Electric and gas-fired tankless water heaters (TWH) are revolutionizing the way we access hot water in our homes; they’re efficient, cost-effective, and save on space. The last point makes them particularly suited for RV use. So, what are the best RV tankless water heaters?
This article is perfect for you if you’re living off-grid or simply need a sustainable way to supply your RV with hot water.
We explain how to choose a TWH for your RV in terms of size and flow rate. Then, we’ve listed the best RV tankless water heaters we’ve found.
Affiliate Disclaimer
Table of Contents
Best RV Tankless Water Heaters – Climatebiz Picks
Here are the top 3 best RV tankless water heaters in 2022:
- Best Overall — Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus
- Best Propane — Truma AquaGo
- Best Electric —EcoSmart POU 6
How To Choose The Best RV Tankless Water Heater
Standard RV water heaters are between 6 and 10 gallons. While that sounds fine, it’s only a five-minute shower before cold water takes over. You can get aerators or low-flow shower fixtures, but that will only prolong the inevitable for another two minutes. In addition, you probably won’t be able to take a shower and wash the dishes simultaneously.
This is where an RV tankless water heater comes into play. These systems provide a nearly endless supply of hot water. In addition, they come in various sizes, large enough for a shower or a shower and a kitchen sink simultaneously.
What To Look Out For
Several factors will influence how you choose the best RV tankless water heater for your needs. For example, you’ll need a tankless water heater with the correct flow rate. Additionally, you’ll need one capable of a high temperature rise in a colder climate.
Here are the factors we looked at while curating our list:
- Flow Rate
- Fuel Type
- Heating Capacity
Flow Rate (GPM)
You’ll need to find out your required GPM to determine the flow rate of your RV tankless water heater. GPM stands for gallons per minute — the amount of water you use (in gallons) per minute.
All RV tankless waters have a maximum flow rate dictating the amount of hot water they can heat (in gallons) per minute.
Use the below table to determine how many gallons you use per minute.
| Fixture | GPM |
|---|---|
| Showers | 2 |
| Baths | 4 |
| Kitchen Sinks | 2 |
| Bathroom Sinks | 1.5 |
Another significant aspect of RV tankless water heaters is their compact design. They are smaller than a storage tank water heater, so they can easily replace your current geyser. If you’re looking at replacing your whole system, you might want to look for a TWH with a flow rate of 6 – 10 GPM.
There are, however, some TWHs that are small enough to fit right under your kitchen sink. RV tankless water heaters installed at a particular outlet point are called point-of-use TWHs.
These generally have a flow rate of 1.5-2 GPM — more than enough for your sink or shower.
As for water pressure, larger RVs can handle up to 100 psi. While that’s amazing, the recommended water pressure is between 40-60 psi — this is the average water pressure for a home. So while it’s vital to check the psi of your RV tankless water heater, most TWHs will be suitable for your RV.
Fuel Type
You’ll need to ensure that whatever power source your RV uses matches your TWHs requirements. This is especially true when choosing an electric tankless water heater. However, if you’re using a propane tankless water heater, you’ll only need electricity for the pilot light.
If you’re living off-grid, it’s a good idea to check the voltage of your batteries. Alternatively, you can install RV solar panels or a solar generator to boost your power inlet.
Most RV tankless water heaters will tell you their power voltage requirements; we’ll be sure to list them below.
As for the propane tankless water heaters, the bottle size will depend on the fuel demand. Propane tankless water heaters are more efficient than electric tankless water heaters. However, carrying spare propane bottles takes up space and increases your RV’s weight. As such, an electric tankless water heater might be best for you if you’re going on a long-term trip in the wild.
Heating Capacity
The last factor to consider is your RV tankless water heater’s heating capacity.
Heating capacity is measured in British Thermal Units or Btu for short. The Btu measurement will tell you how hot your TWHs water will get. (This measurement is used for propane-fueled water heaters)
The heating capacity will determine the temperature rise of the TWH. Your temperature rise is the amount of heat needed to heat incoming water to your desired temperature.
If you live in a warmer climate, you’ll need less power to heat your water to the desired temperature and vice versa.
The average inlet water temperature is around 50ºF but can be as low as 40ºF.
7 Best RV Tankless Water Heaters
Without further delay, here are the 7 best gas tankless water heaters, according to our experts.
01. Camplux Pro 2.64 GPM
The Camplux Pro is an RV water heater for camping trips or extended stays. Its 2.64 GPM allows one shower and a kitchen sink to run simultaneously. Additionally, it has a 0.88 efficiency rating, which is excellent for its size.
You can install this TWH inside or outside, making it versatile. In addition, it comes with vent pipes, which can replace your current storage tank water heater regardless of its position.
It uses 2 “D” cell batteries and can be connected to a 12V water pump. It also has a low-pressure operating range, which works perfectly fine between 3.0～110.0 PSI.
The maximum temperature raise is 114.8ºF, and the minimum temperature raise is 46.4ºF for 2.64 GPM.
Dimensions
| Height | 21.65 Inches |
| Width | 12.8 Inches |
| Depth | 6.1 Inches |
| Gas Connection | 1/2 Inch |
| Weight | 18 lbs |
Specifications
| Fuel Type | Propane |
| Max Btu | 68,000 |
| Water Pressure | 3.6～110.0 PSI |
| kW | 20 KW |
| Max Flow (GPM) | 2.64 |
02. Truma AquaGo
The Truma AquaGo is a compact RV tankless water heater with a maximum flow rate of roughly 3 GPM. It can produce between 20,000 and 60,000 Btu of heat and only runs off propane.
It includes a control panel with a temperature dial. You can install this small panel anywhere in your RV and easily retrofit it. In addition, this is the best RV tankless water heater when it comes to freezing weather. It has an optional antifreeze kit, an easy water-draining lever, and anti-calcification technology.
The AquaGo has an initial warranty period of 12 months which can be extended to 24 months with registration.
Dimensions
| Height | 17.7 Inches |
| Width | 17.7 Inches |
| Depth | – |
| Gas Connection | – |
| Weight | – |
Specifications
| Fuel Type | Propane |
| Max Btu | 60,000 |
| Water Pressure | 65 PSI |
| kW | 17.6 |
| Max Flow (GPM) | 3 |
03. Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus
The Stiebel Eltron Tempra 36 Plus is one of the industry’s best electric tankless water heaters. It’s designed for homes but can be used in larger RVs like 5-wheelers.
The ETWH has two temperature presets, allowing you to easily switch between them for summer or winter. For example, it can heat 4.6 gallons of water at a temperature increase of 53ºF. That’s equivalent to running two showers and a sink simultaneously.
In warmer climates, the ETWH can heat a whopping 7.5 GPM. As a result, three showers and multiple taps can run simultaneously — more than you’ll need in an RV.
Dimensions
| Height | 14.5 Inches |
| Width | 16.63 Inches |
| Depth | 4.63 Inches |
| Water Connection | 3/4 NPT |
| Weight | 19 lbs |
Specifications
| Fuel Type | Electric |
| Temp Rise | 53ºF |
| Water Pressure | 150 PSI |
| kW | 36 |
| Max Flow (GPM) | 7.5 |
04. Fogatti RV Tankless Water Heater
With a 2.2 GPM flow rate, the Fogatti tankless water heater is ideal for smaller RVs. It has a maximum heating capacity of 42,000 BTU and a water temperature range of 95°F to 123°F. It’s a 12V electric tankless water heater built into your RV yet easy to retrofit.
Like most other best RV tankless water heaters, it has multiple safety functions. For example, flameout, antifreeze, overheat, and overvoltage protection.
Fogatti offers a free replacement within 60 days of purchase and repair service with a 5-year warranty. However, the warranty does not include labor and comes at an additional cost.
Dimensions
| Height | 15 Inches |
| Width | 15 Inches |
| Depth | 15.4 Inches |
| Gas Connection | 3/8″ NPT |
| Weight | 59 lbs |
Specifications
| Fuel Type | Propane |
| Max Btu | 42,000 |
| Water Pressure | 14.5-116 PSI |
| Voltage | 12 |
| Max Flow (GPM) | 2.2 |
05. Furrion 2.4GPM Tankless RV Gas Water Heater
The Furrion is slightly larger than the Fogatti mentioned above, with a flow rate of 2.4 GPM. It’s a 12-volt electric tankless water heater with a higher heating capacity – 60,000 Btu.
It’s an easy upgrade from your 4 or 6-gallon tanked water heater, built with stability in mind.
You can set water to your desired temperature with the wall-mounted controller. This displays the water temperature, time, and pressure level.
Dimensions
| Height | 12.81 Inches |
| Width | 12.81 Inches |
| Depth | 20.75 Inches |
| Gas Connection | UNF 5/8″ – 18 |
| Weight | 27.6 lbs |
Specifications
| Fuel Type | Propane |
| Max Btu | 60,000 |
| Water Pressure | 10 – 65 PSI |
| Voltage | 12 |
| Max Flow (GPM) | 2.4 |
06. Eccotemp L5
Next on our list is the portable Eccotemp L5, with a flow rate of 1.5 GPM. While it might not heat enough water for your RV shower, it’s great for multiple sinks. Alternatively, it makes a great outdoor shower in the summer. It uses a 20 lbs propane tank and can reach up to 120ºF.
It includes an ignition powered by 2 “D” cell batteries and has an ideal pressure range of 20 to 80 PSI.
Lastly, like the Camplux Pro, you can connect it to a 12V water pump for water supply.
Dimensions
| Height | 18 Inches |
| Width | 11.5 Inches |
| Depth | 5.25 Inches |
| Water Connection | 1/2 Inches |
| Weight | 11.2 lbs |
Specifications
| Fuel Type | Propane |
| Max Btu | 37,500 |
| Water Pressure | 20 – 80 PSI |
| kW | 10 |
| Max Flow (GPM) | 1.5 |
07. EcoSmart POU 6
While the EcoSmart POU is designed for homes, it’s one of the best RV tankless water heaters. This point-of-use ETWH uses 5.5 kW and has a compact design, allowing it to fit under your sink.
The POU 6 has a maximum flow rate of 1.5 GPM with a 25ºF temperature rise. However, it has a higher rise at 71ºF with a flow rate of 0.5 GPM.
Its restricted flow prevents you from using it for anything other than bathroom/kitchen sinks. It also has a set temperature of 105ºF that cannot be changed.
Dimensions
| Height | 7 Inches |
| Width | 11 Inches |
| Depth | 3 Inches |
| Water Connection | 1/2 NPT |
| Weight | 4 lbs |
Specifications
| Fuel Type | Electric |
| Temp Rise | 71ºF |
| Water Pressure | – |
| kW | 5.5 |
| Max Flow (GPM) | 1.5 |
Final Thoughts
Being clued on specs will significantly assist you with choosing the best RV tankless water heater. Make sure to look at the fuel type, flow rate, and water pressure required. In addition, knowing the heating capacity can tell you if the TWH is suited for warmer or colder climates.
We’ve compiled the list from our research; if you have any other suggestions, we’d love to hear them.
If you have any questions about the model you’re looking at, it’s best to contact the manufacturer. However, you can also join our free forum to ask our professionals any questions.
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter to catch the latest news on tankless water heaters and green technology.
