Black Friday Water Heater Deals 2026: What to Buy

Black Friday tankless water heater searches are the largest in this category, and the buying decision is about flow and temperature rise, not the brand. Add up the fixtures that run at once, find your incoming water temperature, and the tankless sizing calculator returns the gallons per minute and the gas input or electric kilowatts you need. The flow against rise chart shows the same sums as a table. See the best gas tankless water heaters and the best electric tankless water heaters before you pick.

A gas tankless unit also needs a gas line large enough for its BTU input and a vent path that matches its type. A whole home electric tankless unit can need several large breakers, which many panels cannot supply. Both are things to check with a licensed professional before the unit ships, not after.

A tank water heater is still the simplest swap. The size is set by the first hour rating, which is how much hot water the tank delivers in the first hour of heavy use, not by the gallons on the label. Use the water heater size calculator and the first hour rating calculator, and read the sizing guide if you are unsure. Compare options in the best electric water heaters and best gas water heaters roundups.

Match the fuel and the physical fit. A gas model needs the same type of venting as the one it replaces, and a tall tank does not fit under a low ceiling. If your old heater is more than a decade old, the lifespan guide covers when to replace it on your own schedule instead of during a failure.

A heat pump water heater moves heat from the surrounding air into the tank instead of making heat directly, so it uses far less electricity than a standard electric tank. It has trade offs: it needs a space with enough air volume, it runs cooler and quieter in a conditioned space, and it drips condensate that has to drain. The heat pump installation requirements guide lists the clearances, and the best heat pump water heaters roundup compares models. Check the operating cost calculator to see what the lower running cost is worth in your area.

Search demand for heat pump models is smaller than for tankless, but they are the category where the running cost savings can be largest, and utility programs in some areas pay rebates that you should check before you buy.

A new heater is the right time to add the small parts that protect it and your floor. A thermal expansion tank is needed on a closed water system, which includes any home with a check valve or pressure reducing valve at the meter, and the expansion tank size calculator sets the size. A drain pan and a leak sensor catch a failure before it becomes water damage. A magnesium or aluminum zinc anode rod extends tank life, and a flush kit keeps a tankless heat exchanger clear of scale. Never cap, plug or remove the temperature and pressure relief valve, and let the installer test it.

It can be, for planned purchases. Water heaters are large, durable goods, and sale shoppers usually look at big ticket models and last year's stock. A discount only helps if the unit fits your fuel, voltage, venting and size. If your heater has failed and you have no hot water, you cannot wait for a sale, and a like for like replacement installed this week is worth more than a discount next month.

If the heater still works but is old, a sale can help you replace it on your schedule. Decide the type and size first, confirm the fit with an installer, then check the current price on the product page. Do not buy a unit you have not sized, and do not let a price push you into a different fuel type without checking the cost of running a new gas line or electrical circuit.