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10 Best Tankless Gas Water Heaters in 2024 – Reviews & Top Picks

Water Heater_shutterstock_Maxx-Studio

Water Heater_shutterstock_Maxx-Studio Tankless gas water heaters can produce huge energy savings but choosing the right brand for your home is not always as straightforward as we would like. There are several things to consider before you make any purchases.

We’ve chosen 10 different brands of tankless water heaters to review for you so you can get an idea of the difference between models. We’ll let you know what we liked and didn’t like about each one, and we’ve also included a short buyer’s guide where we look at the things you should expect from any brand.

Join us while we discuss size, heated gallons per minute, installation, safety features, and more to help you make an informed purchase.

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A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2024

Rating Image Product Details
Best Overall
Winner
Rinnai V65iN Rinnai V65iN
  • 5GPM hot water flow rate
  • Mobil app connectivity
  • Compact size
  • Best Value
    Second place
    GASLAND Outdoors BE158S GASLAND Outdoors BE158S
  • Shower attachment
  • Lightweight
  • 41
  • 000 BTU
  • Premium Choice
    Third place
    Takagi T-H3-DV-N Takagi T-H3-DV-N
  • No pilot light
  • Copper alloy heat exchange
  • Energy Star certification
  • Eccotemp i12-NG Eccotemp i12-NG
  • LED display
  • Compact design
  • Energy-saving mode
  • Happybuy Propane Happybuy Propane
  • LED display
  • Lightweight and portable
  • Includes showerhead
  • The 10 Best Tankless Gas Water Heaters

    1. Rinnai V65iN Tankless Hot Water Heater – Best Overall

    Rinnai V65iN

    The Rinnai V65iN Tankless Hot Water Heater is our choice for the best overall tankless gas water heater. This model delivers 6.5 GPM of hot water, which should be more than suitable even for most large families. Its compact size can easily fit in most rooms, and you can even install it in a crawl space or closet. It features durable construction, and all parts are replaceable, so there is nothing that could break down and cause you to replace the entire unit. One of the more unique features of this model is that you can control it via smartphone.

    The only downside to the Rinnai V65iN is that it requires a special venting kit that you need to purchase separately.

    Pros
    • 5GPM hot water flow rate
    • Mobil app connectivity
    • Compact size
    • All parts are replaceable
    Cons
    • Requires a special venting kit

    2. GASLAND Outdoors Portable Gas Water Heater – Best Value

    GASLAND Outdoors BE158S

    The GASLAND Outdoors BE158S Portable Gas Water Heater is our pick for the best tankless gas water heater for the money. It’s lightweight and portable. Its compact sizes make it perfect for RVs and the outdoors. It outputs 41,000 BTUs and features anti-freezing and overheating safety measures. It also comes with a showerhead.

    The GASLAND Outdoors BE158S is perfect for the outdoors, but it’s not strong enough to use in the home. We also found it to be very loud while it operated.

    Pros
    • Shower attachment
    • Lightweight
    • Small size
    • 41,000 BTU
    • Anti-freezing and overheating protection
    • Perfect for outdoor use
    Cons
    • Loud
    • Only good for small jobs

    3. Takagi Gas Indoor Tankless Water Heater – Premium Choice

    Takagi T-H3-DV-N

    The Takagi T-H3-DV-N Gas Indoor Tankless Water Heater is our premium choice. This tankless water heater may be more expensive than the others, but it has plenty of features that make it worth your while. This unit can heat residential and commercial water supplies and can output as many as 10 GPM. It features Energy Star certification, so you know it cuts back on power, and it also has safety features that protect against freezing, overheating, and power surges. It uses a computerized ignition system, so there is no pilot light to go out and need relighting. The copper alloy heat exchange system is more effective than the stainless-steel exchanger used In many other brands.

    Besides the high cost, the primary downside to the Takagi T-H3-DV-N is that it requires a professional installation, which can be costly. Even if you can install the unit yourself, doing so voids the warranty.

    Pros
    • No pilot light
    • Protection from freezing, overheating, and power surges
    • Copper alloy heat exchange
    • 10 GPM
    • Energy Star certification
    Cons
    • Requires professional installation

    4. Eccotemp i12-NG Tankless Water Heater

    Eccotemp i12-NG

    The Eccotemp i12-NG Tankless Water Heater is capable of delivering up to 3 GPM of hot water in ideal situations. Its compact design allows you to store it in more places, and the automatic temperature control allows you to set it and forget it. All stings are easily viewable via the LED display, and it also features a child safety lock. You can plug it into a standard electrical outlet, and it features an energy-saving mode as well as a child safety lock to prevent accidental tampering. Electronic ignition means there is no pilot light to worry about lighting.

    We found the Eccotemp i12-NG to be somewhat temperamental. It loses effectiveness quickly as the elevation rises, and while water temperature always affects these units, it seems to be more so with this brand. We don’t recommend purchasing this model if you live in an environment that sees a lot of cold weather. We tried two of these units, and both developed pinholes in the copper coil after a short time.

    Pros
    • 3 GPM
    • Compact design
    • LED display
    • Automatic temperature control
    • Energy-saving mode
    • Child safety lock
    • Plugs into a standard outlet
    • Electronic ignition
    Cons
    • Weak heating
    • Not durable

    5. Happybuy Propane Hot Tankless Water Heater

    Happybuy Propane Hot Tankless

    The Happybuy Propane Hot Tankless Water Heater is a powerful little heater that can output up to 4.8 GPM, which should be more than suitable for most medium-sized households. The LED display is easy to read, and this model includes plenty of safety measures like overheating and low water flow protection. It’s a lightweight and portable device that you install on the outside of your home. It also comes with a showerhead for when you use it for camping or with an RV.

    We had some trouble with the electronic ignition on the Happybuy, and it would often fail to start the healing process. Installation and setting up the machine was also quite challenging because it doesn’t include any instructions, and nothing is labeled, not even the battery polarity.

    Pros
    • 8 GPM
    • LED display
    • Overheat and low water flow protection
    • Lightweight and portable
    • Includes showerhead
    Cons
    • Electric ignition
    • Challenging install
    • No instructions or labeling

    6. Marey Power Gas 10L 2.7 GPM Natural Gas Digital Panel Tankless Water Heater

    Marey Power Gas 10L 2.7

    The Marey Power Gas 10L 2.7 GPM Natural Gas Digital Panel Tankless Water Heater is another lightweight and portable tankless water heater that you can use indoors or out. It does not require an electrical outlet and instead runs on D batteries, like the heaters for RVs. It’s easy to control and features a digital temperature display for more accurate readings.

    The problem we had with the Marey Power Gas was that it required quite a bit of water pressure to get the igniter to start the burners. The package claims 10 PSI is required, which is already high, but our experience suggested it was closer to 20 PSI. The gas can also build up in the chamber before the burners start creating an explosion sound. When we tried to contact the company about these issues, it was challenging to get through to anyone. When they did finally answer, they were neither friendly nor helpful.

    Pros
    • Digital temperature display
    • Compact design
    • Does not require electricity
    Cons
    • Requires a lot of water pressure to ignite the burners
    • Gasses build up and make an explosion sound
    • Poor customer service

    7. Camplux CM264 Natural Gas Water Heater

    Camplux CM264

    The Camplux CM264 Natural Gas Water Heater is a compact heater designed for in-home use. It outputs 2.4 GPM, which is suitable for a couple or small family. Its compact size allows you to install it in more areas, and it features several safety features, including overheat and low water shutoff. The digital temperature display is easy to read, even from a distance, and it comes with all required adaptors and installation instructions.

    The downside to the Camplux CM264 is that it uses a 2-inch vent pipe, which may not be up to standard building code in many areas, and if you need more of it, it’s nearly impossible to find. We also found that the pilot went out a lot and required relighting, and the burners would shut off randomly while we showered.

    Pros
    • 64 GPM
    • Digital temperature display
    • Small size
    • Safety features
    • Includes adaptors and installation instructions
    Cons
    • Hard to find additional vent pipe
    • Pilot light goes out
    • Heater shuts off randomly

    8. Noritz NRC66DVNG Tankless Hot Water Heater

    Noritz NRC66DVNG

    The Noritz NRC66DVNG Tankless Hot Water Heater is a condenser type of heater, which means it uses some of the heat from the exhaust to help heat the water, so it is much more efficient than a non-condensing unit. The exhaust is held inside the unit until it cools, which results in less exhaust. It also allows you to use more types of venting to release the exhaust. It also features a remote thermostat so you can set the temperature without traveling to the unit.

    The downside to the Noritz is that it often shuts off, which will instantly turn your water ice cold. There is also a discrepancy over the amount of water this unit can heat each minute. The packaging states it can heat 6.5 gallons per minute, but the Energy Star rating says it heats 3.7. We felt it was closer to the 3.7, but it was hard to tell because it kept shutting off.

    Pros
    • High efficiency
    • Low exhaust
    • Remote thermostat
    Cons
    • GPM discrepancy
    • Often shuts down

    9. Rinnai RU199iN Sensei Tankless Water Heater

    Rinnai RU199iN

    The Rinnai RU199iN Sensei Tankless Water Heater is a powerful water heater that can deliver up to 11 GPM of hot water to your home. 199,000 BTU of heating power makes sure your water never runs cold, even when running multiple showers. It’s whisper-quiet, and push-button controls make it easy to adjust the water temperature.

    We were impressed with the heating power of the Rinnai RU199iN Sensei, but it is extremely expensive. It doesn’t come with any of the required piping, so you will need to purchase it separately, and it requires professional installation due to its complexity. It is also one of the most expensive units on this list.

    Pros
    • 11 GPM
    • Up to 199,000 BTUs
    • Easy push-button controls
    • Quiet
    • Doesn’t run out of hot water
    Cons
    • Doesn’t come with any piping
    • Requires professional installation
    • Extremely expensive

    10. Camplux CA318-NG Tankless Water Heater

    Camplux CA318-NG

    The Camplux CA318-NG Tankless Water Heater features a modern-looking black glass front panel. It has LED touchscreen controls that are easy to see and use. It can heat up to 3.18 GPM and features automatic temperature control to help keep water temperature even. It also features several safety measures, including a child safety lock, overheat and flame-out shutoff.

    What we didn’t like about the Camplux CA318-NG was that the temperature only reads in Celsius, so if you are in an area that uses Fahrenheit, you will need to learn to convert the temperature readings. It takes a long time to heat and slows your water flow considerably. Our model also stopped working after about two months.

    Pros
    • Modern black front panel
    • LED touchscreen controls
    • 18 GPM
    • Safety measures
    • Automatic temperature control
    Cons
    • Only reads the temperature in Celsius
    • Slow flow rate
    • It takes a long time to heat
    • Not durable

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    Buyer’s Guide – Choosing the Best Tankless Gas Water Heater

    Let’s look at some of the most important things to look for in a tankless gas water heater.

    GPM

    GPM stands for gallons per minute. This term is references to how much hot water the unit can deliver at a certain temperature. A higher GPM is better for larger households with higher demands, while a smaller GPM may be better for one or two people and conserve power. We recommend a system that produces at least 5 GPM for a family with more than two people.

    For RV and camping use, you can get away with smaller heaters and may not require much more than 2 GPM.

    Installation

    How you will install the heater is another critical part of your decision, as many of these devices can be quite complex. Some may require special venting and power requirements that you should leave to the pros if you don’t have experience or tools. In some cases, not having a professional installation will void the warranty.

    Size

    The size of the unit is also important because it determines where you can place it in your home. You can mount many smaller units on the wall or under a sink, but larger devices may need to remain in the basement or a closet. Where you install the water heater is important because you may need to adjust the temperature of the water, and distance from the point of use will affect how long it takes to get hot water as well as how hot the water gets.

    Safety Features

    It’s always a good idea to check for any safety features a brand provides. You want protection from overheating as well as freezing if the unit is to be stored outside. An automatic shutoff if it runs out of water or the water pressure is outside an acceptable range is also a nice feature.

    If you are going to place the water heater in the open and have children, a child safety lock on the controls can help prevent accidental tampering and burns.

    Durability

    Tankless gas water heaters use internal combustion, so the unit can get quite hot. If it’s constructed with flimsy metals, it will not last very long at all. It’s hard to tell the quality of the internal parts before you buy, but you can often get an idea by looking at the housing as well as the weight. Heavier models will likely use higher quality metals, while extremely lightweight models may use thin, weak metals that may not last as long.

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    In Conclusion

    When choosing a tankless gas water heater for your home, we highly recommend the Rinnai V65iN Tankless Hot Water Heater. It is our pick for the best overall, and it delivers 6.5 GPM of hot water to all points in your home. You can install it nearly anywhere, and more than one person can get hot water at the same time. The inner mechanism is reliable, and it never stalled or wouldn’t start. The GASLAND Outdoors BE158S Portable Gas Water Heater is the perfect choice for the outdoorsman, and it’s also our pick for the best value. It comes with a showerhead that you can connect right to the heater creating a portable shower. It’s loaded with safety features and provides plenty of hot water.

    We hope you have enjoyed reading over our reviews and found a suitable model for your home. If you have found it helpful, please share these ten best tankless gas water heaters on Facebook and Twitter.


    Featured Image Credit: Maxx-Studio, Shutterstock

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