Top 10 Best Tankless Water Heaters 2020 Reviews

There’s practically a good reason why having the best tankless water heater at home could be one of your life’s significant options. And here’s why.

Having regular hot water has always been an essential requirement for every home. We use hot water for showers, washing the dishes and cleaning our clothes. But should we always have to buy water tanks just to keep stock on hot water?

Water tanks usually last 10 to 13 years and require regular cleaning maintenance. More so, maintaining 40 to 60 gallons of hot water every day in a tank can really take a toll on your gas or electricity bill.

So my point is, why not opt for the best tankless water heater that could sustain you the hot water you need on demand, get more savings on energy use and can surpass years of use compared to the tanks?

Gas vs. Electric Tankless Water Heater

Tankless water heaters are available in two general types, the gas and the electricity powered heaters. For your info, tankless gas water heaters generally use natural gas that is cheaper to buy and can also heat up elements faster and more efficient. On the one hand, the electric type water heaters have longer service life, easier or cheaper to install and offer smaller operating costs.

Here, we have put up the 10 tankless water heater reviews to show you the top of the line units (tankless water gas and electric water heaters) that any home deserve to have.

Top 10 Best Tankless Water Heater 2020 Reviews

1. Takagi T-H3-DV-N Condensing High Efficiency Natural Gas Indoor Tankless Water Heater

This tankless gas heater could best suit your household need as it can supply everyone in your family with endless hot water on demand. It has many uses too like your radiant floor system if you install it in your basement and heat up your floor during winter. It can also be your recirculation water system if adequately installed so that every faucet in your home can get hot water from it.

This Japanese made unit offers ultra-low NOx condensing technology, meaning, there’s almost no toxic fumes that will come out of it so even you install it under your basement with very little ventilation, you’ll be safe.

With gas heat input of about 180,000 BTU, many homeowners confide that this can supply non-stop hot water on 2 bathrooms even in cold weather.  With a heat exchanger made up of copper alloy for quick water heating, this is also ENERGY STAR approved.

Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)

Pros

Cons

2. Rheem RTG-64XLN 6.4 GPM

This amazing product from Rheem can give you hot water around 4 to 6 GPM (depending on altitude and weather) thus using 2 showers plus sink simultaneously would not be a problem. With its “simultaneous usage” feature, it has an energy efficiency of 0.82 rating and requires around 150,000 BTU from natural gas (methane) to turn its copper heat exchanger blazing hot.

Following environment safety standards, this product is also a certified “Low NOx” unit but was designed for outdoor installation so it would be better if you put up a shade for it. Weighing only 54 pounds, the convenience your get from its remote control is a lot. It can also be manually operated using its long thermostat wire so there’s no need to go out to operate it.

Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)

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Cons

3. Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Indoor Tankless Water Heater, Natural Gas

This Made in Japan unit has been raving good reviews all over. As a top quality water heater, it is one of the most compact units that can provide continuous hot water on two bathrooms at the same time.

This unit only needs 140,000 BTU to fire up and as tested, it can equal the heating capacity of a 40-gallon tank water heater. With a flow rate of 6.6 GPM, it can serve households better that need hot water without interruption.

Equipped with a thermistor (temperature sensor), this will ensure that the temperature of the water remains as set and the machine will automatically shut down once the water temperature goes above the set temperature.

It is also features an Air Fuel Ratio sensor that keeps track on its emission. This will tell you if there are harmful pollutants coming out of its exhaust.

Our Rating: (4.4 / 5)

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Cons

4. EcoSmart ECO 27 Electric Tankless Water Heater

Considered by many homeowners to be a very reliable tankless electric water heater that can handle hot water on demand even on frigid climates, the ECO 27 is also one of the favorites among cabin, lake house and vacation home owners. With a price that justifies its essentials, this could be your best choice for your medium-size home as long as there’s electricity to power it.

Now, what makes it rise above its competitors is the unit’s self-modulating flow sensor which control its use of electricity. The result is higher energy efficiency while meeting your desired water heating requirements.

This unit is installed with 3 heating elements that work in series and only draw voltage on demand so it could save you up to 60% on your water heating bills.

And unlike other electric tankless water heaters, that won’t work on very low temperatures, the ECO 27 is designed to work on colder climates. So even your water is as cold as 37 degrees Fahrenheit, this unit can heat it up to 105 degrees Fahrenheit at 2.70 GPM flow rate.

Our Rating: (4.2 / 5)

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Cons

5. Stiebel Eltron Tempra 24 Plus Electric Tankless Whole House Water Heater

This product is a fresh addition in the market among tankless electric water heaters. It features a bright digital temperature monitor that will let you program it easily and monitor the water temperature at a glance. It also has an advanced flow rate sensor that controls the water temperature and prevents it to exceed beyond its set point. With a 4.0 GPM, this can supply hot water on two water outlets continuously and simultaneously.

According to Stiebel Eltron, this is the best tankless water heater when it comes to preventing risks to households such as accidental water overheating. And as expected from all electrical appliances, it won’t produce fumes also unlike gas heaters.

With a nice design and robust construction, this product is well praised by many to be the best tankless water heater among electrically powered tankless water heaters and very much energy efficient too as it only produces hot water on demand.

Our Rating: (4.7 / 5)

Pros

Cons

6. Bosch T 2.5-Gallon Electric Mini-Tank Under Sink Water Heater

One of the most popular POU (point-of-use) tankless electric water heaters in terms of under the sink versions are the Bosch T versions. It has 3 sizes but this one features 2.5 GPM.

This is basically a mini-tank heater that can be wall-hung (bracket included), floor-mounted or as its name says, best for under the sink. In this case, we expect it to be compact, no fumes, no noise and won’t take any precious space in your kitchen or bathroom.

For the matter of installing it, you just need to tap it into your cold water supply. Or you can install it in-line with a bigger hot water source to eliminate waiting time for your hot water supply. It can supply 2 sinks at the same time so even yacht or RV owners will love to have this under their sink especially when spending vacations on colder weather.

Our Rating: (4.5 / 5)

Pros

 Cons

7. Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater and Outdoor Shower

If you want the best tankless water heater on the go, I can recommend you this bestselling portable tankless water heater. You can carry it wherever you go. As long as you have its liquid propane gas tank along and a water hose ½” to connect to, this can provide you a maximum of 1.4 GPM of hot water for your shower.

You can keep this in your RV, boat, farm, cabin or in your campsite and will be your perfect water heater for your outdoor shower.

You can easily adjust Eccotemp L5’s water temperature from 80 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. And because it requires only 20 psi wherein the maximum for home showers is 80 psi, you can absolutely get continuous hot water on point-of-use.

To give you a good estimate, its 20 pound tank of propane can last 18 hours of hot shower. You will need to buy 2 “D” batteries for it though. These will serve as spark generator to start up fire internally.

Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)

Pros

Cons

8. Eccotemp FVI-12-LP High Capacity Propane Tankless Water Heater

This tankless gas water heater also uses liquid propane to fire up its heater and capable to produce 3.4 GPM of hot water. Designed for home use, it can adequately supply 2 flow-restricted showers simultaneously. It features a digital LED display to enable you to see its current water temperature but must be manually controlled to set up your desired temperature.

There are two knob regulators on its control panel. One is to control the gas flow and the other knob is to control the water flow. In this case, you have to adjust both when setting up for your desired water temperature.

The actual activation flow of this product is 0.93 GPM at over 30 PSI. This means that the higher water pressure you’ll be tapping this unit, the more GPM of hot water you’ll get.

This is also best for cabins or cottages installation and can heat water on demand especially for showers.

Our Rating: (3.9 / 5)

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Cons

9. Stiebel Eltron Tempra 29 Plus Electric Tankless Whole House Water Heater

This Tempra 29 is an advanced version of the Tempra 24 but with the same positive features and some additional advantages. For its specs, you can install this near your water fixtures and because it uses 240 volts of electricity at 150 PSI water flow, you can expect that you get hot water on demand and fast from your faucet and two showers.

With a capacity of 4.37 GPM, you can also adjust the water temperature from 86 degrees to 125 degrees Fahrenheit. For such a small unit, you can say this can be your best tankless water heater among the residential compact versions. Weighing only 17 pounds, you can mount it on your bathroom’s wall, under the sink or fix it inside your kitchen closet.

Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)

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Cons

10. Rinnai RL75iN Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater

This Rinnai RL75iN belongs to the Rinnai’s Luxury Series. As a natural gas user, it gives you water on demand but with an energy savings on the side.

As an indoor water heating unit, it can deliver 7.5 GPM and can supply hot water for three showers open at the same time plus one sink. According to the American Water Works Association that tested this product, with three showers on, you still get an average flow rate of 2.2 GPM for each while the standard flow rate is only 1GPM per shower.

With a 7.5 GPM, that equals to 28.5 L/minute at 40 degrees Fahrenheit rise. You can also set its heater to heat up water up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

This unit can put up 180,000 BTU. And although a 165,000 BTU is enough to heat up water for a small family, the maximum heat this unit is capable of exceeds those of the standard heaters.

Our Rating: (4.3 / 5)

Pros

Cons

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Consider These When Buying Your Best Tankless Water Heater

Replacing your tank water heater with the best tankless water heater could be your best investment when it comes to finding a more energy efficient option for your hot water needs. But with all the various brands and models being sold today, there goes the confusion. So which one?

Here are the features you should therefore look for.

1. Will it need to be gas or electric?

If you are contemplating for the tankless electric water heater, you must consider that you have to have the right voltage and amperes with your main electrical box based from your model heater type. Or can you afford to have its own circuits?

For the gas types which commonly use natural gas, do you have a gas supply line ready? If there is, can this fit with the tankless unit of your choice?

2. Does it require venting?

If the tankless water heater is for outdoor installation, you definitely need to install it outdoor or have a proper venting system if you’ll fix it in your basement. Even with low NOx, any heater with emission should have vent that exhaust outside the house. In case there is retrofitting required, go for it.

3. Consider the Flow Rate/Demand

Which fixtures would you want to connect your tankless water heater to? Showers and dishwashers use a lot of hot water while faucets use less. In this case, you can choose a unit that can provide hot water on fixtures and showers simultaneously.

4. Heating Capacity

On this part, you need to identify the unit’s heating capacity against the water flow rate in PSI, the temperature of incoming water, the elevation where your home is located and the weather around it. Higher BTU capacity means quicker water heating although this spells more energy use.

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Conclusion

The actual advantages you get from the best tankless water heater are really a lot. With a big savings on energy use and space, longer lifespan and better technology features, more and more people are now switching from their standard water heater tanks to the tankless types.

Tankless water heaters are also cheaper to buy, feature low NOx especially these top 10 heaters and they can be your best investment in terms of providing your family their basic needs specifically during the colder days.

However, for me, the best tankless water heater is the Takagi T-H3-DV-N. Why? First, it is made in Japan and therefore uses Japan’s technology. Second, with its innovative features, I feel like I can get all the features I need exactly from a water heater.

And finally, with a 180,000 BTU, I trust that I could continuously get hot water even on cold weather. It also has an amazing 8 GPM capacity so I could have my hot shower and use my dishwasher at the same time.

How about you? Any of these could be your best tankless water heater and should suit your needs especially the electric types if you don’t like the little fumes. They can be your conventional energy saving heaters on a more compact package.

Please share this best tankless water heater review if you have a friend thinking about switching or buying the tankless type water heater.