BRADFORD WHITE LE220U3-1NCL Commercial Electric Water Heater (18 gallons) | Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, South Shore & North Shore

The main water heater for a small commercial space: 18 US gallons, a single element and a small footprint

A boutique, a professional office or a small esthetics salon does not need a building-sized water heater. It needs a reliable appliance designed for commercial use that supplies a washroom, a sink and sometimes a service sink, without taking up half the utility room. The Bradford White LE220U3-1NCL commercial electric water heater meets exactly that need with an 18 US gallon tank (15 imperial gallons, 68 L), a single 1,500 W element and a 20 in. diameter. AirGreen installs it in commercial spaces in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, the South Shore and the North Shore.

A format designed for small businesses

Many small commercial spaces are still equipped with a residential tank installed long ago, or with an oversized water heater that needlessly heats a large amount of water. The LE220U3-1NCL sits between the two: enough reserve for light, regular use, and a modest electrical load. It is a commercial appliance, ETL listed according to the manufacturer, with factory-installed dielectric fittings and a tank lined with Vitraglas with Microban.

Typical businesses

• The boutique or retail store with a washroom for staff and customers.
• The esthetics or nail salon, where warm water is used for basins and for cleaning instruments.
• The professional office of accountants, lawyers or insurance brokers, with a kitchenette and a washroom.
• The workshop or small warehouse where hot water is needed for handwashing and cleaning tools.

Manufacturer data for the LE220U3-1NCL

• Capacity: 18 US gallons (15 imperial gallons, 68 L).
• Recovery: 7 US gallons per hour (6 imperial gallons) at a 100 °F rise; 26 L/h at a 56 °C rise, based on 1,500 W.
• Element: single immersed screw-in element, copper; INCOLOY-type element available on request.
• Power: 1,500 W.
• Power supply: single-phase use only.
• Water connections: 3/4 in. (19 mm) NPT, factory-installed dielectric fittings.
• Tank: Vitraglas lining with Microban.
• Diameter: 20 in. (508 mm). Weight: 67 1/2 lb.

Understanding a recovery of 7 US gallons per hour

Recovery measures how much water the unit can heat in one hour. According to Bradford White, the LE220U3-1NCL heats 7 US gallons per hour at a 100 °F rise with its 1,500 W element. Combined with an 18 US gallon reserve, that recovery suits use spread across the day: handwashing, kitchenette dishes, end-of-day cleaning.

It does not suit concentrated, sustained demand, however, such as a shower used several times in a row or a restaurant dish sink. In those cases, we will steer you toward a larger or higher-powered tank.

What the manufacturer allows on the power side

The LE220U3-1NCL is equipped with a 1,500 W element and runs single-phase only. For this series, Bradford White’s limitations table provides for power ratings from 1,500 W to 6,000 W depending on voltage, and from 1,500 W to 3,000 W only at 120 V. Conversion kits are listed for 120, 208, 240, 277, 380, 480 V. In other words, if your consumption grows, a higher power rating can sometimes be considered, within the limits set by the manufacturer and depending on your panel’s capacity.

The voltage of the unit delivered and the circuit that will supply it are confirmed in our written quote, after an on-site check. The electrical connections are made under our RBQ licence.

Replacing an old tank

A tank that is rusting at the base, leaking around its fittings or whose relief valve drips regularly is reaching the end of its life. In a business, it is better to replace it on a planned basis than in an emergency, on a Saturday morning, with water on the floor. During the assessment, we check the condition of the existing unit, the circuit, the piping and the discharge, then propose a replacement on a date that suits your opening hours.

Location and connections

At 20 in. in diameter and 67 1/2 lb empty, the LE220U3-1NCL fits in a utility closet or a corner of a stockroom. When headroom is limited, we confirm the unit’s exact height with the manufacturer before ordering. The 3/4 in. NPT water connections, fitted with factory-installed dielectric fittings, connect to the existing piping; the relief valve must be connected to a compliant discharge, and the element must remain accessible for service.

Protection, listings and warranty

The tank is lined with Vitraglas with Microban, an antimicrobial technology. The standard element is copper; an INCOLOY-type element, more resistant to corrosion, is available on request when the water is hard. According to the manufacturer’s documentation, all models are ETL listed, and applicable models are CSA verified for energy performance in accordance with C191.1-M90. The "3" suffix in the model number corresponds to the 3-year limited tank warranty and 1 year on parts.

Installation of the Bradford White LE220U3-1NCL 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). A small water heater deserves an installation as careful as a large one: that is what ensures its safety and its service life. Our work includes:

• a free on-site assessment of the existing unit, the location and the electrical circuit;
• draining, disconnecting and removing the old tank, then disposing of it;
• connecting the cold and hot water in 3/4 in.;
• installing the relief valve and its discharge;
• the electrical connections, made under our RBQ licence;
• commissioning and temperature setting;
• maintenance advice: a yearly flush, testing the relief valve and checking the element.

Service area

We work in Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, Candiac, Repentigny, Saint-Jérôme and throughout the South Shore and the North Shore.

Request your free on-site estimate for the Bradford White LE220U3-1NCL. You will receive a detailed written quote, and financing options are available for your business.