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Removing the tank and only heating the amount of water needed, when it’s needed, by installing an electric tankless water heater , can save energy and lower the associated energy bills. If you’re reading this article, it’s likely that you’ve already come to that conclusion. So, let’s take a look at the best electric tankless water heaters available to help you decide which one is best for you.
We’ve reviewed the best models from the best brands and rated the top five that meet the most homeowners’ needs. They’re a mix of point-of-use water heaters and highly efficient workhorses designed to provide on-demand hot water for an entire house full of people.
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Stiebel Eltron DHC Trend Point-of-Use Electric Tankless Water Heater
The Stiebel Eltron DHC Trend Point-of-Use Electric Tankless Water Heater is just what it sounds like. It provides nearly instant hot water at a single location, and it’s great at doing so. It takes the top spot on our list, and with its selling cost, it won’t break the bank. There are many models to choose from to meet your needs. The one we reviewed is the DHC 10-2. Offering 32,757 BTUs of heating capacity, it can provide up to six gallons of hot water per minute.
Stiebel Eltron has been creating water heating solutions since 1924 and they back up their products with 10 years of warranty protection against leaks, and three years against defects. This model requires 240 volts and a 40 amp circuit breaker to deliver 9,600 watts of heating power. To protect itself from burnout, it features a flow rate monitor that cuts power to the heating element in the event of a water supply disruption.
Rheem 18kw Tankless Electric Water Heater
Versatility is why we chose the Rheem 18kW Tankless Electric Water Heater for our second spot. At 18 watts, it produces 61,419 BTUs which makes it useful as a point-of-use heater or as a whole house heater for a family of two. Up to 4.4 gallons per minute of hot water can be ready at a moment’s notice. As an industry leader for almost 100 years, Rheem backs it all up with a five year warranty on heating components and a year on other parts.
Your home will need electrical space for two forty amp breakers at 240 volts. Its 99.8% efficiency rating with self-modulating energy demands, simple temperature setting controls and ease of maintenance access, makes it easy to own.
Rheem 13kw Tankless Electric Water Heater RTEX-13
Rheem’s 13kW Tankless Electric Water Heater is the smaller relative of our second place holder. It has all the same features that the bigger one has, but in a smaller package. It’s best for point-of-use or just a few fixture applications.
Manual controls allow temperature adjustments from 80 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Its 44,358 BTUs provide 3.17 gallons of hot water per minute using just one 60 amp breaker and 240 volts. The plumbing is made convenient by requiring only ½ inch connections.
Eemax 27kW Electric Tankless Water Heater
In fourth place is the Eemax 27kW Electric Tankless Water Heater. At 27,000 watts, it’s excellent for whole home use. Competitively priced, up to five people can enjoy up to seven gallons per minute of hot water. However, if the inlet water is particularly cold, production can fall to just three gallons per minute.
This water heater offers precise temperature settings from 80 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit in one- degree increments. Eemax offers its warranty of five years against leaking and one year for parts. Water flow rate is constantly monitored and power needs are automatically adjusted accordingly. Room for three new circuit breakers are required for installation.
The EcoSmart name is known among pool owners for their tankless pool heaters. Their ECO 27 tankless water heater model has brought the technology indoors for whole home use, and it’s backed by a limited lifetime warranty.
The ECO 27 generates 92,128 BTUs using 27kW of power. This means that three forty amp breakers will be required to operate it. A range of 2.7 to 6.5 gallons per minute of hot water is plenty for most families of four or five. Temperature settings are adjustable in one-degree increments and self-modulating energy consumption saves electricity.
The first thing to decide when choosing your electric tankless water heater is whether you desire a whole house or a point-of-use heater. Point-of-use heaters are great for large houses with long plumbing lines, remodels or additions, appliance applications or remote sink locations. Whole house heaters provide all of your hot water needs from a central location.
In order to determine what size tankless water heater you need, calculating a few details about your family’s hot water needs must be done. Beyond how many people are in the home, the maximum normal flow rate and temperature rise needs must be determined. Temperature rise is the difference in degrees between the inlet water and the outlet water. Local climate plays a large role in this.
These tankless water heater size calculations will determine how many kilowatts of heating capacity your tankless electric heater needs to provide. The electrical capacity of your home may limit the size of heater that you can operate. These calculations can be accurately done by a homeowner, but your retailer or installer will have more experience with the process.
When it comes to water or any type of liquid measurement, GPM refers to the gallons per minute. It measures exactly how much water moves through your appliance and may also be referred to as the flow rate. Certain appliances, like showers and washing machines, for example, require more water. But for the average household, the water heater should have a flow rate of about 9 gallons per minute.
They can save on energy bills in the long run, but the initial cost of a tankless water heater and its installation tends to be quite a bit higher than tank-style water heaters. Saving money on DIY installation is possible but not recommended in most cases. If upfront prices are a concern, considering a point-of-use heater as an alternative to a whole house heater, may be a viable solution.
Just how efficient are tankless water heaters? Incredibly so. This variety uses less energy than its counterparts because it only heats water when necessary. This change is great for sustainability, and it can reduce the price of the average homeowner’s utility bills as well.
Electric water heaters installation isn’t usually complicated. In comparison to gas models, these units are small and easy to maneuver. Plus, they can go nearly anywhere as they don’t need to have space for air gaps or need to be vented. Though it’s possible for an extremely handy homeowner to install a smaller electric tankless water heater, it may be best to call in a professional for this job to avoid any error.
Tankless water heaters are on-demand appliances. For large families, or families that place a high demand on hot water needs, this might be the most important reason to buy a tankless water heater. Hot water can always be generated instead of having to wait for an entire tank of water to heat up after a series of showers has depleted the supply.
Because there is no tank of standing water needing its temperature to be maintained, tankless water heaters can decrease their overall demand for power resources. Electric tankless water heaters have no standing pilot lights or intermittent heating needed to maintain hot water readiness. They’re especially friendly to the environment if the electricity used to power them is obtained from renewable sources.
Tank style water heaters have a life expectancy that tops out at about 15 years. With proper maintenance a tankless water heater can be relied on for up to 20. Although there are more parts that have the potential to fail, most parts are replaceable or repairable in contrast to a tank style water heater.
More maintenance is required for tankless water heaters than for tank heaters. At a minimum full maintenance of the unit needs to be completed annually. Compared to a tank heater that only needs to be flushed once a year and have the anode rod replaced every three years, that sounds like an inconvenience. The glaring difference is that tankless water heater maintenance can easily be performed by the homeowners. Replacing an anode rod is usually a hired plumber’s job.
Living space and storage space are often primary concerns for homeowners. It’s no mystery that replacing a 40-gallon water tank with a 20-by-15 inch appliance will save a generous amount of valuable space.
To determine the best electric tankless water heater ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on six major companies, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:
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Primarily, tankless water heater pros and cons are issues regarding convenience. Saving money and space while providing energy efficient readiness is great. Upfront costs , maintenance needs and potential capacity limits need to be considered as cons.
Being energy efficient by simply using less energy is always good for the environment. Electric tankless water heaters have an advantage over gas burning heaters if the electricity used is generated from renewable sources. Many energy providers are moving in that direction as fossil fuel use is declining. In short, electric tankless water heaters are eco-friendly and becoming more so as technology progresses.
Under normal circumstances an electric tankless water heater with 20kW of power will meet all the hot water needs of a home with a family of three of four people. Hot water needs grow exponentially for larger sized families. For those homes, electric tankless water heaters are available in sizes using 34kW or more.
Whether you choose a point-of-use heater or a whole house heater, choosing a size is the same process. Normal maximum water flow needs, the number of water fixtures affected and temperature rise required will all need careful calculation. These calculations can be done with relative ease by a consumer. Retailers and installers, though, will be more experienced and can assist with the process.
The list of required steps needed to maintain an electric tankless water heater can look intimidating. The truth is that the maintenance tasks can be done in a matter of minutes after a little practice and having the right tools for the job.
Performing maintenance on your heater once a year is plenty, under normal conditions. For very hard water situations, flushing and cleaning more often will be necessary to maintain peak performance and extend the heater’s life span.
Flushing the heater to remove mineral build up is the most difficult step. It consists of pumping vinegar or cleaning solution through the machine and then rinsing. Your retailer or installer will explain the exact process for your unit. Other than that, a simple water filter cleaning and wiping the inside of the appliance is all that’s needed.
Deane is a 30+ year veteran in the contracting, remodeling, maintenance, and home repair industry. His experience ranges from licensed building contracting to property maintenance company ownership. Currently operating a home repair and DIY consulting service, he empowers his clients to be self-sufficient in their home repair and remodeling endeavors.
Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros.