Top 10 Best 5 GPM Tankless Water Heaters (November 2024)🥇

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Charlie W. Palmer

Water Systems Expert & Founder at Water Systems Guide

Hi! I'm Charlie. If you're wondering why I started WaterSystemsGuide, it's because I previously worked as a water systems specialist/consultant for a large government initiative in California, USA. However, after leaving, I wanted to provide advice and information for others, to pass my knowledge on, so I created this site!

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Last Updated: 17 November 2024

In this article, we’re going to be discussing the best 5 gallons per minute tankless hot water heaters that are available on the market.

✅Why use a tankless water heater for your home?

According to this study carried out by Consumer Reports, tankless water heaters are an energy-efficient way of getting hot water.

Their ability to process large amounts of water without storing it allows these models to consume 22% less energy than tank-carrying water heaters.

Their space-saving design is another notable feature of tankless heaters. Since they don’t have to use tanks to store water, these products can afford to be small and compact.

This is precisely the reason why you can install them in tight spaces with minimal fuss.

On top of everything else, these units justify their high initial asking price by delivering a constant supply of hot water.

When a hot water tap is opened, an electric element or gas burner heats the water as it travels through the pipe. That means you won’t have to wait to get hot water at the tap.

💧Top Considerations Before Purchasing

• Technical Specs – We’ve done our very best to outline each heater’s technical specs, including thermal efficiency, flow rate (GPM), energy factor and temperature range, so you have all of this information available when making any comparisons between models.
• General Specs – We’ve also included information regarding the units physical dimensions and weight
  • Price – Price information has also been specified, with $ representing the lowest price and $$$$$ representing the highest. We realize that everyone has a unique budget, so this is an important consideration
  • Warranty – We’ve displayed warranty information where possible.
• Customer Reviews/Ratings – We’ve gone about researching only the highest quality tankless water heaters to include within this article, therefore you can be confident in knowing that any of these units are a great choice.

We’ve listed the following tankless water heaters in order of cost, from the lowest price at the top ($) to the largest price ($$$$$) at the bottom:

5 GPM Tankless Water Heaters Review – Top 10

• Black & Decker – Indoor – Electric – 5.3 GPM – $ – Skip to section
• Camplux CA528 – Indoor – Natural Gas – 5.28 GPM – $ – Skip to section
• Camplux CA528 – Indoor – Propane – 5.28 GPM – $ – Skip to section
• Rinnai V65iP – Indoor – Propane – 6.5 GPM – $$ – Skip to section [Ideal for a Budget, Great Warranty]
• Rinnai V65iN – Indoor – Natural Gas – 6.5 GPM – $$ – Skip to section [Ideal for a Budget, Great Warranty]
• Noritz NRC66DVNG – Indoor – Natural Gas – 6.6 GPM – $$$$ – Skip to section
• Noritz NR50ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 5.0 GPM – $$ – Skip to section [Small-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses]
• Noritz NR50ODLP – Outdoor – Propane – 5.0 Gpm – $$$ – Skip to section [Small-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses]
• Noritz NR66ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 6.6 GPM – $$$$ – Skip to section [Medium-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses]
• Noritz NRC71ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 7.1 GPM – $$$$$ – Skip to section [Large-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses]

Black & Decker – Indoor – Electric – 5.3 GPM – $

Technical Specs

• First Hour Rating: 360 Gallons
• Flow Rate (GPM): 5.3GPM
• Energy Factor: 1
• Temperature Range: 86 to 122°F

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $
• Dimensions: 14.76H x 18.74W x 4.53D inches
• Weight: 12.17 lbs
• Warranty: 7-year leakage-free, 5-year heat exchanger, 2-year parts

Features

It can serve up to 6 applications (4 showers and 2 faucets in warm to hot climates) at one time – See performance details here.

Note: Black & Decker also provide a higher-powered version here, which provides up to 6.1GPM of water supply – Black & Decker 36KW 6.1GPM Tankless Water Heater

Pros

• Sleek design, no gas lines or venting required
• Energy Efficient
• Extremely reputable company
• Very affordable
• Long warranty

Cons

• Smaller flow rate

Camplux CA528 – Indoor – Natural Gas – 5.28 GPM – $

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 150,000
• Max Water Pressure: 150PSI
• Flow Rate (GPM): 5.28GPM
• Temperature Range: 90 to 140°F

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $
• Dimensions: 22.2H x 14W x 5.9D inches
• Weight: 32.3 lbs
• Warranty: 1-year

Features

The 5.28 GPM CA528-NG residential tankless water heater supplies on-demand comfortable constant hot water for residential whole-home use.

It is powered by 120 VAC voltage, has an imported PCB, precise temperature control, double adjustment of water and air, and rising of the third gear making it perfect for a constant hot shower at home!

The ideal operating range for the 5.28 GPM Camplux residential tankless water heater is 7.0-150 PSI. CSA certified tankless water heater focus on phosphorus deoxidized copper heat exchanger with high temperature and corrosion resistance technology and advanced multiple protection systems to ensure your safety.

Automatically activates on water pressure between 7.0-150 PSI, maximum power output 150,000Btu/Hr. Hot water output 5.28 gallons per minute, perfect for hot showers, baths and general usage for the whole home!

The Camplux tankless gas water heaters are not recommended to use for elevation above 2000 feet / 600 meters.

Pros

• Reputable brand
• Energy Efficient (Estimated water usage)
• Very affordable
• Great reviews on Amazon

Cons

• Short warranty

Camplux CA528 – Indoor – Propane – 5.28 GPM – $

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 150,000
• Max Water Pressure: 150PSI
• Flow Rate (GPM): 5.28GPM
• Temperature Range: 90 to 140°F

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $
• Dimensions: 22.2H x 14W x 5.9D inches
• Weight: 32.3 lbs
• Warranty: 1-year

Features

The 5.28 GPM CA528-LP residential tankless water heater supplies on-demand comfortable constant hot water for residential whole-home use.

It is powered by 120 VAC voltage, has an imported PCB, precise temperature control, double adjustment of water and air, and rising of the third gear making it perfect for a constant hot shower at home!

The ideal operating range for the 5.28 GPM Camplux residential tankless water heater is 7.0-150 PSI. CSA certified tankless water heater focus on phosphorus deoxidized copper heat exchanger with high temperature and corrosion resistance technology and advanced multiple protection systems to ensure your safety.

Automatically activates on water pressure between 7.0-150 PSI, maximum power output 150,000Btu/Hr. Hot water output 5.28 gallons per minute, perfect for hot showers, baths and general usage for the whole home!

The Camplux tankless gas water heaters are not recommended to use for elevation above 2000 feet / 600 meters.

Pros

• Reputable brand
• Energy Efficient (Estimated water usage)
• Very affordable
• Great reviews on Amazon

Cons

• Short warranty

Rinnai V65iP – Indoor – Propane – 6.5 GPM – $$

Ideal for a Budget, Great Warranty

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 150,000
• Max Water Pressure: 150PSI
• Flow Rate (GPM): 6.5GPM
• Temperature Range: 98 to 140°F

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $$
• Dimensions: 23H x 14.04W x 9.27D inches
• Weight: 49.6 lbs
• Warranty: 10-year (heat exchanger), 1-year (labor), 1-year (parts)

Features

Pros

• Reputable brand
• Highly energy efficient
• Very affordable
• Excellent reviews on Amazon
• Long warranty

Cons

• Not for very long distances

Rinnai V65iN – Indoor – Natural Gas – 6.5 GPM – $$

Ideal for a Budget, Great Warranty

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 150,000
• Max Water Pressure: 150PSI
• Flow Rate (GPM): 6.5GPM
• Temperature Range: 98 to 140°F

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $$
• Dimensions: 23H x 14.04W x 9.27D inches
• Weight: 49.6 lbs
• Warranty: 10-year (heat exchanger), 1-year (labor), 1-year (parts)

Features

Pros

• Reputable brand
• Highly energy efficient
• Very affordable
• Excellent reviews on Amazon
• Long warranty

Cons

• Not for very long distances

Noritz NRC66DVNG – Indoor – Natural Gas – 6.6 GPM – $$$$

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 120,000
• Uniform Energy Factor: 0.89
• Flow Rate (GPM): 6.6GPM
• Temperature Range: 100-140°F

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $$$$
• Dimensions: 20.5H x 13.8W x 6.7D inches
• Weight: 39 lbs
• Warranty: 12-year* (heat exchanger), 1-year (labor), 3-5-year* (parts)

Features

Pros

• Reputable brand
• High flow rates
• Energy efficient
• Fantastic reviews on Amazon
• Long warranty

Cons

• Premium-Price
• Warranty changes based on usage factors – refer here

Noritz NR50ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 5.0 GPM – $$

Small-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 120,000
• Uniform Energy Factor: 0.81
• Flow Rate (GPM): 5.0GPM
• Temperature Range: 120-140°F

Noritz NR50ODNG – Full technical specs

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $$
• Dimensions: 20.5H x 13.8W x 6.7D inches
• Weight: 39 lbs
• Warranty: 12-year* (heat exchanger), 1-year (labor), 3-5-year* (parts)

Features

Pros

• Reputable brand
• Perfect for apartments, condos, and townhouses
• Energy efficient
• Fantastic reviews on Amazon
• Very long warranty

Cons

• None

Noritz NR50ODLP – Outdoor – Propane – 5.0 Gpm – $$$

Small-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 120,000
• Uniform Energy Factor: 0.81
• Flow Rate (GPM): 5.0GPM
• Temperature Range:120-140°F

Noritz NR50ODLP – Full technical specs

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $$$
• Dimensions: 20.5H x 13.8W x 6.7D inches
• Weight: 39 lbs
• Warranty: 12-year* (heat exchanger), 1-year (labor), 3-5-year* (parts)

Features

Pros

• Reputable brand
• Perfect for small sized apartments, condos, and townhouses
• Energy efficient
• Fantastic reviews on Amazon
• Very long warranty

Cons

• None

Noritz NR66ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 6.6 GPM – $$$$

Medium-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 140,000
• Uniform Energy Factor: 0.81
• Flow Rate (GPM): 6.6GPM
• Temperature Range: 115-140°F

Noritz NR66ODNG – Full technical specs

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $$$$
• Dimensions: 20.5H x 13.8W x 6.7D inches
• Weight: 36 lbs
• Warranty: 12-year* (heat exchanger), 1-year (labor), 3-5-year* (parts)

Features

Pros

• Reputable brand
• Perfect for mid-sized apartments, condos, and townhouses
• Energy efficient
• Fantastic reviews on Amazon
• Very long warranty

Cons

• None

Noritz NRC71ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 7.1 GPM – $$$$$

Large-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses

Technical Specs

• Max BTU: 157,000
• Uniform Energy Factor: 0.81
• Flow Rate (GPM): 7.1GPM
• Temperature Range: 115-140°F

Noritz NRC71ODNG – Full technical specs

General Specs

• Usage: Whole House
• Price: $$$$$
• Dimensions: 20.5H x 13.8W x 6.7D inches
• Weight: 40 lbs
• Warranty: 12-year* (heat exchanger), 1-year (labor), 3-5-year* (parts)

Features

Pros

• Reputable brand
• Perfect for large-sized apartments, condos, and townhouses
• Energy efficient
• Fantastic reviews on Amazon
• Very long warranty

Cons

• None

Conclusion

It’s important to highlight that we realize everyone has different needs and requirements for an 5GPM tankless hot water heater, alongside an entirely different budget.

Therefore we try not to make solid recommendations, as we don’t know your unique requirements.

However, we have tried to recommend certain products, to match certain preferences, environments and financial situations:

• Rinnai V65iP – Indoor – Propane – 6.5 GPM – $$ – Skip to section [Ideal for a Budget, Great Warranty]
• Rinnai V65iN – Indoor – Natural Gas – 6.5 GPM – $$ – Skip to section [Ideal for a Budget, Great Warranty]
• Noritz NR50ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 5.0 GPM – $$ – Skip to section [Small-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses]
• Noritz NR50ODLP – Outdoor – Propane – 5.0 Gpm – $$$ – Skip to section [Small-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses]
• Noritz NR66ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 6.6 GPM – $$$$ – Skip to section [Medium-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses]
• Noritz NRC71ODNG – Outdoor – Natural Gas – 7.1 GPM – $$$$$ – Skip to section [Large-Sized Apartments, Condos & Townhouses]

If you have any questions, please leave a comment down below.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the FAQs related to 5GPM tankless water heaters:

💧What is a 5 GPM water heater?

GPM stands for Gallons Per Minute. Therefore, it’s simply a tankless water heater than can provide 5 gallons of hot water per minute.

Tankless water heaters heat only as much water as needed, when it is needed. They heat water on demand and use 24 to 34% less energy than traditional water heaters. They are made for applications whose consumption of hot water is more than that of residential use.

You can count on these units to provide as much as 15.2 liters of hot water per minute. Most of them come with a warranty of more than 20 years. Their shelf-life can be further extended due to these heaters having replaceable parts, which you can easily exchange when they go bad.

🚰What are the benefits of 5GPM tankless water heaters?

Following are the major benefits of using a tankless water heater on your premises:

1.   Energy Efficiency

An estimate by the US Department of Energy explains how energy-efficient tankless water heaters are vis-à-vis their traditional tank-carrying counterparts.

Provided you have a small business that needs less than 41 gallons of hot water daily, a tankless water heater will be 24% – 34% more energy-efficient than a conventional heater.

Even if your hot water requirements are enormous – up to 86 gallons per day – these units will still be 8% to 14% more energy efficient than their tank-carrying colleagues.

2.   Lower Utility bills

As we have already proved it beyond doubt that these units use less energy, you shouldn’t have any trouble believing the fact that these units can also lower your utility bills.

Energy Star estimates that tankless water heaters bearing its certification can save a household of four over $1800 over its lifetime, compared with any conventional tank-type heater.

The beneficial impact of these heaters isn’t related to household applications. That’s why the market of tankless heaters is projected to grow at a rate of 7.5% per annum between 2019 and 2025.

3.   Extended lifespan

The absence of the tank not only empowers these units to deliver hot water on demand. It also enables them to last longer than tank-carrying water heaters.

Various estimates claim that with provided you maintain it regularly, you can count on your tankless heater to last five years longer than the tank water heater.

Provided you look after your model more carefully, it will outlast a similar-capacity tank-carrying model by over 10 years, with the overall shelf-life of tankless heaters rated at up to 20 years.

4.   Endless hot water

Do you know why the majority of their users refer to tankless water heaters as on-demand units? That’s because they deliver as much water as needed, when it is needed.

These units never run out of water because the water supply of your entire unit is the heater’s water supply. They don’t have any specific tank which they have to tap into to get their water.

As a result, with their built-in heating elements heating cold water as it passes through the pipes (and before it reaches your tap), you’ll get a constant supply of hot water.

5.   Space-saving design

Traditional tank-carrying heaters hold up to 60 gallons of water and therefore measure about 24 inches wide and 60 inches tall. That is the space they will consume in your premises.

In contrast, even the biggest capacity tankless water heaters measure 28 inches tall and 20 inches wide. This allows them to take up far less space in your indoors.

💧How to choose the right 5 GPM tankless water heater?

Here’s how you can choose the right tankless water heater for your needs:

Choose Energy Star® heater

Regardless of whether you intend to purchase an electric or gas tankless water heater, make sure it comes with Energy Star certification. Gas tankless heaters bearing the Energy Star logo employ more efficient heat exchangers and use 15 percent less energy than other commercial units.

Electric units with the Energy Star logo, meanwhile, use a refrigerant-based system to transfer ambient heat to the water. This allows them to use less than half of the energy that other electric-powered tankless units consume to raise the temperature of water.

Select the right drain valve

Most of you might not be aware of the fact that it’s crucial for the performance of the heater that you flush it regularly. Constant draining helps prevent the build-up of sediments in the pipes and maintain the quantity of the water heated. It also increases the lifespan of the system.

Drain valves are mostly made of three materials: plastic, composite, and brass. Plastic is undoubtedly the cheapest of the three but it is also the least trustworthy. Brass deserves your attention if you want a valve that can last longer, handle higher temperatures as well as flow rates of up to 100 gallons.

Choose higher Energy Factor

Energy Factor is a fancy term used to describe the heater’s energy efficiency. It is calculated by estimating the amount of energy the heater uses to heat water and dividing it with the total amount of energy that powers the unit.

That means that the higher the energy factor, the more efficient will be your tankless water heater. Most gas tankless models that you see on the market have their energy factor between 0.5 and 0.9. The best electric tankless heaters, meanwhile, have an energy factor of 0.99.

Pro Tip: Even though electric heaters have a higher energy factor than gas-powered models, electricity costs three times as much as natural gas in the US. So you need to keep both factors in mind (Energy Factor and Cost of Fuel) before deciding in favor of either of these units.

Select a wider temperature range

The wider the temperature range of a heater, the more easily it will cater to different applications. You can understand this point by determining the purpose for which you use different hot water faucets in your residential applications.

While the one that is used to supply water for making coffee needs to receive water at a much higher temperature, the other that only supplies water to the washing machine can make do with slightly lukewarm water. It’s therefore recommended that you get a heater with a wider temperature range.

🚰What are the different types available?

Other than different sizes, I.E 10 GPM Tankless Water Heaters, most of you might already know that tankless water heaters are available in two types: electric- and gas-powered. Both of them have their pros and cons which make them suitable for a certain audience and unfit for others.

That’s why in this section we’re going to compare electric and gas tankless heaters on various factors. We’re also going to shed light on the various types of gas-powered models. So you could make an informed decision as to which of them will best fit your requirements.

Cost

There are two costs which you need to consider when shopping heaters:

• Capital or Up-front cost: Electric tankless water heaters cost less upfront than their gas-powered counterparts. While you can get them between $500 and $700, you might have to fork out more than $1000 to purchase a heavy-duty gas tankless heater.
• Running cost: The lower up-front cost of electric heaters isn’t due to their poor design or because they employ a cheap material of construction. They are as sturdy as gas models. Instead, it’s the low running cost of gas-powered heaters that raises their upfront cost.

Ease of installation

Electricity-powered tankless heaters are easy to install. Here’s why:

• Electric Tankless Heaters: Installing these models is a cinch. All you need to do to get them up and running is to install their one end to your home’s water supply line, the other end to the pipe that takes water from the heater to your appliances and hook them with a power connection.
• Gas Tankless Heaters: Here’s why gas-powered models are difficult to install. Aside from giving them all the connections that we mentioned in the previous paragraph, you’ve to provide these heaters with a fresh air supply, a fitting gas line size, and a venting option.

Type

Unlike their one-type-fits-all electric colleagues, gas heaters are available in two types:

• Propane Tankless Heaters: Since natural gas isn’t offered in all areas, propane heaters are a better option for those of you living in far-flung areas. Other than that, there is no tangible benefit of propane heaters vis-à-vis their natural gas cousins.
• Natural Gas Tankless Heaters: Natural gas is a cheaper alternative to propane, is safe to use (as it’s lighter than propane and dissipates in the air more readily in the case of leakage), and don’t require you to store a gas cylinder.

Hot water delivery

Gas-powered models rule the roost in this case. Here’s why:

• Electric Tankless Heaters: Due to the bottlenecks in their design, even the best electric tankless water heaters won’t be able to deliver more than 8GPM of water. That limits their utility to small and medium-sized applications.
• Gas Tankless Heaters: Provided you are supplying them with natural gas (or have a huge propane cylinder connected to them), gas tankless heaters will pay back by supplying over 5 GPM of hot water. That’s why they are best suited for a large-size business enterprise.

Maintenance requirements

Gas-powered models require more maintenance. Here’s why:

• Electric Tankless Heaters: These models come with a pre-filter that prevents sedimentation, an inlet filter and a valve using which you should flush the entire unit annually. Only these three parts require major maintenance, and that too only once or twice a year.
• Gas Tankless Heaters: Their complex construction makes these models hard to maintain. You’ll have to pay a licensed technician to check they are combusting fuel safely and the vent is performing as intended. Their heat exchange also needs service on a regular basis.

Ease of troubleshooting

Electricity-powered models require more maintenance. Here’s why:

• Electric Tankless Heaters: Provided something goes awry with these models, it would be easy for the homeowner to use the display panel to troubleshoot, diagnose, and repair the problem. These units are more eco-friendly as well.
• Gas Tankless Heaters: Since they have a complex heat exchanger, gas-powered models can be difficult to get back to action if they start misbehaving. You’ll have to pay a licensed plumber to get them back up and running.

Final Verdict – Electric or Gas?

Both of them are intended to serve a different set of audiences. Here’s how:

• Electric Tankless Water Heaters: Go for these heaters if you can’t afford to pay more upfront, want a heater that is safer to use indoors, has a lower carbon footprint, and can be easy to repair when the problems arise.
• Gas Tankless Water Heaters: Go for these heaters if you prefer a lean gas bill at the end of the month, do not care about the environment, and have the temperament (as well as the budget) to hire a technician to install them once and repair or maintain them frequently.

Summary

Reviewer

Charlie W. Palmer

Review Date

Reviewed Item

5 GPM Tankless Water Heaters

Author Rating

5

Product Name

5 GPM Tankless Water Heaters