The 7 Best Water Heaters of 2021

Hot water is a necessity for every household. From the showers and baths, laundry and dishes, to pets and hand washing, you need hot water for each of these chores, every day. To meet the daily requirement of hot water for your whole family, you need a reliable, durable, and cost-effective water heater. There are multiple types of water heaters available in the market that have different power sources and storage capacities - including on-demand ones. When you plan to buy a new water heater for your home, you need to analyze the available types and decide which model fits your requirements the best. To make your selection easier and more informed, we have compiled a list of water heaters to help you buy the right fit for your family.

Best Water Heaters in various categories:

1. Best Electric Water Heater with Storage: Lochinvar ETX050KD

Lochinvar ETX050KD is a reliable choice for the average family of four. Using a 480-volt electrical connection, the tank can hold and deliver up to 50 gallons of hot water. Its 4500-watt heating elements heats cold water quickly and efficiently. A glass lining is fused to the tank at 1600F to assure lasting protection against rust and corrosion while providing clean, clear hot water. Being equipped with Non-CFC Foam Insulation, this commercial light duty, tall water heater provides uniform tank coverage with a thick blanket of insulating foam, which minimizes standby losses and maximizes heat retention. Its automatic overheat protection system ensures your safety and allows for manually resetting the high limit.

2. Best Electric Tankless Water Heater: Rinnai R-RL94EN

Enjoy an endless supply of hot water in your entire home with this natural gas electric tankless water heater. It has up to a 9.4 GPM hot water flow rate that varies by groundwater temperature.  Circ-Logic technology allows you to set recirculation patterns that coincide with your typical habits. Capable of wi-fi connection, it can supply hot water to up to six fixtures in your house and should be installed outdoor only.

3. Best Electric High-Capacity Water Heater: Lochinvar Commercial - HSX-30-050

Lochinvar Commercial - HSX-30-050 is a high-efficiency water heater. With innovative technology and high quality, the surface thermostat on each heating element can heat from 120°F to 180°F for food service and other commercial applications. Its durable glass lining is fused to the tank at 1600°F to assure lasting protection against rust and corrosion while providing clean, clear hot water. Its plated, incoloy immersion type heating elements give long life and resistance to lime scale build-up. It shuts off electrical power to the elements if the water temperature in the tank exceeds 200°F and all elements and controls are fused in accordance with U.L. requirements when current exceeds 48 amps to ensure maximum safety. This unit provides 80 gallons of hot water without consuming large amounts of energy makes it a great choice for commercial usage and large families with a high usage of hot water.

4. Best Gas Water Heater with Storage: GBN05040 Lochinvar

Featuring a sealed combustion, GBN05040 Lochinvar’s direct vent system has sidewall or rooftop termination. Each model comes with a concentric vent pipe up to 80 inches plus termination cap. The design is also Flammable Vapor Ignition Resistant. The gas valve features an electronic ignition, control logic for precise temperature control, and an LED status indicator for simplified service diagnostics. The valve is powered by a thermopile pilot requiring no external power source. It has a uniform coverage of thick closed-cell foam insulation that minimizes standby heat loss and maximizes heat retention delivering a high Energy Factor. It is equipped with built-in heat traps for the inlet and outlet connections to eliminate heat migration and heat loss in the water piping. It also has a sight glass for an unobstructed view of the burner and pilot flame. It provides and stores 50 gallons of hot water, sufficient for a family of 5- 6 people.

5. Best Gas Tankless Water Heater: Rinnai RU199In

SENSEI™ RU199iN Super High-Efficiency Plus condensing tankless water heater from Rinnai lets you enjoy a continuous supply of hot water. Only the size of a small suitcase, this Wi-Fi capable natural gas-fueled water heater is compact, easy-to-install and perfect for indoor locations. Equipped with Circ-Logic technology, it allows you to set recirculation patterns that coincide with your typical habits. It has up to an 11 GPM hot water flow rate that varies by groundwater temperature. 

6. Best RV Water Heater: Rinnai R-V94EN

Rinnai R-V94EN is a perfect solution for a variety of applications such as RVs, small homes, garages, offices, in-law suites and anywhere you need hot water produced at the point-of-use. Fueled by natural gas, this Wi-Fi capable, compact tankless water heater has a domestic hot water flow rate of 9.8 GPM.

7. Best Point of Use Water Heater: Eemax SPEX100T

Eemax SPEX100T is a smart choice when you are looking for a water heater that gives you filtered hot water. It is equipped with a microprocessor temperature control for accurate temperature and fitted with 1/2-inch Copper pipe Compression fittings with rear or bottom electric entry. This 277-volt water heater automatically shuts off when the water temperature reaches the desired temperature and maintains a constant temperature regardless of number of faucets being used. It is ideal for handset showers, pool houses, spare bedrooms & vacation homes, or as an in-line booster for existing tank heater or backup system for solar heating.