Best whole-house tankless water heater
- Energy Star-qualified
- Long lifetime, excellent warranty
- Saves money on gas
- Hot water not limited by tank size
- Installation costs
- Long payback period
- Hot water takes time to get to faucet
- Spurts of cold water
This gas tankless water heater doesn't burn any fuel until a faucet is turned on, so this type is often called an "on-demand" heater. Since the supply of hot water doesn't depend on the amount stored in a tank, a properly sized tankless water heater can make it easy to have plenty of hot water for peak periods of use when several people want to bathe, start laundry or wash dishes all at the same time.
Reviews recommend Rinnai as a top brand, and this 180,000 BTU size in particular, for an average home with two or three bathrooms. The maximum flow rate is 7.5 gallons per minute, but you might need a larger model if you live in a very cold climate. This model is Energy Star certified, so although installation can cost more than twice the amount of the heater itself, the total cost is eligible for a 30 percent federal tax credit plus state "cash for appliances" rebates and other incentives. A tankless water heater can save money on utility bills, but only if you resist the temptation to use more hot water since it's so readily available. Other drawbacks include brief spurts of cold water, plus the waste of water caused by the delay between turning on the faucet and getting hot water. You can avoid these problems and save even more gas by stepping up to another Energy Star-certified tankless water heater: the Navien NR-210A (*Est. $1,780), which uses condensing technology for 0.98 thermal efficiency and builds in a recirculating system to provide instant hot water.
Rinnai earns top ranking as a water-heater brand in a survey done for BuilderOnline.org. Tests at the Okaloosa (Fla.) Gas District cover the Rinnai tankless water heater that's now the Rinnai R75SLiN, but compare it with storage-tank water heaters rather than other gas tankless models. Comparisons at Bestcovery.com are based on specifications, features and pricing as well as reviews elsewhere. A handful of owners review the Rinnai R75SLiN at Amazon.com, and blogger Ryan Tucker's review covers the preceding model after several years of use. More than 275 builders and owners publish reviews of various Rinnai tankless water heaters at GreenBuilding.org, but other brands get equally mixed reviews here. An article on tankless water heaters at HubPages.com recommends the Rinnai based mostly on the Okaloosa tests, but it provides a lot of useful details and tips. A survey of tankless water-heater users by Nexus Market Research concludes that locating a water heater close to points of use is critical for owner satisfaction.
| Rinnai RL75iN Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater, 7.5 Gallons Per Minute | |
(39 reviews) In Stock. Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping |
|
Our Sources: Rinnai Water Heater Reviews
1. BuilderOnline.org
For water-heater quality, Rinnai leads the pack in this 2007 survey of 3,428 builders and contractors.
Review: 2008 Builder Brand Study, Editors of BuilderOnline.org, March 31, 2008
2. Okaloosa Gas District
Objective tests done in 2002 compare the Rinnai model preceding the Rinnai R75LSiN with a natural-gas, storage-tank water heater and an electric water heater, based on the average use of a four-person household. The Rinnai tankless water heater is superior to both storage-tank models not only for fuel costs, but also for the amount of hot water delivered.
Review: Water Heater System Test, Editors of the Okaloosa Gas District, October 2009
3. Bestcovery.com
This review by a household appliance expert gives top ranking to the Rinnai R75LSiN as the best whole-house tankless water heater. Based on comparisons of features, specifications and pricing as well as reviews by others, the author recommends this model for a household with two or three bathrooms -- praising the Rinnai for build quality, ease of installation and an excellent warranty.
Review: Rinnai R75LSiN Natural Gas Tankless Water Heater, Mariette Mifflin
4. Amazon.com
The handful of owners reviewing the Rinnai R75LSiN tankless water heater are mostly pleased, but note that compared with a storage-tank water heater, this system wastes water because you have to let water run from the faucet for a minute or two before hot water starts to come out.
Review: Rinnai R75LSiN Tankless Water Heater, Contributors to Amazon.com
5. Ryan's Inter-Online Web Blog
This two-part review covers an earlier 180,000 BTU Rinnai tankless water heater, now the Rinnai R75LS. Despite high installation costs ($1,900), the author is satisfied, calculating that the Rinnai saves more money than alternatives, taking the tax credit into account. Minor drawbacks include short spurts of cold water and an occasional loud noise.
Review: The Rinnai 2520 A Few Years Later, Ryan Tucker, March 31, 2008
6. Greenerbuilding.org
More than 275 builders and users give various Rinnai tankless water heaters mixed reviews here, as they do with other brands of tankless water heaters. Some reviewers give Rinnai water heaters the highest possible rating, while others report a variety of problems.
Review: Rinnai Tankless Hot Water System, Contributors to GreenerBuilding.org
7. HubPages.com
This article recommends the Rinnai mainly based on the Okaloosa tests above, but it also covers a lot of details about tankless hot water heaters.
Review: Saving Money with Tankless Hot Water Systems, "Past Master"
8. Nexus Market Research
This survey of 101 users of gas tankless water heaters notes that where the unit is installed is a critical factor in satisfaction. All the owners are satisfied if their tankless water heater is installed close to faucets and other points of use, but only 61 percent are satisfied if the water heater is installed further away in an attic or basement.
Review: Attitude Survey Among Participants in the Gas Network's Tankless Water Heater Program, Editors of Nexus Market Research, October 2006
Water Heaters Runners Up:
5 picks including: Amazon.com, Dulley.com…
5 picks by top review sites.
4 picks by top review sites.
3 picks by top review sites.
3 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: Journal of Light Construction, 411Plumb.com…
2 picks by top review sites.
2 picks including: HomeDepot.com, J.D. Power and Associates…
Eccotemp L5 Portable Tankless Water Heater and Outdoor Shower
Eccotemp Systems
New Too low to display
(227)
Rheem RTE 13 Electric Tankless Water Heater, 4 GPM
Rheem
New $189.89
(125)Bosch GL2.5 Ariston 2-1/2-Gallon Point-of-Use Indoor Electric Mini-Tank Water Heater
Bosch
New $149.00
(106)
Ecosmart ECO 27 Electric Tankless Water Heater, 27 KW at 240 Volts with Patented Self Modulating Technology
Ecosmart
New $459.00
(104)
Reliance 6 6 SOMS K 6 Gallon Compact Electric Water Heater
Reliance
New $181.28
(52)Best Reviewed
Water Heaters
- Best gas water heater A. O. Smith GDHE-50 Vertex 100 *Est. $1940
- Best budget gas water heater Rheem FVR NATGAS 22V40F1 *Est. $260
- Best hybrid electric water heater GE GeoSpring Hybrid GE H50DNSRSA *Est. $1440
- Best budget electric water heater Kenmore 32656 *Est. $290
- Best whole-house tankless water heater Rinnai R75LSiN *Est. $900
- Best small point-of-use water heater Bosch Ariston GL4 *Est. $170
Get info about new reports and updates
