Noncondensing Tankless: DOE Proposed Rule vs Rinnai REP Series Any Opinions on Noncondensing Units?

[jsdtx]

DOE has proposed to prohibit production of tankless noncondensing units unless they meet a certain efficiency and Rinnai built a US plant that produces the units that would be banned. They have mounted a campaign to comment to the DOE but they also produced a series of heaters with recirc pumps that are noncondensing. REP199in is one example of their heaters now priced at under $1500. That is about $800 less than the condensing version of a similar unit. RSC199in. Anyone install one of these noncondensing units or any thoughts on using one of these even to replace a condensing unit? They paid Risinger to review one of them on the build show youtube series. Thanks

 

[breplum]

Just last week Navien introduced two non-condensing tankless units with built in recirc pump (indoor with special vent mtl needed and an outdoor with a slot vent. I haven't seen the pricing yet.) Seems like they were after the same niche market band.
The are going to be super-similar to condensing with less performance.
If you have to add back the cost of a vent system, not worth the effort.

 

[jsdtx]

It seems like the Rinnai also require special venting and you raise an excellent point about costs in venting may offset the savings in the unit. These companies are trying to become grandfathered in their nc units. Thank you.