BRADFORD WHITE CEHD50 6 to 18 kW Commercial Electric Water Heater (50 gallons) | Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore & North Shore

A compact 50 US gallon commercial water heater whose power is matched to your electrical service

In a small business, the water heater often lives in a cramped room next to the electrical panel, and it has to work with an electrical service that was never planned around it. The Bradford White CEHD50 commercial electric water heater, in its three-element 6 to 18 kW version, answers that situation: a 50 US gallon tank (42 imperial gallons, 189 L), 24 in. in diameter, with a power rating chosen according to real demand and the building’s capacity. AirGreen installs it in businesses and offices in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the South Shore and the North Shore.

This model suits a hair salon, a physiotherapy or dental clinic, an office with staff showers or a commercial condo unit. These are places where hot water is used every day, but where a very high electrical power rating would add nothing except an unnecessary load on the panel.

Why a commercial tank rather than a residential model

A residential tank may seem sufficient for a small business, but it is generally not intended for commercial use or for the three-phase supply found in many commercial buildings. The CEHD50 is a commercial appliance from end to end: 1 1/2 in. water connections, standard screw-in Incoloy-sheathed elements, a vandal-resistant brass drain valve and a design UL certified for field conversion. It leaves the factory as a standard three-phase model.

The difference shows day to day. In a salon that does one shampoo after another, hot water is drawn in small amounts, constantly, from morning to night. A commercial unit handles that pace without complaint, and its components can be replaced one at a time when wear eventually shows.

Choosing the right power between 6 and 18 kW

The three-element CEHD50 is ordered in one of the power ratings set by the manufacturer: 6, 9, 12, 13.5, 15, 18 kW. According to Bradford White, three-element models "can be converted from 6 kW to 18 kW ONLY". The power can therefore be changed later within that range if your needs change, but not beyond it.

The choice rests on two pieces of information: the business’s hot water demand and the available electrical capacity. A salon that washes hair all day does not have the same profile as an office whose showers are used mostly in the morning. During the assessment, we count the fixtures, note the hours of use and check the panel. The exact power is then confirmed in our written quote and at the time of ordering.

Manufacturer data for the three-element CEHD50

• Capacity: 50 US gallons (42 imperial gallons, 189 L).
• Elements: three standard screw-in elements, Incoloy-sheathed, low watt density.
• Power range: 6 kW to 18 kW, depending on the power ordered.
• Available voltages: 208 V, 240 V, 277 V, 380 V, 415 V, 480 V and 600 V; units shipped as standard three-phase.
• Water connections: 1 1/2 in. (38 mm) NPT, factory-installed true dielectric fittings.
• Tank: Vitraglas lining with Microban.
• Drain valve: brass, low restriction, vandal-resistant design.
• Dimensions: 50 7/16 in. (1,281 mm) high and 24 in. (610 mm) in diameter.
• Weight: 270 lb (122 kg), standard model.

Voltage and phase: a decision made at ordering

The CEHD50 has no single voltage. The manufacturer offers it at 208 V, 240 V, 277 V, 380 V, 415 V, 480 V and 600 V, and both voltage and phase must be specified when ordering. All units leave the factory in the standard three-phase configuration. One rule is worth knowing: on 600 V models, only conversion of the kW rating is permitted.

In a leased commercial space, the answer is often on the nameplate of the main panel. We check it on site, along with the available capacity, before recommending a configuration. That way you avoid receiving a unit that does not match the building’s supply.

A format that fits in a utility room

At 24 in. in diameter and 50 7/16 in. tall, the CEHD50 takes up about as much room as a good-sized residential tank, which makes replacement easier in a utility closet or a small mechanical room. Its 270 lb empty weight still calls for a two-person lift and a floor that can carry the tank once full. We also plan access to the elements: they can be replaced without moving the tank, as long as enough space is kept in front of their access panels.

Standards, hygiene and options

According to Bradford White’s documentation, the CEHD design is UL certified for field conversion, ASME construction is available and NSF kits are offered. For a clinic or a business subject to hygiene requirements, the Vitraglas lining with Microban, an antimicrobial technology, protects the inside of the tank. The factory-installed true dielectric fittings, for their part, limit corrosion between the piping and the tank.

Maintenance: simple, but not to be neglected

A commercial water heater works harder than a household tank. We recommend a maintenance visit once a year: flushing the tank through the low-restriction brass valve, which clears sediment better, checking the elements and their connections, then testing the relief valve. The screw-in elements can be replaced one at a time without changing the unit, which makes service quicker.

What is confirmed in the quote

Bradford White identifies each CEHD with a full model number that specifies the power, voltage, phase and ASME option. Because the three-element version covers several power ratings, that full number is set with you and confirmed at ordering. The manufacturer’s warranty terms that apply to the unit ordered are also stated in the written quote, in black and white.

Installation of the Bradford White CEHD50 (6 to 18 kW) by AirGreen

AirGreen is a family business established in Montreal, active for more than fifteen years in heating, ventilation and air conditioning and holder of RBQ licence 5645-9605-01 (ventilation, refrigeration and electrical). In a business, we schedule the replacement around your opening hours to limit the interruption of service. Our work includes:

• a free on-site assessment: location, access, usage profile and available electrical capacity;
• a recommendation on power and voltage, confirmed in a written quote;
• draining, disconnecting and removing the old tank;
• connecting the cold and hot water to the tank, the relief valve and its discharge;
• the electrical connections, made under our RBQ licence;
• commissioning, temperature setting and a check of each element;
• maintenance advice suited to your use.

Service area

We work in Montreal, in areas such as Plateau-Mont-Royal, Rosemont and Saint-Laurent, in Laval, Longueuil, Brossard and throughout the South Shore and the North Shore.

Request your free on-site estimate for the Bradford White CEHD50, 6 to 18 kW. You will receive a detailed written quote, and financing options are available for your business.