Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This is the second tankless unit I've installed (the first was a Rheem unit bought at HD) and by far the easier of the two to install. The main differences between this and the Rheem - with a condensing unit you need to plumb in a condensing pump. The Rheem unit has an external keypad that has to be wired while the Rinnai's control unit is built into the face. And the most significant is the plastic duct in the Rinnai rather than the stainless steel for the Rheem. This unit conveniently comes with a full-size paper diagram to determine placement of the unit which is a plus. Everything is fairly straight forward - however the installation manual really isn't written for a consumer while the Rheem unit is written with step-by-step instructions that are easier to understand. The Rinnai manual boils down to safety verbiage and a schematic-like diagram. If I hadn't already installed one I think it would have been more difficult to do so, but I already understood the context from the previous install - this pushed my rating downward. This unit is normally installed by Rinnai crews via their system of certified installers - so I'm assuming the manual is written with them in mind rather than a casual consumer - something to keep in mind.
The default thermostat setting will probably be too low for most US residents - I upped it to 120 degrees. Due to some extra piping the hot water takes longer to get to the spigot - the only thing my wife complains about. Otherwise it's hot and continuous, just as advertised. There are only two of us in a 2400 sq ft home with 2 full baths. In the summer my gas bill is around $33 and fairly consistent (most of the bill is made up of the regular monthly minimum charges). After installation my bills went to $27 so having the unit has decreased by gas usage. My previous water heater was a 50 gallon tanked unit that was installed in the mid 90s (so about 15 years old). I replaced it due to leaking. The hardest part of the install was getting through the block wall and really, it wasn't that bad.
One thing to consider is your exhaust pipe run - the units that require stainless steel can make this part of the install quite expensive. Due to the plastic piping that can be used with condensing units, you can save quite a lot of the costs by going this route (more expensive unit but cheaper ducting). If you have a long run from the unit placement to an outside wall,this can be significant.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Rinnai RC80HPi Indoor Natural Gas Condensing Tankless Water Heater, 8.1 GPM
* Qualifies For Federal Tax Credit * ENERGY STAR qualified * Up to 95% thermal efficiency * Condensing technology for greater efficiency and significant energy savings * Capacity to supply continuous hot water simultaneously to multiple plumbing demands * Significant space savings over tank-style water heaters * More sanitary hot water * Long-lasting design and reduced risk of flooding * Available in Natural Gas or Propane(email for LP availability * Flexible indoor installation options * Meets California and Texas NOx Emission Rules * 12-year heat exchanger limited warranty for residential installations (5 years on parts, 1 year on labor) * Pair up with an air handler for efficient home heating
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