Best Electric Water Heater Reviews 2019 for Regular and Inline Hot Water
Getting hot water on demand while saving energy and keeping your household environmentally friendly is easy with the best electric water heater. Nowadays, more and more consumers are turning to electricity, because these systems come with clear advantages over their gas-powered counterparts.
Electric tankless water heaters will still save you a great chunk of money each month due to their energy efficient features.

Here's a list of Best Electric Water Heater Reviews
Electric Water Heater | Rating | |
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They also have lower upfront costs and save you the hassle of worrying about proper ventilation.
Electric water heaters are also an option in all areas, even where natural gas is unavailable. They don’t lose efficiency at higher altitudes and don’t need re-calibration, like many natural gas, or propane water heaters do.
Most electric models on the market allow for a no-frills DIY installation, which cuts off upfront costs even more.
With a wealth of models on the market, your only concern is finding the one that truly lives up to the expectations. But you needn’t worry. We have years of experience in the field and to help you in your quest, we’ve asked our experts to roam the market and find the most promising models.
They’ve chosen the top-seller, best-in-class, and best budget picks that are guaranteed not to disappoint. Check them out below, then check out what to consider before buying.
Gas vs. Electric Tankless Water Heater
Gas has been a praised fuel for quite some time, but electricity is slowly gaining its chunk of enthusiasts. With the advancement of technologies, manufacturers are now producing electric appliances that deliver gas-like capabilities and energy efficient features. But with gas still being a better option in some cases, why choose electricity? Here are a few good reasons.
Best Electric Water Heater Reviews
Is one of the most energy efficient electric tankless water heaters on the market, a unit that withstands both residential and commercial units. It is ideal to heat water in the colder northern regions and can deal with incoming water temperatures as low as 37°F.
Suitable for high-demand applications, this water heater comes with a wide output water temperature range.
Choose a lower temperature up to 120°F for domestic applications, or a higher output temperature of 140°F for commercial demands. The water heater allows for a 1° increment from 80°F to 140°F to cover a wider range of demands and applications.
Extremely energy efficient, the system incorporates the self-modulating technology which helps reduce your hot water bills with up to 50%.
PROS
CONS
EcoSmart ECO 27 Video Review
With a heftier price point but best-in-class capabilities, the Stiebel Eltron TEMPRA36B is for the homeowner who wants to settle for nothing less than the best electric tankless water heater.
Ridiculously easy to install, this unit boasts the German know-how and technology and qualifies as the best electric water heater of the moment. Just like our top seller, it incorporates advanced self-modulating technology which allows the water heater to modulate the energy consumption based on the input water temperature and selected temperature rise, lowering your hot water costs with up to 60%.
This exceptional unit can provide a temperature rise with up to 88°F, depending on the selected flow rate and input water temperature.
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Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36B Video Review
3. Rheem RTEX-13
The market offers the best electric tankless water heater even for the homeowners living on a restricted budget. The RTEX-13 by Rheem won’t cost you an arm and a leg, and you’ll be able to benefit from hot water on demand for a maximum flow rate of 4 gallons per minute.
Expect this rate to drop down in the colder climates, but this unit is still a great option for the smaller families, no matter where you live.
Besides numerous features, we were impressed by the design. This water heater is tiny but powerful enough to meet your demands. Like both units above, this one comes with self-modulating power control and also has a dual heating element which ensures both performance and efficiency.
PROS
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Rheem RTEX-13 Video Review
Electric Tankless Water Heater Buying Guide
Whether you’re a domestic or commercial user, you now know which are some of your best options. But what exactly should you look for to decide whether or not the unit you like is the best electric water heater for you? Read our guide to find it out.
Power Requirements and Output
Electric tankless water heaters are different from the gas-powered ones, in that their efficiency is determined by their electric requirements. To produce hot water on demand, the electric units require a high surge load, that’s why most units require a dedicated single phase circuit supplying either 208V or 240V alternating current.
Each of these voltages also requires sufficient amperage, as the two values together determine the output wattage - or power - of your unit.
240V water heaters are much more popular, as this voltage will unlikely require you to bring alterations to your home’s electric circuit. Depending on the size of the unit, look for the following amperage:
Required Amperes | Flow Rate |
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50 amps | 2.5 gallons per minute |
100 amps | 5 gallons per minute |
150 amps | 7.5 gallons per minute |
At these specifications, a small electric water heater will produce a power output of 12 kW, while a large one the equivalent of 36 kW.
Water Heater Size
Sizing your electric water heater is a matter of demand. Most units on the market can output a water flow rate between 1.5 and 9 gallons per minute, but the highest the water flow, the highest the energy consumption.
The easiest way to size your water heater is by calculating your household’s peak water demands. Modern fixtures consume less water than old ones, but in broad lines, you can expect a shower to consume up to 3.5 gallons per minute, a washing machine up to two gallons per minute, while a kitchen or bathroom sink can demand up to 2.5 gallons per minute.
Once you’ve summed up your peak demands, determine the temperature rise you need. Most residential applications require the water to be between 105 and 120°F, and you can calculate the temperature rise based on the temperature of the incoming water.
Considering an incoming temperature of 50°F, you might need an electric tankless water heater capable of producing a temperature rise of at least 55°F at the desired flow rate.
Self-Modulating Technology
The best electric tankless water heaters incorporate the self-modulating technology, which is developed to improve the energy efficiency of the machine.
This technology works in two ways. On the one hand, it allows your water heater to activate itself at low flow rates. Most self-modulating units start producing hot water at flow rates of only 0.25 gallons per minute, which means you won’t have to run water at a high rate to get it warm.
Thank to this technology, you’ll be able to save water and lower your water bill.
On the other hand, the self-modulating technology also enables the water heater to adjust its energy consumption based on the temperature of the input water and the selected output temperature.
In warmer climates, this means a reduction of your hot water bills with up to 60%, which typically has an impact of over 20% of the overall electricity bill.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for an average - yet exceptional - electric tankless water heater, for a best-in-class or budget solutions, the units above will undoubtedly satisfy all demands. But only you can decide which is the best electric water heater for you based on your requirements.
The EcoSmart ECO 27 is perhaps the best unit for all households. It is ideal for a family of four and can typically supply hot water to two low-flow showers and a faucet at the same time. Not only this, but the unit can also provide hot water to a commercial kitchen in a warmer climate area.
The Stiebel Eltron TEMPRA36B is no doubt the best on the market. The German craftsmanship shows off, and this water heater is perfect for a large family or a big industrial kitchen, being able to output up to 7.5 gallons per minute. In colder climate areas, it can even offer a water temperature increment of up to 80°F, with a subsequent reduction in the flow rate, obviously.
Lastly, the Rheem RTEX-13 is an excellent budget option. It is compact enough to fit in all spaces and produces sufficient hot water for a small family. It is also the least expensive option we found that provides a reliable hot water output.
All you have to do now is analyze your real demands and choose the best electric water heater for you!