I installed this water heater over Thanksgiving, and it's been...
I installed this water heater over Thanksgiving, and it's been working very well so far. A few points to consider if you're doing a DIY installation:
- If you're venting vertically, buy the available combined concentric vent stack. I vented the intake and exhaust separately, through a tile roof, and it was a pain to get everything on the roof buttoned up and fully waterproof. It would have been much easier had I had a single penetration to deal with.
- If you're doing a straight vertical vent, you'll need to buy a rubber condensate-trap collar from Rheem and install it on the intake vent. I used 1/2" ID tubing (some leftover from the main condensate drain) from the collar, and T-ed that into the hose from the main condensate drain.
Other than these items, the installation was fairly straightforward.
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Verified Purchase
2 found this review helpful
Oct 6, 2017
Just had this installed. Seems to work great so far....
Just had this installed. Seems to work great so far. Hot water in 20-30 seconds to my upstairs.
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Verified Purchase
Sep 5, 2017
Good unit. Easy to install. Home Depot online is not...
Good unit. Easy to install. Home Depot online is not a good avenue to getting this unit in a satisfactory time frame. All you get from them is sorry and we can't fix our mistakes.
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Verified Purchase
Aug 11, 2017
just bought a month ago but great so far
just bought a month ago but great so far
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Verified Purchase
Recommended
Jul 25, 2017
So I have this unit as well as the unit that is the next larger size. This unit came defective wi...
So I have this unit as well as the unit that is the next larger size. This unit came defective without a locking clamp for the hot water, so water went everywhere when we turned the water on. Fortunately my plumber had the part laying around.
So the cons to this unit are:
1. It heats more slowly than the larger unit
2. it is louder than the larger unit- can barely hear the other one running- this one sounds like a motor is spinning whenever it is on
3. the water is not as hot as the other unit even at max temp
I am almost wanting to return it but it was such a pain to get it installed I will just live with it at this point, but I wish I had installed the larger unit instead.
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2 found this review helpful
Jul 25, 2017
Installation
Went fairly smoothly. Only had to make three trips to the store. Last one, 9 years old, had a bad thermocouple but you can't just buy the sensor. Got this one because the tech staff (very nice) said this new design doesn't use cheap sensors. We'll see over time.
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Recommended
Jul 4, 2017
This replaced an 8 yr old direct vent tank type...
This replaced an 8 yr old direct vent tank type that died. Needed a water heater that did not need to mount on an outside wall. This is it. Up to 30+ feet with 3" pipe. Works great.
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Verified Purchase
May 23, 2017
We are very pleased with the fact that we get our hot water faster now....Love the water heater.
We are very pleased with the fact that we get our hot water faster now....Love the water heater.
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Verified Purchase
Recommended
May 1, 2017
Works well beyond my expectations installed it myself...
Works well beyond my expectations installed it myself you may want to consider hiring that done if you're not handy with plumbing. Easily handles the dishwasher and the washing machine and the shower all at the same time.
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Verified Purchase
Apr 29, 2017
4 out of 5
First thing I did not care for was "not in stores, online item only". Maybe this is only for the propane models? I made the decision to switch to tankless after we had a power surge and that took out our refrigerator and "smart" 50 gallon HE hot water heater. So we needed it now, but we had to wait for it to ship. BTW we have a surge protector now.
We live in Michigan, our old tanked hot water heater was in the basement. It is a very important decision where this tankless will be mounted. You want it close to the original location, but close to an outside wall, an outside wall to bring in air and vent gases. For venting and fresh air intake your allowed a certain amount of length in combination with a certain amount of bends, depending on the diameter of PVC pipe that will be used. There are lots of other issues for the intake tube like water traps and angle of intake to divert water if it were to get in.
Be aware if you move the unit to a wall to accommodate the venting, the water in/out and gas will have to follow. And the gas (natural or LP) will have to follow in a 3/4" pipe not 1/2" like most tanked units are plumbed, water also...3/4".
The tanked HE unit (Rheem) I was originally looking at to replace our old broke one was $900. This tankless unit I installed was $1100, add another $70 (worth it) for the valves needed for servicing the unit and descaling the unit once a year. Add $300 worth of copper tube, black pipe and PVC, I'm up to $1470. Also a solid day for me to install it, just me, no breaks. You may be able to use pex and that yellow gas hose, I don't know how much cheaper it be but I know it would be easier. If you were to have this professanily installed, the national average is between $1500-$2500 for labor for a tankless hot water heater. This Rheem unit states $1200 savings over the next twelve (12) years...you can do the math to justify if this is a wise decision for you and you home.
For us, It performs as our 50 gallon HE tanked unit did, maybe an additional 30 seconds for shower water to get up to temp. It's been 6 days now and no issues.
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Recommended
9 found this review helpful
Apr 1, 2017
Good installation instructions. Works as advertised ...
Good installation instructions. Works as advertised
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Verified Purchase
Mar 7, 2017
Product had to be ordered and took approximately 14 days to be delivered. It was also timely to ...
Product had to be ordered and took approximately 14 days to be delivered. It was also timely to install. When installation was completed, there was a manufacturing defect which took a great deal more time on the phone for them to provide needed information. Was told to take back to Home Depot with the claim number. The return/reorder process took another 2 hours. The reorder took another 7 days. Needless to say, not pleased with the product or the process.
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Verified Purchase
Feb 21, 2017
Works great. Endless hot water and quiet operation inside. ...
Works great. Endless hot water and quiet operation inside. It was a complicated install and the intake/exhaust can be heard inside during operation.
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Verified Purchase
Feb 7, 2017
Works great.
Fairly easy to install. Only thing I didn't like was the exhaust and intake cover plates that come with the unit aren't spaced apart the same as what's on the heater, so if installing on an outside wall, you have to angle the exhaust PVC. Other than that, a great unit.
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Recommended
Dec 11, 2016
Install took some work, two involved. The unit is pretty heavy. Instructions were good. First day...
Install took some work, two involved. The unit is pretty heavy. Instructions were good. First day with the water heater in service. So far so good. Seems like a quality product. Did a lot of homework before the purchase.