Rheem vs Rinnai: which hot water brand should you buy?

When Terry quotes a new hot water system, Rheem and Rinnai are two of the names that come up most. Both are excellent, both have deep parts networks across Sydney, and Terry fits and services either without a preference. The right pick usually comes down to the type of system you need rather than the badge on the front.

Two of the biggest names in Australian hot water

Rheem has the longest local manufacturing history of any hot water brand in Australia and runs the largest service network, which is a real plus when you need a part or a warranty repair years later. Its range covers everything: Stellar electric storage, gas storage, the Rheem heat pump, and the Infinity 26 and 32 continuous flow units.

Rinnai is more focused. The Infinity continuous flow range is what built its reputation and it is the unit most of the trade treats as the benchmark for instantaneous gas hot water. Rinnai also does storage and heat pumps, but continuous flow is its home ground.

Storage vs continuous flow: the real decision

Before choosing a brand, work out whether you want storage or continuous flow, because that matters more than Rheem against Rinnai.

• Storage keeps a tank of hot water ready to go. It handles big simultaneous demand well, works on electric or gas, and suits off-peak or controlled load tariffs. The trade-off is standing heat loss and the chance of running out during back-to-back showers. Tanks last roughly 10 to 12 years.
• Continuous flow heats water on demand and never runs out, with lower running costs and no tank sitting there losing heat. It needs a good gas supply and is sized by flow rate. These units last roughly 15 to 20 years.

Once you know which style fits your household, the brand choice gets easy.

Where Rheem has the edge

If you want storage, Rheem is Terry's usual first call. The Stellar electric storage range is a proven workhorse, and Rheem's service and parts network is the largest in the country, so repairs down the track are rarely a drama. A fitted electric storage tank sits around $1,500 to $2,500, and a gas storage tank around $1,800 to $3,000. Rheem also does a well-regarded heat pump if you want to cut running costs and claim the NSW rebate.

Where Rinnai has the edge

If you want continuous flow, Rinnai Infinity is the benchmark for a reason. It is reliable, widely stocked, and Terry can size it precisely to your bathrooms: roughly 16 to 20 litres a minute for one bathroom, 24 to 26 for two, and 32 for three or more. Fitted, a continuous flow unit runs around $1,900 to $3,500. Rheem's Infinity units are excellent too, so for continuous flow it is genuinely close, and Terry will often quote whichever he can source fastest for your job.

Terry's verdict

There is no loser here. For a storage tank, Terry leans Rheem for its Stellar range and unmatched service network. For continuous flow, he leans Rinnai Infinity, with Rheem's continuous units a very close second. Both brands are reliable and both have the parts backup that keeps a repair quick years down the line, which is exactly what you want from a system meant to last a decade or two.

What Terry cares about most is that the system is sized right and installed properly. An oversized tank wastes money, an undersized continuous flow unit leaves you cold mid-shower. He will look at your connection, your usage and your budget, then quote a fixed price before starting.

Sorting out a new system or a repair around Berala, Auburn, Strathfield or Bankstown? Call Terry on 0415 274 542 for a straight answer on Rheem, Rinnai, or whatever suits your home best.