Recently The latest Rinnai tankless water heater models are the LS Series. These gas tankless water heaters have a life expectancy of over 20 years, and they are the most durable water heaters that Rinnai has ever produced. All of the models in the LS series have a commercial grade copper heat exchanger, and can be used for both residential and commercial applications.
Each tankless unit is about the size of a carry-on suitcase, and is designed to be mounted on a wall, thus freeing up valuable floor space. The LS models have an attractive contemporary design with a silver metallic finish. To improve the overall appearance of the installation. Rinnai provides a pipe cover enclosure to conceal the piping below the water heater.
The Rinnai LS tankless water heater series consists of both indoor and outdoor models. The outdoor models are weatherproof units that are designed to be mounted on an outside wall of a house. They are easier and cheaper to install, because they vent through an opening in the front of the unit, and they don’t require any additional venting. All of the Rinnai outdoor tankless water heater models incorporate freeze protection technology, which provides protection down to a temperature of minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit.
To conceal an outside water heater, the unit can be placed inside a metal box that is provided by Rinnai. This box can be recessed into an outside wall, so that it is flush with the wall surface. The outer surface of the box can then be painted or textured to match the exterior finish of the house.
All Rinnai SL models are available as both propane and natural gas units. If you are replacing you tank unit with one of these models, you will need to upgrade your gas lines from ½ inch to ¾ inch lines.
The combustion unit inside each water heater, consists of 16 stainless steel Bunsen burners, which can fire up to a maximum of 237,000 BTU, depending on the model. To save energy, Rinnai has replaced the traditional water heater pilot light with an electronic spark ignition system.
The operation of each unit is monitored electronically, and precisely modulated by sophisticated temperature, water flow and gas flow sensors and controllers. This electronic system makes troubleshooting easy, by displaying coded error messages on the owner’s remote control. Rinnai’s LS models also incorporate safety features, which switch off the water heater in instances of overheating.
All Rinnai SL tankless water heater models (with the exception of the R98SL), have a single vent on top of the unit. This vent is designed to be connected to a concentric vent system. The vent consists of a single duct with an inner tube for the venting of exhaust gases, surrounded by an outer tube through which air for combustion is brought into the unit from the outside of the house. This direct vent system can run horizontally through a wall in the house, or vertically through the roof. To prevent condensate draining back into the water heater through the venting system, an integrated condensate collector is installed in all interior models.
There are five Rinnai LS models. Described below are the number of hot water fixture that each model can simultaneously serve at a temperature rise of 35 degrees Fahrenheit (warm climates) and a temperature rise of 65 degrees (cold climates). A hot water fixture could be any of the following: a shower, bath, kitchen sink, dishwasher or washing machine. A ½ fixture is a low flow bathroom sink.
The Rinnai R50LSi is an interior model that will serve 1½ fixtures simultaneously in a warm climate and 1 fixture in a cold climate.
The Rinnai R63LSe is an exterior model that will serve 2½ fixtures simultaneously in a warm climate and 1½ fixtures in a cold climate.
The Rinnai R75 LSi and R75LSe are interior and exterior models that will serve 3 fixtures simultaneously in a warm climate and 1½ fixtures in a cold climate.
The Rinnai R94LSi and R94LSe are interior and exterior models that will serve 3½ fixtures simultaneously in a warm climate and 2 fixtures in a cold climate.
The Rinnai R98LSi and R98LSe are interior and exterior models that will serve 4 fixtures simultaneously in a warmclimate and 2½ fixtures in a cold climate.
Rinnai offers an excellent warranty on all its LS water heater models. It provides a 12 year warranty on its heat exchangers, 5 years on other parts and a one 1 year service warranty.
The Rinnai R50, R75, and R94 models are eligible for a 30% Energy Star tankless water heater tax credit. This tax credit can be claimed on the purchase price, and installation costs up to a maximum of $1,500. Additional rebates are available from local utility companies
