Quick Answer: Richmond is a Rheem Manufacturing brand sold mainly through Home Depot at a lower price than Rheem’s own badge — same core engineering, shorter warranty. The best Richmond for a whole-home electric install is the RMTEX-27 (27 kW, 112A/240V, up to 7 GPM, self-modulating, around $686). For gas, the non-condensing RMTG-70DVLN-3 (160,000 BTU, up to 7 GPM, around $799) is the budget play, and the condensing RMTGH-95XLN-2 (199,900 BTU, 9.5 GPM, 94% efficiency, roughly $1,300–$1,700 depending on retailer) is the efficiency pick. Richmond’s tradeoff for the lower price is warranty length — its Essential electric line carries only a 5-year heating-chamber/1-year parts term, shorter than comparable Rheem-badged units.
Most people who search “Richmond tankless water heater” don’t realize they’ve already been comparison-shopping Rheem — Richmond is Rheem Manufacturing’s value-tier brand, sold mostly through The Home Depot and independent plumbing suppliers rather than Rheem’s own professional dealer network. The hardware inside is close to identical to what you’d get with a Rheem badge; what changes is the price, the warranty term, and where you can buy it. This guide ranks the three Richmond tankless models people actually search for, and explains exactly what you’re trading away for the lower sticker price.
Our top picks at a glance
| Model | Best for | Type | Max Flow | Efficiency | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RMTEX-27 | Whole-home electric | Electric 27 kW / 112A | Up to 7 GPM | ~99% at unit | ~$686 |
| RMTG-70DVLN-3 | Budget gas | Gas non-condensing | 7 GPM / 6.4 GPM at 45°F rise | Non-condensing (0.81–0.82 class) | ~$799 |
| RMTGH-95XLN-2 | Efficiency gas / 3+ baths | Gas condensing | 9.5 GPM | 94% (0.94 UEF class) | ~$1,300–$1,700 |
RMTEX-27 price per PlumbersStock's current listing (~$686.49); RMTG-70DVLN-3 price per Menards' current listing (~$799); RMTGH-95XLN-2 price range spans Central Hardware & Furniture ($1,299.99) to Paradise Lumber & Hardware ($1,695.99). Amazon and local-store pricing fluctuate and can run above or below these figures.
By the numbers
- 112 amps is the peak draw on the RMTEX-27 at 240V, per Richmond’s own spec sheet — confirm your panel has that headroom before ordering, since it’s the largest electrical ask in Richmond’s electric lineup.
- 5-year heating-chamber / 1-year parts warranty on Richmond’s Essential (RMTEX) electric series, versus the longer terms typically attached to the Rheem-badged equivalent — the clearest tradeoff for the lower Richmond price. — per Richmond’s published warranty terms
- 12-year heat exchanger / 5-year parts / 1-year labor on Richmond’s Encore (RMTG/RMTGH) gas series — a meaningfully longer heat-exchanger term than the electric line, but still shorter than some rival gas brands’ top-tier coverage.
1. Richmond RMTEX-27 — Best Whole-Home Electric
Richmond Essential RMTEX-27 Electric Tankless Water Heater
- Self-modulating technology adjusts power draw to actual hot-water demand rather than running at full output constantly, which is what keeps the running cost close to Rheem's equivalent RTEX-27-class units.
- Rated up to 7 GPM at 240V — enough for a 2–3 bathroom home in a warm climate; expect less real-world flow anywhere the incoming groundwater runs cold in winter.
- 112A draw means most panels need a dedicated large double-pole breaker configuration — get an electrician's sign-off on spare capacity before buying.
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The RMTEX-27 is the Richmond most homeowners land on for a full electric conversion, because it undercuts a comparably rated Rheem RTEX unit on price while sharing the same self-modulating platform. The catch is the same one every high-kW electric tankless heater carries: a 112A draw is a real electrical project, not a drop-in swap, and a lot of older 100–150A panels need a service upgrade before this unit fits. If your panel can’t support it, our best gas tankless water heater guide covers the alternative path. For the smaller point-of-use end of Richmond’s electric range — the 13 kW RMTEX-13, sized for a single fixture — see our best point-of-use water heater roundup.
2. Richmond RMTG-70DVLN-3 — Best Budget Gas
Richmond Essential Plus RMTG-70DVLN-3 Non-Condensing Gas Tankless
- Full-size 160,000 BTU burner for around $799 — the cheapest whole-home gas path in Richmond's lineup.
- Non-condensing: the exhaust runs hot enough that indoor installs need stainless or concentric venting rather than cheap PVC, so price the vent kit in before comparing this to the condensing RMTGH line on sticker price alone.
- Backed by a 12-year heat-exchanger warranty, 5-year parts, and 1-year labor — Richmond's standard gas-line coverage.
The RMTG-70DVLN-3 is the classic non-condensing trade-off: a lower unit price than the condensing RMTGH-95 in exchange for wasting more heat out the exhaust and needing pricier venting if it’s installed indoors. It makes the most sense mounted outdoors, where venting cost disappears entirely, or in a budget renovation where the vent run is already stainless from a prior tank-style gas heater. For a full breakdown of when condensing efficiency pays for itself, see our condensing vs non-condensing tankless water heater guide.
3. Richmond RMTGH-95XLN-2 — Best for Efficiency / 3+ Bathrooms
Richmond Encore RMTGH-95XLN-2 Condensing Gas Tankless
- 9.5 GPM and a 94%-efficiency stainless condensing heat exchanger put this in the same performance class as Rheem's own Performance Platinum ECOH200DVELN-3.
- Condensing design vents in cheap PVC instead of stainless, which can offset a meaningful chunk of the higher unit price versus the RMTG-70DVLN-3 once install cost is counted.
- Sized for a 3+ bathroom home; Richmond also sells this platform as the RMTGH-95DVLN-2 (indoor direct-vent) and RMTGH-95DVLP-2 (propane) variants.
Pricing on the RMTGH-95 swings widely by retailer — we saw it as low as $1,299.99 and as high as $1,695.99 across current listings, wider than the spread on Richmond’s smaller units, so it’s worth checking two or three sources before buying. Even at the high end, it undercuts Rheem’s badged IKONIC/Performance Platinum condensing line, which is the whole reason to consider Richmond over Rheem in the first place — see our best Rheem tankless water heater guide for that direct price comparison.
How to choose a Richmond tankless water heater
- Electrical panel has 112A+ spare capacity, no gas line: the RMTEX-27 — Richmond’s whole-home electric pick.
- Gas line already run, budget is tight, venting can go outdoors or reuse an existing stainless run: the RMTG-70DVLN-3.
- 3+ bathroom home, want the lowest operating cost and cheap PVC venting: the RMTGH-95XLN-2.
- Weighing Richmond against the Rheem badge: expect to pay less for the same core hardware, but check the shorter warranty terms against how long you plan to own the home.
The bottom line
Richmond’s tankless lineup is Rheem engineering sold at a discount through Home Depot and plumbing suppliers: the RMTEX-27 for whole-home electric, the RMTG-70DVLN-3 for budget gas, and the RMTGH-95XLN-2 for condensing efficiency in a larger home. The warranty is the real gap versus the Rheem badge — shorter terms on both the electric and gas lines — so weigh the savings against how long you’ll own the unit. For the Rheem-badged equivalents at a higher price with longer coverage, see our best Rheem tankless water heater guide, or start with our best tankless water heater roundup to compare every brand side by side.