Should I buy the Rheem RTEX-24 or a bigger model? If you have more than 2 to 3 bathrooms or live in a cold climate, consider Rheem’s larger RTEX models or a competing 27kW+ unit for additional headroom.
What do verified owners say is the best part of owning this unit? The most consistently praised benefit is never running out of hot water and the significant space savings compared to a traditional storage tank, according to Amazon’s aggregated review summary.
References
- Amazon.com AI-generated review summary and individual verified customer reviews for Rheem RTEX-24, accessed July 2026: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MS9DVEE
- Rheem RTEX-24 official product specifications and manufacturer content, Amazon.com, accessed July 2026