Tankless water heater reviews help consumers choose which brand, model, and size unit works best for them. Most are energy efficient and some carry the Energy Star certification. Although a tankless water heater isn't the right choice for everyone, it does make a nice addition to some homes.
Rinnai R75LSiN
This 180,000 BTU gas model tops many tankless water heater reviews as one of the best on-demand units on the market. This particular model supplies 7.5 gallons of hot water every minute, making it perfect for an average sized family. It does have some drawbacks, however, including water temperature variance with spurts of cold water mixed with warm.
While this unit does meet Energy Star criteria, some experts believe it isn't worth the cost investment even if you do spend less money on energy per month. They say it takes over 20 years to recoup the extra cost of buying a tankless water heater over a tank system.
Paloma Water Heater
Another gas model that ranks fairly high in tankless water heater reviews is the Paloma brand. This model can switch back and forth between propane or natural gas and provides hot water even when more than one water source is running at the same time. One drawback, however, is the size of the Paloma system. The unit is large and cumbersome compared to other brands.
A major benefit of the Paloma is the warranty. Tankless water heaters don't always have the best warranty periods, but this brand has a 10 year replacement period on the heat exchanger. All other parts come with a 3 year replacement warranty.
Stiebel-Electron Tempra Electric Tankless Water Heater
Not many households can run off of an electric tankless water heater unless they upgrade their electrical service to the house. The sheer amount of energy needed to keep up with a regular household's daily hot water demand exceeds the electric service in most homes. The Stiebel-Electron Tempra isn't quite a large as other hot water heaters, and only works for homes with low water use, but some still need to upgrade their electric service. It is much less expensive and efficient than other models, and comparatively speaking, it is easy to install.
Tankless water heaters may not be the best financial investment, but they do save energy and space in the utility room. Some people love the option of relatively unlimited hot water "on-demand" without having to wait for a tank heater to refill.
Sources:
Consumer Reports, "Tankless Water Heaters." Accessed October 18, 2010.
Consumer Search, "Water Heaters: Reviews." Accessed October 18, 2010.
CompareTheBrands.com, "ReviewTankless Water Heaters." Accessed October 20, 2010.
Kendra Dahlstrom - Kendra has been a freelance writer for over 5 years. Her subjects of choice include personal finance, health, and family. Before working ...
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