Experience with Rinnai vent-free convectors?
KeithH
| Posted in Mechanicals on
Anyone used or have experience with Rinnai Vent-Free Convectors?
I’m a little baffled by this product. No ducts, no vents, nearly 100% efficiency. Relatively low cost, relatively low total load. Am I missing something here? It seems like the low load crowd would be all over these, as a backup heating up for high efficiency minis if not as a main line unit.
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Replies
Keith,
Although the manufacturers of this type of heater like to call their products "vent-free," many observers have noted that these products actually use your living room (and your lungs) as the vent. They're vented, all right -- into your home.
GBA has published several articles on this type of heater, including these:
Avoid Unvented Gas Heaters
A Ventless Gas Fireplace Doesn’t Belong in Your Home
It should be noted that Rinnai also sells vented space heaters -- the kind with a through-the-wall vent. I have written an article that notes that this type of simple space heater is often appropriate for a small, well insulated home: Heating a Tight, Well-Insulated House.
Martin has nailed it.
It is a complete mystery to me why a company with a great reputation would market this product
Thanks guys. I figured that was the answer. I searched on GBA but too narrowly.