Tankless Rinnai That's Never Been Flushed

[David B]

Hi All,

I'm buying a home built in 2013 that uses a tankless Rinnai water heater. I know the current owner's never flushed or serviced the unit, and I'm trying to decide the best course of action.

1) The seller can hire a plumber - probably the cheapest they can find - to service the unit and provide us with receipts.

2) I can get a credit for the service and hire whomever I want - a competent plumber - to take a look at it.

My concern is that since it's never been flushed or serviced at all, if I get a credit, I'll hire somebody good and they'll tell me it needs to be replaced, by which point the house and the water heater will be mine and I'll be on the hook. Can someone knowledgeable let me know what the likelihood is that a six year-old Rinnai tankless unit that's never been serviced will be in bad shape? Thank you!

 

[FishScreener]

It is all dependent on the water quality/dissolved solids in you’re water. If your somewhere like Vegas, which has extremely hard water, it would be toast. Where I am in Idaho, you’d probably be fine.

 

[David B]

I'm up in MA, for what it's worth.

 

[CT18]

It would just be a guess. I would have it flushed for sure.

 

[Geofd]

if your that worried about it the sale should be contingent on the heater passing an inspection by a well known competent plumbing/heating co

 

[Geofd]

we bought a house with in the last 5 years...the tankless was leaking....they were only gonna give me 500$ I said no we lost the sale...t came back up we bid on it again....they ended up paying 1100.00 for a replacement

 

[Rickyman]

You’re going to let a water heater hold up buying the house you want?

 

[RenewDave]

Please tell us the price you paid for the house that a few hundred dollars made you walk away. You literally walked away from the house you wanted for what amounted to 2 dollars a month....Maybe.

 

[fixitron]

If the water heater is not leaking, and is providing good hot water, then the heat exchanger is not clogged with mineral buildup. It would be helpful if you could get a combustion test, especially for CO, and have a look at the flames, which will tell you a lot about the condition of the burner side.
If the water quality is good and the water heater did not see a lot of use, it may be in OK condition.

 

[Geofd]

Please tell us the price you paid for the house that a few hundred dollars made you walk away. You literally walked away from the house you wanted for what amounted to 2 dollars a month....Maybe.

Please tell us the price you paid for the house that a few hundred dollars made you walk away. You literally walked away from the house you wanted for what amounted to 2 dollars a month....Maybe.

re read post 6

 

[RenewDave]

The total price of the house. Not the credit they gave him for the water heater. If he paid 40k for the house, 500 is something to think about. If he paid 500k, 500 looks a lot smaller.

 

[Geofd]

The total price of the house. Not the credit they gave him for the water heater. If he paid 40k for the house, 500 is something to think about. If he paid 500k, 500 looks a lot smaller.

that's true im mass so 40 is un heard of 500 k is in someplaces is almost average and could need 40k of work....I guess my point was your shelling out money so anything extra going away from you down payment may make it harder in the mortgage payment side but its just opinion...

 

[RenewDave]

Although buying a house is a financial decision, it’s really an emotional decision. If I vetoed a house my wife said “this is the one” for 500 bucks, the house we settle on better have a comfy couch. I’m like him with buying rigs though, so I get it.