Best Water Heaters for Residential of 2025

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Water heaters for residential use are an essential appliance for any household. They provide hot water for cooking, cleaning, and bathing. There are several types of water heaters available on the market, including tankless, electric, and gas-powered models. Tankless water heaters are becoming increasingly popular due to their energy efficiency and compact size. Electric water heaters are also a popular choice for their ease of installation and low maintenance. Gas-powered water heaters are a reliable option for those looking for a cost-effective and efficient way to heat their water. Regardless of the type, choosing the right water heater for your home is crucial for ensuring your comfort and convenience.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks
Top 10 Water Heaters for Residential
Rheem RTEX-13 Tankless Water Heater
The Rheem RTEX-13 Tankless Water Heater is a compact and energy-efficient unit suitable for both single point-of-use and multiple applications. Its external adjustable digital thermostatic control with LED display allows you to adjust the temperature in increments of 1°F, while its 99.8% energy efficiency ensures you save on electricity bills. Its durable copper immersion two heating elements are field serviceable and self-modulating, making replacement and installation a breeze. Additionally, the heater comes with a water-saver shower head that delivers 1.5 GPM, and its simple installation process includes 1/2 NPT adapters and side 1/2 inch compression water connections.
Orbek 80,000 BTU Propane Tankless Water Heater
The Orbek Propane Water Heater delivers a reliable source of hot water on demand, providing up to 3.6 gallons per minute. This means you can comfortably use multiple fixtures at once, ensuring everyone in your home enjoys hot water when they need it. Safety is a priority with this model, featuring advanced protections against issues like dry combustion and overheating, giving you peace of mind. Its energy-efficient design utilizes high-quality materials to conserve energy and reduce costs. Plus, its compact size allows it to fit snugly in smaller spaces, making it a practical choice for any home.
Ranein 18kW Electric Tankless Water Heater
The Ranein Tankless Water Heater offers a powerful and efficient solution for your hot water needs. With its 18 kW capacity, this unit heats water on demand, eliminating the need for preheating and significantly reducing energy costs by up to 60%. Its impressive thermal efficiency of 99% ensures you get ample hot water with a flow rate of up to 4.3 gallons per minute, perfect for multiple outlets in your home. You can easily set your desired temperature between 86°F and 131°F using simple knob controls and an LED display, providing you with convenience and peace of mind.
Orbek 14KW Electric Tankless Water Heater
The Orbek Tankless Water Heater offers a reliable solution for your hot water needs. With professional installation recommended, it connects easily to your home's electrical system. You'll enjoy endless hot water on demand, eliminating the standby energy consumption typical of traditional tank heaters. The unit is ETL certified, ensuring it meets rigorous safety standards for your peace of mind. It also features smart operation, adjusting energy use based on water temperature and flow, which helps maintain consistent temperatures while conserving power. This means you can enjoy hot water without worrying about energy waste.
Rheem RTEX-27 Tankless Water Heater
The Rheem RTEX-27 Tankless Water Heater features an external digital thermostatic control with LED display, advanced self-modulation, and durable copper heating elements for field serviceability. The installation is simple with bottom 3/4 inch NPT water connections and threaded replacement. The digital temperature display provides accurate readings.
Rheem RTGH Series Tankless Water Heater
The Rheem Tankless Water Heater offers a versatile flow rate between 0.4 and 8.4 gallons per minute, ensuring you have hot water when you need it. You can easily adjust the temperature settings from 100 to 140°F, allowing you to customize your comfort with a default of 120°F. With electric ignition, you won't have to worry about pilot lights going out, making it safer and more convenient. Additionally, the product comes with comprehensive warranties, providing peace of mind with 1 year of labor coverage, 15 years for the heat exchanger, and 5 years for parts.
thermomate 18 Gallon Electric Water Heater
The thermomate Electric Water Heater is a compact solution that provides 18 gallons of hot water, perfect for your washing needs or showers lasting 20 to 25 minutes. With adjustable settings from 90°F to 150°F, you can easily customize the water temperature to your preference. Its low-profile design allows for versatile installation in kitchens, bathrooms, or even RVs and boats. The INCOLOY-800 heating element enhances durability and efficiency, ensuring you enjoy long-lasting hot water without compromising on energy savings.
AMZCHEF 27kW Electric Tankless Water Heater
The AMZCHEF Tankless Water Heater delivers hot water in just 3 seconds, ensuring you never have to wait for a shower again. With a remarkable thermal efficiency of 99%, it can support multiple outlets at once, making it perfect for family use. You can easily adjust the temperature between 86°F and 131°F using a simple knob, allowing you to enjoy hot water at your preferred comfort level. Plus, its compact design means it can fit seamlessly into your home without taking up much space, all while providing endless hot water for your daily needs.
Thermomate Tankless Electric Water Heater
The Thermomate Tankless Electric Water Heater is a high-performance, energy-efficient water heating system. With self-modulating power, it only heats water when needed, saving up to 60% on water heating costs compared to traditional tank water heaters. Its instant unlimited hot water feature provides hot water in 3 seconds, eliminating wait time and ensuring you never run out of hot water again. The digital temperature display allows you to adjust the temperature in 1° increments from 80°F to 140°F, ensuring stable water temperature. It is easy to install, fits into tight spaces, and requires no maintenance for heating elements. Safety features include overheat protection and automatic shut-off when there is no water.
Keoslpy Electric Tankless Water Heater 18kW
The Keoslpy Tankless Water Heater provides an efficient solution for your hot water needs. With an intelligent heating system, it adjusts power based on water flow, achieving up to 98% efficiency and significantly reducing your energy costs. You’ll enjoy instant hot water within seconds, with a flow rate that supports multiple showers at once, ensuring your family stays comfortable without waiting. The user-friendly knob control and LED display allow you to easily set your desired temperature, giving you the perfect hot water experience every time. Safety features like overheating and leakage protection ensure peace of mind while using this compact unit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the average life of a residential hot water heater?
While today's water heaters are better designed than older models, they still require regular maintenance in order to prolong their lives. With regular inspection, draining, and flushing, you can expect a gas water heater to last anywhere from 8-12 years and an electric water heater to last anywhere from 10-15 years.
2. What are the 3 types of water heaters?
There are five main types of water heaters; conventional, tankless, heat pump, solar, and condensing.
3. What size water heater do you need for your home?
For 1 to 2 people: 30-40 gallons. For 2 to 3 people: 40-50 gallons. For 3 to 4 people: 50-60 gallons. For 5+ people: 60-80 gallons.
During our water heater for residential research, we found 24 water heater for residential products and shortlisted 10 quality products. We collected and analyzed 9,672 customer reviews through our big data system to write the water heaters for residential list. We found that most customers choose water heaters for residential with an average price of $327.48.
The water heaters for residential are available for purchase. We have researched hundreds of brands and picked the top brands of water heaters for residential, including Rheem, Orbek, Ranein, thermomate, amzchef. The seller of top 1 product has received honest feedback from 148 consumers with an average rating of 4.4.

Harry Stack owns a small hardware store, his career landed him a depth of knowledge in categories such as tools, equipment, machinery and hardware. In his spare time, he usually repairs furniture, safes and appliances, and he knows how to make simple repairs to plumbing or electrical fixtures. His hobbies also include woodworking and fishing.