Best Immersion Rods
With winters ticking around the clock, all of our blankets and warm clothes have started to come out of the closets. This also creates a need for warming up the water before bathing.
Of course, there are many ways to do this and one good and economical way is using ‘Immersion Rods’.
We’ve brought you a list of 10 Best Immersion Rods that you can buy as a cheap and effective alternative to warm up the water and also a buying guide that can help you decide which one is right for you. You can read the guide here.
Why do you need an Immersion Rod?
First of all, it’s cheap. It becomes very economical when compared to a water heater or a geyser. Also, they are pocket friendly too.
If you just want a basic purpose, you don’t need to invest in an expensive water geyser or heater. As it only uses electricity to run, which in itself is a clean form of energy, helps in reducing the overall carbon footprint.
Also, the ease of portability due to its small size makes them very ideal for those who travel.
How do they work?
Immersion rods work on the principle of electrical conductors. It has a coil around the bottom that acts as a resistor so whenever any current is passed through, it starts heating up. As it heats up, the water around the coil eventually heats up too and due to the conduction of heat, water in the whole bucket heats up.
10 Best Immersion Rods in 2020
We’ve made a list of 10 best immersion rods that you can choose from.
#1. ESN 999 1500 W
This one doesn’t come from a reputed brand and as a result, is the cheapest on our list.
Key Specifications
This one is a manual immersion rod.
It is rated at 1500 Watts.
PROS
- Cheap Price tag
- Heats a 20 ltr bucket in 5-10 minutes
CONS
- Short Wire length
Warranty
Being a locally made product, it still comes with an impressive 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects.
Our Opinion
It is clear for the ones who don’t want to spend much. This works just fine and serves the basic function without any fancy features.
Also, you get a 1-year warranty with this one.
#2. Usha IH2415 1500-Watt
Usha is a very renowned brand and is here for quite a while now. Their products are high on quality and this one is also cheap.
Key Specifications
It is a manual immersion rod.
The power rating on this one is 1500 Watts.
PROS
- LED indicator
- Copper heating element
CONS
- No Insulation
Warranty
Being a product of USHA, it is high on quality. With that, you get a 1-year warranty on this product
Our Opinion
Being a big brand, this still comes on the cheaper side of the budget. The reason being that this does not has any fancy features and stuff. It just has the basic stuff and functionality to get going.
#3. Candes Shockproof 1000W
It comes from an Indian brand that made India’s first tubular heating elements.
Key Specifications
It is a manual immersion rod which comes with shockproof protection.
Power is rated at 1000 Watts.
Pros
- Comes with shockproof protection
- The plastic hook which will not heat
Cons
- Takes some time to heat up the water as it is low power rated.
Warranty
It comes with a 1-year warranty from the date of purchase.
Our Opinion
As we go down the list, the price range for these rods increases. This particular product is slightly expensive than the previous one reason being that it offers shockproof protection which is a very good feature in itself. Also note that this has a 1000W power rating so if it works for you, go for it.
#4. Crompton ACGIH-IHL102 1000W
Key Specifications
This one is a manual immersion rod.
It is rated at 1000 Watts.
Pros
- Sturdy Design
Cons
- No Shockproof protection
Warranty
It comes standard with a 1-year warranty.
Our Opinion
This is a basic immersion rod with not so fancy features. It serves the basic purpose and is strongly structured and built. If you don’t want any features and just the basic function, go for it.
Note: This one also comes with a 1000W model while the rest of the functions being the same. Check it out here.
#5. Bajaj 1500W
Bajaj is a very renowned Indian brand and usually, every household has once owned a Bajaj product.
Key Specifications
This is a manual immersion rod.
It is rated at 1500 Watts.
Pros
- Sturdy Design
- Copper Heating Element
Cons
- Lacks any LEDs’ and lights for information
Warranty
Being a Bajaj product it comes with a 1-year warranty.
Our Opinion
This is for the ones who expect a long service life from their product. Although being a basic model without any fancy models, it carries a brand name with it.
Note: There’s also a 1000W model of the same configuration. Check it out here.
#6. Havells HB15 1500W
Havells is a very popular brand known for high-quality products.
Key Specifications
This is also a manual immersion rod.
Its power is rated at 1500 Watts.
Pros
- Waterproof and Shockproof
- Comes with a protection cover
Cons
- Pricier than others
Warranty
Being high on quality, this one comes with a 2-year warranty from the manufacturer.
Our Opinion
This one offers a handful of features with it. The design is waterproof as well as shockproof. Additionally, there’s a protective cover to prevent any burns. Also, this is a high-quality product by Havells so it comes with a 2-year warranty which justifies the slightly increased price tag on this one.
#7. Rico Metal Heater 1500W
Key Specifications
This is a manual immersion rod and the last one you will see on our list.
It is power rated at 1500 Watts.
Pros
- Shockproof Design
- Good Build Quality
Cons
- Expensive Price tag
Warranty
It comes with a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer
Our Opinion
Although it may be expensive than others, it has a good build quality and also offers shockproof protection. Choosing it might be controversial and subjective to every individual.
#8. Starvin Excel 2000 W
From this, onwards you’ll see Immersion Rods with temperature auto-cutoff including this one
Key Specifications
This one is an automatic immersion rod.
It is rated at 2000 Watts.
Pros
- Auto temperature Cutoff
- Waterproof and Shockproof Design
Cons
- A high 2000 Watt rating may not be required by all
Warranty
It comes with a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer.
Our Opinion
It packs some extremely useful features with it. The most important being the auto temperature cut off as it is very necessary and also helps in saving electricity in case you forget it after keeping in the bucket. However, this one doesn’t carry a brand image so if you are comfortable with that go for it.
#9. VARSHINE Excel 1500 W
Key Specifications
This is an automatic Immersion Rod with automatic temperature cutoff.
The power rating on this one is 1500 Watts.
Pros
- Auto Temperature Cutoff
- Waterproof and Shockproof Design
Cons
- Low build quality
Warranty
It comes with a 1-year warranty from the manufacturer
Our Opinion
It comes at a cheap price tag and comes with some good features. The auto temperature cutoff being the best one. Additionally, it also has a shockproof and waterproof design. It’s a good choice at an affordable price tag.
#10. Havells HP15 Auto 1500 W
This is one of the best on our list and is indeed our choice on the best immersion rods.
Key Specifications
It is an automatic immersion rod.
The power on this one is rated at 1500 Watts
It has 3 levels of temperature settings.
Pros
- Auto Temperature Cutoff
- Adjustable Temperature Setting
- Waterproof and Shockproof Design
Cons
- A bit costlier
Warranty
Being high on quality, this one easily gets a 2-year warranty from Havells.
Our Opinion
This is one of the best immersion rods available on the market right now. It offers all the features that you could ask for. From waterproof and shockproof design to a temperature adjusting knob it has everything. Also with an impressive 2-year warranty, this one is the best and indeed our choice from the list.
Although a bit costlier than others but you should go for this one as the features you get easily justifies the price tag.
Our Choice
Our choice for the best immersion rods is the Havells HP15 Auto 1500 W. It offers amazing features and very important ones too that you should definitely have.How to choose the right Immersion Rod?
There are various factors that you should be aware of before choosing an immersion water heater.
Wattage
First comes the power rating. It is the electricity consumption of the rod. The number of watts will depict the watts consumed per hour.
Most common available power ranges are 800W, 1000W, 1500W & 2000W.
To get an idea, 1500 Watts is the most ideal one. A 1500 Watt rod will heat up a 20-liter bucket in 5-10 minutes. A lower capacity will take more time whereas a higher capacity will take less time.
Similarly, you can compare and get an idea of what exactly do you require.
Type
There are notably 3 types of immersion rods available in the market.
Manual Immersion Rods
Manual Immersion rods are the basic type of all. As they are named, they have to be taken out manually and they do not cut off automatically when the water is warmed up.
Being on the basic side, they are the cheapest of all and provide a good run for the money but the lack of auto temperature cut off can significantly increase power consumption if you don’t check the temperature manually.
Automatic Immersion Rods
These rods come with a thermostat. Basically, a thermostat is a device that can measure the temperature and act accordingly.
In this case, when the water gets hot enough, the thermostat measures the temperature and cuts off the supply to save electricity. This tends to save electricity but they are pricier than manual rods.
Some Immersion rods even have an option for adjusting the temperature of the water.
These are the most preferred ones and usually recommended to everyone looking for an immersion rod.
Waterproof Immersion Rods
These types of rods are fully water and shockproof. Due to this, they can be fully submerged in water without the risk of getting electric shocks.
However, we do not recommend this practice as anything can go wrong. Additionally, we don’t get to see many rods of these kinds in the market.
Using the Rod correctly
Many people don’t realize that most of the time they are using it the wrong away.
The coil of the rod becomes very hot while running and if there is a direct contact between the surface of the bucket and the coil, sooner or later it will melt it down.
The correct way is to place a wooden plank or something appropriate and place the rod on it. Try to avoid any direct contact between the surface of the bucket and the rod.
Also, if you want to check the temperature of the water, always cut the power supply before dipping your hand in the water.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are some of the common questions asked about Immersion Rods.
1. How does Immersion Rods work?
Immersion Rods work on the principle of conduction of heat.
They have a coil at the bottom which acts as a resistor. Whenever an electric current is passed, the resistor gets extremely heated up and eventually starts heating the surrounding water.
Thus, the conduction of heat takes place and in a matter of 5-10 minutes, water in the whole bucket gets heated.
2. Are Immersion Rods safe?
Yes. If used the right away every electrical appliance is safe to use. If you are not using the way it should be, every appliance can be unsafe too.
Some safety precautions for immersion rods.
- Try to avoid the use of metal buckets.
- Always kill the power supply while dipping hands in the water to check the temperature.
- Avoid touching the metal pipes of the rod.
- Always place the rod on a plank or another rod somewhat like the picture above.
3. Can the immersion rod be used in a plastic bucket?
Yes, you can use an immersion rod in a plastic bucket. In fact, you should use it in a plastic bucket only.
Be aware that the rod should not touch the surface of the bucket or it can melt the plastic instantly.
4. Does immersion rod give a shock?
No, if you use it correctly there won’t be any risks of electrical shocks
Every electrical appliance is designed to work in the most efficient way with safety being the first priority.
However, children should always be kept away even if it is the safest appliance to operate.
5. Why immersion rods are made of metals?
Metal being a good conductor of electricity is widely used in appliances that require heat dissipation.
It is cheaper to manufacture and moreover it increases the efficiency of the appliance.
6. Should I get a brand name or a local-made?
The basic functionality of all models remains the same. However, the difference lies in the build quality and features they have.
Usually, we see that branded products have a higher quality and features but at the same time but they cost equally more.
However this is not always the case and talking particularly about immersion rods, it is clearly not. If you are comfortable spending more on branded ones that’s totally fine but if you’re not you can still opt for locally made just make sure it comes with an ISI mark.
With that said, we hope we covered all the queries and questions related to the same. If you have any more, let us know.