All About Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters

During the cold days of winter, water heaters are a godsend. And for households without the budget or room for a storage tank water heater, the tankless water heater provides a convenient way of providing hot water without the cost or space needed by their bigger tank-based brethren.

When it comes to tankless water heaters, Rinnai is one of the names that stands out in the industry. Learn all about the Rinnai brand, and why you should choose them for your tankless water heater.

What is a Tankless Water Heater?

As the name implies, a tankless water heater is one that doesn’t require a storage tank for pre-heated water, and only heats water as it is needed. They are also known as demand-type water heater, instantaneous water heater, and point of use tankless water heater.

The tankless water heater works by using a heat exchanger. The cold water first flows through a heat exchanger in the tankless unit, where a gas burner or an electric heating element is used to heat up the water. This allows tankless water heaters to provide a constant supply of hot water, without having to wait for a storage tank to get filled up with hot water.

However, their tankless design means that the output or flow rate is limited compared to their storage tank counterparts. Tankless water heaters typically have a hot water flow rate of 2–5 gallons (7.6–15.2 liters) per minute. In terms of output capacity, gas-fired tankless water heaters have higher flow rates than electric ones.

Who is Rinnai?

Based in Nagoya, Rinnai is a Japanese brand of gas appliances, manufacturing everything from tankless water heaters and home heating to kitchen appliances and clothes dryers. The company also manufactures commercial-use equipment like rice cookers, grillers and fryers used by restaurants. The brand has been around since 1920 when it was founded by Hidejiro Naito and Kanekichi Hayashi. 

One of Rinnai’s hallmarks is its world-renowned line of tankless water heaters. The company specializes in both residential and commercial-grade tankless water heaters with the industry’s best warranty. The brand has over 30 million tankless water heaters installed worldwide.

The Rinnai North American distribution center can be found in Peachtree, Georgia. The brand continues to expand and innovate in the water heater field and is working to incorporate locally sourced components into their products.

Why Should You Choose Rinnai?

✓ Higher efficiency

You may have heard about some of the benefits and drawbacks of storage versus tankless water heaters. For example, they are typically higher efficiency, with advanced technology included. Rinnai tankless water heaters have a temperature controller that sets a specific output temperature and have an activation flow rate as low as 0.4 gallons per minute.

✓ Versatility

Rinnai products also set themselves apart by their versatility, with gas type convertible and replaceable parts. This flexibility allows you to adjust and update your device in accordance with your specific needs and doesn’t box you in.

In addition, Rinnai’s tankless water heaters can connect to other units if you find yourself with a sizing issue and in need of more hot water. Don’t count them out if you have commercial capacity needs!

✓ Better safety

If you are concerned about safety, Rinnai has many safety devices for your protection:

• Function lock
• Freeze protection
• Scale build-up detection
• Flame rods

You can have peace of mind knowing that they’ve built in many components for your protection.

✓ Higher longevity

Tankless water heaters last on average twice as long as their storage tank counterparts, making these options great picks for making your dollar stretch further. Because these types of water heaters work by processing and heating the water continuously, they use less energy and don’t break down as quickly.

✓ Longest warranty

Rinnai water heaters are backed up by one of the longest warranties in the industry. As a testament to their quality, Rinnai offers an additional 4 years of free labor coverage (a $250 value) when the heater is registered within 3 months of purchase. 

✓ Rebates

Rinnai also qualifies for rebates for customers in the US and Canada. In fact, more than 70 of the brand’s products may be eligible for rebate programs. Click here to check out what rebates you may qualify for.

Types of Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters

Rinnai offers several types of water heaters to suit different needs, including non-condensing, condensing, outdoor and indoor installation, commercial options, and different fuel types.

Non-condensing water heaters

A non-condensing tankless water heater works by turning on the cold water tap, allowing it to flow into the tankless heater. There, the flame is activated and the water warms as it travels through the copper coils in the heat exchanger and enters your pipes, and finally into the given appliance. The flame adjusts accordingly based on the desired temperature.

A non-condensing hot water heater will push the hot gases through the vent to the outside. Typically non-condensing water heater units have efficiencies around 80%, meaning around 20% of the heat gets wasted. For this reason, non-condensing water heaters are not as cost prohibitive.

Rinnai RE180i High Efficiency Non-Condensing, 8.5 GPM Tankless Hot Water Heater

The Rinnai RE Series is a non-condensing line of tankless hot water heaters. The RE180 is for residential use and is available in either Natural Gas or Liquid Propane. It has a 180,000 BTU capacity and a flow rate that ranges from 0.13 – 8.5 GPM. 

This compact water heater is about the size of a carry-on, measuring just 22.87″ x 14.05″ x 10.77″. It is the ideal tankless solution for a home with two bathrooms, being able to handle simultaneous use of 3 – 4 fixtures at one time. An integrated controller is included, with a minimum temperature setting of 98° and a maximum of 140°F. The unit offers maximum settings at 125°F with an option to increase to 140°F.

The RE180i is also available with remote WiFi connection (Control-R WiFi Module sold separately) for remote monitoring, management.

Condensing water heaters

Like the non-condensing water heater, condensing ones work much the same way. Cold water from the tap enters the tankless heater to activate the flame in the condensing water heater. The water pre-heats while passing through the stainless steel heat exchanger and continues to warm up throughout the rest of the process.

The differences with a Rinnai condensing unit is a condensation trap and drain built into the unit, different venting systems, and a secondary heat exchanger.

Rinnai RXP160iN 9.0 GPM Sensei+ Condensing Tankless Hot Water Heater with Built-In Pump

This condensing tankless water heater delivers 160,000 BTUs with a flow rate ranging from 0.13 – 9.0 GPM, enough for 2-3 bathrooms and the simultaneous use of up to five fixtures. 

As a cost-efficient and EnergyStar Qualified model, it features a 0.98 Uniform Energy Factor (UEF). Designed for rugged operation, it includes built-in freeze protection down to -22°F, as well as an integrated check valve to prevent cold air from entering the system. 

Additional features include Smart Sense adaptive gas valve technology, enabling adjustments between Natural Gas and Liquid Propane. For enhanced comfort, the built-in recirculation pump ensures that hot water is delivered to your taps faster, reducing water waste. 

While this unit is WiFi-ready and is compatible with the Smart Connect App and Amazon Alexa, a separate WiFi module is required to set up remote temperature adjustment and monitoring.

Indoor Installation

One of the great features of tankless water heaters is their space efficiency, with many units being the approximate size of a carry-on.

For indoor installation, this feature is especially key. Indoor installation uses concentric venting, where one pipe allows for fresh outside air in, and the other allows the exhaust out for optimal performance and space saving.

Rinnai RXP199iN 11.0 GPM Sensei+ Condensing Tankless Hot Water Heater with Built-In Pump for Indoor Installation

This EnergyStar-certified tankless heater is a highly efficient unit that delivers up to 160,000 BTUs with a flow rate ranging from 0.13 to 11.0 GPM. With an impressive Uniform Energy Factor of 0.98, this model is ideal for homes with 2-3 bathrooms and is capable of simultaneously running 3-6 fixtures. 

For enhanced comfort, this Sensei+ Series model features a built-in recirculation pump, which allows the system to provide hot water quickly once a tap is opened. To ensure reliability, it has anti-freeze protection down to -22°F as well as Smart Sense Adaptive Gas Valve Technology, making it easy to convert from Natural Gas to Liquid Propane. 

This unit comes WiFi Ready (module sold separately), enabling remote control via your smartphone or tablet. It also supports pairability and voice activation through Amazon Alexa.

Outdoor Installation

In many units, the choice of indoor/outdoor installation is not interchangeable and must be chosen at purchase. The main reason that many people like outdoor installation of water heaters is that they do not require venting, which can be an added cost.

Outdoor installation is not recommended for locations with extremely hot temperatures or where they may be exposed to power lines, for safety reasons.

Rinnai RSC199e 11.0 GPM Sensei+ with Smart-Circ Condensing Tankless Hot Water Heater with Built-In Recirculation for Outdoor Installation

This model features 199,000 BTUs and hot water delivery with a flow rate that ranges from 0.26 – 11.0 GPM, good for simultaneous use of 2 – 5 fixtures at one time. It is designed for outdoor installation and boasts a built-in freeze protection down to -4°F on the outdoor / external units. The unit features an integrated check valve located between the turbo fan and the combustion chamber to prevent cold air from entering the venting system and backflow of exhaust in common vent applications.

The RSC199e is for outdoor installation does not require venting.  Because of extreme temperatures and exposed water lines, outdoor / exterior installation is not recommended in locations from Virginia and north. Also keep this in mind in mountainous regions of the country where extreme temperatures may also exist.

Commercial

Do you own a business or other large space where you would like to deliver hot water efficiently to multiple spaces? There are options for you.

Rinnai commercial units for outdoor installation are a great choice for these situations. With an endless supply of water, these systems work great for multi-family homes, small businesses, schools, and other similar locations.

Rinnai CX199iN 11.0 GPM Sensei Commercial Condensing Tankless Hot Water Heater for Outdoor Installation

This commercial-grade tankless water heater is an EnergyStar-certified unit, delivering 199,000 BTUs with a flow rate ranging from 0.13 – 11.0 GPM. With a 0.98 UEF, it is precision-engineered to provide an endless supply of hot water for demanding environments such as restaurants, hotels and other commercial establishments. 

Designed for rugged operations, it features built-in freeze protection for temperatures as low as -22°F (indoor) or -4°F (outdoor). It also includes Rinnai’s proprietary Smart Sense Adaptive Gas Valve Technology, allowing for seamless adjustments between Natural Gas and Liquid Propane. For commercial applications, Cascade Logic enables you to connect up to 24 heaters to function as a singular, high-capacity hot water source. 

While this CX unit is a non-pump model, it features Circ-Logic technology and can be easily converted into a pump model using the internal recirculation conversion kit (RX2RXPCK – sold separately). Additionally, the unit is WiFi ready for convenient control and seamless integration with other smart units.

Things to Consider Before you Buy

One of the main things you want to think about before investing in a Rinnai water heater is what you will be using it for. Do you need it for a vacation home or for everyday use? Will multiple appliances be using hot water at the same time? Will multiple visitors be staying at your house often?

Keep the purpose and capacity specifications in mind when looking for your hot water heater. Calculate the maximum flow rate and BTU range to help you narrow down the size you should be looking for.

If you aren’t sure which one is best for your needs, consult a professional prior to purchase.

Could Rinnai be the Right Fit for You?

There are many reasons why a Rinnai on demand water heater might be exactly what you are looking for. If you have been wanting to go for a tankless option, why not choose a brand that has a century’s worth of credit and proof of its products’ capabilities?

Total Home Supply is a Rinnai dealer and we carry many of their products. You can browse them all here!

If you need a little more direction in choosing your Rinnai product, contact the customer service department here and we can advise.