The Plumbing Joint’s List of Top 5 Tankless Water Heaters

Tankless water heaters are designed to provide hot water “on demand” without the limits that come with storage water heaters. If you are looking to save as much as 50% on your water heating bill, a tankless water system would be a wise investment.

In the last few years, tankless water heaters have risen in popularity over the more traditional storage water heaters due to their energy-saving capacity and efficiency. Tankless water heaters have been fairly standard throughout Europe and other parts of the world for decades now, so this surge of North American interest has certainly created a flurry of tankless water heating options. With various products flooding the market, it gets more and more difficult for the average consumer to determine which system best addresses their needs yet is still manufactured by a company that develops and engineers them correctly.

To help you navigate your way through this newly saturated Tankless Water Heater market, we have put together a list of the top 5 tankless water heaters, how they work, and why they are getting the best reviews:

Rheem RTEX 13 Electric Tankless Water Heater

If you have a smaller household or live in a smaller home, the Rheem RTEX 13 is a great inexpensive option for you. Along with being a little less expensive than its counterparts, this electric water heater offers continuous hot water quickly and on demand.

Why People Love It:

• It is compact and stylish
• Easy to read LED digital temperature display that ranges from 80°F to 140°F and climbs in 1°F increments
• It is 98.8% energy efficient
• Very user-friendly with easy to understand installation instructions
• It’s affordable
• The very efficient flow rate for single use or point of use (or smaller homes)
• Hot water on demand
• Lower electric bill
• Heats water very quickly
• Electric power supply helps with portability as there are no gas, pipe, and ventilation issues

For those that don’t have a large household, this high quality, inexpensive tankless water heating system provides an incredible flow rate that will heat your water quickly and efficiently.

Stiebel Eltron Tempra Plus 24 kW

While the dimensions of the Siebel Eltron Tempra unit is a bit larger than the Rheem, it’s still a very sleek and space saving design.

Why People Love It:

• Proven reliability and reputation
• Unlimited supply of hot water
• Sleek design which saves space
• No venting required
• Generous warranty on products
• Minimal flow reduction with additional use (Tempra Advanced Flow Control™)
• Constant temperature output
• Amazing customer support
• Ease of installation
• Quiet operation

One of the top reasons that Seibel made our top 5 list is because they invented the proprietary Tempra Advanced Flow Control which kicks in if the demand asked of a Tempra model is greater than the unit can handle. This flow control works by slightly reducing the flow of water when demand is high, unlike competing tankless water heaters that tend to simply deliver colder water than the limit programmed.

While already energy efficient, like most tankless water heaters, the Seibel Tempra has pushed that advantage even further through their self-modulating technology which modifies the heater in a way that leaves the energy intake constant.

Rinnai RUC98iN Ultra Series, Concentric/Twin Pipe Installation

One of the top brands of tankless water heaters is Rinnai. They have steadily gained popularity since 2014 when they introduced the first tankless water heater in the industry that allows for both concentric or twin-pipe PVC venting from the same unit. This new double venting option for every installation combined with their already proven track record in innovation and technological leadership, homeowners can expect an endless supply of hot water, energy savings, environmental benefits, and a space-saving design.

Why People Love It:

• Innovative design
• Space saver
• Environmental benefits (one of the best efficiency ratings)
• Double venting options
• Very quiet
• Endless hot water
• Ease of installation
• Extra savings that come with operating unit on natural gas

This system is ideal if you have a larger house or family. You can be confident that there will be plenty of hot water to go around, even if you end up running several showers and faucets simultaneously. The hot water is literately endless!

Atmor AT-D18TP-AZ Instant Tankless Water Heater

The Atmore Tankless Heater makes in on our list due to the considerable flow rate for the price. The consistency in temperature is perfect with this unit and those temperatures are true to the setting with little fluctuation attributed to the flow.

Why People Love It:

• Water Sensor
• Digital temperature control with the ability to adjust in increments of 1°F
• Equipped to heat incoming water as low as 37°F at 1.9 GPM
• Stainless steel interior is durable and corrosion resistant allowing for heat efficiency and longer life expectancy
• Savings of up to 50% on electric bills compared to a traditional tank water heater
• Nice, aesthetic finish on the housing unit
• Great value at a low price
• Perfect for large families or a lot of household hot water usage.
• Responsive and helpful manufacturer
• Water temperature true to settings

Very nice unit with a specialty feature – a Water Sensor. As soon as you demand hot water, the sensor will start working to heat water for future use. In addition, once that demand for hot water stops, the sensor will also turn off the heating mechanism – saving energy at both ends which means saving YOU money. Don’t let the low price fool you on this unit – it has most of the defining properties that the higher priced units have, including a self-modulating system.

Ecosmart ECO 27 Tankless Water Heater

The Ecosmart ECO27 might possibly be the best tank for the price. Not only is it great for large families, even if the temperature outside is as low as 37°F, the heater continues to provide a flow rate of 3GPM (gallons per minute) and when it warms up a bit, the flow rate could get as high as 6 GPM!

Why People Love It:

• Best tankless heater for the price.
• Consistent and high GPM rates
• Most advanced, self-modulating technology available – the ECO27 will adjust energy usage based on how much hot water is needed.
• Stylish and advanced design.
• Savings of up to 50% on electric bills compared to a traditional tank water heater.
• Copper and stainless components for efficiency, durability, and easy replacement.
• Perfect for large families or a lot of household hot water usage.

The ECO27 is one of the most powerful models from the manufacturer’s full line of tankless water heaters with the capacity to handle a large single-family home and ability to deliver endless hot water for multiple fixtures, even if you are in a colder climate.

If you are about to join the ranks of a tankless water heater system, we encourage you to check out the recommended units above. While the initial cost of a tankless water heater is greater than that of a conventional storage water heater, tankless heaters typically last longer and have lower operating/energy costs. Many tankless heaters carry a longer life expectancy (more than 20 years) and have easily replaceable parts should that become necessary.

A great starting tip is that when you are ready to pick your unit, be sure to gauge your needs on the number of people in your home rather than the square footage of your home – this will help you find the best fit for your family. If you still have questions about what’s right for you, our technicians and staff are happy to take the time to go over the features and options available to you whether you choose a gas-fueled or electric fueled tankless option.

Here at The Plumbing Joint, our experienced technicians have the skills and know-how to educate you and install your new tankless water heater system. We send a licensed journeyman along on every tankless water heater installation, to ensure every detail is done right.

Call The Plumbing Joint for Water Heater Repair or Replacement

If you spot problems like these or suspect any other plumbing or drain issues, simply call the Plumbing Joint at (425) 279-7029 for help in Seattle, Tacoma, Bellevue, Renton, King County and many of the surrounding areas.