Outdoor tankless water heaters are machines that heats and need to be installed outside. They save the home space especially for small houses and studious. Facing so many series, brands with different outdoor tankless water heater specifications, you should know some tips that help in choosing the most suitable and the best outdoor tankless water heaters for the money. So, we compiled a list of top outdoor tankless water heater review to guide you:
If you’re in a hurry, here are the best.
| Best Type | Tankless Water Heater |
| Best whole house type | Rheem RTG-95XLN Tankless Water Heater |
| Best portable type for travel use | Camplux 5L 1.32 GPM Tankless Water Heater |
| Best one for middle or tiny home use | Takagi T-KJr2-OS-NG Tankless Water Heater |
Table of Contents
Top 6 Best Outdoor Tankless Water Heaters
| Products | Name | Ratings |
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Rheem RTG-95XLN 9.5 GPM | 4.8 |
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Rinnai V65EP 6.6 GPM | 4.8 |
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Rheem RTG-84XLN Outdoor | 4.7 |
  |
Takagi T-KJr2-OS-NG | 4.7 |
  |
Camplux 5L 1.32 GPM | 4.3 |
|
Rinnai RL94eN | 4.3 |
Best Outdoor Tankless Water Heaters Reviews
This is the first in our ratings of the best outdoor tankless water heater and for great reasons.
Features:
- High flow rate
The flow rate of this unit maximum is 9.5 gallons per minute and it is able to support 3 bathrooms use in the south regions and 2 bathrooms in the Northern region. Once heated up, it is able to run constant hot water supply for you.
- High energy efficient
The thermal efficiency of this machine can go as high as 94%, which means only a couple of energy is wasted while in use. So, more energy and much money is saved on heating costs is also saved to a large extent.
- Remote control available
Once the app is downloaded on your smart device you will be armed with the ability to control the water temperature remotely o your smartphone. This is made so by the EcoNet smart home technology.
Pros:
- It is compact
- Comes with a 10 year warranty
- Available in both natural gas and propane
- Stainless steel heat exchanger
- Outdoor use, require no ventilation (both for indoor and outdoor installation)
- EcoNet smart home technology to remote control via the app
Cons:
Installation cost is high
This is yet another top rated outdoor tankless water heaters that works magic.
Features:
- 6.6 gpm flow rate
Its 6.6 gallons per minute water flow allows the unit to provide support for many kitchen faucets and bathrooms at the same time. So when you set hot water in various places, there will be no decrease in temperature and flow.
- Installation is simple
You can easily install it, 1 or 2-inch gas line is compatible enough so there is no need of purchasing extra 3/4 inch line. It also has certification for installation in mobile or manufactured homes.
- Smart technology
The remote thermostat can adjust temperature, so that you are able to switch on your heater and adjust water temperature inside your house slightly. Enhanced scale detection reduces the possibility if damage to the unit. So, the service life of the unit is quite long.
Pros:
- No noise when in use
- Shape is small and compact
- Temperature lock equipped
- Lacks fabric
- 0.82 energy factor
- Large power
- Low NOx design
Cons:
Once tap is turned off, water gets cold again
This made our list of outdoor tankless water heater reviews because of its great features.
Features:
- 8.4 gpm flow rate
8.4 GPM flow rate provides you with a huge amount of hot water in doing laundry or bathing. It supports multiple kitchen sinks and 2 bathrooms at the same time.
- Short waiting time
The waiting time is only a couple of seconds and the hot water flows continuously after this. As expected the nearer you install the unit, the faster it gets.
- Stylish compact size
It is designed to be small and compact, taking up little space of yours. The outdoor installation allows it to be free from venting. It is remote control available, so you need to get an extra controller.
Pros:
- It is lightweight
- Constant hot water supply
- Compact shaped
- Suitable for large families and homes
- Hot water flows out fast
- Suitable for big homes and families
Cons:
Better to get a professional to help hook it up
This still remains one of the best outdoor tankless water heater you can get this year.
Features:
- 6.6 gpm flow rate
This outdoor tankless water heater for warm water is able to meet the demand of double bathrooms use at the same time, so, you can use it for middle-sized family. It also supports frequent hot water for you.
- Large power
Gas power input of the machine sits at 140000 BTU per hour, 0.83 energy efficient rating saves much money on heating costs each month for ya. It is both propane and natural gas available.
- Digital remote control
Since installation is outside, there is a digital remote control for you to switch on and off the unit inside the home. It demands little to no maintenance and the highest temperature reaches 150 degrees F.
Pros:
- Installation is easy
- Power is large
- Propane and natural gas available
- Energy sufficient
- Compact size
Cons:
When in use, the noise produced is a tad loud
This is yet another top outdoor tankless water heater worth your cash.
Features:
- Low rate for travel use
This unit flow rate is only 1.32 gallons per minute, and is able to support one sink or one bathroom use, so it is not designed for whole home use, but is a perfect one for traveling and camping.
- Lower water pressure
It uses low water pressure requirement, needs only 2.5 PSI and is able to support flawless hot water for you. The highest temperature raise is 114.8 degrees F and the minimum one is 46.4 degrees F, so it is wonderful for camping shower.
- Easy operated
Anti-frozen protection is equipped together with tinning copper water tank, making it highly anti-corrosion and heat resistance. Double buttons are set, one for gas control while the other is for water flow control, you can turn it on and off fast for controlling water flow starts and stops.
Pros:
- Anti-frozen protection
- Anti-corrosion
- Great for camping shower
- Stainless steel burner
- Low water pressure required
- Simple installation and Easy operation
Cons:
- Not great for whole home use
- Hard to adjust the exact temperature you want
This outdoor tankless water heater review shows how cool this equipment is.
Features:
- Constantly hot water
This outdoor hot water heater is able to frequently provide warm water for you in the shower. It even supports 24 hours shower. The water temperature always remains the same without dropping even when you use it elsewhere.
- 9.4 gpm water flow
The water flow of the unit goes as high as 9.4 gallons per minute, which means it is able to support 4 or 3 bathrooms in warm areas and 2 bathrooms in cold regions. Temperature range of residential is between 98 to 140 degrees F, if, for commercial use, the highest temperature reaches 185 degrees F with the commercial controller.
- Remote control
It is Wi-Fi enabled; anywhere if you connected with it, you can control it with touchpad and a digital display to control water temperature easily.
Pros:
- 83% thermal efficiency
- Wi-Fi enabled
- Quiet working condition
- Large power range (9900-199000 BTU per hour)
- 83% thermal efficiency
- Computer remote control
- Installation is simple. You can install it all by yourself
Cons:
It takes a while for hot water to come out
Why Outdoor Tankless Water Heater?
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Needs no venting facilities
As an outdoor tankless water heater, regardless of the type; either gas or propane, there is no need to install venting facilities, wasted gas can be let out directly to the air. So, it saves much money in buying and installing a ventilation device and is much safer.
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Space Saver
Exterior tankless water heaters are able to save a huge amount of space for you. They are installed outside wall of kitchen or bathroom, so even with a small home; you can still get one for convenience using.
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Save money
Buying the venting facilities requires a large sum of money, and installing costs of it is also a big deal. With an outdoor tankless water heater, you need only install the heating machine, so it is able to save more money for you.
Indoor vs Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
So, you need to compare water heater inside versus one outside. Well, you’re in luck as this indoor vs outdoor tankless water heater comparison will help you decide.
Outdoor tankless water heater and indoor tankless water heater are two primary installation methods; some of the machines are both methods available, while some are designed to a specific one. Here we made compared quickly the two installation ways:
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Installation spots
Installation methods of indoor tankless water heater are more flexible, you can either hook it up on the kitchen wall, bathroom wall, under water sink, for whole home types, you can also install it anywhere that is convenient.
But for outdoor tankless water heater, especially when it is used for home, it is recommended to be installed on the outside wall of your kitchen or bathroom for short waiting time of hot water.
Of course, if you plan on using it as a travel heater, then the installation spots are more flexible than the indoor ones.
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Waiting time
The waiting time for hot water is determined by the distance between the tap and hot water machine. The closer you install the unit, the shorter the waiting time. So, no matter if you do indoor or outside tankless heater water, there is no major difference.
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Installation difficulty & Costs
Installation difficulty of the two types is nearly the same, for it is mainly decided by the design of the machine but not for installation spots. But, when it comes to costs, there is a huge difference. For external tankless water heater, it requires you get protection or enclosure cover outside to prevent the machine from long term damage by complicated weathers outside.
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Service life
The outdoor conditions are complicated; sunshine. Rain, and wind will do harm on the heating machine. So, compared with indoor tankless water heater, the service life of outdoor type may be a bit shorter, unless you protect it well enough.
And with that we come to the end of external tankless water heater reviews
Types Of Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
Outdoor tankless water heaters can be categorized into 2 different types based on its applications and power source.
By power source:
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Outdoor electric tankless water heater
Outdoor electric tankless water heater typically refers to those used for camping or traveling. It is more convenient in installing and using, providing support for limitless hot water for you when traveling outside. The lower power and flow rate demands make it a good helper for you.
We have choosen several best outdoor electric tankless water heaters and made a detailed review for you, please check out freely if you have an interest. Or you can get more information through Amazon directly.
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Outdoor propane tankless water heater
Propane and gas tankless water heater are similar, both of them require ventilation facilities, but the clean power source makes propane type eco-friendly.
If you do not want to get an extra gas line or lack pipeline, you can consider the outdoor propane tankless water heater. For more information on it, please come to best outdoor propane tankless water heater reviews.
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Outdoor tankless gas water heater
The outdoor tankless gas water heater is one of the most powerful amongst the 2 power source machine. It is generally used for the whole home, large flow rate and high energy efficient performance makes it more used and popular on tankless water heater markets. If you are interested in the item, just get to the best outdoor tankless gas water heater reviews we made for you.
By Applications:
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For home use
When it comes to residential use, Outdoor tankless water heater is typically installed on the outside wall of the bathroom; the flow rate of it is generally large enough to meet the demand of one bathroom and one kitchen faucet use at least. It is quite powerful to support frequent shot water for showering.
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For travel use
If used for travel or for RV, it is normally built to be as portable types. The small compact shape along with water pressure demand and the low flow rate, makes it suitable to be used anywhere you want in traveling. There are various best tankless water heaters for an outdoor shower on the market; you need to get the one with stable water flow and temperature.
Buying Guides On Outdoor Tankless Water Heater
When facing so many outdoor tankless water heaters brands on the market of 2020, there are certain factors you need to put into consideration:
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Your home location
Water flow rate and temperatures will differ according to the exterior temperature and weathers. Many of the outdoor tankless water heaters reach standard range only when they are used in warm areas, built for cold places, the flow rate will fall 2-3 GPM. So, if you stay somewhere cold, you should consider the weather and pick a suitable range. And the selected water heater needs to get freeze protection for long term outdoor use.
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Flow rate
Before purchasing, you need know how much flow rate you require for your water heater. Estimate the average water flow your home requires per day and compare it with products range, then you know exactly what “fits you”.
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Power source
There are 3 types of outdoor tankless water heaters, including electric, propane, and gas. Each of them has varying installation and performance requirements, if you have trouble choosing, you may get more information from the comparison we made among the three types of heating machines.
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Size
As earlier stated, outdoor tankless water heaters are primarily used for both travel and residential use. For residential use, the size of which depends hugely on your home size. But for travel use, you had better get a light and small one, or it will be a big problem on your way to travel.
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Safety
Safety is a bog consideration, the heating machine must be designed and qualified with excellent quality level. For some high technological tankless water heaters, there are also different self-protection functions to turn the machine off automatically when in danger.
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Smart functions
Anti-corrosion, Anti-frozen, and Wi-Fi enabled remote control, there are more smart functions as listed. Some of them may be a good helper for you but some may get no meaning at all. Facing the smart functions, you should figure out whether you need it and then choose according to your basic needs.
This is how yo handpick the best outdoor tankless water heater
The Best Outdoor Tankless Water Heaters
- Rheem RTG-95XLN Tankless Water Heater – Best whole house type
- Camplux 5L 1.32 GPM Tankless Water Heater – Best portable type for travel use
- Takagi T-KJr2-OS-NG Tankless Water Heater – Best one for middle or tiny home use
Outdoor Tankless Water Heater Costs
For each unique use, outdoor tankless water heater prices vary a lot, the travel use or portable outdoor types are far cheaper than residential types. But the service life of it can prove to be quite small. Large flow heater used for homes are designed more delicate, no matter for the working performance or for the service life. It’s more effective and more reliable for long term use.
Aside from the buying cost, you need consider the using costs, getting a high energy efficient one is helpful in saving you more bucks for heating bills. And you need to get protection covers for it when installing outside.
For the detailed price of each product, you can get information on Amazon directly, there will always be more and more discount provided for each outdoor tankless water heaters, do not miss the chance of saving money.
Outdoor Tankless Water Heater Installation
- For various flow rate and types, the installation spots are different. If it is used for home shower, then it needs to be installed outside the wall of the bathroom. If you intend to get one for travel use, then the installation spots totally depends on you.
- Get enclosure devices outside the heating machine, if not, harsh/bad weather such as rain, ice and long term sunshine will cause permanent damage to the machine and shorten the service life of it.
- You should install it somewhere dry and in airy places, damp areas will easily get the machine into corrosion.
Attention:
- Use instructions to operate it
- Check the machine frequently for safety
- Do not put the inflammable thing on the machine
- Stop using it immediately once it is in bad working performance
Have you chosen the best outdoor tankless water heater for you? If yes, Congrats! If no, continue reading….
FAQ:
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Can outdoor tankless water heater be used indoor?
Many of the outdoor tankless water heaters can also be used indoor, but for propane or gas tankless water heaters, you need to get ventilation devices to let out gas. If you are not sure about it, you can ask the manufacturer before purchasing.
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Does outdoor tankless water heater need ventilation?
No, because the when you install the heating machine outdoor, the gas can be let out directly through air, so you do not need to install venting facilities.
Summary:
The outdoor tankless water heater is yet another method of installation; there are lots of different applications and types for you to pick from. But remember to always choose in your budget range and the one that meets your needs.
You can always visit amazon on the latest deals of tankless water heaters for outdoors. They offer more reasonable pricing and reliable costs.
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