BRADFORD WHITE CEHD80 6 to 18 kW Commercial Electric Water Heater (80 gallons) | Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore & North Shore

An 80 US gallon reserve for a building’s central hot water, without overloading the existing electrical service

In many rental buildings in the region, hot water for every unit comes from a single appliance in the basement. When it is time to replace it, owners often run into the same limit: an original electrical service with little margin. The Bradford White CEHD80 commercial electric water heater, in its three-element 6 to 18 kW version, meets that reality with a large 80 US gallon tank (67 imperial gallons, 303 L) and a moderate power rating chosen according to the building’s capacity. AirGreen installs it in buildings in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the South Shore and the North Shore.

This model is for owners of multiplexes, managers of small apartment buildings, rooming houses and condo associations whose hot water is centralized. It also suits a mixed-use building, with a business on the ground floor and apartments upstairs.

Storing ahead rather than heating at peak

In a residential building, hot water use follows a fairly predictable pattern: a peak in the morning, another in the evening, and long quiet periods in between. A large tank takes advantage of that pattern. Through the night and the day, the elements quietly rebuild the reserve; at shower time, it is mostly the water already heated that does the work.

That is why 6 to 18 kW is often enough in this setting, where a business with continuous demand would need far more. The 80 US gallon volume acts like a hot water battery: it absorbs the peaks, and the installed power does not have to follow them in real time.

The buildings it is meant for

• The Montreal multiplex whose hot water was centralized during a renovation.
• The small apartment building with a shared mechanical room in the basement.
• The rooming house or residence where several bathrooms share the same supply.
• The mixed-use building whose ground-floor business and apartments draw on the same reserve.

In each case, we build the consumption profile before confirming the size and power: number of units and bathrooms, presence of washers, occupants’ habits.

Manufacturer data for the three-element CEHD80

• Capacity: 80 US gallons (67 imperial gallons, 303 L).
• Elements: three standard screw-in elements, Incoloy-sheathed, low watt density.
• Power ratings provided: 6, 9, 12, 13.5, 15, 18 kW.
• Conversion: three-element models "can be converted from 6 kW to 18 kW ONLY".
• Available voltages: 208 V, 240 V, 277 V, 380 V, 415 V, 480 V and 600 V.
• 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: 61 1/4 in. (1,556 mm) high and 26 in. (660 mm) in diameter.
• Weight: 335 lb (152 kg), standard model.

Power suited to existing buildings

The main advantage of this version lies in its power range. With three elements, the CEHD80 can be ordered at a power rating that respects the panel’s available capacity, then converted later within the 6 kW to 18 kW range if the electrical service is upgraded. The manufacturer is clear on this point: conversion stays within that range.

During the visit, we note the service capacity, the loads already connected and the space available in the panel. We then propose a realistic power rating that keeps occupants comfortable without imposing major electrical work when it is not needed.

Voltage and phase

Voltage and phase must be specified at ordering. The manufacturer offers the CEHD at 208 V, 240 V, 277 V, 380 V, 415 V, 480 V and 600 V, and all units leave the factory as standard three-phase models; on 600 V models, only kW conversion is permitted. Because the supply varies a great deal from one building to the next, we confirm the exact configuration on site, before ordering, so that the unit delivered matches your building.

The route to the basement

An 80 US gallon tank is not handled like a household water heater. The CEHD80 measures 26 in. in diameter and 61 1/4 in. in height, and weighs 335 lb empty. In a plex, access to the basement often runs through a narrow outdoor staircase or a low door: we measure every passage during the assessment and plan the handling equipment accordingly.

On site, the unit needs a solid floor, a floor drain for the relief valve and flushing, and clearance in front of the elements for service.

A unit made for a shared room

In a building, the water heater room is often accessible to several people. The vandal-resistant brass drain valve makes full sense here. The tank is protected by the Vitraglas lining with Microban, an antimicrobial technology, and the factory-installed true dielectric fittings limit corrosion between the piping and the tank. We recommend maintenance once a year: flushing, checking the elements and testing the relief valve.

Standards 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. These options are useful when an engineer or an insurer sets specific requirements for the building.

Confirmed in the quote

The full model number of a CEHD indicates the power, voltage, phase and ASME option. For the three-element version, it is set with you and confirmed at ordering. The manufacturer’s warranty terms that apply to the selected unit are included in the written quote.

Installation of the Bradford White CEHD80 (6 to 18 kW) in your building

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). Replacing a building’s central water heater also means managing a hot water shutoff for every occupant: we plan the work with you and help you notify the tenants. Our work includes:

• a free on-site assessment of the room, the access routes, the electrical service and the consumption profile;
• a recommendation on power and electrical configuration, confirmed in writing;
• draining and removing the old tank, then disposing of it;
• 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 for the owner or manager.

Service area

We work in Montreal, from Verdun to Villeray and from Hochelaga to Ahuntsic, in Laval, Longueuil, Saint-Lambert and throughout the South Shore and the North Shore.

Request your free on-site estimate for the Bradford White CEHD80, 6 to 18 kW. You will receive a detailed written quote, and financing options are available to building owners.