Best tankless water heater for cold climates

The 10 Best Tankless Water Heaters of 2022

How to Determine Which Tankless Water Heater Is Best for You

Use

When trying to figure out where to start in deciding which tankless water heater is best for you, consider how your family will use it. You may be thinking of replacing your old tank heater altogether, in which case a large-capacity whole house tankless water heater may be the best solution.

If you’re looking for a hot water solution for an addition, a wet-bar installation or to eliminate a long plumbing supply line, a smaller point-of-use water heater may fit your needs.

Capacity

Capacity is how much hot water, in gallons per minute, a tankless water heater can provide. Once you’ve decided on a whole house water heater or point-of-use water heater, you’ll need to determine the maximum hot water needs your water heater will be required to provide. This will determine the size of your new tankless water heater.

The number of people living in your home, required temperature rise, maximum flow rate and the local climate all play a role in what size tankless water heater will meet your needs. Sizes are expressed in terms of kilowatts for electric water heaters, or BTUs for gas water heaters.

Power Source

Choosing a power source will affect your total cost of a tankless water heater. In the long run, tankless water heaters save energy versus traditional water heaters with a tank. How much they save, in terms of money, may have to do with what power sources are available to you.

Deciding which power source to use to operate your tankless water heater can be tricky if you have access to both gas and 240-volt electricity. It’s much easier to decide if you only have easy access to one or the other. Electrically powered water heaters will be less costly to purchase and install than natural gas or propane-powered ones. Gas water heaters will be less efficient than electric ones, but gas is generally less expensive than electricity.

Reasons to Buy a Tankless Water Heater

Convenience

Endless hot water is likely the most popular reason to choose a tankless water heater. Traditional tank water heaters can only supply hot water until they run out of it. Then, you’ll have to wait for an entirely new tankful of water to heat up. Tankless water heaters provide on-demand hot water that is only limited by how much you desire.

Environmentally Friendly

Tankless water heaters only use energy to heat water when they’re called to do so. That makes them more efficient and less taxing on our environment. Tank water heaters must maintain a tankful of hot water whether anybody needs it or not. Electric tankless water heaters are especially friendly to the environment if the electricity used to operate them comes from renewable sources.

Long Lifespan

Old, tank-style water heaters only last between eight and 12 years. A tankless water heater that undergoes routine maintenance can be reliable for up to 20 years. Along with longevity, tankless water heaters have the added benefit of having mostly repairable or replaceable parts, as opposed to tank water heaters with only a few repairable parts.

Space Saving

Potential storage or living space can be increased by removing a tank-style water heater and replacing it with a tankless version. No matter the size of your new tankless water heater, it’ll be smaller than the tank heater it replaces.

Methodology

To determine the best solar pool cover ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on 27 major companies, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:

• Price (35%)
• Customer rating (35%)
• Max GPM (10%)
• Heating Capacity (BTUs) (10%)
• ETL Certified (5%)
• Energy Star Certified (5%)

Compare Quotes From Top-rated Water Heater Installers

Free, No-commitment Estimates

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the downside of a tankless water heater?

The most obvious answer is tankless water heaters’ high upfront costs. Once that hurdle has passed, the other downsides are slightly slower hot water delivery and reliance on electrical power for any of them to operate. If the electricity goes out, you’ll have no hot water until the electrical service is restored.

Can you take a shower with a tankless water heater?

As long as the water heater that’s been installed is large enough to handle the maximum hot water flow requirements, then there should be no trouble taking a shower with a tankless water heater.

Can you run out of hot water with a tankless water heater?

In theory, you should never run out of hot water while using a tankless water heater. However, temperatures can fluctuate if too much demand is placed on the heater all at one time, or if the weather outside creates very cold inlet water temperatures.

Can a tankless water heater work for a whole house?

There are many tankless water heater models available that heat enough water fast enough to qualify as whole-house tankless water heaters.

How do I choose the right size tankless water heater?

Choosing what size tankless water heater you need is the same process no matter what kind you’re considering. Determining the maximum hot water flow that the heater will be asked for and how many degrees it must heat the water from the inlet to the faucet are the big factors. Once those calculations are made, you can choose one that provides just slightly more power than what you need.

Information provided on Forbes Home is for educational purposes only. The products and services we review may not be right for your individual circumstances.

Forbes Home adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. To the best of our knowledge, all content is accurate as of the date posted, though offers contained herein may no longer be available. The opinions expressed are the author’s alone and have not been provided, approved, or otherwise endorsed by our partners.

Deane is a 30+ year veteran in the contracting, remodeling, maintenance, and home repair industry. His experience ranges from licensed building contracting to property maintenance company ownership. Currently operating a home repair and DIY consulting service, he empowers his clients to be self-sufficient in their home repair and remodeling endeavors.

Samantha is an editor who covers all topics home-related including home improvement and repair. She edited home repair and design content at websites like The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also has hosted videos on DIY home tips and solutions and launched multiple home improvement review boards staffed with licensed pros.

Is a tankless water heater good in cold climates?

Can you run antifreeze through a tankless water heater?

How do I freeze proof my tankless water heater?

What is the most common problems with tankless water heaters?