Tankless (On-Demand) Exterior Water Heater Install | Rinnai Value Series

[@lyrafinnell300]

Thank you so much for showing physically how you done it. Not like some KZbinrs that all about talk your are more detailed! A mother like me should be able to figure it out. Sir please keep more videos such as showing on how to!

[@balloonbldjs]

It was nice to watch. Early on in the video one thing to note do not ever put pipe dope inside a pipe fitting and also try to keep the pipe dope off the first couple of threads of the pipe for the same reason. If you don't follow those rules you tend to introduce loose material into the piping system. Also cutting the pipe above the meter is not recommended as you will introduce metal filings into the meter and system. When you shut off the gas before the meter make sure you loosen the nut on the opposite side of the shutoff. This will make turning the shutoff easier and lessen the chance of breaking the fitting. In our area and most areas turning the gas shutoff on the supply side of the meter is considered the gas companies property and is illegal, and if you damage the shutoff you will have no way of replacing it. That is also why in most locations the building department requires a gas shut off to be installed by the property owner that can be used in an emergency to be located after the meter leading into the house.

[@james5216]

Very cool, well done! Just an FYI, I put the outlet AFTER the on/off switch since I don't have a whole house generator. This way if the power goes out for an extended period of time during a deep freeze, you can make a suicided cable to back feed the water heater with a portable generator. (Just make sure you turn the switch to off during a back feed!!) You will be able to still shower and the water heater will still be able to keep itself from freezing... saved my ass with this trick!

[@DavidG-of1ho]

No PEX outside, bro. T&P line should be copper or CPVC. But I liked that you hard piped the gas line all the way. Looks stronger than using a supply line. Good job on T-ing off the gas meter. That would have stopped a lot of guys.

[@MrWizards1974]

I don't know who told you no pex outside but they lied to you. "In most cases, PEX is extremely durable and lasts up to 50 years or more. PEX piping is also less likely to crack or break than metal pipe because it does not expand and contract as much when heated and cooled"

[@findoutDIY]

Thanks for the tip on using copper outside. I did build a little 'house' for all the piping below the unit, so no UV will hit the PEX, but still, copper would probably be better for that little bit from the unit to crawl space entry.

[@NamNamNam89]

@@MrWizards1974PEX will absolutely degrade when exposed to sunlight and relatively quickly. Whoever told you it doesn’t lied to you. He built a cover in this case which is less than ideal but will probably do the trick.

[@TommyP-s9n]

Nice quality work

[@joshuafisher5299]

Thanks for the how to video! One comment from an electrician is your GFI cover is not correct, its only meant for vertical bell box installs. They do make a horizontal cover though at home depot.

[@iainnicholson4399]

Thanks. Would have been good to show electrical connections.

[@Mr.Roulette.Science]

Yep, only part I don't know how to do!

[@christianarias4850]

On the beginning of the video, What did you cut that pipe with?? Also, this is probably the best video I've seen on how to install a thankless, all these other videos are just wasting our time just yapping away. Following ...

[@pcguysoffgridcabin]

So how does it not freeze and damage it in freezing weather?

[@f.n.schlub]

Your installation will experience electrolysis corrosion at all dissimilar metal joints; e.g. black pipe -- brass. Slowly for a gas line. Faster for a water line.

[@findoutDIY]

Good issue to bring up- I did think about the dissimilar metal issue, however, it seems like almost all gas fittings (valves, etc) are brass and black pipe is very commonly used for gas lines, so not really sure how to get around that, so thats what I went with. I also had a professional plumber say that would use black pipe for this particular install - But I suppose galvanized pipe may last a little longer in the exterior environment?

[@randallt6021]

Also a good idea to check what your local codes require. Some require black pipe and some galvanized. In many locations they also may require coating the pipes with something like Rust Bullet or even just Rust-Oleum spray paint.

[@MrWizards1974]

"electrolysis corrosion" does not happen with brass and iron pipe. That's why all gas valves are brass

[@francodman]

Do you see the exhaust coming out of the unit?

[@findoutDIY]

We generally don't see any exhaust. Sometimes I will get a slight whiff of natural gas but otherwise no exhaust or gas smell. We do live in a mild climate (PNW USA) so temps are rarely below 40 degrees or above 90 degrees fahrenheit.

[@Mykelon]

Hi there, what tool you used to cut the 1 inch pipe next ton the meter ?

[@findoutDIY]

I used a sawzall (reciprocating saw) with metal blade, but was concerned about sparks in the process. I triple checked the furnace had run out of gas and wore protective clothing while making the cut.

[@Mykelon]

Thank you

[@gonelucid]

I guess mine is just different cause it says there should be a 20 in clearance at the rear from any combustible material. What a headache

[@SamA-xu9gy]

How do you measure and control temperature?

[@findoutDIY]

The unit comes with a digital display that is mounted inside and *can* be easy or difficult to wire, depending on the wall type and configuration that you're mounting to. This is not shown, but if you can do everything else in the video, this is a relatively easy step

[@davidpenick7667]

I helped install one just like this one, and we transitioned from pex piping to black steel pipe on everything outside, because, as explained to me, pex can't be used in sunlight because it causes it to get brittle. As for myself, I know nothing about it. Was curious if there was any truth to that.

[@findoutDIY]

Yes, PEX is not rated for UV rays. I ended up building a small plywood cover (painted color of the house) with thermal insulation on the inside that fits around all of the piping coming out of the bottom. This way none of the plastic piping is exposed to sunlight and has some insulation from the few days of freezing temps in the Pacific Northwest.

[@HandyTim]

So did you install the interior remote unit?

[@findoutDIY]

I did. I ran the communication cable through the conduit into the house and into the attic. From there, into desired position on a wall.

[@jeffward5136]

did you adjust temp above 120 if so how?

[@bryangatewood6749]

I’m wanting to do the same: I’m in Arkansas so is it going to be too cold? Also, I didn’t realize you can tap into the pipe as close to the meter that you did

[@randallt6021]

Rinnai is a Canadian based company and have many exterior units available. I don't think an install in Arkansas would be an issue. I'd check with them. Also, check with local codes before doing any gas line work. Some areas require a licensed plumber. In most cases, a tee can be installed anywhere on the line including directly after the tee.

[@georgefrantzesko1309]

I wonder if this will work in NEW YORK anyone ? I would do this