Rinnai instantaneous heaters

Roy_4

Wallies (took me a couple of minutes to figure that out-DUH) Have any of you had ANY kind of experience with the Rinnai Continuum appliances???? I've been looking at tank-less, wall hung units for a few years now and feel the need to "get with it". My Customers are educating themselves via internet and quizzing me all the time. My back can't take many more WM, Laars or Olsen (cast aluminum)"lifts". The instantaneous principle appeals to me and I want to do it right, the first time.
Thanks for any replies,
Roy

Unknown

The Rinnai is the

way to go if you are going instantaneous. The larger unit will give you up to 8.5 gallons per minute. The expected life span of these heaters is double a standard 30, 40 50 gallon storage type water heater. If space is an issue they take up very little space. The average on size on these heaters is 24" high x 18" wide x 9" deep.

The Rinnai 2520FFU or the 2532FFU will provide 4.7 GPM at 70 degree rise. With 50 degree ground water you get 4.7 GPM at 120 degrees (reduced at point of use).

I stayed at a lodge in Vermont a while back and they filled the Jacuzzi in my room off the Rinnai they were using and there was no drop in temp during continous flow of about 3.5 to 5 GPM.

Another unit you may want to look at is Takagi they have a space efficient model that gives 240 gallons per hour while occupying only 2.2 cubic feet of space.

Go to www.foreverhotwater.com for some information.

Roy_4

much appreciated, Tim
I've installed a couple of Tagaki's (sp?) One unit failed miserably due to inadequate water fpm from a drilled well. I had nothing to do with the well and the customer went out and bought his own tank-less unit BUT.......you know who ends up answering the call???? sigh......
Roy

Unknown

I have had

good feed back from several propane companies who have installed Rinnai on some areas with well water.

Roy_4

should I just quote the larger of the 2 units?????????

Jack_21

2532 vs 2520

The name of the game with on-demand, continuous flow (not instantaneous) water heaters is flow and temp rise requirements. With 50F ground water they will both produce the same 4.5gpm of 120F water. In New England we do not get over 50F ground water. Therefore there is no benefit to the 2532. the 2520FFU is the right unit and is $200 less. I speak with the FL rep and he has 75-80F ground water. He can get to the higher flows due to the lower useful temp rises of the 2532's and that is what he sells. 2520 in the north, 2532 in the south, generally!

Roy_4

Jack,
Thanks. Would you decipher the difference between "continuous flow" versus "instantaneous" for me???
I'm confused here........
Roy

Unknown

Rinnai Continuum Training

Seminar will be held September 22, 2004 at the Gas Training Institute 36 Market Street, Warren Rhode Island.

Jack Frederick from Frederick Geraghty Inc. will be the instructor. For information call 401-437-0557.

plumberhoo

well worth the time

I have been a certified installer for a few months now and it is worth the time. Though our sales have not taken off as yet, the interest is growing and I think it is just a matter of time. Bear in mind that if you are not a certified installer the warrenty is void.

Jack_23

Continuous vs instantaneous

Many yrs ago when I was real green in the contracting business I installed an "instantaneous" water heater for a very nice woman. Install went fine. Finished up and drove back up the valley to the office. Upon arriving at the office I had a message from the lady saynig she did not have "instantaneous" hot water. Back down the valley. I went thru the system with her again. I showed her that at the hot water outlet on the water heater, which was located in the basement, the water got hot right away. Damned near instantly, in fact. She was kind enough to acknowledge that I was correct. She then pointed out to me that she did not shower in the basementand taht she had to wait for hot water in her shower and she had not expected that. We were both waaaay disappointed. When you use a term such as instantaneous with a consumer it is misleading. Not intentionally, but misleading none the less. If Rinnai Continuum's were instantaneous, we would have called them the instantaneums. On demand and continuous flow are the correct terms. Does that make sense?

George_10

It doesn't hurt that Paul Harvey

is their spokeman on the radio. Down here in the south that is as good as gold when he recommends something. Its been that way for at least 40 years in this part of the country. It is better than the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

plumberhoo

just filled out my questionaire for Rinnai about Paul Harvey. I'm in the South also...VIRGINIA!!

Roy_4

Friends,
Paul Harvey dos'nt mean much here in Ontario, Canada. I know I have to be "certified" to purchase and install the Rinnai also. I'm still trying to understand the difference between instantaneous and continuous????? Wishing someone with Rinnai experience would tell me like it is...........customers are waiting!!!!

Unknown

Paul it is really just a play

on words if you will. The instantaneous water heaters of the past did not really give instant hot water at point of usage as there name may seem to denote that is what is the problem with the term "instanataneous". They were usually wall hung units that gave a maximum of maybe 2 to 3 GPM. Their reputation was not good for high demand hot water usage. When the demand exceeded 3 GPM the water temp dropped appreciably.

The continous flow means that the heater is able to pretty much stay up with the demand for hot water with no drop in temperature as long as its GPM capacity is not exceeded. Most of the heaters have varying levels up to say 8.5 GPM. They change input to keep up with demand. The modern units go way beyond what was once instantaneous heaters expected performance.

I hope that helps.