Also known as instantaneous hot water systems, continuous flow hot water systems differ from storage hot water heaters. With a continuous flow hot water heater, you always have hot water (as the name implies) versus having the hot water stored in the tank, which could run out during usage throughout the day.
For those of you who prefer audiovisual examples, here is a video from one of the first and still major continuous flow manufacturers, Rinnai. In the video, Rinnai is promoting a new product, but it is also informative to see the benefits of a continuous flow heater.
Well Established Manufactures in the Continuous Flow Hot Water System Market
Rinnai
Now that you have read through the intro, you are into the meat of the story… Do you remember who introduced the continuous flow hot water systems to Australia… correct it was the Japanese manufacturer Rinnai. Rinnai is the benchmark in both quality and reputation. Continuous Flow hot water systems do not get much better than this. Products offered include condensing and non-condensing continuous flow. Rinnai is the name of continuous flow. I have just as many people asking for Rinnai units as I do for continuous flow.
While there is a lot of good, some things do come up, just like with any other product-nothing is perfect. There are a few issues with these units that I have fixed over the years. I replaced a few printed circuit boards and cleaned the odd fan or combustion chamber. Overall, the Rinnai continuous flow hot water systems are relatively maintenance-free. I recently had the privilege of replacing a unit from 1992 that had not had an issue until it failed earlier this year. Now that is the longevity of a product and reliability at its finest.
Rinnai has a majority share of the Australian market. In Japan, they are competing with Noritz for the top position.
Interested in finding more out about Rinnai continuous hot water systems or other Rinnai products?
Dux
Dux has had several models of continuous-flow water heaters over the years. These include the Du
x Deliverance, Dux Endurance Chofu, and Dux Endurance Rinnai styles. The Dux Endurance Rinnai style is a rebadged Rinnai B26. This will be elaborated on further down.
The Dux Deliverance is an older model. It was a small part of their market, and I tend not to see so much these days. I am unsure which manufacturer looked after this heater, but it was most likely Chofu or Takagi. I have not performed too much maintenance on these systems. This is due to Dux Deliverance getting on in age, and parts were becoming more difficult to obtain as I entered the hot water industry.
Their second Continuous flow, the “Dux Endurance”, was a Chofu model. When Dux first brought these out, they had the only “non-condensing” 6-star continuous flow. Doing this helped with the upfront costs of these systems to the consumer. The Dux Endurance model finished selling around 2012. I have performed a lot of service work on the Dux Endurance model. This includes replacing multiple components with the Dux Endurance. The parts that I have replaced on this hot water system are printed circuit boards, water valves, proportional valves, and a fan. Most of the issues with these systems centred on issues with the printed circuit board and heaters not reaching desired temperatures. This temperature issue was overcome by installing a few resistors on the outlet thermistor. Though I had to replace the printed circuit boards, this Chofu model had reasonably cheap printed circuit boards compared to some other brands of continuous-flow water heaters.
Currently, Dux has moved on to their rebadged Rinnai heaters. These Dux hot water systems are Rinnai’s previous series model- the Rinnai B26. I have done very little in-service work on these Dux Endurance Rinnai-style models. Mostly, I have encountered issues with the installation itself or gas pressures. What is difficult with this model is the price $$$. You have a B26 and Dux Endurance Chofu style with the same warranty, efficiency, and parts but close to a $200 difference in price.
The Future for Dux/Noritz
Dux was bought out by Noritz late last year. Until now, there seems to not be a huge amount of change in the company. Currently, it is a bit more of a watch in this space, as many of the other hot water manufacturers are in limbo about what Noritz will bring to the Australian market.
The rumour mill suggests that Noritz will bring out their 6-star continuous flow products and leave other manufacturers with only access to their 5-star gas efficiency range. The future looks bright with Dux/Noritz through the possible majority share of the market and their focus on improving their products through state-of-the-art research and development. In recent years, they have gotten on board with Bunnings.
Keep updated with the latest information about the Noritz continuous hot water systems. If interested, check in the next few months to see what continuous products they bring out.
Bosch
Bosch uses the Noritz brand for most of their continuous flow products, which include the 17E, 21E, and 26E and corresponding Bosch professional products. Bosch recently brought out their 4000S range, a room-sealed internal range of continuous flow products. I believe this product range will come into its own because of its distinct advantages. One of these advantages includes ease of installation in locations where other heaters cannot be installed.
Are Bosch products made in Germany? Many people associate Robert Bosch’s hot water with the Germans would be wrong. Although Bosch is a German company, the Noritz product (which Bosch purchases) is rebadged and sold as Bosch continuous flow. Bosch’s new 4000S range is made in Portugal.
How do the 4000S continuous flow range products measure up? The product has not been out long enough for me to have an opinion. However, in terms of the existing continuous flow range, I do not find too much fault with it. It is a good price and a consistent product. Maintenance issues are mostly printed circuit board issues and filters becoming blocked fairly easily. I also encountered an inbuilt circuit breaker tripping issue. However, this issue only occurred in Bosch’s continuous hot water system units that reached a certain age.
As I mentioned, Australia’s hot water industry is a bit in limbo, with Dux being bought by Noritz. I believe Bosch hot water Australia would be the company most in limbo. Conversely, I would not underestimate what Bosch may bring out in response as a competitive product.
Want to learn more about the Bosch Continuous Hot Water System Range? Check out the Bosch 4000S Internal Continuous Flow Heaters and Bosch Highflow Series brochures.
Rheem
AKA Aquamax, Edwards, Solahart, Vulcan, Everhot and Rheem Continuous Flow
The Rheem continuous flow is owned by the large Japanese corporation Paloma. Worldwide, Paloma is a very dominant hot water company. Their continuous flow heaters do tend to have issues with printed circuit boards. The major downside of this is the cost. Most of their printed circuit boards will set you back $700 to $900. They have changed things by being the only continuous flow on the market that delivers 27 litres per minute. This highest capacitive on the market benefits the customer because multiple hot water outlets can be running simultaneously, and you do not lose pressure or the hot temperature of the water.
Emerging Manufactures in the Continuous Flow Hot Water System Market
Chromagen
Chromagen is an Israeli company established in Australia for some time now. Chromagen is branding their continuous flow as an eternity (they imply that you never run out of hot water-it lasts for an ‘eternity’). Also, the Eternity continuous flow hot water system is sold through Bunnings. If you have been to Bunnings and looked at the selection of hot water systems, the Chromagen Eternity is the cheaper continuous flow they sell.
Servicing the Eternity Chofu continuous flow was very easy to service because of my previous history with the Dux Chofu product. However, they have since changed to the Takagi brand continuous flow out of Japan. My experience servicing the Takagi models is not as great as other manufacturers. However, I have replaced a few printed circuit boards in these products.
This brochure has information about the Chromagen Eternity Continuous Flow, including technical information.
Thermann
Reece has been badging their continuous flow for some time now. Reece is using the Chofu system. I am unsure if Chofu has sorted out printed circuit board issues they were having with their previous models. For Reece’s reputation, I hope they have sorted out these issues. With Reece’s 200,000 + hot water heaters, they have taken a large percentage of the hot water continuous flow market and are increasing this market every day. Thermann is the main and biggest user of the manufactured Chofu brand.
ThermaStar
I have only dealt with this product from an installation perspective. In my opinion, I believe that it is at the lower end of the market. They use ½ inch cold and hot.
Kelvinator/Leda
Everyone has their continuous flow these days!
Kelvinator also hopped on the continuous flow bandwagon a few years ago. This Swedish company owns the American brand Kelvinator. Kelvinator has mostly sold directly to some builders. I believe this unit is a Takagi. I have not yet been called out to one of these products, so I cannot confirm this. My opinion on this is that I would probably stay away from this product until there is a little more market confidence.
Kelvinator Continuous Flow Brochure
Now you know all about Continuous Flow Heaters
As you can see, it is the Age of the Continuous Flow hot water systems. Many companies are selling this product, but when it comes down to it, a few Japanese models- mainly Chofu and Takagi-that are being sold. This may make you think a little more because though there is a good reputation behind the company- where is the heater coming from? Just one more factor to consider when choosing which continuous water heater is best for you. Good luck in your continuous flow hot water heater search, and I hope you learned something new from this information. Also, one last thing to mention- Warranty information. All heaters have a 10-year heat exchanger warranty and three years of parts & labour. Exceptions: Rinnai offers a 12-year heat exchanger warranty. Merlin only has a five-year parts and labour warranty.
Continuous Flow Hot Water Systems Highlights
