Best Electric Tankless Water Heater

Electric tankless water heaters are not as popular as the gas-fueled water heaters. Electricity is much more expensive than gas, and that’s one of the main reasons why is that so. However, electric tankless water heaters are very useful in places with a warm climate. In such an environment, the water heater will not need much power to heat the water and in the long term, save money.

Best Electric Tankless Water Heater

On the bad side is that electricity is not strong enough fuel for heating water in a cold climate where the outside temperature drops below 40 Fahrenheit. In such cold places, the electric tankless water heater will not be able to make enough gallons of hot water. Still, if you are single in a small home, then even in such cold climates, an electric water heater can be an option.

What Exactly is Electric Water Heater?

As the name says, the electric water heater is a device that heats water by using electricity. Electricity is used in tankless water heaters as well as in tank-based water heaters. However, electric tank water heaters are no longer popular because of stand by energy loss, which in a cold climate can be quite significant.

On the positive side, electric tankless water heaters only work when there is a demand for hot water. They save energy and money in the long run. There is no tank to limit the hot water. A tankless water heater can produce unlimited amounts of hot water. As long as there is no high demand for hot water at once, the electric tankless water heater will be able to provide it.

TOP 8 Best Electric Tankless Water Heaters

And finally, as always, there are those who are the best. After thorough contemplation, I managed to make a list of the best electric tankless water heaters.

Stiebel Eltron Tempra 24 Plus

Tempra 24 Plus is a powerful electric water heater with advanced control flow. It has the power of 24kw, which is strong enough to heat water even in a cold climate. Without a problem, this water heater will heat water in the cold northern parts of a country. It can cover a whole house as long as you have only one bathroom. In hot areas, it can provide hot water for three baths. 

The power of 24kw guarantees there will be hot water. Advanced flow control technology will make sure that there is no high-temperature fluctuation. Which for you, means that the water temperature will always be satisfying. Stiebel Eltron Tempra 24 Plus is easy to install, and any decent plumber will have no troubles during the installation. Once installed, you can adjust the temperature by turning the knob. At any time, you can monitor water temperature on a front panel display.

FeatureInfo
Constant Energy Savings99% Energy Efficiency plus intelligent self-modulating technology continually ensures the least amount of energy used.
Smaller Electric BillsSave at least 15-20% on the hot water portion of your electric bill.

Pros:

  • Can Operate In Cold Climate
  • Cool Design
  • Made In Germany
  • Sturdy
  • Value for The Money

Cons:

  • Needs Lots of AMP

Check The Latest Price On Amazon

Rheem 240V 2 Heating Chambers RTEX-18

Rheem RTEX-18 is a classic whole home tankless system. It uses 18kw of power, which requires 75 AMP power supply. The manufacturer claims that with this model, you can save up to 50% on hot water. Thanks to the on-demand delivery system, these saving numbers are realistic. However, with this model, you are also saving on installation.

Rheem is a brand that helps people enjoy their homes by cooling them in summer and heating them in winter. It provides endless hot water forever. RTEX-18 is designed in such a way that it will fit in any home. And that is not all; this water heater is also easy to install. Of course, it is not recommended to do it yourself, but the handyman you hire won’t have any problems during installation. This powerful water heater can provide hot water even in the cold climate. In a hot environment like Florida, this water heater can deliver hot water to two bathrooms. Tankless water heaters last for over 20 years, and the same thing is with this model.

FeatureInfo
LED DisplayExternal digital thermostatic control with LED display (+/1 degree accuracy).
Easy InstallationSimple installation – bottom 3/4 inch NPT water connections.

Pros:

  • Good for All Climates
  • Easy to Install and Maintain
  • Durable
  • Saves Space
  • Saves Money
  • LED Temperature Display

Cons:

  • Needs 2 40 AMPs Breakers at Least

Check The Latest Price On Amazon

EcoSmart ECO 27

EcoSmart ECO 27 is an extremely powerful water heater that uses 27kw of power, which means that water is heating really fast. Also, high power is required in areas with a cold climate. In such cold climate areas, the whole house is supplied with hot water without a problem.

Unfortunately, this powerful water heater requires a 3 40 AMP breakers because it will draw 113A. You should also make sure that you have proper wire installation for such high power demand. Don’t risk burning wire because that can be fatal. With 27kw heating power, even the cold places where water temperature in pipes is around 47°F will be heated, and in fact, this water heater can supply two bathrooms in such a cold climate.

All elements inside a box are easily replaceable, and installation is simple to do. Also, EcoSmart is giving a limited lifetime warranty.

FeatureInfo
Save SpaceTraditional tank heaters take up a lot of space. But EcoSmart’s sleek, wall-mounted design frees up floor space for more storage.
Save EnergyEcoSmart features the most advanced self-modulating technology, only using the amount of energy needed.

Pros:

  • Advanced Self Modulate Technology
  • Saves Money on Long Run
  • Affordable
  • Powerful
  • Durable
  • Lifetime Guarantee

Cons:

  • For Hot Climate and Small Homes, This Tankless Water Heater is Overkill

Check The Latest Price On Amazon

EcoSmart ECO 18

EcoSmart ECO 18 is almost the same model as the ECO 27, and the only difference between them is power usage. ECO 18 is ideal for a hot climate which does not require too much of energy to heat water since the water on its own thanks to a warm environment is already at high temperature.

ECO 18 also requires fewer AMPs. Instead of 3 40 AMPs that are needed for ECO 27, for ECO 18, you will only need 2 40 AMP breakers. ECO 18 is also smaller, which saves additional space in your home. Self-modulating advanced technology is also used in ECO 18 as well as in all other EcoSmart tankless water heater models.

EcoSmart ECO 18 is not as good as ECO 27 in a cold climate, and that’s what you should consider when picking the right water heater for your home.

FeatureInfo
Save SpaceTraditional tank heaters take up a lot of space. But EcoSmart’s sleek, wall-mounted design frees up floor space for more storage.
Save MoneyEcoSmart tankless water heaters only turn on when you need hot water – plus they cut down on heat loss, saving you up to 50% in water heating costs.

Pros:

  • Affordable 
  • Saves up to 50% on Heating Water
  • Saves Energy
  • Advanced Self Modulating Technology
  • Ideal For Hot Climate

Cons:

  • Not so Good In Cold Climate

Check The Latest Price On Amazon

Stiebel Eltron

Water flow on Stiebel Eltron water heaters is low, and the main function of such a water heater is to use it as a point of use system, which means that in big houses, you can’t buy this model and have hot water on all pipes. But for a single sink or single shower, this water heater is an ideal choice. DHC 3-1 is the weakest model that Stiebel Eltron offers.

3kw model is an ideal choice for single sink usage. It can work pretty good in all climates; however, in cold weather where water temperature drops to 42°F, you will only get 0,43 gallons of hot water per minute. Stiebel Eltron also uses self-modulating temperature, which saves additional energy. Advanced microprocessor control is used to control hot water supply even if the water flow fluctuates. The affordable price allows you to place more than one DHC 3-1 water heaters in a house, which, in return, can result as a solution to supply a whole water system. However, for showering, you should probably consider a more powerful water heater.

FeatureInfo
QuietHydraulically controlled for quiet operation.
Save MoneyUp to 50% less power consumption compared to storage type heaters.

Pros:

  • Affordable
  • Point Of Use System
  • Low Energy Demand
  • Ideal for Single Sink

Cons:

  • Cannot Cover the Whole House

Check The Latest Price On Amazon

Rheem RTEX-13 

RTEX-13 is a weaker version of Rheem tankless water heaters. We already covered RTEX-18, and the only difference between them is 5kw, which, in the end, makes a huge difference. For RTEX-13, you only need one 60 AMP breaker and only one 6 AWG wire. For some homes, this lower power demand can be a crucial and final fact to choose RTEX-13 over RTEX-18. 

Anyway, 13kw is more than enough for a small home to have hot water. In cold zones, that’s enough for one shower, while in hot areas with only one RTEX-13 unit, you can use two showers without any problems and water temperature fluctuations. RTEX-13 also lacks advanced self-modulation technology, which is present in the RTEX-18 model. Durable copper and other materials used in manufacturing are present in all Rheem models.

FeatureInfo
Easy InstallationThreaded for easy replacement, simple installation, digital temperature display 54 A. 13kW Model Flow Rate: up to 3.17 GPM.
Energy Efficient99.8% energy efficient. External controls to adjust temperature in increments of 1°f. Water-Saver Shower Head – 1.5 GPM

Pros:

  • Saves Money
  • Ideal for Hot Climate
  • Durable
  • Value for Money
  • Simple to Install

Cons:

  • Not Powerful Enough to Cover the Whole House in Cold Climate
  • Missing Self Modulation Technology

Check The Latest Price On Amazon

ECO TOUCH 5.5kW 

Eco Touch 5.5kw tankless water heater is good for a point of use. It is an ideal solution for single or multi sink usage. If you live in a hot climate, this water heater can be used in a bathroom to supply hot water for a shower. However, its main purpose is for sinks, and thanks to the slick design and small site, this tankless water heater can be mounted under any sink. 

Make sure professionals do the installation because that is the only way to be sure that the water heater is working correctly. Eco Touch tankless water heater has many safety protections. It has overheating protection, dry heating, and leakage protection. It requires 23 AMP power, which probably every decent home has. One 30 AMP breaker is probably enough to make sure power is working properly. With such a low power demand, this water heater saves energy while you still have a decent amount of hot water.

FeatureInfo
Instant hot water and endlessAs soon as you turn it on, hot water comes out immediately with desired temperature and sufficient flow rate of 1-1.5 gallon per minute, no waiting for preheat or standby energy loss.
Smart modulation and energy savingEquipped with a smart modulating control for stable temp, the hot water heater adjusts exact power input according to power calculation based on flow rate and temp setting in real time, which means you get still stable temp, instead of scalding hot, when you reduce flow rate.

Pros:

  • Low Energy Demand
  • Saves Money
  • Affordable
  • Point of Use
  • Easy to Install

Cons:

  • Can’t Supply the Whole House
  • Recommended for Sinks Only

Check The Latest Price On Amazon

What to Look For When Buying an Electric Tankless Water Heater?

Before going into any details, you need to know how many gallons of hot water you need. You can look at how is the hot water used or how many members your family has. You don’t want to buy too weak water heater or pay more money than you should for an expensive water heater you don’t need.

Affordable and Easy to Install

After you have an idea of how much hot water you need, you can go and look for affordable water heaters. Most of the time, affordable water heaters are also easy to install. But if you need a powerful water heater, then you need to look at your home’s power supply. If you don’t have enough power for a water heater, then the expenses of installation can grow rapidly. If you need to change electric installations, then maybe you should think twice and put everything down on paper before you buy a water heater.

Design that allows the water heater to be mounted in any place is an advantage. Most of the electric water heaters are small and simple in the design. Electric tankless water heaters are almost three times smaller than gas heaters. And the point of use water heater can be mounted under a sink without revealing it is there.

Energy Consumption

Tankless water heaters don’t waste energy. Over 98% of energy is used, which means that there is only 2% of lost energy. On the other end, electric water heaters demand high power, and some electric water heaters can demand up to 36kw. Electric water heaters are not releasing smoke or any other gases that need to be ventilated, which puts them in the eco-friendly category.

Water Flow

Once you know how much hot water you need in gallons per minute, you can easily check the map and see how many gallons per minute water heater supply in your climate. One sink usually uses 0.5 gallons per minute while the shower uses 1.5 gallons per minute.

Additional Features

Many electric tankless water heaters come with advanced features such as self-modulating technology. Many of them also have temperature safety protocols or even anti-freeze protection. All these advanced features are good to have, and maybe they will help you make a final decision.

How to Know Which Water Heater Should I Buy?

If you carefully read the facts mentioned above about water heaters, you can without a problem make a good decision. If you just can’t decide, then it is not a bad idea to go with one of the models on the list. But before you look at the list, you should at least have a general idea of how many gallons of hot water per minute you need.

Benefits of Using Electric Tankless Water Heater

Every water heater has its own advantages and disadvantages, and below, you can read about the most important benefits and why people choose electrical water haters over other types of water heaters.

  • Easy to Install
  • Save Energy
  • Save Money
  • On-Demand Hot Water
  • Environment-Friendly
  • Ideal For All Climate

Main Problems With Electric Tankless Water Heater

Like many tools, electric tankless water heaters also have some problems. Before you decide to get one, you should also know some common issues that electric tankless water heaters have.

No Power No Hot Water

You should know that if there is no electricity in your home for whatsoever reason, an electric water heater won’t heat water.

Scaling

A mixture of calcium and magnesium can build up over time. Once you see that don’t panic, it is a simple mineral grow on the pipe; this happens often. However, it will require some maintenance to remove the scaling. If not removed, you are risking potential blocking of valves, which in the end can be a really costly and bad thing for you.

Hot Cold Water Interval While Showering

Most of the time, this will happen when you take a shower immediately after someone else is done with showering. It is nothing weird or broken; it is simple physics how this technology works. After a shower, water will be left in pipes, and this water will cool down. In other words, you will use that cold water in pipes. The best thing you can do to avoid that is to let the shower run for a few seconds so water heater can heat new water.

System Overload

The electric water heater will shut down if there is a too big demand for hot water at once. This can happen if you have a weak water heater, and you use two showers at once. Some weak water heaters will shut down even if you run two sinks at once. If you encounter such problems first, you should limit the simultaneous demand for hot water in a house. If that is not a solution, then you need to think about buying a more powerful water heater. Or you can simply buy a second water heater, maybe an additional point of use water heater can solve your problems.

Are Electric Tankless Water Heaters Energy-Efficient?

If you compare tankless electric water heater with a traditional tank electric water heater, then you can see how much energy and money you save by using a tankless water heater. Electric tankless water heaters will use energy only when there is a demand for it. There is no energy loss by heating water in a tank. In fact, many tankless electric water heaters use 98% or more energy. In other words, only 2% of energy is wasted.

You can get even higher energy efficient by buying the proper electric water heater. Make sure the water heater is powerful enough to supply the house or else its efficient may drop, and in the end, you will be spending money on heating and still won’t have hot water.

Installation and Maintenance of Electric Tankless Water Heater 

Electric tankless water heater installation is easy to do; every decent plumber can install any electric water heater as long as you have enough electrical power to run it. If not, then you will need to hire an electrician to install new power installations. On the other hand, once install electric tankless water heater maintenance is nonexistent, you will only need to watch on a few things, and that’s about it.

How to Install an Electric Tankless Water Heater?

If you are handy and believe in yourself, you can follow the manufacturer’s manual on how to install an electric tankless water heater. It is easy by the book, but if you are new to plumbing, then maybe it is best to call professionals.

Installation Tips

  • Some models can be installed outdoors. On such models, make sure you protect the water heater from rain or direct exposure to the sun.
  • Indoors always look to install a water heater near the main power panel.
  • The point of use heaters saves not only energy but also water. On the whole house, systems, keep in mind the distance between the tap and water heater because the longer that distance, the bigger it will be a water bill.
  • Keep the room free from moisture and water. After all, this is an electric water heater, and we know electricity and water don’t go well together.
  • Always read the manual before installation; if you don’t understand the manual, you should hire someone who does.

Maintain The Water Heater Properly!

Maintenance of electric water heaters is easy to do and is not expensive. All you need to do is brush minerals that accumulate during the years of usage. You can do this by yourself by using vinegar or buy appropriate liquid for removing minerals on pipes and valves. Or if you don’t want to bother with that, I am sure there is a local service that provides this kind of maintenance for you.

Summary

I hope this simple to follow buying guide will help you pick the best electric tankless water heater your budget can afford. After all, we can agree that on-demand water heaters are the best investment you can do for your home. In the long-run with a decent electric tankless water heater, you are saving money. And if you are single, then you can get away with an extremely affordable electric tankless point of use water heater and save even more money every year. If you have any additional questions don’t hesitate to ask us, and we will answer.

Leave a Reply