Rinnai vs AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters: Which One Should You Choose?
In this blog post, we will compare two of the leading tankless water heater brands: Rinnai and AO Smith.
We will look at their features, performance, pros and cons, and customer reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Tankless water heaters are becoming more popular among homeowners who want to save energy, space, and money. Tankless water heaters heat water only when you need it, eliminating the need for a bulky storage tank and reducing standby heat loss. They also provide an endless supply of hot water, as long as you don’t exceed their flow rate capacity.
But with so many brands and models of tankless water heaters on the market, how do you choose the best one for your home?
In this blog post, we will compare two of the leading tankless water heater brands: Rinnai and AO Smith.
We will look at their features, performance, pros and cons, and customer reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Table of Contents
- 1 Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters
- 2 Some of the features that make Rinnai tankless water heaters stand out are:
- 3 Some of the drawbacks of Rinnai tankless water heaters are:
- 4 AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters
- 5 Some of the features that make AO Smith tankless water heaters stand out are:
- 6 Some of the drawbacks of AO Smith tankless water heaters are:
- 7 Rinnai vs AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters: Comparison Table
- 8 Rinnai vs AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters: Customer Reviews
- 9 Rinnai vs AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters: Conclusion
- 10 Author
Rinnai Tankless Water Heaters
Rinnai is a Japanese company that has been producing tankless water heaters since 1964. It is one of the largest manufacturers of gas appliances in the world, with a presence in over 80 countries. Rinnai offers a wide range of tankless water heaters for residential and commercial use, with various sizes, capacities, and technologies.
Some of the features that make Rinnai tankless water heaters stand out are:
ThermaCirc360 technology
This feature allows you to recirculate hot water through your pipes, so you don’t have to wait for it to reach your faucet. You can activate it with a push button, a motion sensor, or a smartphone app. This can save you water, time, and energy.
Wi-Fi connectivity
You can monitor and control your Rinnai tankless water heater remotely using the Rinnai Control-R app on your smartphone. You can adjust the temperature, check the status, troubleshoot errors, and receive maintenance alerts.
Ultra-low NOx emissions
Rinnai tankless water heaters are designed to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, which are harmful to the environment and human health. They meet the strict standards of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in California.
High efficiency
Rinnai tankless water heaters have an energy factor (EF) of up to 0.96, which means they convert up to 96% of the fuel they use into heat. They also have a condensing technology that recovers the heat from the exhaust gas and uses it to preheat the incoming water.
Long warranty
Rinnai offers a 15-year warranty on the heat exchanger and a 5-year warranty on the parts for its residential tankless water heaters. This is one of the longest warranties in the industry.
Some of the drawbacks of Rinnai tankless water heaters are:
High upfront cost
Rinnai tankless water heaters are more expensive than AO Smith models, with prices ranging from $800 to $2,000 depending on the size and features. You may also need to pay extra for installation, venting, and accessories.
Complex installation
Rinnai tankless water heaters require professional installation by a licensed plumber and electrician. They also need special venting materials that can handle high temperatures and condensation. You may need to upgrade your gas line, electrical service, or water pipes to accommodate the high demand of a tankless unit.
Limited flow rate
Rinnai tankless water heaters have a maximum flow rate of 9.8 gallons per minute (GPM), which may not be enough for large households with multiple simultaneous hot water needs. You may need to install more than one unit or use low-flow fixtures to avoid running out of hot water.
AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters
AO Smith is an American company that has been producing water heaters since 1936. It is one of the largest manufacturers of water heating products in North America, with a variety of models for residential and commercial use. AO Smith offers both gas and electric tankless water heaters, with different sizes and capacities.
Some of the features that make AO Smith tankless water heaters stand out are:
X3 scale prevention technology
This feature protects the heat exchanger from mineral buildup that can reduce efficiency and performance. It uses a sacrificial anode rod that attracts scale-forming minerals and prevents them from sticking to the heat exchanger.
Self-diagnostic system
This feature helps you troubleshoot any problems with your AO Smith tankless water heater using an LED display that shows error codes. You can – refer to the user manual or contact customer service for assistance.
Remote control
You can adjust the temperature and settings of your AO Smith tankless water heater using a remote control that comes with the unit. You can also use the remote control to activate the recirculation mode, which circulates hot water through your pipes for faster delivery.
Low NOx emissions
AO Smith tankless water heaters are designed to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions, which are harmful to the environment and human health. They meet the standards of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) in California.
High efficiency
AO Smith tankless water heaters have an energy factor (EF) of up to 0.93, which means they convert up to 93% of the fuel they use into heat. They also have a condensing technology that recovers the heat from the exhaust gas and uses it to preheat the incoming water.
Long warranty
AO Smith offers a 15-year warranty on the heat exchanger and a 5-year warranty on the parts for its residential tankless water heaters. This is one of the longest warranties in the industry.
Some of the drawbacks of AO Smith tankless water heaters are:
- High upfront cost: AO Smith tankless water heaters are not cheap, with prices ranging from $600 to $1,500 depending on the size and features. You may also need to pay extra for installation, venting, and accessories.
- Complex installation: AO Smith tankless water heaters require professional installation by a licensed plumber and electrician. They also need special venting materials that can handle high temperatures and condensation. You may need to upgrade your gas line, electrical service, or water pipes to accommodate the high demand of a tankless unit.
- Limited flow rate: AO Smith tankless water heaters have a maximum flow rate of 8.4 gallons per minute (GPM), which may not be enough for large households with multiple simultaneous hot water needs. You may need to install more than one unit or use low-flow fixtures to avoid running out of hot water.
Rinnai vs AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters: Comparison Table
To help you compare Rinnai vs AO Smith tankless water heaters more easily, we have created a comparison table that shows some of their main features and specifications.
| Feature | Rinnai | AO Smith |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel type | Gas | Gas |
| Energy factor | Up to 0.96 | Up to 0.93 |
| Maximum flow rate | 9.8 GPM | 8.4 GPM |
| Minimum activation flow rate | 0.26 GPM | 0.4 GPM |
| Temperature range | 98°F – 140°F (98°F – 185°F with commercial controller) | 100°F – 140°F |
| Venting type | Concentric or PVC | Concentric or PVC |
| Wi-Fi connectivity | Yes | No |
| Remote control | No | Yes |
| Recirculation mode | Yes (with ThermaCirc360 technology) | Yes (with remote control) |
| Scale prevention technology | No | Yes (with X3 technology) |
| Self-diagnostic system | No | Yes |
| Warranty | 15 years on heat exchanger, 5 years on parts, 1 year on labor | 15 years on heat exchanger, 5 years on parts |
Rinnai vs AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters: Customer Reviews
Another way to compare Rinnai vs AO Smith tankless water heaters is to look at what customers have to say about them. We have collected some of the most common praises and complaints from online reviews and summarized them below.
Rinnai tankless water heaters:
- Customers like that Rinnai tankless water heaters provide endless hot water, save energy and space, and are easy to use and maintain.
- Customers also appreciate that Rinnai tankless water heaters have Wi-Fi connectivity, recirculation mode, and ultra-low NOx emissions.
- Customers complain that Rinnai tankless water heaters are expensive, noisy, and require frequent flushing and descaling.
- Customers also report that Rinnai tankless water heaters have poor customer service, long wait times, and limited availability of parts and technicians.
AO Smith tankless water heaters:
- Customers like that AO Smith tankless water heaters provide endless hot water, save energy and space, and are durable and reliable.
- Customers also appreciate that AO Smith tankless water heaters have a remote control, recirculation mode, scale prevention technology, and self-diagnostic system.
- Customers complain that AO Smith tankless water heaters are expensive, noisy, and require frequent flushing and descaling.
- Customers also report that AO Smith tankless water heaters have poor customer service, long wait times, and limited availability of parts and technicians.
Rinnai vs AO Smith Tankless Water Heaters: Conclusion
Both Rinnai and AO Smith tankless water heaters are high-quality products that can provide you with hot water on demand, save you energy and space, and last for many years. However, they also have some differences that may affect your decision.
Rinnai tankless water heaters have a higher energy factor, a higher flow rate, a lower activation flow rate, a wider temperature range, and Wi-Fi connectivity. They are ideal for large households that need a lot of hot water and want to control their unit remotely.
AO Smith tankless water heaters have a remote control, a scale prevention technology, and a self-diagnostic system. They are ideal for medium-sized households that want to protect their unit from mineral buildup and troubleshoot any problems easily.
Both brands have similar drawbacks, such as high upfront cost, complex installation, limited flow rate, noise, maintenance, and customer service issues.
Ultimately, the best tankless water heater for you depends on your budget, preferences, and hot water needs. You should also consider the availability of gas supply, venting options, and qualified installers in your area.
If you are ready to buy a tankless water heater, we recommend that you check out the latest prices and reviews of Rinnai and AO Smith models on Amazon. You can also compare other brands and models using our tankless water heater comparison tool.
We hope this blog post has helped you compare Rinnai vs AO Smith tankless water heaters and make an informed choice. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you. Thank you for reading!
