Gas waterheater- flue required?

[Signed Out]

Before I am flamed, I have searched Rinnai to no avail, and Water heater only to get lots about general heating matters and other irrelevant stuff.

I removed an old gas water heater recently- Thorn I think it was, and am considering replacing with a Rinnai perhaps, as it could possibly be a simple, fairly direct installation on the old fittings. However, the old one had no flue, and I believe this may be a big no-no now. Will I be required to excavate my deck for one of these, or do they use some other system- my location is right next to the companionway, and a flue would be awkward- coming out behind the cockpit screen.

Also, I've read reference to requiring a certain water pressure- my water system is on small pressure switches (no idea of bar/PSI), and doubt it's very high- is this likely to be a problem too, considering the old unit seemed to fair ok.

Jem.

 

[savageseadog]

[ QUOTE ]
Before I am flamed,

[/ QUOTE ] /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif, Good intro for a thread on gas heaters

 

[alb40]

I used a rinnai without a flue when i first got it. It does stink though and create alot of condensation, so I fitted a flue to it. I got mine from seamark nunn, and used a hole saw to cut through my roof and use the supplied tube and fitting to link it all up. Much better, and safer of course. If its location is going to be a problem, then your best off moving the heater.

Although the old valiant heater worked with the existing hater system, the rinnai was a little tempremental when i used the shower, probably due to the long pipe run. A bigger jabsco pump was fitted, and it works like a power shower now! I think they recommend a pump that supplies at least 10 litres per minute, although my old 6 litre one worked fine on everything but the shower. Might be a suck it and see case..

 

[Danny]

The regulations now prevent you fitting new gas water heaters without a flue - although you can still repair old ones. If you do decide to install a new one w/o a flue then your insurance will probably be compromised as well as your safety.

I had this dilemma a couple of years ago and decided to get rid of it and fit a calorifier instead.

 

[Modulation]

Me too . I,m glad I made the change.

 

[Signed Out]

I'd love to fit a cal, but (1) Money is an issue. (2) A raw water cooled engine is another (and yes, I've been in all those threads this year about how it is possible...). (3) Convenience. (4) etc.

I think I heard that before about the law change, which is something you've confirmed for me, thanks.

I'm local to Seamark's and that's where I saw them last and go thinking bout them- also saw at LIBS in the Mailspeed Marine stand, but they annoyed me in there- struck me as cowboys and the prices were shameless. Sounds like I'll have to uprate the pressure system then.

Thanks all, Jem.

 

[ditchcrawler]

If you go to www.seamarknunn.com website & find the Rinnai water heater there is a section that takes you to the fitting instructions.This gives you the B.S.numbers etc which you can use as a search.I thought I saw on a website that if it serves one outlet it need not be flued, but two or more needs a flue.Do not take this as gospel,as it may be out of date or not apply to marine use.It does anyway need to be in a well ventilated area according to the fitting instructions.