Types of Tankless Water Heaters

There are several different types of tankless water heaters, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. Consider each type before committing to your new water heater.

Gas

Propane or  often heat water more quickly than electric tankless water heaters can. Gas and propane are also less expensive than electric power, but they cost more to install than electric heaters and require more maintenance.

Electric

Gas water heaters are more efficient than electric water heaters in the long term, but electric heaters are generally less expensive to install. They also don’t require a ventilation system, which means you don’t necessarily need to put them in an area with existing pipes. Electric water heaters can be installed almost anywhere, even in small spaces.

Indoor

Installing your tankless water heater indoors will ensure that it isn’t exposed to the elements. If you live in an area with often changing and harsh weather conditions, an indoor water heater is best. Indoor heaters require ventilation piping to direct airflow, which will increase installation costs.

Outdoor

Outdoor water heaters work best for homes in areas with mild weather. They ventilate themselves, so they don’t require added ventilation pipes. While outdoor water heaters are designed to withstand things like wind, rain and snow, they do require more maintenance than indoor water heaters.

Condensing

By extracting heat from the exhaust before releasing it into the venting system, condensing tankless water heaters eliminate the need for expensive flue pipes and venting materials. And they use that extracted heat as an additional way to heat water.

Typically, condensing tankless water heaters are more expensive to purchase than their non-condensing counterparts. But they have lower installation costs and higher energy efficiency, so the cost is lower in the long run.

Non-condensing

Non-condensing water heaters use heat exchangers to heat water and then vent the exhaust outdoors. They need stainless steel flue pipes to withstand the heat of the exhaust, which can increase installation costs.

In general, non-condensing water heaters are more expensive to install than condensing water heaters, but they are less expensive to purchase upfront.

If you’re thinking about buying a propane tankless water heater, you may be overwhelmed by the choices. We created a top-five list here tanklesspro.com based on factors like pricing, customer rating, max GPM, heating capacity (BTUs) and Energy Star certification.