Geek Review: Ariston Aures Top Electric Instant Water Heater

There are things in the home that are both a necessity and require a proper investment, such as a refrigerator, washing machine, air conditioner and a water heater. These are things that you install, and don’t think about until you need to replace them many years later. But just as how there are cheap TV sets, there are also cheap electronics that you should never buy, and that goes for instant water heaters as well.

Instead of one that simply warms up water before you shower, consider one that is also energy-efficient, and perfect for a family of four. According to Ariston, the Aures Top is the first electric instant water heater to be officially certified by PSB Singapore to provide energy savings of up to 25%, which translates into some savings not only in this hot weather that requires constant showers, but also with the rise electricity tariffs.

The 41cm tall and 20cm wide heater comes in a compact profile with a sleek black, where the lower half of the heater sports a large circular LED that displays the water temperature and various status indicators. The packed-in shower head features five spray modes with AG+ (anti-bacterial treatment for greater hygiene), as well as a flow restrictor that helps reduce water consumption.

Adjusting the water temperature and its various other functions are done with soft-touch buttons on the surface of the water heater. Even with the lack of any tactile buttons or dials, the buttons are very responsive to a simple tap of the finger, no matter how wet.

The heater offers a minimum temperature of 32°C, and a maximum of 45°C. Upon turning on the water flow, it takes about 5 seconds for the water to reach the desired temperature setting. Thanks to Ariston’s Constant Temperature Technology, its in-built sensors and software is able to measure both the temperature and flow of the water and adjust its heating power on-the-fly, to maintain a constant temperature throughout the shower session. We have tested it on several occasions, by running the washing machine, flushing the toilet, and running the shower in the next toilet concurrently. This usually reduces the water flow while showering, but the heater managed to maintain the water temperature stable and consistent throughout.

The Aures Top features three user profile settings so every family member (up to three) can set their own preferred water temperature, anywhere between 32 to 45°C. Tapping on the “Mode” button will scroll through manual temperature, the three profiles, and cold shower mode. It takes about 5 seconds for the water flow to match the temperature. Best of all, the profile settings are retained even after powering off the mains.

Should you have no need for profile settings, or if every shower user in the household is fine with just one temperature setting, there is the “Eco” mode which can be turned on. This mode guarantees low electric consumption, by using less energy to heat up the water. From observation, it takes a couple more seconds longer to attain the desired temperature setting, but it’s otherwise not noticeable most of the time. One caveat is that the maximum setting for this mode will be locked at 42°C instead. Unfortunately, there was no way to gauge just how much energy savings this mode can achieve, but we’ll take Ariston’s word for it knowing energy is saved in the long run.

When it comes to using an electric device during showers, it’s always good to know there are safety mechanisms in place. The Aures Top comes equipped with Earth-Leakage Circuit Breaker (ELCB), so in a situation where there is electric leakage detected, the ELCB will cut off the electrical supply to avoid the risk of electric shock. Once again, this isn’t a feature that can be tested, but seeing the blue indicator light before showering will give the user peace of mind.

The Ariston Aures Top Electric Instant Water Heater is available now for S$369.