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Heating your house is expensive. It is so expensive that it accounts for almost 18 percent out of the total energy used by your household. Replacing your old water heater with an electric tankless water heater is a smart move, it will save money and it is a very effective choice that saves energy. It will keep your house warm and your wallet full.
Based on energy.gov, the tankless water heaters have been proven to be 34 percent more effective on energy usage than the normal storage-tank water heater. According to the Energy Star program it is estimated that the average household could save upwards of 100$ per year if they were to install an electric tankless water heater. If this sounds appealing and you need to replace your old water heater anyway then it would be a good idea to keep reading this article further. We will give you the information that you will need to make an educated purchase for your new heating unit.
Top 7 Best Electric Tankless Water Heater: Comparison Chart
Stiebel Eltron Tankless Electric Water Heater
The first and best overall entry on our list comes from world-renowned water heater manufacturer Stiebel. Their Eltron best Tankless Electric Water heater is an amazing product that does not require venting and has a sleek design that can be a great addition to any household. After all, the guys at Stiebel have actually invented the electric tankless water heater more than 90 years ago. It is pretty obvious that they have remained an industry leader and they continue to improve and pioneer the whole house electric tankless water heater technology.
It is 99% Energy Efficient due to its self-modulating technology that makes sure the least possible energy is to be used. Compared to a water-heated that comes equipped with a tank, you can never run out of water while you are showing.
Why We Like It
- The temperature remains constant due to the patented Advanced Flow Control
- The temperature is digitally displayed at all times
- The heating chambers are made out of solid copper
- Product made in Germany
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EcoSmart Electric Tankless Water Heater with Self Modulating Technology
What makes this electric tankless water heater the best for residential use you ask? A lifetime warranty is offered to household owners. EcoSmart trusts its product enough to offer an unlimited warranty. And this should answer all your questions regarding the quality of this product if you had any, to begin with. All the components are made out of solid copper and stainless steel. Due to the industry-leading self-modulating technology that is equipped with this electric tankless water heater, it can save up to 60% of the water heating costs. The ECO 18 is capable of delivering heated water to two sinks simultaneously along with two showers if they are located in a warm climate. If your house is located in a cold climate then you can halve the capacity for warm climates.
Why We Like It
- 99.98% energy efficient
- The installation is simple and straightforward
- The wall-mounted design saves space
- Remote waterproof thermostat
Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater
The younger brother of the first entry on our list, this Stiebel can hold its own. Continuous flow is provided and this means you will never have a shower where their water decides to go cold midway. Not only that but you will save energy because the water gets heated instantly so that it does not have to just sit there and maintain heat. Siebel offers a very generous warranty. There is a 7-year warranty against leakage and a 3-year warranty for every single part. This model requires 240V9 and there is a recommended household service level of 100 A. The water can be heated to 86 degrees at a minimum and 140 degrees at maximum.
Why We Like It
- Pre-set temperature buttons
- Saving monitor that shows exactly how much you saved that month/year
- Simple to install
- 15-20% less energy used
Rheem 240V Residential Tankless Water Heater
Rheem has been founded back in California almost 100 years ago. They are amongst the largest manufacturers of water heating units in North America. This 110v tankless water heating electric unit will do exactly what it is supposed to do: save money and provide hot water at all times. Comes equipped with an external thermostat that can display with +1/-1 accuracy.
The unit is made using durable solid copper heating elements. It is very simple to install so you will not need an electrician or a plumber for the installation. It is perfect for single bathrooms due to its size and the fact that it can power 1 sink and 1 shower simultaneously.
Pros
- Saves space due to its design
- Works on 240 volts
- The entire unit weighs only 4 pounds
- Ready to install out of the box
Cons
- Only suitable for the cabin or two-room houses. It cannot heat two bathrooms simultaneously
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Rheem 240V 2 Heating Chambers RTEX-18 Residential Tankless Water Heater
The RTEX 18 model comes equipped with solid copper and brass heat exchangers that can deal with any water conditions. This heater will last you a very long time because it is compact. It is very slim and the installation is a breeze due to that. It has a design that promotes space-saving and can be installed virtually anywhere in your bathroom. The RTEX 18 only heats water when prompted thus the energy wasted is minimal. Extra convenience is due to the on-unit control system that enables easy temperature modifications. The RTEX 18 can put up to 5.0 GPM hot water which makes it perfect for a one bathroom setup.
Pros
- 10-year warranty for its heat exchanger
- Standby mode
- ½ inches of water connectivity
- Two 40 amp circuit breakers
Cons
- Due to the fact that there is no user manual included you will have to ask a professional to install the unit for you
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Ecosmart Electric Tankless Water Heater With Lifetime Warranty
The ECO 11 from EcoSmart is one of the most popular tankless electric water heaters on the market at the moment. It has some great features that make this unit great like the very advanced self-modulating technology that is capable of halving energy costs. Digital temperature control in 1-degree increments makes it so that the user gains full control and can change water temperature at will. It is a great fit for regions where the water temperature is above 67 degrees F. It is capable of heating 2 gallons of water per minute and you can have the sink and the shower running at the same time. It can be used as a Point of Use close to the sink in cold-weather regions.
Pros
- Space-saving due to the great design
- Lifetime warranty if used domestic
- Very low price
- Can be installed without the assistance of a plumber
Cons
- Not very efficient in colder regions. However, it can still be used if you can afford to only use either the sink or the shower
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Stiebel Eltron 230628 240V Tankless Electric Water Heater
A user favorite for plenty of households due to the fact that it can be used as both sing;e and multiple point-of-use systems. Because it is so tiny it can be left uncovered in almost all environments. With a simple twist of a knob you can instantly heat the water from 86 degrees F up to 125 degrees F. Comes with a very cool warranty that is unheard of in the industry - 3 years on parts. It is hydraulically controlled that in turn makes it very silent. You cannot even tell if it is working or not - but your water will be boiling hot! They can offer such a great warranty due to the fact that the entire unit is made using rugged copper.
Pros
- Very easy to set the temperature
- Sleek design
- Easy to install even if you are not a professional
- Ideal point-of-use for residential applications
Cons
- It has been reported that some users are encountering issues when trying to reach a specific temperature
Buyer’s Guide : All you need to know about the best electric tankless water heaters
Are electric tankless water heaters worth it?
Yes. Yes, they are. Definitely. The water temperature will be consistent. No more waiting in the shower until the water gets hot enough. Another important aspect that makes the electric tankless water heaters better than the ones with a tank is the fact that they have a considerably better lifespan. This way you won’t need to replace it every 5 years. And some of the tankless ones come with a lifetime warranty – so there’s that.
What maintenance does an electric tankless water heater need?
First things first, we will assume that you will use a water softener so that scale does not build up inside the heater. If you are doing that then we are happy to announce that the electric tankless water heaters reviews require minimal maintenance. The regular preventive maintenance that all heating and cooling systems receive will be sufficient. However, the electric and gas components also require inspection.
Gas vs Electric Tankless Water Heater
It is pretty simple and straightforward. A gas heater will use heat from the fuel that burns in order to heat the water. The electric water heater will use electric coils to heat the water. Gas water heaters are far less energy efficient. However, the cost of electricity will be slightly higher. This information should be enough for you to decide what you want to purchase next. We have to keep the planet in mind with our future purchases. And gas-powered water heaters are just not an option anymore.
How to Choose the Best Electric Tankless Water Heater
Size
This highly depends on how large the household you are attempting to heat is. It also depends on where you are located on the globe. The colder it is where you are located the larger the electric tankless water heater will need to be. If you are living somewhere sunny then you can do with a smaller sized electric tankless water heater.
Electrical Requirements
The industry standards are as follows: 40 amp breakers ( sometimes multiple) and a 220 to the 240-volt electric outlet. This all differs from manufacturer to model. You will have to read carefully on the unit that caught your eye to make sure it is compatible with your current electrical output. Keep in mind that the unit might work with less or more but your safety is not guaranteed. So once again, you must check individually for each product you are looking into.
Energy Efficient
All the units on our list come with the highest Energy Star rating. And they are built to save energy. The costs might be higher than using a gas water heater but the energy consumed overall will be far lower. This is the reason for which an electric tankless hot water heater is a great choice in recent years. And until a new technology appears it shall remain a great choice due to its energy efficiency.
Adjustable temperature
Most units come with a digital display where you can see the temperature output in real-time. They also have two buttons that enable you to adjust the temperature up or down as desired. You can expect said buttons to come in -1/+1 degree F increments.
Flow Rate
This is one of the only fields where a gas heater can output better results. For best electric tankless water heaters you can expect 2 to 5 gallons per minute water flow( 7 to 15 liters for you Europeans out there). Gas heaters can output a larger water flow but costs and energy have to be kept in mind.
LED Display
The LED display is there to inform you about literally everything that is going on with your unit. It will tell you the current temperature and it will enable you to change the temperature in real-time.
Mount Type
Most 120v tankless water heaters will be mounted on a wall. The lower models can be mounted anywhere if you make sure that they have access to water and electricity.
Price
The price is always a big one. Be it electric tankless water heater or gas water heater. Price plays a huge role. However, we must find a balance between balance and performance. And our above review did just that.
Best Electric Tankless Water Heater Types
Portable
Portable water heaters never really became popular. Yes, they exist but they are mostly used for camping and the likes. If you want to heat a household the portable ones just won’t cut it.
Outdoor
If you can provide a water and energy supply you can even place your RV electric tankless water heater outside. Just make sure it is safe from rain as it could rust. However, outdoor tankless electric water heaters are not very popular. Keep reading for the best whole house electric tankless water heater reviews.
Whole House
The products featured on our list are all designed for the whole house. They are capable of heating water for up to two sinks and two showers. That makes them highly effective.
Verdict and our Recommendation for 2023
As you have probably guessed, German engineering proves superior once again. Stiebel Eltron Tankless Electric Water Heater is our choice for the best electric tankless water heater in 2023. It offers the best performance from the entries on our list. It comes with a fair price tag for its capacity and quality. We at MyKitchenAdvisor could barely find any flaws in the product. And it’s not for a lack of trying. If you are planning on buying a tankless inline electric water heater or replacing your old one give Stiebel Eltron a shot. They will not disappoint.