Best RV Tankless Water Heater
Running out of hot water is something no one enjoys. You’re happily enjoying a nice hot morning shower, or cleaning the day way and after some fun in the outdoors, only for the water to go frosty cold and take all the peace out of your showering experience. It’s bad enough when it happens at home, but then it happens in your RV it’s even more annoying for some reason.
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Most RV’s have a 6-10 gallon hot water tank, and this empties quite quickly and takes a while to reheat once it’s re-filled, which is a real problem if you’re in a large group, as the water runs out quickly, and no one really gets the shower they want. Everyone is trying hard to conserve water for the next guy.
But, with the ideal RV tankless water heater, cold showers will be a thing of the past. You can come back from a day of fishing, hiking, mountain biking, or whatever else you like doing in the wilderness and know you’ll have a hot shower waiting for you, even if 5 people go in the shower before you.
Not all tankless RV water heaters are equal though, some are a lot better than others. In this article, we review some of the best RV tankless water heaters around so you can save yourself all that tiring research and find one right here.
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 | Best For Winter
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Best Tankless RV Water Heater
Camplux 5L Tankless RV Water Heater
The Camplux 5L Tankless RV Water Heater is about as portable and affordable as a water heater can get.
This tankless water heater weighs just 14 lbs and had super thin dimensions so you can mount it anywhere in your RV. It runs on propane with D-cell battery-powered ignition, so there is no need for an electrical hook-up.
The heater starts warming based on water flow and requires a small amount of pressure, just 3 Psi to ignite. Once it’s lit, it’ll heat water to a maximum temperature rise of 114.8℉ and a minimum of 46.4℉. You can adjust the temperature and the flow rate on the dials on the front too, in order to get your perfect temperature and save some propane too.
This propane tankless water heater also features a flame failure device, anti-freeze protection, and oxygen depletion safety shut-off protection. It’ll keep everyone safe, and ensure you have hot water no matter how cold it gets.
The hot water heater is also portable, so you can take out the RV and on camping trips if you want to. The only downside to this heater is that when you change propane tanks, you’ll have to spend some time bleeding the system. Otherwise, you can’t beat it for the money.
Pros
- Light, portable, and can be used outdoors
- Highly energy efficient
- You can control the heat and flow rate
- No electricity needed
- Perfect for use in the wild
- Anti-freezing protection and oxygen depletion safety shut-off
- Low water pressure startup
Cons
- Have to bleed the propane when switching tanks
Product Information
- Fuel: Propane
- Gallons Per Minute: 1.32
- Warranty: NA
- Weight: 14 lbs
GIRARD 2GWHAM Tankless RV Water Heater
The GIRARD 2GWHAM Tankless RV Water Heater is another great choice for any winter RV users out there as it comes with freeze protection to ensure you have hot water no matter how cold it gets outside.
The hot water heater runs on propane and requires a 12-volt connection for the ignition. It heats your water automatically as soon as your tap turns on and needs 0.9 gallons per minute of flow to initiate the ignition.
Once lit, the RV water heater has a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute, giving you great water pressure. It automatically regulates the burner for you based on flow rate and the incoming water temperature so you always have the same hot water temperature.
This system also increases fuel efficiency and saves you from having to fiddle with any dials to get your desired temperature when the flow rate or the temperature of the incoming water changes.
The heater pushes out 42,000 BTUs by design to match an RV’s plumbing in order to provide optimum performance.
The only downsides to this tankless RV water heater are that it’s a little expensive and you’ll have to buy a mounting it and the door separately. It is packed full of features though and is one of the best tankless RV water heaters for use in winter.
Pros
- Durable and long-lasting
- Heats water in a few minutes
- Easy to install
- Fits most RV's with ease
- Adjusts water temperature automatically
- Comes with freeze protection
- Quiet operation
Cons
- Not mounting kit included
- You have to buy the door separately
Product Information
- Fuel: Propane
- Gallons Per Minute: 2.5
- Warranty: Na
- Weight: 21.2 lbs
Excel Tankless RV Water Heater
The Excel Tankless RV Water Heater is another lightweight and portable water heater that’s great for RV’s and it comes with all the useful features you’d want to.
This RV tankless water heater uses no electricity, it runs on propane and uses D-cell batteries for ignition to give you instant hot water. The ignition is sparked by water pressure and only requires 2 Psi to get it going, even a garden hose will have it lit up.
Installation of this heater is easy, and it’s vent-free too, so you won’t need to add an expensive flue for the emissions.
Another great thing about this RV tankless water heater is that it’s super light at 12lbs and the dimensions are slim, so it won’t bulge out into the RV very much.
The hot water heater has a flow rate of 1.6 gallons per minute, which is enough for a shower and ideal if your RV’s pressure is quite low. You can adjust the flow rate on the front of the heater, and the propane too, in order to get the perfect temperature you want for your showers.
The only downside to the heater is that it doesn’t come with the best instructions, and some may prefer a larger flow rate, depending on their RV’s water pressure.
Pros
- Instant hot water on demand
- Works with low water pressures
- You can adjust the flow rate with ease
- Lightweight and portable
- Runs without electricity
- Vent-free for indoor use
Cons
- Not the best instructions
- Low flow rate compared to others
Product Information
- Fuel: Propane
- Gallons Per Minute: 1.6
- Warranty: NA
- Weight: 12 lbs
Marey GA10LP Tankless Water Heater
The Marey GA10LP Tankless Water Heater is an ideal addition to your RV.
It works on demand and runs on propane so it won’t use up any valuable charge from your batteries and it’s way more efficient than constantly heating a tank. It’s so efficient that it can save up to 60% of the electricity you would have used with an electric heater.
It has a flow rate of up to 3.1 gallons per minute, which is more than enough for any shower, it might be too much in fact. But, luckily you can control the water flow and propane flow with the included control box.
The tankless heater heats a lot of water quickly, you won’t have to wait a few minutes before the hot water gets to the shower. It starts heating automatically based on water pressure, but it does need quite a lot of flow to ignite.
The ignition is battery-powered, so you won’t need to hook it up to the main power of the RV. You’ll just need to slot in 2-D cell batteries into the unit. So, don’t forget your spares, as you don’t want to get caught short.
The tankless RV water heater is also easy to install, is quite light, but does take up some room on the wall once mounted. Another great thing about it is that it comes with a 5-year warranty.
Pros
- Runs on propane or natural gas
- Saves up to 70% of electricity
- Easy to set up and install
- Heats a lot of water quickly
- Control box can manage water and gas flow
Cons
- Requires a large flow to get going
Product Information
- Fuel: Propane or natural gas
- Gallons Per Minute: 3.1
- Warranty: 5-years
- Weight: 21 lbs
Eccotemp L10 Portable Water Heater
The Eccotemp L10 Portable Water Heater gives you endless, instant hot water. It works on pressure, as once the tap is flowing it’ll ignite automatically and start heating the water for your shower.
The RV water heater runs on propane, so there is no need to use up the valuable charge in your batteries, and it uses 2 x D cell batteries for the ignition, so you really don’t need any electricity to run this heater.
It comes with a 4.4 Amp pump that pushes out 50PSI and 2.9 gallons per minute. The heater has a maximum flow rate of 2.6 gallons per minute, which is more than enough for you to have a good shower.
You can also adjust the flow rate to suit you, and fine-tuning it will save you both water and propane in the long run.
The heater comes with a 3.5-inch hose, a CSA regulator, and everything else you need to install it. Installation is quick and easy, but the instructions aren’t the best, so it’s worth doing a little online research if they don’t make much sense to you.
This RV tankless water heater is a little more expensive than others but it does come with a pump and it has a 1-year warranty included too. It’s also quite a heavy heater compared to others at 30 lbs, but once it’s installed, that shouldn’t matter too much.
Pros
- Will save you both water and energy
- Battery ignition requires no electricity
- Easy to adjust the flow rate
- Pumps out a solid 2.6 GPM
- All installation equipment included
- Instant, endless hot water
Cons
- Not the best instructions
- A little expensive
- Quite heavy
Product Information
- Fuel: Propane
- Gallons Per Minute: 2.6
- Warranty: 1-year
- Weight: 30.6 lbs
EZ 202 Tankless Water Heater
The EZ 202 Tankless RV Water Heater is about as light and portable as they come. Weighing just 15lbs, and made for use anywhere, it’s an awesome water heater for your RV.
It’s a propane tankless RV water heater that uses D-cell batteries for ignition, so no need to hook it up to the power on your RV. The heater will deliver 3.2 GPM of hot water instantly, and keep on going until your water runs out if you want it to.
It’ll give you water a 45°F rise and the ignition is based on water pressure, so it starts up all on its own. Unlike other RV water heaters, this tankless RV water doesn’t need a lot of pressure to get going, just 2.9 Psi will provide direct spark ignition and start heating water for you.
The one thing about this RV tankless water heater is that you can’t adjust the flow rate, so you’ll have to control that from your tank if possible. It gives different temperature rises based on flow, the lower the flow the hotter the hot water, which makes sense.
One other thing to be aware of is that the inlet on this tankless RV tankless water heater is a little flimsy and should be used with care. Other than that, it’s easy to install anywhere, and you can even connect a shower head directly to the outflow and use it while camping in the woods.
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- A great flow rate of 4 GPM
- Can be used anywhere
- Easy to install
- Low-pressure ignition of 2.9 Psi
- D-cell battery-powered ignition
Cons
- Inlet is not so durable
- Cant adjust the flow rate
Product Information
- Fuel: Propane
- GPM: 4
- Warranty: NA
- Weight: 15 lbs
Eccotemp FVI12-LP Tankless Water Heater
The Eccotemp FVI12-LP Tankless RV Water Heater is a great option if you have a large RV and want to run multiple hot water outlets at once.
It runs on propane to save you from using your batteries to power it, but you will need to hook it up to an electricity source for ignition. This won’t use much power but it is an added headache when it comes to installation, as you’re not only rigging water and propane, you’re using electricity as well.
The heater pumps out at 3.6 GPM which is more than enough for a shower and the kitchen sink to have hot water at once. You can also adjust the flow rate and the temperature with the dials on the front in order to get your perfect hot water temperature and maximize fuel efficiency.
The temperature will be shown to you on the digital display on the front, so you always know where you’re at, and can adjust accordingly.
The hot water heater activates on pressure and needs a minimum of 0.65 GPM to fire up. Your RV should be able to deliver that with ease, and once you turn the shower on, you’ll have hot water within a minute or two.
The only downside to this tankless RV water heater is that it’s quite heavy and large, so it might take up some valuable room in your RV, otherwise, it’s a great choice.
Pros
- For use indoors and outdoors
- Has a LED display to show you what's going on
- Easy to adjust the temperature and flow rate
- Energy-efficient to save you some propane
- Instant, endless hot water
Cons
- Requires a connection to electricity for ignition
- Quite heavy
Product Information
- Fuel: Propane
- GPM: 3.6
- Warranty: na
- Weight: 33 lbs
PrecisionTemp RV-550 Tankless RV Water Heater
The PrecisionTemp RV-550 Tankless RV Water Heater is about as sophisticated as an RV water heater can get. It comes with a whole bunch of great features to save you fuel and it also has freeze protection built-in. If you like to go on adventures in the winter, this RV water heater might be the one for you.
The water heater uses propane to warm your water and requires a connection to a 12-volt outlet for ignition. It has one of the highest hot water outputs around, with 55,000 BTUs, which is what you might need when sleeping out in freezing temperatures.
The water heater automatically adjusts the propane use based on incoming water temperature and flow rate. This not only ensures you have the same temperature water all the time, but it will also save you a lot of propane in the long run.
The installation of this tankless RV water heater is quite simple, and you can have it up in no time. The only extra work compared to other heaters is having to add the 12-volt connection.
Being so sophisticated, this RV water heater is expensive, but if you can afford it, it’ll earn you the money back in fuel savings over the course of its lifetime.
Pros
- Small dimensions to fit in your RV
- Built-in freeze protection for winter use
- High fuel efficiency with no pilot light
- Works quietly without much noise
- Self adjusts gas use based on water flow and temp
- The highest power in the industry at 55,000 BTUs
Cons
- A little expensive
- Requires a 12-volt connection for the ignition
Product Information
- Fuel: Propane
- GPM: 1.5
- Warranty: NA
- Weight: 32 lbs
What To Look For In A Tankless RV Water Heater
What Fuel Do You Want To Use?
The best fuel source for an RV water heater is propane simply because it easier to install and won’t chew up your RV’s charged batteries. You’ll find every water heater in the review runs in propane, and this is on purpose. The only thing that differs amongst the RV water heaters in the review is their power source for ignition.
Some of the RV water heaters use D-cell batteries to provide the direct spark ignition while others need to be hooked up to 12-volts of electricity. I personally prefer the D-cell option as it makes installation a little easier, but the 12-volt options are also great if you prefer.
Flow Rate – Gallons Per Minute (GPM)
Every tankless water heater has its own output flow rate measured in GPM. The higher the flow rate the more pressure you will get out of the tankless water heater. The average shower pushed out 1.5 – GPM, and it’s worth finding out what your RV’s shower sends out so you can match it to the heater you choose.
If you plan on using the hot tap or bathtub at the same time as the shower, add these to your calculations to match the heater.
Ignition & Flow Rate
All tankless water heaters automatically ignite once there is enough pressure flowing through the system. It’s measured in either Psi or GPM, and you’ll need to have enough flow coming out of your RV’s water tank for it to work. Some tankless water heaters ignite on 0.9 GPM or 2-3 Psi, so make sure you have enough flow in your RV for the heater to ignite easily.
Size
RV tankless water heaters come in a range of sizes and weights, and you’ll want to measure the space in your RV that you intend to put it in so you can match it up with the right heater. Remember to measure depth as much as anything else, as a water heater that sits too far out on a wall will get in the way a lot.
Anti-Freeze Protection
If you plan on using your RV in the winter, make sure you pick a tankless water heater with freeze protection. This will ensure that no water freezes in the lines so that you can have a hot shower no matter the weather. Not all the tankless RV water heaters in the review come with freeze protection, but there are at least 3 to choose from, and you’ll find our favorite winter RV water heater highlighted below.
Our Favorite RV Tankless Water Heaters
Top Pick
The all-around best RV water heater is the Excel Tankless RV Water Heater. It’s light, slim, portable, and has all the features you need. It features vent-free technology so you don’t need an expensive flume, works on low water pressures, heats water instantly, and required no power hook-up to work.
You can also control both the water and propane flow rate on the dials so you can get the [erfect temperature and maximize efficiency.
- PROPANE GAS LPG UNIT
- Starts with only 2 PSI of Water Pressure - Amazon Exclusive
Best For Winter
The best tankless water heater for winter is the GIRARD 2GWHAM Tankless RV Water Heater. This water heater comes with freeze protection to ensure you have hot water in freezing weather conditions, and it’s incredibly efficient too. It automatically adjusts the propane use based on water flow and temperature so you use less gas and get the same temperature of hot water no matter what.
- POWERFUL PERFORMANCE — At 42,000 BTUs, this continuous hot water heater provides optimal performance for RV plumbing. The quiet, brushless motor runs on 12V power that operates at less than three amps for a nearly noiseless operation
- CONSISTENT TEMP — The onboard microprocessor monitors incoming cold water temperature, flow rate and outgoing hot water temperature to maintain a steady water flow. It also regulates the burner to maintain a consistent temperature, preventing cold spots and scalding water
Best On A Budget
If you’re on a budget then the best RV tankless water heater has to be the Camplux 5L Tankless RV Water Heater. It heats the water quickly and easily, requires no electricity, ignites at low water pressures, and comes with anti-freeze protection for use in all weather conditions. It’s also extremely light and compact, so you can put it up anywhere and have a toasty hot shower.
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