Best Electric Tankless Water Heater For RV In 2023 (Reviews and Comparison)

1. Stiebel Eltron 220817 Mini 6-2 – Overall Best Electric Tankless Water Heater

The Stiebel Eltron Mini 6-2 is one of the larger electric tankless mini water heaters offered by Stiebel. It features a modern nichrome heating element that makes it extremely efficient. You’ll have virtually no wasted energy here, with the Mini 6-2’s standard 99% thermal efficiency.

There is no Energy Star rating for tankless electric water heaters, so, unfortunately, you won’t see that statistic on any of our reviewed products.

This model comes equipped with a manual reset button in case of power outages or energy surges. It also boasts a safety high limit that turns the device off if the water gets too hot.

You don’t have the option to adjust the temperature output, so you’ll get max temps at all times. This produces an average 1 GPM water flow rate.

The Stiebel Eltron Mini 6-2 is one of the easier devices to install, as it requires standard vanity plumbing connections. It can be mounted on the wall or under the cabinet to fit the limited space you have in your RV. At only 6 inches deep, the console won’t stick out too far.

Be aware that your warranty is only valid if the product is installed by a licensed plumber and/or electrician, as is the case with most electric tankless water heaters.

Because it is easy to install, you’ll find this electric tankless water heater very versatile. It can be moved from your RV to points of use in homes.

What We Like

Great Design 

This device can be installed in either direction (horizontally or vertically), which is helpful for installation in tight spaces. Furthermore, the attractive yet non-intrusive appearance blends in well if the unit must be installed in a visible area. 

Pre-wired 

Most electric water heaters that need to be hard-wired need to be installed by a professional electrician because they must open up the unit to connect all the wires. The Stiebel Eltron comes with a pigtail electrical cord, so RV owners proficient in electrical work will have an easy time installing the console.

What We Don’t Like

Lower Flow than Promised 

Unfortunately, you probably won’t get 1 GPM in colder climates. The device’s specs indicate that you can get 1 GPM with a 40° temperature rise, but our research tells us that you’re going to be closer to 0.5 GPM under the same conditions.

The Marey ECO150 is easy to install, but it may require a change of circuit (to a 70 amp, if you don’t already have one) as well as the wiring to your electrical box. A licensed electrician can ensure this wiring is done correctly.

As for safety features, the unit comes with an overheat sensor and an anti-dry heating device to protect the device and your RV. It also contains a corrosion-resistant stainless steel heating chamber.

Priced under $150, the cost of the Marey ECO 150 is a major selling point for recreational campers and people living in their RVs full-time. The device is slim, so it fits nicely against any wall, and it offers temperature adjustability on an attractive LCD display. This device must be mounted vertically.

The water flow rate of this water heater is an impressive 3.5 GPM, making it capable of running 2 points of use at a time. This high flow is a better option for families or couples on the road. Most people are willing to sacrifice a minuscule amount of thermal efficiency (this water heater is 98% efficient compared to similar models that are 99% and above) to gain higher water flow.

What We Like

High Flow Rate

Undeniably, a high water flow rate is a desired feature of water heaters for both home and RV uses. The Marey ECO 150 offers the highest flow rate of any on our list, and it rivals any similar model on the market.

What We Don’t Like

Not Good for Colder Climates 

According to our research, the Marey ECO 150 does not perform well in extreme cold. Incoming water needs to be 70 degrees or higher in order to achieve hot water for showering or washing dishes. Therefore, we cannot recommend this model for extended cold weather travels.

The Bosch Electric Mini-Tank line of water heaters is not exactly tankless, but it still makes our list due to its similarities to tankless models. The Bosh Electric Mini-Tank contains a small water tank in addition to its on-demand water heating capabilities. This particular model has a 4-gallon tank. Because of this tank, you can avoid the “cold water sandwiches” common with other models.

The Bosch Tronic 3000 T has several safety features, including temperature and pressure relief valves, as well as a replaceable anode that prevents corrosion. This anode should be replaced annually to prevent corrosion in other parts of the water heater, such as the heating element.

It has three temperature settings (Min, Ideal, and Max) and supplies 6.8 gallons of hot water per hour. The water flow rate for this device is listed as GPH because it takes roughly 45 minutes for the 4-gallon tank to reheat.

A glass-lined tank and a traditional copper heating element provide users with 98% thermal efficiency.

The unit is easy to install, as it plugs into an outlet rather than being hard-wired. It must be mounted upright, but it is a good size for shelf, floor, or wall mounting in a small RV.

What We Like

Small Tank

By storing a small amount of water, there is virtually no delay in hot water. While you may not consider it a truly “tankless” water heater, it only holds about half of what a tank-style RV water heater would. This cuts down on the space needed for your water heater considerably, especially in a small RV.

What We Don’t Like

Read the fine print. 

As we mentioned, the warranty is only valid if the device is installed by a professional and if the anode rod is replaced yearly.

Energy Efficiency 

Having 98% efficiency is great, but this model does require some passive energy use to heat tank water when it is not in use.

Every inch matters when you’re living or camping in an RV. Any compact appliance that performs like its regular-sized counterparts is a great find.

The Ecosmart POU 6 is just that. It has a slim profile, perfect for a wall mount. At just 3 inches deep, it’s one of the thinnest RV water you can find. It must be installed vertically, but it is small enough to fit inside an RV cabinet if needed.

The thermal efficiency of the Ecosmart POU 6 is an impressive 99.8%. You’ll get around 1.5 GPM for a 25° rise in temperature. Even for a 75° rise, you’ll get at least 0.5 GPM. A digital thermostat shows the current water temperature, although there is no temperature control on this model. Larger Ecosmart models do have temperature adjustability.

The unit employs a copper heating element and stainless steel exchanger to heat the water. Its key safety feature includes an auto-reset when the water temp gets too high. The Ecosmart POU 6 requires hardwiring that may be best left to a professional electrician.

What We Like

Stainless Heat Exchanger

We didn’t see this in many models that we reviewed, but the use of stainless steel is very wise, as it is corrosion-resistant. Corrosion is the main cause of unit failure in electric tankless water heaters, and we’d love to see more companies add layers of protection against it.

What We Don’t Like

No Adjustable Thermostat

While we love the digital readout, we’d love it even more if this model offered an adjustable thermostat. As it stands, the unit provides the maximum temperature that it can, given the temperature of the incoming water.

Safety features galore in the ECOTOUCH 9KW electric water heater. It protects your RV and itself with dry fire, over-voltage, and over-temperature protection features. In addition, the water and electricity sources are separated to minimize the risk of corrosion within the unit.

Installation is fairly easy, but the brand still recommends professional installation. Most water heater warranties (including this one) are void if the unit is not professionally installed.

The ECOTOUCH 9KW offers a modest 1.5 GPM water flow rate, which is fine for practically any RV use. A major benefit is the temperature adjustability, with manual settings from 86° to 131° shown on a digital display. Its thermal efficiency rates are high as well, at 99.8%. This is due to the unit’s self-modulating energy use.

You’ll have multiple mounting options with this water heater. Place it vertically or horizontally to fit your space. And if you need to place it in a visible area, its sleek black design won’t be an eyesore.

What We Like

Self-regulating Energy Use 

Energy efficiency is the name of the game with ECOTOUCH 9KW. An internal, self-modulating system makes the most of your power use. As the water flow decreases, the water heater instinctively uses less power to save energy.

What We Don’t Like

Not Ideal for Colder Climates

Maximum water temperature is heavily dependent on incoming water temperature. While this is true with most electric tankless water heaters, the ECOTOUCH 9KW may have a harder time keeping up with temperature rise demands in colder weather.