12 Best RV Water Heaters Review

Camping in your RV is fun, but it sucks when you don’t have access to hot water. It could even get worse during winter when you can’t stand an icy cold shower.

In this article, we’ll review some of the best water heaters for RVs in the market. These devices can supply instant hot water to your shower and faucets.

Let’s jump right in!

Best Electric RV Water Heaters

Bosch Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater

This is a 4-gallon electric water heater tank that is easy to install under your RV sink. All you need to do is plug it in to a 120-volt outlet and use a bracket to mount it on the wall, shelf or floor.

Apparently, it has a 98 percent thermal efficiency which helps to reduce fuel consumption. The temperature range is 65-145°F, and you can adjust it using a knob.

Better yet, if the water temperature or water pressure is too much, there is a relief valve on top to keep it in check.

The downside? There is no digital thermostat to monitor the temperature.

What We Like

• Easy to install
• Fast recovery rate
• It’s quiet and efficient
• 6-year warranty
• It’s portable

What We Don’t Like

• No digital thermostat

EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater

If you’re looking for something small and lightweight, the EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater is a good option. Since it doesn’t use a tank, you get to enjoy instant hot water with 99 percent thermal energy efficiency.

Unlike most RV water heaters, this unit comes with a digital thermostat that lets you adjust the temperature to the exact degree. What’s more, this tankless water heater can deliver up to 2 gallons per minute which is enough for one showerhead and one sink. 

Despite all its exceptional features, this unit is susceptible to water leakage if there is too much water pressure in your pipes. On the bright side, you get a lifetime warranty on the electronics.

What We Like

• Small and lightweight
• Digital thermostat
• On-demand hot water
• Energy efficient
• Lifetime warranty
• Easy to install

What We Don’t Like

• Susceptible to leakage

Best Gas RV Water Heaters

GIRARD 2GWHAM Tankless Water Heater

Girard is one of the most popular brands that sell tankless propane water heaters for RV.  What makes this special is that it’s more energy-efficient than electric heaters.

For what it’s worth, it offers 42,000 BTU which means it heats the water much faster than average. Not to mention, it’s one of the few propane water heaters that don’t make a lot of noise while running.

The best part about it is that you can use it during winter with little or no maintenance. But, on the flip side, it’s more expensive compared to most electric water heaters.

What We Like

• Convenient for winter
• Quiet motor
• No special plumbing required
• Easy to install
• Consistent water temperature
• Energy efficient

What We Don’t Like

• It’s expensive

Furrion 2.4GPM Tankless RV Gas Water Heater

At a glance, you would probably think it’s a wall mounting safe due to its unique compact design and white exterior. It looks like that because the engineers behind this Furrion water heater unit designed it to withstand extreme vibrations on the road.

It delivers up to 60,000 BTU and 2.4 gallons per minute at a consistent temperature. If that doesn’t convince you, how about electronic ignition, high-temperature protection, and automatic turn-off feature?

But the most impressive trick under its sleeve is the intelligent control thermostat. In other words, you can program the thermostat to adjust your desired water temperature based on the time of the day.

The only thing that could bug some people about it is the installation process. If you don’t know much about plumbing and wiring, you may need to hire a professional to install it.

What We Like

• Consistent temperature
• Compact design
• Intelligent thermostat control
• Advanced safety features
• Vibration resistant
• Electronic ignition

What We Don’t Like

• Complicated to install

​​Best Full-System RV Water Heaters

Suburban Gallon Gas and Electric Water Heater

This is a hybrid water heater that uses both gas and electricity to operate. It has a 12-gallon water capacity and about 12,000 BTU rating that makes it one of the best full-system RV water heaters on the market.

Unlike most water heaters that are made out of plastic, this Suburban water heater is made out of steel with porcelain lining to improve durability. It also comes with an anode rod to prevent electrolysis and corrosion.

Since it’s a hybrid hot water heater, the recovery rate depends on your fuel source. If you’re using gas, it will take you about 10 minutes to get hot water, but if you’re relying on electricity, you have to wait about 30 minutes.

One more thing; you need to buy the access doors and remote switch separately. However, it’s easy to install and operate.

What We Like

• It’s durable
• Gas and electric heater
• Direct spark ignition
• Huge water capacity
• Energy efficient

What We Don’t Like

• It’s heavy

Atwood 10 Gallon RV Water Heater

This is another RV water heater made in the U.S.A that runs on both gas and electricity, but the difference is, this unit is lighter than the competition. Besides that, the tank is made out of aluminum, so you don’t have to worry about rust.

Talking about the tank size, you get 10 gallons of water with a heated output of 10,000 BTU. It uses a patented tube design that increases water pressure through the pipes.

To improve safety, the gas lines are secured in a sealed combustion area with an outside outlet. Unfortunately, you need to purchase the indoor switch, frame kit, and door separately.

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What We Like

• Hybrid water heater
• High-efficiency rate
• Electronic ignition
• Lighter than competitive models
• Easy to maintain

What We Don’t Like

• Door, frame, and indoor switch sold separately

Best Portable RV Water Heaters

GASLAND BS158N Propane Tankless Water Heater

This device ticks all the boxes that you would expect in a portable tankless water heater. For starters, it weighs just 14 pounds, and you can easily carry it from your RV to the beach or campsite.

For such a small device, it punches above its weight with a maximum heat output of 41,000 BTU per hour. It works so fast; you don’t even need to pre-heat it since you get instant hot water.

Another thing; it has all the safety features such as anti-freezing protection, automatic shut off, and overheating protection.

Unfortunately, this water heater is not convenient if you’re camping in high-altitude areas with strong wind conditions.

What We Like

• No preheating
• Anti-freezing protection
• Lightweight portable design
• Overheating protection
• Flame failure device
• Energy saving

What We Don’t Like

• Not ideal for high altitude areas

Camplux 5L Outdoor Portable Water Heater

This product package includes a portable water heater, 5 feet gas regulator, and a 5 feet shower head straight out of the box. It’s small and lightweight with a compact design that makes it possible to mount it outside your RV exterior and take a shower outside.

Once you connect a cold water inlet to the heater, you will enjoy instant hot water up to 1.32 gallons per minute with no preheating necessary. Just make sure the water pressure is between 3 PSI to 110 PSI.

If the water temperature goes beyond 176 degrees Fahrenheit, it will automatically shut off. You can also use it during winter since it’s designed with an anti-freezing drain plug.

Like most water heaters that use propane, this device is susceptible to gas leakage. However, make sure you read the user’s manual and follow the safety precautions.

What We Like

• Lightweight portable design
• Instant hot water
• CSA certified
• Overheating protection
• Advanced safety features

What We Don’t Like

• Susceptible to gas leaks

Best Affordable RV Water Heaters

GASLAND Outdoors BE158 Propane Water Heater

This is another GASLAND propane water heater, but this model comes with a LED thermostat to monitor the temperature. Besides that, it’s also designed with a flame viewing window and an energy-saving knob.

Everything else is just the standard in GASLAND water heaters, from overheating protection, automatic shut off to an anti-freezing drain plug for winter. Not to mention, the device will automatically adjust the water pressure if it gets too high or too low.

However, a common problem we’ve noticed is that the water temperature could be inconsistent if the water pressure is below 10 PSI.

What We Like

• CSA approved
• Digital thermostat
• Lightweight compact design
• Easy to install
• Energy saver
• Instant hot water

What We Don’t Like

• Not suitable with low water pressure

Gdrasuya 110V Electric Water Heater

If you want something small and portable to supply hot water for your RV faucet, this 110V electric water heater is an ideal option. Its maximum power is 1500W, and you can adjust the temperature from 130 to 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

Even though it doesn’t have a digital thermostat, you can set it up to switch off automatically at a specific temperature. The best part is, it will deliver instant hot water after a few seconds.

On the flip side, this is not a suitable water heater if you want to take a long shower in your RV. However, you can use it to run hot water in your sink.

What We Like

• Lightweight and portable
• Low budget hot water heater
• Easy to install
• High efficiency
• Automatic shut off

What We Don’t Like

• Not suitable for high-pressure application

Best Premium RV Water Heaters

SUBURBAN MFG 10-G Direct Spark Water Heater

Technically, this hybrid water heater mixes 6 gallons of hot water with 4 gallons of cold water to have a 10-gallon capacity. But that’s not all; it has a recovery rate of 10.2 gallons per hour which is one of the fastest we’ve seen thus far.

The water heater tank is made out of steel and lined with porcelain to prevent metal corrosion. It also comes with an anode rod to protect your water heater tank against corrosion and explosion.

The installation should take less than an hour, considering the wires are color-coded and easy to match. However, you will need a power converter in your RV if you want it to run smoothly.  

What We Like

• It’s durable
• Three-year warranty
• Fast recovery
• Easy to maintain
• Direct spark ignition

What We Don’t Like

• It needs a power converter

Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater

This is what we would call a “smart” tankless water heater that incorporates the latest technology. Besides its contemporary design, it uses a patented advanced flow control feature that keeps the water temperature and flows consistently.

At the center of the device, it features a digital thermostat with preset temperature memory buttons. That means you don’t need to adjust the temperature every time you use it since it will remember your previous settings.

Using the auto-modulation feature will save you energy and show you on the monitor how much you’ve saved. Not to mention, you won’t have any noise complaints while running the hot water.

Despite all its exceptional features, it doesn’t come with an installation kit, so you will have to improvise.

What We Like

• Preset memory buttons
• Digital thermostat
• Auto-modulation
• Silent operation
• Easy to operate
• Advanced flow control

What We Don’t Like

• No installation kit

What to Look for in a Water Heater for Your RV?

Type of Power

RV water heaters usually have three sources of power. You can choose your ideal fuel source based on factors such as your energy consumption habits, RV design, and hot water needs.

Let’s have a look at the different fuel options when choosing an RV water heater.

Propane

The good thing about using propane gas is that you can run your water heater almost anywhere. This makes it an ideal option to boondock and enjoys a hot water supply when you don’t have electrical hookups.

On top of that, propane gas is often more economical than using electricity to run your RV water heater.

So how does it work? First, a small flame is ignited to heat the water tank for a few minutes until you achieve the desired temperature.

However, there are usually two types of propane heating systems; direct spark ignition and manual pilot light. The direct spark ignition relies on the RV 12V battery to automatically generate the flame, while the manual pilot light requires you to ignite the flame using a lighter.

Some direct spark ignition systems will automatically shut down once the water becomes too hot or if there is an ignition malfunction.

Just be careful; using propane gas to run your water heater poses more potential risks compared to other heating techniques. Not to mention, propane gas can be noisy when you’re running it in a camper.

Electricity

Electricity is the most popular method of running RV water heaters. It’s also a safer and quieter fuel than propane. If you mostly rely on generator power or RV campsite connection, electricity is the most convenient option.

It’s also possible to get your electricity supply from solar panels and RV batteries via an inverter to run a water heater.

Usually, an electric water heater system will be equipped with a separate element and a thermostat; you just need to flip a switch to turn it on.

On the downside, electricity takes longer than propane to heat the water. It could also be expensive to operate in the long run.

A good solution to counter that problem would be to use a hybrid water heater in your RV that is powered by both electricity and propane. Besides having a backup option, the water would warm up faster if you’re using a hybrid water heater.

RV Engine

Here is something cool; you can use the RV engine to get hot water without relying on electricity or propane. Of course, this is a cheaper and environmentally friendly alternative since you don’t rely on an outside power source. 

To pull it off, you need a calorifier or motoraid water heater setup. This is a special type of water tank that is designed with an internal heat exchange coil that is connected to a coolant line from the RV engine. 

Once you drive your RV, the engine’s hot fluid will flow through the water tank heat exchange coil and back to the engine through the radiator.

As long as you have enough coolant in your engine and a calorifier tank, your water heater setup will be complete.

There is just one hurdle with this setup; you need to drive for at least 15 minutes to get hot water in your RV. Otherwise, it’s a genius solution if you’re off-grid.

Capacity, Tanks Size

Most RV water heater tanks have a capacity of between 6 gallons and 10 gallons. If you want a smaller water heater tank size that doesn’t occupy too much space, you could choose a 4-gallon tank capacity; but that wouldn’t be convenient if you have many people dwelling in your camper.

On the other hand, if you want something bigger, you could consider a 16-gallon tank. However, most water heater tanks that are advertised with 16-gallon capacity are inaccurate since you get 10 gallons of hot water mixed with 6 gallons of cold water.

Another important factor to think about is the recovery rate. This is how long it will take for the water heater tank to recover after you’ve drained the water.

Portable or Full System

Do you want a portable or a full system water heater tank? A portable tank water heater is easy to hook up and move around. It also doesn’t take up a lot of space in your camper van.

On the other hand, full system water heater tanks have a bigger storage capacity. They also tend to consume more gas or electricity per hour due to their size.

So which one is better? If you have a medium-sized camper van with a bathroom, we recommend a portable water heater would be convenient. But if you have a class C motorhome or a travel trailer, a full system water heater would be more efficient.

Thermostat

If you can, avoid water heaters with fixed thermostats that can’t adjust the temperature. The good news is, most water heaters nowadays come with a digital thermostat that you can adjust to the precise temperature range.

Beyond that, some thermostats are programmed to automatically shut down the water heater if the temperature is too high. Some of the best thermostats can even be programmed to adjust the temperature depending on the day.

Please note that most dual water heaters that are powered using both electricity and propane have two separate thermostats.

Energy Consumption

You can tell the energy consumption of your water heater by looking at the BTU (British Thermal Units) rating. Of course, a water heater with a high BTU rating will consume more energy compared to a heater with a lower BTU rating.

Then again, the higher the BTU rating, the better the efficiency of the water heater. Some of the best RV water heaters have a BTU rating of between 12,000 to 30,000.

Tank Heaters vs. Tankless

As the name suggests, a tankless water heater doesn’t need a storage tank. Instead, it uses a heat exchanger to warm up the water instantaneously before it flows out of your showerhead or faucet.

Obviously, a tankless heater will use less space than conventional tank heaters, but the best part is you don’t have to worry about heat loss inside the tanks. Because of that, tankless heaters are more efficient and cheaper to operate than tank-based heaters.

Most tankless water heaters use propane or electricity as a source of fuel. However, propane gas on a tankless heater is more efficient compared to electricity.  

RV Water Heater FAQs

Q. How to avoid corrosion inside the tank?

A. You can avoid corrosion in your water heater tank by flushing and cleaning it at least twice every year. We recommend cleaning your RV tank using a mixed solution of water and vinegar in equal portions.

Q. Can I leave my RV water heater on?

A. If you’re using an electric RV water heater, it’s safe to leave it on all the time. However, if you’re using a propane water heater, make sure you turn it off after you’re done.

Do I have to turn off the bypass in winter?

A. No. The water heater bypass valve should be turned on during winter to prevent antifreeze from flowing into the hot water tank.

Once the winter season is over, you can turn off the bypass.

Q. How much is a hot water heater for an RV?

A. It depends on the features. Most average-size hot water heaters will cost between $300 to $800. However, tankless heaters are often more expensive than conventional tank heaters.

Q. How long do RV Water heaters last?

A. The best RV water heaters should last for at least 10 years.

Q. How do I start my RV water heater?

A. It depends. If you’re using an electric RV water heater, you just need to flip on a switch. A propane water heater with a direct spark ignition system shouldn’t be any different as long as the gas is flowing through the pipe.

But if you’re using a manual propane water heater, you need to ignite the fire using a lighter.

Q. Who makes the best RV water heater?

A. The most reputable brands that manufacture hot water heaters are Atwood, Suburban, and Eccotemp.

Q. Are RV tankless water heaters worth it?

A. Yes, RV tankless heaters are worth it because they’re more energy-efficient.

Q. Can you use a tankless water heater in an RV?

A. Yes. There are plenty of tankless water heaters that are designed to be used in RVs.

Q. Do RV water heaters run on electricity?

A. The majority of RV water heaters use electricity for power. This is because electricity is safer and quieter than propane.

Q. How much propane does a RV tankless water heater use?

A. It depends on a few factors, such as the capacity and BTU rating of the tankless water heater. However, a tankless water heater uses less liquid propane compared to a conventional tank heater.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, you can choose a hot water heater for your RV, depending on your RV size and specifications. If you’re camping in a Class C motorhome or a travel trailer, we recommend a full system water heater such as the Suburban Gallon Gas and Electric Water Heater.

On the other hand, if you own a medium-sized RV, your best bet would be a portable device such as Camplux 5L Outdoor Portable Water Heater or EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater.

Otherwise, if we had to choose the ultimate RV water heater that would be suitable for all RVs, we would pick the Stiebel Eltron Tankless Water Heater.

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Last Updated on 27 September, 2023 by Veronica