I received an email from a potential customer last week wanting to discuss potentially purchasing a Rinnai RL94iN tankless water heater. They had some wrong impressions of what would be needed for installation.
Rinnai RL94i Indoor Tankless Water Heater
My first suggestion was to call in their installer who was already trained on how to handle the unique applications of tankless technology. They need to be a partner with you from the very beginning of the process.
Rinnai uses a special ‘concentric vent’ system. That is simply special venting that have a pipe within a pipe. It brings in fresh air from outside the home to be used and then exhausted. This insures that no air is taken from within the home and that the air that is used is clean.
This system must be used while current water heater vent pipes cannot be. I do not see this as a problem but rather a HUGE asset for Rinnai!
The unit that they picked comes with isolation valves within the carton. The purpose for them is to not only make a nice transition to the hot and cold water lines but to provide for semiannual cleaning of the heater. This cleaning needs to be done not only where hard water conditions exist but all installations.
It will help insure that the life expectancy of twenty years is obtained.
The usual venting is out the side of the home but vertical venting through the roof is also possible. The location of the unit is an important conversation that needs to be had with the installer.
Just because the old heater was installed in a certain location by no means requires the Rinnai also be installed there. You may consider placing it upstairs next to the major hot water devices used. Many options should be considered to compliment your endless hot water.
aTanklessLife.com's Blog 