Rinnai
Rinnai Enviroflo 215
215 litre heat pump. Uses roughly a third of the power of the electric tank it replaces.
Supply only. We don't publish an install price because it depends on the gas line, the run to the taps and where the old unit sits - and a number here would be a guess at your house.
From the van
The one that catches people out is the power point. Everyone budgets for the unit and nobody budgets for the sparky. Check what's on the wall next to your old tank before you fall in love with this one. Otherwise it's a good unit, and it's the quietest of the three.
The numbers
- Rinnai model
- EHPG215VM
- Type
- Heat pump, all one piece
- Tank
- 215 litres
- Power point
- 15 amp - a normal power point won't run itHousehold power points are 10 amp. A 15 amp outlet has a wider earth pin and is a separate job for an electrician, so factor that in if there isn't one outside already.
- Noise
- 46 dB(A) at 1.5 m
- Backup element
- 2.4 kW, built in
- Rebate
- Eligible for STCs, taken off the price up front
Will it fit?
- Size
- 1875 mm tall, 640 mm round
- Weight
- 109 kg empty, 324 kg full
- Clearances
- 500 mm on the fan side, 300 mm in front, 150 mm on the intake side, 50 mm behind, 300 mm above.
- Power
- 15 amp outlet.
- Noise
- 46 dB(A) at 1.5 m.
Full specs in Rinnai's own spec sheet.
What it's good at
- Cuts an electric tank's running cost by roughly two thirds
- One piece, so it goes where the old tank was
- Quietest of the three we fit
- 640 mm across, so it fits through a standard gate
What to watch for
- It needs a 15 amp outlet. Most houses don't have one outside, so budget for an electrician
- It drains water while it runs and needs somewhere for that to go
- 324 kg full - it wants a solid slab, not pavers on dirt
- It's a fan and a compressor. Don't put it under a bedroom window
How it compares
Rheem Ambiheat HDc-270
Bigger tank and hard-wired, so an electrician either way. Slightly louder on paper.
Dux Ecosmart Pro 270
There's a version that plugs into a normal power point, which can save you the electrician. Taller, and no published noise figure.
Electric storage
Cheaper to buy, roughly three times the running cost. The rebate closes most of the gap on day one.
Work out what it'll cost you to run
At your tariff, against every other type - because the cheaper unit often isn't.
Questions we get
Will it run out of hot water?
215 litres is two or three people. It reheats slower than an electric tank, so back-to-back showers for a family of five is pushing it.
Does it work in winter here?
Yes. Brisbane doesn't get cold enough to trouble it.
How much is the rebate?
It depends on the year and where you are. It comes off the price up front, so you'll see it on the quote.
Is it noisy?
46 dB(A), so about a fridge. It's where you put it that matters.