Are you on a journey to find the perfect tankless water heater for your household, recreational vehicle, campsite or lab? If you are, you’ve come to the right place. Tired of reading tons of tankless heater reviews and never feel like you’re getting anywhere? Finding the perfect on-demand water heater for your home can seem like a daunting task at times.

There are many factors to consider, such as placement in the home, GPM (gallons per minute) flow rate and the ground water temperature near your home, just to name a few.

On top of that, you want to make sure you are purchasing a quality brand that will last for decades to come. Oh, and don’t forget the cost of an on-demand heater, which can vary quite a bit between brands. We’ve got you covered here with the names of the top tankless water heaters on the market right now.

Ready To Get Started? What Do You Want To Use Your Tankless Water Heater For?

I Want Hot Water To All The Fixtures In My Home

I Want Hot Water For An Outdoor Shed, RV, Camping Trip, Laboratory, Etc.

If you’re like me, then you like to thoroughly research the products you purchase, especially the more expensive ones. There are a TON of reviews of on-demand water heaters on Amazon, on social media, on the manufacturer websites and more, making it difficult to wade through them all. Personally, I’ve been known to go into obsession mode for days, pouring over pages and pages of online reviews and soliciting help from others on social media.

This is exactly what I did when it came to purchasing the new water heater for my home. I wanted to ensure, just as I’m sure you do, that I bought a water heater that works as it should and would last for years and years. After a few weeks of ingesting information and reading tons of tankless water heater reviews, I finally made my decision and purchased the perfect heater for me.

After my purchase, which I’m extremely satisfied with by the way, I thought it would be a good idea to compile all the research on this website and help others pinpoint the ideal on-demand water heater for their home.

Why Should I Purchase A Tankless Water Heater For My Home?

Have you ever had the unfortunate experience of running out of hot water 2 minutes into your shower, on a cold morning?

This used to happen to me all the time as I grew up in a household with 1 brother and 3 sisters, and it would really throw my day off! After I moved into my own place and had kids of my own, I vowed never to let this atrocity happen to anyone in my home.

That’s why I bought a tankless water heater – trust me when I say you will be impressed by the benefits one brings into your home. For one, on-demand heaters give you unlimited hot water. That’s right – cold showers will be a thing of the past! These heaters accomplish this by rapidly heating the H20 only as you need it – so there is no water sitting in a tank being constantly heated and cooled in an endless cycle.

This heating can be accomplished in several ways, some are electric while others use natural gas. Because they only heat water when it’s necessary, this heaters are extremely energy efficient and will save you big bucks over the life of the heater on your electric bill.

The average savings people get are around $80 a month, a pretty hefty chuck of change! Many of these heaters cost around $200 so they could pay for themselves very quickly! They are even recommended by Energy.gov as a great way to save energy and the environment.

As if that wasn’t enough, tankless water heaters are built to last over 20 years, while in comparison your standard water heater works for 10 – 15 years. Some even come with lifetime warranties, giving you peace of mind about your purchase.

If you are in the market for a new water heater, my honest opinion is that you are wasting money if you don’t switch to a tankless water heater!

Point of Use Vs. Whole House Water Heaters

There is one more decision you have to make before you can decide what on-demand heater is appropriate for you, and that is whether you want a “point-of-use” heater or a whole house heater. If you’ve already made this decision, review my picks for my Top 3 Whole House Heaters and my Top 3 Point-Of-Use Heaters.

A point of use heater can be placed, for example, under a sink or near a Jacuzzi to instantly provide hot water (mine is set at 170 degrees F) to that appliance. These are less expensive than a whole-house heater and work great when used in the situation.

In contrast, a whole-house heater is more in-line with your traditional water heater. These heaters have a higher GPM flow rate capacity and are capable of heating more than one fixture at a time. So you can have two showers going, or a dishwasher, kitchen sink and a faucet going at the same time – with non-stop hot water!

Deciding on whether to go with a whole house heater or point of use heater is very important to do before you should consider tankless water heater reviews. Another tip is that you can combine both types of heaters for high capacity devices.

In my exhaustive search for the perfect tankless water heater I narrowed it down to the top 3 whole-house tankless water heaters and the top 3 point of use heaters that offer true quality for their price.

Top 3 Whole House Tankless Water Heaters Comparison

	Ecosmart ECO 27	Tempra 24 Stiebel-Eltron	Rinnai RL94eN
Rating
Price	$	$$	$$$
Max Flow	5.25 GPM	4.0 GPM	9.4 GPM
Fuel Type	Electric	Electric	Natural Gas
Energy Efficiency	99.80%	99%	83%

Top 3 Whole House Tankless Water Heater Reviews

Here our are brief reviews on each top 3 product.

EcoSmart Self Modulating ECO 27 Heater

One of my favorite things about this heater is the price – it’s the lowest you’re going to find on a whole house tankless heater. As one of the most affordable tankless heaters out there, you might think the manufacturer’s skimped out on the features or build. Not true – all of your standard features are here such as digital temperature control and the slim form that makes installation fairly simple.

This heater also has Self-Modulating technology, which is a really handy feature. It regulates the amount of energy needed to heat whatever amount of water you run through it – so it only uses the exact amount of energy necessary, saving you big bucks on your electric bill.  EcoSmart advertises that most users can save up to 60% off their water heating costs by installing one of their tankless heaters! This heater also comes with a lifetime warranty, which is a huge deal with a product such as this.

This heater is a constant fixture on Amazon’s best-sellers list. The EcoSmart 27 is configured for most climates – even those where the ground water is as low as 37 degrees Fahrenheit. This model also features a digital temperature control that gives you precise control of your hot water temps.

While it works quite well in lower temperature climates, this heater will function at it’s optimal efficiency when incoming ground water temperature is around 62 degress Fahrenheit. At colder temperatures, and depending on the amount of fixtures you may have running at one time, the hot water may come slower than expected. This is standard with most tankless water heaters though, so no big deal here.

As a heads-up, one issue you may run into while installing this heater is you may need additional electric work. You will need at least 200 amps of electrical service routing into your house, but this can be easily added with the help of an electrician. You may need another breaker box to make up for the difference.

Pros

• Digital Temperature Control
• Self-Modulating Technology
• Only uses power when Hot Water is Necessary
• Best Price by Far
• Made in USA
• Lifetime Warranty

Cons

• Possible additional electric work needed
• Professional Installation Required for Lifetime Warranty

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 24 Plus Electric Whole House Heater

Next on the top 3 list of best tankless water heater reviews is the Tempra 24, another whole-house on-demand hot water heater that uses electricity to power it’s heating element. What I like most about this model is its reliability and compact European design. These heaters have recently undergone a major overhaul, as a new company has come in and completely redesigned them for better performance and appearance. The increased quality is apparent.

This heater has a voltage of 240, a Wattage of 24 and will require 2×50 amperage minimum (check out your circuit breaker to determine your current amperage, remember this can be increased). The Tempra 24 also includes a new feature called Advanced Flow Control that ensures a constant temperature output no matter the demand on the heater.

If you are worried about having multiple fixtures on at once, it may be a point of concern for this heater. The Tempra 24 models provide hot water for 1 or 2 bathrooms in warm climates, or 1 bathroom in cold climates. Remember, this means simultaneously. You will never really run out of hot water because it is being heated on demand, but the volume may slow to a trickle so you will need to turn some fixtures off, but the same thing happens with your conventional water heater, except that you have to wait for the tank to refill before you can use anymore hot water.

• Relatively Low Price
• 3 Year Warranty when professionally installed
• Endless Hot Water
• Advanced Flow Control for stable water temperatures

Rinnai RL94eN

What I really like about this model is the ability to provide hot water to up to 5 fixtures at once, so no one has to go without hot water in the house. The Rinnai can provide this with its powerful output of up to 9.4 gallons per minute.

This tankless water heater is also built to be installed outside, which could be a more convenient location for some individuals. An electrician would need to run a wire and install a power outlet on the outside wall. This can be a somewhat costly process, which is something to think about. Additionally, this is the most expensive unit of the Top 3, but for a large household it would be ideal. If you have a smaller household, this unit would not be necessary and I would recommended a smaller, less expensive unit. But with 83% thermal efficiency, this is a quality heater that has received nothing but positive reviews online.

This heater also comes standard with a digital controller for getting the perfect temperature for your household water and an error code indicator to alert you to any issues.

The range on this hot water heater is 98 – 140 degrees Fahrenheit for residential properties and 98 – 185 degrees Fahrenheit in commercial applications (a commercial controller is needed for this temperature setting).

Overall, the Rinnai RL94EN is a high quality outdoor H20 heater that can provide hot water for up to 5 fixtures at once. If this sounds like overkill to you, you would do better with one of the other heaters mentioned above. But for a home with a large family, this is an ideal solution to their hot water needs. This machine is a beast and can handle quite a bit before it’s unable to provide hot water.

• Outdoor Water Heater With No Tank
• 9.4 GPM
• Perfect for a Large Household
• 12 year warranty on heat exchanger, 5 year warranty on parts, 1 year warranty on labor for residential installations.

Our Top Choices For Best Point of Use Tankless Water Heater

Name	Rheem RTEX-13 Electric Tankless Water Heater	Eccotemp L10 Portable Water Heater	EcoSmart ECO 18 Electric Tankless Water Heater
Price	$$	$	$$
Ratings
Flow Rate	3.17 GPM	2.6 GPM	2.5 GPM
Fuel Type	Electric	Propane	Electric
Weight	7.6 lbs	27 lbs	11.25 lbs

Rheem 240V Heating Chamber RTEX-13 Residential Tankless Water Heater

The Rheem RTEX-13 is an Amazon best-seller and there are several strong features that set it out from the pack. First of all is it’s tiny size – it can easily fit under sinks or next to fixtures. This compact design makes it easy to fit just about anywhere, making it perfect to hide away on a wall.

The  RTEX-13 also has a temperature control directly on the unit and also a LED which indicates if the unit is currently heating water or in stand-by mode.

My tankless water heater review for this one is two-thumbs up. It is perfectly suited for use in condos, hotels, boats, restaurants, offices, laboratories, etc. It has a flow rate of 3.17 GPM which is impressive for a point-of-use unit, and especially one that is so small. Many users report they can easily serve a family of four with this tankless heater, although you will have to monitor for too many simultaneous fixtures on at once.

The reviews on Amazon indicate this is a quality heater that works perfectly for most hot water situations.

• 0.4 – 3.17 GPM
• Simple To Install
• External Controls To Adjust Temperature in 1 degree increments
• 99.8% Energy Efficient

Eccotemp L10 2.6 GPM Portable Tankless Water Heater

This portable water heater is perfect for taking a hot shower at a campsite, as a convenient outdoor shower at the pool or beach, or any other hot water application you could think of.

The unit itself is very compact and weighs about 27 pounds, which is not much when you consider the impressive 2.6 GPM flow rate. It’s perfect for out of the way locations where access to electricity  might not be an option. The unit is powered by propane and the fuel is ignited with 2 D Cell batteries, so you can start up anywhere!

This tankless heater is rated at 2.6 GPM – enough for a shower or a faucet in need of hot water. It works well as a camping companion or if you need to have hot water in a shed or laboratory. Simply attach a garden hose and a 20lb propane tank for instant hot water anywhere.

Other users have successfully used the model in the middle of winter, in below zero temperatures, and in other hazardous conditions. It’s made for off-the-grid living! If you are a traveler, adventurer or something of the sort, this heater will supply you with constant hot water anywhere and increase the quality of your life. Even the small things like a hot cup of tea can dramatically increase how your day is going while you are out exploring.

• 2.6 GPM Portable Tankless Water Heater
• Liquid Propane Fuel
• Battery Ignition
• Manual temperature water controls
• 20 – 80 PSI of water pressure needed

EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater

This little beast is marketed as a point of use heater where the incoming water temperature is 67 F or above, but can also function as a whole house heater where the incoming water temperature is higher. If it is used in a colder climate, it will take longer for the heater to get the water to the right temperature, affecting your flow rate. So make sure to take the average groundwater temperature into account when making a purchase!

It is extremely light at only 6.5 pounds and takes up very little space. It has an average flow rate of 2 GPM, making it suitable for heating up water for one low-flow shower head and one sink running simultaneously in a warmer climate, or it functions great as a point-of-use model where the incoming water temperature is colder.

Overall this is one of the best tankless water heaters you will find for the price. It is quite cheap, and in the right circumstances can supply endless hot water for an entire household, all while saving you big bucks on your electric bill.

• 6.5 Pounds
• 2 GPM where incoming water temp. is 67 F or above
• Lifetime Warranty on electronics, exchanger and element