The thought of taking a shower early in the morning when you already need to get bundled up in bed just to feel comfortable is intimidating.
There’s no way you’re getting a good shower when the water can be accurately described as frigid. The ideal solution to that recurring issue is to get the best water heater on the market.
In this article, we will discuss the different factors you need to look at when shopping for a water heater and I’ll also highlight some of the top options that are currently available.
Without further ado, let’s talk more about water heaters.
Water heaters can vary in numerous ways. They can utilize different fuel sources, some of them are bundled together with huge water tanks while others don’t arrive with that included.
Some of the smaller water heaters have to be strategically located for them to work effectively.
Needless to say, you have all kinds of options to choose from. To help you sort through them, please take the time to read through this value section.
You should have a better idea of what kind of water heater you need in your home after doing so.
Table of Contents
Quick and Easy Comparison Table for Best Water Heater
# | Image | Product Name | Weight (In Pounds) | Dimensions (In Inches) | Fuel Source | Voltage | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 |  | Rheem RTEX-13 Tankless Water Heater | 8.5 | 4 x 9 x 13 | Electricity | 240 | |
4 |  | Watts Premier Instant Hot Water Recirculating System | 8.5 | 6.2 x 6 x 5 | Electricity | 120 | |
3 |  | EcoSmart Eco 11 Tankless Water Heater | 6.5 | 6.5 x 13.5 x 10 | Electricity | 240 | |
2 |  | Gesail Immersion Water Heater | 1.85 | 16.9 x 3 x 3 | Electricity | 120 | |
1 |  | Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Tankless Water Heater | 38 | 6.7 x 13.8 x 20.3 | Natural Gas | 120 |
In-depth Review of Top 5 Water Heater
5. Rheem RTEX-13– Best Tankless Water Heater
The RTEX-13 Tankless Water Heater from Rheem is probably the quintessential example of a modern water heater.
The installation process has been simplified.
You don’t need to have extensive experience working with heaters or plumbing to figure out how to get this appliance working inside your home.
The process itself is one you should be able to complete within a couple of hours.
This is also a water heater that features a very distinctive look. It almost looks like a smart device.
That’s not all just for show. The clean and clear user interface is very intuitive. You won’t have any trouble figuring out how to get it to work as intended.
Performance is an area where some users may have a bit of an issue with this water heater.
You can easily find other water heaters that are capable of providing hotter water than this appliance.
Furthermore, you may notice some cold water still trickling through even if this item is activated if too many faucets are drawing from it.
The cold spots are easy enough to deal with though, especially if it means having this sleek-looking water heater in your home.
4. Watts Premier 500800– Best Hot Water Heater
Watts Premier’s water heater is an item that is capable of providing you with warm water whenever you need it.
It’s not the type of water heater that is going to ask you to stay on standby as it gets that hot water ready.
Included with this item is a programmable timer that you can set in a way so that it will turn on right around the time when you absolutely need to have hot water.
The timer is a little difficult to work with to start, but you should get the hang of it after a while.
I also appreciate the fact that this water heater will not cause a ruckus while it’s working.
You won’t be waking anyone up if you decide to take a hot shower before going to bed.
You may find the installation process for this water heater to be somewhat tricky, but as long as you stick to the instructions included, you should be able to have it ready to work within a couple of hours.
The only real downside to having this premier model water heater work in your home is that it can impact how quickly you gain access to cold water.
You will probably have to let the faucet run for a few moments before the cold water comes through.
3. EcoSmart Eco 11– Best Electric Tankless Water Heater
People renting apartments and owners of smaller homes will be better served to get a tankless water heater and the Eco 11 from EcoSmart is a fine example of that type of item.
I love the compact design of this item. You can find numerous spots for it inside your home.
Just set it next to where you often need hot water and use it at your leisure.
This is also a very user-friendly type of water heater.
The digital temperature control is easy to grasp and you should be able to familiarize yourself with it within your first few uses.
When it comes to actual heating, you’ll likely be satisfied with the performance of this appliance.
It keeps the water nice and warm consistently and it doesn’t need long to accomplish that. It can give you right around two gallons of hot water within a minute or so.
One issue I did have with the Eco 11 is how much it will ultimately cost you to have it in your home.
If you want to qualify for the lifetime warranty, you need to have this item installed by a licensed contractor.
It’s not the most expensive water heater out there, but because of the terms of the warranty, you will still have to sell a good amount of money.
Still, because of the way this water heater performs, the price is worth paying.
2. Gesail Immersion– Best Electric Water Heater
Gesail’s Immersion Water Heater works a bit differently from the other items on this list.
Because it is an immersion heater, you will have to be the one to position it inside a container of water, submerge it properly, and then wait for it to complete its job.
About that waiting part, you should know that this is not the fastest working heater.
That shouldn’t come as a surprise considering how it works and its size, but it’s still worth knowing before you make a purchase.
Because of the way this heater works and how quickly it does provide hot water, you need to bake those considerations into your prep time to avoid falling behind your daily routine.
You’ll probably have to get up a few minutes earlier if you want to have the hot water ready right as you step into the bathroom.
Notably, this immersion heater has a feature that allows it to maintain the temperature of your hot water.
It will cycle on and off its own in order to maintain the temperature. Just be sure to use the bucket heater accessory included if you are going to heat up water.
That will eliminate the chances for any mishaps taking place.
This is a portable heater that gets the job done and while its performance can be improved upon, you’ll still be pleased with what it gives you especially considering the price.
1. Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG – Best Tankless Gas Water Heater
Takagi’s T-KJr2-IN-NG Water Heater makes use of natural gas but it also comes with some electrical components, so I would say that it is more of a hybrid heater.
With that out of the way, it’s time to fawn over the way this water heater works.
It is a remarkably efficient heater and one that gives you the water you need in a hurry.
You’ll often see manufacturers tout their tankless water heaters as ones that can provide “endless water” and this item comes pretty close to accomplishing that.
In terms of maintenance, there’s not a lot that will be required of you.
The people at Takagi have managed to put together solidly-built and efficient water and all you really have to do to make sure it stays that ways for years are to check on it after every few months or so.
Sadly, this is another water heater with a warranty that becomes void if it’s not installed by a licensed contractor.
The instructions are clear enough that you should be able to install it on your own, but if you want that warranty to remain valid, well, you’ll have to pay someone to do that for you.
It’s an annoying aspect of this heater, but one I don’t mind dealing with because this item performs so well.
Types of Water Heater – You Must Know
Storage Tank Heaters
According to Lowe’s, the most common type of water heater you will be able to find is still that one that is bundled together with a storage tank.
These water heaters are massive. Homeowners and apartment owners often like to keep these water heaters running in the basement.
You’ll be able to get hot water faster and to more people with this type of appliance in your home.
However, if you have a smaller home or fewer people living in your home, you may not be able to get the most out of this kind of water heater.
Tankless Heaters
Also known as on-demand heaters, the tankless variants may prove to be the wiser purchase if you do have a smaller home.
You can turn it on and just get the hot water right when you need it. There’s no need to clear out space to fit in a bulky tank.
You have to activate a tankless heater a little before the time when you’ll need the hot water though, or else you’ll have to wait for it.
That can be inconvenient, but it should be easy to deal with if the people in the home don’t need the hot water all at the same time.
Utility Heaters
The utility heaters are essentially the smaller versions of the storage tank heaters. They serve as a nice alternative to the larger storage tank heaters and they can work well for specific parts of the home that often need hot water.
A utility heater can be a fine addition to a garage, but it’s not necessarily fit to work for an entire home.
Fuel Source Used
Electric and propane water heaters are far and away the most popular and widely available options. That’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Propane heaters are remarkably efficient in terms of energy, although they’re tougher to maintain and a touch more expensive than the electric variants.
Electric water heaters require a bit more energy to sufficiently warm the water up, but you may be able to live with that because they are easy to own and won’t require you to pay a premium.
In all likelihood, you will end up choosing between an electric or propane heater simply because they are easier to find, but there are several other fuel sources that are used for this type of item.
According to the Department of Energy, there are also water heaters that make use of natural gas, geothermal energy, and even solar energy.
Those are interesting options to consider, but you will still receive good work from the more conventional electric and propane heaters if you don’t feel like seeking the alternatives out.
Accessories Included
A water heater can be a more helpful addition to your home if it comes packaged together with some useful accessories.
Try to look for a water heater that has a timer included. Use that timer to your advantage and reduce the amount of time you’ll need to spend waiting for the water to get hot.
If you choose to get a storage tank heater, an expansion tank will come in handy for keeping your excess warm water.
The more advanced water heaters may even feature sensors that allow them to work more efficiently.
Conclusion
After getting the chance to work with the different items listed above, I find myself pleased the most with what the Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Tankless Water Heater did for my home.
I don’t really like being asked to wait around for my hot water and so having an item that can supply it exactly when I need it is ideal.
I also like the fact that even though it’s a tankless heater, it can still suitably work inside a home where the residents are all fond of using hot water a lot.
Plus, Takagi’s water heater being as durable as it is means I don’t have to stress as much about its maintenance.
All the aforementioned water heaters worked to improve my home, but none more so than the Takagi T-KJr2-IN-NG Tankless Water Heater. It’s the best water heater in my book.
