How many amps does the Rheem RTEX-06T draw?

The RTEX-06T is rated 6.5 kW at 240 V, which is about 27.1 A of continuous current using P = I x V. NEC 422.13's continuous-load rule adds a 125 percent factor for the circuit and breaker, bringing the design load to about 33.9 A, a fraction of what a whole-house electric tankless unit requires.

Is the RTEX-06T enough for a whole house?

No. At 6.5 kW, calculated flow is under 1.25 GPM at every realistic temperature rise, which suits a single sink or hand wash station, not a shower or multiple fixtures. This unit is designed to solve a distance problem at one fixture, not a capacity problem for an entire house.

What does thermostatic mean on the RTEX-06T?

Thermostatic control means the unit targets and holds a set outlet temperature rather than delivering a fixed heat output regardless of flow. Rheem publishes this as a feature of the RTEX-06T specifically. At a single remote fixture, that distinction matters for scald safety, since a fixed-output unit can deliver a hotter stream at low flow than a thermostatic one will allow.

Does the RTEX-06T need a 240 volt circuit?

Yes. The RTEX-06T is rated at 240 V, and Rheem's published design load is about 33.9 A, so it requires a dedicated 240 V circuit sized to that load rather than a standard household outlet. A 120 V mini tank heater is the alternative where running new 240 V wiring to the fixture is not practical.

How does the RTEX-06T compare to a mini tank water heater?

The RTEX-06T is an instantaneous tankless heater on a dedicated 240 V circuit with no storage capacity, while a mini tank stores a few gallons and runs on a standard 120 V outlet. The RTEX-06T avoids running out of hot water at all during light use; a mini tank needs no new circuit but can be exhausted by a longer draw.

What size sink or fixture is the RTEX-06T meant for?

It is meant for a single fixture, such as a remote bathroom sink, a shop sink, or a utility sink, where calculated flow of roughly 0.6 to 1.25 GPM across common temperature rises is sufficient. It is not sized or marketed as a shower or multi-fixture solution.

Point of Use

Rheem RTEX-06T Review: A Distance Problem, Not a Capacity Problem

Researched from the DOE test procedures, NFPA 54 and NEC code tables, and manufacturer specifications. Updated 2026-09-17.

Quick answer

The Rheem RTEX-06T is rated 6.5 kW at 240 V, a point of use thermostatic tankless heater that draws about 27.1 A continuously, far less than any whole-house electric tankless unit. It suits a single remote sink or fixture with an existing or easily added 240 V circuit; it does not suit anyone trying to solve a whole-house capacity shortfall, because 6.5 kW cannot supply more than one fixture at a comfortable rise.

A point of use heater like the RTEX-06T solves a completely different problem than the whole-house electric tankless units covered elsewhere in this series. It does not replace a 50 gallon tank or supply a whole house. It heats water right at one fixture that sits too far from the main water heater for hot water to arrive in a reasonable time or without a long, wasteful wait.

Because it is sized to one fixture rather than a house, the electrical ask is much smaller, and the buying question is different too: circuit availability at that one location, and whether thermostatic control matters for that specific use.

What do the RTEX-06T's specifications actually say?

Rheem publishes 6.5 kW and 240 V for this unit, along with thermostatic control. The amperage below is calculated from the published kilowatt and voltage figures.

RTEX-06T electrical draw, calculated from the published nameplate rating
Specification	Value
Nameplate rating (published)	6.5 kW at 240 V
Current draw (I = P / V)	27.1 A
NEC 422.13 continuous-load factor	125 percent of nameplate draw
Design load for circuit and breaker sizing	33.9 A
Control type (published)	Thermostatic, meaning it targets a set outlet temperature rather than a fixed output

Published standard Source: Nameplate kW and V from the product listing; amperage and design load calculated with P = I x V and NEC 422.13's 125 percent continuous-load rule.. This is a single standard-size circuit, unlike the multi-circuit installs whole-house electric tankless units above roughly 14 kW require.

How much flow does the RTEX-06T deliver, and what does temperature rise cost you?

At 6.5 kW, calculated flow is modest at any rise, which is expected and appropriate for a single fixture rather than a shortcoming. Figures below are calculated from the nameplate rating, not a manufacturer flow curve.

RTEX-06T calculated flow by temperature rise
Temperature rise	Calculated flow (GPM)
35°F	1.24
45°F	0.97
55°F	0.79
65°F	0.67
75°F	0.58

Published standard Source: Calculated from the published 6.5 kW nameplate rating using GPM = kW x 3412 x 0.98 / (rise x 8.33 x 60). Not a manufacturer flow curve.. These figures suit a single hand or utility sink; they are not a shower flow rate, and this unit is not sized to be one.

Who does the RTEX-06T suit?

This unit suits a single remote sink, a shop or garage fixture, or an outbuilding that sits far enough from the main water heater that a recirculation loop is not practical or not worth running. It suits a location where a dedicated 240 V circuit already exists or can be added without the load-calculation complexity of a whole-house unit, since 33.9 A of design load is a fraction of what an 18 kW or larger tankless heater requires.

Who should not buy the RTEX-06T?

Anyone trying to solve a whole-house hot water shortage should not buy this expecting it to help; 6.5 kW calculates to well under 1 GPM at most realistic rises, enough for a single sink and nothing more. Anyone without an existing or easily run 240 V circuit at the fixture location should compare this against a 120 V mini tank option first, since a mini tank needs only a standard receptacle rather than dedicated 240 V wiring.

What does installing the RTEX-06T actually involve?

The circuit ask is much smaller than a whole-house unit: a single dedicated 240 V circuit sized to the 33.9 A design load, with breaker and conductor sized under NEC Table 310.16 for that run. Most homes have enough spare panel capacity for a circuit this size even without a broader load calculation, though checking with an electrician is still the right step rather than assuming. The unit itself mounts close to the fixture it serves, which is the entire point of a point of use heater; houseprojectcalc.com covers the labor cost of running a new circuit, which is outside the scope of this page.

Turn the breaker off and verify with a meter before opening the unit. Both legs of its 240 V circuit are live, and the heating element must never be energized while unsubmerged.

How we researched this

We did not test this heater in person. This page is built from Rheem's published 6.5 kW, 240 V nameplate rating and its published thermostatic control feature, with current and design-load figures calculated from the nameplate using Ohm's law and NEC 422.13, and the flow table calculated the same way used across this series. We read verified owner reviews for how the thermostatic control performs at a single fixture, and we state plainly that a UEF rating and minimum activation flow are not published for this model rather than estimate them.

Recommended gear

No dedicated 240 V circuit needed

thermomate

ThermoMate 2.5 Gallon Mini Tank

$189.99

A 2.5 gallon mini tank running on a standard 120 V receptacle is the option when running new 240 V wiring to the fixture is not practical.

Best for: A sink far from the heater, with an outlet under it

Check price on Amazon

A smaller 240 V point of use unit

Eemax

Eemax SPEX35 3.5kW 240V

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At 3.5 kW this draws less than half the RTEX-06T's current for a location with an even more modest hot water need.

Best for: A remote sink where a 240 volt circuit already exists

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Isolation valve

U.S. Solid

U.S. Solid 3/4 in Auto Shut-Off Valve

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A remote point of use heater is easy to forget about; an accessible shutoff valve makes isolating it for service or a leak simple.

Best for: Adding shutoff to an existing pan sensor

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Frequently asked questions

How many amps does the Rheem RTEX-06T draw?: The RTEX-06T is rated 6.5 kW at 240 V, which is about 27.1 A of continuous current using P = I x V. NEC 422.13's continuous-load rule adds a 125 percent factor for the circuit and breaker, bringing the design load to about 33.9 A, a fraction of what a whole-house electric tankless unit requires.
Is the RTEX-06T enough for a whole house?: No. At 6.5 kW, calculated flow is under 1.25 GPM at every realistic temperature rise, which suits a single sink or hand wash station, not a shower or multiple fixtures. This unit is designed to solve a distance problem at one fixture, not a capacity problem for an entire house.
What does thermostatic mean on the RTEX-06T?: Thermostatic control means the unit targets and holds a set outlet temperature rather than delivering a fixed heat output regardless of flow. Rheem publishes this as a feature of the RTEX-06T specifically. At a single remote fixture, that distinction matters for scald safety, since a fixed-output unit can deliver a hotter stream at low flow than a thermostatic one will allow.
Does the RTEX-06T need a 240 volt circuit?: Yes. The RTEX-06T is rated at 240 V, and Rheem's published design load is about 33.9 A, so it requires a dedicated 240 V circuit sized to that load rather than a standard household outlet. A 120 V mini tank heater is the alternative where running new 240 V wiring to the fixture is not practical.
How does the RTEX-06T compare to a mini tank water heater?: The RTEX-06T is an instantaneous tankless heater on a dedicated 240 V circuit with no storage capacity, while a mini tank stores a few gallons and runs on a standard 120 V outlet. The RTEX-06T avoids running out of hot water at all during light use; a mini tank needs no new circuit but can be exhausted by a longer draw.
What size sink or fixture is the RTEX-06T meant for?: It is meant for a single fixture, such as a remote bathroom sink, a shop sink, or a utility sink, where calculated flow of roughly 0.6 to 1.25 GPM across common temperature rises is sufficient. It is not sized or marketed as a shower or multi-fixture solution.

Even a small point of use heater carries a live 240 V circuit. Turn the breaker off and verify with a meter before opening the unit, and never energize the heating element while it is not fully submerged in water.