Anyone Have a Rinnai Tankless Water Heater?

bverwolf · Post by **bverwolf** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 12:34 am

Hello! I am thinking about replacing my current water heater with a rinnai tankless water heater. I currently have a Bosch tankless that has been somewhat troublesome. A plumber recommended a rinnai and I just wanted to see if anyone has had any experience with them and if they like them or not?

Ben

coalnewbie · Post by **coalnewbie** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 2:07 am

I have used Rinnai gas equipment for many years before becoming a coal nut. They seemed to produce top of the line stuff, expensive but good. LOL.

JB Sparks · Post by **JB Sparks** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 2:30 am

I agree with Coalnewbie, expensive but good stuff.

Post by **Rob R.** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 5:04 am

They make good equipment.

One thing worth noting, I know someone that was inquiring about a tankless water heater at the local supply house and they were told that if they didn't have a water softener and their water had over 12 grains per gallon of hardness, the warranty was void on the tankless. With that kind of hardness you should have a softener anyway, but it is even more of an issue with the tankless heaters and the small passages inside.

Freddy · Post by **Freddy** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 6:35 am

If this is any help.... I have a buddy that works at a wholesale heating place. After years of selling and seeing the service issues of every product out there they have come down to selling only one brand of tankless : Rinai.

bverwolf · Post by **bverwolf** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 1:59 pm

Hello! Thanks for your replies. I'm glad to hear good things about the rinnai. We have very soft water here. Our well is an artesian well and is ladned with salt. I've never had ours tested but I do know its soft. We've never had any trouble with mineral bildup on anything. So does anyone here personally have a rinnai tankless? If so, what model?

Thanks!
Ben

blusmoke · Post by **blusmoke** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 5:31 pm

Sir,
I have a Riannai tankless for the last 5 years. I have had zero issues with the unit. This unit is a zero clearance outdoor mounted unit. I also live in a rural area and use well water. I do have a kinnetico water softening system. It works well with the unit. I highly advise using a Riannai installer when it is put in to validate the warranty. Also spend the cash and install the isolation valves. I clean my unit every year with white vinegar. It helps the unit. It is impossible to do this without the isolation valve kit.

rberq · Post by **rberq** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 5:49 pm

blusmoke wrote:I have a Riannai tankless ... zero clearance outdoor mounted unit.

Where do you live? I assume an outdoor unit would freeze up in winter in many parts of the country.

coalkirk · Post by **coalkirk** » Mon. Feb. 13, 2012 6:09 pm

rberq wrote:
blusmoke wrote:I have a Riannai tankless ... zero clearance outdoor mounted unit.
Where do you live? I assume an outdoor unit would freeze up in winter in many parts of the country.

Nope, they have models that can be installed outside in freezing climtes.

blusmoke · Post by **blusmoke** » Tue. Feb. 14, 2012 6:39 am

I live in Central WV in the mountains. Yes it is cold here. the unit itself is protected from freezing, but I addded a few things to help. I stuffed the box with insulation around the pipes and added some heat tape to the exposed pipes. No issues, not even on the night it was 42 deg below.
When I spoke with the Riannai rep he said there were hotels and other businesses with the outside commercial units in Canada. I was sceptical also, until I tried it.
Remember that these units were first used in Europe, and they had been in use a long time before they made it to the US.

plumb-r · Post by **plumb-r** » Sat. Feb. 18, 2012 9:25 am

My company has been a authorized Rinnai repair dealer for 4 or 5 years. The only calls I ever got are, units that have been installed wrong. They are good units. With the small size I don't know why any one would want a exterior mounted unit. Why tempt fate. If you lose power in a winter storm the unit will not keep itself from freezing.

rberq · Post by **rberq** » Sat. Feb. 18, 2012 2:32 pm

plumb-r wrote:I don't know why any one would want a exterior mounted unit

For easier venting???

creek44 · Post by **creek44** » Sat. Feb. 18, 2012 2:58 pm

I have a Takagi tankless (propane) that has been reliable for over 5 years. It is my primary source for hot water and is the backup for my Heatmor outdoor furnace. It is a quality unit and I have never had any issues with it. We have well water and a water softener. I would not hesitate to purchase another Takagi.

blusmoke · Post by **blusmoke** » Sat. Feb. 18, 2012 3:22 pm

To install an on demand hot water heater exterior mount was my only choice. Venting was the primary issue. The way the house was constructed my choices were limited.
I have my Rinnai hooked up that if I do loose power it is automatically drained and I do not have to worry about the unit freezing. I made sure of that with my installer.

plumb-r · Post by **plumb-r** » Thu. Feb. 23, 2012 12:11 pm

If there is no other way to vent it then sure mount a exterior unit. These things have a built in t-stat when it drops to a certain temp they fire up to keep them from freezing. This will use gas. The whole reason for using a tankless is stop useless firing of the unit to keep something hot.Think efficiency.