Rinnai
Rinnai Infinity 26
The 26 litre a minute continuous flow unit most Brisbane families end up with.
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
This is the unit I fit most often. When someone's unhappy with continuous flow it's almost never the unit - it's a long pipe run to a back bathroom, and that's worth sorting before you spend the money. Narrow side path is usually fine, by the way. It sits flat against the wall.
The numbers
- Rinnai model
- REU-E2626W (Infinity Enviro 26)
- Type
- Condensing gas continuous flow
- Flow rate
- 26 L/min at a 20-25°C rise. 16.3 L/min at 40°C, 13 L/min at 50°CTemperature rise is how much the unit has to lift the incoming water. Brisbane mains sit around 20°C, so a 25°C rise gets you a 45°C shower and it will do 26 litres a minute of it. Ask for hotter water and the flow drops, which is why the same unit has three different numbers.
- Efficiency
- 7 star equivalent
- Gas
- Natural gas or LPG - you pick at order, it can't be swapped later
- Mounting
- External wall
- Tank
- None - heats on demand
Will it fit?
- Size
- 565 x 351 x 220 mm
- Weight
- 18 kg
- Clearances
- Sits flat against the wall. 500 mm clear in front of the flue, which is 720 mm out from the wall once you allow for the unit.
- Power
- Plugs into a weatherproof power point. 1.5 m cord.
Full specs in Rinnai's own spec sheet.
Where it can go
The measurementstap one to see it
AS/NZS 5601.1:2022 Table 6.9.3 and Figure 6.9.3, worked out for this appliance's gas input and flue type, plus Clause 6.9.3(b) for the boundary. Every distance is to the FLUE TERMINAL, not the case - the standard's own note measures from the nearest discharge point of the terminal, so it is the shortest gap, not centre to centre. Several of these can be reduced where the appliance is certified for closer installation, and the manufacturer's install manual wins wherever it is stricter.
What it's good at
- Endless hot water. Nobody gets the cold shower
- No tank sitting there losing heat all day
- Small on the wall
- Lasts well
What to watch for
- It's a condensing unit, so it makes water while it runs - up to about 5 litres an hour - and that has to go to a drain. It's the thing most likely to add cost to the install
- It needs 500 mm of clear air in front of the flue. The unit is 220 mm deep, so that's 720 mm out from the wall - a close fence or a narrow walkway is the usual problem
- There's a short wait before hot water reaches the tap
- No hot water in a blackout - it needs power to run
- Two showers and a tap at once will still drop the temperature
How it compares
Rheem Metro 26
Very close on performance and usually a bit cheaper. If price decides it, get a number on this one too.
Bosch Highflow 26
Fine unit. Fewer around Brisbane, so a repair can mean waiting on a part.
Rinnai Infinity 20
Cheaper, and plenty for one bathroom. Only go to the 26 if two showers might run at once.
Electric storage tank
Cheaper to put in, dearer to run, and it runs out. Worth comparing on running cost.
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
Is 26 L/min enough for my house?
16 suits one bathroom, 20 to 26 a family home with two, 32 a big household. Undersizing is the one people regret.
Can it run on LPG?
Yes, but it's a different model - you pick natural gas or LPG when you order.
Will it work in a blackout?
No. It needs power to run, even though it heats with gas.
How long should it last?
Well over a decade.