Tankless Water Heaters (2020)

[author]by DARION ROBINSON[/author]

There can be numerous opinions that start pouring in that make jumping to a conclusion difficult like never before when trying to figure out the best tankless water heater for your home.

However, consideration of aspects like type of heater, energy efficiency, and use is crucial for decision-making. Further, one needs to consider ease of installation and maintenance.

After reaching out to specialists within this space and owning a few of them, I have selected the Rheem RTEX-13 as the best tankless water heater (click here to view on Amazon.com) to own. Not only is the installation easy but performance has yet to disappoint. My house (with 3 daughters) continuously needs hot water and it provides it. I will go into a more detailed review on the Rheem RTEX-13 below.

However, electric on-demand water heater can save up to 30% of the utility bill over to a water heater with conventional tank heating. Various electric tankless water heater reviews available online confirm the same. The true advantage of using tankless water heater is it does not require heating a large volume of water at once. Further, it is easy to install and setup. Electronic control modules available on the instant water heater make its use simple. Tankless water heater prices are cheaper than conventional heaters with a tank.

Here’s Top Rated Tankless Water Heaters Reviewed

Tankless water heater reviews help to make the correct decision. Therefore, compare electric water heater reviews with tankless gas water heater reviews to make your home warm and cozy when you need it the most.

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#1

Rheem RTEX-13 240V Residential Tankless Water Heater

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The Rheem RTEX-13 requires #6 cable and 60-amps breaker for flawless functioning. It is ideal for a house when you require endless hot water supply. Further, digital thermostatic control integrated with a LED display makes using RTEX-13 easy for everyone.

It comes with built-in dual Copper heating elements; it is field serviceable, and has a self-modulating power control. Installation of RTEX-13 is simple with supplied 3-foot long cable, side 1/2 inch compression water connection, template for wall mounting and 1/2 NPT adapters. Digital control panel of RTEX-13 provides an interface for temperature control in increment of 1°F. This 240 volts 13KW on demand hot water heater is a solid player to count on.
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Pros

Rheem RTEX-13 240V Residential Tankless Water Heater is perfect water heating solutions for domestic purpose and for small business applications. It is easy to install and operate. Further, it is free from the requirement of frequent maintenance. It is the best electric tankless hot water heater when compared to a conventional tank heater in terms of ease of use and continuous supply of hot water at minimum expenditure on utility bills.

Cons

Improper wiring could result in underperformance. The unit requires flushing in case the input water is hard. Make sure to review manufacturer’s warranty terms carefully prior to purchasing RTEX-13.

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#2

SioGreen IR260 Infrared Electric Hot Tankless Water Heater

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SioGreen IR260 Infrared Electric Hot Tankless Water Heater provides water heating in an innovative manner with the use of Quartz tubes and infrared.

This makes it suitable for all types of water eliminating lime scale deposits or corrosion and related maintenance. This on demand water heater is easy to install and operate. IR260 has four-step control with 10 to 30 amps or 1.5 kW to 6 kW power consumption range making is suitable for wide range of applications requiring endless hot water supply. Further, installation flexibility of IR260 permits installing it as standalone, series, hybrid, or booster.

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Pros

SioGreen IR260 works on innovative principle making it suitable for providing endless hot water supply. Unit is easy to install and undemanding as far as maintenance is concerned due to zero lime scale deposits or corrosion. Further, you can use IR260 as standalone, series, hybrid, or booster whole house tankless water heater depending upon your hot water consumption requirements.

Cons

Remember to check cold water temperature and maximum flow rate required to avoid underperformance or disappointment. A licensed professional must install the unit for warranty eligibility.

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#3

Rinnai V65IN Tankless Natural Gas Water Heater

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Rinnai V65IN is ideal for indoor installation. It is the best gas water heater according to Rinnai tankless water heater reviews available online. V65IN meets NOx emissions standards for California and Texas.

Smart features like electronic direct ignition, suitability to natural gas or Propane, leak detection, and Energy Factor 0.82 make it suitable for a reliable source for endless hot water supply. Installing V65IN certainly reduces electricity bills. Rinnai V65IN is best gas water heater brand for small houses requiring continuous hot water supply. Further, the unit is compatible to South Coast Air Quality Management District 14 NG/J or 20 PPM NOx emission levels.

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Pros

Rinnai V65IN heats the water directly using natural gas thus effectively reducing the electricity bills. It is easy to operate. Gas water heater reviews confirm that V65IN is capable of providing a continuous supply of hot water. Further, it is compliant to NOx emissions standards for California and Texas and has smart features like electronic ignition, leak detection, and Energy Factor 0.82.

Cons

Rinnai V65IN is not suitable for large households with more number of occupants requiring hot water at the same time. Flushing with vinegar is necessary to remove lime scales on a regular basis for regions with hard water. Licensed professional is necessary for installation.

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#4

EcoSmart ECO 27 Electric Tankless Water Heater

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EcoSmart tankless water heater is available in 17H x 17W x 3.625D inches size and requires 3/4 inch NPT Pipes fittings. Eco 27 model operates on 27 KW at 240 Volts and has Self Modulating Technology.

Digital temperature control permits up to 1° F increment. Eco 27 is made of copper and stainless for durability. Further, this unit requires three 40-amp double pole breakers on 200 amps electric panel. This whole house electric tankless water heater is even suitable for homes in the northern United States where the input water temperature is as low as 37° F to deliver hot water at temperature ranging from 80° F to 140° F.
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Pros

EcoSmart ECO 27 Electric Tankless Water Heater is suitable for larger homes with more members. This unit delivers continuous hot water supply at temperature ranging from 80° F to 140° F. Eco 27 is easy to install and use and frequent maintenance is not necessary. Further, this unit is best water heater brand for regions with colder input water due to its 27 KW / 240 Volts rating.

Cons

Look for online hot water heater reviews for Eco 27 before purchasing. Improper installation or using underrated wiring may cause it to perform below its capacity. Further, get this unit installed from a licensed professional.

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#5

Titan Tankless N-160 Water Heater

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Titan tankless water heater is very compact and it is available in 10 x 4 x 8 inches size. It has brass and stainless steel construction for durability. Installation of N-160 is simple as it mounts on a wall.

You require 60 amps double-pole breaker and 6-gauge wire during the installation. Remember, this unit requires minimum 150 to 200 amps electrical service for flawless performance. It is ideal that a licensed professional installs this unit for you. N-160 is NSF/ANSI-372 Certified for meeting Jan 2015 Federal water regulations. Titan N-160 is best electric hot water heater for small and medium homes requiring continuous hot water supply.
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Pros

Titan N-160 is best hot water heater if you require a continuous supply at a minimum expenditure. This unit is easy to install and operate. Digital control panel provides simple user interface. N-160 is very compact and requires lesser space than any small electric water heater available in the market.

Cons

N-160 is ideal for small and medium sized families with limited number of members. Get this unit installed from licensed professional only. Remember to use adequately rated circuit breaker and hard wiring with necessary electrical service. N-160 is not instantaneous tankless water heater; however, it supplies constant hot water flow once it starts working.

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#6

Camplux Pro 10L Portable Propane Tankless Water Heater

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Camplux Pro 10L is portable propane on demand water heater suitable for homes, apartments, cabins, outdoor showers, lodges, camp sites, or boat houses. The unit ignites with a pair of 2D battery cells eliminating the necessity of the electricity making is a perfect standalone unit

Other features of this propane tankless water heater are 20-minute automatic safety, flame failure protection, and anti-freezing protection. This unit comes with CSA approved gas regulator and required adapters for safety and ease of installation. Multi-functional showerhead makes using Camplux Pro 10L suitable for all occasions requiring continuous supply of hot water.
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Pros

Camplux Pro 10L is the best water heater brand in case you are on a lookout for a standalone product. This heater is highly portable and does not require electricity. Connections are simple and the unit comes ready with hardware, connectors, and other accessories required for mounting outdoor.

Cons

Camplux Pro 10L requires minimum 0.4PSI Propane pressure. It is not suitable for hot drinking water applications. Fitting supplied gasket in the adapter is must during the installation to avoid possible fire hazards or gas leakage. Additional flue pipe is necessary if you are planning to use Camplux Pro 10L in a camper, RV, or any other place with inadequate ventilation.

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#7

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 12 kW Tankless Electric Water Heater

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Stiebel Eltron Tempra is the best electric tankless water heater in case you require continuous flow of hot water for a large family.

This unit features advanced flow control to regulate water pressure and temperature during fluctuating demands. Digital temperature display on Eltron Tempra provides a simple interface to monitor and regulate temperature. It requires 100 amps service, one 50 amps double pole breaker, and one 6/2 AWG wire for installation. 3/4″ NPT water connection provision makes it suitable for universal application. Stiebel Eltron Tempra is available with 7-year warranty on leakage. In addition, 240 V, 12 kW rating of this water heater makes it suitable for delivering endless and instantaneous supply of hot water.
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Pros

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 12 kW Tankless Electric Water Heater is suitable for large families with more members. It installs easily and operates only on-demand accounting to handsome savings on electricity bills. Unit comes with two flexible water heater connectors for ease of installation. Knob on the unit provides a simple user interface.

Cons

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 12 kW Tankless Electric Water Heater is sensitive to water quality and requires highly regulated water quality for flawless performance. Pressure drop at the outlet is observed in some best water heaters 2018 reviews available online.

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#8

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 12 kW Tankless Electric Water Heater

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Costway Propane Gas Water Heater is the best tankless gas water heater for outdoor use due to its portability and simple connection. It operates on battery eliminating the need of hard wiring for ignition.

The unit is 10 x 13 x 11.5 inches in size making it very compact and portable. It features anti-dry combustion protection for additional safety. It comes with overheating protection so the water heater shuts off automatically in case the water temperature exceeds 167℉. Additional feature of Costway Propane Gas Tankless Water Heater is wind protection to prevent flame exhaustion. Anti off balance protection ensures water and gas supply cutoff automatically in case of the occurrence of off balance.
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Pros

Costway Propane Gas Tankless Water Heater is very portable making it suitable for using outdoors. It requires two 1.5V DC batteries. Package comes with one pump, one shower, water pipe, and a gray bag for carrying the heater. The pump supplied with the heater is compatible with 12V DC car outlet for pumping hot water through built-in shower delivering around one gallon per minute.

Cons

Water flow is not adequate for large hot water requirements. Precautions are necessary for connection. Ventilation is necessary for the unit to work in case you are planning using it indoors.

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#9

Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater

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Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater has perfect flow technology for consistent performance even under extreme conditions.

Other features of Coleman are 6-ft non-kink shower head, convenient use silicone hose, and 3-year limited warranty. This unit is capable of heating around 40 gallons of water using 16.4 oz propane cylinder. Coleman is capable of delivering hot water at around 125° F in about thirty seconds. It is available in 20.9 x 10.1 x 16.7 inches size. Battery powered Coleman is very portable and therefore is suitable for various outdoor use applications requiring continuous hot water supply.
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Pros

Coleman Hot Water on Demand H2Oasis Portable Water Heater is handy and ideal for outdoor applications requiring hot water. It comes with chargeable battery for continuous performance. Automatic shut off feature of Coleman provides additional safety in case the water supply stops.

Cons

Battery charger of the unit operates only on DC. AC charger is not available. Certain water heater reviews about Coleman has complaints about pilot ignition and poor battery charging resulting in complete failure of the unit. Cleaning Coleman is quite a herculean task. Igniting pilot light with regular matchstick is tough. Ideally, you require long barbecue matchsticks for proper reach.

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#10

Eccotemp L5 Tankless Water Heater

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Eccotemp L5 Tankless Water Heater is a combination of a water heater, EccoFlo pump, and a strainer. EccoFlo pump has 12 volt rating and it delivers up to 2.9 gallons per minute. Unit is 4.5 x 11.5 x 14.5 inches in size.

Some prominent features of Eccotemp L5 are 20-minute automatic shutoff timer for additional safety, manual water temperature controls, battery operated igniter for eliminating the necessity of hardwiring, and about 30° to 35° rise at 1.5 gallons per minute flow rate. This tankless water heater is portable and suitable for outdoor applications like washing car, boat, or hot shower for horse or dog.
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Pros

Eccotemp L5 Tankless Water Heater is portable and therefore suitable for outdoor applications requiring continuous supply of hot water. This unit is capable of delivering 18-20 hours of hot water flow on connecting standard 20lb propane tank. Battery ignition eliminates the necessity of hardwiring. EccoFlo pump supplied with the heater uses 12 DC outlet of a car.

Cons

You need 12 V DC supply for the pump. Adequate precaution is necessary during connections. Read user instruction manual carefully before using Eccotemp L5 Tankless Water Heater for the first time to understand the prerequisites. It may not work in windy conditions as the flame extinguishes due to wind.[/productbox] [mydivider]

Need Help Installing Your Tankless Water Heater?

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Summary

Searching for a tankless water heater is quite a daunting task although the heater adds comfort to life.  There are still some important considerations to think about:

-Fuel type for the electric water heater such as: propane, natural gas, or electricity

-Volume of hot water required every day for various applications like dishwasher or shower etc

-Temperature difference between desired hot water and ground water, this difference is the actual required heating

-Higher Energy Factor (EF) rating for higher energy efficiency and subsequent savings on utility bills for months to come

-Installation and maintenance requirements, lesser the better

Therefore, read online water heater reviews to find the best match in terms of the fuel used, output flow in gallons per minute, input water temperature in your region, portability of heater if you are a person who loves camping or even need to wash horses a farmhouse, and the overall impact of the heater on the utility bills. Best match is out there, all you need is to spread your wings and grab the best on demand hot water heater you deserve.