Space is a big problem many homeowners grapple with in recent times. For that reason, many of them are already in the market to replace most of their bulky electronic assortments with smaller and more efficient ones. This has seen an increase in the demand for tankless water heaters which you really need for cold climates.
The best electric tankless water heater will not only save you space, but also energy and water costs for the whole house. But how do you know if a tankless water heater is the right one for you? Well, we’ve put together this guide with all the necessary pieces of information that’ll help you make the right choice.
Choosing the best electric tankless water heater
These products have flooded both the online and offline markets making it quite difficult to settle on one for your home usage. To avoid making a regrettable error for your entire household, here are some of the important features you need to pay attention to.
Size of the heater
An ideal tankless water heater should provide hot water from as low as 3 gallons per minute. Anything below that isn’t the right choice. However, gas-powered models often have higher flow rates. You need bigger sized tankless water heaters for large homes and smaller ones for smaller homes.
In as much as you consider the size of the heater, it is also an important thing to have a look at the temperature rise so that you don’t end up with a high flow rate yet the water is still cold. Still, consider the amount of space available for the installation of the heater and pick on one that’ll fit into it.
Energy Efficiency
Generally, tankless water heaters are known to be energy efficient compared to the conventional ones. However, you still have to pay attention to how much you’ll be saving in terms of energy costs.
Always check on the product’s energy factor as the higher the value, the more you’re likely to save. Gas-operated heaters have low operating costs compared to the electric models though.
Water temperature and pressure
Always consider the temperature and pressure of your incoming water in comparison with that recommended by the heaters manufacturers. A good heater doesn’t need to raise the water temperature by over 30oF.
Reviews of the best electric tankless water heaters in 2019
1. Bosch Electric Mini-tank Tronic 3000 ES4 Water Heater
This 4-gallon electric water heater is compact and fits just anywhere you need it. The machine which is 13.75 by 13.75 by 13.5-inch in width, height and depth respectively is 98% thermal efficient due to the foam insulation which is CFC-free. It comes with a bracket that makes its installation process quite simple and fast.
To make the installation simpler, the product comes with a 37-inch power cord that’s just a plug-in into 120-volt power source. Its high-quality glass-lined material makes it long-lasting. Its power consumption is 1440 watts.
This heater weighs 17.4 pounds and comes with a relief valve. It operates at a water pressure of 150 PSI. With this water heater, you’ll get hot water at temperatures of between 65 and 145oF. For proper fitting into an existing water line, you’ll need a ½-inch male NPT water fitting. It’s a great one for RVs, garages and kitchenettes.
Pros
- Well insulated and thermal efficient
- Quiet operations
- Compact and less-space consuming
- Easy installation
- Reduced water usage
Cons
- Frequent tank leaks
2. EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater
The EcoSmart ECO 11 water heater makes use of self-modulating technology for controlled energy output, hence maximum water heating. The heater can heat up to 2 gallons of water in a minute and functions well in areas with temperatures of above 67oF.
Its sleek design helps save some floor space as it can be wall-mounted. This is a 13-kilowatt product that weighs 6.5 pounds besides measuring 11.5 by 8 by 3.75 inches in height, width and depth respectively. Its connection requires a ½-inch CF water fitting. What’s more, it has a lifetime warranty which speaks a lot on its durability.
Pros
- Energy saving
- Easy and quick installation
- Reasonably priced
- Lifetime warranty
- Adjustable water temperature
Cons
- Late delivery
3. EcoSmart ECO 18 Electric Tankless Water Heater
Using the EcoSmart self-modulating technology, the ECO 18 is another energy efficient electric tankless water heater. This 18-kilowatt water heater has the ability to heat two showers and two sinks simultaneously in warm conditions and a single each in cold climates. It’s perfect for shower. It is made using stainless steel and copper components to make it durable.
The product comes with a digital temperature regulator from where you can adjust your water temperature from 80oF to 140oF. It comes in a stylish yet compact design that saves you a lot of space. Its dimensions are 17 by 14 by 3.35 inches in height, width and depth respectively.
This heater weighs 11.25 pounds and needs 3/4-inch NPT water connections to the water taps. For optimal operations, the incoming water temperature should be 62oF or more. Its installation process doesn’t require much given that the 2.5-gallon a minute heater is less demanding.
Pros
- Energy saving
- Saves space
- Easy to put up
- Fast water heating
- Reasonably priced
Cons
- Warranty issues aren’t clear
4. EcoSmart ECO 27 Tankless Water Heater
Just like all the EcoSmart tankless water heaters, the Eco 27 also has a digitally adjustable temperature control. You can set the water temperature by 1-degree differences from 80oF to values that suit you but not more than 140oF. The heater has an activation flow of 0.3 gallons per minute.
The stainless steel and copper components that it comes with are durable, energy-efficient and easily available for replacements. Besides, it’s nice-looking as a result of its stylish design. Additionally, it doesn’t take up a lot of space due to its compactness.
It has a power consumption rate of 27 kilowatts over a 240-volt power source which means you’ll need 3 40-amp double-pole circuit breakers for its operations. The self-modulating technology that it makes use of makes it use energy only when there is need. It can operate in areas where the incoming water can be just 37oF.
You’ll need ¾-inch NPT water connections for this 13.75-pound heater that measures 17”H by 17”W by 3.75”D.
Pros
- Great technical support
- Affordable
- Powerful and reliable
- Lifetime warranty
- Easy to cleanup
- Lightweight and space-saving
Cons
- Water restrictions
5. CAMPLUX BD158 Tankless Water Heater
Do you live in an area where the water pressure goes as low as 2.8 PSI? Well, the CAMPLUX BD158 is the tankless water heater you need. It features a folding handle to make it easily portable. The heater’s output is 1.58 gallons of water in a minute.
This product is energy efficient as you only have to turn it on when you need hot water. The water delivered can be within temperatures of 46.4oF and 114.8oF. This one is perfect for use in outdoor applications such as in campsites as just 2 D cell batteries are all you need to operate it; no need of grid connection.
Its output power is 41000 BTU per hour. It has dimensions of 11.61 by 4.33 by 17.32 inches which makes it space-saving. This easy-to-use heater can be used with 12-volt pumps as well. Please note that the batteries aren’t included during purchase.
Pros
- Portable
- Easy to set up
- Well-constructed
- Included shower head
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Cheaply made shower hose
6. Bosch Mini-Tank Tronic 3000 ES8 Water Heater
Unlike the tankless heaters, this is a 7-gallon mini-tank heater that operates in a similar way to the tankless models. Its compact design makes it capable of fitting just anywhere you need hot water. It can be installed either horizontally (up to 5.1 gallons of water) and vertically (7 gallons). You should however note that for vertical orientations, both the hot and cold water lines will be on top of the tank.
It has a heating potential of 1440 watts that’s capable of delivering hot waters of temperatures between 65 and 145oF. The incoming water needs to be available at a pressure of 150 PSI for optimal operations. For the water connections, you’ll need ¾-inch male NPT fittings.
This 98% thermal efficient mini-tank heater has a size of 17.5”W by 17.5”H by 14.5”D. Its hard-wiring process doesn’t require any rocket science. You can basically install this product anywhere in the house. It weighs 29.5 pounds and comes with a relief valve.
Pros
- Well-insulated
- Quiet operations
- Compact and space-saving
- Easy installation
- Energy and water saving
Cons
- Poor customer services
7. Gasland AS150 Tankless Water Heater
The AS150 water heater is portable, lightweight and compact making it ideal for small-scale applications. The product is designed with safety features such as anti-freezing, overheating as well as flame failure protections. It can operate using water of 2.5 psi pressure.
Additionally, this product produces power of 38,000 BTU in an hour. You can easily adjust both the water temperature and flow with a lot of ease. In a minute the heater is capable of producing 1.5 gallons of water.
From its design, the heater can save up to 11.5% of energy. To attach it to an existing water line, you need ¾-inch GHT hose adapter fitting. It operates using 2 D-sized batteries making it ideal for use by campers according the consumer reports.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Easy to set up
- Well-constructed and with quality components
- Energy efficient
- Great and quick customer care services
Cons
- Less durable shower nozzle
8. ECOTOUCH Electric Tankless Water Heater
Built with a 5.5 kilowatt capacity, the ECOTOUCH heater is capable of providing hot water at temperatures of 116oF. The power output of this device adjusts itself based on the demand of hot water. This makes the heater 98% efficient.
It’s UL and ETL approved due the safety designs that it comes with. The small size makes it suitable for installation in any kind of environment. The 11 by 7.5 by 2.35-inches heater needs a 240-volt power source.
The heater needs NPT fittings of 1/2-inch. It comes with protection features to make it safe for human use. It is also quite cheap and therefore affordable to many people. However, some people complain that it does not allow water to get as hot as required.
Pros
- Compact size
- Simple installation
- Nice and sleek appearance
- High thermal efficiency
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Water doesn’t get hot enough
9. Rheem RTEX-18 Tankless Water Heater
The RTEX-18 from Rheem has been built with two heating chambers. Besides, it has a digital thermostat which is externally designed for more accurate water temperature. It makes use of the self-modulating technology which makes it perform according to the hot water demands, hence energy efficiency.
This tankless heater has a water flowrate of 4.4 gallons per minute plus its components are easily available for replacements. For its installation, you’ll need NPT fittings which are ¾-inches in size. It measures 4 by 15 by 19 inches which isn’t big to take up much space.
What’s more, this water heater weighs 8.5 pounds and needs to be connected on a 240-volt power supply and is the best for radiant heat rention.
Pros
- Silent operations
- Adjustable water temperature settings
- Reduced energy consumption
- Easy and quick installation
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Too high flowrate
10. Bosch Mini-Tank Tronic 3000 ES2.5 Electric Heater
This is a 2.5-gallon mini-tank that fits basically anywhere to provide hot water. The 13.75”W by 13.75”H by 10.75”W is 98% energy efficient; meaning that you’ll save significantly on power costs due to the CFC-free insulations. It is glass-lined using a high-quality material for durability.
The mini-tank is easy to mount and it comes with 120-volt power cord for easy plug-in. It operates well with water available at a pressure of 150 PSI and has a recovery rate of 6.8 gallons per minute.
This tankless water heater also comes with a relief valve and the water connection requires a ½-inch male NPT. The product has a weight of 15.5 pounds and is normally very silent when operational.
Pros
- Compact size
- Silent operations
- Well-insulated for energy efficiency
- Quick installation
- High performance
Cons
- Leaks from the seals after some time
Conclusion
Electric tankless water heaters have so many benefits as you’ve seen above. Being that they are designed with the sustainable and green energy in mind, they are going to be part of us for a long time. They are less expensive, time and energy saving among others.
So, what is the best electric tankless water heater to buy? Of the above reviewed products, none beats Bosch Mini-Tank ES4 Electric Tankless Water Heater. It is thermal efficient, affordable, durable, fast recovery rate and has an easy installation process among others. We would like to recommend it to anyone. The other products are also ideal in their own ways; you can pick on any that has caught your eyes.