The Best Tankless Water Heaters for the Home

Hello, my friend, hello again; today we come together to talk about The Best Tankless Water Heaters for the Home and hope the blog can help you.

Always have hot water when you need it without worrying that it will run out mid-shower.

Tankless water heaters are more energy efficient than standard water heater storage tanks that heat up and store gallons of hot water. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a tankless option can help increase energy efficiency by as much as 8 to 34 percent.

Tankless water heaters don’t need to store water, making them significantly smaller than a traditional storage tank. Instead, they heat water instantly as it enters the unit for a limitless supply of hot water.

As a project manager in the plumbing trades, I found that it was essential to use tankless water heaters that suited the property and the household. With this in mind, we looked at tankless water heater flow rates intended for a range of homes and living arrangements. Additionally, we researched the power output and fuel type to come up with this list of the best tankless water heaters. Read on to find out how the best tankless water heaters work and why the ones below made our list of top recommendations.

1. BEST OVERALL: Rinnai RU180iN Tankless Water Heater
2. BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Rheem RTEX-13 Tankless Electric Water Heater
3. BEST ELECTRIC: Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus Tankless Water Heater
4. BEST PORTABLE: Hike Crew Portable Propane Water Heater
5. BEST POINT-OF-USE: EcoTouch Point-Of-Use Tankless Water Heater
6. BEST WHOLE-HOUSE: Rinnai RE199iN High-Efficiency Tankless Water Heater
7. BEST CONDENSING: Takagi High-Efficiency Gas Tankless Water Heater
8. BEST NON-CONDENSING: Rheem RTEX-36 Self-Modulating Electric Water Heater
9. BEST GAS: Rinnai RL75iN Tankless Hot Water Heater
10. BEST FOR RV: Camplux Portable Propane Tankless Water Heater
11. BEST SMALL: Camplux Constant Tankless Water Heater

Before You Buy a Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters are growing in popularity for the average homeowner; however, there are a few considerations to take into account before purchasing.

Tankless heaters will cost more initially, between $1,000 to $3,000 before installation. With installation costs included, the price rises to $2,000 to $6,000 nationwide on average, while storage-tank models only cost between $1,000 to $2,000 with installation.

Another thing to consider is the hot water requirements of the household. If multiple showers, a clothes washer, and a dishwasher are all expected to operate simultaneously, a tankless model may have trouble providing enough hot water to all locations at once. Bigger families with high demands may benefit from a large traditional model capable of keeping up with their needs, as a tankless unit requiring that type of power may be out of their price range.

Installation is another consideration. If your home has a storage-tank heater, expect that the electrical wiring, gas piping, water piping, and ventilation (for gas models) will likely need to be reconfigured to fit the much smaller wall-mounted tankless unit. The installation will typically take longer and cost more.

If these seem like reasonable expectations and limits based on your household and what you are looking for, read on to determine the best tankless water heater for you.

How We Chose the Best Tankless Water Heaters 

We researched the most sought-after tankless water heaters in their respective categories and discovered that the best models are determined by their fuel type, flow rate, power input, energy efficiency, and other special features included by select brands.

While searching for the best models available, the most popular type among users were the electric tankless water heaters for their ample energy efficiency and ease of use. While not as popular, the natural gas and propane options are viable options for either whole-house use or portability on camping trips. No matter the type, the above options have ample flow rates of 1 to 11 gallons per minute (GPM) and power inputs ranging from 30,500 to 199,000 British thermal units (BTUs) based on how much hot water you need and the desired energy efficiency. (For a more in-depth discussion of GPM and BTUs, read the section What to Consider When Choosing a Tankless Water Heater that appears below our product reviews.)

With this in mind, the above options can provide water from one to two people to an entire household and brandish 81 to 99 percent energy-efficiency ratings, with select options coming with Energy Star certifications. As for added special features, some of these picks have easy-to-use dials or touch screens, self-modulation controls, safety shut-off features, Wi-Fi compatibility, and silent operation volumes.

Our Top Picks for the Best Tankless Water Heaters of 2023

Check out the best tankless water heaters on the market today, chosen for the quality of features described above as well as price, effectiveness, and manufacturer reputation.

Best Overall

Rinnai RU180iN Tankless Water Heater

Product Specs

• Fuel type: Natural gas
• Flow rate: 10 GPM
• Power input: 180,000 BTUs

Pros

• Produces water for up to 5 appliances; ideal for most home sizes
• Very energy-efficient water heater; Energy Star certified
• Wall-mounted option is compact and easy to install; will not take up too much space in a basement or utilities room
• Wi-Fi ready; can respond to voice commands for remote access

Cons

• Can take a few minutes to heat up on first use

The capabilities of the Rinnai RU180iN tankless water heater are impressive, with a 10 GPM max flow rate that can produce hot water for up to five appliances. The 180,000-BTU maximum is more than enough for a standard mixture of teens and adults in a single household to go through their morning routines without a drop in water temperature.

Despite it being a natural gas system, the unit’s efficiency rating sits comfortably between 93 and 96 percent and is Energy Star certified. This is mostly due to the condensing feature that allows the water heater to remove as much heat from the exhaust as possible before releasing it through the ventilation.

What our tester says: Debbie Wolfe, Bob Vila editor and product tester, says about this tankless water heater: “When it came time to replace my old tank water heater, my plumber highly recommended Rinnai due to its reputation for quality. He determined the 180,000 BTU 10 GPM model best fit my family’s hot water needs. The appliance heats the water quickly and is easily adjustable via the straightforward display on the front of the machine. I especially like that it doesn’t take up floor space in my basement—it fits neatly on the wall. There is a slight delay in hot water delivery first thing in the morning, when the tank has not been used for hours. However, once it’s activated, the hot water is readily available for the rest of the day.”

Get the Rinnai RU180iN tankless water heater at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Build with Ferguson.

Best Bang for the Buck

Rheem RTEX-13 Tankless Electric Water Heater

Product Specs

• Fuel type: Electric
• Flow rate: Up to 3.17 GPM, depending on inlet temperature
• Power input: Unspecified

Pros

• 99 percent efficiency rating; ideal choice for energy-conscious users
• Perfect for smaller homes; flow rate is suitable for homes with 1 to 2 people
• Easy-to-use dial; less complicated than other options

Cons

• Does not provide enough flow rate to service larger households

This budget tankless electric water heater boasts an impressive 99 percent efficiency rating. This means the energy you are paying for is used almost entirely for your water, as opposed to losing energy through ventilation with gas models.

The Rheem RTEX-13 tankless water heater won’t be of much use to a large household with many different fixtures in use simultaneously. However, with a 3.17 GPM max flow rate, it is more than enough for an apartment or cottage with one or two occupants. The low price of the unit and the lower price of electric tankless water heaters in general when compared with gas make this a great value selection.

Get the Rheem RTEX-13 tankless water heater at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Grainger.

Best Electric

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus Tankless Water Heater

Product Specs

• Fuel type: Electric
• Flow rate: Up to 7.5 GPM, depending on inlet temperature
• Power input: Unspecified

Pros

• Silent operation volume; great for early morning showers or bungalows
• Stiebel’s Advanced Flow Control feature included to preheat water before use
• Easy-to-use digital display with a simple dial control allows for quick adjustments

Cons

• May not be compatible with some water fixtures
• Some users have reported malfunctions or poor water heating power

The Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus tankless water heater is high efficiency at its best with a 99 percent efficiency rating, silent operation, and an impressive max flow rate of 7.5 gallons per minute in warmer climates. Like all electric tankless water heaters, this model offers immediate cost savings on the unit price and the installation costs.

Stiebel’s Advanced Flow Control feature keeps water consistently hot during ongoing use so that showers don’t cool down or fluctuate in temperature. A bold digital display shows accumulated cost savings so users can see how much they have saved by switching out an inefficient model.

Get the Stiebel tankless water heater at Amazon, Lowe’s, or The Home Depot.

Best Portable

Hike Crew Portable Propane Water Heater

Product Specs

• Fuel type: Propane
• Flow rate: Average of 0.58 GPM
• Power input: 18,771.5 BTUs

Pros

• Comes with a built-in pump and carrying handle; heats at 18,771.5 BTUs
• Hand faucet and shower head attachment included for ease of use outdoors
• Fuse protection is a handy safety shut-off feature to prevent malfunction

Cons

• Suitable for small appliances and light-duty use only

The Hike Crew portable propane water heater combines the luxuries of home with the ruggedness of camping. The built-in pump is placed into a water source and attached to a propane tank to provide ongoing hot water for camp showers, washing dishes, and rinsing equipment with an output of 18,771.5 BTUs.

A handle at the top of the water heater acts as a carrying-case system. The portable water heater comes with a hand faucet and shower head attachment to supply hot water anywhere, and it connects to AC/DC power. The little unit includes a safety shutoff to turn the burner off when it reaches 125 degrees Fahrenheit or when available water runs out. This portable unit only operates at less than 1 GPM on average, making it ideal as a mobile unit but not great for any other applications.

Get the Hike Crew tankless water heater at Amazon.

Best Point-of-Use

EcoTouch Point-Of-Use Tankless Water Heater

Product Specs

• Fuel type: Electric
• Flow rate: Up to 1.8 GPM, depending on inlet temperature
• Power input: Unspecified

Pros

• Great as a supplemental unit for use in a single bathroom or kitchen
• Self-modulation controls provide consistent comfortable water temperature
• Touch screen is intuitive and easy to use; large digital display is suitable for those with limited vision

Cons

• Not suitable for use as a whole-house tankless water heater

The low 1.8 GPM (maximum) would be detrimental for a household tankless water heater, but as a point-of-use unit, the heating power output is more than enough for a single bathroom or kitchen. The 99 percent efficiency rating of this unit means almost no heat is lost before the water reaches the shower, faucet, or any other single fixture.

The small size and sleek touch-screen design fit comfortably into the modern home style, making the appliance a part of the decor instead of merely taking up space. The self-modulation controls monitor the water temperature to avoid fluctuations between hot and cold while the fixture is in use. This model won’t be heating the entire home, but it could be a great hybrid choice for a primary bathroom.

Note that where you live and the average inlet water temperature of your area will affect the maximum flow rate of this water heater, which can fluctuate from 0.8 GPM in colder areas up to 1.8 GPM in warmer climates.

Get the EchoTouch tankless water heater at Amazon.

Best Whole-House

Rinnai RE199iN High-Efficiency Tankless Water Heater

Product Specs

• Fuel type: Natural gas
• Flow rate: 9.8 GPM
• Power input: 199,000 BTUs

Pros

• Can easily provide water to several fixtures at once; suitable for small- to medium-size houses
• Noncondensing model means a more affordable price point
• Helps save energy by only operating when hot water is needed

Cons

• Will require robust ventilation that can handle high temperatures

An endless supply of hot water for the whole house awaits with the Rinnai RE199iN natural-gas tankless water heater. Rinnai boasts that the 9.8-GPM flow rate and 199,000-BTU maximum provide hot water to up to six fixtures at once, allowing for a quick and argument-free morning when everyone needs to shower and get out the door.

The natural-gas tankless water heater is non-condensing, so its energy rating isn’t as high as the electric models or even the condensing gas types, with only a 0.82 uniform energy factor. However, because this tankless gas water heater is noncondensing, it is also more affordable, making it a good option for a big family in a long-term home.

While the savings may not pile up, they will still be noticeable.

Get the Rinnai RE199iN tankless water heater at The Home Depot.

Best Condensing

Takagi High-Efficiency Gas Tankless Water Heater

Product Specs

• Fuel type: Natural gas
• Flow rate: 10 GPM
• Power input: 199,000 BTUs

Pros

• Provides plenty of heating power for most household sizes; no more cold showers
• Compact unit that still packs impressive flow rate without taking up a lot of space in a basement or utility closet
• Control panel is simple and easy to understand for quick changes

Cons

• Can be noisy when running; may not be suitable for some users

With an impressive 10 GPM flow rate, the Takagi tankless water heater ensures an ample supply of hot water for an entire household’s needs. Say goodbye to inconvenient cold showers and hello to endless hot water on demand. Depending on the inlet temperature of the water in your area, this high-capacity unit can handle between three and four bathrooms at once.

Aside from its powerful output, the Takagi tankless water heater is engineered for energy efficiency. Its condensing technology recaptures and reuses exhaust heat, maximizing energy utilization and reducing utility bills. Experience the eco-friendly way to heat water without compromising on performance.

Get the Takagi tankless water heater at Amazon or Build with Ferguson.

Best Non-Condensing

Rheem RTEX-36 Self-Modulating Electric Water Heater

Product Specs

• Fuel type: Electric
• Flow rate: Up to 8.8 GPM
• Power input: Unspecified

Pros

• Super compact design; great for homes where space is limited
• Excellent energy efficiency and self-modulation technology keep hot water on hand for instant access
• Digital temperature display is straightforward to control with 1 turn dial

Cons

• Flow rates will vary depending on the inlet water temperature of your area