Rinnai energy saver gas heaters

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MikeB4

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#233343 12-Apr-2018 08:35

Hi folks, we are considering replacing our current heating (Log burner and Gas radiant (flued). We are considering the Rinnai Energy saver flued heaters as we have reticulated natural gas to the home and use it for cooking and water heating. Is anyone here using these that can give some feed back on efficicency, affectiveness and cost of running. Are the power flues efficient at removing gas smell and water.

https://rinnai.co.nz/home-gas-heaters

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

DjShadow

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#1994615 12-Apr-2018 08:51

We've just moved into a house with a gas heater in the lounge, after the cold snap we've just had I'd say make sure any heater you get has a fan to blow the heat out and around as the one we've got I don't think does a great job

wellygary

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#1994624 12-Apr-2018 09:05

We had similar flued gas heaters in a past property and they were great,

Quick to start and good fan to push the heat out into the room,

If you already have gas installed, they run at a similar $/unit of heating to a Headpump,

Aredwood

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#1994651 12-Apr-2018 09:30

They use a room sealed balanced flue. This means that the air that is used for combustion is taken from outside. As well as the flue gases and moisture being discharged outside as well. Also means no drafts through the flue when the heater is not being used. Also the longer the flue on those heaters, the better their energy efficiency. As the flue is a small pipe inside a larger pipe. And the gap between the pipes is the intake air to the gas burner. Longer flues mean more area for any remaining heat in the flue gases to pre heat the intake air to the gas burner.

MikeB4

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#1994677 12-Apr-2018 10:07

Aredwood: They use a room sealed balanced flue. This means that the air that is used for combustion is taken from outside. As well as the flue gases and moisture being discharged outside as well. Also means no drafts through the flue when the heater is not being used. Also the longer the flue on those heaters, the better their energy efficiency. As the flue is a small pipe inside a larger pipe. And the gap between the pipes is the intake air to the gas burner. Longer flues mean more area for any remaining heat in the flue gases to pre heat the intake air to the gas burner.

The heater it will replace has a flue running up the outside wall of the home and is quite long.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MikeB4

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#1994678 12-Apr-2018 10:08

DjShadow:

We've just moved into a house with a gas heater in the lounge, after the cold snap we've just had I'd say make sure any heater you get has a fan to blow the heat out and around as the one we've got I don't think does a great job

The Rinnai units are fan assisted, our current unit is not and yes you are correct they take a long time to get the heat around without a fan. We have high vaulted ceilings so even longer.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

MikeB4

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#1994682 12-Apr-2018 10:13

We have considered replacing the log burner with one of the freestanding gas fireplaces in the same location so the flue can use the same hole in the roof etc. Not sure how well these work and how much they are to run. I like log burners but my medical condition makes it next to impossible to deal with a wood burner.

This is what we are considering …. https://rinnai.co.nz/fireplaces-freestanding

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

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1eStar

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#1994979 12-Apr-2018 16:32

While you're on the Rinnai website check out the iheat

https://rinnai.co.nz/central-heating

I'm in a house with it installed, and I am mightily impressed with it.

It hooks on to the heat from your infinity gas water heater. Genius.

MikeB4

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#1994983 12-Apr-2018 16:42

1eStar: While you're on the Rinnai website check out the iheat

https://rinnai.co.nz/central-heating

I'm in a house with it installed, and I am mightily impressed with it.

It hooks on to the heat from your infinity gas water heater. Genius.

Thanks for that tip, I will have a look at that as we have an Infinity unit installed.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

GarryP

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#1995024 12-Apr-2018 18:11

Another manufacturer to check out is Escea which is made in NZ. We are also on retic gas and have the DX1500 with vents throughout the house and it is great.

https://www.escea.com/nz/

mdf

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#1995057 12-Apr-2018 20:14

We had one at our old place. We loved it. My family loved it too; both my brother and mother installed similar units at their place having seen ours.

We were considering them for our new place but opted for a central heating equivalent instead.

The only thing to consider is that they are louder than heatpumps. You can hear it click on and fire, then hear the fan. The thermostat will turn it on for a brief period and pump out the heat (and it really does pump out the heat) then turn the whole unit off when up to temperature. Way more loud and proud than the heatpump low and slow approach. It won't be on long though and is obviously silent when it's off. Unlike a heat pump, the breeze out of them actually feels quite nice (it's very much a warm breeze), but not drying like a heatpump.

Last I checked, they also need to be mounted at floor level. Under a window is ideal.

They have a simple remote control too. If you were that way inclined, I would imagine it would be easy to automate/voice control them with a Google Home/Amazon Echo and IR blaster.