Rinnai · SENSEI RU (Super High Efficiency Plus condensing) · Gas tankless
Rinnai RU199iN
The Rinnai RU199iN is an indoor condensing natural gas tankless water heater with a 15,000–199,000 BTU/h input, UEF 0.95, 2" PVC venting and up to 11 GPM (42 L/min) of flow at an unstated temperature rise. It is listed on rinnai.ca and is the largest residential RU model, with a propane version, the RU199iP.
Key figures
- Max input
- 199,000 BTU/h
- Flow at unspecified rise rise
- 11 GPM (42 L/min)
- Uniform Energy Factor (UEF)
- 0.95
Flow figures depend on temperature rise; compare only at the same rise. Max flow is not guaranteed winter performance.
Rinnai RU199iN in practice
The RU199iN is Rinnai's 199,000 BTU/h condensing indoor unit. Its capacity is a flow rate that falls as the required temperature rise grows: Rinnai publishes 9.8 GPM rated and 11 GPM with a parameter change, but its flow curves are only valid for inlet water at 21 °C or below and no rise is stated for the headline number. In Metro Vancouver, incoming water in winter can be below 8 °C, so heating to 49 °C is about a 40 °C (72 °F) rise, and deliverable flow at that rise is materially less than 11 GPM. That is the number a sizing assessment uses.
Installation differs from a storage tank in four ways: 2" PVC, CPVC or polypropylene venting to an exterior termination (65 feet equivalent in 2", 150 feet in 3"), a 3/4" gas connection that often needs a larger supply line than a 40,000 BTU/h tank used, a condensate drain for the acidic condensate, and a 120 V outlet. The unit ships with isolation valves and a pressure-relief valve kit, which are needed for the annual flush.
Recirculation is supported through Rinnai's Circ-Logic with an external pump and either a dedicated return line or a crossover valve; the RUR199iN version has the pump built in. Rinnai's 10/2024 warranty gives 15 years on the heat exchanger and 5 years on parts and labour when registered within 90 days. As of the verification date rinnai.ca still lists the RU199iN, but Rinnai's main tankless listing now leads with the RX and RXP series, so confirm current availability before ordering.
Best suited to
- Homes converting from a tank where wall space, a sealed vent route and a condensate drain are available
- Households with one or two simultaneous fixtures and a preference for continuous (not unlimited) hot water
- Installations that will add a recirculation loop with an external pump
Limitations to know
- Flow at Metro Vancouver's winter temperature rise is far below the 11 GPM headline; three simultaneous showers may exceed one unit
- Needs a minimum 0.4 GPM to fire; very low-flow fixtures may not activate it
- Requires 120 V power; no hot water during an outage
- Annual descaling is a warranty condition; lime damage is excluded
- RU series is likely to be superseded by RX/RXP; check availability before ordering
Applicability and support
- Model number
- RU199iN (REU-N3237FF-US)
- Variants on this page
- RU199iP (Propane, indoor); RU199eN / RU199eP (Outdoor versions)
- Canadian availability
- available
- Production status
- current
- CANRO supplies
- Confirmed at consultation
- CANRO services
- Confirmed at consultation
- Recirculation
- Yes, external pump and piping required
- Warranty
- Series terms
Circ-Logic control supports an external recirculation pump on a dedicated return line or via a crossover valve; the pump cable is sold separately. The RUR199iN adds a built-in pump. Recirculation makes hot water quicker at the tap, not instant, and adds gas use.
Where CANRO provides on-site service
On-site service is currently offered across Metro Vancouver: Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, Surrey, Coquitlam, North Vancouver, West Vancouver, New Westminster, Delta, Langley, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, White Rock, Tsawwassen; plus Anmore, Belcarra, Lions Bay, Bowen Island, Abbotsford with travel or ferry arrangements confirmed by phone. Everything else on this site is reference information you can use anywhere in Canada.
Specifications
Published specifications
Values as published by Rinnai. Manufacturer gallon and BTU/h figures are preserved with metric alongside; notes flag conflicting documents and missing figures. Groups expand for detail.
Flow (tankless) 3
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Rated flow range | 0.26–9.8 GPM (1.0–37 L/min) at unspecified rise rise | Manual Table 2. Rinnai does not state the temperature rise behind this figure; flow curves apply to inlet water at or below 21 °C. |
| Maximum flow with parameter adjustment | 11 GPM (42 L/min) at unspecified rise rise | rinnai.ca lists 11 GPM (41.6 L/min). Not winter performance: at a 40 °C rise the deliverable flow is much lower. |
| Minimum activation flow | 0.4 GPM (1.5 L/min) | Operating minimum 0.26 GPM; varies with set temperature and inlet temperature. |
Input 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum gas input | 15,000 BTU/h | 4.4 kW. Rinnai labels input as gas consumption. |
| Maximum gas input | 199,000 BTU/h | 58.3 kW. |
Efficiency 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Uniform Energy Factor (UEF) | 0.95 | Natural gas and propane per rinnai.ca. ENERGY STAR 5.0 per Rinnai TB-186; the current ENERGY STAR product list shows only RX/RXP/CX/CXP Rinnai models. |
Temperature 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Outlet temperature setting | 37–49 °C (98–120 °F) default; up to 60 °C (140 °F) with parameter adjustment | Settings above 71 °C reduce heat-exchanger warranty; fixtures are limited to 49 °C by BC code. |
Venting and air 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Max. equivalent vent length, 2 in twin pipe | 65 ft (20 m) | 3 in twin pipe: 150 ft (46 m). Concentric 2x4 in: 65 ft; 3x5 in: 150 ft. Room-air 2 in: 50 ft. |
| Vent material | 2 in PVC/CPVC/polypropylene or 3 in/5 in concentric | Direct vent, room air or common vent per manual tables. |
Connections 3
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Gas connection | 3/4 in MNPT (19 mm) | Supply pressure NG 3.5–10.5 in. w.c.; LP 8.0–13.5 in. w.c. |
| Water connections | 3/4 in MNPT cold in and hot out | Isolation valve and PRV kit MIVK-T-LW included. |
| Condensate drain | 1/2 in NPT (13 mm) | Condensate is acidic; drain to an approved location, with a neutralizer where required. |
Electrical 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical supply | 120 V, 60 Hz; 84 W normal, 1.3 W standby, 148 W with freeze protection; 4 A max, 10 A fuse |
Recirculation 1
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Recirculation | Capable with external pump (Circ-Logic); no built-in pump | Dedicated return line or crossover-valve mode; pump cable sold separately. |
Physical 4
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 26.4 in (670 mm) cabinet; 31.3 in (795 mm) with fittings per rinnai.ca | The two published heights differ because one includes connections. |
| Width | 18.5 in (470 mm) | |
| Depth | 11.4 in (290 mm) | |
| Weight | 64 lb (29 kg) |
Operating limits 2
| Specification | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum altitude | 10,200 ft (3,109 m) | |
| Certification | ANSI Z21.10.3 / CSA 4.3; SCAQMD ultra-low NOx |
Manuals
- Rinnai Canada — RU199iN product page (Canadian listing, manuals and spec links)
- Installation and Operation Manual 100000467 — RU199i/RU180i/RU160i/RU130i100000467 · June 2020 (07 rev. Feb 2021 on rinnai.ca)
- SENSEI Condensing Residential Indoor Spec SheetRUi-SP-4 · 05/2023
- Isolation Valves and PRV Kit MIVK-T-LW100000894
Maintenance the manufacturer specifies
- Flush (descale) the heat exchanger at least once a year using the included isolation valves; Rinnai states lime damage is not covered by warranty and hard water needs more frequent flushing.
- Set the Service Soon reminder (parameter 03: 0.5, 1 or 2 years) so the display prompts the next flush.
- Clean the cold-water inlet filter screen periodically.
- Register within 90 days of installation to keep the 5-year labour warranty; otherwise labour defaults to 1 year.
Fault codes documented for this model
- Code 10 Air supply or exhaust blockage, or full condensate trap
- Code 12 No flame (burner lit, then flame lost or not sensed)
- Code 14 Heat exchanger overheat
- Code 16 High outgoing temperature (safety shutdown)
- Code 19 Electrical grounding fault
- Code 11 No ignition (heater not turning on)
- Code 25 Condensate pump fault (accessory)
- Code 52 Gas valve fault
- Code 61 Combustion fan fault
- Code 63 Recirculation low flow
- Code 65 Water flow control fault (bath-fill valve)
- Code 71 Solenoid valve circuit fault
- Code 72 Flame rod fault
- Code FF Maintenance indicator (service history marker)
- Code SS Service Soon (flush the heat exchanger)
Services
Hot water and scalding
- Water above 49 °C at a tap can scald in seconds, and children and older adults are at most risk. BC's plumbing code limits shower and bathtub water to 49 °C.
- Storage tanks are normally kept hotter (Health Canada advises 60 °C) to limit Legionella growth, with a thermostatic mixing valve tempering the water to the fixtures.
- Never bypass or remove a mixing valve, thermostat or high-limit control to get hotter water.
Official guidance: Government of Canada on water temperature and scalds and HealthLinkBC.
Frequently asked questions
How many showers can the RU199iN run at once in winter?
That depends on the temperature rise and your shower flow. At roughly a 40 °C rise, two shower-class fixtures need about 17 L/min (4.5 GPM); Rinnai's published curves at that rise are the figure to check, not the 11 GPM maximum. A demand assessment confirms it.
Is the RU199iN ENERGY STAR certified?
Rinnai's technical bulletin TB-186 states the RU199 met ENERGY STAR version 5.0. The current ENERGY STAR product list returned only RX, RXP, CX and CXP Rinnai models on the verification date, so treat certification as historical unless a current listing is found.
Does it need a special gas line?
Often yes. At 199,000 BTU/h the unit draws about five times the gas of a 40,000 BTU/h tank, so the supply line size and meter capacity are checked at assessment. It also needs a 3.5–10.5 in. w.c. supply pressure on natural gas.
What is Rinnai error code 11 on this unit?
Code 11 is documented as No Ignition (heater not turning on). The code page explains what Rinnai lists as causes and what is safe to check before calling.
Questions about the Rinnai RU199iN?
Describe what the water heater is doing and get a straight answer about the next step.
On-site service in Metro Vancouver, BC. Call to check availability.
Compare and explore
- Bradford White RG240T6N (40 gal tank) vs Rinnai RU199iN (tankless)Comparison
- Rinnai RU199iN vs RX199iNComparison
- Rinnai RU199iN vs Navien NPE-240A2Comparison
- Rinnai RU130iNSame series
- Rinnai RU160iNSame series
- Rinnai RU180iNSame series
- SENSEI RU (Super High Efficiency Plus condensing) series hub
- Gas tankless water heatersSystem type
- Tank vs tankless guide
Sources and verification
- Rinnai Canada — RU199iN product page · Canadian source · accessed September 7, 2026
- Rinnai Canada — RU199iP product page (propane UEF) · Canadian source · accessed September 7, 2026
- SENSEI Condensing Residential Indoor Spec Sheet · RUi-SP-4 (05/2023) · accessed September 7, 2026
- Installation and Operation Manual 100000467, Table 2 and Table 19 · 100000467 · accessed September 7, 2026
- Rinnai TB-186 ENERGY STAR certification bulletin · accessed September 7, 2026
Facts checked September 7, 2026. Last updated September 7, 2026. Technical reviewer: not yet assigned.