Rinnai RUR98iN Ultra Review (January 2024) ~ Tankless Water Heaters
Product At A Glance
Top Perk > High Efficiency
If you’re looking for a tankless water heater that uses less energy to deliver hot water when you need it, then you won’t a better choice than the Rinnai RUR98iN Ultra Series. This system has been described by many customers as the most energy efficient unit and we couldn’t agree less.
Besides being qualified by ENERGY STAR, this machine has an energy rating of 96% which obviously separates it in its own class. Just like other models from Rinnai, this unit gives you a range of choices for PVC and concentric venting. It all depends on what you want.
In addition to its high energy factor, this unit also produces lower emissions of CO2 and NOX through an advanced technology. Although highly priced, the value it provides quickly makes up for this.
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Efficiency - 9.8/109.8/10
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Ease of Use - 8.8/108.8/10
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Value - 9.6/109.6/10
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Features - 9.8/109.8/10
Rinnai RUR98iN
Cost: $$$$
Model Number: RUR98iN
Weight: 81.6 pounds
Size: 12.5 x 10 x 26 inches
Water Consumption: 9.8 gallons
Water Flow Rate: 9.8 gallon per minute (GPM)
Usage: Indoor
Fuel Type: Natural Gas
Similar model: RUC98iN
Warranty: Residential: Limited 12-year on heat exchanger, 5-year on parts, and 1-year on labor (5-year optional on labor). Commercial: Limited 5-year on heat exchanger, 5-year on parts, and 1-year on labor (2-year optional on labor).
Detailed Review
Introduction
One of the best ways to cut down on your utility bill is to install a tankless water heater. Compared to a traditional hot water tank, a tankless water heater can help you save more than 30% of the money you spend on energy every month. How?
Energy is consumed all day by the hot water tank, whereas, a tankless heater only uses energy on demand. In order words, it’s only when you need hot water that power will be used. So if you stay throughout a whole day without using hot water, then you will not have to pay for hot water that day.
However, this is not the case with the traditional counterpart. Since power is being drawn to heat and sustain the hot water, you will have to pay for the used energy whether you are using the hot water or not.
But that’s only part of it.
With a hot water tank, you’re limited to the amount of water you can get depending on the tank’s capacity. Once the storage is emptied, you have to refill and heat up again; which may not always be convenient. However, with a tankless water heater, you have an unlimited access to hot water anytime you need it.
This explains why so many homeowners are switching over to tankless water heaters. And peradventure you’re still in the old age of traditional tanks, there’s no better time than now to take advantage of the power and efficiency of these heaters.
If you’re looking for the most powerful energy efficient tankless heater in the market that can easily meet your large family needs, then the Rinnai RUR98iN Ultra Series is your top shot. With a rated efficiency of efficiency up to 96% and an innovative recirculation technology that ensures an endless supply of hot water, this unit is definitely one you should never miss out on.
The Rinnai RUR98iN is equipped with a good number of advanced features that really separates it as a tankless water heater in its own class. Some of them include a built-on circulation pump for added efficiency, an internal by-pass pipe for internal recirculation, and a Wifi control that can be connected over your home’s network.
With the Wifi network, you can conveniently monitor and adjust your heating settings. Like we mentioned earlier, the use of an innovative re-circulation technology ensures that the machine is able to provide continuous supply of hot water enough to serve medium to large sized families. By the way, you should consider getting a smaller model if you have a small family because you may find this system too powerful.
The Rinnai RUR98iN comes with a water flow of 9.8 GPM which can simultaneously support multiple bathrooms or sinks without any noticeable drop.
The increased efficiency of this unit makes it the perfect choice if you want a tankless heater that will give your additional savings on your bills without compromising performance. It is very easy to install and use; which is not surprising considering the fact it’s a product from Rinnai. And with all its amazing perks, we had no choice but to include it first on our list of the best tankless water heaters.
Performance
Anything a regular tankless heater does, you can expect to get from the Rinnai RUR98iN and even more. The unit is specially designed to support the whole house with reliable delivery to multiple bathrooms (up to four) at the same time without any fluctuation in water flow provided the temperature outside is favourable.
You can also be rest assured that won’t be enough time to grow goose bumps while doing the dishes or laundry due to delayed supply of hot water. This system delivers on demand.
The addition of a special ultra-low NOX gas burner in the design of this unit tackles the emission problem. In order words, you can set it up inside the house without worrying about the release of harmful fumes within your home. This is one of the major advantages the Rinnai RUR98iN has over most of its competitors.
This model has a rated water flow rate up to 9.8 gallon per minute and can produce maximum power of 199,000 BTU, which explains why it’s mostly suitable for households.
But just in case you don’t have so much demand for hot water, you can reduce the power and flow rate through the modulating gas valve on the device. You can reduce the 190,000 BTU power to 15, 200 BTU and the 9.8 GPM water flow rate to 0.26 depending on your specific needs.
In addition, this unit enables you to monitor and alter the heating settings over your home network through Wifi. The incorporation of ThermaCirc360 recirculation technology allows you to get how water whenever you need it and for as long as you want. There are very few products that can offer you the same value.
Efficiency
As indicated earlier, the heat outflow of this unit is 9.8 GPM which may fluctuate depending on the weather condition outside the house. Generally, with cooler temperatures, you are likely to experience
As previously mentioned, you’ll enjoy up to 9.8 GPM with the RU98IN. This number might fluctuate depending on the temperature outside.
The temperature of the unit can be anywhere between 98F to 185F depending on where you are using the system. In residential homes, you can expect temperature between 98F to 140F, with higher upper limit for office buildings at 185F.
The RUR98IN is also equipped with a programmable digital controller that allows you alter temperature and save energy in the process. You can use the remote control provided to adjust temperature to your preferred choice.
This unit has been labelled as an “ultra-efficient” heater and we can’t agree any less. Two heat exchangers are employed to adequately heat the incoming water in a condensing mode where the flue gases are used to preheat the water in the secondary heat exchanger. As a result, the exhaust temperature is greatly reduced leading to higher efficiency of the unit.
Installation
With the Rinnai RU98IN, installation is less of a hassle. But of course, you still require a basic technical knowledge to go through with the project.
An installation manual is provided which contains a detailed instruction on how to set up the system. You may also want to watch the video tutorial online.
However, if you don’t feel confidence to carry out the project especially if don’t have any DIY skill set, then you may want to consider hiring someone else to do the installation. We recommend hiring a Rinnai technician; and don’t worry, it won’t cost you much.
The Rinnai RU98IN weighs 70 pounds and has a dimension of 18.5 x 10.1 x 26.4 inches which is quite massive. So you will need to make some space to install the unit; though not as much space as you need for a tanked water heater.
Although you will be freely provided with special isolator valves, other components that are required to successfully set up the unit will have to be ordered by you.
Some of the things you will need to get started include:
- Weather proofing equipment
- Circuit breakers
- Ground lines
- Exhaust pipes
You may actually need other parts or less, depending on what you already have at home. Like we mentioned earlier, even though the installation has been made as simple as possible, you may want to hire a professional to do it for you because any little mistake can void the product warranty.
Visit the company website to download the installation manual.
Other features
- Twin pipe PVC/CPVC configuration for greater flexibility
- Comes with safety features like thermal fuse, flame rod and combustion fan rpm check
- Has boiling and frost protection
- Has OHS and over-current protection.
Pros
- Doesn’t require a lot of space
- Highly energy efficient (saves water and uses less electricity)
- Delivers hot water on demand and doesn’t makes noise
- Delivers up to 9.8 GPM which is pretty massive
- Special system to greatly reduce NOx emission makes it super safe
- Multiple applications- home or office buildings
- Doesn’t require expansion kit
- Great warranty
- Comes with dual pipes for added efficiency
Cons
- Very expensive
- System requires venting during installation and no venting kit is provided
- Not suitable for small homes
- You may need to hire a professional for installation
- Requires scheduled maintenance by a certified repair personnel certified from Rinnai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bottom Line
If you have a large family and you’re looking for a powerful water heater that will meet your household needs, then the Rinnai RUR98iN will make a great buy. You will be fascinated by its great power and high energy efficiency, compact size and environmental friendliness. Though you may find the price a little too high, the value it provides makes it well worth the investment. This unit is one of the best tankless heaters (if not the best) you can rely on to provide you with continuous supply of hot water whenever you need it, no matter how long. With this unit in your home, your bills will never skyrocket anymore!
