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What is best most reliable whole-house tankless water heater?

jolissi | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

What is the best most reliable tankless whole-house water heater?

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Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Lissette,
    I don't think that there is a definitive answer to your question, but you are likely to hear a variety of opinions. For more information on tankless water heaters, you may want to read these articles:

    Are Tankless Water Heaters a Waste of Money?

    All About Water Heaters

    The Difference Between Storage and Tankless Water Heaters

  2. Expert Member
    Dana Dorsett | | #2

    All tankless HW heaters require maintenance. Most problems with tankless HW heaters stem from marginal or downright improper installation. Manufacturers with good distributor support that includes certification programs for the installers is a good start, and going with a manufacturer that has a history of good design & quality control counts too. It's a moving target, but the US as of a couple of years ago when considering these factors, the three most-likely vendors would be Rinnai & Noritz, with Takagi a distant third (due to less local distributor support- their phone support is pretty good though.)

    Rinnai is the world's largest manufacturer of gas-burning appliances for the home- hard to go too wrong with them, as long as your installer is fully up to snuff (factory certified, installing dozens per year.)

  3. vernacubuild | | #3

    I'm seriously considering the ECOSMART electric tankless for my new build as it will be all electric. What are your thoughts on those?

  4. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #4

    Andre,
    I honestly don't know. However, it's possible to find negative reviews of the EcoSmart electric tankless units on the Web:
    http://www.terrylove.com/forums/showthread.php?33354-Anyone-have-experience-with-EcoSmart-products

    One the other hand, the reviews on the Home Depot site are relatively positive:
    http://www.homedepot.com/p/EcoSmart-27-kW-Self-Modulating-5-3-GPM-Electric-Tankless-Water-Heater-ECO-27/203316218#.UtpjGqMo7hc

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