The Best RV Tankless Water Heater

If you travel a lot or live in your recreational vehicle, you need the best RV tankless water heater. It is the equipment that constantly heats water, without you having to wait for water in a tank to heat up. So even away from home, you can still have cozy and luxury showers in your RV with a portable water heater.

Today, we’ll discuss the benefits of this tankless water heater as well as talk about some factors to consider when shopping around for one. Also in this guide, we’ll answer some of the most common questions about a tankless water heater for your recreational vehicle. And to help you select one, we have also reviewed the best water heaters for an RV this year.

Best RV Tankless Water Heaters

1. Girard 1GWHAF Tankless Water Heater

There are many benefits to having a tankless water heater like the Girard 1GWHAF. For one, it takes up less space unlike the traditional water heaters.

This water heater can also get rid of standby losses making the Girard 1GWHAF one of the most reliable and efficient systems we found.

It can work pretty well while saving you fresh water. That is why we recommend it for fellow RV owners that want to make use of an efficient and moneysaving unit.

The Girard 1GWHAF is also very easy to adjust, letting you control it based on your preferred temperature settings. You don’t have to worry about spending much on energy because of its compact and solid construction and efficient motor operation.

You can also rely on it for its variability and versatility. It can be used for a wide range of fresh water sources. It is one of the most impressive features of the unit. When choosing a water heater for our RV, we must go for a heater that can be used in a wide range of purposes and applications.

If it will be your first time to use an RV water heater, you should pick one that can be installed without any hassles. You should find a unit that lets you set it up in a short period of time. The Girard 1GWHAF is a breeze to install. It won’t give you any difficulty in setting it up for your RV freshwater system.

This unit is also compact and solid in construction. It does not take up much space, no matter how tight it is. You can also pick this unit if you’re looking for an affordable device that’s also durable. With it, you don’t have to do frequent repairs or parts replacement.

2. Girard 2GWHAM Tankless Water Heater

The 2GSWH is one of the latest offerings from Girard, one of the established RV tankless water heater brands in the world. If you’re looking to buy a new unit for your motor home or recreational vehicle, you can add this model on your list. It is very easy to operate, keeping hot water to your desired temperature.

This unit is designed and made with an on-board microprocessor, which tracks or monitors temperature of cold water incoming. With this process, RV owners can always look forward to a steady flow of hot water. This unit is designed with a good burner regulating capacity, which is able to keep the flow of hot water.

If it is the winter, one of the things we won’t like to experience is to find out that our water heater isn’t working because it is freezing. It is stressful and frustrating because it’s the wintertime that we need consistent hot water flow into our RV water tank.

It does not just take up less space but also saves energy. The unit works with 12 volts of power that operates at less than three amperes. You will love that this water heater is efficient yet it does not consume too much energy.

Choosing this model, you don’t need to buy any special plumbing or LP gas lines to operate it. It is one of the best features we appreciate in this product. If you’re looking for an easy installation and save money in the process, we recommend this unit.

You can also rely on it because it operates quietly with its brushless motor. So even if it is running, it won’t produce noise even in the middle of the night. You will also love that this unit is useful even in the winter. The manufacturer has designed and made it with freeze protection.

3. PrecisionTemp RV-550 Tankless Water Heater

Living in an RV, you don’t have to deal with cold showers especially in the wintertime. You can rely on a tankless water heater that can provide you with steady supply of hot water. With it, you can still have hot showers while living in the recreational vehicle, tiny house, trailer and other small houses.

If you’re looking for an efficient and reliable unit that works optimally, then you might want to take at look at the Precision Temp RV 550. It is one of our suggested water heaters for our fellow RVers that want an efficient and decent unit that is also made with high quality materials and good construction design.

This unit is a wall-vented water heater, saving space even in tight spaces. It is very easy to install and does not require any complex installation directions. The water heater can also save water and energy consistently. While it can keep hot water temperature for water in your RV, it can help you save on energy cost because it is efficient.

The unit is also compact at 32 pounds, weighing as much as a full 10-gallon water heater. It is one of the top features to look for when buying a new tankless water heater for your motor home or RV.

This unit is not taking up much space, ideal even for tight spaces in a tiny home or a trailer. It does not have a pilot light and has high propane efficiency. You can also rely on it for its VariFlame technology control system, making it more efficient in providing hot water to your RV water tank.

It also works smartly for its ability of self-adjusting gas usage, according to incoming water temperature and water flow.

4. Camplux 5L 1.32 GPM Tankless Water Heater

If you’re looking for a reliable and durable water heater that you can take anywhere when camping with your RV, you might want to check out the Camplux 5L a portable and outdoor tankless water heater for your trailer or mobile home.

It is from one of the most reliable brands in the recreational vehicle water heater industry. The brand is committed to providing top quality and durable RV heater that can consistently monitor water temperature and keep it to the desired hotness level.

It has the three main elements for its products. All of them should have top innovation, energy saving and portability. They keep an eye for innovative and top quality products to let their consumers enjoy the outdoor life even more.

With its efficient operation and process, you can also save so much energy and water. For one, it offers a max temperature raise up to 114.8℉ or a minimum raise of 46.4℉ for a flow rate of 1.32GPM. You don’t have to worry about keeping a consistent temperature of the water in your RV because of the intelligent operation of this system. RV owners looking for a high tech and efficient unit might want to look into the Camplux 5L 1.32 GPM.

This model is also compatible with other Camplux devices, such as the Camplux 12V 1.2GPM water pump. It has one of the lowest water pressures on the market, requiring only a minimum of 2.5PSI.

It has a compact size and comes with a folding handle, allowing users to keep it out the way when setting up the device outdoors. This model also comers with an automatic safety device, protecting the unit from damage. It also comes with oxygen-depletion shutoff protection, anti-freezing protection and flame failure device.

This unit provides users with a 1.32 GPM of hot water output, keeping steady hot water supply for great showers. With it, you can look forward to hot water on demand.

5. Excel Tankless Gas Water Heater

If you’re finding a reliable gas water heater, you might want to check out the Excel Tankless Gas Water Heater, which is one of the most efficient RV water heaters we found on the market.

It has one of the lowest water pressure startups on the market for its great technology. It can start with a minimum of 2-PSI water pressure or a maximum of 120 PSI. This model does not require a pressurizer pump to work unlike other tankless water heaters that have old technology on them. Some of them also require a minimum of 20-PSI water pressure, but this unit does not.

The RV water heater is ideal for trailers, campers, recreational vehicles, mobile homes and tiny homes. If you’re looking for a tankless water heater for any of these places, you might want to check out the model that can offer you with a steady supply of hot water for its high technology.

It can also save you water and energy because it can supply hot water once you open the hot water tap. You will also love its cool and elegant design, which can complement any laundry room or kitchen design and decoration.

Another good feature we love about this unit is it’s vent-free. It just means that we can quickly install it without special plumbing required. It can also save you money because it does not require any cost installation of ductwork and flues. The reason is its Oxygen Depletion Safety shutoff. This product is outfitted with that so it doesn’t need you to spend much money to install duct and flue.

6. Eccotemp L10 Portable Outdoor Tankless Water Heater

Aside from an easy RV tankless water heater installation, you should also look for a product that offers you with a very portable and lightweight construction to ensure it can be used for different outdoor uses. This product is useful for washing pets, off grid uses, camping and having outdoor showers.

By choosing the Eccotemp L10, you will enjoy your day in the camping ground because you can be sure that you will have a consistent supply of hot water for enjoyable showers while away from home.

This product is not only useful for the RV but also for other applications because it is portable. It will help you enjoy your day at the lake or at the pool. With it, you can just attach a 20lb propane tank and a garden hose. After, you and your loved ones can enjoy the luxury of having a hot shower or hot water anywhere you are.

The model is also not just useful for the campground but also for the house. It can also be used for tiny houses, cabins and condominiums. It can also handle between 50 and 140 degrees F.

Another amazing feature of this model is that it can be used in off grid places where electricity is not available. Its electronic ignition can run with two pieces of D cell batteries. You will also appreciate that it is suitable to use for 12V pumps. Also, this model can work with an EccoFlo strainer and pump.

7. Camplux 10L Tankless Water Heater

The outdoors is some of the best places on earth because they give us the chance of enjoying nature’s wonders. But when we’re away from home and camping with our RV, we must also think of comfort and convenience. For this reason, you should carefully consider the tankless water heater to buy.

One of the most reliable brands we found and that give us more convenience when outdoors is the Camplux 10L unit. A great feature we love about it is its 2.64GPM in water output, which is impressive and even higher than in other water heaters on the market.

This propane gas tankless water heater and shower also have an elegant and nice design, making it very decorative and compatible for all types of decoration.

This product also comes with a 20-min automatic safety device that protects it from damage. With it, you can have peace of mind that your unit will be functional for a longer time. It also has an anti-freeze protection, which makes it ideal to use even in the winter and extreme temperature.

You will also love that it comes with multifunctional showerhead. You can simply adjust or change its settings until you achieve your desired hot water temperature.

We also recommend it for its lightweight and compact structure, helping you save up to 11.5% of energy. While small, the unit can consistently deliver hot water for luxury showers.

This unit also comes complete with required adapters and a gas regulator. That said you don’t have to buy these components separately.

8. MAREY Gas 10L Tankless Water Heater

Marey Heater Corp is one of the most reputable makers of portable and tankless water heaters for campers, trailers and recreational vehicles. This model is not an RV electric tankless water heater, so you don’t need to have an electrical connection. With that said, you won’t need to pay for electricity bills. This model only uses gas when the water is flowing.

Another thing we love about it is that this water heater is more affordable than other brands are. It is a favorite among RVers because it is not just functional but also competitively priced.

You will also love that it is rustproof, so you don’t need to worry about replacing the anode road. In addition, the product guarantees no more leaks because of a secure and stable connection that it can ensure.

Regarding installation, this unit won’t give you a headache because setting it up is a breeze.

With proper maintenance and care, you can also look forward to long lasting use. In fact, this product can also maintain its performance by up to 87%. When it comes to the space it will take, it won’t take much space because it has overall dimensions of 24 inches height x 14 inches width and 7 inches diameter.

Regarding energy efficiency, the tankless water heater can run with two pieces of D cell batteries. It also uses gas when it is running. When the device is off, it won’t be using energy.

The product is also made with eco-friendly materials and is designed to work through the years. And aside from its great design, it can also perform well to meet your family’s needs.

9. Suburban 5117A Water Heater

The water heater has a 6-gallon capacity, making it ideal for family camping use in their recreational vehicle or camper. It is one of the most competitive choices we have found. Also, it is from a top brand, which is known for manufacturing of high technology, portable and functional RV water heaters.

This model comes with an anode rod that works by eliminating or reducing any of the possible damages of hot water in the unit. We also love that the tankless water heater can heat water quickly, making it suitable for families requiring hot water supply consistently.

When it comes to installation, we recommend this product because it’s a breeze to set up. You don’t need to follow any complex instructions before you can start using it in your home or RV.

As it is tankless, it is also more energy efficient eliminating standby losses of traditional water heaters. Using it, you can also have six gallons of water from the pilot ignition.

The 5117A model from this brand also gives you enough hot water supply, letting you and your loved ones to enjoy more hot showers. This model can also fit most types of recreational vehicles.

Hot water use is also consistent even in extreme environmental conditions. The 12,000-BTU tankless water heater also runs with gasoline for its power source. Overall, choosing the 5117A is highly recommended. It is not just consistent in keeping hot water supply, but it is also affordable without compromising quality.

10. New Suburban Sw6De Water Heater

The DSI Electric Ignition tankless water heater is one of the favorites among the RV community because it is top performing and durable. It is also made of high quality materials and has a cool design. It has a 6-gallon capacity to meet your family’s hot water requirements. So even if you would lounge at the pool or spend time at the lake, you and your loved ones can enjoy a continuous supply of hot water for great showers.

This unit also ensures of a fast recovery, meaning fewer cool water cycles and more hot water. One of the reasons is that it has an input of 12,000 BTUs.

The New Suburban tankless water heater also has a fast recovery time of 10.2 Gallons per hour, which is higher than industry competition. It is also one of the fastest in the industry.

If you’re looking to improve recovery time, you should also look for a model that can let you use an electric and gas element that can be used simultaneously. When it comes to this feature, the New Suburban Sw6De has it.

Water output is 6 GPH for its electric and 10.2 GPH for its gas element. It also has a compact size, which makes it suitable even for tight spaces. The model is also very portable for it is lightweight.

Overall, this product is a decent choice for trailers, campers, motor homes, tiny homes and recreational vehicles.

11. Atwood GC6AA-10E Water Heater Without Door

Just as how dependable the Girard 2gwham on-demand tankless water heater, the Atwood GC6AA-10E without door is another favorite in the RV community. It lets us enjoy hot showers whenever we want it and anywhere we are.

You don’t have to worry about taking cold showers if you have this portable tankless water heater with you when RV camping. It is ultra portable and convenient to use.

This unit won’t also require hard installation process because it is a breeze to set up. It is one of the factors to consider when choosing an RV water heater. The unit to choose must be quick and easy to set up out of the box.

It makes use of LP gas and an electric element in heating water, so it can heat water fast without any worries. The combination of both makes this product more efficient than the rest in the competition.

Plus, you can have peace of mind when you select this product because it comes with a two-year manufacturer warranty. You can be sure that help is available when you encounter a problem with your water heater.

This unit can keep the hot water flowing with its top performance.

It weighs 18 pounds and has overall size dimensions of 17 x 15 x 15 inches. This model is one of the lightweight and compact in the category, and it suits most RVs, trailers, tiny homes and mobile homes.

12. Atwood GC6AA-10E Water Heater With White Door

The Atwood GC6AA-10E with white door is a complete package that you can easily set up and install in an hour or less. You don’t have to buy special plumbing or complex setup to start using it.

The Atwood GC6AA-10E can make your RVing life more convenient. It is a combination of electric and gas element heater that allows it for faster recovery time. It only means that there will be more hot water and less cold water.

It has a high BTU input of 8,800 and has a high recovery rate. For the electric element, it can deliver an output of hot water totaling to 11.6 Gal/Hr when on LP and 6.2 Gal/Hr when on electric. When combined, 17.8 Gal/Hr is the total recovery rate. The unit gives you more options and flexibility to use either or both the elements.

This water heater with door can be used in many applications. It can be used in RV camping and in homes. Anywhere you can have hot water on demand whenever and wherever you need it.

The model is also from one of the most reliable brands for the RV community because of its commitment to quality and performance. It is also made with high quality construction materials, making it the ideal choice for those who want to use a durable unit for their RV.

It also has a 6-gallon capacity that makes it suitable for most types of RVs and family needs. So when it comes to performance, this product is one of our favorites. You might want to look into it if you’re trying to compare several tankless water heaters for your recreational vehicle.

Why You Should Trust Us

Our RV water heater reviewers have firsthand experience in using RV tankless water heaters. In this review, we have used several factors to determine which the right water heater is.

For one, we’ve listed and compared different on-demand water heaters, which are top-rated and highly reviewed in the category.

We have also looked for those high-efficiency models because we believe that top performance and energy saving features are integral when shopping around for these RV devices.

Our team has also carefully picked those that can be installed easily and quickly to ensure that our readers will not have a difficult time in setting up the heater on their RV.

Our team is composed of fulltime and part time RVers, so we know the ins and outs of most RV technologies and products, including RV water filters. By having combined years of experience in the RV world, we believe that our experience and knowledge in this category can make us your trustworthy partners in picking the right RV gears, devices and appliances for your motor home, tiny home or recreational vehicle.

We also have chosen those models that have top quality features, which we’re going to discuss a little later in this guide.

Overall, you should trust us because we are sincere to help and are passionate about RVing. We do hope that you can pick and buy the best RV tankless water heater by referring to our list of the top products and knowing the answers to some of the most common questions when looking for a good tankless water heater.

What Is An RV Water Heater (Tankless)

An RV tankless water heater is a useful recreational vehicle appliance or device because it supplies us with hot water on demand but without the need for a storage tank. It is one of those things we need for our recreational vehicle because it lets us have cozy and luxury showers even when we’re away from home.

And in the winter season when we need hot showers, even when RV camping, it is dependable RV equipment that can help us get hot showers whenever because one usually has a high recovery rate.

How Does It Work

As said, it heats water quickly and directly and does not require a storage tank to operate. By turning the hot water tap on, the cold water passing through the pipe and then into the unit will be heated.

This equipment works either using an electric element or a gas burner to heat the water and provide your family with luxury showers anytime without having to wait for hot water.

That said tankless water heaters could deliver your RV with continued supply of hot water. Unlike a traditional water heater with a storage tank, this type of water heater doesn’t require waiting to fill up any tank with hot water before you could use it.

Latest models also work even with low water pressure. They can also work with high flow rate. Some can deliver more than 2 gallons per minute, but some can supply up to five gallons per minute, depending on the model.

In most cases, gas models can produce higher flow rates versus electric models do. The good news is that the best tankless water heaters can make use of this combination for a higher recovery rate.

Nevertheless, the idea behind tankless systems is that they can heat water on demand better than traditional water heaters with tank can. With it, you also save energy because it continually heats the water but does not have to store it in a tank.

With a tank use in systems requiring it, energy can be wasted because the water needs to be heated again until it reaches desired temperature.

Using a tankless system, you can save money on energy bills for electric powered heaters. And in most cases, these units can last between 5 and 10 years versus a traditional tank heater.

Types Of RV Tankless Water Heaters

There are two types of tankless water heaters that you can choose from and buy. But the best models on the market can have the combined technology of using both gas and electric that can be used simultaneously. For more explanation, check out the following for a guide on the two types of RV water heaters.

Gas

In most cases, this type requires propane, LP or kerosene to work. According to sources, the water heater can have an efficiency of up to 85%. These models are also more affordable versus their electric counterparts are. One reason is the lower gas cost. However, this type requires venting to release the green house gases, which can harm the environment.

Electric

This type is the environment-friendly and cost-effective choice for those who want a more efficient unit. It is also easy to install this kind of water heater. The electric heater is also said to be 99% efficient, eliminating any greenhouse gases issue.

Why Do You Need An RV Tankless Water Heater

By using a tankless water heater, you can save space and energy. You can also have hot water on demand without having to wait for water in a tank to heat up. For more explanation on the reasons you need a tankless RV water heater, keep reading in the following section.

Cost effective

Most RVs only have six-gallon size, and this is a standard. Most hot water heaters, on the other hand, can have a capacity of up to 10 gallons. The 10-gallon, however, is not a standard. Also, it takes about one hour to heat the water, but tankless systems will not run out of hot water supply. When it comes to the price, tankless systems are also more affordable than systems with tanks.

No waiting for hot water

It is one of the most important features of a tankless system, sometimes called on demand water heater. With it, you will not run out of hot water supply especially if you will get units that have higher recovery rate, usually a combination of gas and electric element used. This system can also use less gas or propane, meaning a lower operation cost, too.

Greener option

Tankless water heaters don’t need to heat water inside a tank, but it heats water directly. That said the unit is the greener option. It saves energy while also saving the environment for using less gas.

Easy to adjust temperature

It is another benefit to get by choosing a tankless system like the EZ 202 tankless water heater. You can also choose one with a digital screen, allowing you to adjust temperature based on your needs and preferences.

Smaller size

Aside from not having to wait for hot water, the unit is also smaller, taking up less space in your RV. It also allows for better portability, so you can bring it anywhere without worrying about a bulky size or heavy weight. In fact, sources revealed that this system takes up almost half the space that a standard water heater would use.

With a limited space in your RV, you can fit the tankless system even in a hidden or small space in your recreational vehicle.

Gas savings

As tankless systems are more efficient, they also make use of propane or LP more efficiently, meaning you don’t run out of fuel fast. Another reason is that it does not have to maintain the water at a specific temperature unlike in standard water heaters.

No storage tank required

You don’t need to use a tank to store water with a tankless system. An endless supply of hot water on your fingertips as you need it is what you will get by using a tankless system. With that said, you don’t also need a storage tank that has to be winterized.

How We Picked

There are several things to look into when buying as water heater for the RV, and some of those we have listed in the following. These are some factors we considered when reviewing and picking the best RV water heaters.

Water capacity: We picked the standard 6-gallon capacity that applies to most recreational vehicles. Nevertheless, we suggest picking a unit that is suitable for your family’s size and needs.

Heat output: It is determined in BTU or British Thermal Units. A higher rating means a higher efficiency unit. It also means that the unit can heat the water faster.

Durability: Make sure that you pick one that can last for years, so it should be made with high quality materials.

Water output: What is the GPM (gallon per minute capacity) of the water heater? It will help you pick the right unit that suits your needs.

Accessories: When shopping around for a unit, you can also factor in the accessories that come with every purchase. For one, it must come with complete accessories, including required adapters. It must also include a showerhead, hoses, fittings and user manual.

Ease of installation: It is one of the most important factors to look into when shopping around for a water heater especially if it is your first time to use this equipment.

Warranty: A good product is backed by a warranty. Check for coverage when picking one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can this be installed under a sink in an RV? 

A: Yes, you can install it under the sink if you want instant hot water and save on energy bill. Nevertheless, you might also want to check the manufacturer’s specific manual for specific information on places where to install the tankless system.

The manual is also where to read about troubleshooting directions, such as Girard tankless water heater troubleshooting just as like when you purchase Girard.

Q: How to convert RV water heater to tankless?

A: You can convert RV water heater to tankless by having an upgrade. That said you would have to replace the old one with new installation of a tankless system. You can start comparing your options by reading our list above.

Q: How to install water heater in RV?

A: Installation process varies from one model to the next. There is no one size fits all for the installation. But in most cases, setting one up does not require a long time or help from a plumber. Again, check the manual that comes with the purchase for specific directions.

Q: How to use RV water heater?

A: Just turn it on, adjust to the desired water temperature and you’re done! It is easy to use equipment that heats water directly instead of storing it in a tank.

Q: How to light RV water heater pilot?

A: Lighting the water heater pilot should not be hard once you have learned the basics of operation. But take caution when working with propane or natural gas because it might pose harm or injury when mishandled.

For specific instructions on how to light water heater pilot light, check on the user manual because instructions can vary from one model to the next especially with combination gas/electric types.

Q: How to clean RV water heater?

A: You should do it regularly to prevent the accumulation and growth of bacteria especially if your unit has not been used for quite a while. For specific cleaning instructions, refer to the user manual.

Conclusion

Are you ready to buy your tankless water heater? Definitely, having the best RV tankless water heater is essential. You should not miss having one for continued hot water supply on demand. Hope you picked valuable information on how to choose, reasons for having it and top picks of RV tankless water heaters on the market today! If you are looking for other RV freshwater system products, you should read these articles: best RV shower heads, best RV water filters, best RV water pressure regulators, best RV water hoses, best RV water pumps and best RV water softeners. We do hope you like them. Thanks!