Let’s deep dive into Rinnai Ru160in Reviews, shall we?
Rinnai Ru160in is the most popular & most efficient hot water heater in the market. It is packed with all the premium features you can think of. Circ-logic Technology, Recirculation Capability, Wi-Fi Compatibility, Energy Star Certificate you name it. But its most standing-out feature is Energy-Efficiency. Ru160in provides an endless hot water supply with superior efficiency. Even the government gives tax rebates to motivate you to buy this water heater. Getting interesting, isn’t it? Read our in-depth Rinnai Ru160in Reviews to find out more.
Rinnai Ru160in & It’s Affordable Alternatives
Introduction
We are starting our Rinnai Ru160in Reviews by explaining the model number. The model number tells us the most basic information about this water heater and helps us compare it to its siblings. The letter ‘RU’ tells us, it is a residential water heater from the Rinnai Ru SENSEI series. Water heaters of the SENSEI series are known as ‘Super-high Efficiency Plus’ condensing tankless water heaters. The number 160 refers to its power consumption rate. Ru160in consumes 15,000 BTU (min)- 160,000 BTU (max).
Later, we will explain what BTU means in detail. The key information here is that the higher the BTU value, the more powerful the water heater is. The letter ‘I’ stands for indoor installation and ‘N’ for natural gas. So, the model number ‘Ru160in’ tells us it is a residential, indoor type, super high-efficiency plus tankless water heater from Rinnai. It consumes 160,000 BTU (max) power per hour from natural gas to heat water.
Just like every other Rinnai model, Rinnai Ru160in has four variants:
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Ru160in (designed for indoor installation and uses natural gas). Check here on Amazon.com
Ru160ip (designed for indoor installation and uses Propane). Check here on Amazon.com
Ru160en (designed for external installation and uses natural gas). Check here on Amazon.com
Ru160ep (designed for external installation and uses Propane). Check here on Amazon.com
All four variants have pretty similar performance, energy efficiency, water flow rate, and price tag. Based on the installation area and availability of natural gas/propane, you can choose any of the 4 variants.
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Rinnai Ru160in Reviews: Most Efficient Hot Water Heater
1) Ru160in is known for its “reliable and long-lasting operation” with a competitive price tag.
2) It is designed to give a better experience with simple installation, low maintenance & operating costs.
3) Most Efficient Hot Water Heater, energy efficiency up to 95%.
4) Maximum of 9 GPM hot water flow rate with recirculation capability.
5) its Energy Star certificate helps you get a federal tax rebate, up to 300 bucks.
6) Wi-Fi enabled, Alexa compatible, Ultra-low NOx certified water heater.
Rinnai Ru160in Reviews: Pros & Cons
Rinnai Ru160in Reviews: Full Specification
| Specification Type | Value | Specification Type | Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions – w, h, d | 18.5 in. x 26.4 in. x 11.4 in. (470 mm x 670 mm x 290 mm) | Uniform Energy Factor | 0.93 |
| Product Weight | 62 lb ( 28kg) | Energy Factor | 0.95 |
| Installation Type | Indoor | Water Temperature | Minimum: 98° F (37° C) Default Maximum: 120° F (49° C) Default |
| Gas Type | Natural Gas | Flow Rate (Min-Max) | 0.26 – 9.0 GPM (1.0 – 30 L/min) |
| Recirculation Capable | Yes | Minimum Gas Consumption Btu/h | 15,000 BTU |
| Residential Energy Star | Yes | Maximum Gas Consumption Btu/h | 160,000 BTU |
1. Looks and body Dimension
Ru160in is a modern-looking compact, and somewhat lightweight tankless water heater. Its compact size saves valuable space in your house. The durable structure of this heater is made of galvanized steel and comes in a beautiful gray color. It has body dimensions (w, h, d) of 18.5 in. x 26.4 in. x 11.4 in. (470 mm x 670 mm x 290 mm) and weighs only 62lb. Ru160in has a good reputation for simple installation and serviceability.
Rinnai designed this unit to be Mobile Home friendly as well. According to research conducted in late 2018, 5.6% of all American people (17.7 million) lives in mobile homes & trailers. So if you are one of those people, Ru160in will be a suitable water heater for you. This machine can be installed in off-grid houses, RVs, and trailers with ease. Its high altitude (up to 10,200ft /3.11 km)) operation clearance makes it more flexible than other tankless water heaters.
2. Most Efficient Hot Water Heater based On Energy Factor Rating
Now, let’s focus on its most compelling feature “Energy Efficiency”. Rinnai Ru160in has a whopping 95% efficiency rate. For a gas-powered tankless water heater, the efficiency rate is more than impressive. It managed to score 0.95 on the Energy Factor rating scale and 0.93 on the Uniform Energy Factor scale. Due to its energy efficiency, it is a certified “Energy Star” home appliance. According to the residential renewable energy tax credit, for buying an energy star product you can get a 30% tax credit of your total buying cost. Rinnai says the amount can be up to $300.
3. Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger & Enhanced Combustion Design
The secret of its efficient performance lies in its enhanced combustion design and water heating mechanism. Ru160in is a condensing water heater that uses double heat exchangers. The heat exchangers are made of stainless steel. Super thermal conductivity of stainless steel heat exchanger improves energy efficiency and increases corrosion resistance.
As a condensing gas water heater, it collects heat not only from the burner but from the hot exhaust gas too. That’s why Ru160in needs 2 heat exchangers. The primary heater exchanger exchanges heat from a fiber mesh premix burner to the cold water. The fiber mesh premix burner is designed for even flame distribution to provide optimal performance. The additional heat exchanger collects heat from the escaping hot exhaust gas. This way, it reduces energy wastage to provide superior efficiency.
4. Low Maintenance Cost & Flexible Venting Options
You should know all condensing water heater produces condensate as a by-product. Condensate is the liquid version of hot gas and steam. Before neutralization, it is extremely corrosive. You can use a neutralizer kit with Ru160in to neutralize the condensate. When the additional heat exchanger of Ru160in collects heat from hot (300F) steam and gas, they turn into slightly warm (100 F) liquid condensate. Then the condensate goes through the neutralizer.
When the condensate finally gets out of the water heater remains no longer corrosive nor hot. So, it gives you the flexibility to use cheap & easy to handle PVC-made venting pipes. Rinnai recommends, concentrate, or schedule 40 PVC/CPVC to be used as a venting pipe. If Ru160in was a non-condensing water heater, you would have to use expensive Grade 3 steel made venting pipes. By the way, with this water heater you get three flexible venting options:
Direct Vent (Concentric and Twin Pipe)
Non-direct (Room air)
Common vent (Direct Vent & Common Air)
5. Hot Water Flow Rate
The hot water flow rate of Ru160in is as impressive as its energy efficiency. Ru160in is capable of supplying 9 (max) gallons of hot water per minute. According to the specification guide, it can handle 2-5 fixtures. But in the real world, you can expect to get 5.5-6 GPM on average. Still, 6 GPM is enough to supply water in two bathrooms, one kitchen, and one washing machine simultaneously.
Want more hot water output from your water heater? Check out Rinnai Rur199in Reviews, the most powerful water heater from Rinnai.
6. Recirculation Capability
Rinnai Ru160in is a recirculation-capable water heater. It means you don’t need to wait in the shower for the hot water to reach the faucet from your heater. You may know, the recirculation process needs a dedicated water return line. Adding a dedicated return line can be costly, which may prove very inconvenient to homeowners. So Rinnai Ru160in features ThermaCirc technology. Circ-Logic Technology offers you to enables the recirculation process without having a dedicated return line. Simply install a thermal bypass valve that will use your cold water line to pass hot water during the recirculation process.
You can check Rinnai Rl94in Review, another recirculation capable budget-friendly water heater from Rinnai.
7. Fuel Consumption Of the Most Efficient Hot Water Heater Rinnai Ru160in
Now, it’s time to explain the meaning of BTU. BTU stands for British Thermal Unit. 1 BTU refers to the amount of power needed to increase the temperature of 1-pound water by 1 degree Fahrenheit. Ru160in have the BTU range of 15,000 (min) – 160000 BTU (max). You need to have a half-inch gas line in your house to use this machine. With default settings, Rinnai Ru160in will serve continuous hot water ranging from 98F- 120F. But with some parameter adjustment from the control panel, you can get up to 140F hot water.
8. Convenient Remote Monitoring System & Safety Devices
We’ve stated before, Rinnai Ru160in is packed with premium features. For your convenience, you can connect the ‘Control R Wi-Fi Module’ and Wireless Accessories with it. The Wi-Fi module will let you control the temperature setting through Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi technology alongside Rinnai’s mobile app enables you to remotely monitor and manage your system. Also, Rinnai Ru160in is compatible with Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Samsung SmartThings. You can even activate or deactivate the recirculation process through voice commands.
Rinnai Ru160in comes with pre-installed water flow sensors, electronic water control, and bypass control. For your safety, it has a flame failure-flame rod, boiling protection, an over-current check system, and frost protection. To power these sensors, you need electricity in your water heater. Rinnai Ru160in uses 52 watts of electricity in normal mode and 1.3 watts in standby mode.
9. Ultra-Low NOx Certificate
Rinnai Ru160in is approved by SCAQMD as an Ultra-Low NOx water heater.
10. Warranty
With Ru160in you get a Residential Factory Warranty. 120 months for heat exchanger, 12 months for labor, 60 months for parts.
Click Here To See the Latest Price & Rinnai Ru160in Reviews On Amazon.com
Bottom line
With Ru160in you can enjoy an endless supply of hot water at low maintenance and operating cost. If you are looking for a premium tankless water heater with superior energy efficiency, you can definitely buy Ru160in. We hope our in-depth “Rinnai Ru160in Reviews” will help you make a better decision.
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