If you want to save on space, save on energy bills, and have instant hot water from your shower on-demand, then choose a tankless water heater.
A tankless hot water heater since you do not need a hot water tank or reservoir to hold the water supply. It saves you on energy bills since you do not need additional power to maintain the reservoir’s temperature. And, you do not have to worry about your hot water supply getting depleted; a tankless water heater can supply you enough for a generous hot water time, whenever you want it.
An on demand hot water heater utilizes either gas or electricity to heat up the water every time you need it. This gives you the option for the power source you are most convenient to use, although the electric one tends to provide a lower flow rate than the gas-powered one.
Another thing to note when it comes to choosing a tankless water heater is that it is dependent on your water pressure. It has to be powerful enough to turn on the heater, which gets affected when Mom washes the dishes or doing the laundry at the same time. Forcing your water heater tank device to work during these low-pressure conditions may overheat it and worse, damage it.
As a remedy, you can connect two or more tankless water heaters in parallel to be able to support the demand accordingly. This is a good solution especially when you have a bathroom on the second floor or higher, or you are living in a high-rise apartment.
Now, to help you find the best electric tankless water heater or best tankless gas water heater; whichever you prefer, we researched online and look for the top 3 options that scored high in the following KPIs:
- Energy/gas efficiency
- Easy-to-find replaceable parts
- Ease of installation
| Name | Key Feature | |
|---|---|---|
| Ecosmart ECO 18 Electric Tankless Water Heater– Editor’s Choice | Self-modulating technology allows you to save up to 50 percent off your water heating costs | Check Price |
| Camplux Tankless Water Heater, 2.64 GPM On Demand Instant Hot Water Heater | 6-in-1 multiple operation safety features | Check Price |
| Rinkmo Electric Tankless Water Heater | Uses a special hardware technology that separates the water line from the heating element | Check Price |
Ecosmart ECO 18 Electric Tankless Water Heater – Editor’s Choice
This tankless water heater is great for residential areas like apartments, townhomes, and condominiums. It functions more efficiently when sized correctly, considering the average demand for hot water and the inlet water temperature. Thus, in general, it is best to work with professionals for tankless water heater installation to know about this crucial information.
The absence of a hot water tank, just like with conventional hot water heater systems, is not a hindrance to its effectiveness. It can heat up your water on-demand as you need it fast. It utilizes a digital temperature control that can be adjusted anywhere between 80 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit; feel free to choose your most comfortable temperature at the moment.
This electric water heater is energy-saving since it only operates when you need it. It does not consume energy when on standby (the absence of a tank means you do not need to constantly heat up your water supply). It can also supply between 1.8 to 4.3 gallons of water per minute.
The Ecosmart ECO 18 Electric Tankless Water Heater can help decrease your water heating bills up to 50 percent compared to when using a conventional house water system. This is also based on the average energy consumption rates from the Department of Energy.
This tankless water heater is backed up by advanced self-modulating technology. This is responsible for using a sizable amount of energy to heat up your water as you need it. That is, you are wasting less energy in the process.
The promise of hot water on demand comes from its 18-kW power, which will only be effective when it is correctly installed according to sizing requirements. But the beauty of choosing Ecosmart is that it offers a wide range of tankless water heater models of different power ratings to fit your needs. Aside from residences, you can also install this tankless water heater in an RV.
Ecosmart offers a limited but lifetime warranty to ensure you are getting maximum benefits out of your investment for a long time. It is also compact and can be wall-mounted to further save you precious space in your home.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Self-modulating technology allows you to save up to 50 percent off your water heating costs | Might have problems with water sources rich with mineral deposits as they corrode the copper parts easily |
| Can supply between 1.8 to 4.3 gallons of hot water per minute | |
| Comes with a limited but lifetime warranty | |
| Compact and wall-mount design |
Conclusion
The Ecosmart ECO 18 Electric Tankless Water Heater is an electric tankless water heater that is reliable to provide you with on-demand hot water as you need it. This tankless water heater works best on water inlet sources that have higher temperatures.
Camplux Tankless Water Heater, 2.64 GPM On Demand Instant Hot Water Heater
This is the tankless water heater counterpart of a traditional gas water heater. This makes increases its fuel economy, saving you on gas costs over time.
This tankless gas water heater works with propane gas, enabling it as a portable water heater. It also has multiple protection features for safe use all the time. It protects itself from freezing, overheating, and against flames. It also comes equipped with switch protection that utilizes airflow pressure.
This tankless water heater is easy and safe to be installed by yourself. It comes with an instruction manual and ready fittings and ports. You just need to buy a separate propane tank and hose to complete the setup. 24-hour multi-channel contact support is also available for any concerns and questions regarding setup or operation.
The Camplux Tankless Water Heater, 2.64 GPM On Demand Instant Hot Water Heater is gas-powered, which means it can provide a higher water flow rate making it more reliable. The minimum activation rate is at 0.65 GPM and can produce adequate hot water for your household up to 2.64 gallons per minute.
This tankless propane gas water heater has a digital display that informs you of the current output water temperature. It also features control settings like gas flow and modes (full or eco). It claims to be 88.5 percent more energy-efficient, helping you save on gas consumption and energy use.
This tankless water heater also requires small space and uses standard water fitting sizes. It also has a stainless-steel vent pipe and plugs on standard 120 volts’ outlets.
The Camplux Tankless Water Heater can work effectively on areas with less than 2,000-foot elevation. And if you have a greater demand for hot water at home, you can choose the higher-wattage models instead.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Can provide up to 2.64 gallons of hot water per minute | Propane tank and hose are not included |
| 6-in-1 multiple operation safety features | |
| With gas flow control and eco/full switch | |
| 88.5 percent energy efficiency rating |
Conclusion
The Camplux Tankless Water Heater, 2.64 GPM On Demand Instant Hot Water Heater makes a great companion during camping trips or on your RV. This tankless water heater can also work in small homes or apartments.
Rinkmo Electric Tankless Water Heater
This tankless water heater is electrically powered, making it convenient to install on small homes as a permanent fixture. You also do not have to worry about replenishing gas tanks since it can work on-demand as long as it is connected to your main power line.
This electric tankless water heater uses a special hardware technology that separates the water line from the heating element. This prevents mineral deposit build-up on your pipes from causing damage to the heating element. In general, this design system also saves you tankless water heater maintenance costs.
The Rinkmo Electric Tankless Water Heater promises energy efficiency up to 99 percent, with up to only 3 seconds of waiting time for your hot water to flow. The less preheating time also saves you electricity costs.
This electric tankless hot water heater also has powerful features to ensure safe use at home. It delivers the set temperature constantly given the right water pressure (no sudden increase in temperature). It also prevents overheating and stops automatically when it detects low water pressure.
The Rinkmo Electric Tankless Water Heater is powerful enough to support your home with 3 faucets and 3 showers with hot water continuously on-demand. This tankless water heater is IPX4 waterproof and ETL approved for safety and a longer lifetime.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Uses a special hardware technology that separates the water line from the heating element | It has limited hot water delivery capacity |
| 99.8 percent energy efficient | |
| With multiple safe use features | |
| The inner pipe is resistive to corrosion from mineral deposits | |
| Has heat stabilizing feature |
Conclusion
The Rinkmo Electric Tankless Water Heater got plenty of safe use features that I appreciate like heat stabilizing (no more scalding!), auto stop during low water pressure, and auto-stop beyond safe temperature.
Final Verdict
Choosing from a gas-powered and electric-powered tankless water heater is a matter of preference, but assessing its fuel or energy economy is a different story. Both types require the use of energy and the best water heater should not only deliver the best performance but also helps you save on costs.
Thus, the Ecosmart ECO 18 Electric Tankless Water Heater is our best tankless water heater on this list.
The Ecosmart ECO 18 Electric Tankless Water Heater‘s self-modulating technology allows it to consume the right amount of energy given every demand. It does not interfere with your electrical system with no abrupt electricity consumption that flickers your appliances.
As with other tankless water heater systems, you just have to do routine maintenance such as cleaning the pipes and descaling them for maximum performance and a longer lifetime.