The most attractive quality of tankless heaters is that they save a lot of energy for users. This is because unlike traditional water heaters that heat and keep reheating water to keep it ready for use, most tankless water heaters turn on only when hot water is needed. This eliminates standby energy consumption!
Another major benefit of a tankless water heater is the unlimited supply of hot water for all your chores. If you are looking for a tankless water heater, then I have put together this guide to help you choose the best tankless water heater suited for your water heating needs.
The Best Tankless Water Heater Reviews
As a lot of people are currently deciding to go tankless, there are a myriad of tankless water heater companies selling these heaters. Most of them, however, do not stack up. Here is a list of the best reliable water heaters that you can get on the market depending on your hot water requirements. Let’s dive in!
V65iN-Natural Gas Heater for Indoor Installation
Rinnai water heaters are some of the best water heaters that you can rely on for your home’s hot water needs, and the V65iN is no exemption.
If you are looking for a tankless water heater for a large family, this is an ideal choice for you. The impressive 6.5 gallons per minute water flow is enough to supply hot water in your home at multiple points of access simultaneously.
Unlike traditional water heating units, which can run out of hot water when you are in the middle of your hot water chores sometimes, this heater heats water as it passes through the pipes, which means an endless supply of hot water.
If you are looking for an energy-efficient water heater, then you’ll be glad to know that this water heater only operates when hot water is needed. This saves a lot of energy because the heater doesn’t need to heat and reheat the water to keep it ready for use in standby.
With an energy efficiency rate of 82%, you will be saving a lot on water heating energy costs.
The V65iN comes with an app that allows you to remotely control water heating schedules, as well as put the unit into vacation mode when you are away from the house and hot water is not needed.
This heater has a life expectancy twice that of traditional heaters and a 120-month warranty to back it up. In case a part of this heater breaks, you’ll be glad to know that all Rinnai water heater parts are replaceable – so instead of throwing out the whole system, you can just replace the damaged part and continue enjoying the water heater.
Pros
- An unlimited supply of hot water
- A hot water flow rate of 6.5GPM suitable for large families
- An impressive warranty of 10 years
- Small compact design that only needs a small space for installation
- A mobile app for remote control
Cons
- Indoor installation only
Ecosmart ECO 18 Tankless Water Heater, Electric
If you would rather use an electric water heater instead of gas, then you will love this electric tankless water heater.
Once you buy this heater, you will be set for an unlimited supply of hot water in your home. The ECO 18 is made of high-quality copper and stainless steel materials, which ensure that corrosion is not something you will ever have to worry about. It lasts twice as long as traditional tank water heaters.
The heater has a hot water flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute, which is enough to supply hot water in up to 3 access points in your home. This flow rate may differ depending on the groundwater temperature.
The heater only turns on when hot water is needed, and this helps a lot in saving energy, which can help you cut up to 60% in your water heating energy costs. The 99.8% energy efficiency rating is one of the highest in the market, which further reduces energy costs.
There is a lifetime warranty for residential users so you know that buying this heater is a worthy investment.
If you don’t have much storage space, you don’t have to worry about that, because this heater only needs a very small space for installation due to its compact design. It will also blend right in with the rest of your décor in case you choose to mount it at an open spot.
Pros
- An unlimited amount of hot water
- Lifetime warranty for residential users
- A high energy efficiency rate of 99.8%
- Helps save on energy costs
- Extra durable
Cons
- You need a professional to install
- May not be suitable for large homes water needs
Bosch Electric Tankless Water Heater
If you are tired of having to wait for hot water at your bathroom sink or your kitchen sink after you’ve turned on the faucet, then this is an ideal choice for you and the environment. This heater is very eco-friendly too.
The Bosch is a tankless water heater that provides you with an unlimited supply of hot water when you need it. It also has a small compact design that allows you to mount it in small spaces like under the sink. And if you choose to mount this heater in a visible spot, you don’t have to worry about it clashing with the rest of your décor.
It has an energy efficiency rate of 98%, which helps a lot in energy conservation. Different from conventional water heaters that heat and keep reheating water to keep it ready for use, this heater only turns on when hot water is needed, which saves lots of energy. This also means you will be saving on your energy bills.
For reliable temperature control, the heater features a thermostat that maintains a steady temperature depending on your preference. Keep in mind, you’ll need a 240V power outlet to plug in the water heater.
Pros
- An unlimited supply of hot water
- An energy efficiency of 98% which helps save energy
- A small compact design that doesn’t take up much space
- Eco-friendly
- No waiting for hot water to get to the sink when you turn on the faucet
Cons
- This heater needs professional installation
Camplux Electric Tankless Water Heater
Get hot water on demand with the Camplux electric water heater. The best thing about this heater is that it comes with a cool digital smart touch display system that has a remote control for precise control of the temperatures.
And if you are one of those people living in an area where the water supply can be scarce once in a while, then this is the ideal heater for you! It requires a very low water flow rate of 0.85GPM to activate. This ensures that you have hot water even when there is not a lot of it flowing in your pipes.
For people who are pressed for space, this would be a great choice too as it features a small compact design. To add to the convenience, you can install the heater at any angle, which allows you to maneuver around small spaces when you need to.
The heater channels out 87500BTUs of heat, and this makes it easy to get heated water up to 125°F.
The heater’s smart control also makes unit conversions from Celsius to Fahrenheit easy should you need it. For your safety, the heater has an overheat protection system that activates when temperatures get to 153°F.
For durability purposes, this heater is constructed using quality stainless steel material which is tough and extra durable.
Pros
- Instant supply of hot water
- Made with quality, durable stainless steel material
- Unlimited supply of hot water
- Smart touch LED display that also comes with remote control
- Minimum flow rate activation of 0.85GPM which is suitable for places with a low supply of water
- Eco-friendly
- 360-degree installation angle options
- Small compact design that doesn’t need much space for installation
Cons
- Not suitable for multiple access point installation.
Considerations for the Best Tankless Water Heater
When you finally decide to go tankless, you need to know what to look for to get the best there is on the market. Here are a few indicators you need to look out for to get the best tankless heater that’s also suitable for your needs.
Hot Water Flow Rate
All tankless water heaters have an indicated flow rate, which is the amount of hot water a heater can put out in a minute.
This flow rate can be lower than indicated, depending on the groundwater temperature. The lower the temperature of the groundwater, the lower the flow rate.
If you are looking to get a high volume of hot water from your heater, such as for a large family, you ought to get a heater with a high flow rate. Otherwise, it’s better to get a lower flow rate to save on energy costs.
Warranty
Tankless water heaters can cost more than traditional heaters in most cases. When you get one, you want to ensure that you are making a worthy investment in the purchase.
The only thing that can give you this confidence is the kind of warranty offered by the manufacturer. A longer warranty means that the manufacturer believes in the heater, which means you can too. It also means that should you encounter any problems you will easily get help.
The Cost
If you are shopping for a tankless heater, you need to consider the cost of one. Just know that paying more for a heater does not guarantee quality. You can still get a cheap heater that still meets all your needs.
Another important consideration when it comes to the cost of a heater is the cost of energy. You can get a cheap heater that will cost you a lot in terms of energy. Such a heater may not be worth buying, as it will be more expensive in the long run. On the other hand, you can buy an expensive heater that is very energy efficient – and in the long run, this could be a worthy investment.
Energy Factor
The energy factor is the rate at which supplied energy is converted into heat energy. In an ideal situation, this rate should be 100%. Obviously, this is not the case with most heaters. The best you can do is ensure that this figure is as close to 100% as can be while still having other qualities you are looking for.
The higher the energy factor, the more energy you will be saving.
Size
The size of the heater you are buying is another factor you should pay attention to. If you are pressed for space, you should look for a small compact heater that doesn’t take up much space for installation.
Energy source
The two major energy sources for tankless water heaters are electricity and gas. Gas water heaters are more cost effective, making them suitable for large families and their water heating needs. If you have a smaller family, however, an electric water heater can serve your family sufficiently.
Tankless Water Heater Frequently Asked Questions
1) What’s the difference between tank heaters vs. tankless water heaters?
Apart from the most obvious one that one has a tank and the other one doesn’t have one, there are some big differences in the energy consumption of these two.
While a tank water heater heats and keeps reheating the water in the tank to keep it ready for use, a tankless water heater heats water as it passes through the pipes when the faucets are turned on. As a result, a tank water heater uses a lot of water to keep the water hot while a tankless heater doesn’t need any standby energy.
2) What’s the best flow rate for a heater?
As I mentioned earlier, the flow rate indicates the amount of hot water you can get from a heater in one minute. If you have a large family, you might need a higher flow rate than if you have a small family.
3) How long does a tankless heater last?
This depends on the quality of individual heaters you’re considering, but one of the benefits of a tankless water heater is that most of the time they last longer than tank water heaters. This is because they don’t corrode like tank water heaters do. Some have a life expectancy of up to 20 years, which is very impressive.
Conclusion
Tankless water heaters are a revolutionary technology that have completely changed how people heat water in their homes. They help save a lot in terms of water heating costs.
While the best water heater will be determined by your home’s individual needs, we think that the Rinnai V65iN-Natural Gas Heater is a pretty solid choice for a tankless water heater.
I hope that this guide helped make your choice easier!