The process of buying a new water heater for your home can be a complex and at times, confusing one. It used to be that you had to simply pick a conventional tank heater but now there are tankless, condensing, electric, gas, and more. So how do you decide what is best?
That is where we come in and that is why we have created a full range of articles on the best water heaters on the market right now. This article focuses on gas water heaters and we’ve put together 10 that are definitely worth considering, along with the key features and benefits of each along with their pros and cons. This way, you should be able to make an informed decision about the best one for your household.
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Best Gas Water Heaters Comparison Chart
10 Best Gas Water Heaters
You will see that we have put 10 of the best gas water heater systems below, along with some important information about each one. This includes some helpful facts and features, along with a summary of the pros and cons. It is always important to compare these water heaters against your individual requirements as a household so that you end up making an informed, confident decision about this long-term investment.
1. Camplux Tankless Water Heater Natural Gas,High Efficiency Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater with Fahrenheit Digital Display, 3.18 GPM On Demand Water Heater for 2-3 Persons Bathroom Indoor Use,White
The Camplux tankless water heater uses natural gas to deliver a flow rate of up to 3.18GPM. This makes it perfect for a small home that wants on-demand water for the 2-3 people living within. The maximum input rating is 82,000BTU and the minimum flow rate is 0.65GPM meaning it will work even when there are issues with the water.
A modern style with a front panel that has an LED touchscreen for you to control the water temperature, whilst its compact style means it delivers more heat and saves more space than many traditional water tanks and water heaters. This gas water heater uses an oxygen-free copper heat exchanger which helps to achieve high heating efficiency of up to 98.98%. Easy to install as it uses most standard connectors and it comes with a 2.3″ horizontal vent pipe for efficient ventilation. Some other important features include anti-freeze protection, over-heating protection, and child-lock technology.
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2. Rheem RTGH-84DVLN Indoor Direct Vent Natural Gas Condensing Tankless Water Heater Low Nox
Next up is this Rheem indoor natural gas condensing tankless water heater. At 8.4GPM it is more powerful than some of the others on our list and being a condensing tankless water heater it operates in a more efficient and effective way. This includes lower emissions of NOx and greater performance.
Using next-generation burner technology, it has a minimum flow rate of 0.26GPM so you can use it at almost anytime. This intelligent system is designed to increase energy efficiency and safety, thanks to its self-diagnostic system and digital display which shows the exact temperature settings and maintenance codes. It comes with a remote control, as well as 10ft of thermostat wire. It may not be the easiest to install so for those that are unsure about the process, we advise getting a professional to help you. Always make sure the ventilation is set up correctly as safety is paramount when it comes to a gas water heater. The dimensions of this hot water heater are 9.75 x 18.5 x 27.5 inches.
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3. A.O. Smith GPVL-50 ProMax Power Vent Gas Water Heater, 50 gal
This ProMax Power vent gas water heater looks a lot more like the traditional water heaters you will have seen or had installed previously. Starting with the state-of-the-art electronic gas control systems, it allows you to precisely control the temperature with an LED control light displaying the current status of the gas heater.
The hot-surface igniter is more robust and reliable than a standing pilot light and tests have shown it reduces energy consumption which is a big bonus. It has a 3-position rotatable blower outlet for flexibility and the dip tube optimizes the inlet water pressure to minimize cold water regions within the hot water tank. The manufacturer has used 2-inch thick foam insulation that is environmentally friendly, helping to reduce heat loss and boost the overall energy efficiency rating. This is one of the biggest hot water heater systems on the list and its dimensions are 24 x 24 x 60.13 inches so make sure you have the space for it before buying.
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4. AO Smith 40 Gallon 40,000 BTU Water Heater
Another of the AO Smith water heaters makes it onto our list now and this one is part of the Promax 300/301 series. They have been designed to deliver a more economical performance to help lower household energy bills, saving money in the long term.
This gas heater includes a 40-gallon tank, as well as a 40,000 BTU gas burner. The GCR-40 standard vent will deliver a first-hour rating of 70 gallons, followed by a recovery rate of 41 gallons per hour. When it comes to energy ratings, it has an energy factor of 0.62 which isn’t the best out there but certainly not awful either. The manufacturer provides a 6-year limited tank warranty and they claim that this system meets the low NOx emission requirements, which provides some extra peace of mind.
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5. Rheem G100-200 Natural Gas Universal Commercial Water Heater, 100 Gallon
We thought it important to put a commercial water heater onto our list of the best water heaters on the market and this one certainly delivers everything you would want. With a 100-gallon tank and a 199,900 BTU rating, it will deliver outstanding results for commercial properties.
The manufacturers have gone for a universal tank design, with a focus on saving space whilst delivering performance. It is a multi-flue tank design, with a low-profile automatic flue damper. It is important to note that this heater comes with a 3-year warranty on the tank and 1-year on parts but these are only valid if the unit is installed by a properly licensed technician. As a result, we suggest you get it professionally installed for safety and security. The dimensions of this gas water tank are 30.25 x 30.25 x 66.12 inches.
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6. Rheem Performance Platinum 9.5 GPM
The Rheem Performance Platinum 9.5GPM water heater delivers outstanding performance and energy savings at the same time. With claims to save an estimated $1,100 over 12 years, as well as saving an estimated 1,100 gallons of water per year, it literally pays for itself in the long term.
This 9.5GPM hot water system has the capacity to supply up to 3 bathrooms at the same time, fantastic performance for a tankless hot water heater like this. Only heating water when you need it, this compact, wall-mounted design takes up minimal space in your home and is the perfect replacement for a standard gas water heater thanks to it fitting most standard gas lines. You will get multiple venting options thanks to advance technology to provide more flexibility about where its placed, it is relatively easy to install. In terms of maintenance, it will alert you with flashing warning codes when it’s time to have it serviced so you don’t need to worry about forgetting. The dimensions for this heater are 21 x 13 x 37 inches.
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7. A.O. Smith GPVX-75L ProMax SL Power Vent 7 Gas Water Heater with Side-Mounted Recirculating Taps, 5 gal
We’ve put another A.O Smith signature system onto our list of the best gas hot water heaters and there are some premium features on this that make it stand out from a very crowded market of gas water heaters. Firstly, it is a 5-gallon model with a blue diamond glass coating that provides superior corrosion resistance compared to other water heaters.
When we get to installation and flexibility about how to set it up, it comes with a 3-position rotatable blower outlet which really does make a difference. They also have combined horizontal and vertical vents that run up to 180 feet, using 4-inch diameter venting. You expect easy-to-use controls with the AO water heaters and you get that here with a state-of-the-art electronic gas control, with LED control light displays showing key information. Everything has been designed with accessibility in mind, making it quicker and cheaper to service but it is important to note the dimensions are 26 x 26 x 70.63, so make sure you have enough space to install it and get access to it.
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8. Rinnai V53DeP Propane Tankless Hot Water Heater, 5.3 GPM
This next outstanding system is another of the tankless water heaters to make it onto our list and yet again, it comes from the heating giants at Rinnai. This propane tankless water heater has a flow rate of up to 5.3GPM which means it will deliver a constant stream of hot water for most small and medium-sized properties.
Compact and durable, with dimensions of 10.5 x 30 x 13 inches it is easy to install but we do recommend getting a professional to deal with it so that you ensure it is installed safely and securely! The way the tankless water heaters are designed, they conserve energy by only working when required and yet still deliver unlimited hot water throughout the house. One interesting safety feature of this heater is the enhanced scale detection that reduces the potential for serious damage being dealt onto the unit in the long term, protecting your investment and extending the performance. When you buy this hot water heater you will get a 10-year warranty on the heat exchange.
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9. Bradford White 40 Gallon Natural Gas Water Heater
The Bradford White hot water system looks very much like a traditional gas water heater, so you do need to take the space requirements into consideration (it has dimensions of 20 x 20 x 60.5 inches). However, it has also been designed with some advanced technology that improves performance.
Firstly, this 40-gallon natural gas heater has advanced ScreenLok technology and Flame Arrestor design which is there to prevent ignition of flammable vapor outside of the water heater. It has a resettable thermal switch and a factory-installed hydro jet total performance system. All of this combines to increase the first hour delivery of hot water whilst minimizing temperature build-up in the gas tank, as well as making it require minimal maintenance. This saves money in the short term and long term which makes it a great investment. You will notice various LED lights that indicate key information such as pilot on and 9 other key bits of information.
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10. Camplux 5L Outdoor Portable Water Heater, 1.32 GPM Tankless Propane Gas Water Heater for RV, Camping, Barns, White
We’ve made sure to include at least one portable water heater on our list of gas water heaters and that is because they are a fantastic solution for people who want to go camping, travel in their RV or perhaps live in more remote locations. This Camplux 5L outdoor system will deliver up to 1.32GPM which is more than enough for a portable unit.
It adheres to key safety standards, including anti-freeze and over-heating protection so that you can trust it is safe to use in your RV. It will shut off automatically when water temperatures reach over 176 degrees Fahrenheit for example. The lightweight design weighs a tiny 10lbs and comes with a carrying handle and mounting bracket. Tests show this takes a maximum of 15 minutes to install which is outstanding and just what you want when away on holiday. As it is a tankless system, it heats the water when you need it so you don’t need to wait for it to preheat, saving energy and time.
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Conclusions
Thank you for taking the time to read our article about the best gas hot water heaters on the market right now. There is a fantastic range to choose from, whether that is a more traditional gas hot water heater with a storage tank or one of the modern tankless water heaters that offer a more compact, efficient design.
As with any purchase, take the time to do your research and think about what your individual requirements are such as the size of your property, hot water requirements, space available for a hot water heater, and your budget to buy one. Once you have this information, it will be easier to make an informed decision on the best type of water heaters for you to buy. You can also look at our other articles covering both gas and electric water heaters if you’re searching for an alternative to gas tank water heaters.
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