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A tankless water heater provides unlimited hot water while consuming less energy than a storage-based system. The heater, which delivers hot water on demand, enhances your comfort and convenience at lower costs. And there are even compact or portable models for outdoor applications such as RVs, mobile homes, and other temporary spaces.
As the tankless water heaters market continues to grow, so are the manufacturers, types and models. Today, there is a wide variety of water heaters in the market. These often differ in capacity, physical size, energy usage, efficiency, cost, and other features.
Ideally, when looking for a water heater, you need to ensure that you purchase an energy-efficient, cost-effective, and long-lasting heater. Usually, the three common types of tankless water heaters, based on energy source are; gas-powered, electric, and hybrid that uses surrounding air to heat the water. When looking for a water heater, there are factors such as indoor or outdoor placement, propane or natural gas energy source, remote control, and others that you need to consider.
Generally, there are also three types of tankless water heaters based on capacity and application. These include
- Whole-house tankless water heater
- Point-of-use (POU) tankless water heater
- Portable tankless water heater
Each of these could be propane or natural gas-powered, electric or hybrid. That said, we have compiled a list of the best tankless water heater reviews to help you narrow down on the right product.
Note: Before starting, click here to open a new tab in Amazon to search for any tools or equipment that you might need.
Best tankless water heater reviews
Below are some of the best tankless water heaters that we would recommend. The list includes reviews for the electric, propane, and natural gas water heaters we recommend. Some are for indoor spaces, while others are for outdoor installation.
Ecosmart ECO 11 Tankless Water Heater
EcoSmart ECO 11 is a lightweight and reliable tankless electric water heater with great space, energy, and water savings. The 2 gallons per minute tankless heater is ideal for smaller homes or installations with lower demand for hot water. It can support multiple applications such as two sinks and a shower in warm climates.
Generally, the heater, with a compact, visually appealing, and easy to install design, is attractive due to its cost and space-saving features. However, the Ecosmart ECO 11 is only suitable for light applications that do not require a high flow rate.
Besides cost and space, the 13 KW, 240 V tankless water heaters use a self-modulating technology that optimizes the heating performance, resulting in energy savings.
Other features include a digital control that you can use to adjust the hot water temperature in one-degree steps. Finally, the Eco 11 has a durable structure of stainless steel and copper materials, hence no risk of corrosion.
Prices start from $277
Click here to buy it on Amazon.
Rinnai V65eN Natural gas tankless water heater
Rinnai V465eN is a compact and easy-to-install, outdoor-only, natural gas water heater that allows you to free up or save space in your house. Generally, the reliable Rinnai tankless water heater combines comfort, efficiency, and great value for money. The low-cost, energy-efficient water heater helps you to save space and heating costs.
With a 6.6 GPM, Rinnai V465eN is suitable for small and medium homes or structures with one or two showers. With an electronic ignition, the heater does not have a pilot light – enabling you to save energy.
It has a 150,000 BTU maximum power output and an impressive energy factor of 0.82. Further, the heater has an adjustable temperature range of 98°F to 140°F.
Besides the above, it has safety features such as enhanced scale detection that minimize buildup, deterioration, and damage. Also, it has a temperature lock that prevents unauthorized adjustments to settings that would result in more energy usage or safety issues such as scalding.
Finally, the manufacturer provides a 10-year warranty on the heat exchanger for residential applications, 5-years on parts, and 1-year on labor.
SIO Green IR-30 Electric tankless water heater
The SIOGreen IR-30 is a compact, infrared-based POU water heater. It uses Quartz infrared heating elements to provide continuous hot water on demand. The easy-to-install, low-maintenance point-of-use tankless water heater has superior energy efficiency. In particular, its low power consumption allows you to save up to 65% on water heating costs and is suitable for various applications. Additionally, it is a long-lasting heater that can reliably give you service for over ten years.
The infrared heating can safely break down the hard water deposits; hence minimize the risks of scale buildup, bacteria, and algae growth. Consequently, it is suitable for hard water and other types that are challenging to heat on other systems.
The Sio Green IR30 is a 3.4KW, 110 volts point-of-use water heater that you can hardwire or plug into a standard outlet.
Unfortunately, the flow rate on the quartz tubes based heater is slower compared to the systems with metallic heating chambers. In particular, when there is a big difference between the cold inlet water and the hot outlet, the flow rate is usually low.
GASLAND BE158 Outdoor Portable Propane Gas Tankless Water Heater
GASLAND BE158 is a fast and energy-efficient outdoor tankless propane gas water heater. The 1.58GPM heater is a compact, lightweight, and portable water heater that you can carry and install in various outdoor locations, including camping, RVs, and other places where you need hot water.
Further, it has enhanced safety features such as anti-freezing, flame failure, and overheating protection. Other great features include a low water pressure startup. A 41,000BTU/hr. power output ensures unlimited hot water almost instantly after turning on the tap. You can also adjust the water flow and temperature to suit your preferences.
Generally, the energy-efficient water heat allows you to save on heating costs. In particular, the main burner and heat exchanger employs advanced combustion technology that results in less burning noise and gas consumption, hence improving comfort while saving you money.
Takagi T-H3-DV-N Natural gas water heater
Takagi T-H3-DV-N is one of the most energy-efficient condensing indoor natural gas tankless water heaters. Suitable for residential and small commercial environments, the heater can support up to four showers in warmer climates and three in cold places.
Major benefits include a decent design, ultra-low NOx emissions, and enhanced safety features such as overheat, surge, and freeze protection. Also, it has inbuilt computerized features to optimize the healing process and efficiency and control the water temperature, hence deliver significant energy savings. It also has troubleshooting diagnostic codes for easy and faster maintenance.
Also, it supports demanding applications such as domestic recirculation or space heating systems. It also has a long-lasting, commercial-grade copper alloy heat exchanger for efficient heat transfer and long service life. Further, you can link the compact, lightweight heater to other heaters to increase capacity and convenience.
With this model, you can link up to four devices using the Easy Link feature without requiring a Multi-unit controller. If you want to link more units, you can use the Multi-Link option and add up to 20 heaters using a multi-unit controller. As such, Takagi is a highly scalable heater ideal for all sizes of residential and commercial applications.
Finally, you will enjoy a 15-year limited warranty on the heat exchanger for residential installation and 5ys on the parts. For commercial, there is a 5-year limited warranty of the exchanger and 5-year for parts.
One drawback of the Takagi is its challenging installation process. In most cases, you may require a professional installer. But once the system is in place, Takagi is among the best indoor gas water heaters.
Rheem RTEX-18 electric tankless water heater
The Rheem RTEX-18 is a lightweight, powerful and easy-to-install, electric tankless water heater. Besides its aesthetically pleasing appearance, you can easily mount the compact unit on a small area on the wall.
Further, it allows has a 360 installation capability that enables you to mount almost anywhere in the house. Moreover, it is a slim heater that you can slide and fit in confined and small spaces hence providing you with a wide selection of installation options. However, the 4.4 GPM, 18 KW requires a 240 Volts supply and two 40 amps circuit breakers.
Ideally, the tankless heater is suitable for multiple applications and can deliver hot water to two showers or faucets simultaneously. It has a self-modulating technology that improves energy efficacy by adjusting the power output depending on the water flow – enabling you to save on electricity bills.
Other than the sleek and aesthetically pleasing design, the Rheem model is reliable, durable, and easy to maintain the tankless water heater.
Bosch US4 Tronic 3000
Bosch US4 Tronic 3000 is a compact, lightweight, and easy to install mini tank electric water heater. However, the point-of-use electric water heater has a small 4-gallon mini tank, and therefore not purely tankless. In most cases, people refer to it as a semi-tankless or mini-tank water heater.
It provides unlimited hot water on demand and is ideal for low-demand applications such as sinks, hand washing. The compact, energy-efficient, and easy to install unit can fit in many spaces, including under a bathroom or kitchen sink. In practice, the system supports up to 2 sinks simultaneously. An easy-to-use thermostat allows you to adjust the temperature to suit your preferences.
Usually, the Bosch US4 is a reliable, easy to maintain, and long-lasting water heater that provides unlimited hot water on demand. Its water tank has a glass-lined interior hence no risk of corrosion and deterioration by mineral deposits. You can use the heater as a standalone or in-line with another central hot water source located far away from the application area.
