If you’re anything like me, no day feels quite right without a nice hot shower to start it off with.
For tiny dwellers and others living off the grid, finding the best way to heat water can be a bit daunting. Most of the water heaters you would use in a traditional home simply won’t cut it for a tiny home.
That’s why we put this comprehensive guide together.
In our guide below, you will find our rankings for the top 7 tiny house water heaters so you can easily determine which one is best for your needs and budget.
For those who want a quick overview, below is our comparison table:
- Our Pick For the Overall Best Tiny House Water Heater: Rinnai RL Series HE+ Tankless Hot Water Heater
- Our #2 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Rheem RTG-84XLN-1 (Best For Cold Winter Climates)
- Our #3 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Rinnai V Series V65iP HE (Best For Most Advanced Features)
- Our #4 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: The Camplux 5L (Best Budget Option)
- Our #5 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Eccotemp i12-LP Tankless Water Heater
Our Pick For the Overall Best Tiny House Water Heater: Rinnai RL Series HE+ Tankless Hot Water Heater
- Best overall water heater for tiny homes
- Provides hot water instantly
- Multiple can use simultaneously
- uses 40% less water than traditional tanks
- Comes with a 10-year warranty
- About the size of a carryon suitcase
The Rinnai RL Series HE+ Rl75EP is a propane-powered tankless water heater. It’s designed to provide all the water needed for a two- to three-bedroom home, plenty for use in a tiny home or off-grid cabin.
It provides 7.5 GPM (gallons per minute) of instant-on hot water and has a number of really cool features. To start with, it’s possible to program the heater to warm the water in your pipes at the optimal times for your schedule.
This allows you to have truly instant hot water when you go to take a shower, wash dishes or relax in a hot bath. You can even connect it to your home Wifi for easier programming.
It’s designed to be mounted externally to allow for safe and effective venting. For a tiny house, this is a great way to free up some extra space inside your home.
For those living in a tiny home or off the grid, I can’t suggest the Rinnai Rl75EP enough.
Our #2 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Rheem RTG-84XLN-1 (Best For Cold Winter Climates)
- Rated to -30°F for safe use in very cold winter climates
- Rated for use with up to three bathrooms, plenty for a tiny home
- Hot Start Programming allows truly instant hot water
- Great for use off-the-grid
- Powered by tanked propane
- Meets SCAQMD safety standards with an ultra-low NOx burner
The Rheem RTG series of instant water heaters are mid-efficiency condensing water heaters designed for instant and continuous hot water.
They run on propane and offer great features for the tiny dweller, both on and off the grid.
Just two feet tall and a little over a foot wide, the Rheem RTG installs easily on the front or back of your tiny home or cabin. It requires outdoor installation, something I generally recommend for tiny dwellers.
Having your water heater outside your home helps you save space on the inside for storage or use as part of your bathroom space.
One thing I really loved was how resilient it is. The RTG functions perfectly all the way down to -30°F. If you’re planning on taking your tiny home to wintery locations, this is an absolute must.
It also means you can use the Rheem RTG even in cold climates for homesteads.
The RTG uses Rheem’s exclusive Hot Start Programming that constantly keeps the system in a state of readiness. This allows you to get truly instant hot water at the flip of a knob.
The Rheem RTG offers a good combination of features, durability, and temperature resistance. It’s a great option if you want a traditional hot water experience no matter where you find yourself.
Our #3 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Rinnai V Series V65iP HE (Best For Most Advanced Features)
- Indoor installation allows for use in colder climates
- Up to 6.5 GPM flow rate
- Can be turned on and off from your phone to better fit your schedule and save on fuel costs
- About the size of a carryon suitcase
- SCAQMD safety standards approved
The Rinnai V series is an indoor line of propane-powered tankless water heaters. They offer some of the most advanced features on the market and are easy to fit into any tiny home or off-grid cabin design.
The V65iP comes Wifi ready out of the box and is fully programmable. You can set up timers, build daily schedules, and even put the system into vacation mode from a distance.
This gives you considerable flexibility in how you use your hot water and can help you save even more on your energy costs.
It’s an indoor-only water heater and requires adequate venting. This cuts into your interior space a bit but does ensure that your water heater is well protected from winter conditions and other incidents that can occur on the outside of your home.
Depending on the ambient temperature of your water, it can provide up to 6.5 gallons per minute of instant hot water. If you have colder water, you’ll get a lower flow since it takes longer for it to warm it up.
The Rinnai V65iP is an efficient and highly effective tankless water heater. It works well in tiny homes but does require interior installation, which is why it didn’t get a higher ranking on our list.
Our #4 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: The Camplux 5L (Best Budget Option)
- Portable design allows use indoors or outdoors
- Includes a shower head hose
- Provides up to 1.32 GPM flow rate
- Can raise water temperature by up to 114.8 °F
- Includes oxygen depletion safety shut off
- Extremely compact and easy to move around
- Powered by D-cell batteries
If you’re looking for the ultimate low-profile tiny house water heater, the CampLux 5L may be the setup for you.
It’s designed for use in RVs and campsites to provide on-the-go hot water for showering.
It runs off propane and is designed with portable use in mind.
For the tiny dweller looking to travel, this can be a seriously nice feature. On cold winter days, you can shower indoors, while on beautiful summer nights you can shower under the open sky.
Even better, the little power it uses comes from D-cell batteries. You end up with a fully functional water heater that requires no wiring and no plumbing.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind though.
The Camplux 5L isn’t going to be permanently plumbed into your home. It’s basically a camping water heater that can be hooked up to a hose or tap and quickly heat water.
It has a much lower flow rate than the other water heaters on this list and definitely won’t be sending water to multiple taps at once.
As long as you’re aware of what you’re getting into though, it can be an ideal choice.
It offers one of the most affordable ways to get hot water for bathing and cleanup in a tiny home. Just don’t expect to get traditional home levels of performance.
Our #5 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Eccotemp i12-LP Tankless Water Heater
- Runs on propane
- Plugs into a standard wall outlet
- Digital display makes power button and temperature controls easy to use
- Sleek tempered glass look
- Can be installed indoors with proper venting
- Uses just 1.07 amps when in operation
The Eccotemp i12-LP is a propane-powered tankless water heater designed for use in a small space. It can produce up to 4.8 GPM of hot water depending on conditions and draws just 1.07 amps.
One of the best things about the i12-LP is how easy it is to install and use. It comes with a stainless steel venting vent kit and plugs into a standard outlet rather than requiring hard wiring.
The control surface is made of tempered glass and allows you to instantly adjust the temperature, turn the unit on and off, and set a child lock. This makes it easy to adjust the system exactly to your liking.
The combination of low power draw, easy installation, and effective water heating makes the Eccotemp i12-LP one of the better water heaters for tiny homes and off-grid living.
Our #6 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Camplux Pro 26L Tankless Water Heater
- Designed for exterior installation
- Provides up to 6.86 GPM flow rate
- Includes automatic heating device to protect against cold temperatures
- Produces low NOx emissions
The Camplux Pro is a higher-capacity version of the popular portable Camplux outdoor propane water heater. It’s designed for permanent installation on the exterior of your house and has a maximum flow rate of 6.86 GPM.
It includes a digital control on a 3.3 ft cable that allows you to adjust the temperature from the comfort of your home. Because of its high flow rate, it’s capable of providing water to multiple taps simultaneously.
Our #7 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Stiebel Eltron Tempra 12 Plus Tankless Electric
- Engineered in Germany
- Operates silently and without the need for venting
- Highly durable and corrosion-resistant copper tubing
- Advanced Flow Control system maintains constant temperature and flow rate over time
The Stiebel Eltron Tempra 12 is an electrically powered tankless water heater. It can heat water up to 140°F depending on your groundwater temperature.
It uses corrosion-resistant copper tubing that offers maximum reliability and near-silent operation. Water temperature and flow are monitored via their Advanced Flow Control system to maintain a consistent temperature and flow rate.
The Tempra 12 runs entirely on electric power. It requires 12 kW and at least 100 amps of electric service. That’s way too much to run on an affordable home solar system.
If your tiny home is grid-connected, though, the Tempra 12 is a viable and affordable option.
Our #8 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Eccotemp 1.5 GPM Portable Tankless Water Heater
- Offers reliable and easy to use access to hot running water anywhere you find yourself
- Doesn’t require permanent installation, great for those in vans or small RVs
- Low pressure activation of just 20 psi, capable of running on a standard garden hose, or without pressurized water at all with the addition of the L5 Pump system
- Meets CSA safety standards
The Eccotemp 1.5 GPM is a propane-powered portable water heater designed for use with RVs and other outdoor vehicles. It offers a 1.5 GPM flow rate and is designed to be as portable as possible to make it easy to use in a range of conditions and situations.
The Eccotemp 1.5 GPM is powered by a pair of D-cell batteries and a standard 20-gallon propane tank. Unlike some portable water heaters we reviewed, the Eccotemp requires just a 20 psi water source (a standard garden hose is fine), allowing you to use it effectively in areas where it can be tough to source stronger water pressure.
With the addition of the Eccotemp L5 pump system, you can use the Eccotemp 1.5 GPM without an external source of pressurized water. For tiny dwellers, RVers, and van life enthusiasts looking to go way off the grid, it offers a one-stop solution that allows you to get a gloriously hot shower anywhere.
With the pump, it’s a solid option for those looking to add a water heater to their RV, van, or tiny home without breaking the bank. We consider the Eccotemp 1.5 GPM a solid upgrade to the similarly portable Camplux reviewed above, offering a slightly higher flow rate and adding a pump system.
Our #9 Rated Tiny House Water Heater: Yakima RoadShower – Best Solar Shower/Water Heater for RVs and Vans
- Offers a way to harness the power of the sun to give you hot, pressurized showers
- Available in 4-gallon, 7-gallon, and 10-gallon versions for different-sized RVs, tiny homes, or vans
- High-quality manufacturing and sturdy materials offer a long lifespan once installed
- Easy to install and maintain
If you’re the kind of person who wants to be as independent and free-moving as possible in your RV or van, the Yakima RoadShower is the water heater solution for you. It mounts on the side of a roof rack or other attachment point and uses the sun’s UV rays to heat water for all your needs.
The RoadShower is made from highly durable welded aluminum with a black powder coat finish. It’s available in three sizes, 4-gallon, 7-gallon, and 10-gallon, and comes with a built-in temperature gauge that allows you to see at a glance how hot the water inside is getting.
What really helps the RoadShower stand out from the many other solar shower systems is its ability to provide working water pressure. The RoadShower has a standard Schrader air valve that allows you to add pressure to the tank and lets you get a very nice flow of hot water for a shower.
There are some downsides to the RoadShower and to solar showers in general. The most crucial and obvious is that you won’t get hot water unless the sun is shining powerfully enough to heat up the water. It doesn’t work well in winter conditions and won’t have a nice hot shower waiting for you come morning.
The price of the RoadShower can also be a barrier for some. It’s significantly pricier than our budget pick CampLux portable water heater but will definitely last longer, given that it’s basically a very sturdy tank and a standard hose. The upsides are that you won’t have to pay for propane or budget electricity from your battery bank to get a very nice shower or warm/hot water for doing dishes, cleaning gear, etc.
If you’re looking for the most sustainable and off-grid-friendly way to get hot water, the Yakima RoadShower is a solid option. The nature of solar water heaters makes it less reliable on a day-to-day basis than a powered system, but the cost savings and long lifespan can make up for it to the right person.
Tankless Water Heaters vs Traditional Hot Water Heaters
One of the biggest decisions to make with a tiny house water heater is whether to go tankless or not. Traditional water heaters have a water storage tank that is kept at a constant temperature.
These give you a reservoir of hot water to draw on when you need it. The downside to this is that they draw power/gas continuously and take up a pretty large footprint. Plus, water is heavy, so you need to site a tank water heater in a reinforced area that’s balanced with the rest of your home.
Tankless water heaters, also known as instantaneous hot water units, are a relatively new invention. They use an instant heating system that provides on-demand hot water.
They’re much smaller, lighter, and easier to install than traditional water heaters and take up a much smaller footprint. Because they rely on an instant design they also offer significant energy savings.
For tiny dwellers who choose to go with an off-grid solar system, this is a major consideration.
For me, this one’s pretty much a no-brainer. Tankless water heaters are smaller, lighter, and require less energy.
Propane/Natural Gas Water Heaters vs Electric Water Heaters
The next big decision to make is whether to go with an electric water heater or a gas one. There are good options available in both tankless and traditional water heaters that run on either source of power.
Electric Water Heaters
Electric water heaters are generally cheaper upfront but cost more to operate on a day-to-day basis. They also take longer on average to heat water than a similar gas water heater.
If you’re grid-connected this can be an acceptable tradeoff, but not if you’re off-grid. The average electric hot water heater draws 4,000 watts per hour. That’s just not attainable on a reasonably sized off-grid solar system.
Pretty much the only major benefit electric water heaters offer is safety. There’s no chance for a gas leak with an electric water heater. So long as a gas heater is properly installed, this is a minuscule risk, but still, something to keep in mind.
Gas/Propane Water Heaters
Gas/propane water heaters are more expensive upfront but cost less to operate. Some still require a small amount of power to operate but others are designed to run entirely without power.
There are models designed to run on natural gas, propane, or both. This gives you considerable flexibility in both on and off-grid situations. For THOW’s, a propane water heater is probably going to be your best overall choice.
It allows you to carry substantial fuel storage in a very small space. This is especially beneficial if you plan to spend substantial amounts of time off-grid.
Alternative Water Heating Options
If you’re looking for really sustainable options there are several other ways you can heat water for your tiny home.
Solar Water Heater
Solar water heaters also called solar domestic water heaters, use the heat of the sun to passively warm water. They come in a variety of different forms but generally require both a solar collector and an insulated water storage tank.
Under the right conditions, they’re able to provide comfortably hot water on demand. It’s relying on those ‘right conditions’ that becomes the problem.
On cloudy or cold days solar water heaters just don’t work. In these situations, having a backup water heater (or a membership at a gym with showers) is a must.
Wood Water Heater
If you want to go really old school you can buy or build a wood-fired water heater. In the most basic cases, this is just a large kettle or pot suspended over a wood fire.
More advanced models use a series of copper coils to circulate water through convection. If you have substantial wood resources and are willing to put in the time this can be a low-cost and sustainable option for heating water.
It definitely doesn’t offer the instant-on convenience of traditional water heaters though.
Exterior vs Interior Installation
One of the most important things to keep in mind is how your tiny house water heater can be installed. Some units, especially propane or natural gas ones, can only be installed on the exterior of your home.
This can be a space-saving measure but you need to make sure it can handle your local climate. Those who live in areas with seriously cold winters need to get a water heater that’s rated for their climate.
Interior units are generally smaller. Some are actually designed to provide water for a single tap, usually a shower.
Full Home Water Heater or Tap Mounted Instant Water Heater
Depending on your needs you may be able to get away with a tap-mounted instant water heater. These water heaters are hooked directly onto a single tap and provide instant hot water.
The benefit of these is their substantially lower cost and the lack of any pipe temperature loss. The downside is that they generally provide very low water flow and often have limited use times before a cool-down period.
They’re only available electrically powered, and some people don’t like the idea of electricity right next to their shower tap.
Tiny House Water Heater Buying Guide
There are a few key factors to consider when choosing your tiny house water heater. The most important are flow rate, fuel/electricity consumption, and ease of installation.
Flow Rate
The flow rate of a water heater refers to how much water it can push through in a set amount of time, usually measured in gallons per minute (GPM). Choosing the correct flow rate for your tiny home comes down to how many taps you have and how often you think you’ll use them together.
Most tiny homes have a kitchen sink, a bathroom sink, and a shower as their only taps. High-efficiency sinks and shower heads have very low required flow rates, with showers drawing just 1 to 1.5 GPM and sinks going as low as 0.5 to 0.75 GPM.
Check the listed flow rate for your shower head and sinks to determine the maximum potential flow rate you’ll need from your water heater. You can probably get away with going under that if you need to, as it’s unlikely you’ll ever run both sinks and your shower simultaneously.
Fuel/Electricity Consumption
Water heaters are consistently one of the most energy-intensive appliances. Heating multiple gallons of water isn’t easy, so comparing the fuel or electricity per gallon needed to operate a water heater is essential.
If you’re on shore power, an electric water heater can work, but for those running off-grid solar gas water heaters are generally the best option.
Ease of Installation
Water heaters can be fiddly devices to install. That’s particularly true for propane or natural gas water heaters. You’re working with heating elements, electricity, gas, and plumbing all at the same time.
Water heaters like the Camplux designed to be portable are alright to use, but if you decide to go with a more powerful permanently installed water heater, it can be tricky to DIY.
Even if you DIY everything else about your tiny home, we highly recommend you hire a professional to install your water heater.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the best tiny house water heater can seem overwhelming at first, but don’t be discouraged. So long as you understand the basics of your situation and keep in mind the essential factors we covered above you’ll have no problem finding a tiny house water heater that will keep your showers hot and your dishes clean for years to come.
